Is this it? .. Will 2016 be the final year before the Lord's triumphant return? .. To be sure, I'm not a prophet, so I'm NOT setting any date here .. but .. I can interpret the signs the Bible tells us about, and, as far as I'm concerned, they point directly to the time we have left in this present world as being but a vapor . ... Let me share just one prophecy from Jesus Himself concerning the time of the end ..... " ... what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered, "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." (Matthew 24:3-8) ... Are these types of things taking place right now? .. Unless someone is in complete denial, there is no question about it. ... I will try to sum it all up as briefly as I can with a very brief overview of the year that is closing right now as well as the coming one. I'll start with this headline from 'The Drudge Report' from December 29th ... "Year of Strife Leaves World on Edge" ... Why would the most popular news outlet in the world say this? ... Let's take a look ... *Dramatic increase in record-setting weather patterns all over the globe. .. Just take a glimpse at these past few days. ... record flooding , rain & snow across much of America .. Australia is burning up, as is California .. rare December tornado outbreak in five southeastern states leaving death & destruction in their paths .. record high temperatures at the North Pole .. twice normal El Nino .. northern Britain seeing major flooding ...... the list goes on, and what is really eye-opening is this statement from a reputable group of geologists - "Climate extremes are just one harbinger or omen of greater cataclysms to come." ... and these are secularists saying this stuff! ... *The Pacific Rim is literally on fire - We've seen a near quadrupling of both volcanoes & 6+ earthquakes this past year. .. *Famine & Drought across the globe is increasing exponentially. .. Some 35 million souls are facing starvation in East Africa as we speak. .. Also, India, Germany, Poland, and many parts of South America as well as California are suffering record-setting drought conditions ... *Social Chaos increasing, especially in the southern nations of the EU as well as most of South America. ...and just wait, if this current migrant situation isn't somehow brought under control, we haven't seen anything yet. ... *World economic conditions worsened most everywhere, especially in China and third world nations... Unemployment, especially in young people, is at record highs across the globe, which will only spur more & more unrest as we go forward. .. *World Government made major inroads this past year. .. The UN meeting of September 25-27 alone set new precedents for a faster advancement. .. Here we saw the birth of "Agenda 21" which basically laid the foundation for many sweeping changes in how the world will soon be governed. .. It also featured a coming international police force (Blue Helmets) that will have jurisdiction over any and all nations it so chooses. (Don't believe it? .. Read it for yourself). ... and there's much more ..... *World Church materializing before our very eyes! ... Have you noticed how many of the world's churches are coming together as one, and also bringing new, softer, more inclusive teachings to the masses? ... Compromises such as 'no Hell' .. 'Muslims and Christians serve the same God' .. 'atheists are going to Heaven' (Pope said it again yesterday) .. 'lifestyles of most any kind bare no consequences' ... the list goes on. which includes increasing Christian persecution, and the international isolation of Israel .... ...... And these are just some of the 'birth pains we see taking place as we move forward .... So what does this coming year hold for us? ... Simply, because Jesus Himself said so in the aforementioned passage in Matthew 24, these things will only increase as we draw ever closer to His triumphant return, which will gloriously put an end to all this craziness! ... Hallelujah! ... This is what I believe we will see in this coming year, which is just a few hours away. .. All the things we saw in 2015 will only continue to increase in frequency & intensity (sound like birth pains, ladies?) ... I believe we will especially see civil chaos increase dramatically. .. As war, famine & political strife increase, so too will the rebellion of the masses. ... Also, the middle East will continue to plunge into war & chaos with Israel seeing increasing isolation and international condemnation. .. (see Psalm 83 & Jeremiah 49) ... We will also see worldwide climate extremes continuing to accelerate, causing more social displacement & angst. .. There's so much more I could go into, and I will as we move forward into the year ... but the one we want to watch very closely is the world economic situation. ... I believe it will continue to worsen which will only accelerate social & political unrest. .. Also, as America fades from the super-power ranks, all these problems will only enhance the advancement of world government as well as the world church. ... (Look to Daniel 2,7,8,9 & 11 plus Revelation 13 & 17 for your own study purposes) ... Again,we will address all these issues as they happen in the coming year. ... I know that many folks in the world today don't believe in any of this. .. In fact the Apostle Peter told us this ... "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own desires. They will say, 'Where is this Coming He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.' " (2 Peter 3:3-4) ... Are there people out there like this? .. You bet there is. .. In fact, I talked with one just last week who fits this description perfectly! .. This denial is sad, and we need to not let it sway us from our mission ... to spread the Word as much as we can while there is still time. .. Peter also told us in 2 Peter 1:19 .. "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." .. Hallelujah! .. What a beautiful and hopeful verse! ... Yes, the world is facing very difficult extremes right now ... nuclear proliferation, arms races, international terrorism, mass beheadings, sexual enslavement, anti-semitism, racial division, disease outbreaks, economic implosion, catastrophic storms, earthquakes & social tsunamis .... Is it scary? .. You bet it is, but then look again to Peter's words in verse 19 ... he is saying that once you understand that this IS what is to take place according to the prophets, 'the morning star will rise in your hearts.' ... Fear will be replaced by understanding, followed by peace in your hearts. ... Hallelujah! So, will 2016 be the final year? .. Again, no date-setting from me, but it certainly will brings us closer, at the least. .. Considering God's time clock, I believe we are only seconds away .. This is 'The Final Countdown.' ....... Until next time, Red