‘Final’ Tribulation [v246]

AUGUST 2019

A group of scientists, scholars, and Nobel laureates, has set the “Doomsday Clock” at 11:58 pm, just two minutes before the symbolic “Apocalypse”—also known as the “TRIBULATION”—the final, complete destruction of the world.

According to the “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists”—which gave its annual presentation of the “Doomsday Clock” on January 24, 2019—the ‘clock’ is only two minutes before ‘midnight’, the closest it has ever been to predicting the end of the world.

Just a few weeks before English theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking passed away in 2018, he was asked how he thought our world would end—and he made some incredibly dire predictions.

Hawking painted a pretty awful picture of our world’s future if things continue in the direction they’re headed—predicting that mankind had only a mere 100 years before the planet became incapable of supporting human life.

Hawking said that overpopulation, climate change, and energy depletion were among the leading present causes, but he also warned that artificial intelligence might mean the end of mankind in a way that we’ve long thought of as being science fiction.

“The genie is out of the bottle…I fear that AI may replace humans altogether. Someone will design AI that replicates itself. This will be a new form of life that will outperform humans.” He foresaw not just autonomous robots, but autonomous weapons, too.

In addition to his other comments, taken together, he suggests that we are at a “tipping point” where the end of the world becomes irreversible!

[ Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNJutpdK4A ].

The 2016 “Best Countries” global survey (21,000 ‘in the know’ people from 36 countries) found that most believe the world has taken a turn for the worse—primarily because there are so many ‘tribulations’ happening globally today that are advancing exponentially in frequency and intensity. They listed the following as top global ‘problems’ (in alphabetical order):

– Bioterrorism
– Cyberterrorism
– Diseases
– Ecological Collapse
– Energy Crisis
– Environmental Degradation
– Famines
– Fresh Water Scarcity/Security
– Global Financial Crisis
– Global Government Governance
– Global Warming
– Government Corruption
– Healthcare
– Hostile Artificial Intelligence
– Inequalities
– Lack of Education
– Malnourishment and Hunger
– Nuclear Proliferation (Potential for holocaust/WWIII)
– Overconsumption
– Overpopulation
– Pollution
– Poverty
– Religious Conflicts
– Safety, Security, and Well Being
– Substance Abuse
– Terrorism (Primarily against Israel)
– Unemployment
– Violence
– Wars and large-scale conflicts

Wow! It sure does seem to be an ‘OVERWHELMING’ amount of things to solve! So, if Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant people since Albert Einstein, can’t figure a way out of the mess that we’ve made of the world with his truly exceptional mind, and didn’t think we have much of a chance to solve these issues before we ‘eradicate’ ourselves, is there ANY HOPE?

Well, the Bible tells of a person that will pull the world from the ‘brink’ and institute a period of worldwide peace. He will be a very charismatic individual that will command attention in any kind of ‘summit’ meeting.

He will most likely be European (possibly Italian), and probably have the power of N.A.T.O. behind him.

He will have a ‘right-hand man’ who will serve as his religious ‘expert’, who will most likely be a Jew—and together they will propose, and successfully achieve, a peace treaty for the Middle East.

Israel, forever wanting peace with its neighbors, will be quick to accept him, his treaty, his offers of protection, guaranteed borders, and most of all, the ability to rebuild the Temple, and commence, once again, daily animal sacrifices. He’s going to guarantee their freedom, and they won’t have any qualms about signing a seven-year treaty.

The Bible calls him the “Antichrist,” and his ‘compadre’, the “False Prophet.” The thing is, his ‘ultimate’ desire is not for world peace, but for world domination, worship, and the extinction of the Jewish people—which will eventually bring upon the earth THE ‘final’ “Tribulation”…the end of the world as we know it!

TODAY’S “HEADLINES”
Headlines from today’s ‘newspaper’ indicate that the world may be on the verge of World War III. Even though there are ‘conflicts’ worldwide, the ‘primary’ tension seems to be in the Middle East:

– Israel, as a nation, is struggling for existence—they are surrounded by a group of enemies who have all sworn to “wipe them off the map” (not just removing them from their land, but the extermination of the Jewish people). They call Israel a “cancerous tumor that must be removed.”

– Most Arab countries don’t recognize Israel’s right to exist, and want the Jewish state to give up portions of land for one more Arab state called “Palestine.”

– Most Arab countries are genuinely concerned that Iran want to attain a nuclear weapons program in order to control the balance of power in the Middle East.

– Russia took over Crimea—without even firing a shot—and is moving in on the Ukraine.

– Russia produces over 10 million gallons of oil per day (about 13% of the world’s supply), and provides 25% of the natural gas Europe uses (which 80% of those lines run through the Ukraine). They also provide 100% of the natural gas to the Ukraine.

– Russia has been contracted to build two nuclear power plants in Iran (ancient “Elam”).

– In 2018, the “Temple Institute” in Jerusalem reported that a “blemish-free” red heifer cow was born. (This is needed for a Jewish priest to offer sacrifices to God in their Temple.)

– The Temple Institute announced that all of the vessels and ‘articles’ have been created and are ready for worship when the third Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem.

– Israel is now finding oil and gas beyond their wildest dreams.

– The unexpected “Arab Spring” uprisings in the early 2010’s

– The rise of the “Muslim Brotherhood” in Egypt

– The Syrian civil war that started in 2011

– Iran’s rapidly developing nuclear program

– The Muslim attacks of US embassies in 2012

– The arming of Hezbollah with over 50,000 rockets by Iran and Syria

– The deployment of chemical weapons throughout Syria

– The Israel/Middle East conflict is a ‘powder keg’ with a lit fuse, and is going from bad to worse right now, and it looks like the ‘stage’ is set for a coming Muslim invasion of Israel

– The escalation of cyberterrorism and militarization of cyberspace is getting scary

– The growing nuclear and electromagnetic pulse threat can cripple entire nations

– In general, the ongoing depletion of world oil leaves nations vying for control of the world’s oil fields. As the business editor for the Israel Economist, Joel Bainerman put it this way in the book, “Is The World Running Out of Oil?,” “The subsequent decline in availability of fossil fuels could plunge the world into global conflicts as nations struggle to capture their piece of a shrinking pie.”

MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER “WORLD WAR”?
The Bible describes a time in the future that will be a period of unparalleled horror on the earth. It calls it the “Tribulation,” and there so happens to be a “book” in the Bible that primarily focuses on what the world will go through in the “end times.” It portrays the slaughter of billions of people and the most horrendous ‘affliction’ the world has ever seen. The seven-year period of time ends when Jesus physically comes back to earth (“Second Coming”) to set up His “Millennium Kingdom,” a literal 1,000 years of perfect peace on the earth!

So, some people ask then, “Why in the world would a God of love allow this to occur? Well, there are two main ‘purposes’ for the Tribulation. The first is that God is going to judge the world for their sin (not believers, because their sins were atoned for by Jesus 2,000+ years ago on the Cross).

The second purpose is that God is going to reach out, once again, extend His grace to His chosen people, the Israelites, and will be giving them the opportunity to receive Jesus as their Savior (who they ‘shunned’ at His “First Coming”). [ God put Israel on the ‘back burner’ for the past 2,000+ years to allow the Gentiles to have a chance to become ‘children’ of God ].

In summary, He judges sinful humans, finally brings time to an end, fulfills prophecies about Israel, ‘shakes’ man from his false sense of security, and ‘allows’ man to choose either Satan or Jesus. It will be such a holocaust of major proportions because it combines the wrath of God (absolute justice), the fury of Satan (fierce anger), and the nature of man run wild (unrestrained evil).

The irony of the Tribulation is this: Even when God pours out His wrath, His fundamental purpose is never to punish—and we’re told over and over in the Bible—but instead to bring people to repentance, so they can be “SAVED” from His wrath!

The only reason Jesus has not returned yet is because God wishes for more people to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). But sadly many, if not most, will perish. Jesus said in His “Sermon on the Mount,” “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” [ Matthew 7:13-14 ]. However, even the ‘worse of sinners’ can still be saved! (Matthew 12:31). [ Consider the Apostle Paul as the ‘quintessential’ example of this ].

Jesus also said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” [ John 5:24 ]. Jesus “delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10c).

The thing is, ‘judgment’ usually motivates people. The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “When the earth experiences God’s judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness” [ Isaiah 26:9 ]. The good news is that a “great number” of people will turn their ‘hearts’ to God during the Tribulation, but they will have to go through ‘hell’ to make it happen! (You who are reading this DON’T have to go through the Tribulation!)

So, where do you stand in your relationship with God? Have you been ‘saved’ by grace thru faith in Jesus, or, have you rejected Jesus and therefore are living under the wrath of God? Think about it. What do you want? Grace or wrath?

THE “TRIBULATION PERIOD”
The word tribulation comes to us from a Latin word meaning “to press“ (as grapes), and refers to times of oppression, affliction, and distress. The Greek word that is used, “thlipsis,” is translated as “affliction, anguish, persecution, trouble, and burden.

The Bible foretells a final seven-year period that is split into two periods of three-and-one-half years each. The first half is called “The Tribulation,” and the second half is called the “Great Tribulation.” It ends with Jesus physically returning to the earth, called His “Second Coming,” to stop the Antichrist/world in exterminating the Jewish people.

Throughout Scripture, the Tribulation is referred to by other names such as the “Day of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; 2:1-31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2); “trouble” or “tribulation” (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1); the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21); “day of trouble” (Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15); and “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

God will finish His ‘discipline’ of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world. The Church, made up of all who have trusted in the person and work of the Lord Jesus to save them from being punished for sin, will not be present during the Tribulation. The Church will be removed from the earth in an event known as the “Rapture” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The Church is saved from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

Most of the specific details about this period of time is in the “Book of Revelation” (with some other details in Deuteronomy, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Amos, 1 Thessalonians, and Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and is presented by the Apostle John using the visual of a ‘scroll’ with seven “Seals.”

[ A quick overview of the “Tribulation” period:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tP3yN8snsc&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTAVEyK-p4fG9Gb1nK3sMoh9&index=4 ].

END TIMES TIMELINE SUMMARY
Bible prophecy is NOT ‘cut-and-dried’ and there are many experts that disagree on the ‘fine points’ of what will happen in the end times and when they will happen. I have presented the most up-to-date thinking about this—that I have settled on (for now). However, I am not proposing that this is THE answer. A variety of interpretations are provided in the “Resources” section below for you to determine your own conviction about this.

PRE-TRIBULATION (Time “Gap”)

– Disaster in Iran (Jeremiah 49:34-39)

– Destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17; Jeremiah 49:23-27)

– Arab-Israeli War (Psalm 83)

– Toppling of Jordan (Jeremiah 49:1-6; Zephaniah 2:8-10; Ezekiel 25:14)

– Terrorization of Egypt (Isaiah 19:1-18)

– Territory expansion of Israel (Obadiah 1:19-20; Jeremiah 49:2; Zephaniah 2:9; Isaiah 19:18)

– The “Rapture” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

– First “Seal” Judgment (Revelation 6:1-2; Matthew 24:4-5)
– Antichrist Arrives on the Scene (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Daniel 7:25)

– Second “Seal” Judgment (Revelation 6:3-4; Matthew 24:6-7)
– Gog and Magog War (Ezekiel 38-39)

– Third “Seal” Judgment (Revelation 6:5-6; Matthew 24:7)

– Fourth “Seal” Judgment (Revelation 6:7-8; Matthew 24:7)
– ‘Conventional’ War

– Fifth “Seal” Judgment (Revelation 6:9-11; Matthew 24:8-12, 21-22)

THE TRIBULATION (First Half)

– Sixth “Seal” Judgment (Revelation 6:12-14; Matthew 24:29)
– 144,000 ‘Evangelists’ “Sealed” (Revelation 7:1-8)
– Two Witnesses Granted Authority (Revelation 11:1-6)
– Antichrist Sign Peace Treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27)
[ The “Tribulation” ‘officially’ begins with the signing of the treaty ]

– Seventh “Seal” Judgment (Revelation 7:1-8)
[ Reveals the “Trumpet” judgments ]

– First “Trumpet” Judgment (Revelation 8:7)
– Nuclear War

– Second “Trumpet” Judgment (Revelation 8:8-9)

– Third “Trumpet” Judgment (Revelation 8:10-11)

– Fourth “Trumpet” Judgment (Revelation 8:12)

– Fifth “Trumpet” Judgment (Revelation 9:1-12)

– Sixth “Trumpet” Judgment (Revelation 9:13-19)

– Seventh “Trumpet” Judgment (Revelation 15:1; 16:1-21)
[ Reveals the “Bowl” judgments ]
– ‘War’ in the Heavens (Revelation 12:7-17)
[ Satan ‘thrown out’ of Heaven ]
– Antichrist ‘Incarnated’ by Satan (Revelation 13:1-10)
– False Prophet Arrives on the Scene (Revelation 13:11-13)
– One World Religion (“Harlot”) Replaced (Revelation 17:1-18)
– Two Witnesses Killed/Resurrected (Revelation 11:7-14)

THE “GREAT TRIBULATION” (Second Half)

– Antichrist ‘Desolates’ the Temple (Matthew 24:15; Revelation 13:14)
[ Beginning of the “Great Tribulation” ]
– War Against the ‘Saints’ (Revelation 12:7-12)
– Jewish Genocide (Zechariah 13:8-9)
– Mark of the Beast Implemented (Revelation 13:15-18)

– First “Bowl” Judgment (Revelation 16:2)

– Second “Bowl” Judgment (Revelation 16:3)

– Third “Bowl” Judgment (Revelation 16:4)

– Fourth “Bowl” Judgment (Revelation 16:8)

– Fifth “Bowl” Judgment (Revelation 16:10)

– Sixth “Bowl” Judgment (Revelation 16:12)
– The ‘Campaign’ of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16, 19; Revelation 19:17-21; Revelation 20:1-3; Joel 2:13-16)
– Jesus; “Second Coming” (Revelation 19:11-16)

– Seventh “Bowl” Judgment (Revelation 16:17-21)

[ FYI… AFTER THE TRIBULATION ]

Even though this post focused on the “Tribulation,” I wanted to tell you how the Book of Revelation ends—what comes AFTER the Tribulation (which will be next month’s post).

– Judgment of the Nations (Mathew 25:31-46)
– Judgment of the Jews (Ezekiel 20:34-38; Matthew 25:1-30)
– Marriage ‘Supper’ of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9)
– Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6)
– Satan’s Final Revolt (Revelation 20:7-8)
– Final Defeat of Satan (Revelation 20:9-10)
– Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)

Seven “New” Things
– New Heaven (Revelation 21:1)
– New Earth (Revelation 21:1)
– New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2; 9-27)
– New Universal Order (Revelation 21:6-8)
– New Temple (Revelation 21:22)
– New Light (Revelation 21:23-27)
– New Paradise (Revelation 22:1-5)

‘STAGE’ SETTING?
The brief list that I gave above seems to indicate that the Middle East issues are ready to ‘boil over’—preliminary “birth pangs”—and possibly ‘pull in’ some other ‘outlying’ counties to be involved.

With Russia’s recent invasion of Georgia and threats to other neighbors kindling renewed Cold War fears, many scholars of eschatology are asking themselves, “Is this a signal the long-awaited “Magog” coalition (Ezekiel 38)?”—a prophesied war in the Old Testament that will take place in the Tribulation period that combines many countries into a huge army to “plunder, loot and destroy” the people of Israel (Ezekiel 38:12).

Well, many scholars of biblical prophecy believe that the “Gog and Magog” invasion is NOT imminent. The Russians aren’t coming anytime soon. The time is not at hand. There are OTHER prophetic ‘developments’ that MUST OCCUR FIRST.

Israel must be “dwelling securely” (“Yashab Betach” – Ezekiel 38:8); “Dwelling without walls” (Ezekiel 38:11); A “nation at peace” in the Middle East (Ezekiel 38:11); One of the wealthiest nations in the world (Ezekiel 38:13); Having recently acquired a “great plunder” (Ezekiel 38:13); and is recognized as a sovereign nation internationally (Ezekiel 38:8). These are definitely not reality today.

So then, if the stage is not set for the Ezekiel invasion, what needs to happen to ‘set the stage’ for this Goliath event?

Well, first off, Israel has to burst out of its territorial seams and become the next Middle East ‘Super-State’, and has to possess land from the Nile to the Euphrates Rivers.

In fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:10, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) need to become an “exceedingly great army.” It so happens that the Bible says that they will achieve this title after they decisively defeat the Arab forces now surrounding them. Scholars are putting forth the idea that this is the conflict that is mentioned in PSALM 83.

Then freed from further Arab torment, Israel will bring down its walls, dwell securely, and resemble the “latter years” nation described in Ezekiel 38:8-13. Jews worldwide will make a massive “Aliyah” (immigration back to Israel), and the nation will expand its borders and exploit the resources of their defeated Arab foes.

Only then will Russia and Iran will look upon Israel as if it was a ripe ‘carrot’ dangling upon a string, and they will covet to have what they have. The Russians and Iranians will ‘lick their chops’ and assemble a nine-member coalition, and to invade Israel.

So you see, the current tiny nation of Israel isn’t that nation that Ezekiel 38 talks about, but it does seem that current events are ‘telling’, and all of this is ready to start unfolding.

The end time’s ‘hourglass’ made its final turn, back in 1948, when Israel become a nation again after a long and worldwide dispersion, and they have been streaming back ever since! [ This is the ‘vision’ of the “dry bones in Ezekiel 37, when the Lord miraculously brings scattered bones back together. The chapter portrays Israel as becoming a living, breathing nation, seemingly brought together from the dead ].

Now the ‘grains’ of sand are rapidly descending downward into the lower chamber. I and many biblical scholars believe that mankind is ‘racing’ toward the expiration date for this present earth!

END TIMES TIMELINE DETAILS
We all like step-by-step guidance—like instructions to put together IKEA furniture, or how to fix something (the reason YouTube “D.I.Y.” videos are so popular). We plan a project and try to determine its sequence—the best we can—from beginning to end. I think we are all ‘wired’ that way.

Even though the Bible doesn’t specifically ‘map out’ a sequence for the Tribulation, it does give us ‘clues’ throughout the Bible that can be ‘pieced together’.

So, after much study based on the latest scholarship by the experts in prophecy, I will suggest a ‘timeline’ for the events related to the ‘FINAL’ TRIBULATION of this world, just before Jesus’ “Second Coming” to set things right.

I DO NOT present this as being ‘THE’ timeline—many experts have debated the ‘fine’ details of this for centuries. This is my best ‘prognosis’ at this time for what we can expect for what the Bible says about the “end times” of this world.

BIRTH ‘PANGS’?
Jesus spoke to His disciples about the ‘signs’ of the end times that would herald His return (Matthew 24:5ff). He mentioned a great variety of signs—spiritual, natural, societal and world political—and then compared them to “birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8).

Any mother knows that as the birth of a baby approaches, the birth ‘pangs’ increase. The labor pains begin slowly but become more intense and more rapid—closer and closer together—until the baby is finally delivered.

What Jesus is saying here is that there will be a ‘final’ tribulation for this world, but the ‘pangs’ (like the finale of a fireworks display) will start off slowly. Then they will increase with greater rapidity, such that the final judgments (the “Bowl” judgments) coming literally one after another—‘rapid fire’, without and time between them—like one grand ‘explosion’ that pushes the world to the ‘edge’ of extinction.

Thus, Jesus was saying that the closer we get to the time of His return, the more frequent and intense the signs will become. There will be more earthquakes and more intense ones. Likewise, things like famine, pestilence, and war will increase in frequency and intensity.

Because of recent current events, there is some new scholarship in deciphering Bible prophecy, and it seems to propose an interpretation to some of the previously unanswered conundrums of just a few decades ago—primarily in the “pre-tribulation” times. As the “headlines” I mentioned indicate, they believe that it looks like the ‘stage’ is being set for the beginning of the end times and the Second Coming of Jesus.

So, without being ‘dogmatic’ (other views are in the “Articles” area below), the following is my interpretation of the end times chronology by ‘blending’ the latest biblical scholarship with the mostly-agreed-upon perspective.

PRE-TRIBULATION TIMES (“Time Gap”)
As I mentioned, the Bible states that there are several ‘prerequisites’ that must exist ‘inside’ Israel before the “Gog and Magog” invasion (Ezekiel 38) can occur. Israel must be a reestablished nation (which IS the case today—since 1948); The country needs to be inhabited by a “peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars” [ Ezekiel 38:11b ] (which IS NOT the case today); Israel must possess a sufficient surplus of “spoils,” because that is the main thing that the Magog coalition comes after (which IS NOT the case today).

The prophecy then says that when Israel is dwelling securely, that God will execute “judgments on all those around them who despise them” [ Ezekiel 28:26b ]. Well, it so happens that all of the countries that share common borders with Israel today are listed in Psalm 83. [ Psalm 83 seems to foretell of a coming Arab alliance that conspires together to eradicate the Jewish state of Israel, but will be soundly defeated by the IDF ].

Some Bible scholars have surmised that this will be the concluding Arab-Israeli war that needs to happen before Israel can dwell securely and remove the “walls” that protect it from its current surrounding neighbors.

Now, to get to a point that this will occur, there will probably be other ‘events’ that need to happen to increase the tensions to a breaking point—and Jeremiah 49 just many allude to some of these.

DISASTER IN IRAN
(Jeremiah 49:34-39)

The prophet Jeremiah tells of a time in the future where God will judge “Elam” (southwestern part of Iran) because they are using that area to develop a nuclear weapon and have declared that it will use to destroy the Jewish state. It talks about an awesome catastrophe, devastation, and holocaust (Jeremiah 49:35-38).

One possible scenario is that Israel might militarily strike the Bushehr reactor—because of ‘intel’ that they are given about nuclear weapon being produced—which would most likely create a nuclear disaster requiring Iranians in that area to evacuate.

Another scenario—with is probably more likely—is that the Bushehr reactor will fail by itself, or an earthquake will occur ‘helping’ that happen (Many say it’s a nuclear disaster waiting to happen.) It’s a 40-year-old facility (originally built by the Germans), with a 30-year-old cooling system, and no one trained in the facility to handle a nuclear disaster (like Fukushima). Being in an earthquake-prone area (a 6.8 magnitude occurred in 2000) also increases the possibility of a disaster.

A study concluded that if there was a nuclear disaster at Bushehr, that “only” 10% of the Iranian population would be affected, since there is a big mountain range nearby. However, the study continued to say that the wind patterns are such that the radiation would get into the water supply and they estimated that, within a day, 42% of their population could be adversely affected, and maybe killed.

Additionally, most of their desalinization plants, that are also in the same area, would be affected.

[ Note: Because of this study, Iran leadership decided to build the world’s largest pipeline for water by 2020 that will go inland throughout all those Gulf states. It is estimated to cost $10.5 billion ].

Even though they are concerned about a nuclear disaster in that area, Iran has contracted Russia to build two more nuclear reactors there. (Probably a ‘rouse’ to cover up the building of plants to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons).

DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS
(Isaiah 17; Jeremiah 49:23-27)

There’s a related prophecy by Jeremiah (49:23-27) that refers to the city of Damascus being destroyed in one night because they were trying to do ‘something’ (nuclear attack?) to the Jews. But it backfires and overnight the oldest continuously inhabited city in recorded history (dating back to the time of Abraham) is destroyed. Isaiah 17:9 says that the “children of Israel” will be involved in the actual destruction, not as an aggressor, but as defending its existence

If this happens before the Psalm 83 war, leading members of the 22-member Arab League are going to be very concerned about what happened and will doubtlessly be very concerned about their capital cities, thinking Israel might be on the ‘warpath’. This could definitely be a major reason the Psalm 83 war would morph out of this event.

The prophecy also says that Damascus will never be rebuilt again.

[ Note: It is also possible that Damascus could be destroyed DURING the Psalm 83 war ].

ARAB-ISRAELI WAR (Psalm 83)
When the Palestinians realize it will not get a state and when they realized Jerusalem will not be its capital, they will try to seize Jerusalem. It says in Zechariah 12:2 that “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples.” They will then, at some point, because diplomacy will not work for them, attack the Jews. I think we’re seeing the beginnings of this with all the terror attacks that are happening. It looks like they’re ‘hinting that there will be a Third Intifada. This is something Israel will not tolerate again.

Psalm 83 then states that the immediate neighbors of Israel will launch a war for the purpose of wiping out Israel as a nation. The nations described as being a part of this nefarious effort are those with a common border with Israel:

“Arab Confederacy” (“Inner Circle” countries)

– “Edom” – Jordanians (“Tents of Edom” – Southern Jordanians)
– ‘Assyria” – ISIS, Syrians and Northern Iraqi’s
– “Gebal” – Hezbollah and Northern Lebanese
– “Tyre” – Hezbollah and Southern Lebanese
– “Philistia” – Hamas of the Gaza Strip (Muslim Brotherhood)
– “Hagarenes” – Egypt
– “Ishmaelites” – Saudi Arabia
– “Moab” – Palestinians and Central Jordanians
– “Ammon” – Palestinians and Northern Jordanians
– “Amalek” – Arabs of the Sinai

The second half of Psalm 83 is a prayer for Israel’s victory. The outcome of the war is not specifically stated in Psalm 83, but we know from other Scriptures that Israel will be victorious. (“That in the end times Israel will be like a firepot among pieces of wood, and a flaming torch among sheaths so that that they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples” – Zechariah 12:6). They are going to be like David against Goliath.

