In the book The Last Trumpet: The Mystery of God is Finished and a New Age Begins, author Robert Johnston explores biblical prophecy and the promises of God that relate to the end times. This excerpt is from chapter 1.

When giving the first commandment to Moses, God declared that love was the key by saying that he was a God who showed kindness “to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (Ex. 20:6 NASB). When one looks at what God says and sees only “keep My commandments” first, he or she has already adopted a system of works as a way to be accepted by God. But if one first sees “to those who love Me,” the focus is on God, and keeping his commandments becomes secondary. In other words man could keep the commandments only out of love for God and others. One cannot obtain love for God and others by keeping the commandments; but if one loves God, keeping the commandments and loving others will come naturally, and keeping them will not be burdensome. To do otherwise is to begin the descent into apostasy. “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11). FULL POST

In the book The Last Trumpet: The Mystery of God is Finished and a New Age Begins, author Robert Johnston explores biblical prophecy and the promises of God that relate to the end times. This excerpt is from chapter 1.

A FATHER’S TWO SONS

To illustrate that the age of grace had come to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people throughout the world), Jesus told a story about two sons whom their father had asked to work in his vineyard (Matt. 21:28–32). It was obvious that the two sons represented two nations or people whom God had asked to work in his kingdom. The first son (the nation of Israel) told his father that he would work in the vineyard but later did not. The second son (Gentiles) said he would not work in the vineyard but later regretted his decision and did so. Jesus asked the chief priests and elders who were questioning him about where he had received his authority. “Which of the two did the will of his father?” (v. 31 NASB). They answered that the latter son did. Jesus bluntly told them that the tax collectors and harlots were like the second son; they would enter the kingdom of God before the religious leaders in Israel would. FULL POST

In the book The Last Trumpet: The Mystery of God is Finished and a New Age Begins, author Robert Johnston explores biblical prophecy and the promises of God that relate to the end times. This excerpt is from chapter 1.

Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem from Jericho to attend and celebrate the Feast of the Passover, which would be held in the next few days. A great multitude followed them, knowing (though many in the city did not) that their long-awaited king, the Messiah, was about to enter the city and the temple, just as the event had been prophesied long ago. The gospel of Luke tells us that when Jesus neared the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem, he experienced a vision of the city being surrounded by armies and hemmed in on every side. When he saw Jerusalem, he wept for the city and the people because they were living in spiritual blindness due to their religious leaders.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. FULL POST

Recently Book Stop Blog featured excerpts from the book Islam: The Cloak of Antichrist by author Jack Smith. Here is an interview of the author.

What compelled you to write this book?

Following the events of 9/11, I undertook a personal study of Islam and its history so I could articulate the differences between Islam and Christianity. It was my sole intention to prepare my congregation, particularly the younger generation, for the spiritual threat of a competing faith. At the same time I also happened to be teaching a study on last-day prophecies. I was amazed to see how Islam fulfilled the Bible’s end-times prophecies in 2 Thessalonians. The more I studied, the more I saw the parallels in Scripture and in current world events. It was as if the very prophecies I was interpreting were being fulfilled by Islam right before my eyes. I soon realized that God was revealing Bible prophecy to me and that I should reveal it to others. Not to do so would be an act of disobedience. So I began writing it all down. At first, there were few available resources for research, and even fewer from Christian authors who shared my same views. Over the years, that has changed. I now realize that God has been revealing the same message to many other Christians. The message is that Islam is truly the “religion of the beast” prophesied by Scripture. FULL POST

In the book The Last Trumpet: The Mystery of God is Finished and a New Age Begins, author Robert Johnston explores biblical prophecy and the promises of God that relate to the end times. This excerpt is from chapter 1.

The Day Jesus Wept

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

—Matthew 23:37

THE WEEK WHEN Jesus was crucified is perhaps the most meaningful time in history to understand God’s plan for the ages, including the tribulation period and end of the age. We must wrap our minds around the reason Jesus was crucified and understand that we cannot simply attribute it to Israel’s transgres- sion. In fact, their transgression has meant riches for the rest of the world (Rom 11:12). For the most part we as Christians have erroneously looked at the persecution and suffering of the Jewish people throughout history as affliction coming from God because of their unbelief and disobedience (As foretold in Deuteronomy 28:62–66), when from God’s point of view they are a nation still beloved and dear to him (Rom 11:28). We must change our thinking to conform to God’s and view their persecution and suffering as coming from Satan. FULL POST

In the book The Last Trumpet: The Mystery of God is Finished and a New Age Begins, author Robert Johnston explores biblical prophecy and the promises of God that relate to the end times.

INTRODUCTION

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

—Revelation 8:2

WHEN THE LAST seal is opened in heaven, seven angels with seven trumpets will announce the final events that will end this present age. The seventh and last trumpet, however, will not only conclude this present age but also announce the beginning of a new age on this restored earth, where righteousness will reign for a thousand years. This day of transition is known as the day of the Lord.

