December 31, 2008
Man, what a year we are closing out in just a few hours! It's almost mind-boggling when one quickly reflects on these past twelve months. To visit just a few:
◆ World stock markets dropping some 50% in value.
◆ America's rapidly declining status as a super power.
◆ Russia's continuing rebirth as a world power and its ever increasing alliance with the Ezekiel 38 countries, such as Iran (Persia) and Libya.
◆ Iran's advancement in becoming a nuclear power (Remember, this is the country that's promised to wipe Israel off the map.)
◆ World oil prices fluctuating some $100 per barrel.
◆ More failed attempts in the peace process in the middle east.
◆ America's continued moral decline. 
You get the picture....
And what's in store for the coming year? In my humble opinion, 2009 does not appear to be any kind of improvement. The potential flash points are all in place. In fact, I've never seen a time marked by so much activity related to Bible prophecy.
To name just a few:
◆ The threat of a major terrorist attack (nuclear or biological)
◆ The social impact of the worldwide economic meltdown
◆ The drive towards the establishment of the global government
◆ Russia's (King of the North) continued strengthening of the Ezekiel 38 alliance
◆ America's continued economic and moral decline and its dramatic political shift to the left
◆ Israel being threatened by several of her neighbors
◆ Predictions of more severe and increasing natural disasters
Once again, you get the picture...
While all of these issues are scary and foreboding, the two that are in the forefront of my mind right this moment are the economic meltdown and Israel.
First, the meltdown: some of you, I'm sure, have heard of Glen Beck. He's a talk show host on CNN and is soon moving over to Fox News. Mr. Beck's belief system is Mormonism, so we don't share any of the pre-mellenial, pre-trib, end -time views. However, Mr. Beck's thoughts on current conditions are profound.
He believes, as do many of us, that the changes proposed by the incoming Obama administration, combined with the national and international economic meltdown, sets up something of an apocalyptic future for the planet should things continue in the same direction.
Beck was one of the few public voices that predicted (in 1999) that if Osama Bin Laden wasn't captured or killed, New York City skyscrapers would soon have dead bodies in them. We know, of course, what happened on 09/11/01.
Mr. Beck (and I'm paraphrasing) is talking about what he sees for this nation in the near future. He says that America is on a track that is taking it at a phenomenal speed toward the darkest hours of its history. He said further that he believes that by this time next year, America will be unrecognizable as she has been known.
He also said that it would not come incrementally. That is, things would not simply get worse morally and economically until the point is reached that the world is irretrievably lost. He said that he believed that the country and the world would experience a great cataclysmic event that would be greater than the attacks of 9-11. (I'm inferring that he was talking along the lines of the geo-political, not the supernatural.)
He then said he believed that the event would happen suddenly, and forever change the world for the worse. And I quote him, "In the blink of an eye." Wow!! This is the same phrase the Apostle Paul used some 2000 years ago when the Lord comes for His church (I Corinthians 15:52).
In another “upbeat” report -- last month, trends forecaster Gerard Celente, the man who predicted the 1987 stock market crash and the fall of the Soviet Union, told Fox News that America will morph into the first "undeveloped" nation of the world by 2012. He said there will be a tax revolution marked by food riots, squatter rebellion, tax revolts and job marches. Mr. Celente, the CEO of Trends Research Institute, is renowned for his accuracy in predicting future world and economic events. He says that we are entering a period which will be much worse than the Great Depression.
Are you excited yet?
Now, on to Israel. As 2008 comes to a close, she is involved in the bloodiest warfare with the Palestinians in more than twenty years. But the fighting in Gaza is a minor taste of what we could be seeing in the coming new year of 2009, Israel faces far greater danger from three other fronts. In addition to the operations in Gaza, she must also deal with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Syria bordering the Golan, and regional neighbor, Iran.
Of all these, Iran is the Jewish state's top concern. As we know, Tehran is working feverishly to complete its nuclear program. Given that its leadership has sworn to destroy Israel, there is painfully little time to stop Iran from firing an atomic bomb.
Added to this, Barak Obama is famously on record for wanting to negotiate with Iran's leadership as a way to defuse the threat. Obama's desire for talks has many prophecy watchers wondering if Israel will act before Obama takes office.
Something will soon have to be done to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capability. Simply put, Israel cannot and will not allow this to happen. In their minds, negotiation only buys the radical regime more time.
With so much going on, you would think that prophecy minded believers would be very busy getting ready for the Lord's return. But it seems the opposite is happening. Most seem to be doing nothing! It seems ironic that apathy abounds. But Jesus said that it would be a major sign of the times. Matthew 24:44 says, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (NKJV)
Right now it seems like everyone is just hanging around waiting for something big to happen. We might soon see a major calamity. Because the rapture could be the next event of God's timetable. I would hate to have it occur while I was doing nothing.
Remember, there is no guarantee that Christians will be able to stand by as passive spectators. If our Lord tarries, hardship could be ahead as the current economic recession turns into a depression. As the world becomes more wicked, we may also find our religious freedoms soon coming under much more pressure.
So rather than just hanging out and waiting to see what happens, we Christians have the opportunity to take an active role in hastening our Lord's return. Jesus Christ specifically told us to pray for this, "In this manner, therefore, pray: 'Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come.Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.' " Matthew 6:9-10 (NKJV)
2000 years has passed and all the signs point to the nearness of the last days. God is still in control of the prophetic time clock and He will listen to the voices of His children if we join together and call on Him.
We all need to cry out in prayer to "Hasten the coming of the Day of God." 2 Peter 3:12 (NKJV)
I ask every brother and sister that's reading this to spend some time praying for our Lord's soon return. At this late hour, the breaking point for the blessed hope may require just a few more Christians to say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus". (Revelation 22:20)
Until next time,
Red