The Arab population of these countries presently is 180 million, compared to Israel’s meager 8 million. This means there are about 22 Arabs to every Jew. [ Note: In Israel’s past they won conflicts with these kinds of odds: Gideon’s 300 versus 120,000 Midianites (Judges 8:10), was 400 to 1. Even the victories in 1948 and 1967 were of this magnitude ].

The Jewish prophet Obadiah, in a mysterious vision (Obadiah 1:1-21), identifies future names and places that can finally be deciphered in these present times. It tells of how this Palestinian generation will be judged for the historical crimes their Edomite fathers previously committed, and the current crimes they presently perpetuate against the Jewish people. The execution of this judgment upon the Palestinians will be delivered through the military might of Israel. In addition to this, Obadiah 1:19-20 implies that as a direct result of the Jewish conquest over the Palestinians (alluded to in verse 18), Israel will be significantly increased in both size and prosperity. It then states (verse 21) that Jewish sovereignty will be exercised over the conquered territory.

The intent of the annihilation will ‘boomerang’ on the Arab nations and will result in their overwhelming defeat. This will then produce great territorial expansion and enhanced national resources for Israel. It will also finally create peace for Israel—for a short while.

The thing is, the Psalm 83 confederate advance is a direct assault against the covenant God made with Abraham. It is an attempt to kill the Jewish people and confiscate their land. The preservation of both are critical elements contained within the covenant.

In keeping with the Israeli conquest over the Palestinians and the Jordanians, Zephaniah alludes to the ‘shriveling up’ of their respective gods (Zephaniah 2:10-11), which now so happens to be Allah. Islam will start to diminish in scale and influence.

But the security provided by Psalm 83 War will not last long because the Arab nations will turn to their natural ally Russia and cry out for help. The Russians will be delighted to respond to the Arab cry for help because they have always dreamed of taking over the oil fields of the Middle East.

Since the events leading up to the Arab-Israeli war probably created a worldwide crisis (possibly due to OPEC-induced oil shortages), and other countries will, surprisingly, be happy to see the Arabs defeated, since they are no longer fearful of terrorism and being in dire straits because of their oil-dependent economies as Israel gets the OPEC flow back into world markets. Ezekiel proclaims: “The whole earth will rejoice when I make you [Mount Seir] (the Arab confederacy) desolate” [ Ezekiel 35:14 ].

‘TOPPLING’ OF JORDAN
(Jeremiah 49:1-6; Zephaniah 2:8-10; Ezekiel 25:14)

Even though Israel and Jordan presently have a peace agreement, there are several ‘unfulfilled’ war prophecies. These biblical predictions are found in Jeremiah 49, Zephaniah 2, Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 25, Obadiah 1, Psalm 83, and Amos 1-2.

The prophecy informs that Jordan will ‘tremble’ as troubling events close in on all sides of its borders. Jeremiah 49:5a says, “Behold, I am going to bring terror upon you, says the Lord GOD of hosts, from all your neighbors…” In other words, terrorizing geopolitical events surrounding Jordan will destabilize the nation. This type of terror has never overtaken this territory until now.

According to Jeremiah 49:1-5, the instability that occurs within the country burgeons into an epic biblical war against Israel, which results in Jordan’s destruction and the expansion of the Jewish state.

“Therefore behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, “when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah (Amman, Jordan) of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall take possession of his (land) inheritance, says the Lord” [ Jeremiah 49:2-3 ].

Israel then expands its territory into Jordan (which so happens to be located within the borders of the ancient “Promised Land”)

TERRORIZATION OF EGYPT
(Isaiah 19:1-18)

There will come a day when Egypt will be ‘terrified’ of Israel—probably because of what their “exceedingly great army” did against the ten-member confederacy during the Psalm 83 war. The prophet Isaiah tells us that Israel will ‘establish’ themselves in five Egyptian cities (Isaiah 19:16-19), and these cities will “speak the language of Canaan” (which is Hebrew). One city will likely meet with destruction at the hands of the Israeli army, and will be aptly renamed to “the City of Destruction.”

TERRITORY EXPANSION OF ISRAEL
(Obadiah 1:19-20; Jeremiah 49:2; Zephaniah 2:9; Isaiah 19:18)

With the conclusion of the Holocaust in 1947, the International community arguably ‘forced’ the Arabs to accept a Jewish State in their ‘neighborhood’—with the UN resolution (GA 181) appropriated 8,019 square miles of area from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River for the “state” of Israel—and this will now be tremendously expanded.

The thing is, after Israel’s conquest of the surrounding nations in the Psalm 83 war, and their subsequent ‘appropriation’ of the conquered lands, Israel’s territory will likely grow 125 times its present size to over 1,000,000 square miles! This territorial expansion will likely engulf much of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and parts of Saudi Arabia, and the Jews will feel justified in stretching their sovereignty over all these lands since they remember that it was given to their patriarchal father, Abraham: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates” [ Genesis 15:18 ].

Ezekiel also prophesied this: “And I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before” [ Ezekiel 36:11a ].

The Bible is clear that God will restore unto Israel their fortunes and the precious real estate of the Twelve Tribes of Israel—the land He ‘deeded’ to Abraham and his decedents: “for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever” [ Genesis 13:15 ]. This is the “Promised Land” that Joshua distributed to the Twelve Tribes: “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments” [ Joshua 11:23a ].

THE “RAPTURE”
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

The Rapture of millions of believers will change everything and affect everyone that remains on the planet. There will be drastic changes we can’t even imagine now, as the world tries to control the chaos. People will be trying to restore some semblance of order and normalcy in their lives. [ The Antichrist may be starting to be in the ‘limelight’ at this point and may attempt to explain away the vanishing millions, while attempting to lure those remaining into a false sense of safety and hope ].

When the Church is raptured, their ‘restraining’ of lawlessness (via the Holy Spirit) will be gone, and Satan will then have much more ability for ‘mayhem’. However, the Holy Spirit will not be totally gone—because there would be total anarchy—and will be primarily bringing the ‘elect’ to faith in Jesus during the Tribulation period. The Holy Spirit will also be aiding Tribulation believers as they endeavor to live holy lives, and protect the 144,000 Jewish ‘witnesses’ (evangelists), as well as the “two witnesses.”

It is possible that the Roman Catholic Church will ’elevate’ themselves as the “true church” after the Rapture (becoming the “Harlot”, which will be discussed later), which is basically what they teach right now.

They will try to unite this chaotic world after the Rapture, give the world the supernatural answers they are looking for—possibly using apparitions of Mary—and captivate a lot of attention (“the Harlot rides the Beast” – Revelation 17).

[ FYI: The current European currency as we know it now has pictures of a woman riding the on a beast (a visualization of the “Harlot”) ].

While emphasizing the faith of the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul told them that they would be “delivered from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10d). It’s very interesting the way he put it in the original Greek—as a “definite article”—that the Church would be delivered from that “time period” of God’s wrath, just like God had done in the past, delivering His people before His judgment falls (like He had for Noah in the ark; like He did for Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah; and like He did for the Israelites in Egypt before the Angel of Death killed all the firstborn males). God has this long pattern of delivering His people before His judgment falls, and the Apostle Paul is saying that this will also happen before the ‘final’ Tribulation period at the end of days.

Another reason for the rapture of the believers is that God has already judged their sin—by His Son, Jesus—and they don’t need to be punished a second time by going through the Tribulation period.

After the rapture of the Church, the Holy Spirit will continue His work in bringing people to salvation, but He will no longer ‘baptize’ them into the mystical ‘body’ of Christ, the Church, nor will He entirely hinder Satan from bringing his schemes to fruition.

THE SEVEN “SEAL” JUDGMENTS
Back in Jesus’ time, in the Roman culture, when a testament of a citizen was to be made, it was done in a manner as to prevent forgery, so it went through a ‘sealing’ process, with the witnesses present. It was only in this way that the possessions, from houses and lands to riches and honor, could be verifiably given into the hands of another man. If the testament was not sealed by seven witnesses, according to Roman law, the testament was legally void.

So, essentially there was seven ‘separate’ documents. The first would be rolled up and then have a circular wax ‘seal’ placed on the edge to close it. Then, another document would be rolled around the first document and then sealed (so you have to unseal and unroll the second document first before you can get to the first sealed document).

[ FYI: Mockup of a ‘seven-seal’ document: https://loudcryofthethirdangel.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Seven-seals.jpg (Or the document is just one piece of paper that is sealed seven different times as it is rolled closed, making one break the seals as they unroll it) ].

In the Book of Revelation, the ’scroll’ (e.g. the ‘title deed’ to the earth) is unrolled by Jesus, and each “Seal” is removed to reveal another event or period of time during the Tribulation. To make it a bit more complicated, out of the seventh Seal comes seven “Trumpet” judgments, and out of the seventh Trumpet judgment comes seven “Bowl” judgments—the seventh Seal ‘introduces’ the seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:1–5), and the seventh trumpet ‘introduces’ the seven Bowls (Revelation 11:15–19; 15:1–8). It’s like of like those Russian “nesting dolls.” (https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/russian-nesting-dolls/product/70072).

[ Note: Here’s a chronological interpretation of the events involved in the Tribulation (Chart by pastor, prophecy expert, and author of the “Left Behind: series Tim LaHaye):
http://www.spiritedesign.com/The_Tribulation-Chronological_Chart-Tim_LaHaye.png ].

[ Note: It also can be interpreted that the seven Seals stretch over the whole Tribulation period (the first five in the first three-and-one-half years; the sixth just after the midpoint; and the seventh just before Jesus’ Second Coming), the seven Trumpets cover the middle point and bit beyond that, and the seven Bowls are all the rapid-fire at the end of the seven-year period of the Tribulation (Chart by author and prophecy expert David Reagan):
http://www.spiritedesign.com/Overview_of_End_Time_Events-Chronological_Chart-David_Reagan.jpg ].

I’ve got to believe that most people have ‘heard’ of the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” (Maybe you remember the 1962 movie of this). However, most don’t really know what they represent. Well, these are the first four “Seals” (judgments) at the beginning of the Tribulation period and begin to ‘disclose’ God’s judgment on mankind.

God has given human beings centuries to repent, to come to Him in faith, and to surrender to Him. So then, at this point in earth history, after all these centuries of ‘resistance’, God is going to, in essence say, “I’m taking my ‘hand’ of protection of the world, and will allow the depravity of the human heart to drive them to their own destruction. I’m not going to come to protect them, and literally, all hell is going to break loose on planet earth!”

The thing is, Jesus told His disciples—and us by way of the Bible—that these things were going to happen. In His “Olivet Discourse—also known as the “Little Apocalypse,” since it includes the use of apocalyptic language—Jesus warns His followers that they will suffer tribulation and persecution before the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God.

The following are the parallels of the prophecies made by Jesus during His Olivet Discourse and that of the six “Seal” judgments in Revelation:

First Seal: “I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals…I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest” (Revelation 6:1-2).

Jesus: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5).

Second Seal: “When the Lamb opened the second seal,…another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword” (Revelation 6:3-4).

Jesus: “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” (Matthew 24:6-7).

Third Seal: “When the Lamb opened the third seal,…there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard…a voice…saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:5,6).

Jesus: “There will be great earthquakes, famines…” (Luke 21:11).

Fourth Seal: “When the Lamb opened the fourth seal,…I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:7,8).

Jesus: “[There will be]…famines and pestilences [plagues] in various places… (Luke 21:11). All these are the beginning of birth pains [sorrows]” (Matthew 24:8).

Fifth Seal: “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained” (Revelation 6:9).

Jesus: “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me…For then there will be great distress [great tribulation], unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:9,21,22).

Sixth Seal (part 1): “I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place” (Revelation 6:12-14).

Jesus: “Immediately after the distress [great tribulation] of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies [powers of the heavens] will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29).

Sixth Seal (part 2): “Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17).

Jesus: “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet [shofar] call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:30,31).

Correlation of each event of the Olivet Discourse with its timing in the Book of Revelation informs our understanding of the current age (in regards to signs of the end times or stage setting), and interpretation of the return of Christ, and the judgment at that time.

FIRST “SEAL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 6:1-2;Matthew 24:4-5)

The first Seal introduces the “Antichrist” (Revelation 6:1–2). From the biblical description, we gather several details: he rides a “White Horse,” which speaks of him coming under the pretense of being righteous and wanting to bring peace to the world (Daniel 9:27). However, He holds a “bow,” which shows his true intentions, “as a conqueror bent on conquest” (Revelation 6:2). He has a “crown,’ which indicates that the Antichrist will exercise great authority (Daniel 7:24–25).

This will be the first ‘official’ unveiling of him to the world (though he probably has been working in the ‘background’ for years to prepare himself for this).

ANTICHRIST ARRIVES ON THE SCENE
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Daniel 7:25)

The Bible says that the Antichrist, energized by Satan (Daniel 8:24), will seem to have all the answers to the world’s problems, will take over the European Union through skillful intrigue, and probably establish his headquarters in Rome (Revelation 17:8-9).

He will be a genius in intellect (Daniel 8:23), commerce (Daniel 11:43; Revelation 13:16-17), war (Revelation 6:2; 13:2), speech (Daniel 11:36), and politics (Revelation 17:11-12).

He will be a gentile, and will not be “Gog” (the leader of the invasion of Israel described in Ezekiel 38), which will be discussed in just a bit.

[ Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfRPF5EtFsA ]
(Note: Link to full movie in “Articles” section below).

The world will be ‘ripe’ to embrace the Antichrist, since he will not ‘interfere’ with their comfortable lives (at the outset), who will be a ‘force’ to aid them in realizing their thoughts and dreams of peace and harmony on earth, and will institute a world of tolerance, love, and goodwill, without any personal ‘cost’ to themselves. The Bible says that the Antichrist will be able to accomplish this.

He will advance what is already in the process of becoming a reality, the “spirit of antichrist” (1 John 4:1-3)—that people are relatively ‘good’ and the world can become a paradise of man’s own making—and the God of the Bible is no longer ‘needed’ for a fulfilling life.

The world will believe that with the Antichrist at the helm, mankind will be able to accomplish anything it wants to (e.g. like the building of the “Tower of Babel” in the Book of Genesis). When this happens, Satan, working ‘through’ the Antichrist (and the False Prophet, who comes later), will finally have what he has always wanted—to be seen as an ‘equal’ to God. He will have control of a world, and most will worship him.

The Antichrist comes on the scene to help the world ‘recover’ from the recent war in the Middle East (Psalm 83). The Muslims (Islam) just received a ‘punch to the gut’ and are not too ‘happy’ right now—but just wait, they’re about to get really ‘sad’!

SECOND “SEAL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 6:3-4; Matthew 24:6-7)

Jesus ‘opens’ the second Seal, and the “Red Horse” (which represents war and bloodshed) unleashes great warfare out on the earth (Revelation 6:3–4). This is when a huge coalition of armies, lead by Russia, will set their ‘sights’ on exterminating Israel (Ezekiel 38; Daniel 11).

“GOG AND MAGOG” WAR
(Ezekiel 38-39)

At this time, Israel is living the “land of unwalled villages…who are at rest, that live securely…without walls and having no bars or gates” (Ezekiel 38:11) because Israel has just dealt with their enemies around them (Psalm 83 war) and no longer have to worry about them attacking (Ezekiel 28). [ Preconditions for the “Gog and Magog” war to happen ].

So, after soundly defeating their ‘neighbors’ in the “Psalm 83” war, and then ‘appropriating’ a tremendous amount of land after it (Obadiah 1:19-20; Zephaniah 2:9; Jeremiah 49:2), Israel will have economic wealth, military strength, and international influence. A ‘burgeoning’ Israel will be bursting at the ‘seams’, and the surviving Muslim nations, like Iran, Turkey, Libya, etc. will not be ‘pleased’ with Israel taking Muslim lands. [ It’s interesting that all of the surrounding countries call Israel the “occupier,” but they are really the ones who are ‘occupying’ the Land that God ‘gave’ to Israel! ].

So, the security provided by “Psalm 83” war will probably not last too long since the Arab nations will turn to their natural ally, Russia, and cry out for help. The Russians will be delighted to respond to the Arab cry for help because they have always dreamed of taking over the oil fields of the Middle East. “Gog” (the leader of Russia) forms an evil plan to obtain Israel’s “plunder and great booty” gained in the aftermath of the “Psalm 83” war. He will put together a huge and very powerful coalition of countries (“Outer Ring” countries – No common borders with Israel), that have contact with every major waterway that Israel needs to export their “great booty” to market:

“Magog” – Central Asia (Southern Russia + former republics Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Afganistan)
“Rosh” – Russia
“Meshech” – Turkey
“Tubal” – Turkey/Southern Russia
“Beth-Togarmah” – Turkey (May also include Azerbaijan and Armenia)
“Gomer” – Turkey/Eastern Europe
“Persia” – Iran
“Cush” – Sudan
“Put” – Ethiopia/Libya (May include Algeria and Tunisia)
“Sheba” – Yemen
“Dedan” – Saudi Arabia

[ Note: Iraq may not be a part of this invading coalition because a rebuilt “Babylon” (capital of Iraq) may just be the headquarters of the Antichrist during the Tribulation Period. So, when God destroys the invading coalition, the Antichrist may take credit for it in ‘protecting’ Israel ].

To me, it seems odd that big, bad Russia would need to get all these big friends and form a coalition to take out “tiny, little” Israel. You would think that Russia has lots of nuclear weapons, and they really could handle Israel quite easily all by themselves. But, that just shows you how ‘powerful’ Israel has become after the “Psalm 83” war.

So, Russia and the other coalition nations plan to ‘cash in’ on the tremendous wealth of Israel, wanting their “silver and gold,” “cattle and goods,” and “great spoil” (Ezekiel 38:11-13). This might be the mineral deposits in the Dead Sea, which are worth vitally trillions of dollars. But primarily, they will all be wanting to take over the oil fields that Israel ‘seized’ because of the Psalm 83 war, as well as the fields the Israelis already have.

[ Note: In addition to the huge oil field (“Meged-4”) found in 2004 (valued at $46 billion), they just discovered a huge gas field (near Karish) that is estimated to be valued at over $26 billion! ].

Now, even though the invaders themselves will “devise an evil plan” [ Ezekiel 38:10c ], it’s really not “Gog” making this all happen—God has ‘decreed’ this invasion: “I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army” [ Ezekiel 38:4 ]. Indeed, the enemy will say, “I will go up against the land” of Israel (Ezekiel 38:11), and for this, God will judge and destroy the entire coalition. Now, we may not fully understand the relationship between divine sovereignty and human freedom, but this passage is clear that both come into play in the “Gog and Magog” invasion.

In addition to wanting Israel’s “great booty,” they have a religious motivation for the invasion: the Islamic allies of Russia bitterly hate Israel and want their utter and complete destruction.

Also, scholars believe that the unstated agenda of the Russians and their real motivation will be to use the Arab invitation as an excuse to expand their sovereignty over all of the Middle East. This ulterior motive is described in Ezekiel 38:12, where it says the Russians will come to “capture spoil and to seize plunder.”

So why aren’t there any countries that are opposing this invasion? Well, for one, the world will likely be in a state of chaos following the Rapture, which will have had a ‘devastating’ affect on the United States, which has a heavy population of Christians. In addition to that, the U.S. may no longer be a superpower, as God may finally judge America for non-biblical stance on some issues: Taking prayer and Bible reading out of schools; Legalization of abortion; Defense of Marriage act struck down (one man to one woman); and the approval of same-sex ‘marriage’.

[ This might possibly be mentioned in Ezekiel 38:13 as the “young lions” (English speaking countries founded by British immigrants, like the U.S. and Australia) are either protesting or on the ‘sidelines’ ].

Because of the Rapture, Russia and her Muslim allies may well seize the moment, considering this an ideal time to launch a massive attack against Israel, which had been previously protected by the United States, and the fact that most of the countries in the coalition will be Muslim, who didn’t get raptured.

So now, Israel is surrounded by the most massive military force ever, and we see God ‘supernaturally’ stopping these invading armies “on the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 39:4). He will accomplish this destruction with earthquakes, pestilence, hail storms, fire, brimstone, and battlefield confusion (soldiers will be fighting against their own side – Ezekiel 38:19-22). Even the Jewish people will recognize that the victory was not because of them, but was because of God, and many will ‘open their hearts’ to Him (Ezekiel 38:23).

As if all this wasn’t enough, God also promises, “I will send fire against Magog and those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD.” The armies of Gog and his allies are annihilated on the mountains of Israel, but the judgment extends simultaneously to their distant countries, that the ends of the earth may know and fear the God of the Bible.

Now, you may be asking why God is doing all of this. Well, He does this for a couple of reasons. First off, to save His “chosen people” who He promised would be preserved and never perish completely (Psalm 89:18-37; Jeremiah 31:35-37). Secondly, and primarily, He “will show My greatness and My holiness and make Myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord” [ Ezekiel 38:23 ], “And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel” [ Ezekiel 39:7 ].

This is God’s official ‘final notice’ to Israel to repent and ‘come’ to Him!

So, after this war, for seven months, they will be doing a ‘clean up’—burying the dead in a valley “east of the sea”, the “Valley of Hamon Gog” (which doesn’t exist today)—probably east of the “Dead Sea,” in Jordan (who surrenders sovereignty to Israel – Jeremiah 49:1-6). They will probably be doing this for a couple of reasons.

It might be because of nuclear decontamination, but more likely because they are gravitating back to reinstating the Mosaic “Law” (distinguished by the ritual requirement of “cleansing of the land” referred to in Leviticus). Unfortunately, this will not cause the nation, as a whole, to ‘come’ to God and believe in Son Jesus as their Messiah.

After all this is finished, Israel will gain world renown, awe, and superpower status.

This war will most likely occur three-and-one-half years BEFORE the Tribulation starts, since Ezekiel 39:9 states that the Jews will spend seven years “burning the weapons” that they captured (likely undetonated weapons will become a source of fuel for Israel that will last them through the first half of the Tribulation period).

So, if they are going to be burning weapons that they captured for seven years and Revelation 12 tells us that three-and-one-half years into the Tribulation the Jews will be evicted from the land by the Antichrist, then the only way the Jews could spend seven years burning the weapons is for this war to begin three-and-one-half years before the start of the Tribulation (when the Antichrist ‘signs’ a peace treaty with Israel). They then can burn weapons three-and-one-half years into the first half of the Tribulation because they’re living in what they believe is peace.

Isn’t it ironic that the Magog invaders intended to use their weapons to dispossess Israel of their new-found ‘booty’, which will include increased energy resources, but the opposite occurs? Israel converts the enemy weapons into additional energy sources for themselves, instead of having their energy resources stolen!

[ Note: It’s interesting that the “shelf life” of a nuclear implosion device is seven years ].

So, when God destroys the Muslim invaders prior to the Tribulation, it makes it much easier for the Antichrist to sign a covenant protecting Israel, and much easier for Israel to rebuild its temple. Before this war, there would have been too much Muslim resistance. But if many Muslims are taken out, that would be made much easier. It would also make it much easier for a false religion to emerge in the end times because the two primary people groups that would stand against that false religion are now removed. Christians were removed at the Rapture, and many Muslims were just taken out in the “Gog and Magog” invasion.

In addition to that, when God used a powerful earthquake to inflict punishment on the allied forces who were invading Israel, it stands to reason that it may have fulfilled the prophesied destruction of every structure on the Temple Mount—which would ‘pave the way’ for the building of the Third Jewish Temple.

This war will be the most horrific event in human history since the Flood, and will have consequences that will shake the rest of the world. The cry for a global organization that can prevent war will be deafening. The International Community will adopt a world-governing entity to eliminate the possibility of a global war ever taking place again—since it would probably wipe out everyone. The nations of the world will surrender their sovereignty to the new world government so that it can eliminate war completely.

This world government will be the culmination of years of planning that had already been in progress. As was said earlier, at this point, for several years, it would have been generally believed that there were two major causes for war on earth—conflicts between nations and conflicts between religions. The solution will be to do away with the nation-states and force everyone on earth to pledge allegiance to one single, ultimate political authority—a ‘ONE WORLD’ GOVERNMENT. It will also abolish the doctrinal differences between all religious organizations and coerce church leaders to sign declarations of unity with a single, all-inclusive religious authority—a ‘ONE WORLD’ RELIGION.

The Bible says that these two ‘entities’ will be governed by the Antichrist (with help by the False Prophet), since he probably aided in the negotiations for the peace agreement in the Middle East (Daniel 9:27).

When God destroys the massive military coalition, the balance of political and religious power in the world will shift. This will make things much easier for the Antichrist. More specifically, the destruction of the invaders will pave the way for the Antichrist to rise in power. With both Russia and a number of oil wealthy Muslim nations out of the way, far fewer nations will have the political clout to challenge his authority when he comes into power early in the Tribulation period. This will open up the way for a one-world government.

The “Gog and Magog” (Ezekiel 38) invasion is the ‘marquee’ event through which God draws the final ‘line’ in the sand, and ‘notifies’ the world that He is the one true God! The ‘credit’ for this supernatural defeat of the invaders will be given exclusively to Him.

God’s purpose in destroying the coalition, as Israel’s ‘protector’, to deliver them from harm. This is an outworking of the accent covenant God made with Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” [ Genesis 12:3 ]. Surely the Muslims—who comprise most of this vast invading force—curse Israel and seek their destruction, and God will ‘curse’ them with an annihilating judgment!

