Olympics 2024 in Paris has been drawing a lot of our attention, particularly for those of us who enjoy sports without the politics. Well, at least that is what it’s supposed to be. When the 1972 terrorist attack of the Munich Games occurred, much was made about how the Olympics should be free of the politics of war and terrorism, strife and conflict. Today even the secular observer writing in the New York Times or the BBC have been taken aback by the blatant attack against Christianity in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Paris. The Last Supper was depicted as a drag queen orgy; public nudity adorned the Christ scene; lewdness was given center stage in a picture where Jesus ate His last meal with His disciples before the crucifixion. Out of the limelight of that obvious desecration is the depiction of a pale horse ridden by Death running through the Olympic stadium leading the nations as they paraded in. For those who are unschooled in John’s prophecy of Revelation 6:7-8, it was a spectacular display of confusing images. To those who know it (as did the one who designed that Olympic parody), it was a declaration of the advent of the Days of Lawlessness. To add salt to the wound, we are later to discover that the Brazilian gold contender for surfing was threatened with being banned from competing because he had the Name of Jesus on his surfboard. And then the mayor of Paris cursed strings of foul words on national television in reference to Christians speaking out against the obvious sacrilege. Did you notice? It’s not terrorists in Munich. The war has shifted to a spiritual war against Christianity in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
Let’s return to the depiction of Death riding the pale horse in the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. Read Revelation carefully, and you will discover that it is at the opening of the fourth seal. Would you happen to know what the fifth seal was? It is prophetic of the first mass slaying of Christians whose souls are under the altar crying to God, “How long before You will judge the earth?” (Revelation 6:9-10). Naturally, the artistic director of that Olympic opening ceremony knew nothing of the intent of John’s prophecy, but the apparent purpose was to declare mockery over Christ and death to Christians. As the mayor of Paris said in her tirade, “These Games and the opening ceremony crush the far right’s [she meant Christianity’s] message.” In all this, it is fair for us as believers in Christ to take note. The nations are raging. The people are plotting a vain thing. Psalm 2 is at work. Let us be mindful that the Days of Tribulation are close at hand. The Lord will triumph, but the days of darkness are getting darker. There is much to do. Let’s put on the full armor of God. Let’s stand in the evil day. Let’s speak to our friends and loved ones, “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 2:12). Come!
Just Church
In the midst of encroaching darkness, we need to be His church. “The vision of Just Church is to establish a church in just the way Christ called the church to be – true to His Word, loving Him, loving one another, and loving the lost.”
