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Doomsday Shelters, Record Hailstones, GPS Tracking Consumers, Eurabia

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

(August 1, 2010) Several headlines caught my attention this week. They may either be related to or reminders of End-Times prophecy.

Doomsday Shelters

The USA Today reports that there is a renewed interest in Doomsday Shelters which are reminiscent of the Cold War bomb shelters of the 1950s and ’60s. (Doomsday shelters making a comeback) The article states, “There are signs that underground shelters, almost-forgotten relics of the Cold War era, are making a comeback. The Vivos network, which offers partial ownerships similar to a timeshare in underground shelter communities, is one of several ventures touting escape from a surface-level calamity. Radius Engineering in Terrell, Texas, has built underground shelters for more than three decades, and business has never been better, says Walton McCarthy, company president. The company sells fiberglass shelters that can accommodate 10 to 2,000 adults to live underground for one to five years with power, food, water and filtered air, McCarthy says.” According to this article the Vivos company is playing up the Mayan “prophecy” which implies that major changes are coming to the world on December 21, 2012. Doomsday shelters may have a place in protecting people from some natural disasters and maybe even some man-made cataclysms but they will be rendered useless during the End-Times:

“12 And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17)

Record Hailstones

In South Dakota thunderstorms produced record-sized hailstones. (World Record Hailstone Weighed In Vivian) The article reports, “It was Friday afternoon when a line of thunderstorms fired up in central South Dakota. High winds, heavy rains and even a possible tornado rolled through the town of Vivian. But now days later, a hailstone picked up just moments after the storm is getting worldwide attention. The damage is proof that it wasn’t a typical South Dakota thunderstorm. Holes were punched through the top of buildings, and Les Scott will never forget what it sounded like. ‘A guy throwing bricks at the house and many of them and it was scary,’ Scott said. Scott watched as massive hailstones pummeled the ground. Tuesday, the dents in the ground are still visible, some as large and deep as coffee cans. But when the hail stopped, a certain stone grabbed his attention.” The article states, “the hailstone weighed in at 1.9375 pounds…The hailstone is down to 17 inches around, but was measured just a few days ago at 18 and a half inches. That is another world record number.” The final judgment God pours out on the earth at the end of the Tribulation Period includes enormous hailstones weighing 100 lbs. each:

“17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, ‘It is done.’ 18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.” (Revelation 16:17-21)

This judgment ends the battle of Armageddon with the second coming of Jesus Christ. The hailstones are fifty times the size of those which fell in South Dakota.

GPS and Electronic Tracking of Consumers

As technology progresses it also increases the ability of a corporation or government to monitor the habits and movements of consumers and citizens. There were a few examples of this technological capability in the news recently. Wal-Mart is putting electronic identification tags or “smart tags” on some of their merchandise. (Wal-Mart plan to use smart tags raises privacy concerns) This article reports, “The individual garments, which also includes underwear and socks, will have removable smart tags that can be read from a distance by Wal-Mart workers with scanners. In seconds, the worker will be able to know what sizes are missing and will also be able tell what it has on hand in the stock room. Such instant knowledge will allow store clerks to have the right sizes on hand when shoppers need them.The tags work by reflecting a weak radio signal to identify the product. They have long spurred privacy fears as well as visions of stores being able to scan an entire shopping cart of items at one time. Wal-Mart’s goal is to eventually expand the tags to other types of merchandise but company officials say it’s too early to give estimates on how long that will take.” There are privacy concerns over the use of this technology as this article states, “‘This is a first piece of a very large and very frightening tracking system,’ said Katherine Albrecht, director of a group called Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering. Albrecht worries that Wal-Mart and others would be able to track movements of customers who in some border states like Michigan and Washington are carrying new driver’s licenses that contain RFID tags to make it easier for them to cross borders. Albrecht fears that retailers could scan data from such licenses and their purchases and combine that data with other personal information. She also says that even though the smart tags can be removed from clothing, they can’t be turned off and can be tracked even after you throw them in the garbage, for example.”

A news story from May points out that tracking technology will be used to monitor citizens’ recycling habits (New recycling bins with tracking chips coming to Alexandria). This article reports, “That cash — roughly $180,000 collected from 19,000 residents– will pay for new larger recycling carts equipped with computer microchips, which will allow the city to keep tabs on its bins and track resident participation in the city’s recycling program. ‘If you know who’s participating in the programs, you can focus your education and outreach to those who are not participating,’ said Stacy Herring, Alexandria’s recycling coordinator.”