In short, God’s destruction of this military coalition will be a powerful ‘testimony’ to His power, glory, and majesty, and showing that Islam is a false ‘god’. (This reminds me of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians—who worshipped numerous gods that they considered more powerful than the one true God of the Bible. The Egyptians were soon to learn a hard lesson from God by the ten powerful plagues).

It can be anticipated that sometime shortly after the Muslims ‘digest’ what has happened in the “Psalm 83” and “Gog and Magog” wars, they may begin to question the power of their god Allah. First, they will be forced to wonder how a tiny state like Israel can defeat the powerful Arabs. (Many Muslims today are already asking that question in light of the failed attempts to destroy the Jewish state in 1948, 1967, and 1973).

Additionally, when world Muslims witness Israel receiving international notice—which occurs when they bury the Muslin hordes of Gog—they will inevitably be caused to question how the Jehovah of the Jews could successfully destroy the much more formidable Islamic forces. Zephaniah 2:8-11 actually suggests that Allah’s best days are behind him—the decline was ‘triggered’ by the Psalm 83 war and finally undone by the “Gog and Magog” war.

So, the Russian confederacy is defeated, and Israel’s fortunes are further restored and expanded: “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for My holy name” [ Ezekiel 39:25b ]. In this process, Israel comes into a greater reverence of the God of Moses.

This judgment will serve to nullify any possible reprisal or future attempts at invasion. No further attack against Israel by these evil forces will be possible!

THIRD “SEAL” JUDGMENTS
(Revelation 6:5-6; Matthew 24:7)

The third Seal, the “Black Horse,” represents famines. Inflation and famine will plague the earth during and after these wars. The Apostle John sees it “holding a pair of scales in his hand.” Then John hears a declaration that people will have to work all day to earn just a little food (a loaf of bread). Though many will starve, the wealthy will enjoy ‘luxuries’.

FOURTH “SEAL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 6:7-8; Matthew 24:7)

Then the fourth Seal, the “Pale Green Horse,” (which represents pestilence and death) is opened and the result is that one-fourth of the earth’s inhabitants will perish “by sword, famine, and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.”

“CONVENTIONAL” WAR
The Bible then states that a major “conventional” WORLD WAR will break out soon after the ‘one world’ government is established.

Although the Antichrist is going to rise to power in Europe through cunning and deception, intrigue, and his charismatic personality, he will have to resort to military power to conquer the world, because Asia, Africa, and Latin America have spent the last 200 years casting off the ‘shackles’ of European colonialism and they’re not suddenly going to suddenly surrender their sovereignty peacefully to a new European dictator no matter how dynamic, brilliant, and charismatic he may be.

The Antichrist will ultimately achieve “authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation” (Revelation 13:7), and this authority will be achieved through which results in the death of one-fourth of humanity (Revelation 6:8) [ About 1.5 billion based on today’s population ].

The Bible indicates that the “conventional” war will then ‘morph’ into a nuclear holocaust, resulting in the deaths of ANOTHER ONE-THIRD of mankind (another 1.5 billion people – Revelation 9:15). This means that in the first two ‘major’ wars of the Tribulation, MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF HUMANITY WILL DIE!

[ A hint that the conventional war will become a nuclear one is found in Revelation 8:7 where it states that the escalation of the war will result in one-third of the earth being burned up. Another hint is found in Revelation 16:2-11 where we are told that “loathsome and malignant” sores will afflict people at the end of the Tribulation, something that would be a natural consequence of radiation from the use of nuclear weapons ].

It could very well be that this nuclear holocaust could be what Jesus had in mind when He stated that in the end times men will faint from fear over the expectation of the things coming upon the world, “for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:26).

The image created here in the Greek, is unrestrained killing—is as fast as people die, Hades (Hell) is there ‘scooping’ them up. It’s like a death ‘assembly line’. It’s a very macabre scene going on here.

The implication here is that the Four Horsemen will ride ‘roughshod’ on the earth to commence the “time of sorrows,” and it also indicates that there might be a length of time between the fulfillment of the fourth Seal and the opening of the fifth Seal. The first four Seals, then, might be broken in quick succession and allowed to inflict mayhem for a long period before the fifth Seal is opened.

[ Sermon about the “Four Horsemen” by pastor Greg Laurie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oipdXKshLp8 ].

FIFTH “SEAL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 6:9-11; Matthew 24:8-12, 21-22)

The fifth Seal reveals the Christians who will be martyred for coming to faith in Jesus after the Rapture and during the Tribulation (Matthew 24:9-10). They will be “violently butchered” by the Antichrist because they did not bow down to him and submit to the global economic system that forces all people on the earth to receive the “Mark of the Beast.” God hears their cries for justice, and tells them to wait “until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” God promises to avenge them, but it was not the time yet (Romans 12:19).

In addition to the Antichrist, it says that the “Harlot” (the one world religion) is “drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus.” This religion may also have a ‘connection’ with “Death and Hades.”

This will be a time of unparalleled judgment since there is the wrath of God from Heaven, the wrath of man on the earth, and the wrath of Satan from ‘hell’!

THE TRIBULATION (First Half)

SIXTH “SEAL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 6:12-14; Matthew 24:29)

The sixth Seal will be literal cosmic disturbances probably caused by nuclear war or a devastating global earthquake that causes massive upheaval and volcanic debris that pollutes the atmosphere. It turns the moon blood red and the sun dark. In addition, there may even be massive meteor showers (“the stars of the heavens fell unto the earth” – Revelation 6:13a).

Survivors of the sixth seal, regardless of their social position, take refuge in caves and cry out to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” [ Revelation 16–17 ].

144,000 ‘EVANGELISTS’ “SEALED”
(Revelation 7:1-8)

Since the Church will be absent (because they were raptured), God will “seal” (divinely protect) 144,000 Jewish, Apostle-Paul-type Jewish evangelists for special ‘evangelistic’ service throughout the seven-year period of the Tribulation preaching Jesus (Yeshua) as the Jewish Messiah (Revelation 14:1-4). Supernaturally, God is going to preserve them through the entire Tribulation period, and their work will yield a mighty ‘harvest’ of souls (Revelation 7:9-14).

The 144,000 come from the 12 ancestral tribes—12,000 from each tribe. Now, during my research of this, I came across something fascinating, and it just reinforced, for me, another example of how I think the Bible is God-inspired.

Back in Jesus’ time, naming a child was very important, and it was intended to illustrate the kind of person they would be when they grew up. Well, the following is the order the 12 tribes are given in Revelation 7:5-8 to make up the 144,000 ‘evangelists’ that would be preaching the Gospel during the Tribulation, and the meaning of their name:

Judah = I will praise the Lord
Reuben = He is looked on me
Gad = Given good fortune
Asher = Happy am I
Naphtali = My wrestling
Manasseh = Making me to forget
Simeon = God hears me
Levi – Attached to me
Issachar =  Purchased me
Zebulun = Dwelling
Joseph = God will add to me
Benjamin = Son of his right hand

Now what’s fascinating is that if you take these twelve names and line up the meanings of their names the way they’re given in this verse, this is what it says:

“I will praise the Lord for He has looked on me and granted good fortune. Happy am I, because of my wrestling, God is making me to forget. God hears me and is attached to me. He has purchased me a dwelling and will add to me the Son of His right hand.”

Isn’t that amazing?! The odds that those names would create a coherent sentence are astronomical, but then add in that when one associates Jesus with the “son,” it becomes the whole story of salvation, the story of redemption! TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE! BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL!! DEFINITELY, GOD INSPIRED!!!

TWO WITNESSES GRANTED AUTHORITY
(Revelation 11:1-6)

After the Rapture of the Church, some will realize that the Christians were right about God and Jesus, and become “born again” by themselves (with the help of the Holy Spirit). In addition to the 144,000 evangelists, the Bible tells about two special “witnesses” (Revelation 11:3), who will call the world to repentance during the first half of the Tribulation, warning that God’s final outpouring of judgment is coming, and that eternal hell will follow for those who do not repent and place their faith in Jesus.

While it is impossible to be dogmatic about the specific identity of these two preachers, some suggest that they may be Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah.

Moses and Elijah are seen as possibilities for the two witnesses due to the specific miracles that John says the witnesses will perform. The witnesses will have the power to turn water into blood (Revelation 11:6), which duplicates a famous miracle of Moses (Exodus 7). The witnesses will have the power to destroy their enemies with fire (Revelation 11:5), which corresponds to an event in Elijah’s life (2 Kings 1). Also giving strength to this view is the fact that Moses and Elijah both appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:3–4). Further, Jewish tradition expects Moses and Elijah to return, based on the prophecy of Elijah’s coming in Malachi 4:5 and God’s promise to raise up a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18), which some Jews believe necessitates Moses’ return.

Enoch and Elijah are also seen as possibilities for the two witnesses because of the unique circumstances surrounding their exit from the world. Enoch and Elijah, as far as we know, are the only two individuals whom God has taken directly to Heaven without experiencing death (Genesis 5:23; 2 Kings 2:11). Proponents of this viewpoint to Hebrews 9:27, which says that all men are appointed to die once. The fact that neither Enoch nor Elijah has yet experienced death seems to qualify them for the job of the two witnesses, who will be killed when their job is done. In addition, both Enoch and Elijah were prophets who pronounced God’s judgment (1 Kings 17:1; Jude 1:14–15).

Since the Bible does not specifically identify the two witnesses by name, and no well-known person is associated with their coming, God is perfectly capable of taking two “ordinary” believers and enabling them to perform the same signs and wonders that Moses and Elijah did. There is nothing in Revelation 11 that requires us to assume a “famous” identity for the two witnesses.

Whoever they are, they will have miraculous powers to accompany their message (Revelation 11:6), and no one will be able to stop them in their work (Revelation 11:5). [ Some of these directly ‘parallel’ some of the plagues (the third and fourth) in Egypt ].

These prophetic witnesses apparently emerge on the scene at the beginning of the Tribulation Period, and continue to minister for 1,260 days—precisely three-and-one-half years—the first half of the Tribulation period.

ANTICHRIST SIGNS PEACE TREATY WITH ISRAEL
(Daniel 9:27) [ The “Tribulation” ‘officially’ begins ]

The Antichrist will seize upon people’s desperate need to rebuild something better from the rubble left behind from the “Gog and Magog” war, and his mastery of diplomacy will be put to speedy use around the world.

He will enter into a ‘covenant’ with Israel for seven years. (This accord will actually be a confirmation of God’s covenant with Abraham that Israel would always have a homeland in the Promised Land – Genesis 15:18). Since Israel will be operating from a position of extreme ‘empowerment’, this treaty probably will not have anything to do with stopping Palestinian terrorism (since they basically ‘wiped them out’). The Antichrist puts this accord forward in an attempt to neutralize the statue of the Jewish people, and their God, Who has once again made His holy name known throughout the nation of Israel (Ezekiel 38:16-39:7).

Primarily the Israelites will want the treaty for the ‘unrestricted’ ability to rebuild the Third Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount and to, once again, perform animal sacrifices. Since most of the Muslim countries that would oppose something like this were decimated in the “Psalm 83” and “Gog and Magog” wars, this will not be much of an issue.

Another probable thinking of Israel’s leaders at is time will probably be the belief that all this will hasten the coming of the Messiah, and intern, the beginning of the glorious Messianic Kingdom age. [ However, the prophet Isaiah warns that the covenant will be short-lived: “Your covenant with Death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not last” – Isaiah 28:18a ].

They probably also sign the treaty so as not to be the next ‘victim’ of the Harlot world religion—which will probably not be too tolerant of religions related to the God of the Bible—and to ‘appease’ her temporarily, since in their estimation, once the Messiah comes, He will eliminate the pagan Harlot religion.

In addition to deception, diplomacy, and a promise of peace and safety, the Antichrist will rise to power by using the same tactics employed by politicians throughout history. He will offer his ‘coattails’ and make it a smooth ‘ride’ to the top for the ones who support him—making them rulers, giving them ‘booty’, and offering them the ‘carrot’ of more power. Following his lead will hold many perks, but resisting him will come at a very great price!

He will come to power through deception and be a master of intrigue, ‘elevating’ himself as God—and will offer peace and security to a war-torn world.

He will be able to perform “signs and miracles” to convince the world that he fulfills all the messianic prophecies in the Bible, and those of all religions around the world. Eager to take Jesus’ place and rule over the earth, the Antichrist will even ‘counterfeit’ His own death and resurrection. The world comes to the realization that no one can ‘stand’ against this guy, and they submit their power and authority over to him.

In addition to the Antichrist’s ‘supernatural’ ability to win people to his position through diplomacy, it may even be possible that the Arab world will accept him as the returning “12th Imam” of Islamic prophecy.

One might wonder how one man will be able to convince the entire world to follow him and give him all the power and authority over a global government. Well, the fact is, the world has been waiting for just such a man for centuries. Mankind has been striving to create a ‘utopian’ world ever since they first attempted to ‘reach heaven’ by building the Towel of Babel.

Only in this generation could one person be able to rule over the entire economy of the world, since the technology required is pretty much here today.

When the Antichrist negotiates the treaty that brings true peace to the Middle East and enables the Jews to rebuild their Temple, it begins a seven-year time period the Bible calls “The Tribulation.”

SEVENTH “SEAL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 8:1-8) [ Reveals the “Trumpet” judgments ]

When Jesus opens the seventh Seal, “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1)—a hush of expectancy for the verdict that is about to be pronounced on the guilty. The judgments that lead up to the close of the Tribulation are now visible in the scroll and are so severe that a solemn silence falls upon all of Heaven. The seventh seal obviously introduces the next series of judgments, for John immediately sees seven angels who are handed seven trumpets ready to sound (Revelation 8:2). An eighth angel takes a censer and burns “much incense” in it, representing the prayers of God’s people (Revelation 8:3–4). The angel then took the same censer, “filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:5).

Once the seven seal judgments are finished, the next part of the Tribulation, featuring the seven Trumpet judgments, is ready to begin. [ The seventh “Seal” ‘introduces the seven Trumpet judgments ].

[ A quick overview of the seven “Seal” judgments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r18R6Kn0TgU&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTAVEyK-p4fG9Gb1nK3sMoh9&index=5 ].

THE SEVEN “TRUMPET” JUDGEMENTS
Interestingly, the first five Trumpet judgments closely ‘resemble’ the first five plagues that God inflicted on Egypt as Moses was trying to lead the people out of Egyptian slavery. All of them evoke some sort of hardness of heart where, in spite of the judgments that God had inflicted and unleashed, people were still holding on to their sin, refusing to repent.

The seven Trumpet judgments are the “contents” of the seventh Seal judgment. (Remember the concept of the Russian “nesting dolls”?)

FIRST “TRUMPET” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 8:7)

The first Trumpet judgment is hail and fire mingled with blood, burning up one-third of the earth, trees, and all of the green grass—affecting the global food supply. Although not specifically mentioned, this might be a variety of substantial volcanic eruptions.

[ This judgment bears some similarities to the seventh plague upon Egypt (Exodus 9:23–24) ].

NUCLEAR WAR
It appears that the conventional war started by the Antichrist morphs into a nuclear war resulting in the deaths of another ONE-THIRD of those left alive! That means by the middle of the Tribulation about three billion people will die—about ONE-HALF of all humanity!

There are some hints that the conventional war is going to become a nuclear one. For example, one of the hints is found in Revelation 8:7 where it says, “The escalation of the war will result in one-third of the earth being burned up” (which happens after a nuclear bomb is exploded).

Another hint is found in Revelation 16 where we’re told that “loathsome and malignant sores will afflict people all over the earth” (something that would be a natural consequence of radiation from the use of atomic weapons).

SECOND “TRUMPET” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 8:8-9)

The second Trumpet is described as “a great mountain burning with fire” that plunges into the sea and turns one-third of the oceans to blood. Soon after, one-third of all sea life and one-third of all ships will be destroyed. Some speculate that the “great mountain” will be a meteor that will crash into the earth. This could create an enormous tsunami that would affect many coasts. This would probably affect global commerce.

[ This judgment has similarities with the first and fifth plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7:16-21; Exodus 9:6) ].

THIRD “TRUMPET” JUDGMENT
The third Trumpet causes a “great star” named “Wormwood” to make one-third of the planet’s freshwater sources, such as rivers and springs, to turn bitter, and many people will die from drinking it. In the plant world, “wormwood” (Artemisia absinthium) is a shrub-like plant noted for its extreme bitterness and poisonous properties.

Many believe that Wormwood will, in fact, be a large meteor or asteroid striking the earth, causing a near extinction-level “deep impact.“ It will look like a star because it will burst into spit flames, burning like a torch as it plummets through the earth’s atmosphere. It also may plummet into the headwaters from which some of the worlds major rivers and underground water flow, thereby spreading the poisonous water to many people on the earth.

[ This judgment has similarities with the first plague in Egypt (Exodus 7:16-21) ].

FOURTH “TRUMPET” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 8:12)

The fourth Trumpet says that one-third of the light of the sun, moon, and stars is blocked out. This catastrophe causes complete darkness for an additional one-third of the day (extending nighttime). This would probably cool off the earth and put the earth into a ‘deep freeze’, devastating crops, food supplies, and freshwater supplies (just what happens after a nuclear holocaust). Much debris would be sucked up into the atmosphere by the explosions, and the dense cloud that would be produced would cause temperatures to plummet below freezing all over the world, causing many people to freeze to death. That same cloud would be carrying nuclear radiation, which is probably the reason that we are told that by the end of the Tribulation, people’s bodies will be covered with sores that will not heal (Revelation 16:2). In short, after the nuclear holocaust described in Revelation 8, the living will envy the dead.

Following the fourth Trumpet judgment, John notes a special warning that comes from an eagle flying through the air. This eagle cries out with a loud voice, saying, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels” (Revelation 8:13). For this reason, the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets are referred to as the “Three Woes.”

[ This parallels the ninth plague in Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23) ].

FIFTH “TRUMPET” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 9:1-12)

The fifth Trumpet (first “Woe”) results in a terrifying plague of “demonic locusts” that attack and torture the unsaved for five months. The plague begins with a “star” falling from heaven. This star is most likely a fallen angel, as he is given “the key to the shaft of the Abyss.” He opens the Abyss, releasing a horde of “locusts” with “power like that of scorpions.” The locusts do not touch the plant life of earth; rather, they head straight for “those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” For five months, these locusts torment people, whose agony is so great that they will wish to die, “but death will elude them.” The locusts are not allowed to kill anyone, only to torture them.

These demonic “locusts” have a “king,” who is the angel of the Abyss. In Hebrew his name is Abaddon, and in Greek it’s Apollyon, meaning “Destroyer” (Satan). The locusts themselves are described in unusual terms: they look like “horses prepared for battle.” They wear something like “crowns of gold,” and their faces are vaguely human. They have hair “like women’s hair” and teeth “like lions’ teeth.” They have something like iron breastplates, and their wings sound like “the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.” Like scorpions, they have stingers in their tails. This description has prompted many different interpretations: Is this a vision of helicopters, of barbarian warriors, of a satanically empowered army, or of actual creatures from the pit of hell. We won’t know for sure until it happens.

[ This judgment has similarities with the eighth and ninth plagues in Egypt (Exodus 10:1-20; Exodus 10:22) ].

SIXTH “TRUMPET” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 9:13-19)

The sixth Trumpet (second “Woe”) involves the onslaught of another demonic horde, with the release of “the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” These four angels had been kept in captivity for just this purpose: to wreak destruction during the Tribulation. These four wicked angels lead a supernatural cavalry of thousands upon thousands (not the 200 million “kings of the east”) to kill ONE-THIRD of humanity. The riders have breastplates of “fiery red, dark blue, and yellow.” Their horses have “the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur,” and “their tails were like snakes.” They kill with their mouths and with their tails.

Despite the severity and horror of these plagues, the survivors on earth still refuse to repent to God (just like Pharaoh didn’t in the Exodus story). So it seems that God’s judgment alone will not bring people to humble repentance before Him as they continue in their idolatry, their murder, their sorcery, their sexual immorality, and their theft.

SEVENTH “TRUMPET” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 15:1; 16:1-21) [ Reveals the “Bowl” judgments ]

The seventh Trumpet (third and final “Woe”) sounds, and immediately there are loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). The twenty-four elders say, “The time has come for…destroying those who destroy the earth.” Obviously, God is about to wrap things up once and for all. At the sound of the seventh Trumpet, the temple of God is opened in Heaven, and “within His temple was seen the ark of His covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a severe hailstorm.”

This ‘calls forth’ the seven “Bowls” (“Vials”) of God’s wrath (Revelation 11:15–19; 15:1–8). This will be God’s last and final attempt to try and get some of these hardened sinners to repent and turn to Him for eternal salvation.

These “bombshells” that God will be throwing at them will be so supernatural and so severe, that these people will know, without any shadow of a doubt, that it really is God doing all of this.

These extreme events really show how ‘hardened’ some people can become towards God, and there’s nothing that even God Himself can do to turn these people around without ‘overriding’ their free will—and He won’t do that!

[ A quick overview of the seven “Trumpet” judgments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52HQQPDXcpI&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTAVEyK-p4fG9Gb1nK3sMoh9&index=8 ].

‘WAR’ IN THE HEAVENS
(Revelation 12:7-17)

The next end time ‘war’ is totally different in nature from all the rest. It is a ‘supernatural’ one that will occur in the heavens. It is most likely prompted by an attempt of Satan to once again take the throne of God.

Satan and his angels are opposed in this war by Michael and his angels. Michael is an archangel who is pictured in the Hebrew Scriptures as the commander-in-chief of the armies of God (Daniel 10:13, 21 and 12:1). Michael and his angels prevail in this war, and Satan is cast down to earth. His access to God’s throne is then TOTALLY CUT OFF (Revelation 12:9-10).

When this happens, Satan realizes that his time is short because he knows Bible prophecy (Revelation 12:12). In his rage, Satan decides to destroy the Jewish people, and this will lead him to genocide.

ANTICHRIST ‘INCARNATED’ BY SATAN
(Revelation 13:1-10)

When Satan is cast down to earth, he will actually ‘possess’ the Antichrist (as he possessed Judas). We are told in Revelation 13:2 that Satan gives to the Antichrist, “His power, his throne, and his great authority.” Daniel says that the Antichrist’s power will be mighty, “but not by his own power.”

The first thing that Satan does is to motivate the Antichrist to launch a great persecution of, “the woman who gave birth to the male child.” In other words, he picks up where Hitler left off with a maniacal campaign to annihilate the Jewish people. This is one of the reasons that Jesus referred to the last half of the Tribulation as the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21). Not because this half will be ‘worse’ than the first half, but because the wrath of Satan will be focused on the Jews.

The Antichrist is killed and is ‘resurrected’ by Satan. This supernatural event would seem to be a contributing factor to people worshiping the Antichrist, for many will believe that this involves a God-like recovery. Many will be awestruck. Having suffered a fatal wound and to come back to life, the Antichrist will claim that he is Jesus, the Imam Madhi, and the fulfillment of every religion’s god. Now ‘incarnated’, he will force the remaining people of the earth to worship him.

Scripture reveals that Satan has creaturely limitations but nevertheless is extremely powerful and influential, and has vast experience in tricking human beings.

Satan is a great counterfeiter. He mimics God in many ways. He is a master magician and a super scientist. He will be able to perform “false signs and wonders“ (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13-14).

However, Satan is still “on a leash.“ Satan has ‘finite’ power whereas God has ‘infinite’ power.

Satan is filled with fury because he knows his time is short. More specifically, he knows the time is limited to a mere 1,260 days—the last three-and-one-half years of the Tribulation period. So, in the second half of the Tribulation, things will go from bad to REALLY BAD.

FALSE PROPHET ARRIVES ON THE SCENE
(Revelation 13:11-13)

At this point, we are introduced to another “beast” who rises up out of the earth, literally “the land.” Just as the sea is a prophetic symbol for the Gentile nations, the land is a symbol of Israel, thus the implication here is that this beast will be a Jew, and later referred to as the “False Prophet.”

This nefarious character serves as the Antichrist’s right-hand man. He exercises the authority of the Antichrist, carrying out both political and religious duties. Spiritually the False Prophet serves as the head of a one-world religion, seeing to it that everyone worships the Antichrist. He will dazzle and deceive people with great signs, including giving ‘life’ to a statue of the Antichrist in the Temple (maybe a Hologram). His demonic religious system will consist of people drawn from all the world’s religions. The False Prophet will argue in the name of “tolerance” that there are many roads to God, that God has revealed himself in religions like Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Animism, and the New Age Movement—to name only a few. He will tell people they can pray to whatever god they please as long as they accept the Antichrist as the ‘messiah’ of their god.

Using his ‘pulpit’, the False Prophet—who might end up being a Roman Catholic pope—will bring before the world a new mystery religion displaying many signs and miracles that will unite all the diverse religions on earth by worshipping the Antichrist. [ The “Mystery of Babylon” just might be the false religious system of the “Great Harlot” (God has always used a woman to represent the church) that deceives all the people of the world, and might even be ‘administered’ by the Vatican ].

“ONE WORLD” RELIGION REPLACED
(Revelation 17:1-18)

Religion will flourish during the first half of the Tribulation in the false religious system called “Babylon,” the great “Harlot.”

Revelation 17:9b may give us a clue about where the headquarters of the Harlot religion will be: “The seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sits.” Rome has always been referred to as the city that was built on seven hills.

So the potential candidate for this would be the Roman Catholic Church—and if stays mostly intact after the Rapture, then this well-established worldwide religious institution could easily be embraced by humanity. It also purports to be the “one true Church.”

