The Alex McFarland Show-122-Things to Keep in Mind in a World Gone Mad

How do you keep your mind and your heart and your emotions together in a world that is dangerous, troublesome, a world that has gone mad? Hi, Alex McFarland here, and we're going to look at 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Very famously, and perhaps enigmatically, 2 Thessalonians 2, 7-13, talks about something called the mystery of iniquity.

And we'll look at that, and we'll talk about five things to bear in mind, to keep in mind, in a world gone mad. You know, as I record this broadcast just days ago, the Olympic Games began with a very blasphemous rendering of the Last Supper, this Paris Olympic ceremony mocking Jesus and the Last Supper, and that was July 26 of 2024. And the Paris Olympic Committee said that it was, quote, a celebration of diversity and inclusion based on the Leonardo da Vinci painting.

And if you want to learn about the upper room and the Last Supper of Christ with the disciples, you can look at 1 Corinthians 11. And then some backpedaling was done. They said, well, it was really about the Greek god Zeus. But clearly the Olympic Committee had admitted that it was about Jesus. And you know, the nearly three billion Christians in the world, you know, cried foul and said, you know, that's blasphemous. Why open up this athletic contest with a blasphemous mocking of Christianity?

You know, I instantly thought about this. Why, whenever, you know, whether it was some years ago, the National Endowment for the Arts, there was an unbelieving artist, a gay artist, and I use the term artist loosely, Robert Mapplethorpe, who made art pieces mocking Jesus Christ, unspeakably blasphemous. You know, it's always about Jesus, isn't it? They don't mock Vishnu or Shiva.

And the Paris Olympics did not open up with a mockery of Muhammad or Allah. Now let's go back just a little bit to January 7, 2015. How many remember the Charlie Hebdo killings? Now Hebdo, H-E-B-D-O, means weekly. Charlie weekly. It was left-wing news, satire, and it was a paper very critical of Islam. In 2015, terrorists burst into the newspaper's office and killed, just brutally gunned down, 12 people, including the janitor.

You know, what was he doing? Just the janitor. But the way they got in the building, two Islamic terrorists with automatic weapons. There was a young mother who was an employee in this particular building, and she was holding her baby. Well, they took her at gunpoint and put a gun against mother and child and said, you know, put in your code and open this door.

Let us in, or we will shoot you and your infant baby. And the woman was terrified, so she let these two men in the building. Well, they went in a boardroom where this newspaper staff was around a table planning their week of journalism, killed the janitor, killed 12 people. Now one of the terrorists was said to have, before he shot a female, he said, you know, Allah is great, put on a veil and killed a woman. Now within days, 700,000 people gathered for prayer vigils, for mourning, and there was grief counseling in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. And there were Catholic priests, and there were Protestant clergy, and thousands of Christians rallied around three-quarters of a million Parisians for grief counseling. And then seven days after the Charlie Hebdo Islamic shootings, the front page of their newspaper carried this Christian headline paraphrasing Christ from the cross. It said, all is forgiven.

Isn't that something a uniquely Christian sentiment, like when the Lord said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they did? Now one wonders why the Olympics held in Paris didn't mock Islam. Now after all, France is the most attacked European country. Since 1972, every year annually, more than any other European country, France has Islamic killings.

In 1997, there were 130 terrorism attacks in France alone. So with Islam exerting the most violence in France, why mock Christianity? Why mock the faith that demonstrates the most benevolence to the French people? Why didn't they open up the Olympics with a ceremony just eviscerating Islam and denigrating Mohammed and the non-existent God of the non-scriptural Quran? I think we know why they didn't mock Islam, because it would be Armageddon. And I think people know they can blaspheme Jesus and mock Christians, because what we'll do is turn the other cheek and say, God bless you.

But here's my point. Maybe things like this grieve you. Maybe as a Christian, these things really weigh on your mind.

They do mine many times. So let me read a scripture, and then let's talk about things to keep in mind. I'll read 2 Thessalonians 2, 7-13, and then we'll unpack this.

But the Bible says this, for the mystery of iniquity doth already work. Only he who now restrains will restrain until he be taken out of the way. Now this is a reference to the Holy Spirit, the one who restrains evil.

God's presence in the world, God rules and overrules. But there's coming a day, and it will be a fearful day, when the restraining hand of God is at least partially withdrawn. And verse 8 of 2 Thessalonians 2, and that wicked one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders. Now this is a reference to the emergence on the world stage, the Antichrist. We've talked about this in 1 John 2. There's the spirit of Antichrist, but one day there will be a person so full of darkness and satanic power, he will be the Antichrist. And in 2 Thessalonians 2.8, wicked is capitalized, just as the Bible speaks of Jesus Christ, the righteous. Well, there is somebody coming.

