Explore the mysteries of biblical prophecy as David Hawking tackles listener questions on topics like America’s role in end times, the concept of Babylon the Great, and the significance of the ten horns. This episode is filled with enlightening discussions that challenge common prophetic beliefs and provide clarity on misunderstood scriptures.
Is the Antichrist alive and walking among us? Is America mentioned in the prophecies of the Bible? Will Islam be a major player in end times events? And are the ten horns of the beast with seven heads actually a reference to the European Union? This is Hope for Today with Bible teacher and author David Hawking. Today on the broadcast, David delves into our Bible question and answer program archive with a look at some of the most perplexing prophecy-related questions sent in by our listeners over the years. Well, stay tuned for David’s straight-from-the-Bible responses to some very difficult and sometimes controversial questions. Now, here’s David.
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Today we’re going to focus on Bible prophecy. So here we go. Let’s take question number one from one of our listeners back east who says, Do you believe the Antichrist is alive today? And if so, do you have any suggestions as to who he might be? Well, that’s been a problem throughout church history. But if I’m reading the signs right as they relate to Israel, which is God’s timepiece, so to speak, for his prophetic plan being unveiled, I think the Antichrist must be alive already. As to when he’s going to come to power, that I don’t know. We’re told in Daniel he’s a little horn. He apparently has some insignificance to begin with and begins to affect a confederacy of nations that seemingly has ten divisions in it. 2 Thessalonians 2, we read in verse 3, “…let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed.” the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he is God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Now, folks, the Jews are going to build a temple. Revelation 11 also says that during the tribulation period. That’s not the final one being built by the Messiah that’s mentioned in the last nine chapters of Ezekiel or mentioned in Zechariah 6, verse 12 and 13. What we have here is the fact that he’s going to show his true colors by his attitude change. He seemingly at the start is a man of peace. Everybody loves him. He’s brought peace to the Middle East, according to Daniel 9. But the actual revelation of his identity as the Antichrist will probably not happen until after the rapture of the church and we get into the tribulation period. That’s what I believe 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 is implying. Also, we have no evidence whatsoever that though there have been many attempts to reveal his identity, we have no evidence whatsoever as to who the Antichrist is. We don’t know. He apparently comes into the political world picture in sort of an insignificant manner to start with. And everybody has their suggestions. We get a long list of them. And God bless you. We appreciate your interest in Bible prophecy. But no, we do not believe the Antichrist will be revealed until after the rapture of the church mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 13 to 18. I hope that helps you. Here’s another listener from Canada that says, why is the United States not mentioned in the prophecies of the Bible? I thought it was cute because I felt like writing back and saying, well, why wasn’t Canada mentioned either? One possibility is that the United States will be judged by God for their moral chaos and the terrible things that have gone on and for our attempt to divide the land of Israel under the past few administrations. I think that’s a possibility. God brings his judgment. It could be economic. It could be military. We don’t know for sure. Another possibility is found in Ezekiel. chapter 38 and 39, the famous Gog-Magog prophecy. But we’re told in this passage, after listing the nations, listing them that are going to attack Israel, we’re told in verse 13 that Sheba and Dedan—now, that’s referring to Saudi Arabia—and the merchants of Tarshish with all the young lions or the plantings of it, shall say, Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, and to take away a great spoil? So apparently Sheba and Dedan and these merchants of Tarshish they are a part of a group that’s not involved in the attack, but is asking questions about those nations who are attacking, saying, what in the world are you doing here? Now, it’s very possible that the merchants of Tarshish have some connection with North America. We know there’s evidence that seafaring people were actually here in North America as early as the 8th century B.C., if you can imagine that. Of course, officially, Columbus discovered America. He was a Jew. He discovered America in 1492. But the fact is, this passage… mentions that the merchants of Tarshish are asking, like, why are you guys attacking Israel? So it’s possible that North America, if our archaeological work on this matter is accurate, that they might be involved. We really do not know. And of course, it’s not named in particular in any passage. That is either Canada or the United States. Well, here’s another question that we get all the time. In fact, the one reason