The Bible tells us that the Harlot will be an ‘apostate’ ecumenical church that will embrace all world religions (except for ‘biblical’ Christianity). [ Something Pope Francis has a strong focus on doing today ].

The Apostle John says that “she is the mother of all Harlots.” It just so happens that Catholicism considers the “Blessed Mary” to be the “mother” of the church, as well as a “co-redemptrix” (praying to her to intercede for one’s salvation). The many ‘apparitions’ of her worldwide, would also ’play well’ with many of the other religions in the world. (Mary is the most venerated women in Catholicism, and is also highly regarded within Islam). Signs and wonders working in tandem with the existing doctrines, dogmas, and catechisms of Roman Catholicism could put billions into spiritual ‘bondage’.

John also describes her as a “women dunk with the blood of the saints” (Revelation 17:6). This could possibly be talking about Catholicism’s past inquisitions and general killing of those “saints” (believers) who opposed it [ Catholics have a bloody history of killing non-Catholic Christians (Protestants), who they deem heretics ].

For the first half of the Tribulation, the “prostitute” will reign unchallenged. The deception, Jesus tells us, will be so great that, if it were possible, even the elect would fall for it (Matthew 24:24). But, the Antichrist will see her as a challenge to his own power and program (Revelation 17:16-18).

Eventually, the Harlot will lose favor with the Antichrist, who will want to receive the world’s worship for himself (since he is now “King of the World”). He will not share the adoration of the world with the prophets and priests of the false religion, no matter how obsequious or fawning they may be. Once the Antichrist gains the world’s amazed attention by his miraculous return from the dead (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14), with the coalition of ten nations under his control, he will ‘destroy’ the one-world “Harlot” religious system and declare himself God, demanding to be worshiped.

In the times we live in now, ‘humanism’ has, more and more, been taking over the role that religion used to play. Mankind is more and more self-reliant, being governed by itself, rather than being led by God.

Now—and increasing until this time—the thinking for many people is that of a secular mindset, reasoning that religion is the primary ‘problem’ in the world—being the cause of all the trouble between people and the cause of all the wars.

It’s not difficult to imagine that the Antichrist and False Prophet will ‘preach’ that all religions pretty much say that same thing, and the world needs just one religion—especially to throw off the ‘shackles’ of religions like Christianity, and become ‘liberated’ from its ‘repressive’ requirements. It’s not difficult for me to imagine, because of the mindset today, that there would be a massive following for a person who proposes to do this then.

TWO WITNESSES KILLED/RESURRECTED
(Revelation 11:7-14)

The two witnesses arrived on the scene just after the “false covenant” (treaty) was confirmed by the Antichrist between Israel and another party (probably the Harlot world religion). The timing and placement of their arrival seem to be strategic—kind of a ‘rebuttal’ to the ‘dangerous’ covenant between Israel and the Harlot.

If they are Moses and Elijah (probably the best guess), they would also be able to point out some things that related to their past ministries.

Moses would be able to stand before the Jewish Temple and explain to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, and that their reinstated animal sacrifices and the Third Temple were not going to be able to atone for their national sins, nor usher in the coming of the Messiah.

Elijah, on the other hand, would be able to point out the errors of the Harlot of Roman Catholicism (the idolatrous, false religion “Queen of Heaven” character “Jezebel” mentioned in the letter to the Church a Thyatira, which might just be represented by the “Virgin Mary” – Revelation 2:20), is killing believers (in Revelation 17:6) just like Jezebel did during his time (1 Kings 18:4).

A further thematic connection between Jezebel and the Catholic Virgin Mary is ‘goddess’ worship. Believe it or not, the “Queen of Heaven” of Roman Catholicism (the Virgin Mary) is very much like a goddess to the millions of people who visit her shrines worldwide—and they come from all faiths and religions! Jezebel, a personal devotee to the goddess Asherah (for fertility), during the time of Elijah, funded 400 prophets to ‘serve’ her. Elijah could sound the ‘alarm’ about the false Roman Catholic ‘goddess’ in the end times, since he did the same thing about Jezebel’s pagan goddess Asherah.

At the end of their ministry, when the two witnesses have said all they need to say, the Antichrist will kill them, and their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days as the whole world rejoices. Think of it, the earth will be so evil that people will rejoice over the death of these two righteous men. But after three and a half days, they will suddenly be resurrected and caught up to Heaven before the eyes of all mankind as the world watches on ‘television’/Internet. At that point, God ‘shakes’ Jerusalem with a terrible earthquake in retribution, and some of the inhabitants are so terrified that they turn their hearts to God.

THE “GREAT TRIBULATION” (Second Half)

As we move into the second half of the Tribulation, the earth is cursed with the presence of a satanic ‘trinity’. Just as the God of the Bible is referred to as the “Holy Trinity”—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—Satan also has what I would call an “unholy trinity” (with a small “t”). There is Satan himself, then there is the “beast” called the Antichrist (who is trying to mimic Christ/be against Christ), and then you have the False Prophet (who is kind of a version of the Holy Spirit).

It is no wonder that Isaiah says, “The earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard and totter like a shack” [ Isaiah 24:20 ]. During the last half of the Tribulation, the havoc that will be wrought by this satanic trio will be so great that the earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled. Jesus emphasized the horrendous nature of this period by stating that if it were not cut short by God, no one would be left alive!

So, you have Satan behind the scenes ‘pulling the springs’ of the Antichrist (the false political leader), who is, in turn, directing the False Prophet (false religious leader) to deceive the entire world.

This apparently corresponds to the coming time of Satan’s wrath when “he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12-17).

ANTICHRIST ‘DESECRATES’ THE TEMPLE
(Matthew 24:15; Revelation 13:14)

Once we reach the middle of this final seven-year period, prophetic fulfillments will rapidly increase with many events happening almost simultaneously.

The first of these events will be the stopping of the animal sacrifices by the Jews in the Temple. The prophet Daniel foretells this event, “Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate” [ Daniel 11:31 ].

The Antichrist will explain that the sacrifices are no longer needed because he is the Messiah and God. Then he will sit in the temple, blaspheme the God of the Bible, and claim to be god (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Apparently, the Antichrist will not only defile the Temple, but he may also make it the permanent ‘throne’ from which he rules (2 Thessalonians 2:4) for a time.

Even more insulting to the Jewish people, the Antichrist will erect an image of himself in a ‘wing’ of the Temple. The is the “image of the Beast” that everyone will be required to worship in order to receive their ‘Mark’ of loyalty (the “Mark of the Beast,” which is also required to buy or sell anything). Every person alive will be required, under penalty of death, to worship the Antichrist, or at the very least, bow before the image of their new ‘god’, that will be set up in the Jewish Temple. [ i.e. like King Nebuchadnezzar did with his “golden statue” (Daniel 3:1-15) ].

The Jews, of course, will be horrified by these actions, and they will revolt.

This is the single most important ‘sign’ that the Tribulation will then have given way to the “Great Tribulation,” and there will now be three-and-one-half years of the most horrendous affliction to have ever descended on the world. It will tremendously worsen the already-severe persecutions—similar to the difference between “labor” and “hard labor” when a woman is having a baby.

Jesus also warned about this time—“the abomination of desolation”—when He said for the Jews to head hastily to the mountains (ancient Edom, which is where Petra is today) when this happens (Matthew 24:15).

WAR AGAINST THE ‘SAINTS’
(Revelation 13:7-10)

Scripture reveals that the Antichrist will engage in great persecution against the “saints” of God during the Tribulation period.

The tribulation saints are, quite simply, saints living during the Tribulation. We believe that the church will be raptured before the Tribulation, but the Bible indicates that a great number of people during the tribulation will place their faith in Jesus Christ. In his vision of Heaven, John sees a vast number of these tribulation saints who have been martyred by the Antichrist: “There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). When John asks who they are, he is told, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (verse 14).

Daniel also saw the Antichrist “waging war against the saints and defeating them” (Daniel 7:21). Of course, the saints’ eternal salvation is secure: Daniel also saw that “the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom” (Daniel 7:22; cf. Revelation 14:12–13).

The Tribulation saints will hear the Gospel from several possible sources. The first is the Bible; there will be many copies of the Bible left in the world (and hopefully this blog!), and when God’s judgments begin to fall, many people will likely react by finding a Bible to see if prophecies are being fulfilled. Many of the tribulation saints will also have heard the gospel from the two witnesses (Revelation 11:1–13). The Bible says these two individuals “will prophesy for 1,260 days” (verse 3) and perform great miracles (verse 6). And then there are the 144,000 Jewish missionaries who are redeemed and sealed by God during the Tribulation (Revelation 7:1–8). Immediately following the description of their sealing in Revelation 7, we read of the multitudes of tribulation saints who are saved from every corner of the world (verses 9–17).

The tribulation saints will serve their Jesus in the midst of desperate surroundings. Faithful to the end, many of these believers will die for their faith. But in their death, they overcome; “They overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” [ Revelation 12:11 ]. And God will reward them: “He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” [ Revelation 7:15–17 ].

We should praise God that the great day of trouble will also be a great day of grace. Even as God is meting out His just punishment on an unbelieving world, He will be restoring Israel to faith and extending grace to all who believe, both Jew and Gentile. God has always been in the business of saving people, and that salvation will still be available during the tribulation. BUT, don’t wait until then! ‘Receive’ Jesus now! (John 1:12).

JEWISH GENOCIDE
(Zechariah 13:8-9)

Satan has an insane hatred for the Jews. He hates them with a passion. He hates them because they are the chosen people of God. He hates them because through them God gave the world the Scriptures. He hates them because through them God gave the world the Messiah. And he hates them because God has promised, over and over and over in His Word, that one day He is going to bring a great remnant of the Jews to salvation in Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah. Satan wants to destroy the Jews so that God cannot keep that promise!

So, the focus of the Antichrist’s slaughter will shift from the Gentile nations to the Jewish people. He’ll pick up where Hitler left off, and attempt to annihilate the Jewish people from the face of the earth. (The persecution of the Jews will escalate geometrically after Satan is cast out of Heaven.)

The Antichrist’s extermination campaign prompts many Jews to flee, “into the wilderness” to a special place where they will be protected and nourished by God for the last half of the Tribulation. Daniel indicates the location of the wilderness safe place where the Jews will flee. He states that the Antichrist will conquer all the Middle East except Edom, Moab, and Ammon. These are areas that are all included in modern-day Jordan (the area the Israelites annexed in the “Psalm 83” war). The wilderness hideaway in Jordan is likely to be the remarkable box-canyon city of Petra. It is a city whose buildings are carved out of the walls of the surrounding canyon. In its heyday, about 400 years before Christ, it contained a population of tens of thousands.

Even though the Antichrist will be very successful in his war against the Jews [ the Bible indicates that two-thirds of the Jewish people will be killed by the Antichrist during this time (Zechariah 13:8) ], however, he will fail in his ultimate goal of ‘totally’ annihilating all the Jews. The Scriptures repeatedly tell of a great remnant of the Jews will live to the end of the Tribulation at which time they will receive Jesus (Yeshua) as their Messiah (Isaiah 10:20-23; Zechariah 12:10; Romans 9:27-28; and Romans 11:25-26).

“MARK OF THE BEAST” IMPLEMENTED
(Revelation 13:15-18)

It is at this time that the Antichrist and the False Prophet will have total control of the world’s economy, and all commerce on a global scale—including the local level. The False Prophet will fully implement the economic system, known as the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16-18).

The Greek word used for the ‘Mark’ is “charagma,” which means, “to engrave upon” or “stamp.” So, this ‘Mark’ might just be in the form of a ‘tattoo’—which no longer carries the ‘stigma’ that it once did in many cultures. (Many people today in the U.S. wouldn’t think twice about getting a tattoo in order to express support for something they truly believe in.)

This ‘Mark’ is essentially the ‘anti-Shema’ (the “Shema” is an ancient Jewish prayer of allegiance to God that’s found in the Book of Deuteronomy, that was ‘placed’ on the forehead and hand as a symbol of devoting all a Jews thoughts and actions to the one true God). But at this time, the Antichrist will demand everyone’s allegiance and he forces everyone to worship him.

Economic control will be used to force the citizens of the world to comply with the dictates of the one-world government and the one-world religion. The plan will be to give everyone on earth their own unique identification number that will be necessary to ‘function’ in society. If any individual does not submit, obey, and pledge allegiance to the Antichrist and his supreme authority, that person’s number will be invalidated and they will not be permitted to hold a job, buy food, or to ‘participate’ in any way in the global economy. The thing is, the technology required to pull this off is available today!

So this means that those people who accepted Jesus and became Christians after the Rapture will be forced to make a very difficult choice. Those who chose to worship the Antichrist may escape physical death, however, they will, in effect, be ‘selling’ their souls to the devil! “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name” [ Revelation 14:9-11 ]. Any person who expressed loyalty to the Antichrist and his cause will suffer the wrath of a holy and just God. The full force of God’s divine anger and unmitigated vengeance will be experienced by these people! (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15-16).

Even though the Antichrist presents that the ‘Mark’ is a choice—albeit a ‘choice’ with very grave consequences for not complying—his motive is primarily loyalty and worship—Satan’s goal from the beginning of time!

Indwelt by Satan now, the Antichrist will eagerly seek to kill the followers of his most despised enemy, God, and will work to ‘stamp out’ the spread of the Gospel during the Tribulation. It’s not in his interests to force the Mark on those who are loyal to the God of the Bible, and leave them alive to reach even one more should for Jesus.

[ A quick overview of the “Mark of the Beast”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YC3KqIPf7M ].

THE SEVEN “BOWL” JUDGMENTS
The seven “Bowl” (or vial) judgments are the final judgments of the Tribulation period. They will be the most severe judgments the world has ever seen. Under the Antichrist, the wickedness of man has reached its peak, and it is met with God’s wrath. The Bowls are poured out in rapid succession. It probably takes them no more than a month’s time for all of these judgments to occur! The seven Bowl judgments are called forth by the seventh Trumpet judgment.

It also so happens that the first four “Bowl” judgments are related to the first four “Trumpet” judgments—they affect the same thing (earth; sea; rivers; sun) over the ‘entire’ earth, whereas the Trumpet judgments only affected one-third of the earth. Some of the Bowl judgments also ‘parallel’ the same judgments in Exodus.

In addition to that, God allowed people the opportunity to repent and turn from their sins and follow him during the Trumpet judgments, whereas with the Bowl judgments there will be NO OPPORTUNITY left for people to repent and turn from their sins!

FIRST “BOWL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 16:2)

The first Bowl (or “Vial”) causes giant sores on those who rejected Jesus and instead accepted the “Mark of the Beast,” signifying their worship of him. The Tribulation “saints” will not be affected by these sores.

Note: The next two Bowl judgments are similar to the second and third Trumpet judgments, with a few slight differences.

[ This judgment bears some similarities to the sixth plague upon Egypt (Exodus 9:10) ].

SECOND “BOWL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 16:3)

The second Bowl makes all the seas and the oceans become bitter and make everything in the sea to die. The stench and disease that will result from this will be unimaginable. One-third of the sea life had already perished because of the second Trumpet (Revelation 8:9), and now the rest of the sea life is gone. The oceans are dead.

[ This judgment bears some similarities to the first plague upon Egypt (Exodus 7:20) ].

THIRD “BOWL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 16:4)

The third Bowl turns ALL the rivers and the remaining sources of water turn to blood—no fresh on the earth at all! The angel says that this is God’s ‘payback’ for those who killed His prophets and saints. (An especially just judgment because the people remaining had killed so many Tribulation saints).

FOURTH “BOWL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 16:8)

The fourth Bowl causes the sun to create a major heatwave to scorch the planet with fire. Unbelievably, the wicked still refuse to repent while they blaspheme the name of God, instead of getting on their knees and asking Him for His forgiveness (Revelation 16:9).

FIFTH “BOWL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 16:10)

The fifth Bowl goes directly after the Antichrist along with his ‘kingdom’. God causes total darkness to overwhelm it.

Apparently, this is not a ‘normal’ kind of darkness, but is accompanied by some kind of agony that will cause people to gnaw their tongues because of the pain.

[ This judgment bears some similarities to the ninth plague upon Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23) ].

SIXTH “BOWL” JUDGMENT
(Revelation 16:12)

The sixth Bowl dries up the great river Euphrates so that the “kings of the east” (China and several other Asian countries) can cross to do battle, and with the three “unclean spirits” (the “unholy trinity”) they gather the nations of the world for the “Battle of Armageddon.”

[ This judgment bears some similarities to the second plague upon Egypt (Exodus 8:6) ].

THE ‘CAMPAIGN’ OF ARMAGEDDON
(Revelation 16:16, 19; Revelation 19:17-21; Revelation 20:1-3; Joel 2:13-16)

The word “Armageddon” comes from a Hebrew word “Har-Magedone,” which means “Mount Megiddo” and has become synonymous with the future battle in which Jesus will intervene and destroy the armies of the Antichrist (Revelation 16:16; 20:1-3). There will be a multitude of people engaged in the battle of Armageddon, as all the nations gather together to fight against Jesus.

The exact location of the Valley of Armageddon is unclear because there is no mountain called Meggido. However, since “Har” can also mean hill, the most likely location is the hill country surrounding the plain of Meggido, some 60 miles north of Jerusalem. More than 200 battles have been fought in that region. The plain of Megiddo and the nearby plain of Esdraelon will be the focal point for the battle of Armageddon, which will rage the entire length of Israel as far south as the Edomite city of Bozrah (Isaiah 63:1). The Valley of Armageddon is also famous for two great victories in Israel’s history: Barak’s victory over the Canaanites (Judges 4:15) and Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Judges 7). Armageddon was also the site for two great tragedies: the death of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 31:8), and the death of King Josiah (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:22).

Because of this history, the Valley of Armageddon became a symbol of the final conflict between God and the forces of evil. The word “Armageddon” only occurs in Revelation 16:16. It speaks of the kings who are loyal to the Antichrist gathering together for a final assault on Israel. At Armageddon “the cup filled with the wine of the fury of [God’s] wrath” (Revelation 16:19) will be delivered, and the Antichrist and his followers will be overthrown and defeated.

“Armageddon” has become a general term that refers to the end of the world, not exclusively to the battle that takes place in the plain of Megiddo. Napoleon is reported to have once commented that this site is perhaps the greatest battlefield he had ever witnessed.

However, in a sense, Armageddon is a ‘battle’ that a really never takes place. There’s a common misconception that the Battle of Armageddon is executed as one large battle between good and evil—it’s actually a ‘label’ for a sum total of SEVERAL BATTLES (eight “stages”) that take place when Jesus returns. That’s why scholars call it a “Campaign” consisting of: the assembling of the armies; the destruction of Babylon; the fall of Jerusalem; the armies at Bozrah; the national regeneration of Israel; the Second Coming of Jesus; the battle of the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and the victory ascent upon the Mount of Olives.

ALLIES ASSEMBLE FOR WAR
When the Antichrist becomes absolutely insanely obsessed with destroying the Jews and the Saints, he will gather his armies too, once and for all, exterminate the Jews. Demonic spirits “go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty…And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” [ Revelation 16:14, 16 ].

Related to the sixth Bowl judgment, the Euphrates river will be dried up, making it easier for the armies “of the east” to assemble—who are, as most theologians think, from the Orient, primarily from China (but it could be any county east of the Euphrates River). It is interpreted that there will be over 200 million (yes, with an “m”) “soldiers” that will come! (It is estimated that there were 25-30 million soldiers involved with the ‘entire’ Second World War). [ Scholars says that this might be human soldiers (although that would be a logistical ‘nightmare’), or  because of recent technology, it could be drones or even ‘Chimeras’ ].

[ Note: Some scholars put forth the idea that just as the Antichrist seems to be completely victorious, he hears “rumors from the East and from the North” that deeply disturb him (Daniel 11:44; Revelation 16:12). He retreats with his armies to the area “between the seas” (corresponds to the “Valley of Armageddon”). This might be because the Antichrist has restricted the oil supply to the world—because his needs are so great, or has used so much for his wars—and the nations of the world are ‘starving’ for oil, and see an opportunity to rebel against him. However, when they get all their armies to the Euphrates River, their ‘focus’ is changed—probably by Satan himself—and they decide to combine with the Antichrist’s armies to exterminate the Jews ].
COMMERCIAL BABYLON IS DESTROYED
As was mentioned previously, the Antichrist will shift his headquarters from Jerusalem to Babylon, which will become the global commercial center—likely the control of all the oil fields in the Middle East (and all the money that they generate).

Ironically, as the Antichrist is assembling his armies to attack Jerusalem (in “stage one” of the Campaign), God will cause a military force to attack his headquarters in Babylon and utterly destroy it! (Jeremiah 50:13-14, 23-25, 40; Isaiah 13:19; Revelation 18:21). The invading army will be “from the north”—probably Syria with a reconstituted army from Russia. (Jeremiah 50:9, 41-42).

When this happens, the Antichrist will not be present in the city. He will be told of its destruction by messengers (Jeremiah 50:43; 51:31-32). He becomes all the more enraged.

JERUSALEM IS RAVAGED
Even the destruction of the Antichrist’s headquarters will not dissuade him from his ‘goal’ of destroying the capital Jerusalem and its people. So, instead of launching a counterattack against the northern military coalition that wiped out Babylon, the Antichrist and his forces instead decimate Jerusalem ( Zachariah 12:1-3; Zachariah 14:2)

ANTICHRIST MOVES AGAINST REMNANT
If you recall, in the middle of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist ‘desolated’ the Temple, many Jews fled to the desert—perhaps in Bozrah/Petra—to escape the genocide (Matthew 24:15-31; Revelation 12:6, 14). Well, the Antichrist has not forgotten that, and now will go there to ‘finish the job’—to exterminate them. From an earthly perspective, even though is an easily defensible place, they are helpless and hopeless.

ISRAEL ‘REGENERATED’
Israel’s leaders will have finally realized the reason why the Tribulation has fallen on them—perhaps because the Holy Spirit will enlighten their understanding of Scripture, or because of the testimony of the 140,000 Jewish evangelists or the memory of the two witnesses.

The remnant is acutely aware that their ‘days are numbered’. However, ‘miraculously’, the Jews’ spiritual blindness is now removed, and they ‘FINALLY’ call out to their Messiah, Jesus, and experience national regeneration! (Hosea 6:1-3; Joel 2:28-29; Leviticus 26:40-42; Jeremiah 3:11-18; Hosea 5:15). The Bible indicates that this collective repentance takes two days (Zechariah 12:2-13:1; Matthew 23:37-39; Isaiah 53:1-9), following which Israel will be saved, thereby for filling Paul’s prophecy in Romans 11:25-27.

JESUS RETURNS (“Second Coming”)
The prayers of the Jewish remnant are answered!!! Jesus returns bodily to save them, and EVERYONE WILL KNOW!—obvious to everyone near and far (Revelation 19:11-16). [ “Apokalupsis” is the Greek word used to describe the Second Coming of Jesus. It carries the basic meaning of “revelation,“ “visible disclosure,“ “unveiling,“ and “removing the cover“ from something that is hidden ].

This is the moment the world has been waiting for since the beginning of time!!!

[ A quick overview of the “Second Coming”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obw5cTD-XUs&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTAVEyK-p4fG9Gb1nK3sMoh9&index=11 ].

THE ‘FINAL’ BATTLE ERUPTS
While the battle between the Messiah and the Antichrist will begin at Bozrah, it will apparently continue all the way back to the eastern walls of Jerusalem which overlook a section of the Kidron Valley, which is also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:12-13).

Among the very first casualties will be the Antichrist himself. Having ruled the world with great power and having spoken against the true Son of God, the counterfeit ‘son’ will be powerless before the True Son. “You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck” [ Habakkuk 3:13 ].

The simplicity with which Jesus will slay the Antichrist’s armies is INCREDIBLE! No weapons, guns, tanks, or bombs. Jesus MERELY ‘SPEAKS’, “with the breath of His mouth,” and they are all instantly ‘destroyed’. All drop dead in their tracks. The Antichrist and the False Prophet, however, are “thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur” [ Revelation 19:20b ].

VICTORY ASCENT TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
After the actual fighting is completed, there will be a victory ‘ascent’ up the Mount of Olives: “Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward” [ Zechariah 14:3-4

[ A quick overview of the “Battle of Armageddon”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=017LoixTWlY&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTAVEyK-p4fG9Gb1nK3sMoh9&index=10 ].

SEVENTH “BOWL” JUDGEMENT
(Revelation 16:17-21)

The seventh Bowl is the last and final judgment—the greatest and most severe weather that has ever hit our planet. There will be flashes of lightning and an earthquake so severe that, “no earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.” Jerusalem is split into three parts. The Mount of Olives is split into two parts, creating a valley. The newly formed valley will provide a way of escape for the Jewish inhabitants of Jerusalem from the earthquake that will destroy the city. In this way the inhabitants of Jerusalem will be rescued following the deliverance of the other Jews in Bozrah.

Giant hailstones, “each weighing about a hundred pounds” fall on the people. The sun and moon will be darkened. Islands are flooded, and mountains disappear. It literally wipes out entire cities!

Another cataclysmic event that will take place at this time is the worldwide blackout: “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall 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” [ Matthew 24:29 ] (also described in Joel 3:14-17).

Even after all this, those under judgment “cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible” [ Revelation 16:21 ].

As all these cataclysmic events subside, the “Campaign of Armageddon” as well as the “Great Tribulation” come to a close. [ However, judgments nevertheless remain on the horizon, and I will address them and the Millennium, God willing, in next month’s post].

