All you need to know about the demonic roots of global terrorism and how the Christian church can respond

29 Comments

• 

  Reply July 9, 2016

  Varnel Watson

  Thank you Dr. William DeArteaga and Jon Sellers This is my favorite http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/actions-one-may-take-during-a-terrorist-incident/

• 

  Reply July 9, 2016

  William DeArteaga

  Thanks but I could not actually download the article.

• 

  Reply July 9, 2016

  Varnel Watson

  Jon Sellers suggested to PRAY for the ISIS leaders. Pray that God change their hearts, give them dreams of Jesus, turn them away from evil.

  Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Current “caliphate” and leader of ISIS
  Omar al-Shishani Top level ISIS military commander
  Ayman al-Zawahiri Leader of al Qaeda
  Ibrahim al-Asiri Top level bomb maker for al-Qaeda
  Qasim al-Raymi Top level al-Qaeda leader in Saudi peninsula
  Sirajuddin Haqqani Operational leader of Haqqani Network, the deadliest insurgent group in Afghanistan
  Abubakar Shekau Leader of Boko Haram, Nigerian insurgent group who has pledged allegiance to ISIS http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-demonic-roots-of-global-terrorism-and-how-the-christian-church-can-respond/

• Reply July 9, 2016

  Joseph D. Absher

  It is a good work.

• 

  Reply April 3, 2018

  Varnel Watson

  Another one just now to add to the Demonic Factor in Mass Shootings and the gun control debate William DeArteaga

  Police confirm active shooter at YouTube HQ in California

  The YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California is on lockdown after reports of an active shooter on campus. Police have confirmed activity at the address, while employees described sounds of gunshots and reported an evacuation.

  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-youtube-shooter-20180403-story.html

• 

  Reply April 3, 2018

  William DeArteaga

  Thnk you

• 

  Reply April 3, 2018

  Varnel Watson

  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-youtube-shooter-20180403-story.html

• 

  Reply April 3, 2018

  Varnel Watson

  Anyone following this story?

  https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/03/us/youtube-hq-shooting/index.html

  BTW if you google it Scotty Searan you will see Google does not show FoxNews results anylonger

• 

  Reply November 13, 2018

  Varnel Watson

  Identifying The Spirit of Jezebel

  Refuses to admit guilt or wrong
  A person with a Jezebel spirit is will never admits wrong, unless it is a temporary admittance of guilt to gain “favor” with someone. To accept responsibility would violate the core of insecurity and pride from which it operates. When a Jezebel apologizes it is never in true repentance or acknowledgment of wrongdoing but rather “I’m sorry your feelings were hurt.”

  Takes credit for everything
  While a strong trait of Jezebel is to never take responsibility for his wrong actions or behavior, he also is quick to take credit for benefits for which he contributed no effort.

  Uses people to accomplish its agenda
  The Spirit of Jezebel lets others do its dirty work. The Jezebel gets another person’s emotions stirred up, then lets that person go into a rage. The Jezebel sits back looking innocent, saying “Who me? What did I do?” This behavior makes it difficult for even the most ardent truth seekers to pin one down. The Jezebel spirit is clever in its agenda.

  Withholds information
  Withholding information is one of the way a person operating under the influence of the Jezebel Spirit holds and maintain. Remember the Jezebel spirit is a form of witchcraft. Witchcraft spirits loves to control other people. A Jezebel wields power over you by knowing something you don’t know in a situation. In the eyes of a Jezebel, having information you don’t have is a powerful weapon of control.

  Jezebel is threaten by Prophetic #Ministry
  A person with a Jezebel spirit will do everything in its power to destroy a person with a prophetic ministry or gift. Reason being is that someone with a prophetic gift or ministry will be able to identify Jezebel Spirit and will attack it. Remember Jezebel in the Bible tried to destroy all the true prophets of #God and even tried to kill Elijah.

  Volunteers for anything
  A Jezebel loves to volunteer, especially for projects were he/she will be seen and can have some level of control. Although he will work hard, his motive is never pure, and eventually his secret agenda cannot be hidden.

  Lies
  A person with a Jezebel Spirit will lie, even when they don’t have to and are hard to detect. No one can lie better than a Jezebel. He can make you believe whatever he/she wants you to as he/she does this through manipulation. The fact that Jezebel can look you in the eye and lie just shows how strong and adamant this rebellious and recalcitrant spirit is.