we’re answering it again today is because so many of you are asking it, but that’s okay. Here’s the question. I’ll just quote the question from one listener, not from all of them, because they’re pretty much the same. Do you believe, this listener writes, that Babylon the Great, The woman that rides the beast with seven heads is the Roman Catholic Church. Now, that’s what my pastor has taught, and since I have many Catholic friends that I work with and live with, I am very concerned. What is the truth on this issue? Well, thank you very much. If you want to read that position, that is from a Protestant point of view, of course, if you want to read that, probably the best book that I’ve ever read on it, and it’s well documented, is A Woman Rides the Beast, which was written by Dave Hunt, our good friend. And he has a lot of strong arguments for it being the Roman Catholic Church. Now, also, there’s a tapestry in the Vatican facility that shows the woman riding the beast with the golden cup in her hand, a beast that has seven heads. And at the bottom of that tapestry, it says the Mother Church. So even some Roman Catholics of the past saw Babylon the Great as the church, the woman dominating the nations of the world. We see it in a negative way. What was on her forehead, we’re told in Revelation 17, verse 5, mystery—that means something wasn’t known in the past, clearly, but now is being revealed—mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. Well, the Babylon of today, even the ruins and the reconstruction project that Saddam Hussein did, is really a part of a Muslim country. And in the lower half of Iraq today, that’s ancient Babylon, and that is run by Shiites, many of them from Iran. But I, in answering this question, need to tell you that it was a dissertation of mine to write on Babylon the Great, and I hold the view that whatever it is, it refers to all nations of the world. This woman has seduced all nations of the world. So to specify it as being the Roman Catholic Church, there might have been a time when that was all that a person saw. But I believe that it’ll be a gigantic religious system. We know that confederacy, a political confederacy of nations, is going to destroy that woman. That’s what you read before Revelation 17 is done. I think they’ll be both Catholic, Protestant. There’s so much corruption, deception, and apostasy. There’s gonna be a lot. I like to call it global religion. And in the name of global religion, we have seen God’s people suffer greatly, both Jews and Bible-believing Christians. I hope that helps somewhat. The next question comes from a listener out in our great Southwest. Do you believe that Islam will be a major player in end-time events? Any proof for this view, if that’s what you believe? Well, my answer is even though the word Islam is not mentioned in the Bible, we do have the attack that I think refers more to Armageddon than an earlier attack in the tribulation period or preceding it, like some believe, and that’s Gog and Magog, Ezekiel 38 and 39. If you want to read a book on that belief that this refers to Russia and her allies. Probably one of the best is the Magog invasion written by our friend Chuck Missler. I happen to hold—I’m not dogmatic—but I happen to hold that the Hebrew prophets are consistent with themselves and that Ezekiel 38 and 39 is talking about Armageddon. It is not talking about a previous attack. Now, we do know that this Gog, who’s from Magog, is called the chief prince of Meshach and Tubal. The way Russia got in there is by the word chief prince. The Hebrew word is Rosh, meaning first or chief or head. Like in the religious calendar, we have Rosh Hashanah. That means the first of the year. But some people in the past took Rosh as a phonetic equivalent of the name Russia. That’s where it comes from. And they even did that with Meshach, believing it was Moscow, and Tubal, believing it sounded a little bit like Tobolsk. Well, I don’t support that view at all. In fact, in verse 17 of Ezekiel 38, God speaks to Gog and says, “‘Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?’ Well, there’s no record of Russia, no mention of Islam. But what is mentioned is the Assyrian, the Chaldean, the Babylonian. All of these are historical clues to the future Antichrist who will be involved in Armageddon. Now, is Islam a major player? It’s very, very possible, the reason being in chapter 38 of Ezekiel, when it lists the actual nations that are going to attack Israel, they appear to be Islamic, Muslim nations. We do know that they’re confederate with each other, according to Psalm 83, on one issue, and that’s to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Well, God says they’ll never do it. Israel’s never going to be cut off. They will never cease to be a nation before God. It could be that this is an Islamic attack. The first nation in a list of nations is usually the head or the lead nation, and that’s the nation of Persia. Its original name was Elam. Then it was called Persia up until the late 1900s. And then it was called Iran. And that’s what we know today. They speak primarily Farsi. But Iran is mentioned. Ethiopia in the Bible is the area south of Egypt, which does include Sudan, a very radical terrorist nation. Libya, we know about that through its leader, Qatafi. And all of these nations may, in fact, be motivated by a holy jihad, an Islamic attack against Israel. So we’re not going to rule that out, and I think it’s a great question. Well, we have another listener from Southern California that says, what’s your take on the 10 horns of the beast with seven heads? Is this referring to the European Union? Well, I’ve held that view and others have too in the past. That was before the European Union got bigger than 10 nations. 