Maybe they're alive on planet earth even right now. The wicked. Isn't that something? What a terrible title. Someone so dark, so satanic, so evil and sinful and anti-God, the only appropriate title is the wicked. And this person will be revealed once the church is snatched out of the way. That's called a rapture.

The Holy Spirit of God, the Restrainer, is partially taken out of the way. And when we come back, we'll look at 2 Thessalonians 2 verses 10 and those that follow that talk about what it will be like for those that have rejected salvation and are left behind, as the book series so famously spoke of, left behind after Christ returns. But what you and I must keep in mind to retain our hope, our joy, our sanity nowadays, stay tuned.

We'll come back right after this. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. We unify by collaborating with like-minded organizations like the Family Research Council, the Family Policy Alliance, and My Faith Votes. We mobilize by providing practical tools you can use to impact your local community.

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Alex McFarland here. We're talking about 2 Thessalonians 2. And after the church is taken out of the world, seven years of tribulation begins on planet earth. There will be a political, social, cultural leader, but a spiritual leader. In the immediate chaos of the days after the rapture, there will emerge on the global stage a political leader. He will broker a temporary peace deal in the Middle East. He will really moderate how Israel gets their temple rebuilt, coexisting with Islam. And midway through the tribulation period, this charismatic, powerful global leader who for just a moment seems to unite the world in the utopia that has proved elusive throughout all the centuries. But this global leader will suddenly say, worship me or die.

The Antichrist will not only be a political force, but he will declare himself to be God, will desecrate the temple in Israel, and those that refuse to take his mark or worship him will be executed. Now, verse 10 of 2 Thessalonians 2, and this is future, but speaking of this, it says, with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. Now why are people spiritually perishing? Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.

And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. Now 2 Thessalonians 2, 12, this is very forceful language, it says that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. I mean, there have always been sin and sinners, but we're living in a time where people all around us, they zealously, brazenly, with relish and vigor, flaunt their unrighteousness. I mean, you think about homosexuality celebrated, not just mainstreamed, but celebrated. All manner of unspeakable sexual deviancy and immorality.

Mocking Jesus the entire world watched as the Last Supper was mocked, and Christ and the apostles depicted as drag queens. That, if ever, 2 Thessalonians 2, 12 could be physically, exhibit A, pointed to pleasure in unrighteousness. But here's the thing, speaking of delusion, we're living in times of delusion right now. The idea that a city is safer if the police are abolished.

That's insanity. The idea that America will be safer and better if the borders are open, terrorists and criminals and illegals are just allowed in, drugs are legalized, it's little wonder that people are overdosing, that we would betray our friend in the Middle East, the nation of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, our longest ally, and of course, the idea that gender is fluid. You know, talk about a delusion, to say people are born to engage in certain sexual behaviors, and yet their human physiology is fluid. In reality, it's the exact opposite of that. Human physiology is what we're born with, and that is fixed and objective and voluble. But behaviors we engage in, that can change. So we're living in a time of delusion, and maybe, like myself, it can be a bit of a heaviness. But here are some things to keep in mind. Number one is this. If you're a Christian, in a world gone mad, remember this, number one, we know what the struggle is actually about.

Okay? Ephesians 6, 12. Listen carefully, please. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Now, let's parse this out a little bit. We know the struggle in the world over truth versus error, light versus dark, common sense versus utopian lies and delusions. Ephesians 6, 12, it's not about flesh and blood. But here are the fourfold fronts that we fight.

Listen. Principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness. All right, let's look at these. The word principalities in the Greek, it's the word archetypes. In other words, these foundational, very long-lived archetypes, whether it be secularism, atheism, hedonism, the idea that the highest good of life is pleasure. These mindsets that I really think are demonic philosophies. The principalities may very well be demon spirits that have different philosophies, whether it's depression or sexual immorality or lust or materialism or occult and idolatry.

But our fight is against, for one thing, principalities. Then it says powers. Now the word there is exousia, and that is an earthly power with spiritual implication. Now, do you know every platform of leadership in this world carries with it spiritual implication? I mean, if you're a parent, if you're a teacher, if you're an elected official, if you're an employer, a boss, because circumstances and truth claims influence the way people think and live and their character is developed, their soul is ultimately redeemed or condemned, powers in this world have spiritual implication. And certainly that is true for clergy.