  Ignores people
  A classic ploy of a controller is to ignore you when you disagree with him. This tactic is frequently used by leaders when someone doesn’t agree with their plans, and they isolate the person by ignoring him. Some in these situations have been ignored for months, just because they chose not to be a puppet and say to every idea or whim. This puts the person out of the leader’s grace and forces him to either “come around” to the leader’s way of thinking or be indefinitely ignored. One is not free to disagree with a controller.

  Never gives credit or shows gratitude
  A person with the Spirit of Jezebel will rarely give credit to someone or acknowledge another person’s actions, not even for something that turned out to greatly benefit the Jezebel. He just cannot bring himself to say thank you or to acknowledge that someone else did something right. There are those who have gone out of their way to bless a Jezebel by being the catalyst of sending him on a trip or giving a gift. Yet never will there be a thank you. This again puts the controller in a position of power. If Jezebel does, it is always to accomplish an end-game, but never from a pure #heart.

  Criticizes everyone
  This is a characteristic of a controller. He has to be the one who looks good, so he will quickly sharply criticize anyone who makes a suggestion or plan. Even though he likes the plan, he can only criticize it because the idea did not originate from him. Criticizing others elevates the controller in his own mind.

  http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/jezebel-was-a-political-person-she-was-a-leader/

• 

  Reply November 13, 2018

  Joe Absher

  Thank you

• 

  Reply November 13, 2018

  Dustin Wilcox

  Hey how come I always have troubles? Am I missing something?

• 

  Reply November 13, 2018

  Louise Cummings

  I can’t pick this video up by Joel Richardson

• 

  Reply November 14, 2018

  Varnel Watson

  http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/is-king-of-syria-one-of-10-kings/

• 

  Reply November 13, 2018

  Varnel Watson

  People delete their linx for all different reasons on the internets http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/israeli-military-on-high-alert-opens-bomb-shelters-over-iran-activity-in-syria/

• 

  Reply November 14, 2018

  Varnel Watson

  21 Facts about the Antichrist
  1. Called “the man of sin” because he will be the embodiment of lawlessness and leader of the great apostasy of 2 Thes. 2:3,8-12; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev. 14:9-13; Rev. 15:2-4; Rev. 16:2-12).
  2. Called “the son of perdition,” because of being destined to destruction by by his rebellion, like Judas or any other man who sells himself to Satan (2 Thes. 2:3,8-12; Rev. 13:2; Daniel 8:24; Daniel 11:37-39).
  3. He is to be revealed (2 Thes. 2:3).
  4. He will be the opposer of God (2 Thes. 2:4).
  5. He will exalt himself above God (2 Thes. 2:4).
  6. He will accept worship as God (2 Thes. 2:4).
  7. His worship will be carried on in the future Jewish temple at Jerusalem (2 Thes. 2:4; Daniel 8:10-14,23-27; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:36-45; Daniel 12:1-7; Matthew 24:15-21; Rev. 11:1-2; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev. 14:9-11; Rev. 15:2-4; Rev. 16:2-12; Rev. 20:4-6).
  8. He will claim to be God (2 Thes. 2:4).
  9. He has a time to be revealed (2 Thes. 2:6).
  10. Something now holds back or hinders his revelation (2 Thes. 2:7; note, Luke 4:42)
  11. The spirit of lawlessness now works preparing for his revelation (2 Thes. 2:7).
  12. The mystery of iniquity, or spirit of lawlessness cannot reveal him until the hinderer of lawlessness be taken out of the world (2 Thes. 2:7).
  13. When the hinderer of lawlessness is taken out of the world, then shall that wicked be revealed (2 Thes. 2:7-8).
  14. When the wicked is revealed he will live until the second coming of Christ, will head the armies at Armageddon and will be destroyed by Christ (2 Thes. 2:8; Rev. 19:11-21; Daniel 7:24-28; Daniel 8:23-27; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:36-45; Daniel 12:1-7; Matthew 24:15-31).
  15. He is a man, for he will be killed by Christ at Armageddon (2 Thes. 2:8; Daniel 7:11; Daniel 8:25; Isaiah 11:4; Rev. 19:11-21). This man could not be Judas or someone else who has died already (Hebrews 9:27).
  16. He will be Satan’s agent and his last attempt to raise up a world dictator (2 Thes. 2:9; Daniel 8:24; Daniel 11:37-39; Rev. 13:2).
  17. He will have miraculous powers from Satan (2 Thes. 2:9; Daniel 8:24; Daniel 11:37-39; Rev. 13:2,11-18; Rev. 16:13-16; Rev. 19:20; Matthew 24:24).
  18. He will be a deceiver (2 Thes. 2:10; Daniel 8:24-25; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:36-45; Matthew 24:15-31; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev. 19:20).
  19. Only those who are lost will follow him (2 Thes. 2:10-12; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev. 14:9-11; Rev. 16:13-16; Rev. 19:20).
  20. The reason for people being deceived by him is that they have rejected truth, loved sin, and refused salvation (2 Thes. 2:11-12).
  21. He will be a great delusion and a lie (2 Thes. 2:11-12; Daniel 8:10-14,25; Daniel 11:39).
  Whoever the Antichrist will be he will fulfill many prophecies and be slain by Christ at Armageddon (Daniel 7:11; Isaiah 11:4; Rev. 19:19-21).
  Greek: analisko (NT:355), to kill, destroy (2 Thes. 2:8; Luke 9:54; Galatians 5:15). Other scriptures speak of his being slain by Christ (Daniel 7:11; Daniel 8:23-25; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:45; Isaiah 11:4). This does not contradict Rev. 19:20, for this passage only shows that after he is slain he will be cast into conscious and eternal torment along with others (Matthew 25:41,46; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10). The fact that he will be slain disproves the theories of Antichrist being Judas or some other historical man resurrected as the beast of Rev. 13. If he were a resurrected man he could not be slain. It is not necessary for Judas or some other historical man to be brought back from death to fulfill Scripture. A future man could do this, as well as one of the past. All that is necessary is his yieldedness as a tool of Satan.
  Greek: katargeo (NT:2673); see note, Ephes. 2:15.

