"Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18 New American Standard Bible).

Children: The church, the body of Christ, those of us who by faith are in Christ Jesus.

Last hour: Great time of persecution, a time of testing.

Antichrist: Coming world ruler who will persecute and prevail against God's people for one hour - a 31/2 year period.

Antichrists: Those who do not believe in the historic Jesus of the Bible -- who came in the flesh according to prophecy, and died for the sins of the world.

Here's my point: John said we would know it is the last hour when we see many antichrists appearing -- religious leaders who do not believe in the historic Jesus. And, if you've been noticing, that's exactly what we're seeing.

Just yesterday, I posted a story about how certain Jewish religious leaders and some so-called scholars where attacking actor Mel Gibson for making an accurate movie about the crucifixion of Christ (Read about it here). Why were they against Gibson's movie? They say it's because it portrays the Jews an a bad light and could lead to anti-Semitism.

Think about it: It's bad if a Christian makes a movie about the crucifixion if it offends certain Jewish religious leaders, but it's OK if these same religious leaders attack and insult the Christian Scripture -- the New Testament.

What does this have to do with today's news. Well, Jewish religious leaders aren't the only religious leaders who don't like the New Testament. In fact, not long ago the Vatican actually sided with the Jewish leaders who reject Jesus and apologized for content in the New Testament (Read about it here).

Furthermore, now it appears the Vatican's unbiblical proposal to make Jerusalem an international city for all religions is gaining steam. Shimon Peres (Herb photo), former Israeli prime minister and leader of the opposition Labor Party, has now called for the same thing. He wants to make Jerusalem a world capital. And, he wants the holy sites, including the Temple Mount, to come under the control of the United Nations (Read about it here).

Of course, you know the Old Testament prophecy. In the end-times -- after Israel has been restored as a nation -- a Roman prince will come and sign a seven-year agreement with Israel. But, after just 31/2 years, this wicked prince will break the agreement -- he will go into the temple and exalt himself above God. This event, in turn, will begin the final great 31/2 years of persecution that will precede the physical return of Christ to earth (Daniel 9:27). 

But the prophet Daniel wasn't the only one who warned about this event. When Jesus was asked about what the sign of His coming and the end of the ages would be, He answered:

Therefore, when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains ... for then there will be a great tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall (Matthew 24:15-21).

And the Apostle Paul said:

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Now, they want to make Jerusalem a world capital. And, they want to place the Temple Mount under the control of the godless United Nations. If this isn't the beginning of the great whore -- the Babylon of Revelation who becomes drunk with the blood of the saints -- I don't know what is (Revelation chapter 17).

Are you ready?