A third story from Brazil talks about the use of GPS to track consumers to their homes (Is Your Detergent Stalking You?). The article states, “Unilever’s Omo detergent is adding an unusual ingredient to its two-pound detergent box in Brazil: a GPS device that allows its promotions agency Bullet to track shoppers and follow them to their front doors. Starting next week, consumers who buy one of the GPS-implanted detergent boxes will be surprised at home, given a pocket video camera as a prize and invited to bring their families to enjoy a day of Unilever-sponsored outdoor fun. The promotion, called Try Something New With Omo, is in keeping with the brand’s international “Dirt is Good” positioning that encourages parents to let their kids have a good time even if they get dirty.” The article goes on to say, “Fernando Figueiredo, Bullet’s president, said the GPS device is activated when a shopper removes the detergent carton from the supermarket shelf. Fifty Omo boxes implanted with GPS devices have been scattered around Brazil, and Mr. Figueiredo has teams in 35 Brazilian cities ready to leap into action when a box is activated. The nearest team can reach the shopper’s home ‘within hours or days,’ and if they’re really close by, ‘they may get to your house as soon as you do,’ he said. Once there, the teams have portable equipment that lets them go floor by floor in apartment buildings until they find the correct unit, he said.”

[UPDATE: August 2, 2010] – A local government in the state of New York is using Google Earth technology to spy on it’s local citizens (Google Earth Used To Find Unlicensed Pools). The article reports, “A town on New York’s Long Island is using Google Earth to find backyard pools that don’t have the proper permits. The town of Riverhead has used the satellite image service to find about 250 pools whose owners never filled out the required paperwork. Violators were told to get the permits or face hefty fines. So far about $75,000 in fees has been collected.”

The use of technology as stated in these four stories seems innocuous enough. However, as tracking technology improves and becomes more sophisticated, governments could use it for more malevolent purposes. In Revelation John saw a government rise up which would monitor its citizens’ religious and economic habits:

“11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed…16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:11-12,16-18)

Eurabia

Townhall.com columnist Diana West wrote an article on the issue of Turkey’s admission to the European Union (Can ‘Eurabia’ Be Far Behind?). Her column starts out, “The battle over whether to admit Turkey into the European Union seems eternal, at least among the EU’s rulers. Among the peoples of Europe, when granted the rare chance to go to the ballot box — increasingly window-dressing as far as the EU’s soft totalitarians are concerned — there is little argument. In fact, there is bona fide consensus: NO to Turkey becoming a part of Europe. Why? Because, culturally and historically, it is not.

Tell that to British Prime Minister David Cameron, who just visited Ankara to present himself as Europe’s leading booster for Turkish EU membership (a move the United States has meddlesomely supported), pandering so low a prayer rug could give him cover.

Dubbing himself Turkey’s ‘strongest possible advocate for EU membership and for greater influence at the top table of European diplomacy,’ Cameron gave a speech that also attacked ‘those who willfully misunderstand Islam’ and who “see no difference between real Islam and the distorted version of the extremists.”

Of course, such a description likely irked Cameron’s host, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan has repeatedly criticized those who make the distinction between ‘moderate’ and ‘extremist’ Islam. ‘These descriptions are very ugly,’ Erdogan said in 2007. ‘It is offensive and an insult to our religion. There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam, and that’s it.’ Further, Erdogan in 2009 specifically rejected descriptions of Turkey as being an example of ‘moderate Islam.’ Enlarging on a theme, Erdogan in 2008 told Turks living in Europe that assimilation is ‘a crime against humanity.’”

She goes on to write, “Of course, giving EU membership to Turkey would be a political move with more than political consequences. Demographically alone, it would accelerate those finishing touches on the Islamization of Europe as Turkey’s tens of millions of Muslims entered a largely post-Christian, secular European society, bringing a weighty Islamic influence on European law. Could the total transformation to ‘Eurabia” be far behind?’”

A few weeks ago an Israeli news organization wrote about how Turkey was trying to inject its influence into Jerusalem (Turkey Claims Foothold in Old City). They report, “The Turkish organization TIKA, established and funded by the Turkish government, has recently put up several signs in the Old City of Jerusalem bearing the Turkish flag. The signs were hung without authorization, says Jerusalem activist Aryeh King, who has informed Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman of the matter. TIKA is the Turkish government body responsible for regional development projects. Two of the signs are hung along a major road with historic significance, Motti Gur Way. Motti Gur was the IDF commander who directed troops in retaking the Old City during the Six Day War. The road bearing his name leads from Jericho Way to Lions’ Gate.”

In 2008 Walid Shoebat in his book God’s War on Terror wrote seven reasons why he believes Turkey plays a main role in the End-Times:

1.Ezekiel ch.38 lists eight locations in the Gog prophecy. Five of them (Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Togarmah, Gomer) are located in Turkey.
2.The first Islamic Empire (which culminated with the Turkish Ottoman Empire whose capital was Istanbul, Turkey) is the fatally wounded seventh Biblical Beast Empire of Revelation ch.17.
3.Daniel ch.9 declares the people of the prince will invade Jerusalem. The first part of this prophecy was fulfilled when the Roman army led by the Tenth Legion destroyed the second Jewish Temple in 70 A.D. This legion consisted of primarily Turkish and Syrian soldiers.
4.Daniel ch.11 prophesies of a “king of the north” as a type of the Antichrist. Antiochus Epiphanes IV ruled the Seleucid Empire which encompassed Turkey. He blasphemously sacrificed a pig on the Jewish Temple altar and was a forerunner of the Antichrist.
5.Isaiah and Micah prophesied of The Assyrian who is the Antichrist. Assyria’s domain included a large part of Turkey.
6.Zechariah ch.9 lists Yavan/Ionia (Turkey) as playing a role in the Last Days. They are translated with the word “Greece” in this passage but are actually located on the Western coast of Turkey.
7.Revelation ch.2 mentions that the throne of Satan is located in Pergamum, Turkey. (God’s War on Terror – p.421-425)

Whether or not Mr. Shoebat’s beliefs are proven prophetically accurate remains to be seen.

