As per usual of late, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to talk to you about this week. .. There is simply so many prophecy-related things going on that it is really difficult to decide. .. But alas, also as usual for me lately, the Holy Spirit made it quite clear yesterday afternoon. .. I started the day in the barber shop (yes, even guys with hairlines like me need to be spruced up on occasion .. the only difference is that I have to get an estimate first). .. Anyway, there were about four older guys in there at the time & the conversation almost immediately turned to just how bad current world conditions  have become. .. I can also say that not all these guys were of a religious persuasion. .. Simply, to the person, all expressed amazement as to just how fast everything is digressing. .. I even sensed a fear of survival, both individually & as a nation. ... After a couple of attempts to turn the talk to the scriptures, the air left the room & we all soon went our separate  ways. ... My next stop was the grocery store. .. As I went up to pay, once again the conversation at the check stand was very similar to what tool place at the barber shop. .. The clerk, a somewhat familiar acquaintance which also was aware of my passion for Bible prophecy, asked me several quick questions, basically asking what my take was on everything going on around the world. ... With little or no time because of the line behind me, I gave him the website address. .. I do plan to follow up with him when we can sit down with a bit of time. ... The point here is obvious ... no matter where you go or what you are doing these days, people are aware of the rapidly deteriorating condition of this old world .. and most all are beginning to realize that the end result is not going to be pretty. ... This, of course, tells me that most all these folks are not believers because of this fear, which we as followers of Christ, do not share because of our knowledge of what is soon to come upon this earth .. a blessed place where our Lord Jesus Christ is the ONLY one in charge, and worldly torment will not exist because our enemy, the devil, will be bound ... Hallelujah!  ....... So are these evil worldly conditions only temporary . like maybe we are just 'going through a season,' or are we really at the end of God's timeline for planet earth as we now know it? ... I'm so glad you asked! ... There is a ton of information out there to substantiate my point, but for the sake of time, I will share only three specific ones this week ... ones that are at the forefront of most all headlines these days .... They are: *The Coming Economic Collapse - Most all the so-called experts are telling us that the global economic crisis is worsening by the day. .. This seems hard for the average American to understand because our stock markets, even with an occasional blip, are setting records. .. But what isn't understood is that the rest of the world is near a complete financial implosion. .. This also explains why the American markets are doing so well. .. Simply, in the minds of oversees investors, this appears to be the only safe place to be, even though our bond markets are totally worthless plus we have long surpassed the 100% GDP point. (not to mention the $18+ trillion national debt that can NEVER be repaid). .. The reality? ... There is NO other choice out there! When taking a quick glimpse at other areas of the world, the picture darkens by the hour. .. Over half of South American countries (Brazil & Venezuela as examples),  southern European countries (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, to name a few), Japan, China, most of Africa .. the list goes on .. Every one of them are near the end of ways to 'stop the bleeding' & will soon fall into economic chaos, Venezuela as an immediate example. ... Oh, and one more point ... In several articles from European sources over the past several days, the economic talk is mostly centered on the Deutsche Bank  which resides in Germany. .. Just so happens this is one of Europe's & the world's financial behemoths. .. To the point, this bank has reported that it has only 3% liquidity right now, which happens to be worse that that of Lehman Brothers before their complete demise in 2008. .. Also, it is being reported that this bank currently has $70 Trillion in liabilities! .. That's more than the entire world's GDP! ... Comments from several European financial insiders say that if this bank should fall, it will take the entire western world economies with it. .. Funny we are not hearing a thing about this in our press. .. Guess we are too busy talking about Hillary, Donald, & Taylor Swift. ........ There' so much more but you can get an idea of just how soon we are facing complete financial upheaval across the entire globe. ... Tragically, when these things happen, and people become desperate, they will turn to anything, or anyone for survival, which is the perfect scenario for a worldwide leader to step up & take over. .. Guess who he is! .... *The Collapse of Morals - I don't need to say a lot here because it is so obvious! .. I mean, it seems that the LGBT agenda dominates the news these days. .. It's even entering into our children's school teaching curriculum. .. And for those of us who do our best to follow the true teachings of Bible scripture, we are now the enemy of today's progressive society. .. This was a headline on World Net Daily just a couple of days ago ... "Criticizing Homosexuality Now a 'Crime Against Humanity' " ... Of course, we know our Supreme Court legalized 'Gay Marriage' just last year, and now many new television 'prime-time' slots are being filled with LGBT-slanted subject matter. .. Again, this just proves how little the general public knows about biblical truth ... and general history for that matter. .. It is proven that EVERY society in the past that adopted this general social agenda fell into despair, & ultimately, complete destruction. .. It will be no different this time around. ........ Sadly, the Church has, for the most part, failed in their responsibility to teach these truths. .. (No time for this right now, but it certainly would have slowed down this moral slide & given more people time to find the truth). *Societal Upheaval - "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;  26) men's hearts failing them from fear, and the expectations of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." (Luke 21:25-26 - NKJV) ... There is no question the world's societies are in much upheaval. .. Again, because of time, let me touch on just  bit of what we are witnessing. ... Islamic terror 2016 =1,268 attacks in 50 countries with some 11, 664 killed & 14, 087 injured. .. A tragic example of just how 'lost' we are as a nation, our own President is still 'searching for a motive' & refuses to acknowledge this increasing threat, and makes nonsensical statements claiming the reasons are vague & unclear. ... Talk about deception! ... Also, we are witnessing more & more protests & riots across the globe. .. People are experiencing more & more tension as things continue to spin out of control. .. They are feeling helpless & are looking for assurance of better things to come for themselves & their families. .. Soon they feel there will be no place to turn & desperation is setting in. ... This is even spreading to a collective national mentality as 'nations are rising against nations.' .. Jesus Himself taught us of "wars and rumors of wars" in these last days. (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) ... Look at Russia as an example. .. They are feverishly updating & modernizing their military as the re-emerging 'cold war' rhetoric rapidly increases. .. China is also accelerating its military buildup. .. They also have become much more bold in their international 'sword-rattling' .. For example, they just placed a territorial claim on the South China Sea and are willing to 'go to war' to implement it. .. In fact, their President Jinpiang told his military to 'prepare for combat.' .......We are definitely seeing the Kings of the North & East gearing up while the 'Merchants of Tarshish' continue to fall back into the pack (U.S., Britain, etc) ........ I could go on for days about all this (i almost have already) .. and have left so much out .. but hopefully, this will give those who are interested a clearer picture of just what is taking place. .. It also tells us that time is extremely short, and that the 'Day of Destruction' is all but upon us ... that is, unless we turn our faces to the one and only hope, and that is Jesus Christ! ... As I often do, and pray I will continue to do while I have a breath & there is still time, I want to urge each of you who are true followers of our blessed Savior to get up out of our complacency & tell as many as we can about our Lord ASAP! ... Again, this is the only hope for escape from the utter destruction that is about to befall this planet! ... "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  12) It teaches us to say 'NO' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13) while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,  14) who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:11-14 - NIV) .... Until next time, Red