[ A quick overview of the seven “Bowl” judgments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U67MOhx34OY&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTAVEyK-p4fG9Gb1nK3sMoh9&index=9 ].

WRAP UP
Just like the scientists have set the “Doomsday Clock” to only two minutes before ‘midnight’, I mentioned in last month’s post that even though no one knows the ‘exact’ day or hour of Jesus’ return to this earth (the “Second Coming”)—and before that the “Tribulation”—there are “signs” that it is getting close.

CONVERGENCE
I believe that we are living in the ‘season’ of Jesus’ return, and it’s because of what prophecy scholars are calling the “CONVERGENCE FACTOR”—multiple prophecies coming to fruition all at one time.

The MOST important prophecy that ‘started’ the end times ‘clock’ ticking Israel being ‘born again’—becoming a ‘state’ in 1948—and the subsequent regathering of the Jews into “The Land.” Most scholars point to this as the “CORNERSTONE” in fulfilled prophecy that indicates the ‘start’ of the end times.

Another HUGE INDICATION of the coming Tribulation is the tremendous increase in antisemitism, with Israel’s surrounding countries wanting to “eliminate Israel from the face of the earth.” Zechariah prophesied that, “In that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” [ Zechariah 12:3 ]. This IS HAPPENING today—and the most intense it has ever been!

Another real important ‘sign’ is that the Sanhedrin has raised all the money, and has completed the plans for the Third Temple, as well as having already fabricated all the ‘articles’ that go inside the Temple for animal sacrifices and worship.

Alliances between Russia and Iran, and between Russia and Libya are also very meaningful, since the Bible says that they form a coalition to attack Israel.

A few other ‘signs’ that Jesus mentioned were the increase and intensity of wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and persecution of Christians—all which have been happening.

[ For more details on the “signs” of the times, view this “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/blessed-hope-v245/ ].

The prophet Daniel noted that in the last days there will be an “increase of knowledge” (Daniel 12:4). Well, back in the 1980’s, Buckminster Fuller created the “Knowledge Doubling Curve.” He noticed that until 1900, human knowledge doubled approximately every century, and by the end of World War II, knowledge was doubling every 25 years!

Today things are not as simple, as different types of knowledge have different rates of growth. For example, nanotechnology knowledge is doubling every two years and clinical knowledge every 18 months. But on average, human knowledge is doubling every 13 months, and according to IBM, the build-out of the “internet of things,” in the next decade, will lead to the doubling of knowledge every 12 hours! I’m thinking that ‘qualifies’ for “increased of knowledge”!

Long story short, we see a lot of prophecies coming to pass, ‘converging’ today.

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS?!!!
When Jesus ‘appears’ (in the Rapture), if you are not one of His followers (“born again” Christian), you will be ‘LEFT BEHIND’ and will experience the Tribulation! Like the five foolish virgins (Mathew 25:1-13), you will find the ‘door’ closed and you will ‘locked out’. Like the foolish and lazy steward (Matthew 25:14-30), you will have no legitimate plea by which to excuse yourself!

The time to THINK DEEPLY about your destiny is NOW! Those who wait until Jesus returns will find out that it is TOO LATE!

It’s time to GET ‘RIGHT’ with God NOW, because during the Tribulation, Satan will “blind the minds of human beings so that they cannot perceive the truth” (2 Corinthians 4:4)—and when that happens, God will ‘honor’ their free will and allow them to experience the full brunt of the consequences of their falsehood (Romans 1:18-25)!

True readiness for Jesus’ return must include an assurance that your past guilt is forgiven and that your present standing before God is secure. Fortunately, the Bible clearly reveals YOU CAN HAVE ASSURANCE of a right ‘standing’ before God!

[ For more details about how to have assurance of your salvation, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/knowing-assurance-v243/ ].

If you are one that is certain about your reconciliation with God, there is more to do while you are waiting His Second Coming. Believers must stay busy ‘SERVING’ Him until He comes (that was the whole lesson of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30).

[ For more details about activities a believer should be involved in while waiting, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/outworkings-of-grace-v241/ ].

Think about it this way. Take the hour of every war since time has begun, throw in every natural disaster in recorded history, and cast off all restraints so that the unspeakable cruelty, hatred, and injustice of man toward his fellow men can fully mature, and compress all that into a period of seven years! Even if you could imagine such horror, it wouldn’t approach the mind-boggling terror and turmoil of the Tribulation!!!

Those who manage to survive the horrific chaos of the Tribulation as believers WILL GO into the Millennial Kingdom! However, those who reject Jesus and had worshipped the Antichrist will be CAST INTO TORMENT and eventually into the Lake of Fire!

This brings us back to the need for all men to repent of their self-will in the name of Jesus, who alone can both forgive our sins and grant us eternal life. If you do it now, before the seven-year Tribulation begins, YOU CAN be among those who are reputed and thus avoid the Tribulation. My prayer is that if you have not already made this choice, that YOU DO SO VERY SOON!

YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO THRU IT—PREPARE NOW!

Understanding the prophetic events that will occur over the next several years is only part of the equation. It is good to recognize events we will face in the future, but WHAT ACTIONS should we take as a result of this knowledge? “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had an understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” [1 Chronicles 12:32 ].

Most people focus on the physical aspect of preparation. Commonly asked questions are: What can I invest in to guarantee my security? How much food should I store up? Should I move to a remote area and live off the land?
Well, the problem is, no one knows the complete answers to these questions. We have no idea what the economy will look like after the “Gog and Magog” war. It is impossible to judge the availability of food or access to shelter, electricity, and water.

However, whether it’s tomorrow or over the next few decades, SPIRITUAL PREPAREDNESS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ‘necessity’. Matthew 6:31-33 clearly tells us how to prepare, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?… But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

The best thing an individual can do to equip themselves for future events, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, is to be BORN AGAIN! Jesus told Nicodemus that he wouldn’t see or enter the Kingdom of God unless he was “born again of the water and the Spirit” [ John 3:5b ].

Protestant preacher Allen Parr gave this analogy for why one should prepare and find about what is going to happen in the end times:

“Well let me put it to you like this. One of the things that I love to do is I love to watch a good sporting event. And so often I’m not home to be able to watch it. So I record the event in hopes of being able to watch it later. And so I’m looking forward to getting home.

I don’t know who won. I’m looking forward to the suspense the thrill of a last minute shot or a last-second game buzzer beater or something like that. But every so often somebody spoils it for me and tells me who won the game before I actually get a chance to watch it. Now, on one hand, I‘m disappointed because I‘m robbed of the opportunity to see how this game actually played out. On the other hand, if my team won, I‘m happy, because that relieves all the stress, all the worry, all the doubt, and all the anxiety, that I would experience if I was watching that game. Well, in the same way, whenever you and I already know who wins in the end [ Jesus ], it can take away all sorts of anxiety in this life, whenever we’re facing different battles. Because we already know in the end who wins the war, that’s the reason why we want to study end time events. It gives us assurance that we know that God is in control.”

The glorious, comforting truth is that those who humble themselves and accept God’s offer of salvation will find Him gracious. Fittingly, the last words of the Bible, “the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen,” are an expression of God’s grace toward fallen humanity. The Lord of glory, as He promised in Scripture, offers Heaven to those who, in light of His certain return, accept His gracious invitation and return to Him.

So, get your spiritual ‘house’ in order TODAY! Repent of your sins, ask God for forgiveness, and then ‘turn away’ from those sins. Nothing on this earth is worth losing your soul for all eternity!

PROCRASTINATION LEADS TO DESTRUCTION
The “prince of preachers,” Charles Spurgeon gave a great illustration of how procrastination leads to destruction:

“Do any of you remember the loss of the vessel called the “Central America”? [ Sank in 1857 ]. She was in a bad state, had sprung a leak and was going down, and she therefore hoisted a signal of distress. A ship came close to her, the captain of which asked, through the trumpet, “What is amiss?” “We are in bad repair, and are going down: lie by till morning,” was the answer. But the captain on board the rescue ship said, “Let me take your passengers on board now.” “Lie by till morning,” was the message which came back. Once again the Captain cried, “You had better let me take your passengers on board now.” “Lie by till morning,” was the reply which sounded through the trumpet. About an hour and a half after, the lights were missing, and though no sound was heard, she and all on board had gone down to the fathomless abyss. Oh, unconverted friends, for God’s sake, do not say, “Lie by till morning.” Today, even today, hear ye the voice of God.”

After the final battle of Armageddon, the Bible tells us about the carnage, that it will be “as deep as a horse’s bridle for a distance of 200 miles.” This is called “the Supper of the Great God.”

The thing is, there is another ‘feast’ called the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” It’s a celebration of all the believers, being ‘wed’ to Christ. So, there’s a BIG CONTRAST between the ‘beautiful’ Marriage Feast in Heaven and the ‘ghastly’ Supper of the Great God on earth, when the armies become food for the vultures. How ironic that the invaders were acting as the ‘predators’ coming against Israel, but now are being eaten by predatory birds! (Ezekiel 39:17-20).

The crucial question is WHICH ONE of these feasts are you going to attend? At one feast you are the HONORED ‘GUEST’, and at the other, you are THE ‘MEAL’. The choice is yours. Your fate depends entirely on whether or not you put your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior—so DON’T PROCRASTINATE!

BE A “BEREAN”!
Check out what I have said here. Conduct your own research. Become a “Berean.” (“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” – Acts 17:11). Become ‘discerning’.

The prophesies I have explored here represent ‘earth-shattering’ events that WILL AFFECT YOU in some way…for ETERNITY!!!

So, DON’T PUT THIS DECISION OFF ANOTHER DAY!!! It could be ‘disastrous’!

No one knows the date of their death. YOURS COULD BE TODAY! “Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart” [ Ecclesiastes 7:2 ]. So, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near” [ Isaiah 55:6 ].

To me, with Israel being already back in their land, the Middle East being in crisis daily, weapons of mass destruction being stockpiled, and that there is a global economy, all these are like flashing lights and sirens blaring that we are getting close to the end times for earth! The ‘stage’ is set.

The whole point of the Book of Revelation is to say to the reader, “This doesn’t have to happen to you! This is not written to SCARE you, it’s written to PREPARE you! So, repent and believe in Jesus while there’s time—before the Rapture comes, or you pass away and ‘step’ into eternity!

You have an opportunity to make the MOST IMPORTANT DECISION you will ever make, and it will change the course of your eternal destiny!

[ For more information about “life’s most important decision,” view this page of the “The Search For Meaning” web site:
http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q9_d5_1of10.html ].

The Bible says that “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” [ Romans 10:13 ]. Jesus will do the ‘saving’. He is just waiting for you to ask Him to save you.

Recognize and admit you are a sinner, and that you need a Savior. Jesus wants you to “Come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” [ Matthew 11:28-29 ].

Ask Him to ‘come into’ you life, forgive all your sins, and give you eternal life! Then, you WILL NOT EXPERIENCE any of the horrific events of the Tribulation!!!

If you REALLY MEAN IT, Jesus will do it RIGHT NOW!

[ You can do this in your own words—there are no ‘special’ words God needs to hear from you. However, if you would like a ‘hint’, consider reading the “Prayer of Repentance” just below ].

NOW YOU ‘KNOW’!
Many people say that the scientists have been coming up with the “Doomsday Clock” prediction every year since 1947 and NOTHING HAS HAPPENED—so most are ‘apathetic’ about it. They DON’T KNOW much about it, and they really DON’T CARE—they’re doing just fine.

In the same way, some people say that the Apostles thought that Jesus was going to return in their lifetimes—over 2,000 years ago—and He still hasn’t made it back! So, what’s the rush?

Well, from a human perspective, that’s a really long time, but the Apostle Peter reminds us that, “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” [ 2 Peter 3:8b ]. To the eternal God, what’s a ‘piddling’ 2,000 years? That’s only like 2 ‘days’!

You may then say, “What’s He waiting for?” Well, “He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” [ 2 Peter 3:9 ]. God is ‘gathering’ His redeemed people, and the Rapture/Second Coming won’t begin until He has ‘assembled’ His ENTIRE redeemed Church!

Also, here in the U.S., we are kind of ‘insulated’ from some of the intense happenings in the world—especially the kinds of things that happen daily in Israel and the Middle East—and we should all be grateful for that! HOWEVER, many countries in the Middle East have publicly said that we are their next ’target’.

Well, whatever you think about the validity of their ‘threats’, the one thing is, hopefully, I have somewhat helped you with the “I DON’T KNOW” issue, and have encouraged you to address the “I DON’T CARE” matter!

MISS “DOOMSDAY”!
The world is hurtling to a great ‘climax’, referred to as the “Apocalypse,” “Armageddon,” or the ‘FINAL’ “TRIBULATION.” When that occurs, where will you ‘be’ at that time? Will you be in Heaven with Jesus, or on earth with Satan?

As a believer, the GOOD ’NEWS’ is that they will not have to experience the horror of the Tribulation. They are never told to watch for the Antichrist, rather they are told to look for Jesus. In 1 Thessalonians 1:10 we are assured that we who are believers are waiting for Jesus to return to “deliver us from the wrath to come.” That is a glorious promise. That’s why Paul calls the Rapture our “Blessed Hope” (Titus 2:13), and it’s also the reason that he tells us to “comfort one another” with the promise of the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

As an unbeliever, you have NO ‘HOPE’, and you are going to go through the Tribulation, and may never get through the entire seven-year period! I pray that this ‘SCARED’ you, so you will get ‘PREPARED’!

[ For more details on the “Blessed Hope,” view this “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/blessed-hope-v245/ ].

The Bible DOES TELL of a ‘Person’ that will pull the world from the ‘brink’ and institute a period of worldwide peace. His name is Jesus, and belief in Him is THE ONLY WAY you will be able to ‘MISS’ going through coming Tribulation!

‘Cry’ out to Him TODAY!

[ Excerpts from: Dave Robbins; Tim LaHaye; Nathan Jones; Dr. David Reagan; Gary Frazier; David Jeremiah; Paul Washer; Allen Parr; John MacArthur; Bill Salus; Ron Rhodes; Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum; Ed Hinson; Mark Hitchcock; John F. Wolvoord; ]

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P.S. … AFTER THE TRIBULATION

Even though this post focused on the “Tribulation,” I wanted to tell you how the Book of Revelation ends—what comes after the Tribulation (which will be NEXT MONTH’S post).

– Judgment of the Nations (Mathew 25:31-46)
– Judgment of the Jews (Ezekiel 20:34-38; Matthew 25:1-30)
– Marriage ‘Supper’ of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9)
– Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6)
– Satan’s Final Revolt (Revelation 20:7-8)
– Final Defeat of Satan (Revelation 20:9-10)
– Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)

Seven “New” Things:
– New Heaven (Revelation 21:1)
– New Earth (Revelation 21:1)
– New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2; 9-27)
– New Universal Order (Revelation 21:6-8)
– New Temple (Revelation 21:22)
– New Light (Revelation 21:23-27)
– New Paradise (Revelation 22:1-5)

RELATED POSTS:

“‘Blessed’ Hope”:

“‘Blessed’ Hope”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/blessed-hope-v245/

“Knowing ‘Assurance’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/knowing-assurance-v243/

“‘Outworkings’ Of Grace”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/outworkings-of-grace-v241/

“Amazing ‘Grace’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/amazing-grace-v239/

“A ‘Place’ To Retire”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/a-place-to-retire-v221/

“‘Identity’ From Death”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/saved-from-death-v219/

‘PRAYER’ OF REPENTANCE
In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).

If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus.

There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.

Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].

[ FYI: This is a great sermon on the “Call to Repentance” by John MacArthur from his book “The Gospel According to Jesus”: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-22/the-call-to-repentance
(Transcript: http://www.spiritedesign.com/TheCallToRepentance-JohnMacArthur(Jul-27-2019).pdf) ].

[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].

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RESOURCES:

—————-
“It Could Happen Tomorrow”
By: Gary Frazier

Are we living in the last days? Current events indicate that Old and New Testament prophecies are being fulfilled. Dr. Gary Frazier, a top prophecy scholar, pastor, speaker and author, identifies key indicators along with Biblical references that explain the demise of America, the coming Islamic invasion of Israel, nuclear weapons in Iran, and more.

In this updated release of It Could Happen Tomorrow: Future Events that Will Shake the World, you will:

Discover what the Bible reveals about the end times
Separate fact from fiction about the end of the world
Learn important Biblical signs that the end is near
Recognize America’s place in Biblical prophecy.

Tim LaHaye, co-author of the best-selling Left Behind series says, “Dr. Frazier uses many of these end-time prophecies to show how our generation could very well be the last generation before the Rapture….” Reading this book will inspire you to live in expectation of Jesus Christ’s return and reign on earth. It could even change the focus of your life towards evangelism, missions, and living out the great commission.

—————-
“Because the Time is Near: John MacArthur Explains the Book of Revelation”
By: John MacArthur

“The end of the world is coming.” From roadside signs to science fiction films, this slogan underscores our society’s nervous fascination with the future. Whether it’s a giant asteroid, a worldwide plague, or some other global catastrophe, the end of the world is a terrifying prospect—at least for those who have no idea what it will be like.

For Christians, however, the end of the world should be anything but dreadful. In fact, it should be something we look forward to. Why? Because God has told us how the world will end. And He has assured us that the end of this age will mark the beginning of a new, glorious one in which we will serve and worship Him in sinless perfection. Our eternal hope, as believers, is intimately tied to the end of this world.

All of this is laid out in the book of Revelation. Not only is Revelation the inspired Word of God, it is also the only New Testament book that includes a promised spiritual blessing for those who study and apply its message. As such, it is an essential part of every Christian’s devotional life. Those who ignore Revelation deprive themselves of a rich treasure of divine truth, and the promised blessings that come from understanding that truth. Join John MacArthur as he explains the book of Revelation in a way that is both doctrinally precise and intensely practical.

—————-
“The Second Coming: Signs of Christ’s Return and the End of the Age”
By: John MacArthur (Author), Arthur W. Pink (Contributor)

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
John 14:3 ESV

Jesus Christ was very clear: One day he will return-and none of us knows when. Vocal fanatics claim to know the details of the second coming, causing many Christians to all but ignore the good news that Jesus is coming again. Yet God’s own Word commands us to know the signs of the times, to remain watchful, and to be ready-whenever Christ comes.

This book is a straightforward, in-depth exploration of the key biblical texts regarding the second coming; most notably, Christ’s longest and most important eschatological message, the Olivet Discourse. As you study what the Word of God says about these matters, it will stir in your heart an earnest longing for Christ’s return-as well as a certainty about how to live expectantly until he comes again.

—————-
“Living on Borrowed Time: The Imminent Return of Jesus”
By: David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan answers the following questions and many more concerning the signs of the times that point to the soon return of Jesus. Can we know the date when Jesus will return? Can we know the season of His return? What are the key biblical signs of His return? What signs, if any, have already been fulfilled? Are there any signs that are unique to our day and time? What is the most convincing sign of the Lord s soon return? A unique feature of the book is a prophecy forum composed of 22 Bible prophecy experts who reply to 11 questions concerning the biblical signs of the times that are supposed to signal the imminent return of Jesus. Experts included are: Daymond Duck, Gary Fisher, Jim Fletcher, Ray Gano, Al Gist, Phillip Goodman, J.R. Hall, Mark Hitchcock, David Hocking, Ken Humphries, Terry James, Nathan Jones, Jack Kinsella, Tim LaHaye, Jan Markell, Caryl Matrisciana, Don McGee, Dennis Pollock, Ron Rhodes, August Rosado, Bill Salus, and Brian Thomas.

—————-
“The Book of Signs: 31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse”
By: Dr. David Jeremiah

“The apocalypse.” “The end times.” “The day of judgment.” Terms such as these are both fascinating and frightening for any student of God’s Word. They point to key questions people have wrestled with for centuries, including:

– What does the Bible tell us about the future?
– Why is biblical prophecy relevant for Christians today?
– What signs and signals will precede the end?
– Which of those signs have already come to pass, which are we experiencing now, and which are still to come?

Drawing from decades of experience as one of the world’s most-respected Bible teachers, Dr. David Jeremiah once again brings his signature wisdom, depth, and compassion to the discussion of biblical prophecy—a discussion that becomes more and more critical with each passing day.

Join Dr. Jeremiah as he lays out the signs of the end times and helps you prepare for the days ahead in thirty-one easy-to-understand chapters. Filled with engaging illustrations and practical application, The Book of Signs is a must-have resource for Christians seeking to navigate the uncertainties of the present and embrace God’s promises for the future.

—————-
“The End Times in Chronological Order: A Complete Overview to Understanding Bible Prophecy”
By: Ron Rhodes

Bible prophecy expert Ron Rhodes offers an easy-to-understand yet detailed chronology and explanation of end-times events.

The chapters are arranged around the major end-times themes: the rapture, the tribulation, the millennial kingdom, and the eternal state. Each chapter begins with a list of the specific events it covers, making this an extremely user-friendly chronological guide to end-times biblical prophecy.

Rhodes allows for various interpretations among Christians. Yet the sequence he describes is faithful to the biblical text, based on a literal approach to prophecy, and held by many Bible scholars.

As readers discover that they really can understand Bible prophecy, they will come to love and trust the Scriptures like never before.

—————-
“Northern Storm Rising”
By: Ron Rhodes

Almost 2700 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel detailed a massive end-times attack against Israel. The coalition he describes is still making headlines today. Bible scholar Ron Rhodes analyzes current events in the light of biblical prophecy and empowers readers to “interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3).

This up-to-date assessment of the situation in the Middle East reveals vital information about…

– Financial and political ties between the group of nations north of Israel
– Muslim leaders’ growing antagonism toward Israel and the United States
– Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and the resulting threat to global security
– The polarization of nations supporting extremist Islam and the rest of the world
– Globalization and its role in setting the stage for a cataclysmic war

Readers will grow in their confidence in God, for to Him, “the nations are like a drop in a bucket” (Isaiah 40:15).

—————-
“Escape the Coming Night”
By: Dr. David Jeremiah

There’s no doubt the world is in trouble. We see tragedy in the streets and violence in the news. We hear increasingly divisive political debates that spotlight the deep and bitter divisions in our society. We feel the pain and confusion of a culture that seems to be coming apart at the seams.
How do we explain so much chaos? How do we live with such turmoil? And is there any hope for peace in our time?
As one of the world’s most beloved Bible teachers, Dr. David Jeremiah is the perfect voice to help answer these questions. And in Escape the Coming Night, Dr. Jeremiah walks through the perfect Scripture for these uncertain times: The Book of Revelation. In Dr. Jeremiah’s hands, this exploration of Revelation is shocking and eye-opening, but also consistently uplifting—and a vital message for our time.

—————-
“Understanding End-Times Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach”
By: Paul Benware

Many Christians think of end-times prophecy as a gigantic, intimidating puzzle—difficult to piece together and impossible to figure out. But every puzzle can be solved if you approach it the right way.

Paul Benware compares prophecy to a picture puzzle. Putting the edge pieces together first builds the ‘framework’ that makes it easier to fit the other pieces in their place. According to Benware, the framework for eschatology is the biblical covenants. He begins his comprehensive survey by explaining the major covenants. Then he discusses several different interpretations of end-times prophecy.

Benware digs into the details of the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, the judgements and resurrections, and the millennial kingdom. But he also adds a unique, personal element to the study, answering questions as:

Why study bible prophecy?
What difference does it make if I’m premillenial or amillenial?
If what the Bible says about the future puzzles you, Understanding End Times Prophecy will help you put together the pieces and see the big picture.

—————-
“Charting the End Times: A Visual Guide to Understanding Bible Prophecy”
By: Tim LaHaye and Thomas Ice

Bestselling author Tim LaHaye and prophecy expert Thomas Ice teamed up to produce a visual resource unmatched by anything available in the Christian book marketplace! The result of decades of careful research and Bible study, the charts and well-written explanatory text provide a fascinating picture of the times ahead. Charting the End Times includes…

– A foldout portraying God’s complete plan for the ages
– More than 50 full-color charts and diagrams
– Timelines of the end times
– A comprehensive overview of the key elements of the last days
– Clear answers to tough end-times questions

Providing a wealth of information, this book is certain to become a popular study tool for understanding God’s unfolding plan!

—————-
“Left Behind II – Tribulation Force” (Movie)
By: Kirk Cameron (Actor), Brad Johnson (Actor), Bill Corcoran (Director)

A week after the rapture, grief-stricken survivors continue to search for the millions of people who vanished into thin air. Chaos engulfs the world as suicide rates skyrocket, businesses are looted, and martial law remains in effect. A desperate world turns to United Nations President Nicolae Carpathia for guidance and reassurance. But as global events begin to take on strange significance, signalling the oncoming terror of years to come, a small group of rebels known as the Tribulation Force embarks on a dangerous mission to open the eyes of the world to the truth – Nicolae Carpathia is the Antichrist!

Format: DVD

https://www.amazon.com/Left-Behind-II-Tribulation-Force/dp/B00006HMPC/

—————-
“Left Behind: World at War”
By: Kirk Cameron (Actor), Gordon Currie (Actor), Craig R. Baxley (Director), Craig Baxley, Jr. (Director)

Based on the New York Times best-selling novel series. The U.S. president (Lou Gossett Jr.) asks a journalist (Kirk Cameron) and his band of rebels to thwart a world leader’s deadly plans.