I mean, what a minister says and how he influences people really matters. And then Ephesians 6.12 talks about the rulers of the darkness of this age. Now, quote, rulers of the darkness.

What does this mean? It means angelic, demonic power that asserts its independence of God. And the word darkness, interesting word, scotas, and there are a number of words in almost every culture derivative from this.

Maybe we'll talk about that at another time. If you've traveled in Africa, you will know what scotas refers to, scat, but it's the word darkness or obscurity, okay? What is being obscured? In our times, truth is being obscured, salvation, belief in Jesus, the one and only Redeemer.

These things are being obscured. And Ephesians 6.12 really summarizes it as spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Now, the word wickedness is a word that it's not just something bad or wrong, but quote, pain-ridden evil.

Isn't that something? Pain-ridden evil. It can also mean criminal.

What is the crime? Taking God's law and in fact defying and rejecting and denying God himself. We're in the heavenly places.

And let's just say this, the impact of spiritual influence on situations or persons. Now we've got to take a break, but in a world that has lost its way, even in Christian America, that quite literally hangs in the balance. And folks, if you've ever prayed, I beg of you to pray for this nation in light of the impending election.

It's been said that the Democrat ticket represents the ticket from hell. I mean, abolition of morality, loss of right to free speech, abandoning Israel, empowering terrorism. Kamala Harris, I don't know if you are aware of this, but the end of July 2024, she struck a deal to release three Iranian prisoners that were masterminds behind 9-11.

And Iran is only sixth from the bottom of human rights abuses in the world, nearly the bottom in terms of abuse, no human rights whatsoever. And Kamala Harris, running for president on the Democrat ticket, just struck a plea deal with Iran, one of the most evil, wicked empires in the world today. Is that who we want for our president? Well, we know what the struggle is really about. Stay tuned, folks. We'll be right back with more things to keep in mind in a world gone mad. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland a religion and culture expert.

Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. In recent years, our nation has suffered greatly, and we seem to be on a rapid moral decline. We've rejected God, morality, and we've almost completely lost our sense of patriotism. It's no wonder that many are asking the question, is this the end of America? Hi, Alex McFarland here, and I want to make you aware of my book, The Assault on America, How to Defend Our Nation Before It's Too Late. You know, our nation has seen politicians that are corrupted by greed, and they've got a vested interest in power, and many of our elected officials seem to care little about the country that they've been appointed to serve. Read my book, The Assault on America, We Can Stand Up for Our Great Nation and Defend America Before It's Too Late.

It's available everywhere. You can learn more on my own website, which is alexmcfarland.com. Read the book, The Assault on America, How to Defend Our Nation Before It's Too Late. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to The Alex McFarland Show. Welcome back to the program.

Alex McFarland here, so honored that you're listening. Hey, by the way, as we resume, I want to thank everybody who has prayed for us this summer as in seven biblical worldview camps that we have led, and then two additional that I spoke at. I've been in front of more than 1,200 teenagers this summer of 24, more than 150 salvation decisions, and then I've been traveling, speaking at other events as well. Our ministry engages in events, publishing, and broadcasting to call people to Christ. And as this program airs, I want to remind everybody we're doing two evangelistic events in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Thursday, August 15th, 2.30 and 6 p.m. free. Now we've got airplanes going up and down the coastline with banners saying, Curious About Christ? Free event every Thursday, curiousaboutchrist.com. And what we're doing in doing these free evangelistic campaigns in Myrtle Beach, 17.2 million people a year, visit the Grand Strand Myrtle Beach from all 50 states. We're providing training and classes and gospel events that they might take the message of the biblical worldview back to their homes across America and really pollinate America with the truth of the gospel.

Visit this very innovative website, if you would, curiousaboutchrist.com. Then there is our first-time voter's guide, and this is at alexmcfarland.com slash vote. alexmcfarland.com slash vote.

There's a free downloadable bulletin insert. Please have your church pray for this election, influence people, and learn about why we should vote and how, as Christians, our vote is a stewardship issue. Then I want to remind you about my book, The Assault on America, How to Defend Our Nation Before It's Too Late. I wrote this four years ago, but all of the issues I touch on are still true. The book was number one in three categories on amazon.com.