The day of the Lord is the fulfillment of a prophecy and a promise God gave when Paradise was lost that Jesus would one day return to earth to live with mankind. This expectation, the great hope of mankind since the beginning, was passed down from generation to generation, survived the great flood of Noah’s day, and continues to this present generation. God made the promise on the day sin and death entered the world after Satan’s temptation and Adam’s fall. FULL POST

This is our final excerpt from Jack Smith's book Islam: The Cloak of Antichrist. This book examines the role Islam will play during the great tribulation.

Summary of Key Points in Chapter 2

Point 1

The Apostle John has given two meanings for antichrist in Scripture: a general spirit of antichrist, which acts within human society to foster a heretical view of Jesus; and the incarnation of that spirit in human form in the last days, i.e., the Antichrist.

Point 2

The Apostle John describes three specific antichrist “identifiers” that are all heretical views of Jesus Christ: the denial that Jesus was (and is) the Messiah; the denial that Jesus was (and is) the Son of God; and the denial that Jesus was fully human. When any of these three identifiers are present, the spirit of antichrist is present.

Point 3

The New Testament also prophesies of an embodiment of the spirit of antichrist in human form by using another phrase: false christ or false prophet. False christs/prophets are prophesied to proclaim themselves (or others) to be the Messiah so as to lead the world away from the true Christ, Jesus, the Son of God. FULL POST

In the book Islam: The Cloak of Antichrist author Jack Smith examines the role Islam will play during the great tribulation. This excerpt comes from chapter 2.

MUHAMMAD’S OWN ACTIONS

The Qur’an and Hadith urge Muslims to model their lives after Muhammad. Muhammad urged his followers to “... slay the unbelievers wherever you find them ...” (Surah 2:191). According to Muhammad’s Companions, Muhammad also urged his followers to make the ultimate sacrifice—their very lives in the cause of Islam; and, in exchange, an eternal reward was promised that appealed to the flesh of man:

Servants wait on them as they recline in silk robes on beautiful couches. Male inhabitants of the garden enjoy the attentions of the “huris,” beautiful young women with eyes like pearls. The joys of paradise also include choirs of angels singing in Arabic and the ability to eat and drink 100 times more than one could normally hold.

At the time of Muhammad’s earliest revelations, there were numerous Jewish clans living in Arabia. In Muhammad’s earliest vision, he was sent by Allah to all Arabians—Jews, Christians, and pagans, “to restore the purity of the faith already revealed, preach a renewal, and end the corruption that had crept into daily life.” In Mecca, Muhammad’s earliest revelations instructed Muslims to pray facing Jerusalem (not Mecca, as is the case thereafter). FULL POST

In the book Islam: The Cloak of Antichrist author Jack Smith examines the role Islam will play during the great tribulation. This excerpt comes from chapter 2.

WHAT ABOUT MUHAMMAD, THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM?

Muhammad proclaims Allah to be God and himself to be the true messenger of God. He directs humanity to Allah, much like the Holy Spirit directs humanity to Jesus Christ, the Son, and God, the Father (see John 16:13–15). In this role, Muhammad leads humanity away from the true God and offers himself as the true prophet of all prophets. This is precisely the definition of a false prophet, according to Matthew 24:5, 11, 23–24.

Here is what the Qur’an says: “Muhammad ... is God’s Messenger and the seal of the prophets: God knows everything” (Surah 33:40).

The significance of the Qur’an’s claim that Muhammad is the seal of the prophets cannot be underestimated. In the Qur’an’s claim that Muhammad is the seal of the prophets, i.e., the last of the prophets, Muhammad brings the last word of Allah to humanity. To Islam, this word is a “corrective” word; and since the Qur’an claims to correct the words of the Bible, Muhammad’s message bears greater weight than all messengers who came prior to him. Muhammad leads humanity away from the one true God, His Christ, and His message. FULL POST

In the book Islam: The Cloak of Antichrist author Jack Smith examines the role Islam will play during the great tribulation. This excerpt comes from chapter 2.

FURTHER EVIDENCE OF GOD’S CHOICE OF ISAAC

By the time of Islam (seventh century A.D.), God’s rejection of Ishmael can be seen in the religious climate of Arabia. The religious culture was polytheistic in nature, with multiple pagan deities being worshiped in the pre-Islamic society. Hubal was the chief god among many of the pagan deities of Arabia. Hubal is thought to be the “moon god,” one of 360-plus deities of the Arabian tribes in the seventh century A.D., the most common symbol of which was the crescent moon.

The Arabian religious culture did include one group that rejected the polytheism of the many Bedouin tribes. This group is referred to in the Qur’an as the “Hanif.” However, according to historian Ira Lapidus, although the “Hanif” believed in one god, they were not adherents of any one faith, particularly, the faith of the Jews. FULL POST