  Dake Topical Index.

• 

  Reply November 14, 2018

  Louise Cummings

  Great points. Perfect Revelation. And Word.

• 

  Reply November 14, 2018

  Louise Cummings

  Perry Stone , has a great cd out called. iN THE SHADOW OF THE FINAL BEAST (T hE ISIS FACTOR and the KINGDOM of the ANTICHRIST) two part cd.

• 

  Reply October 14, 2019

  Varnel Watson

  THANKS William DeArteaga Joe Absher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MzDwfxCwO0&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3rYd_PjAUX2Xdxrdmy2LPTZWW0uV2aFcRQPx2xQ02V2WAOgyCdBEbv3Xs

• 

  Reply October 14, 2019

  Varnel Watson

  RichardAnna Boyce Neil Steven Lawrence

  ISLAM is only ONE of WORLD’S THREE APOCALYPTIC RELIGIONS The antichrist will most likely come from the area of the old Assyrian Empire and the Muslims will accept him as their Mahdi. He will be accompanied by someone claiming to be Jesus, who acts as the false prophet and denies the gospel. It appears that events will eventually turn the world against him leading to Armageddon.

  Because the coalition is Islamic. There is a possibility that they could be drawn into the conflict, espevially if they go the route that the Islamic world seems to be moving, i.e. towards a more militant and fundamentalist form of Islam. Meshech, Tubal, Togarmah and Gomer are all found in Modern day Turkey which is presently trending away from secularism and towards fundamentalism. Persia (present Iran), Lybia, Ethiopia (modern Somalia and vicinity) are also Muslim.
  For all Putin’s bluster, he is apparently having a difficult time subduing the Ukraine and is presently stalemated. Not exactly a conquering powerhouse.

  The antichrist will most likely come from the area of the old Assyrian Empire and the Muslims will accept him as their Mahdi. He will be accompanied by someone claiming to be Jesus, who acts as the false prophet and denies the gospel. It appears that events will eventually turn the world against him leading to Armageddon.