The world falls into chaos as Nicolae Carpathia detonates nuclear devices across the globe and stages multiple devastating attacks against both the Tribulation Force and an international militia, led by U.S. President Gerald Fitzhugh.

Format: DVD

https://www.amazon.com/Left-Behind-World-at-War/dp/B07NT5YTB9/

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“Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages”
By: Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

The scattered Tribulation Force is drawn toward the Middle East, as are all the armies of the world, when human history culminates in the battle of the ages.

During the last year of the Great Tribulation, safe houses are no longer safe and the world has become a powder keg of danger. Except for those already in Petra, everyone has been forced to relocate as the Antichrist ratchets up the pressure in the world’s most treacherous game.

As the Trib Force waits for the coming of Christ, Chloe Williams is drawn out of the safe house to investigate something suspicious. Buck and Tsion travel to Jerusalem while Nicolae Carpathia orders an attack on the city, and Rayford becomes seriously injured outside Petra. Who will survive Armageddon?

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“Racing Toward Armageddon: Why Advanced Technology Signals the End Times”
By: Britt Gillette

Did you know breakthrough technologies will soon lead to the fulfillment of hundreds of ancient bible prophecies concerning the end times, the Antichrist, and the Second Coming of Jesus? In Racing Toward Armageddon, you’ll learn: •Why global government is inevitable •Why the world will worship the Antichrist •Why a new movement promises to transform the human race •And why an overlooked prophecy is the key to understanding the end times For years, world leaders have warned we’re on the verge of Armageddon. Find out what the Bible says. Learn why our generation is unique in all of human history. Most of all, find out why modern technology will soon lead to the most epic battle of all time – the Battle of Armageddon.

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“Signs Of The Second Coming: 11 Reasons Jesus Will Return in Our Lifetime”
By: Britt Gillette

Did you know the Bible contains more prophecies about the Second Coming of Jesus than it does the First? In fact, the Bible says specific signs will appear prior to His return, and Jesus Himself commanded us to look for those signs.

In Signs of the Second Coming, you’ll learn about the signs Moses, Jesus, and the Old Testament prophets said to look for. Signs such as:

– The Jewish people back in the land of Israel
– The Jewish people back in control of Jerusalem
– And the worldwide spread of the Gospel

More importantly, you’ll learn that almost all of the signs the prophets said to look for are present right now… Could ours be the generation of His return? Study the signs for yourself and decide if our generation is destined to witness one of the greatest events in all of history – the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

More About Signs of the Second Coming
For readers who enjoy Christian eschatology, Christian prophecy, or Christian nonfiction books in general, Signs of the Second Coming offers an exciting and hopeful look at the times in which we live. Britt Gillette points out the signs outlined in the Bible and makes a strong case that ours is the generation that will finally witness the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

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“Big Book of Bible Prophecy: What you must know about the end time (High Time to Awake)”
By: Craig C. White

The Big Book of Bible Prophecy is BIG. It contains a collection of my most important commentaries.

These are the Bible prophecy commentaries that you absolutely must read in order to recognize the crucially significant world events that are about to overtake us! End time events are upon us. This book will help you to understand what direction that world events are taking and will also help you to avoid common misconceptions that are often taught elsewhere.

God’s word has the power to save your soul. If you live in the old world or in particular if you live in Israel then this book has the power to save your life.

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“Israel, Islam, and Armageddon”
By: Dave Hunt

At last, a book that presents in a concise manner the events leading up to the return of Christ. Dave Hunt, in his characteristic direct style, answers these pervasive questions: Who is the Antichrist? How will he be recognized? What current events indicate that we really are in the last of the “last days”? Using Scripture and up-to-date information, Dave draws the exciting conclusion that, indeed, time is short. He then outlines a biblical response and reminds the reader of the hope we have in Christ. This book instructs, encourages, warns, and strengthens readers to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15,16).

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“Israel, Islam, and Armageddon”
By: Dave Hunt

DVD

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Islam-Armageddon-Dave-Hunt/dp/192866007X/

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“Israel, A Journey Through Time: What Time Is It”
By: Rev. Dr. John Tweedie and Chris Atkins

Armageddon: the mother of all battles. How do we explain the fact that one of the smallest nations on earth, both in terms of population and land area, is headline news every day? And why has Jerusalem, a city virtually ignored for 2000 years, suddenly become the focus of the nations? The answer to these and many other questions of our troubled times are found in the Bible. The Hebrew Prophets, Christian Apostles, and Jesus of Nazareth all spoke about tumultuous times at the ‘End of Days’. The question is: What time is it on the prophetic timetable? This final unit in the series examines current events and climate changes in light of biblical prophecies, specifically showing how Israel and Jerusalem fit into this end time scenario, and how there is a prophetic continuum from Abraham to Armageddon.

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Journey-Through-Time-What/dp/B01D9LUUKG/

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“Psalm 83, the Missing Prophecy Revealed How Israel Becomes the Next Mideast Superpower”
By: Bill Salus

An ancient prophecy written over 3000 years ago reveals that the Arab states and terrorist populations, which presently share common borders with Israel, will soon confederate in order to wipe Israel off of the map. These enemies of Israel are depicted on the red arrows upon the book cover image, and their mandate is clear: They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:4). Psalm 83 predicts a climactic, concluding Arab-Israeli war that has eluded the discernment of today’s top Bible scholars, and yet, the Middle East stage appears to be set for the fulfillment of this prophecy. While many of today’s top Bible experts are predicting that Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and several other countries are going to invade Israel according to the prophecy in Ezekiel 38, this timely book explains how Psalm 83 occurs prior. Discover how Israel defeats their ancient Arab enemies, and why Americans need to stand beside Israel in this coming war! This book is an updated version of Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, which was written by the same author. This updated version includes over 17 new chapters and appendices.

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“Isralestine: The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East” (Revised Edition – 2018)
By: Bill Salus

ISRALESTINE; The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East Set to explode in the not so distant future, is a devastating war in the Middle East. The Jews will fight off Arab aggression and end terrorism once and for all! ISRALESTINE; The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, boldly unveils significant Bible prophecy that has eluded the discernment of today’s great scholars. Once upon a foretold time the Jewish people were to meet with a holocaust type condition, out from which they would return back to their ancient homeland of Israel. They would begin as refugees, but promptly emerge into an exceedingly great army. As per Psalm 83, destiny’s design for this great army is a head to head confrontation with a formidable Arab confederacy consisting of Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Saudi Arabians and Egyptians. This Arab coalition has been developing in its fledgling stages since 1948 and will climax and officially confederate in the very near future. The Israeli Defense Force will decisively defeat this offensive and prove to be the “exceedingly great army” of Ezekiel 37:10. They will expand their territory, become regionally superior, take prisoners of war and exploit the resources of these conquered Arab nations. In that condition they will become one of, if not the wealthiest nations on earth. It is from that position of empowerment that the Jews will dwell securely in the Middle East. Subsequently the world stage is set for the Russian – Iranian led coalition of nations, which will form against Israel as prophesied in the book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39. This non-fiction thriller is carefully designed to cautiously navigate the reader through the end time’s calendar.

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“The Now Prophecies”
By” Bill Salus

God’s word to Noah was to prepare NOW for a worldwide flood. God’s word to Joseph was to prepare Pharaoh and Egypt NOW for seven years of famine. God’s word to Jeremiah was to prepare the Jews NOW for seventy years of exile into Babylon.

The key word in these historical examples was NOW! What does God’s Word say for us to prepare for NOW? What are the tough decisions we need to make?

The NOW Prophecies book identifies the biblical prophecies that were written centuries ago for THIS GENERATION! These ancient inscriptions predict powerful events that will profoundly affect everyone.

This book makes it easy to understand how to get ready NOW for what to expect in the near future!

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“The Next Prophecies”
By: Bill Salus

The NEXT PROPHECIES is book two of a trilogy that attempts to chronologically order the prophetic events of the end times.The NEXT PROPHECIES is the sequel to The NOW PROPHECIES book.The NEXT PROPHECIES will happen soon after The NOW PROPHECIES and the stage is presently being set for their fulfillment!The NEXT PROPHECIES include:•The Ezekiel 38, “Gog of Magog” invasion,•The Pre-Tribulation Time-Gap Mystery,•Satanic Supernatural Deception, (Super-Signs and Lying-Wonders),•The Rise of the Antichrist, (The Lawless One),•The Revealing of Mystery Babylon, (The Harlot World Religion),•The Opening of the Seal Judgments, (The 4-Horsemen of the Apocalypse),•World Wars, Famines and Pestilences,•The Decline of Islam, (Allah loses his Akbar),•The False Covenant that triggers the Tribulation Period,•Christian Martyrdom, (The Fifth Seal Saints),•The Two Mysterious Witnesses of Revelation.The NEXT PROPHECIES book prepares the reader for powerful future world events! Don’t get LEFT BEHIND to face The NEXT PROPHECIES!

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“The Last Prophecies: The Prophecies in the First 3.5 Years of the Tribulation”
By: Bill Salus

The LAST Prophecies is book three in an end times prophecies book series. It is the sequel to The NOW Prophecies and The NEXT Prophecies.The LAST Prophecies explores the biblical prophecies listed below that happen within the first three-and-one-half years of the dreaded Seven-Year Tribulation Period.

•The Terminal Generation (What it is and How to Escape it)
•How Israel Gains World Renown after Ezekiel 38
•The Coming Third Jewish Temple•Supernatural Signs and Lying Wonders•The Harlot Religion of “Mystery Babylon”
•The 144,000 Hebrew Evangelists
•The Two Witnesses
•A Worldwide Christian Revival
•The 3 Phases of Christian Martyrdom
•The Seven Seal Judgments
•The Seven Trumpet Judgments
•The Unholy Harlot and Antichrist Alliance
•The Ten Kings and Other Kings in the Tribulation

Ancient prophecies are about to roll off of their parchments and pound down on the pavement packing a powerful global punch. Don’t get LEFT BEHIND to face The LAST Prophecies of the Tribulation Period!

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“The Coming Global Transformation: An End Times Audio Presentation”
By: Jim Tetlow and Brad Myers

These are truly perilous and exciting times! Every prophetic sign is ramping up before our eyes! The Coming Global Transformation is a riveting end times audio drama that uniquely plays out future end time events in such an eerily, and realistic way, that you will actually feel as If you are there experiencing the incredible events along with the characters.

These 3 CDs contains years of biblical and secular research that now helps to explain what s currently happening globally in the headlines. Mankind is headed into a shocking period of time that was predicted long ago by the ancient Hebrew prophets and the New Testament apostles.

Are you ready to confront your future? On the surface, Richard and Danielle were an ordinary married couple who looked to the future with great expectation. But beneath the surface, they knew that something was wrong. Somewhere behind the veil of life as usual, there was a reality they had never been exposed to a reality that contained the true nature of extraterrestrial sightings, apparitions, and End Times Bible prophecy.

For Richard, Danielle, and millions of others, the world was about to change … dramatically. But would they change with it? Discover the truth, as you listen to The Coming Global Transformation. This high quality audio presentation is a drama based on actual news events and of many last days Bible prophecies. Though most of the characters and settings are fictional, all of the numerous news articles, books and references quoted within this drama are real as are the Scripture references.

https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Global-Transformation-Times-Presentation/dp/099822281X

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“Living on Borrowed Time: The Imminent Return of Jesus”
By: David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan answers the following questions and many more concerning the signs of the times that point to the soon return of Jesus. Can we know the date when Jesus will return? Can we know the season of His return? What are the key biblical signs of His return? What signs, if any, have already been fulfilled? Are there any signs that are unique to our day and time? What is the most convincing sign of the Lord s soon return? A unique feature of the book is a prophecy forum composed of 22 Bible prophecy experts who reply to 11 questions concerning the biblical signs of the times that are supposed to signal the imminent return of Jesus. Experts included are: Daymond Duck, Gary Fisher, Jim Fletcher, Ray Gano, Al Gist, Phillip Goodman, J.R. Hall, Mark Hitchcock, David Hocking, Ken Humphries, Terry James, Nathan Jones, Jack Kinsella, Tim LaHaye, Jan Markell, Caryl Matrisciana, Don McGee, Dennis Pollock, Ron Rhodes, August Rosado, Bill Salus, and Brian Thomas.

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“40 Days Through Revelation: Uncovering the Mystery of the End Times”
By: Ron Rhodes

The book of Revelation begins and ends with guarantees that its inspiring message leads to blessing. Popular Bible teacher and author Ron Rhodes guides readers on an encouraging journey through this prophetic book, interpreting its picturesque language and revealing its reassuring promises. Each short chapter is perfect for a group Bible study or a personal quiet time and includes…

– Scripture Reading and Insights―a short passage of Revelation and easy-to-understand notes on each verse
– Major Themes―brief summaries of the most important ideas
– Digging Deeper with Cross-References―several other passages readers can look up on relevant topics
– Life Lessons―practical and helpful applications to everyday life
– Questions for Reflection and Discussion―thought-provoking starters for group discussions or personal journaling

Readers who may have been confused or intimidated by Revelation will appreciate this easy-to-understand and practical presentation of its empowering truths.

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“40 Days Through Daniel: Revealing God’s Plan for the Future”
By: Ron Rhodes

The book of Daniel holds the distinction of being one of the most important prophetic books in the Bible—and one of the most challenging to understand. Now you can unearth its inspiring lessons and enduring truths in just 40 daily readings. You’ll be amazed to see how prophecies from the sixth century BC are unfolding today.

To help you personally interact with the vital truths of Daniel, trusted Bible teacher Ron Rhodes provides…

– Short passages of Daniel with easy-to-understand notes on each verse
– Brief summaries of the most important ideas
– Helpful cross-references on relevant topics
-Practical applications to everyday life
– Thought-provoking conversation starters for group discussions or personal journaling

As you see God’s faithfulness on display in the lions’ den, in the fiery furnace, and in the rise and fall of world empires, you’ll gain a deep sense that God is in control.

https://www.amazon.com/40-Days-Through-Daniel-Revealing/dp/0736964452/

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“End-Times Super Trends: A Political, Economic, and Cultural Forecast of the Prophetic Future”
By: Ron Rhodes

Making Sense of Crucial Last-Days Signs

Pressure is rising. The global atmosphere is morphing as never before. It’s time to pay attention to the warnings around us that point to inevitable catastrophes to come.

Bible prophecy expert Ron Rhodes surveys 15 current trends that affect us on a worldwide, national, and personal scale—suggesting some inescapable consequences to our safety, rights, and way of life. You will see how the stage is being set for the end times with such drastic developments as…

– The escalation of cyberwarfare
– Tthe deterioration of religious freedom
– The dissolution of the family unit

With eye-opening research and a helpful examination of Scripture, Rhodes clearly shows where trends are leading while advocating a response based on hope, truth, and preparation rather than fear.

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“Bible Prophecy Answer Book: Everything You Need to Know About the End Times”
By: Ron Rhodes

Studying Prophecy Can Change Your Life

Strengthen your faith and find real hope for the future in this extensive resource that provides concise answers to your most burning questions about Bible prophecy and the end times. Topics include everything from how to interpret prophecy to clarifying the perplexing specifics of the rapture, the antichrist, and the afterlife.

Respected Bible scholar Ron Rhodes addresses questions many are asking, such as…

– Is it important that we be aware of the signs of the times?
– Do Christians agree about the role of America in Bible prophecy?
– Is there biblical evidence that the church will escape the tribulation period?
– Will only believers enter into Christ’s millennial kingdom?
– In what way will the heavens and earth be made “new”?

Whether you’re looking for quick instruction or you’re eager to go deeper, this accessible Q&A-style guide will help you navigate prophetic Scripture passages and better understand matters of eternal significance.

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“The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy: Understanding the Ongoing Controversies”
By: Ron Rhodes

You’ve heard about the tribulation, millennium, rapture, and antichrist, but you may wonder, what’s all the debating about? Do most Christians agree on the big issues? And what about other topics―dispensationalism, interpretive views, timing of events…are they too complex for most folks to understand?

Not at all! In this concise and easy-to-read review, respected Bible teacher Ron Rhodes identifies eight of the most important end-times discussions. Avoiding complex arguments, he highlights the most important biblical passages, summarizes a few of the most popular interpretations, and provides succinct conclusions. He demonstrates that the Bible’s end-times teaching is intended to be a blessing for every believer.

As you compare and contrast the various viewpoints, you’ll be able to enjoy constructive conversations with other Christians and support your own informed convictions. You’ll also enrich your reading of the Scriptures and see how passages fit together in God’s great plan for the ages.

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“Escape the Coming Night”
By: Dr. David Jeremiah

There’s no doubt the world is in trouble. We see tragedy in the streets and violence in the news. We hear increasingly divisive political debates that spotlight the deep and bitter divisions in our society. We feel the pain and confusion of a culture that seems to be coming apart at the seams.

How do we explain so much chaos? How do we live with such turmoil? And is there any hope for peace in our time?

As one of the world’s most beloved Bible teachers, Dr. David Jeremiah is the perfect voice to help answer these questions. And in Escape the Coming Night, Dr. Jeremiah walks through the perfect Scripture for these uncertain times: The Book of Revelation. In Dr. Jeremiah’s hands, this exploration of Revelation is shocking and eye-opening, but also consistently uplifting—and a vital message for our time.

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“Agents of the Apocalypse: A Riveting Look at the Key Players of the End Times”
By: David Jeremiah

Who Will Usher in Earth’s Final Days?
Are we living in the end times? Is it possible that the players depicted in the book of Revelation could be out in force today? And if they are, would you know how to recognize them?

In Agents of the Apocalypse, noted prophecy expert Dr. David Jeremiah does what no prophecy expert has done before. He explores the book of Revelation through the lens of its major players―the exiled, the martyrs, the elders, the victor, the king, the judge, the 144,000, the witnesses, the false prophet, and the beast.

One by one, Dr. Jeremiah delves into their individual personalities and motives, and the role that each plays in biblical prophecy. Then he provides readers with the critical clues and information needed to recognize their presence and power in the world today.

The stage is set, and the curtain is about to rise on Earth’s final act. Will you be ready?

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“Is This the End?: Signs of God’s Providence in a Disturbing New World”
By: Dr. David Jeremiah

The world seems more fractured each day. People are asking, “Is this the End?”

Never have the headlines been this jarring, the cultural changes this rapid, or the moral decay this pronounced. What on earth is happening? After each new occurrence, the most oft-heard questions are, “Will the world ever be the same again?” and “Where is God in all of this?”

Over the last few decades, Dr. David Jeremiah has become one of the world’s most sought-after Christian leaders on topics that deal with biblical application and modern culture. And few would dispute that the pace at which things are currently changing is unprecedented. The time has come to accept this new normal, Jeremiah says, and understand how God’s hand is still at work on His eternal plan for mankind.

No one can afford to ignore these warnings, but all can better understand the greater story and the role we each play in this changing world. From prophetic clues in Scripture to an understanding of the power of Christ in all believers, this book directs us on a clear path forward.

The book is split into two sections, each covering items surrounding two important questions. Is This the End of America? and Is This the End of the World? Includes detailed chapters on:

– Terrorism
– ISIS and Radicalized Islam
– The New Russia
– The Bleeding of America’s Borders
– The “Anything Goes” Society
– Polarization and Divisiveness
– The Coming of Christ
and many more

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“Unveiling the End Times in Our Time: The Triumph of the Lamb in Revelation”
By: Adrian Rogers and Steve Rogers

“The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it are blessed, because the time is near!” —Revelation 1:3 (HCSB)

Respected Bible teacher and beloved pastor Adrian Rogers takes readers on a breathtaking journey through the “blessing book” of Revelation with Unveiling the End Times in Our Time. Indeed, Revelation offers every Christian believer a dramatic and hope-filled overview of what the end of days will be like.

Although some think Revelation is confusing, or even scary, with its talk of dragons and beasts, the text contains a proper understanding of where his- tory is headed. Rogers makes clear how the signs of the times already reveal God’s plan for bringing his people to full redemption, empowering us to live boldly while expecting the return of King Jesus as the triumphant Lamb.

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“Revelation Road: Hope Beyond the Horizon”
By: Bill Salus

You are invited to a one-of-a- kind reading experience. Enjoy a thrilling novel and a biblical commentary ripped from today’s headlines at the same time. Revelation Road combines two books into one. The modern world has been thrust into chaos and uncertainty. Iran’s nuclear threat; the burgeoning Arab Spring; the toppling of long-ruling Mideast despots and the power vacuum left in the wake; Israel’s security under attack from hostile powers abroad and wavering support from America. Modern dangers? Yes, but calamities foretold in the Bible thousands of years ago. Revelation Road explains the events occurring on our darkening horizon and their Biblical significance. George and Mimi Thompson believe their grandson Tyler lives in the final generation. Lovingly, they prepare the lad for life after the destruction of Damascus, the strategic strike of Iran’s nuclear sites, the final Arab-Israeli war, nuclear terrorism in America, and the coming world religion and global government. Experience the End Times through the eyes of the Thompson family, and discover how their gripping story uncovers the silver lining of hope against the backdrop of global gloom and doom…Their family tale could soon become your reality!

[ Includes Biblical commentary ]

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“Armageddon, Oil, and Terror: What the Bible Says About the Future”
By: John F. Walvoord and Mark Hitchcock

Updating the work of renowned biblical scholar John F. Walvoord, who famously predicted current world events, Armageddon, Oil, and Terror offers shocking predictions on the future of terrorism, oil-based economics, and nuclear war in the Middle East. In all, Armageddon, Oil, and Terror sheds light on 12 biblical prophecies that seem eerily close to coming true. Includes materials from lectures and discussions after 9/11 and incorporates vital, updated material from other Walvoord classics. It is as current as today’s news…and every prediction rings true.

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“The Last Hour: An Israeli Insider Looks at the End Times”
By: Amir Tsarfati

Avoiding sensationalism and date-speculating, respected Bible teacher Amir Tsarfati uses his unique perspective as an Israeli Christian to lead you through a fascinating modern-day description of God’s plan for the end of the world.

Grounded from start to finish in Scripture, the book reveals how the Rapture, the imminent rise of the Antichrist, and the tragic horrors of the Great Tribulation will play out in our world today. He also helps you understand the roles–and fates–of Russia, Iran, Syria, Turkey, the European Union, the United States of America, and Israel in the end times, showing just how biblical prophecies are being fulfilled in our time. But above all, he offers hope that in the midst of chaos and horror, God is ultimately in control, and those who belong to him will be safe with him.

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“The Day Approaching: An Israeli’s Message of Warning and Hope for the Last Days”
By: Amir Tsarfati

Are You Noticing the Signs of the Times?

When Jesus spoke about the last days, He said that certain signs would make it clear His return is near.

What are those signs? And are they evident today?

As a Jewish native Israeli who is a Christian, Amir Tsarfati has a distinct perspective that weaves biblical history, current events, and Bible prophecy together to shine light on the mysteries about the end times. From his vantage point at the epicenter of today’s religious conflict and through careful Bible study, Tsarfati points to Scripture passages that inform us the return of the Lord is imminent.

In The Day Approaching, you will learn…
God’s plan for the world, Israel, the church, and you
that the signs of Christ’s return are visible all around us
about the smoke screen of deception that will lure people away from truth
how even now God is revealing Himself to people and changing their hearts
of the wonders that await us in Jesus’s future millennial kingdom
As you seek hope and clarity about earth’s final days, let the Bible alone be the one resource you turn to for answers.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-day-approaching-amir-tsarfati/1132194616?ean=9780736981057#/

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“THE SEARCH FOR MEANING” WEBSITE

This site presents discussions on the 12 most commonly asked questions about the Christian faith.

The 12 discussions are accessed by the “tabs” at the bottom of the page. The tabs are numbered 1-12. Roll your mouse over them and you will see the question displayed at the right. Click on the number to select that question.

Within each question (i.e. tabs 1-12), there are subtopics (or dialogues) to select that appear as smaller tabs underneath the numbered tabs. Roll your mouse over them and the title of these topics is also displayed to the right. Click on the open rectangle to select that dialogue.

For each question (1-12), a link to related resources and an optional flowchart is provided. To access this material, click on the respective words, “Related Resources” or “Options Flowchart.”

To play a more detailed discussion of the subject, between two people, select the desired dialogue and click on “Play Audio Dialogue.”

In the upper right-hand corner of the page, there is an icon that looks like binoculars looking at a question mark. Click on this icon to return to the homepage.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Related Resources” page, there is an icon that looks like some books. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the resources for all of the questions. There also are additional “appendices” for most of the questions.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Flowchart” page, there is an icon that looks like an Org chart. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the flowcharts.

http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q1_d1_1of10.html

[ Content by: Bill Kraftson and Lamar Smith; Website by Mark Besh ]

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“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEB SITE
(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)

CLICK ON THE LINK to view:
http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/

FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/

[ Mark Besh ]

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[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further about fulfilled prophecies, visit the following link:
http://www.4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q4_d4_1of10.html ].

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ARTICLES:

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“The Doomsday Clock says it’s almost the end of the world as we know it. (And that’s not fine.)”

If you have anything left on your bucket list, do it now, because the world is close to annihilation.

That’s according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which gave its annual presentation of the Doomsday Clock on Thursday.

A group of scientists and scholars, including 15 Nobel laureates, set the clock at 11:58 p.m. — two minutes before the symbolic apocalyptic midnight.

The minute hand didn’t move since last year. But 11:58 p.m. is the closest the clock has ever been to symbolizing doom.

“The fact that the Doomsday Clock’s hands did not change is bad news,” said Robert Rosner, chair of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board.
So why are we so close to destruction? Nuclear weapons and climate change, experts say.