Conclusion

All, some, or none of these stories may be End-Times related. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for not knowing the will of God because they ignored the prophetic truths of the Old Testament concerning the coming of the suffering Messiah, “1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:1-3) When the disciples of Jesus asked Him what the signs of the end would be He gave them signs to look for (Matthew ch. 24). His followers are to look for His coming and the events leading up to it. Paul said that Christians should be “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13) We should not be like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who did not recognize the “signs of the times” they lived in. God gave prophecies to His children so that they would sense His second coming as the apostle Paul confirms, “4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)

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Is it all falling apart? (even if it is God is stll in control)

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

(June 18, 2010)  The subtitle of my blog is What in the world is going on? Looking at news events occurring around the world I think an even more appropriate question is, Is it all falling apart? In my lifetime (52 years) I have seen dramatic changes in socioeconomic, cultural, and technological spheres of human existence. Although the modern era may have begun during the European Renaissance, culturally in the areas of intellectual and artistic pursuits and politically through revolutions, I believe current modernity grew out of the Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century. Prior to that time human life moved at a much slower pace. Travel was powered by horse or sailing ship. Although the printing press had been around since the 15th Century communication still traveled only as fast as the horse or ship could carry it. With the advent of the 20th Century human innovation had made great strides in improving the human condition. The breadth of human existence had been dramatically changed in the areas of medicine and health, working and manufacturing, travel, education, and communication. Of course technological advancement also led to greater destruction in warfare. In the Nuclear Age humanity is capable of destroying the earth for the first time in human history. The prophet Daniel may have spoken of this development, “1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Daniel 12:1-4) It is possible that verse four of this passage could refer to human’s increased abilities to travel (“to and fro”) around the world (both physically and communicatively) and that knowledge would increase to a point where technology would be man’s final attempt to replace the God of the universe with the god of human intellect.

I came across two news items that have related themes concerning mankind’s future. The first item concerned an Australian scientist who declared that humanity will be extinct in one hundred years because of global warming (Our own extinction is forecast, but he’s going by dead reckoning). The second article dealt with the possibility of a cosmic apocalyptic event destroying the world (The end of the world as we know it). Although both articles approach their subjects in a somewhat lighthearted fashion, they do raise the more serious point of how long can the human race continue to exist in a seemingly and rapidly deteriorating sequence of events.

Many economies of the world are either struggling (Europe, America) or may be adversely affected because of the economic globalization that has taken place in the last few decades.  Rogue states such as North Korea and Iran threaten the stability of the world with nuclear ambitions or realities. Likewise, Islamic terrorism will continue to plague the world. The Internet has made information and communication, both good and evil, easily accessible to a majority of the earth’s inhabitants. Dehumanization of the weakest among us exists in the abortion movement, human trafficking, and religious oppression of women and children.

From an Americentric point of view, the “United” States of America is more divided than at any time since the Civil War. I believe the polarization that  exists  in America today is actually worse than the divisions that existed during the War between the States. Those divisions were based on an immoral economic system that used the enslavement of black Americans as its foundation. Current divisions are based on religious, political, and social ideologies.  Wars may be fought over any one of these reasons but religious ideology is usually not changed by outside influences. Thus, polarization based on religious belief will remain because such belief comes from the core of a human being.

Globally, economic hardship is turning some country’s citizens against their own governments. Many countries are becoming divided over immigration and Islamic influence within their borders. Christianity’s influence has diminished greatly in many parts of the world where it once flourished. Political correctness trumps the idea of right and wrong as decreed by God. The world is united in one area. It is becoming increasingly unified in its opposition to Israel.

On a more local level, I heard a sheriff from a southern Ohio county whose budget is being reduced express the dilemma that many law enforcement agencies in America and around the world are facing as the economies of the world  continue in a downward spiral. He said he was going to have to release prisoners, reduce law enforcement staffing,  and that district attorneys are going to have to choose which cases to prosecute in light of manpower shortages. It is worth noting that one of the signs Jesus declared would occur during the End-Times was, “12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12) If the economy doesn’t recover sufficiently, these types of problems are going to keep surfacing. People have lost their jobs and homes. Our current government wants the people to look to it to solve their problems. However, a government’s resources is based on the amount of taxes it collects from its citizens. Once that source has dried up the people will have no earthly place to turn to for help. During the last national economic crisis President Franklin Roosevelt told the American people that the only thing they have to fear is fear itself. Fear is a powerful motivator. Ironically, it took a World War to alleviate the fear of America. Conversely, it was the same type of fear that led Germans to hail Adolph Hitler as their savior. In the future I believe that the world’s fear will lead it to hail another man as their messiah. This man will be worse than all the other dictators who came before him.