25 and others applying in it now makes us a more difficult problem. As I look at the prophecies, both in Daniel and Revelation, it’s very possible that what we’re talking about is a new global lineup of nations that will cover the entire world. I believe that because there’s so many references to all nations being involved. We do know that there’s an attempt already among the international leaders of this world to reorganize everything in a new world order with 10 divisions. For instance, Canada, the United States, and Mexico is Division I. They are talking about it in terms of economics and possibly also some control, of course. But I believe that the ten horns on the beast who play a prominent role during the tribulation and are the ones that will destroy the global religion— The Antichrist will come out of that group. He quickly gets into it and takes three under his control, according to Daniel, and pretty soon becomes a dominant leader in the world. I think we’re talking about a bigger issue than the European Union. I think we’re talking about a global political world order. And of course, there are many people in our world right now who are committed to such a thing. So it’s not far-fetched. People used to talk about these things as though they’re conspiracies. Well, they’re being talked openly by many, many people in high places. I tell you, keep your eyes on the Lord. Be careful about buying into viewpoints that cannot clearly be proven by biblical reference. Well, here’s another question which comes from the Midwest. It says, when Jesus referred to various disasters as the beginning of sorrows in Matthew 24, Do these happen before the tribulation, or did they happen back at the time of the Roman invasion in the first century A.D., or do they happen during the tribulation? Well, obviously this person and others like him have had a lot of connection with Bible prophecy teaching. Matthew 24 says, the disciples present to him a question after looking at the temple and Jesus predicting they’re going to throw down every stone of this place. The disciples come to Jesus privately, according to Matthew 24, 3, and say, ìTell us when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age, or the end of the world?î Now, one question obviously refers to when is this destruction happening? That causes some people to say, well, maybe that’s what’s being talked about, and it’s already been fulfilled in the first century A.D. I do not believe that, because I believe the judgments are far greater and more extensive than ever happened in the first century. Also, the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet in verse 15 is connected with the book of Daniel’s predictions also about the end time. So what are we talking about here? Well, Jesus started out by answering their question, the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world. He mentioned, don’t be deceived. There will be many coming trying to deceive you. There are wars and rumors of wars. Don’t be troubled by it. A nation rising against nation will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in various places. And then he said, all these are the beginning of sorrows. That’s your question. Is that referring to the first part of the Tribulation? My answer is, I think so. I don’t know for sure, but I think so. I know it is not referring to the Roman invasion in the first century AD. That’s a preterist view of prophecy that it’s all past. No, I don’t believe that at all. Is it going to happen, let’s say, during the Tribulation, like right in the beginning? That’s very possible. We just don’t know. We do know in verse nine that we have a time adverb used when it says, then. they’ll deliver you up to be, and many false prophets will arise, and iniquity will abound, and he who endures unto the end, presumably the end of the tribulation, the same would be saved, talking about Israel, and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world. That will happen by the great Gentile multitude, according to Revelation chapter 7 and chapter 14. And then in verse 15, another time adverb when he says, when you see the abomination of desolation. Well, that happens in the middle of the tribulation. So my answer to you is I think the beginning of sorrows is talking about the beginning years of the tribulation, at least maximum three and a half, maybe less. Next question from Southern California. Does the married supper of the Lamb happen in heaven while the tribulation takes place on earth? Okay, I know a lot of you believe that. You’ve heard pastors preach on it. It makes a good sermon. but I do not believe it. I believe the marriage supper of the Lamb has to be on earth after the tribulation to begin the messianic kingdom. Why is that? Because in Matthew 8, we read that we will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is in Matthew 8, verse 11. God bless you.