“In the nuclear realm, the United States abandoned the Iran nuclear deal and announced it would withdraw from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), grave steps towards a complete dismantlement of the global arms control process,” the Bulletin said.

“The Iran agreement is not perfect, but it serves the interest of the international community in restraining the spread of nuclear weapons.”

As for climate change, “global carbon dioxide emissions — which seemed to plateau earlier this decade — resumed an upward climb in 2017 and 2018,” the Bulletin said.

“To halt the worst effects of climate change, the countries of the world must cut net worldwide carbon dioxide emissions to zero by well before the end of the century.”

The scientists lambasted President Donald Trump’s announcement to pull out of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, “the main global accord on addressing climate change.”

The Doomsday Clock hasn’t always spelled doom and gloom since it was first introduced in the 1940s.

Back in 1991, it was set at a whopping 17 minutes before midnight.

But before the clock struck 11:58 p.m. in both 2018 and 2019, the last time the world was considered so close to annihilation was in 1953, when the United States and the Soviet Union were in a nuclear arms race.

[ Holly Chan – “CNN” reporter ]

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“Here’s How Stephen Hawking Predicted the World Will End”

When he wasn’t solving the mysteries of black holes and revolutionizing theoretical physics, Stephen Hawking spoke (a lot) about how the world would end.

From Terminator-style robots taking over to Donald Trump, these are some of the late scientist’s most terrifying doomsday predictions.

Earth will turn into a giant fireball
Humanity is at a “tipping point,” Hawking warned last July.

He added that global warming would cause the Earth to become like Venus, with a global temperature of 482 degrees Fahrenheit and sulphuric acid raining from the sky.

“By the year 2600, the world’s population would be standing shoulder to shoulder and the electricity consumption would make the Earth glow red-hot,” he told a gathering of scientists in Beijing, China.

Our best bet is to leave Earth completely, predicted Hawking.

The AI apocalypse will see robots replace humans
Facebook and Google are obsessed with artificial intelligence, but Hawking didn’t trust it one bit.

He claimed it could be the “worst invention of the history of our civilization.”

Speaking to Wired UK, he said: “I fear that AI may replace humans altogether.”

“If people design computer viruses, someone will design AI that improves and replicates itself. This will be a new form of life that outperforms humans.”

Nuclear war could kill us all
North Korea’s intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 lifting off from the launching pad at an undisclosed location near Pyongyang.Getty Images
When asked what human trait he’d like to change, Hawking replied, “Aggression.”

He said it could lead to irrational behavior, like sparking nuclear war and ending the world.

“There is no sign of conflict lessening and the development of militarized technology and weapons of mass destruction could make that disastrous,” he told the BBC, as part of his 75th birthday celebrations.

“The best hope for the survival of the human race might be independent colonies in space.”

We need to get busy finding another planet
Fearing that our planet will become overpopulated, Hawking predicted that humans will have to leave Earth and repopulate elsewhere.

In a documentary titled “Stephen Hawking: Expedition New Earth,” he warned that if humans don’t become a multi-planetary species and settle on other worlds, we could die out in the next century.

Trump will shove the Earth over the brink
Hawking was clearly not a fan of Donald Trump.

When the president announced his decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement to reduce CO2 levels, Hawking became one of his most outspoken opponents.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: “By … pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, Donald Trump will cause avoidable environmental damage to our beautiful planet, endangering the natural world, for us and our children.”

[ Saqib Shah – “The Sun” reporter ]

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“Two weeks before his death, Stephen Hawking predicted ‘the end of the universe’”

Stephen Hawking completed a theory outlining his prediction for the end of the world just two weeks before his death, it has emerged.

The world-famous physicist, who died last Wednesday aged 76, was a co-author to a mathematical paper in which he sought to prove the so-called “multiverse” theory, according to a report by U.K. newspaper The Sunday Times. This theory imagines the existence of many separate universes other than our own.

Hawking’s final work — titled “A Smooth Exit From Eternal Inflation” — is being reviewed by a leading scientific journal. In it, he predicted how our universe would eventually fade to darkness as the stars run out of energy.

Alongside Professor Thomas Hertog of Belgium’s KU Leuven University, Hawking also proposed a way in which scientists might be able to find alternate universes by using probes on space ships. This would allow humans to attain a more accurate understanding of our own universe, decipher what else is out there and ultimately realize our place in the cosmos.

“He has often been nominated for the Nobel and should have won it. Now he never can,” Hertog told The Sunday Times in an interview published Sunday.

‘Intelligent life may be watching’
Hawking, who was perhaps best known for his work on black holes and the theory of relativity, had previously posited the idea that Earth would turn into a giant ball of fire by 2600. Therefore, humans would eventually need to colonize another planet or face extinction, he said.

In 2015, Hawking joined Russian billionaire Yuri Milner to launch a project that aimed to use high-powered computers to listen for aliens. The project, known as Breakthrough Initiatives, supports SETI@home, a scientific experiment based at the University of California, Berkeley. It uses computers to scan the skies to look for life.

“Somewhere in the cosmos, perhaps, intelligent life may be watching these lights of ours aware of what they mean,” Hawking said. “Or do our lights wander a lifeless cosmos, unseen beacons announcing that here on our rock, the universe discovered its existence?”

[ Sam Meredith – CNBC reporter ]

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“Why Do Scientists Think We’re Nearing the End of the World?”

In a purely symbolic, but still unsettling move, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists again moved the second hand on its Doomsday Clock 30 seconds closer to the end of times. As of Jan. 25, 2018, the clock now reads 11:58. The 71-year-old Doomsday Clock, which was founded in 1947 by University of Chicago scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, is known globally as a gauge of how close the world could be to the apocalypse.

“Because of the extraordinary danger of the current moment, the Science and Security Board today moves the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock 30 seconds closer to catastrophe. It is now two minutes to midnight — the closest the Clock has ever been to Doomsday, and as close as it was in 1953, at the height of the Cold War,” Rachel Bronson, Ph.D., president and CEO of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists said in a statement.

The last time the clock was this close to midnight and global disaster was after both the United States and Soviet Union tested hydrogen bombs and were engaged in a nuclear arms race. From 2015 to 2016, the minute hand stayed at three minutes before midnight, the closest it had been through the early ’80s. In 2017, however, the BAS moved the second hand forward 30 seconds to 11:57 and 30 seconds. That is until now.

In a statement, the independent nonprofit group cited growing nuclear risks and unchecked climate dangers as factors in its conclusion to move the clock forward:

“In 2017, world leaders failed to respond effectively to the looming threats of nuclear war and climate change, making the world security situation more dangerous than it was a year ago — and as dangerous as it has been since World War II. The greatest risks last year arose in the nuclear realm. North Korea’s nuclear weapons program appeared to make remarkable progress in 2017, increasing risks for itself, other countries in the region, and the United States. Hyperbolic rhetoric and provocative actions on both sides have increased the possibility of nuclear war by accident or miscalculation … On the climate change front, the danger may seem less immediate, but avoiding catastrophic temperature increases in the long run requires urgent attention now … The nations of the world will have to significantly decrease their greenhouse gas emissions to keep climate risks manageable, and so far, the global response has fallen far short of meeting this challenge.”

BAS also said the decline of U.S. leadership and a related demise of diplomacy under the Trump Administration, as well as concerns about South China Sea tensions, escalating rhetoric between Pakistan and India and uncertainty about U.S. support for the Iran nuclear deal, as contributing to the risks of nuclear and non-nuclear clashes around the globe.

“… There has also been a breakdown in the international order that has been dangerously exacerbated by recent U.S. actions. In 2017, the United States backed away from its longstanding leadership role in the world, reducing its commitment to seek common ground and undermining the overall effort toward solving pressing global governance challenges. Neither allies nor adversaries have been able to reliably predict U.S. actions or understand when U.S. pronouncements are real, and when they are mere rhetoric. International diplomacy has been reduced to name-calling, giving it a surrealistic sense of unreality that makes the world security situation ever more threatening … Last year, and the year before, we warned that world leaders were failing to act with the speed and on the scale required to protect citizens from the extreme danger posed by climate change and nuclear war.”

Since the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which currently boasts 15 Nobel laureates among its leaders, was founded, it has moved the hand on the clock more than 20 times. Each move symbolizes the group’s current analysis of the world’s chances of survival in the face of political, environmental and technological developments. The most notable factors to the keepers of the clock are the state of nuclear affairs and global climate change.

The farthest the clock has been away from midnight was in 1991, at the end of the Cold War, when the clock was set at 17 minutes to midnight.

But all is not lost. See The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ website to read about some of the BAS-recommended changes the world must make to move the Doomsday Clock back.

[ Julia Layton ]

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The “World Economic Forum,” presented their annual “Global Risks Report” for 2018, and noted that the most prominent reasons include, in order of likelihood:

1) Extreme weather events
2) Natural disasters
3) Cyberattacks
4) Data fraud or theft
5) Failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation
6) Large-scale involuntary migration
7) Man-made environmental disasters
8) Terrorist attacks
9) Illicit trade
10) Asset bubbles in a major economy

Then they listed the top 10 risks in terms of impact:

1) Weapons of mass destruction
2) Extreme weather events
3) Natural disasters
4) Failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation
5) Water crises
6) Cyberattacks
7) Food crises
8) Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse
9) Large-scale involuntary migration
10) Spread of infectious diseases

[ Note: CLICK HERE to download the 2018 WEF report, which includes a very detailed “Risk-Trends” and “Global Risks” interactions maps, which graphically show what is shaping global development in the next 10 years ].

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“Humanity’s most existential risks are getting worse. Here’s a major reason why”

[ This article is part of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting ]

As 2018 starts with waves of extreme weather across the planet, it seems uncomfortably appropriate that environmental issues have once again dominated the list of the most urgent risks identified in the World Economic Forum’s annual assessment of global risks.

The upper right quadrant of this chart from the Global Risks Report 2018 identifies the most dangerous threats to human well-being and safety – these are the risks perceived as being most likely to occur and as having the biggest impact on humans. For the first time, all of the environment-related risks surveyed fall in this quadrant.

Of course, mainstream awareness of the seriousness of environment-related risks is not new. For the past eight years, risks such as extreme weather, climate change, water crises and major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse have increasingly featured in the report’s lists of top risks.

[ Link to “Global Risks Landscape” and “evolving Riskd Landscape charts: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/humanity-s-most-existential-risks-are-getting-worse-heres-why/ ].

This time, however, the threat is personal.

Environmental pollution is no longer just a global externality – to be dealt with by someone else at some other time. We are now internalizing environmental risks within our own bodies, often unwittingly and even in the richest countries in the world.

For example, every year, around 8 million tonnes of plastic is added to the world’s oceans, where it is ingested by fish, birds, turtles and other marine life. It accumulates in the food chain and is now finding its way into humans.

It now pervades both saltwater and freshwater resources. One study found that seafood eaters could be ingesting up to 11,000 pieces of microplastic every year. Another found microplastic in 83% of tap water samples around the world and 94% of samples in the US – on average 4.8 fibres per 500 millilitres.

In addition to plastics, humans on every continent have ingested pesticide residues from honey, while many in cities are breathing toxic air. More than 90% of the world’s population live in areas with unsafe levels of air pollution. Doctors in Delhi, declared a public health emergency in November as air pollution exceeded 30 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended safe limits.

The WHO also reported that environmental issues are responsible for more than a quarter of all deaths of children under five years of age (around 1.7 million per year), while the Lancet Commission found air, soil and water pollution causes an estimated 9 million premature deaths a year.

It’s not just our health. Environmental issues also affect our wealth and prosperity. The Lancet Commission found pollution costs the global economy $4.6 trillion per year – around 6.2% of global economic output.

Meanwhile, extreme weather has been wreaking havoc on our economies and societies. Well before the recent ‘bomb cyclone’ and deep freeze gripped North America while Australia sweltered in extreme heat, last year’s extreme weather had already had devastating consequences. Munich Re estimates total insured losses at $135 billion from natural catastrophes in 2017. Worryingly, there was a further $195 billion in uninsured losses. These costs are forecast to grow. In the US, a non-partisan government report found that climate change could cost US taxpayers up to an extra $35 billion per year by 2050.

The latest human displacement data shows that around 24 million people were forced from their homes in 2016 as a result of storms and weather-related events.

While some action is being taken, overall, the scale of action is woefully insufficient in the face of the severe, existential and well-publicized environmental threats humanity faces.

There also seems to be an insidious disconnect between how we think about environmental and economic risks. A closer look at Figure 1 shows that while the environmental risks are all found in the ‘high impact, high likelihood’ quadrant, many of the economic risks are clustered in the ‘low impact, low likelihood’ quadrant.

This may be symptomatic of a broader – and problematic – mindsight. The lack of financial value historically placed on the environment and human health has led to these areas being treated separately from economic planning and investment.

Taken as a whole, governments and businesses have, evidently, not taken adequate account of the causal relationship between environmental impacts and economic and societal prosperity, well-being and sustainability.

In reality, however, these dimensions are deeply interconnected. For example, the risks of ‘extreme weather events’ and ‘major natural catastrophes’ are perceived as high impact, high likelihood. They can cause dramatic interruptions or damage to critical infrastructure – in Puerto Rico, more than three months after Hurricane Maria struck, 45% of electricity customers still do not have power. Yet the risk of ‘the failure/shortfall of critical infrastructure’ was perceived to be ‘low impact, low likelihood’.

Similarly, the risk of ‘man-made environmental catastrophes’, which arguably include air pollution and climate change, are perceived to be ‘high impact, high likelihood’, while the risk of an ‘energy price shock to the global economy’ was perceived as ‘low impact, low likelihood’.

This is despite the fact that the growth trajectory of electric vehicle sales (partly driven by policy responses to climate change and air pollution) has been forecast to displace oil demand by around 2 million barrels per day by 2025 – the same amount attributed to triggering the low oil prices and industry downturn of recent years. The displacement could be as high as 16 million barrels per day by 2040.

With the world population forecast to increase to 9.7 billion people by 2050, the growing threat of environmental risks – and the perception they are disconnected from economic concerns – suggests there is a more fundamental and systemic challenge to be addressed.

As humans and the planet internalize the economic externalities of the past 150 years and as the risks continue to mount, the prevailing economic assumptions and operating models may no longer be appropriate for the 21st century.

Addressing these structural challenges will be a crucial first step to effectively managing the growing set of environment-related risks that the world faces. A second step will be to develop new platforms for cooperation that can accommodate the increasingly diverse group of stakeholders needed to solve these problems – from national governments to cities and states, businesses, technology experts and investors.

Such collaborations are becoming more and more important in a world where values and policies between, and within, many nations and international actors seem to be diverging. It is becoming more complicated to address our shared environmental risks.

If we fail to get this right, one thing is for certain: we cannot say we weren’t warned.

[ Jahda Swanborough ]

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“Doomsday: 9 Real Ways the Earth Could End”

From catastrophic climate change to hostile aliens, Hollywood routinely envisions apocalyptic endings to humanity’s stint on planet Earth.

For instance, in the movie “After Earth,” opening in theaters Friday (May 31), a series of earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and other natural disasters makes the planet inhospitable to humans, who resettle on a new world called Nova Prime.

But although the movie may be pure fantasy, many scientists are worried about other perilous scenarios — some of which are even scarier than anything that’s been depicted on the silver screen.

From pandemic fungus to robot insurrection, here are 9 apocalyptic visions that scientists foresee. [Doom and Gloom: Top 10 Post-Apocalyptic Worlds]

1. Global warming
The mother of all apocalyptic fears, climate change is the biggest threat facing the planet, many scientists say. Climate change could make extreme weather more severe, increase droughts in some areas, change the distribution of animals and diseases across the globe, and cause low-lying areas of the planet to be submerged in the wake of rising sea levels. The cascade of changes could lead to political instability, severe drought, famine, ecosystem collapse and other changes that make Earth a decidedly inhospitable place to live.

2. Asteroid!
It’s the mainstay of disaster movies, but scientists are legitimately worried that a space rock could wipe out Earth. A meteor impact probably doomed the dinosaurs, and in the Tunguska event, a massive meteoroid damaged about 770 square miles (2,000 square kilometers) of the Siberian forest in 1908. Even more frightening, perhaps, is that astronomers only know about a fraction of the space rocks lurking in the solar system.

3. Pandemic threat
New deadly pathogens crop up every year: Recent pandemics have included outbreaks of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), bird flu, and, most recently, a coronavirus called MERS that originated in Saudi Arabia. And because of our highly interconnected, global economy, a deadly disease could spread like wildfire.

“The threat of a global pandemic is very real,” said Joseph Miller, co-author (along with Ken Miller) of the textbook “Biology” (Prentice Hall, 2010).

4. Fungus among us
Though bacterial threats are dangerous, fungal threats are even scarier, said David Wake, curator at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley.

“We’ve had a new amphibian fungal disease that has just had devastating effects,” Wake said of the chytrid fungus that is wiping out frogs across the United States.

An equally fatal fungus in humans would be catastrophic. And though bacteria are deadly, antibiotics are plentiful. By comparison, we know much less about treating fungal infections, Wake told LiveScience.

5. Engineered disease
Natural diseases aren’t the only ones to fear.

In 2011, the scientific community was outraged that researchers had engineered a mutant version of the bird flu H5N1 that was transmissible in ferrets and transmitted via the air. The results sparked fears that engineered deadly diseases could inadvertently escape from the lab or be intentionally released, leading to a global pandemic.

6. Nuclear war
Many scientists are still worried about the classic end-of-the-world threat: global nuclear war. Beyond North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s saber rattling and Iran’s secretive nuclear efforts, massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons around the globe could wreak destruction if they were to get into the wrong hands. Last year, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nontechnical magazine on global security founded in 1945 by former Manhattan project physicists, moved the Doomsday Clock, at five minutes to midnight. The Doomsday Clock shows how close humanity is to destruction via nuclear or biological weapons or global climate change. [7 Strange Cultural Facts About North Korea]

7. Robot ascension
“The Terminator” may be science fiction, but killing machines are not far from reality. The United Nations recently called for a ban on killer robots — presumably because experts worried that several countries were developing them.

Many computer scientists think the singularity, the point at which artificial intelligence overtakes human intelligence, is near. Whether those robots will be benevolent helpers or the scourge of humanity is still up for debate. But a lot can go wrong when there are hyperintelligent robots armed with lethal weapons running around.

8. Overpopulation
The fear of an overpopulated globe has been around since the 18th century, when Thomas Malthus predicted that population growth would cause mass starvation and overtax the planet. With the global population at 7 billion and counting, many conservationists think population growth is one of the key threats to the planet. Of course, not everyone agrees: Many think population growth will stabilize in the next 50 years, and that humanity will innovate its way out of the negative consequences of the overcrowding that does occur.

9. Snowball effect
Though each of these scenarios could happen, most scientists think a snowball effect of multiple events is more likely, Miller said. For instance, global warming could increase the prevalence of pathogens while also causing widespread shifts in climate. Meanwhile, ecosystem collapse could make it slightly harder to produce food, with no bees to pollinate crops or trees to filter agricultural water. So, instead of an epic catastrophe, several relatively small factors would slightly worsen life on Earth until it gradually degraded, Miller said.

In that scenario, the downfall of Earth is not dramatic, “like being attacked by a saber-toothed tiger,” Miller told LiveScience. “It’s more like being nibbled to death by ducks.”

[ Tia Ghose ]

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“Global Issues Overview”

As the world’s only truly universal global organization, the United Nations has become the foremost forum to address issues that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone.

To its initial goals of safeguarding peace, protecting human rights, establishing the framework for international justice and promoting economic and social progress, in the seven decades since its creation the United Nations has added on new challenges, such as climate change, refugees and AIDS.

While conflict resolution and peacekeeping continue to be among its most visible efforts, the UN, along with its specialized agencies, is also engaged in a wide array of activities to improve people’s lives around the world—from disaster relief, through education and advancement of women, to peaceful uses of atomic energy.

https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/global-issues-overview/

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“Global Issues Overview”

As the world’s only truly universal global organization, the United Nations has become the foremost forum to address issues that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone.

To its initial goals of safeguarding peace, protecting human rights, establishing the framework for international justice and promoting economic and social progress, in the seven decades since its creation the United Nations has added on new challenges, such as climate change, refugees and AIDS.

While conflict resolution and peacekeeping continue to be among its most visible efforts, the UN, along with its specialized agencies, is also engaged in a wide array of activities to improve people’s lives around the world – from disaster relief, through education and advancement of women, to peaceful uses of atomic energy.

This website offers an overview of some of these issues in depth, and links to other resources where you can get additional information.

https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/global-issues-overview/

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The Global Risks Report 2018

Each year the Global Risks Report works with experts and decision-makers across the world to identify and analyze the most pressing risks that we face. As the pace of change accelerates, and as risk interconnections deepen, this year’s report highlights the growing strain we are placing on many of the global systems we rely on.

The Global Risks Report 2018 is published at a time of encouraging headline global growth. Any breathing space this offers to leaders should not be squandered: the urgency of facing up to systemic challenges has intensified over the past year amid proliferating signs of uncertainty, instability and fragility.

This year’s report covers more risks than ever, but focuses in particular on four key areas: environmental degradation, cybersecurity breaches, economic strains and geopolitical tensions. And in a new series called “Future Shocks” the report cautions against complacency and highlights the need to prepare for sudden and dramatic disruptions.

The 2018 report also presents the results of our latest Global Risks Perception Survey, in which nearly 1,000 experts and decision-makers assess the likelihood and impact of 30 global risks over a 10-year horizon. Over this medium-term period, environmental and cyber risks predominate. However, the survey also highlights elevated levels of concern about risk trajectories in 2018, particularly in relation to geopolitical tensions.

Report (PDF): http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GRR18_Report.pdf

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“15 Ways the World Will be Terrifying in 2050”

By mid-century, we’ll likely have self-driving cars, more widespread internet access, and semi-smart robots.

But despite our technological advances, humanity has failed to solve many of its problems. The world hasn’t weaned itself off fossil fuels or antibiotics, protected the rain forest, or reduced the stigma surrounding mental illness. We haven’t flood-proofed our cities or protected our energy grids from natural disasters.

With 2050 just a few decades away, major issues await the world. Science and technology need to start focusing on solutions to make the future better than the terrifying reality approaching.

The number of people living in cities will likely triple.
In 1950, just under 750 million people lived in urban areas. Today, that figure has ballooned to more than 4 billion— more than half the world’s entire population — and the upward trend is set to continue. By mid-century, about 6.3 billion people will live in cities.

Aside from overcrowding, the skyrocketing population will likely spur the faster spread of infectious diseases and viruses, from tuberculosis to the flu. Dwindling water supplies and inadequate sanitation will only compound the negative health affects.

Compared to rural areas, cities consume about three-quarters of the world’s energy and produce the same amount of global carbon emissions. Therefore, a rise in the urban population will also put pressure on energy demands and generate more pollution, potentially making the air toxic to breathe, similar to the situation in Beijing unfolding over the last decade.

According to the World Health Organization, outdoor air pollution is estimated to have caused 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide in 2012. This will only increase as urban populations rise and pollution worsens.

The air could be thick with pollution, worsening lung conditions and respiratory diseases.
By 2050, the number of deaths caused by air pollution — which includes tiny particles found in smoke and haze, ground-level ozone typically emitted by cars, and toxic components in household products and building materials — will soar, killing more than 6 million people every year, according to a recent report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Why? Because in addition to dirtier skies, warmer weather will speed up the chemical reactions that produce many pollutants.

One of those toxins is ground-level ozone, a chemical that irritates the delicate tissue lining the lungs and causes coughing, feelings of burning, wheezing, and shortness of breath when inhaled. Ozone often worsens respiratory conditions like asthma and emphysema.

In India, where the problem is especially bad, the OECD estimates that about 130 out of every 1 million people will die prematurely from exposure to ozone.

More than half of the world’s population may not have adequate access to water.
Today, 1.1 billion people lack access to water. And 2.5 billion people (36% of the world’s population) live in regions of the world experiencing water stress. Twenty percent of the world’s GDP is produced in these areas as well.

Already, water scarcity hounds 2.7 billion people — nearly 40% of the world’s population — for at least one month every year, either because they don’t have access to clean water or because they can’t afford it, Water Footprint Network says. And 1 billion people, about one-sixth of the world’s population, face daily shortages, according to the foundation.

By 2050, however, this number will likely increase. Nearly 2 billion people will live in countries, mostly in the Middle East and North Africa, with absolute water scarcity, according to the International Water Management Institute. And by 2050, MIT researchers say that 5 billion of the world’s projected 9.7 billion people could live in water-stressed areas.

Aside from a lack of drinking water, populations in these areas might not have the means to irrigate their fields (threatening food supply) or for other domestic, industrial, and environmental purposes.

Currently, one-third of the world’s rivers — groundwater for about 3 billion people — are going or gone, according to the World Preservation Foundation. With population growth and global warming, the situation will only worsen. The drying of lakes and rivers releases greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, into the air, potentially exacerbating climate change.

Because of the water cycle, the world will also face more droughts, potentially making wildfires at least twice as destructive by 2050.

The types of fish we eat could become extinct.
Right now, 87% of the world’s assessed fish stocks are classified as over-exploited or fully exploited.

If the world continues fishing at its current rate, all fish stocks could become extinct by 2050, according to a 2010 report from the environmental branch of the UN. To combat the problem, many organizations, including the UN and European Commission, have tried to impose catch limits on certain species.