The Bible makes it clear that things will only get worse for the world before the second coming of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (II Timothy 3:1-5) Jesus Himself stated there would be wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, false religious leaders. Paul wrote, “2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (I Thessalonians 5:2-3) They will experience this false peace and safety only after they have given into their fears and looked to the Antichrist instead of Jesus Christ to save them.

In any event, technology and globalization appears to be leading humanity back to its primal goal of replacing worship of God with worship  of humanity which occurred at the beginning of history at the Tower of Babel:

“1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4)

Humans wanted to make a name for themselves and reject the name of God. God intervened with His judgment and scattered humanity across the earth. Likewise, during the End-Times God will intervene one final time when He judges the earth for unifying around the Antichrist and his mentor the Devil.

The Good News for those whose hope is in Jesus Christ is that no matter what happens now or in the future, the world is not falling apart:

“15 [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

Jesus Christ is holding the entire universe together. Christians have nothing to fear but unbelief itself.

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Mayan prophecy is not Biblical prophecy (nor is Nostradamus etc.)

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

(June 13, 2010) My last post dealt with increased solar activity and attempts by some to link it to Mayan Prophecy. There seems to be a diverse opinion on the meaning and nature of the Mayan Prophecy. The Mayans observed several calendrical cycles for their various social, agricultural, commercial and administrative endeavors and each of which had a religious element in or religious aspect to them. One of the calendars, the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, is the one that pertains to the Mayan Prophecy. This Long Count calendar constitutes a period of time consisting of 5125 years. The current Great Cycle of the Long Count will conclude on December 21, 2012. What happens after that seems to be open to conjecture. Beginning in the 1960s some Mayan researchers suggested that some type of apocalyptic event would occur at that time. Since then others have stated their belief that a new age of enlightenment will come upon mankind and the earth. Some believe that there will be some form of Milky Way galactic alignment on the Winter solstice (December 21) of 2012. As I pointed out in my last post, Hollywood has taken the Armageddon approach to 2012 and this is the idea which seems to have taken root in popular American culture. Therefore, I am interested in seeing how the months and weeks leading up to December 21, 2012 play out. The media hype may surpass that which occurred prior to the Y2k scare of 1999. I have read that modern-day Mayans themselves attach no import to the Mayan Prophecy. I believe they have the correct approach to this “event”.

From a Christian perspective I think it is possible that on December 22, 2012 people will use the failure of the falsely perceived Mayan prophecy to disparage Biblical End-Times prophecy. The two are completely unrelated. Bible prophecy concerning the first coming of God’s Messiah was 100% accurate. So too will Biblical prophecy concerning the Messiah’s second coming be 100% accurate. I’m not talking about my or other prophecy commentators’ interpretation of End-Times prophecy coming true but the Biblical events themselves will happen however they develop. People should not look to Nostradamus, New Age prophecies, psychics, oracles, or any other form of prophetic avenues to see what the future holds. The Devil has a general, if not specific, knowledge of God’s plans for the future (“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.” - Revelation 12:12). I believe he has used and will continue to use false prophets of the world in order to diminish the efficacy of God’s prophetic word. Some have accused Dispensationalist Christians of detracting from the primacy of preaching the Gospel in favor of stressing End-Times prophecy.

Should Christians talk about the End-Times?

I wrote an article on my website titled Should Christians talk about the End-Times?. In this article I answered this question:

[beginning of my article] “There are Christians who do not agree with me that the End-Times should be discussed as a topic of the Christian faith. I do not mean to single out any one leader as holding this position because there are other Christian leaders who subscribe to this belief. However, I believe that one pastor’s point of view is representative of some of these other leaders. In his book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren broaches the issue of End-times prophecy:

“Today there’s a growing interest in the second coming of Christ and the end of the world. When will it happen? Just before Jesus ascended to heaven the disciples asked him this same question, and his response was quite revealing. He said, ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’“ [He footnotes Acts 1:7-8] “When the disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, Jesus quickly switched the conversation to evangelism. He wanted them to concentrate on their mission in the world. He said in essence, ‘The details of my return are none of your business. What is your business is the mission I’ve given you. Focus on that!’ Speculating on the exact timing of Christ’s return is futile, because Jesus said, ‘No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’ [He footnotes Matthew 24:36] Since Jesus said he didn’t know the day or hour, why should you try to figure it out? What we do know for sure is this: Jesus will not return until everyone God wants to hear the Good News has heard it. Jesus said, ‘The Good News about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come.’ [He footnotes Matthew 24:14] If you want Jesus to come back sooner, focus on fulfilling your mission, not figuring out prophecy.” ["The Purpose Driven Life", by Rick Warren, pp. 285-286, Zondervan]

Pastor Warren’s application of the quote of Jesus just before His ascension into heaven is somewhat in error. He is correct in that God’s mission for the first disciples was to spread the gospel throughout the world. That mission continues to this day for the followers of Jesus Christ. However, is Pastor Warren’s contention that Christians should not discuss the End-Times consistent with the rest of the New Testament?

