Originally Posted by Robin
I count my self Amil, but I can't help but wonder about the last few years, where it seems that Satan really has been "released for a season (Rev, 20:3, 7-10)." We're seeing genuine demonic madness globally now, promoting and celebrating violence and murder, especially of Christians.

There have been such things before, here and there, but now this madness is all over the globe, with the exceptions of little spots like Hungary. Even Russia and China seem like the "good guys"right now because they sensibly forbid homosexual practice, Islamic terror, etc.

Is there some other biblical explanation for the sheer extent of this pure evil that has taken hold over the past 8-10 years?

From Phillip Mauro’s Revelation commentary written around 1919-20:

Another political development of the first magnitude which is taking substance and form at the present moment is the much discussed "League of Nations." This is a subject which is just now engaging the best thought and closest study of the responsible statesmen of Europe and America. Not only so; but the proposed "League" is regarded by the ablest and [364] most conservative statesmen of the day as the only thing that can save the world from self-destruction. Hence the great anxiety to secure, not peace alone but, "peace and safety" (1 Thess. 5:3). And what enhances the interest which all who believe the Word of God must take in this subject is that, in the light of the prophetic Scriptures, the League of Nations is closely related to the revived Jewish State. For it is easy to recognize, in the forthcoming League of the Nations of the old Roman earth, that Federation of Ten Kingdoms which is foretold in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, and which is to wield the political authority of the world at the time of the second coming of Christ.

It is worthy of special notice that the proposed League of Nations is not a plan conceived in the mind of some great leader or statesman, nor is it a system of visionary ideals, such as socialism; but it is being born, as it were, out of the political conditions, which the war and the menace of "militarism" have forced upon the world. It is not so much the product of human contrivance as of political and dire necessity. Conditions which the world now faces are admittedly such that "civilized" man must needs create something greater than himself to save him from the results of his own "civilization." This is the point to which human "progress" has brought us.

This very clearly appears by the latest, and perhaps the most weighty, utterance of President Wilson (pronounced September 27, 1918, only a short time [365] prior to the writing of these lines) wherein he declared that "the only instrumentality" by which "a secure and lasting peace" can be attained is "a league of nations formed under covenants that will be efficacious." And he goes on to say:

"And as I see it, the constitution of that league of nations and the clear definition of its objects must be a part of the peace settlement itself."

Manifestly, if President Wilson is right in this view of the situation, the Federation foretold by the prophets will soon be a reality.

Further in the course of the speech from which we have quoted, Mr. Wilson confidently declared that one effect of the war has been to promote the consolidation of all mankind. So we have here a very striking testimony indeed, and from a highly competent witness, to the great fact which it was the main object of this volume to demonstrate, namely, that current movements were tending to the virtual unification of mankind through the bringing into existence of a vast system, embracing the political, economic and religious affairs of the civilized nations, or the greater part of them. Thus, Mr. Wilson said:

"The common will of mankind has been substituted for the particular purposes of individual states."

And again:

"National purposes have fallen more and more into the background, and the common purpose of enlightened mankind has taken their place." [366]

Thus Mr. Wilson has announced to the world, which listens with deepest respect to his utterances, the advent of universal Democracy, and confidently declares that it soon will be established upon a permanent basis. And this recalls to mind his earlier phrase, in which he declared that the purpose of the war was, and its outcome will be, "to make the world safe for Democracy"--that is to say for the rule of Man.

It is of deep interest in this connection to note that in our day the demand of the authorities for "peace" is coupled with an insistent demand for "safety" also, which shows that we are at last in the days foretold in 1 Thess. 5:2, 3--"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they (i. e., the rulers) shall say (literally, decree or say with authority) peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them."

Notice that he used 1 Thess. 5:2-3 for “proof” things were imminent.

“The foundation of knowledge is God’s revelation.” Dr. Greg Bahnsen

“In the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ appears in order to fulfill the Old Testament hope of the Messiah. He presents himself as the king who has come to establish his kingdom in anticipation of his universal rule.” Dr. Kenneth Gentry

“Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.” William Penn