  A mainstream Sunni Muslim website has decreed that the Islamic messiah, called the Mahdi, will appear in 2016 and that the Muslim Jesus will return in 2022 to conquer the world for Islam

  Tala’l Badr (here arises the moon) is the most significant chant in Islam. Watch Erdogan sucking in the rays of being moon-Mahdi while looking like the ancient Sultans of the Ottomans:

  Iran to proclaim Bashar Assad as the 12th Inman Mahdi. (Posted 2015)

  http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/worlds-three-apocalyptic-religions/

• 

  Reply January 10, 2020

  Varnel Watson

  21 Facts about the Antichrist
  1. Called “the man of sin” because he will be the embodiment of lawlessness and leader of the great apostasy of 2 Thes. 2:3,8-12; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev. 14:9-13; Rev. 15:2-4; Rev. 16:2-12).
  2. Called “the son of perdition,” because of being destined to destruction by by his rebellion, like Judas or any other man who sells himself to Satan (2 Thes. 2:3,8-12; Rev. 13:2; Daniel 8:24; Daniel 11:37-39).
  3. He is to be revealed (2 Thes. 2:3).
  4. He will be the opposer of God (2 Thes. 2:4).
  5. He will exalt himself above God (2 Thes. 2:4).
  6. He will accept worship as God (2 Thes. 2:4).
  7. His worship will be carried on in the future Jewish temple at Jerusalem (2 Thes. 2:4; Daniel 8:10-14,23-27; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:36-45; Daniel 12:1-7; Matthew 24:15-21; Rev. 11:1-2; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev. 14:9-11; Rev. 15:2-4; Rev. 16:2-12; Rev. 20:4-6).
  8. He will claim to be God (2 Thes. 2:4).
  9. He has a time to be revealed (2 Thes. 2:6).
  10. Something now holds back or hinders his revelation (2 Thes. 2:7; note, Luke 4:42)
  11. The spirit of lawlessness now works preparing for his revelation (2 Thes. 2:7).
  12. The mystery of iniquity, or spirit of lawlessness cannot reveal him until the hinderer of lawlessness be taken out of the world (2 Thes. 2:7).
  13. When the hinderer of lawlessness is taken out of the world, then shall that wicked be revealed (2 Thes. 2:7-8).
  14. When the wicked is revealed he will live until the second coming of Christ, will head the armies at Armageddon and will be destroyed by Christ (2 Thes. 2:8; Rev. 19:11-21; Daniel 7:24-28; Daniel 8:23-27; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:36-45; Daniel 12:1-7; Matthew 24:15-31).
  15. He is a man, for he will be killed by Christ at Armageddon (2 Thes. 2:8; Daniel 7:11; Daniel 8:25; Isaiah 11:4; Rev. 19:11-21). This man could not be Judas or someone else who has died already (Hebrews 9:27).
  16. He will be Satan’s agent and his last attempt to raise up a world dictator (2 Thes. 2:9; Daniel 8:24; Daniel 11:37-39; Rev. 13:2).
  17. He will have miraculous powers from Satan (2 Thes. 2:9; Daniel 8:24; Daniel 11:37-39; Rev. 13:2,11-18; Rev. 16:13-16; Rev. 19:20; Matthew 24:24).
  18. He will be a deceiver (2 Thes. 2:10; Daniel 8:24-25; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:36-45; Matthew 24:15-31; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev. 19:20).
  19. Only those who are lost will follow him (2 Thes. 2:10-12; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev. 14:9-11; Rev. 16:13-16; Rev. 19:20).
  20. The reason for people being deceived by him is that they have rejected truth, loved sin, and refused salvation (2 Thes. 2:11-12).
  21. He will be a great delusion and a lie (2 Thes. 2:11-12; Daniel 8:10-14,25; Daniel 11:39).
  Whoever the Antichrist will be he will fulfill many prophecies and be slain by Christ at Armageddon (Daniel 7:11; Isaiah 11:4; Rev. 19:19-21).
  Greek: analisko (NT:355), to kill, destroy (2 Thes. 2:8; Luke 9:54; Galatians 5:15). Other scriptures speak of his being slain by Christ (Daniel 7:11; Daniel 8:23-25; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:45; Isaiah 11:4). This does not contradict Rev. 19:20, for this passage only shows that after he is slain he will be cast into conscious and eternal torment along with others (Matthew 25:41,46; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10). The fact that he will be slain disproves the theories of Antichrist being Judas or some other historical man resurrected as the beast of Rev. 13. If he were a resurrected man he could not be slain. It is not necessary for Judas or some other historical man to be brought back from death to fulfill Scripture. A future man could do this, as well as one of the past. All that is necessary is his yieldedness as a tool of Satan.
  Greek: katargeo (NT:2673); see note, Ephes. 2:15.