I find it ironic that the two scripture passages he quotes to support his belief come from chapter twenty-four of the gospel of Matthew. That entire chapter is about the second coming of Jesus and the events that lead up to it. It starts with the disciples asking Jesus the very question concerning the End-Times. In His response, did Jesus tell His disciples that it was “none of their business”?

“1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to shew Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before.” (Matthew 24:1-25)

Why did Jesus tell the disciples what the signs of the end would be if He didn’t want them to discuss it? Why did the Holy Spirit inspire Matthew to include this chapter in his gospel if He didn’t want future generations to know about the End-Times? The answer is that God does want His followers to know what is going to happen at the end for at least two reasons. One is that Christians are to find hope and comfort in the return of the Lord. The second is that Christians are to warn humanity that one day God is going to judge the world and its inhabitants.

The First Century Christians in the Church of Thessalonica, Greece, were concerned that their dead brethren would miss the second coming of Jesus. The apostle Paul responded to their fears in one of the first letters he ever wrote:

“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Paul is describing an End-Times event that Christians call the Rapture. In verse 13 he expressly tells the believers, that unlike unbelievers, Christians have hope. He tells them to “sorrow not, even as others which have no hope“. In verse 18 Paul tells Christians to “comfort one another with these words“. Here Christians are told to take hope and comfort in these End-Times events. It doesn’t mean the Thessalonians were to ignore spreading the gospel and meeting the needs of others. As a matter of fact, the verses preceding this passage tell the believers how they are to live their lives:

“1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His holy Spirit. 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)

In another letter Paul told a fellow Christian leader that believers were to look for the return of Jesus Christ:

“11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:11-13)

Again, the verses immediately preceding this passage instruct believers on how to live their lives in a Christian manner. However, Paul stated that they were to look for the second coming, not ignore it, because it would give them hope.” [end of my article]

In the Book of Revelation Jesus told His servant John to write down the things he saw. Why? Because like the rest of the prophecies of the Bible future generations of Believers were to learn what God had done through fulfilled prophecy and what He will do in the future leading to Jesus’ second coming and the events that occur afterward. In Isaiah chapter 46 God states, “9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Why would God declare the end if He didn’t want humans to know what was going to take place in the future? The answer is that God does want us to study prophecy since He stresses that it is one proof that He is God. At the same time He also wants us to preach and live the gospel until all the world has heard it.

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come”

Jesus Himself said His followers were to “42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come…44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:42,44) We cannot know the day or hour of Jesus’ return but we can look for signs that it may be close. The apostle Paul wrote,“1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (I Thessalonians 5:1-6) Therefore, as “children of God’s light” we should watch for the signs of His second coming. What are some of the signs to look for?

I believe one of the most important signs has already come to pass: The formation of the modern state of Israel. Several End-Times events revolve around the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. That was not possible until the Jews returned to the land in 1948. Since then the Jews have made all the utensils, priestly garments, and items to be used in the Temple services (see The Temple Institute website). Also the Antichrist is going to enter the rebuilt Temple and show or declare Himself God.

I believe the signs Jesus said to watch for would happen after Israel’s rebirth. One of these signs was to look for the rise of false messiahs. Some believe that a leader will come to prominence in Europe. Walid Shoebat thinks the Antichrist will come out of Turkey and that Turkey plays a large role in events leading up to the battle of Armageddon. It is interesting that Israeli authorities allowed the Turkish flag to be displayed on the Temple Mount last week. If Mr. Shoebat is correct then watching news events (like Turkish-led flotilla incident two weeks ago) that involve Turkey and Israel might prove revealing.

Revelation chapter 13 indicates there will be a global economy, global government, and global religion. Obviously the groundwork for globalization in each of these areas has occurred in our lifetimes with the advent of the computer/information age.

We need to keep an eye on Israel to see how isolated it becomes from the rest of the world. If its staunchest ally America turns its back on Israel (as seems to be happening) then that would clear the way for the Gog/Magog invasion prophesied by Ezekiel to take place. Zechariah chapter 12 states that at the end the entire world will come against Israel.

Some think the Rapture will occur before any of these signs occur. They maintain the Day of the Lord begins with the Rapture and there are no more signs that have to take place before that event. However, there is an interesting prophecy in the last book of the Old Testament that garners little attention or discussion in prophecy circles, “5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6) Because the Jews of Jesus’ time knew this prophecy they were questioning the fact that the prophet Elijah was to come before the Messiah appeared. (Jews to this day set out a cup of wine for Elijah during the Passover Seder hoping he will come through the door and usher in the Messianic Age). Jesus responded to the Jews’ question saying, “’11 Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.’” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.” (Matthew 17 :11-13) Notice that Jesus said Elijah came (in the form of John the Baptist) but also that he is coming in order to restore all things. Clearly the second reference speaks of the End-Times when the Messiah comes and restores the Kingdom (Acts 1:6-8). Thus, it is possible that either the prophet Elijah himself (since he never died) or someone who, like John the Baptist, comes in the form of Elijah before the Day of the Lord. The question is when does the Day of the Lord begin. If at the beginning of the Tribulation Period then his appearance may be next on God’s prophetic calendar.