I give God the glory. But we're still talking about the border, we're still talking about religious freedom, the rights of parents, following the rule of law, our Constitution. Look, America is a stewardship issue. And for your gift of at least $25, I'm going to send you a free copy of this book. As my gift, The Assault on America, you can give securely online at alexmcfarland.com, or you can mail a tax-deductible gift, and our board and I thank you. Your donation in any amount will help us continue doing radio, television, podcasts, publishing, conferences, camps, our growing staff. There are several hires that we need to make, and we really need partners like you to continue helping us so that we can add staff and seize every opportunity to call our country, especially young people, to truth, and as I often say, woke-proof America's youth. So you can give securely online at alexmcfarland.com, or if you would mail a check in any amount to TNG, you can just write Truth for a New Generation, TNG, P.O.

Box 10231, Greensboro, North Carolina 27404. And if your gift is at least $25, we'll send you a copy of my book, The Assault on America, How to Defend Our Nation Before It's Too Late. Well, you know, as we record this show, there's so much in the news going on. I said, number one, to keep in mind, we know what the struggle is really about. Number two, if you're a Christian, we know what is ultimately true and real. You know, 2 Corinthians 4.18 says, we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. I often say this, you know, what's internal is eternal, you know?

What's external is very circumstantial and temporary. We know, you know, stated in another way, we know this world is not all there is, right? First John 2.15 says, the world is passing away, and the lusts thereof. As much as I love life, and there's so much to enjoy from family and church, art, literature, music, I love America, I appreciate our nation so much, but we know that this world is not all there is. Folks, if you're grieved over evil and immorality, it won't be around forever.

Don't worry. I want to say this, we know what true justice is. We are living in a time when so many people cry out about social justice.

But let me say this, do I have to say this, but I will. The message of Christianity is not tolerance and diversity and equity. Now Jesus opens his arms and he says, whosoever will may come. But the message of Christianity is about love. John 13.38, by this will all men know that you're my disciples if you love one another.

But love is to seek the highest good of another. The message of Christianity is not tolerance, although we are supposed to love our neighbor, but love means telling people the truth, you know? And so the message of Christianity is the death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God for the sins of the world. And that forgiveness is appropriated as we put our faith in Jesus, yes. Let's be specific and faithful to the Bible as we repent and believe. We turn from sin to Christ. Number four, we know what the real purpose of life is.

Bear this in mind. John 17.3, the Lord Jesus said this, this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Isn't that something that Jesus said that the God of the Torah, the God of Scripture, the biblical God is, quote, the only true God? And Jesus Christ is the only true Savior.

Well if the biblical God is the only true God, then every deity that isn't the biblical God is a false God. We know what the real purpose of life is. It's to know the true and living God and to be saved. And then finally, bear this in mind. We know what the struggle is really about. We know what is ultimately true and real. We know this world is not all there is.

We know the real purpose of life. But finally this, we know who is ultimately in control. Folks, God is in control.

Psalm 119, 8 and 9 says, It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man or in princes. You know, in 1972 there was a famous book, Hal Lindsey wrote this book, titled Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth. And it was mocked then, and people mock it now, I was on Amazon.com reading some of the reviews and people were just so critical, saying, There is no such person as Satan.

Oh yes there is. And Satan, the Bible calls him in John 844, the father of lies. Satan doesn't keep his promises.

You know, it's important to believe the God who is truth, the God who keeps his word. The lies, the broken promises of Satan, it reminds me of something I read that in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II, Germany and Russia signed a peace treaty. It was called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. And they promised that for 20 years, neither nation would attack each other. And yet in 1941, less than two years after signing this, under cover of night, without warning or provocation, Hitler sent tanks across the Russian border in a sneak attack. And it showed that he never had any interest in keeping his word. It was only a temporary measure until he could build up and do what he wanted.

And he attacked Russia. Folks, Satan is a liar and a thief. And John 10 says he's a murderer. And so believe what is true.

Let me refer you to my website, AlexMcFarland.com. There's a tab, What Does God Say About My Relationship With Him? If you've never trusted Christ, please do so. If you need to come back to Christ, we urge you to do that. And remember, stay encouraged in a world gone mad.

We stay joyful because we know God is in control. And if you're a believer, you belong to him. Alex McFarland Ministries are made possible through the prayers and financial support of partners like you. For over 20 years, this ministry has been bringing individuals into a personal relationship with Christ and has been equipping people to stand strong for truth. Learn more and donate securely online at AlexMcFarland.com. You may also reach us at Alex McFarland, P.O. Box 10231, Greensboro, North Carolina 27404, or by calling 1-877-YES-GOD and the number 1. That's 1-877-YES-GOD1. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you again on the next edition of The Alex McFarland Show.