  Dake Topical Index.

• 

  Reply January 10, 2020

  Varnel Watson

  To the Church:

  • Every church should begin organizing small home groups in the event people are unable to attend evening services.

  • Every church should prepare the names and all information on the elderly members and especially the members who are widows indeed. The local church must care for those who are unable to care for themselves.

  •Every church should have two feeding programs: one for the unchurched and one for those of the household of faith who are in serious need. Each member can provide cans of food when attending church, as this can become part of the feeding and care ministry.

  •Every church, if possible, needs a special fund to assist any dedicated members who may hit a crisis and need small amounts of financial assistance. Again, this is for those who have been faithful to God and his kingdom in the past.

• 

  Reply January 12, 2020

  Varnel Watson

  YOU LISTEN to it for your self and form your own opinion https://factba.se/transcript/donald-trump-vlog-deleted-iran-occupy-wall-street-november-16-2011

• 

  Reply December 8, 2023

  Anonymous

  yes William DeArteaga Oscar Valdez Isara Mo Neil Steven Lawrence Nelson Banuchi

  Demonic Factor in Mass Shootings and the gun control debate

  Middle-East

  Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act
  Reports of three separate MASS terrorist attacks
  The Coming Israeli War
  Huge car bombing incident in Bagdad
  WAR of Ezekiel 38
  Another horrific truck-bombing in Baghdad

• 

  Reply December 8, 2023

  Anonymous

  Territorial Spirit Warfare

  Dr. Robert Morey has one solution to the to the ‘war on terror’ by destroying the foundations of Islam!
  Church miracle? Attacker falls to ground…
  Actions one may take during a terrorist incident
  Church SECURITY is the fastest growing ministries in 2016
  Dealing With Demonic Powers in Your Church?
  Demonic influences
  Bible Verses About Demonic Spirits
  Clinton Arnold: Lausanne statement on engaging territorial spirits
  Engaging Territorial Spirits in Spiritual Warfare

• 

  Reply December 17, 2023

  Anonymous

  Neil Steven Lawrence DF Troops Find A Copy Of Adolf Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ Translated Into Arabic On The Body Of Hamas Terrorist In Makeshift Military Base At House In Gaza Israeli troops found an Arabic translation of Hitler’s Mein Kampf on the body of a terrorist in a children’s living room in a private home in northern Gaza turned into a military base, President Isaac Herzog revealed in an interview with the BBC Sunday. He has been dead for 78 years, but the book that Adolf Hitler wrote, ‘Mein Kampf’ is alive and quite well. https://www.pentecostaltheology.com/the-mahdi-is-the-antichrist/

• 

  Reply December 19, 2023

  Anonymous

  Troy Day Hitler’s title for his book when translated into English is: “My Struggle“ or you could say “My Jihad“.

  Nazism and Islamism have a lot in common:
  Both are doctrines of demons both want world domination both hate the Jews and the people of God both are totalitarian in nature both emphasize the collective over the individual both use violence as a means to an end both emphasize the strong man both are fanatical about doctrinal and/or racial purity. (Islam is very racist.).

  The entire story of the Mufti of Jerusalem, who brought about the beginnings of the current hatred of the Jews, by the Arabs, in the land of Israel – was sponsored by Hitler. This takes nothing away from the endemic, Jew hatred, built into Islam, but merely is related to the current iteration of it . 

  Hitler admired Islam for all the above qualities and wished that Islam had become the religion of Europe because it afforded a more perfect belief system for world domination. 

• 

  Reply December 17, 2023

  Anonymous

  Link Hudson Philip Williams Duane L Burgess JOHN is wrong again of course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-f8zDeqy-k&t=864s

• 

  Reply December 18, 2023

  Anonymous

  Troy Day Maybe a bit more likely than a faux Pentecostal homosexual.

  Still a bit speculative, but parts of it may fit.