I believe with the formation of Israel we are living in very interesting times. As Christians we need to look to God’s word for what His plans are for the future of the world. The world will continue to look outside the Bible for the answers concerning future events but they will be deceived as Jesus warned would happen. As children of God’s light Christians need to keep their eyes on Jesus, preach and live the Gospel, and warn others of the wrath to come either in this life or the next one.

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“And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun…and men were scorched with great heat” – Revelation 16:8-9

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

(June 6, 2010)  In the last couple of years Hollywood has produced two apocalyptic movies (Knowing and 2012) in which the sun played a role in devastating the earth. I do not know whether or not the Bible played any role in the development of the storylines of these two movies. However, according to the Bible the sun does play a part in the judgment of the earth towards the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period.

John saw the future and wrote what he observed in the Book of Revelation (“Write what you see in a book” - Rev. 1:11) . He witnessed the Tribulation Period when men’s judgments and God’s judgments devastate the earth. The final judgments he saw were the seven bowls being poured out on the earth. He writes what occurred when the fourth bowl judgment takes place, “8 And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give Him glory.” John doesn’t say exactly how the sun scorches men (i.e. solar eruptions, deterioration of the earth’s atmosphere, etc.) only that they are still alive after this judgment occurs. 

Scientists are meeting this Tuesday at the Space Weather Enterprise Forum in Washington D.C. to discuss severe space weather events and how they will impact the earth (As the Sun Awakens, NASA Keeps a Wary Eye on Space Weather). This article reports:

“Earth and space are about to come into contact in a way that’s new to human history. To make preparations, authorities in Washington DC are holding a meeting: The Space Weather Enterprise Forum at the National Press Club on June 8th.

Many technologies of the 21st century are vulnerable to solar storms. Richard Fisher, head of NASA’s Heliophysics Division, explains what it’s all about:

‘The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity. At the same time, our technological society has developed an unprecedented sensitivity to solar storms. The intersection of these two issues is what we’re getting together to discuss.’”

The article goes on to speak of some of the possible technological problems the earth might experience as a result of increasing solar activity:

“The National Academy of Sciences framed the problem two years ago in a landmark report entitled “Severe Space Weather Events—Societal and Economic Impacts.” It noted how people of the 21st-century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Smart power grids, GPS navigation, air travel, financial services and emergency radio communications can all be knocked out by intense solar activity. A century-class solar storm, the Academy warned, could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.”

A History Channel You Tube video discusses this very subject:

YouTube Preview Image

Some have tried to connect any cosmological upheaval with the Mayan prophecy which states the year 2012 is the end of a long cycle of time (although not the end of the world). On another You Tube video a NASA scientist dismisses the idea that there is a correlation between the Mayan prophecy and an increase of solar activity over the next couple of years:

YouTube Preview Image

I too see no eschatological significance to the year 2012. Since the prophesied bowl judgments occur at the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period it will probably be at least six years from the beginning of that time period before those judgments take place. When they do occur though, somehow the sun will heat up the earth to a point where many of the inhabitants of the earth will curse God.

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Whale off Israel’s coast, Jonah and End-Times animal behavior

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

(IMMRAC)(May 13, 2010) A grey whale was spotted off the coast of Israel. (Scientists stunned as grey whale sighted off Israel ) According to this article, “The whale, which was first sighted off Herzliya in central Israel on Saturday, is believed to have travelled thousands of miles from the north Pacific after losing its way in search of food. ‘It’s an unbelievable event which has been described as one of the most important whale sightings ever,’ said Dr Aviad Scheinin, chairman of the Israel Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center which identified the creature. A population of grey whales once inhabited the north Atlantic but became extinct in the 17th or 18th centuries and has not been seen there since. The remaining colonies live in the western and eastern sectors of the north Pacific.”

Of course the most famous “great fish” incident occurred when a whale or some other large sea creature swallowed and then vomited the prophet Jonah onto the shores of Israel:

“15 So they look up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. 17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights…10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” (Jonah 1:15-17,2:10)

God had wanted Jonah to pronounce His coming judgment upon the Assyrian capital Nineveh unless they repented. Jonah hated the Assyrians because of the way they treated Israel and the Jews. Therefore, he did not want the Ninevites to repent because he knew God was merciful and would not judge them if they did repent. God had a great fish swallow Jonah in order to get Jonah’s attention and ultimately his obedience. After leaving the fish Jonah did preach God’s judgment to the Ninevites and they repented and God mercifully spared them.

