“And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved” (Hosea 12:13).
In 1959 I migrated from the country of my birth, Yugoslavia, and settled in Australia, the country I chose to adopt as my new home.
However, I went back to Yugoslavia in 1979 to visit my parents, brothers, sisters and relatives. I had been 21 years of age and single when I first left Yugoslavia. On my return to this wonderful family reunion 20 years later, I was 41, married and blessed with 3 children.
During those 20 years, major changes had taken place in my life. It was wonderful to see my brothers and sisters and all the relatives (those that were still alive) and many of my old friends. It is difficult to describe my inner feelings as I arrived in the village and home where I was born. Although it was real, it felt like a dream.
My eldest brother was keen to know about my 20 years in Australia, the people there and the way of life. After discussing many interesting things, he asked me to tell him something about the Bible, especially the prophecies. l chose to read to him from Revelation chapter 13. That chapter speaks of 2 beasts. The first beast, as we believe, represents the papal power. Verse 3 says that the whole world will wonder “after the beast,” or in other words, the whole world will pay homage to the papacy.
The second beast is introduced in verse 11. It is described as having two horns that are lamb-like but speaking as a dragon.
My brother asked me to explain to him the meaning of these two beasts. I proceeded to tell him that the first beast is the papacy and the whole world will accept the pope as the ultimate leader of the religions on earth. The second beast is the USA which will support the papacy and will become the greatest power on earth. To this my brother replied: “Never, never will that happen.” He added, “The Soviet Union holds the balance of power. It is more powerful than the USA.”
It has taken another 20 years to see the beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy in Revelation 13. Today we see that the papacy is on the rise and before long the whole world will worship that system.
The United States is the greatest single power on earth; this is a recognized fact. In many ways it is already beginning to speak as a dragon and soon will exercise “all the power of the first beast” and also “cause the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast.”
Those who refuse to worship the beast and his image will be dealt with in a manner that is reminiscent of the Dark Ages.
Year after year, events are becoming ever more impressive. God’s timetable is being revealed with increasing clarity. We are not to take our eyes off prophecy.
My brother is now a follower of Christ, and God willing, he will be baptized in our church together with his wife this year, in preparation for the heavenly kingdom.