• 

  Reply December 19, 2023

  Anonymous

  Kyle Williams do you care to respond to the Internal Evidence from within the document itself. In addition to the external evidence from the church fathers, the book of Revelation has many internal indications that support the late date.[73]

  ARGUMENT #1: The late date explains why John, Paul, and Timothy never mention one another together in Ephesus.
  If the early date is true, then John would have been leading in Ephesus at the same time as Paul and Timothy. Why would Paul leave Timothy in charge of the Ephesian church if the apostle John was there? Moreover, at the end of 2 Timothy, Paul mentions 17 coworkers by name, but he never mentions John. We are not merely making an argument from silence. This is a conspicuous silence. Why wouldn’t Paul mention such a spiritual titan like John? Likewise, why wouldn’t Jesus mention Paul or Timothy when writing to the church of Ephesus? (Rev. 2:1-7) Witherington writes, “The lack of apostolic presence and, by contrast, the presence of powerful prophets (both John and those he calls false prophets) seem to reflect a time after the apostles had died off late in the first century A.D. (cf. the Didache).”[74]

  ARGUMENT #2: The late date explains why Paul and Jesus give conflicting reports about false teachers in Ephesus.
  Paul’s letters to Ephesus and Jesus’ letter to Ephesus give conflicting reports regarding false teachers. On the one hand, Paul writes about men who “teach strange doctrines” (1 Tim. 1:3) and the “doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). Paul even mentions several false teachers by name: Hymenaeus, Alexander, and Philetus (1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:17). Yet, Jesus’ letter to Ephesus tells a different story. Instead of being riddled with false teachers, Jesus says, “You cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false… You hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Rev. 2:2, 6). This is quite unlike the church of Pergamum who “have some who… hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (Rev. 2:15).

  ARGUMENT #3: The late date explains how the church in Smyrna had time to grow before receiving a letter from Jesus.
  Polycarp wrote a letter to the Philippians in AD 110. In it, he states that the Smyrnaeans weren’t believers when Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians in AD 60-61.

  [You Philippians] are praised in the beginning of his Epistle. For concerning you he boasts in all the Churches who then alone had known the Lord, for we had not yet known him.[75]

  Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna. So, his use of the plural “we” refers to “the church at Smyrna,” which would “indicate that that church was not in existence at the time in question.”[76] Put simply, Polycarp is claiming that “when Paul wrote Philippians no Smyrneans had yet been evangelized.”[77]

  Craig Blomberg[78] and Gordon Fee[79] date Philippians to AD 61. Therefore, Polycarp maintains that the church in Smyrna didn’t exist before this time. This, of course, carried difficulties for the early date advocate. It requires a church entering Smyrna and springing up all within a 4-5 year span. Acts 19:10 says that “All who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord,” but this is hyperbolic language. This doesn’t mean that a church specifically existed in the city of Smyrna. Moreover, Paul never mentions a church existing in Smyrna in any of his letters.

  ARGUMENT #4: The late date explains how the church in Laodicea had time to plummet spiritually by AD 65.
  D.A. Carson, Douglas Moo,[80] and P.T. O’Brien[81] date Colossians to AD 60-61. Paul mentions a thriving church in Laodicea at this time (Col. 2:2; 4:13, 16). However, if Revelation was written in AD 65, then this church must have plummeted spiritually in just a few years. In fact, they had become so bad, that Christ threatened to vomit them out of his mouth! (Rev. 3:16) Of course, spiritual decline can occur quickly (Gal. 1:6), but which is more likely? A quick decline or a slower decline?

  ARGUMENT #5: The late date explains Jesus’ words to the church in Laodicea in light of the great earthquake of AD 60.
  The entire region around Laodicea suffered a massive earthquake in AD 60. In fact, the region suffered until at least AD 80,[82] and the “archaeological evidence at Laodicea points to a thirty-year rebuilding process.”[83]

  And yet, Jesus told the Laodiceans that they are “wealthy” and “have need of nothing” (Rev. 3:16). If the early date is true, it would be quite cruel to tell a destroyed city that they are “wealthy” and “have need of nothing.” However, if the late date is true, this would make perfect sense. Tacitus mentions that the Laodiceans refused all aid from the Roman Empire after the earthquake.[84] They rebuilt their city all on their own, because they were “wealthy” and had “need of nothing.” Hemer writes, “There is good reason for seeing Rev. 3.17 against the background of the boasted afluence [sic] of Laodicea, notoriously exemplified in her refusal of Roman aid and her carrying through a great programme of reconstruction in a spirit of proud independence and ostentatious individual benefaction.”[85]