The article cited above indicates this is a very bizarre incident which caused the whale to end up in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Israel. It reminds me that during the Tribulation Period God’s judgment will also change animals’ behavior towards human beings. God chose to show the End-Times to His servant John. What John saw was a series of judgments that were going to come upon the earth. The first series constituted seven seals of a scroll which after each one is opened a judgment occurs. The opening of the Third Seal leads to famines (it indicates that food will cost a days wages because of shortages caused by famine) which Jesus confirmed as one of the apocalyptic signs in chapter 24 of the Gospel of Matthew:

“6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:6)

Next John sees the Fourth Seal judgment begin:

“7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:7-8)

Jesus again confirms the End-Times revelations which John observed:

“7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places. 8 all this is but the beginning of the labor pains.” (Matthew 24:7-8)

Famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and wars are going to devastate the earth and its natural processes. Scarcity of food will cause even the animals to start attacking and killing humans. For the most part animals are afraid of human beings as their behavior illustrates whenever they encounter people. However, because of God’s judgments upon the world, animals’ behavior will change as John witnessed, “to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” Billions of Humans will die during the Tribulation Period including many deaths caused by animal attacks. Tragically as Jesus declares, “this is but the beginning of the labor pains” that the earth and its inhabitants will endure.

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Noah’s Ark and the Rapture

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

(April 28, 2010) Noah’s Ark may have been found according to the London Newspaper The Sun (‘Noah’s Ark’ found in Turkey) and Fox News (Has Noah’s Ark Been Found on Turkish Mountaintop?). The Fox News article reports, “A group of Chinese and Turkish evangelical explorers say wooden remains they have discovered on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey are the remains of Noah’s Ark. The group claims that carbon dating proves the relics are 4,800 years old, meaning they date to around the same time the ark was said to be afloat. Mt. Ararat has long been suspected as the final resting place of the craft by evangelicals and literalists hoping to validate biblical stories. Yeung Wing-Cheung, from the Noah’s Ark Ministries International research team that made the discovery, said: ‘It’s not 100 percent that it is Noah’s Ark, but we think it is 99.9 percent that this is it.’” The Sun article includes video footage of the find. Christian archaeologist Dr. Randall Price, who was with this team of explorers when they made the find in 2008, considers this event to be a hoax (Statement of Dr. Randall Price on the Alleged Discovery of a Wooden Structure on Mt. Ararat). In any event, the story of Noah does have End-Times prophetic implications.

The Days of Noah

Jesus said, “30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24″30-39)

How was it in the “days of Noah” ? The Book of Genesis answers this question: “5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:5-8)

Except for Noah and his family the human race had turned from God and thought to do evil only. Because of the sinfulness of man a case could be made that every generation since Noah has thought to do evil only. Is the time we are living in any different than all the previous generations? It is interesting that five chapters later in Genesis (after a partial repopulation of the earth) an event occurred which I do believe has a modern-day parallel:

“1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” (Genesis 11:1-9)

The people once again started to turn from God by trying to “make us a name” and unify apart from the will of God who said they were to fill the earth. In our day the people of the world are turning away from the God of the Bible and His Son and trying to unite as a global community. Instead of worshipping God the world wants to worship “Mother Earth”. This global desire will culminate in the cult of the Antichrist when he appears on the world stage:

“1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast [Antichrist] rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:1-8)

For the first time in history technology has made the possibility of a global community a reality. This time however, God won’t destroy the world with water but will allow mankind under the leadership of this evil world ruler to begin the destruction themselves. God will add His judgments to the those of man and they will only cease with the second coming of Jesus Christ.

The Ark and the Rapture

There is one other parallel to the story of Noah and End-Times prophecy. Christians who believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture use the example of God saving Noah before His flood judgment came upon the world as prophetic type of how God will remove His followers before He judges the world in the End-Times. God called Noah, his family, and His creatures into the ark before the flood began. The wording used in Genesis is interesting:

“1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth…15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.” (Genesis 7:1-3,15-16)

Notice that the LORD called His people and He shut them safely inside the ark. Thus, Pre-Tribulationists believe that before God begins His judgments upon the earth He will call His people to heaven with the Rapture. God seems to confirm this principle in the prophetic Book of Isaiah:

“20 Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:20-21)

It may be that our days are like the days of Noah. If so, God’s judgment may not be far off. Only He knows exactly when it will begin.

