Witnessing the Warnings

-- And this was reported before the 8.8 earthquake that took place in Chile this past week.

Why don’t we look for a moment at some of the “hot” prophecies that are occurring as we speak.

The Signs of Nature - Although we are seeing more and more earthquakes of late, some geologists will tell you that this is just a normal pattern. But statistics prove otherwise. We have seen, as many other geologists will support, a definite uptick in MAJOR earthquake activity in the past 15 years.

In addition, we are experiencing storm systems with highly increased intensity. For example, in just the past 10 years we've observed three of the four largest tornado swarms as well as five of the largest and costliest hurricanes in history - and that's just in the U.S.

Jesus said that the signs would be like "birth pains" (Matthew 24:8). That means these events we are experiencing will increase in frequency and intensity the closer we get to the Lord's return. Don't expect this "cycle" to simply go away. There will be more frequent natural disasters and more intense ones.

Signs of Today’s Society - 2 Timothy 3:1-4 says,

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—

This passage sounds like a typical evening newscast today. - Need I emphasis that the world is wallowing in despair in these current times? -- We live in a society plagued by abortion, homosexuality, domestic crime and violence, child molestation and exploitation, blasphemy, pornography, drug and alcohol abuse, gambling and more.

Paul’s letter to Timothy could not be more accurate as to the times we are living in  -- and scripture specifically says it will be the “last days”.

Globalism/World Politics - Going back to the opening paragraph of this commentary, we read in Joel’s headlines about the IMF wanting to establish a global currency. We even hear, for the first time, our own president espousing the term “globalism”. We will definitely see this agenda advanced through the processes of climate change and economic difficulties.

Also, Daniel prophesied that the Roman empire would be revived (Daniel 2:36-41), something many men - like Charlemagne, Napoleon and Hitler - tried to do through force. But Bible prophecy had to await God’s timing for fulfillment, and that came after WWII, with the formation of the European common market that has since morphed into the superpower called the European Union. - This union, according to scripture, will be the vehicle with which the coming world leader will emerge. -- As the world continues to slide in to economic chaos, the “beast” of Revelation 13 will have all the answers and ascend to global supremacy as the Bible predicts.  The current push toward globalism by the nations of this world will only make it easier for this to transpire.

Modern Technology - As I’ve stated several times in the past, many of the end-time prophecies could never be understood apart from modern technological developments. For example, consider the prophecy in Revelation 11 about the two witnesses who will call the world to repentance during the first half of the Tribulation. When they are killed by the Antichrist, we are told that their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days and the world will look upon them (Revelation 11:9). How could anyone understand such a prophesy before the development of satellite TV?

Likewise, how could he Antichrist control all buying and selling worldwide (Revelation 13) without the aid of computer technology? - We are seeing daily how many countries (Germany this week) are moving ever-closer to implanting microchips in their entire populations. This is definitely a pre-cursor to the “mark of the beast” (Revelation 13:16)

Certainly there are many more end-time signs occurring such as the increase in world-wide pestilences in the form of disease, plagues, famine and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7 - Luke 21:11), the increase of false prophets and teachers (Matthew 24:11), revolutions (Luke 21:9), wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6), the emergence of a world church (Revelation 17), and on and on -- but for the sake of time I will wrap this up with --

The Signs of Israel - Zechariah 12:3, says -

On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.

The signs that relate to Israel are the most important of all because the Jews are God’s prophetic time clock. What I mean by this is that the scriptures will often tie a prophesied future event with something that will happen to the Jews. We are told to watch the jews, and when the prophesied event concerning them occurs, we can be sure that the other prophesied event will also occur.

An example can be found in Luke 21:24 where Jesus prophesied that the Jews would be dispersed from jerusalem and be led captive among the nations. But then He added that one day they would return to re-occupy Jerusalem, and when this happens, the end-time events will occur that will lead to His return.

As we know, the Jews now occupy Jerusalem once again, as prophesied -- and just look at the past few weeks! The signs are beginning to accelerate at a rapid pace. Here’s some quick examples:

•Iran ramping up its "destroy Israel" rhetoric

•Syria rattling its sword more loudly than ever, bringing the Isaiah 17:1 prophecy  - the destruction of Damascus - into focus

•Turkey (Gomer) abruptly turning its back on Israel and the west after many years of reasonable friendship

•Russia arming the nations of Iran (Persia) and Libya - nations specifically mentioned some 2600 years ago in Ezekiel 38

Everyday we see in the news headlines how close the Middle East is to experiencing all-out conflict. In fact, a typical headline was seen this week on World Net Daily (3-3-2010) where it said “Mideast War in Very Near Future”. Every day I wake up expecting to see war taking place in that region.

I could go on for ever about end-time prophecies, but this gives you a brief look at what is taking place this very moment. -- And its happening at a rapidly-accelerating pace.

To put it in perspective, I will quote a great Bible prophecy scholar named Elbert Peak. The following are his comments: “Sixty years ago when I first started preaching, you had to scratch around like a chicken to find one sign of the Lord’s soon return.” -- He paused for a moment, and then added, “But today there are so many signs I’m no longer looking for them. Instead, I’m listening for a sound - the sound of a trumpet!” (Early 1990’s)

Then Matthew 24:36 states,

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,  but only the Father.”

Matthew 24:33 states,

Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

Finally, Luke 21:28 says,

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Hallelujah!!

Until next time,

Red