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That’s Bible teacher and author David Hawking, and you’re listening to our monthly question and answer edition of Hope for Today. And by the way, if you missed any part of today’s Q&A session, you can listen again for a limited time on our website, davidhawking.org. That’s davidhawking.org. Or get your own copy for months and years ahead by making a purchase at davidhawking.org. And be sure to share it with a friend. Well, on our next broadcast, we’re back in Daniel. But just before we go, David’s son Matt’s here. And together, we’re going to tell you about some really powerful home Bible study resources.
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Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone. Dare to have a purpose firm. Dare to make it known.
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Matt, the song captures the courageous testimony of an Old Testament saint whose life provides an abundance of inspiration and encouragement for every one of us today. Amen. Amen. And that’s why I’m so pleased.
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We’re not only airing David’s Daniel teaching series here on radio, but we’re also offering it as a special resource pack this month on MP3 for just $30 or as an audio CD set for $50. The complete 17 message series several weeks on radio are included.
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And you’ll even hear extra material that we’re not able to include on radio. And some of the message titles, Matt, your dad’s message in chapter one, dare to be a Daniel. Chapter four study is titled How Pride Destroys. And then Daniel and the Lion’s Den, which is dramatically retold in chapter six. And the five chapters of Bible prophecy, including messages, the coming world leader, the 70 weeks. There’s even more. And more, whether you’re five or 95. Dare to be a Daniel.
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Study Daniel with us and save and share the series with this special package. Our Daniel series on MP3 is just $30 and on Audio C, $50.
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Now, we also have your dad’s original message outlines and study notes in Daniel, and those are just $10, a perfect way to follow along with your dad as he teaches.
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Totally. And you can order and download the MP3s at davidhawking.org or call us in Canada at 1-888-75-BIBLE. In the U.S., call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE.
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Well, Matt, we also want to tell folks about your dad’s powerful book, Daniel, Prophecies of the Last Days. Daniel Prophecies of the Last Days is a scripture-loaded walk through this prophetic book that connects what happened then with what’s coming next. The book gives you clarity on chaos, confidence in God’s plan, and courage to stand in the truth. and the book is available right now for just $20. To get your copy of Daniel, Prophecies of the Last Days, call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada, or visit us online at davidhawking.org. By the way, you’ve probably noticed that we’re coming to the end of the month here in just a day or so. Can I ask you a quick but honest question? What would it mean to you to know that you were a part of something eternal? You know, maybe you’ve been listening to Hope for Today for a while, but you haven’t taken that next step to pray for us and then to prayerfully consider standing with us financially. Well, pray for us. And if God moves your heart to give financially one time or a regular monthly gift, respond. To give, call 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada, or visit our website, davidhawking.org. And if you prefer to write a note sending a check, you can do that to Hope for Today, Box 3927. Tustin, T-U-S-T-I-N, California, 92781. In Canada, write to us at Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, B.C., V2S 8P1. And thank you for praying for us and standing with us. This ministry is only possible because of friends like you. Well, next time on the broadcast, ancient prophecy, a ticking clock, and the 70 weeks begin. Join us as David cracks open Daniel chapter 9, verses 24 through 26, here on Hope for Today.
Explore the mysteries of biblical prophecy as David Hawking tackles listener questions on topics like America’s role in end times, the concept of Babylon the Great, and the significance of the ten horns. This episode is filled with enlightening discussions that challenge common prophetic beliefs and provide clarity on misunderstood scriptures.