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“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke”

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

(April 24, 2010) Today is the twentieth anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope launch. In commemoration of that event NASA released this photo:


“Mystic Mountain”
Credit: NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)

This extraordinary display of God’s creation brings to mind a prophecy from the Book of Joel:

 ”1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand…27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and My people shall never be ashamed. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”  (Joel 2:1,30-32)

 The apostle Peter applied this passage in Joel to God’s pouring out His Holy Spirit on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21). Although Peter’s Spirit-filled application of these verses did apply to that day it is clear from the context of the entire passage in Joel that the Day of Pentecost was only a partial fulfillment of this prophecy. Some might say that these prophetic verses which refer to the “wonders in heaven” could have spiritual connotations and therefore were fulfilled at that time.  For example, Jesus declared that He saw Satan fall like lightning when the disciples preached the kingdom of God throughout Israel (Luke 17:1-18).  However, God declares that there will also be signs on the earth which did not happen on Pentecost. The New Testament harmonizes with the eschatological interpretation of this passage in Joel:

 ”21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”  (Matthew 24:21-31)

“12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains.”  (Revelation 6:12-15)

Although the glory of God can be seen in His creation as the photo above reveals, one day there will be other wonders in the heavens that will reveal the righteous judgment of God: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be”. (Matthew 24:21)

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Hell Came Up

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

(January 16, 2010) There was a recent headline on the Drudge Report that stated “Hell Came Up”. It linked to an article describing the incredible devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti. As I watched the news reports and images of the pain and suffering of the Haitian people I thought that headline was the most accurate description of what was happening in Haiti. It also reminded me that according to End-Times prophecy the Devil is going to unleash his demonic hordes from the pit of hell upon the inhabitants of the earth: “1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” (Revelation 9:1-6) Jesus said concerning the Devil, “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10) By the end of the Tribulation Period, the tragic devastation that occurred in Haiti will have been experienced by the whole world. Truly a global holocaust. Thus it is understandable why Jesus and the prophet Daniel said that time will be unlike any other time in the history of humanity.

I would point out that the greatest demonic activity in history occurred while Jesus walked the earth. I believe that demonic activity will increase the closer we get to the Tribulation Period. Once that time begins the demonic activity will surpass the three and one half years that Jesus spent among His creation. The spirit of Antichrist will arise and devastate the world yet it will be crushed at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

[ There are many Christian organizations reaching out to help the people of Haiti during this horrific time. If you wish to help I would suggest you check out World Vision which has been involved in helping underdeveloped countries for decades in the name of Christ. Their website is www.worldvision.org ]

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Is the way being prepared for the “kings of the east”?

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
China's army

China's army

(March 26, 2009)  China disputed a new U.S. report that assessed its increasing military power “as a ‘gross distortion’ and interference in its affairs.” (China criticizes new U.S. report on its military)  The most revealing statement the report made was “that China is developing longer-range capabilities that could have an effect beyond the Asia-Pacific region.”  In the Book of Revelation there are three sets of seven judgments that occur during the seven-year Tribulation Period that is coming upon the whole world. Concerning this time Jesus declared, “21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22). The first set is the opening of the seven seals, the second is the sounding of the seven trumpets, and the third set is the pouring out of the seven bowls (vials in the King James English). In the second set of judgments, John the servant of God to whom God revealed the future, describes the sounding of the sixth trumpet, “13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.” (Revelation 9:13-19)  John hears the command for the four angels who are apparently guarding the Euphrates River to prepare to  release an army of 200 million soldiers so that they can cross the river and slay a third of the humans still living on the earth at that time. Some scholars believe this means that the Euphrates River will dry up so that a large army can pass through it. John describes what seems to be an army of 200 million supernatural beings on horses. However, he was using his First Century experiences to describe something that happens in at least the 21st Century so the language he uses could be referring to a modern mechanized army. The actual crossing of the river doesn’t take place until the sixth bowl judgment (which is the second to the last judgment of the earth during the Tribulation Period) as John states, “12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:12-14,16) Who are these “kings of the east” (literally in the original Greek: “kings of the rising [sun]“)? Among some prophecy students the belief is that these kings are leaders of an Asian confederation. It is obvious that China alone could field a 200 million soldier army. This army will cross the Euphrates River on its way to Israel where it will fight against the armies of the Antichrist on the plains of Israel in a final battle known as Armageddon. This war will be interrupted by the second coming of Jesus Christ who will destroy the armies of the world and set up His kingdom on earth (Revelation ch.19). As I said at the beginning, the U.S. report on the strength of the Chinese military made a revealing statement when it said that “China is developing longer-range capabilities that could have an effect beyond the Asia-Pacific region.” 

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Posted in Archives 2009, Armageddon, Revelation, Tribulation Period | 4 Comments »

Doomsday machine to cause the end of the world?

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

(January 28, 2009)  Last year there was a “scare” over physicists who were planning to perform an experiment with atomic particles in the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. The question was whether such an experiment would lead to the creation of black holes and therefore possibly destroy the earth. It seems that this issue has returned, (Scientists Not So Sure ‘Doomsday Machine’ Won’t Destroy World) This article has a facetious aspect to it and one that I agree with. If the world was going to end like this it would happen so quick that we wouldn’t even know it happened. However, God laid out a plan for the End-Times and they don’t include the complete destruction of the earth, at least not for a thousand years after He begins His plan. The exact order of these events may be open to interpretation but they will last just over seven years. A world leader will come on the scene and the world will worship him. During the next seven years trouble will come upon the earth, “21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Jesus as quoted in Matthew 24:21-22) So take comfort in the fact that nothing globally catastrophic will happen unless it is part of God’s plan.

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