We have no idea what kind of damage the loss of fish species could cause to ecosystems around the globe — or how the changes will affect humanity. About 3 billion people receive one-fifth of their protein consumption from fish, making it a more important source than beef. We even use a multitude of medicines made from marine species.

And then there’s the money. Between 10% and 12% of people around the world rely on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihood, contributing to about $129 billion in global exports, about half of which comes from developing countries. All in all, the oceans produce around $3 trillion worth of goods every year.

If we expect to stop the collapse, however, more than 20 million people employed in these industries need to leave and train for other work over the next 40 years.

Millions could be without food.
Every decade, a warmer planet will decrease the amount of food we’re able to produce around the globe by 2%. In case that doesn’t sound like a lot, it means that in the next 10 years, we’ll lose 4,440,000 metric tons of food. One tonne weighs a little over 2,200 pounds.

Here’s how the problem will progress as the world warms:

— First, crop pests and pathogens will spread to warmer, drier areas where they haven’t been a problem before. The problem will be especially acute across Africa and South Asia, which also happens to be where much of the world’s food is produced.

— Global yields of wheat, corn, and millet will drop — researchers estimate they’ll plummet nearly 10% by 2050. As the amount of food we’re producing drops, the demand will rise. A rapidly expanding population will add to the demand, pushing it up by about 14% by mid-century.

— In this high-demand scenario, the price of rice and corn will double.

— The lack of proper nutrition will affect children acutely, severely stunting development. Malnutrition is expected to “moderately” stunt the growth of an additional 3.6 million children worldwide and “severely” stunt the growth of another 3.9 million children across the globe, according to the WHO.

The rain forests could face total annihilation.
Each year, we lose a huge chunk of rain forest, the same place we get many of our life-saving drugs, to deforestation, most of which is caused by logging and farming.

At this rate, between a third and nearly half of the rain forest will vanish by 2050, according to a report from the International Journal of Climatology.

As the trees, animals, and habitat disappear, so too will the source of cancer-fighting drugs like Taxol, which was originally isolated from Cowtail Pine seeds.

Superbugs could kill 10 million people each year.
Right now, infections that no longer respond to the drugs we once used are killing 700,000 people a year. By 2050, that number is set to reach 10 million deaths each year.

The problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been exacerbated by the fact that doctors and pharmacists across the globe give them out freely and farmers worldwide use them liberally on their crops and add them to animal feed, even when animals aren’t sick.

Because of this liberal use, antibiotics have become ever present; almost anywhere, they can be found floating in the water and buried in the soil. Unless the demand for antibiotics drops or the regulations on using them are tightened, we are set to live in a world where millions of people die from infections that can no longer be treated.

Diseases will spread with ease.
A gradually warming climate will expand the range of pests carrying deadly disease. People who are affected will have little immunity from the disease.

The result? Diseases that are deadlier than ever.

— Malaria: By 2030, an additional 60,000 people will die of malaria, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the past few years, mosquitoes carrying the disease (which killed 630,000 people last year) have already begun creeping up mountains to recently warmed, higher-altitude elevations, where they spread malaria to areas that had never been exposed to the disease.

— Dengue and yellow fever: Mosquitoes, which thrive in warmer climates, also carry diseases like dengue and yellow fever, which collectively kill more than 50,000 people each year. As temperatures rise, more and more areas around the globe will become increasingly hospitable to the pests. By 2050, 4.6 billion people will be at risk of dengue, according to WHO.

— Cholera: Cholera thrives in warmer temperatures. The disease kills between 100,000 and 130,000 people worldwide each year, almost entirely in areas where there is a lack of clean water. At one site in Bangladesh, cholera risk spiked in the months after the water temperature there warmed 9 degrees Fahrenheit.

The number of people living with dementia will likely triple.
As people live longer, we’ll be confronted with more and more so-called diseases of aging. Particularly troubling will be the ones we don’t already know how to diagnose or treat, like dementia.

By 2050, the number of people around the world living with dementia is expected to triple, rising from 36 million people to a staggering 115 million people, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization.

More than half of those who currently suffer from dementia — whose symptoms can be severe enough to get in the way of daily life— live in low- and middle-income countries. By 2050, that number will likely rise to more than 70%.

The biggest obstacle to treating dementia in many low-income countries is early diagnosis. Programs to increase awareness of symptoms and provide medical attention are expensive; even in wealthy countries, only between one-fifth and half of all dementia cases are recognized in time for adequate treatment.

Hurricanes could become more frequent and more severe.
As bad as Hurricane Sandy was, it could be just a hint of the destruction to come. While our grandparents most likely lived through one storm of Sandy’s scale, our grandchildren can expect to see at least 20 during their lifetime.

While climate change is best known for lifting sea levels and raising temperatures, it will also make storms far more intense. As the Earth heats up, more water vapor — the fuel for storms — will enter the atmosphere.

This combination could make hurricanes up to 300% more powerful by 2100, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) modeling studies.

As oceans get warmer and northern sea ice begins to melt, sea levels will rise too, which will increase the frequency of floods across the globe.

Rising water levels could flood major cities across the globe.
Sea levels across the globe are set to rise by roughly a meter — a little over 3 feet — by 2100 if carbon emissions continue unchecked.

Without proper planning, coastal cities from New York City to Calcutta, India, will be devastated.

Rising waters will begin to take their toll before 2100, of course. If sea levels rise by just 1.5 feet (the level expected for many cities, including the New Jersey shore, by mid-century), many people will lose their homes. Cities will lose valuable assets.

A 2008 report from the OECD found that Calcutta will likely be the hardest-hit city in the world, with 14 million people and $2 trillion in assets exposed by 2070. New York City made the list, too, with 2.9 million people and $2.1 trillion in assets laid bare to storm surges.

The rising tide will be felt acutely in the US, where by 2050 most of the cities along the northeast coastline will likely see more than 30 days of flooding each year.

Large-scale blackouts could become commonplace.
Remember how Hurricane Sandy blacked out much of New York City? Those types of situations are about to get a whole lot more common.

Higher water levels, more powerful tropical storms, and increased energy use across the globe will lead to widespread power outages.

In the US, the effects will be worst in crowded, northeastern cities like New York and Philadelphia. By 2050, up to 50% more people there will likely be temporarily without power. From New Orleans to Connecticut, blackouts will increase dramatically.

If you want convenience, you’ll have to forsake privacy.
While private citizens have grown increasingly concerned about the use of drones and other technologies, data lies at the heart of the digital revolution. Continued growth will almost certainly require a greater level of transparency between people and devices — and that means less privacy.

“People who are thinking that you can control your own identity aren’t thinking about the problem right,” futurist John Smart told Business Insider.

Take the idea of digital twins, computer-based versions of our personalities that can make decisions and complete tasks in our stead. To use them effectively, privacy will have to take a back seat.

The Pew Research Internet Project surveyed 2,511 experts and internet builders last year. We broke out a few notable predictions:

“Big data equals big business. Those special interests will continue to block any effective public policy work to ensure security, liberty, and privacy online.” —executive at an internet top-level domain-name operator

“We have never had ubiquitous surveillance before, much less a form of ubiquitous surveillance that emerges primarily from voluntary (if market-obscured) choices. Predicting how it shakes out is just fantasy.” —John Wilbanks, chief commons officer for Sage Bionetworks

“Citizens will divide between those who prefer convenience and those who prefer privacy.” —Niels Ole Finnemann, director of Netlab

On the legal side, police can already create fake social-media accounts to catch criminals. Privacy experts are also voicing concerns about body cameras and other tools.

Cyberattacks could increase, causing tangible damage to the world.
The events surrounding the 2014 release of Sony’s movie “The Interview” made it undeniably clear that cyberattackers mean business. Even minor breaches, like that of the Lizard Squad against PlayStation on Christmas Day, have increased in frequency and strength.

By 2025, experts believe that “nations, rogue groups, and malicious individuals” will step up their hacking games, according to a report from the Pew Research Center and Elon University. Of the 1,642 experts surveyed, 61% predicted a major attack causing significant loss of life or property and costing tens of billions of dollars.

Today, countries or militaries that don’t typically attack in two dimensions have started to venture into hacking territory. For example, the Islamic State group (also known as ISIS or ISIL) recently launched its “cybercalliphate,” and Russia is rumored to support a state-sponsored hacker group.

These hacks could affect banks, businesses, and private data, but also do tangible damage to a world increasingly reliant on technology. An attack on a German steel mill in 2014 caused significant damage to its furnaces. The year before, the Stuxnet virus destroyed one-fifth of Iran’s nuclear centrifuges.

Oil could become prohibitively expensive.
With more people come more houses and more cars and therefore a greater demand on energy resources. According to a report from HSBC, if global energy use continues at its current rate, the world in 2050 will have:

— A 110% increase in oil demand, to more than 190 million barrels a day

— A doubling of total energy demand

— A doubling of carbon in the atmosphere, to more than 3.5 times the amount recommended to keep temperatures at a safe level

While the US shale boom diminished fear of ” peak oil” — the point at which the world runs out of oil — extracting the oil and natural gas the world still has could become even more expensive. OPEC has already predicted oil prices could explode to $200 a barrel.

Pursuing other energy sources requires careful consideration, though. Coal, for example, is one of the world’s dirtiest energy sources. At the current rate of use, we have only another 176 years’ worth of with it, according to HSBC. Therefore, non-fossil fuels have to play a greater role.

To start, renewable energy could provide up to 80% of the US’ needs.

[ Christina Sterbenz and Erin Brodwin ]

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“Top 10 Movies Where the World Actually Ends”

#10: “Interstellar”
#9: “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World”
#8: “Miracle Mile”
#7: “These Final Hours”
#6: “The Day After”
#5: “This is the End”
#4: “On the Beach”
#3: “Last Night”
#2: “Melancholia”
#1: “Dr. Stranglelove”

Honorable Mentions:
– “Knowing”
– “Titan A.E.”
– “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”
– “The Cabin in the Woods”

Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38D90SWwLcU

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“11 Christian Movies About the End Times”

Christian writers and filmmakers have created various interpretations of the end-times, and although Christians should not depend on a movie as Gospel truth, films do inspire us to think, study, and investigate the scriptures for ourselves.

– “The Mark and The Mark 2”
– “Jerusalem Countdown”
– “Rumors of Wars”
– “Divination”
– “Apocalypse and Sequels”
– “Last Days: Hype or Hope?”
– “Mark of the Beast”

Rapture Movies:
– “Left Behind and Left Behind 2: Tribulation Force”
– “In the Blink of an Eye”
– “Revelation Road and Revelation Road 2”
– “Vanished”
– “The Rapture: The Beginning of the End”
– “A Thief in the Night”

Reviews: https://insider.pureflix.com/movies/11-christian-movies-about-the-end-times

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“Left Behind II Tribulation Force” (Movie)

In this captivating sequel, journalist Buck Williams and a group of survivors, known as the TRIBULATION FORCE, know the truth about the new leader of the new Global Community, Nicholae Carpathia. He has not come to save the world, and he is most certainly not the Messiah, he is the Antichrist. But who will believe them as the world rushes toward the Apocalypse.

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“What is the End Times Tribulation?”

What is the End Times Tribulation? If you’re looking for a Tribulation definition and explanation of these seven years of tribulation, watch this Tribulation video. In it, Pastor Nelson with Bible Munch uses the Bible to explain what happens during Daniel’s 70th week and the Great Tribulation time within it, which all follows after many signs of the end times and the Pre Tribulation rapture.

[ Got Questions ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4j40k1ndjI

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“Questions about the End Times”

[ Got Questions ]

https://www.gotquestions.org/questions_end-times.html

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“Israel: The Prophetic Connection”
TV Show hosted by Dr. John Tweedie

“The Temple Will Be Rebuilt”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ0R17zvVuE
“Jerusalem: A Cup of Trembling”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6XyQtp5MGA
“Wars, Famines and Pestilences”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdAragP0sOs
“The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G81L6YvTys
“Revelation Revealed: A Message from Heaven to Earth”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBZmPcPxm20
“Four Horseman of the Apocalypse”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zeBPm4m6Jw
“Revelation Revealed: The Sealed and the Saved”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3lSp57N-pM
“The Seven Bowl Judgments”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHcLKCySpcM
“The Time of the End”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8c6tgJdUG0
“A Final Warning – Revelation Revealed”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odzk18oYv3w
“Daniel – The One Who Saw ‘The End of Days’”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4edmyrYtTk

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“The Seven Years of Tribulations”

Tribulation period is usually seen as 2 halves – first half where Israel enjoys peace and second half of terror of the world. Hear what Dr. Mark Hitchcock has to say on this much investigated topic about the end times.

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Lo6xXf5RM

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“The Book of Revelation Explained in Under 5 Minutes”

Have you ever wondered what the book of Revelation is all about?

INTRODUCTION: And today we are talking about the book of Revelation, a book that has several different interpretations and one that many Christians avoid reading and some are even afraid to read it. But today I want to take you through a 7-fold chronological journey through the book of Revelation.

1. Background – Rev. 1:1
a. Name – The name of the book comes from the first verse, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” which lets us know that this book is all about the unveiling or uncovering of the person, plan and power of Jesus Christ.
b. Written in 95 A.D. by the Apostle John who also wrote the gospel of John and the letters 1, 2, and 3 John

2. Letters to Churches – Rev. 2-3
a. Letters from Jesus to 7 churches in Asia minor and each church
b. Each letter exposes some aspect of the churches in that day and the modern day churches
c. These chapters represent the church age in which we currently live

3. Tribulation – Chapters 6-19 – The next thing that will happen is the church will be raptured and the tribulation will begin.
a. This represents a 7-year period of time after the church has been raptured where God allows those who are left behind one final opportunity accept Him as Savior.
b. But the catch is that , because there is no church wickedness and evil are rampant throughout this section making it very difficult for people to choose Jesus.
c. The final 3 ½ years of this period are what’s called the Great Tribulation. And man it’s gonna get bad (no drinking water, painful sores, sun will get so hot it will scorch the skin of men.”

4. The Battle – 19
a. After these things there is the battle of Armageddon. It won’t be much of a battle because Satan and his armies will be severely destroyed by Jesus.
b. Satan will be bound for 1000 years

5. 1000 year reign – Rev. 20:6 – This is the actual Second Coming of Jesus Christ. All Christians from all time will reign physically on earth with Jesus. Satan will be bound during this time so there will no demonic influence for 1000 years.

6. Judgments – Rev. 20:11-15 – Satan & every unbeliever who has ever lived will then stand before God and be judged for their sins and then cast into the Lake of Fire for eternal separation from God.

7. New Heaven & New Earth – Rev. 21:1 –
a. Interestingly enough there are only 4 chapters in the bible where there is a perfect environment (Gen. 1-2 & Rev. 21-22).
b. And so what we see here is the magnificent story of God coming full circle and God reestablishing the perfect environment that He had intended.
c. The Bible says that the earth, which is decaying every day, is not fit for eternity so God will destroy this current earth and create a new heaven and a new earth where we will dwell with Him throughout all eternity.

I hope this short video if nothing more will encourage you to study this book and see the awesome plan God has the future and most importantly that this book will give us as Christians the comfort in knowing that no matter how crazy things appear in this world that God was, is and always will be in complete control.

[ Allen Parr ]

Entire “End Times” Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxgpT2JdrcE&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTAVEyK-p4fG9Gb1nK3sMoh9

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“Revelation’s “End of the World” Timeline Explained”

What outline does the Bible give about the end of the world? People have set dates that have come and gone, but the Bible gives a general timeline of specific events that will happen before Jesus returns. How long is the tribulation? Can we escape the tribulation? When will Jesus Christ return? Is there a rapture, and if so, when does it happen?

Tomorrow’s World gives Biblical insights to the headlines and what’s happening in our world. TW explains the Bible from a perspective reflecting the Original Christianity of the Bible.

Illustration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb3rFly2fMU

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“Overview: Revelation”

Watch our overview video on the book of Revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Revelation, John’s visions reveal that Jesus has overcome evil by his death and resurrection, and will return one day as the true king of the world.

[ The Bible Project ]

Chapters 1-11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nvVVcYD-0w
Chapters 12-22: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpnIrbq2bKo

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“Are We Currently Living in the Tribulation?”

Are we currently living in the Tribulation? Join Nathan Jones of Lamb & Lion Ministries as he describes the following 12 conditions which define the Tribulation.

[ Nathan Jones – “Christ in Prophecy” ministries ]

Illustration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqdjrGecHaI

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“Are We Living in the Last Days? 5 Biblical Proofs”

Are we living in the last days? Is this the signs of the end times? With all that is going on in our world, are these signs that the end of the world is near? What does the Bible teach about signs of the end times?

[ Allen Parr ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng-tGa72z2s

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“The Nature and Purpose of the Tribulation”

Is the world on the threshold of the Tribulation? Find out with Dr. David Reagan and Nathan Jones on the show Christ in Prophecy.

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnDiBo5YtTI

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“Q&A-39 – The Seven Year Tribulation”

2:12 – Who goes through the seven year Tribulation and why?
a) Jeremiah 30:7
b) Jeremiah 31:3, 8-10
c) Daniel 7:23
d) Luke 21:35
e) Revelation 13:7
f) Daniel 7

12:30 – Who Can be saved during the Tribulation and how?
a) Joel 2:32
b) Romans 10:13
c) Joel 2:2, 4, 10-12
d) 2 Thessalonians 2:10
e) Revelation 14:9-11
f) Revelation 20:4

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_pnbP4gX7U

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“After the Rapture – Left Behind!!!”

If you are watching this video and millions of people around the world have just disappeared, you need to know the truth. What you are going to see and hear in the next few minutes will change your life forever!

For 2000 years the Bible has been proclaiming to the world that Jesus would be coming back. Jesus stated in John 14:1, “I will come again.”

Because Jesus has returned, millions of people who have put their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior, accepting His free gift of salvation, have disappeared in an event called the Rapture.

You might be thinking that there was something mysterious in the sudden disappearance of millions of people, but the Bible has already explained this so-called mystery. Jesus said that when He came again, He would come for those who are saved. He said, “I will receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-4). The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

The Rapture happened to those of us who accepted Jesus as Savior, both those alive and those who had died since Jesus was resurrected. Both groups — living and resurrected believers — were caught up to be with Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

We must face the facts and realize that all of us have friends and family members that are going to miss the rapture. In “After the Rapture” we hope to give a step by step explanation of what has happened, why it happened, what to expect next, what they must do and what they must not do!

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWavGDD6r7U

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“Day of the Lord”

Does God care about all of the evil humans perpetrate in our world, and if so, what is He doing about it? In this video, we trace the different ways that God confronts human evil and the even deeper spiritual evil that underlies it. Ultimately, we see how Jesus fulfills this storyline and overcomes evil by allowing it to defeat him.

[ The Bible Project ]

Illustration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEBc2gSSW04

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“The Day of the Lord”

Watch Mark Dever speak on 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11 at our 2105 National Conference in Orlando, Florida.

[ Mark Dever ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAgT8GChfbI

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“America’s Condition in the Last Days Before the Great Tribulation”

[ Jack Hibbs interviews David Reagan ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8vd_JQ6B3A

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“Europe: Ready for the Antichrist – Amir Tsarfati”

For more Olive Tree Ministries Resources click here: http://www.olivetreeviews.org. Jan plays Amir Tsarfati’s compelling conference message, “Europe: Ready for the Antichrist.” Amir makes the case for Europe being the home of the Beast of Revelation as Europe has paved the way for decades. Amir speaks at this year’s conference September 21, 2019.

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-LwkhVYxo&modestbranding=1

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“Jan Markell’s ‘Understanding the Times’ Conference (2018)”

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfFTKsEHk5U&list=PLehdkBiH6W1iTL4Zrc4l1EJTYxf0QOk8M

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“Forum on the Tribulation”

Why would a God of love allow for the carnage of the Tribulation? Find out from a forum of Bible prophecy experts on the show Christ in Prophecy.

[ Christ in Prophecy Ministries ]

Q&A Forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyqeMF6SdYE

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“The Judgments of the Tribulation”

The book of Revelation unfolds a series of three sets of seven
judgments. These include the seven seal judgments, the seven
trumpet judgments, and the seven bowl judgments. We began
looking at the seal judgments in the last session. In this session,
we continue with both the seal and trumpet judgments God
will one day unleash upon the earth.

Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6-1S4YCBcU

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“The Antichrist In The Tribulation”

Christ in Prophecy with Dr. David Reagan

[ Dr. David Reagan ]

Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3GYjZDTgWk

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“Psalm 83 The Missing Prophecy Revealed”

From 412 Church

[ Bill Salus ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4asqv3nslvw

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“Salus on Psalm 83”

Does Psalm 83 foretell the next Middle East war? Find out with guest Bill Salus on the show Christ in Prophecy.

[ Christ in Prophecy ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC-pjcCsoYI

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“Ice and Salus on Psalm 83”

Will there be a Psalm 83 end times war between Israel and her neighbors? Find out with guests Dr. Tommy Ice and Bill Salus on television’s “Christ in Prophecy.”

[ Christ in Prophecy ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7xzwbLu5S8

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“Jack Hibbs interviews Bill Salus regarding Psalm 83”

Psalm 83 says “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation…” Is this simply Israel’s ancient enemy talking? Or does it predict a future Middle East war? Tune in this week to Pastor Jack and Bill Salus.

[ Real Life with Jack Hibbs ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Klsb6fxpc
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6kedmhdtyw

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“The Now Prophecies”

Do you believe the Lord still works through dreams and visions? Bill Salus does. A few months ago Bill awoke in the middle of the night after hearing these words in a dream—The Now Prophecies. Bill was convinced it was a message straight from God. As the thought of going back to sleep crossed his mind, his cell phone rang. It was a call from somewhere in Africa and they didn’t speak a word of English! Wide awake now, Bill took it as a sign and he began writing like he never had before—in complete seclusion for 4 straight months! As things come to a head in the Middle East, the nations of the world seem poised once again for battle. Israel, Russia, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the USA . . . are we about to see World War 3? Is this the season? Are Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38, Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49 about to be fulfilled in rapid fire succession? These are most certainly the NOW Prophecies.

[ “Prophecy Watchers” interview with Bill Salus ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MltkuN4kdw

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“The Next Prophecies”

I’ve never seen Bill Salus quite so passionate about soon-to-come prophetic events. In Bill’s own words, spoken with a sense of real urgency, he says, “Bad things are coming.” For the last few years, Bill has stirred up excitement in the prophetic community with his ground breaking work on Ezekiel 38, Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49, passages that describe a series of future wars and judgments on Russia, Turkey, Syria and Iran. Bill breaks from long-held prophetic traditions with some new, somewhat controversial ideas on the the Seals of Revelation and the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, laying out a biblical timeline that should give all of us pause to think. Gary and Bill highlight what Bill calls, The Next Prophecies. What happens next? Tune in to hear just how close we could be to walking on streets of gold! We are the last generation!

[ “Prophecy Watchers” interview with Bill Salus ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTBFXmzLuz8

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“The Prophetic Timeline”

Strange events are in the air in Iran, Israel and the USA. The Obama administration is attempting to fast track an Iranian nuclear agreement through Congress, opening wide Pandora’s Nuclear Box for a country that supports terrorism worldwide, and names the US and Israel as their biggest enemies—countries they’d prefer be annihilated! What’s wrong with this picture? Enter Bill Salus, author of Nuclear Showdown in Iran: The Ancient Prophecy of Elam. Bill has a prophetic angle on their future and he’ll bring you up to speed on this brewing battle in the Middle East—and God’s clear answer from the pages of the Bible!

[ Prophecy Watch” – Interview with Bill Salus ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0TCFxEyB48
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIu5rgoQsGU

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“Exploring Ezekiel 38”

Bill Salus burst on the prophetic scene a few years ago with a focus on a handful of the Bible’s ancient, Old Testament prophecies. From his interpretation of the upcoming Psalm 83 War, to the Iranian, “Nuclear Boomerang” prophecies of Jeremiah 49, and then the “Doom of Damascus” prophecies in Isaiah 17 . . . Bill has developed quite a faithful following. And for good reason. He has a heart for the Gospel and the lost. Now, we may be standing on the verge of another area of Bill’s intense focus, the coming Russian/Iranian attack on Israel . . . the Battle of Gog and Magog. Only time will tell if we are there, but you will definitely want to hear what Gary and Bill have to say about the future! Inquiring minds want to know.

[ “Prophecy Watchers” – Interview with Bill Salus ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPwMaD1kK8o

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“What are the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls in the Book of Revelation?”

The seven seals (Revelation 6:1–17; 8:1–5), seven trumpets (Revelation 8:6–9:21; 11:15–19), and seven bowls/vials (Revelation 16:1–21) are three series of end-times judgments from God. The judgments get increasingly worse and more devastating as the end times progress. The seven seals, trumpets, and bowls are connected to one another. The seventh seal introduces the seven trumpets (Revelation 8:1–5), and the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls (Revelation 11:15–19; 15:1–8).

The seven seals include the appearance of the Antichrist (Revelation 6:1–2), great warfare (Revelation 6:3–4), famine (Revelation 6:5–6), plague (Revelation 6:7–8), the martyrdom of believers in Christ (Revelation 6:9–11), a devastating earthquake causing terrible devastation, and astronomical upheaval (Revelation 6:12–14). Those who survive the six seals are right to cry out, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:16–17).

The seventh seal introduces the seven trumpet judgments. The trumpets include hail and fire that destroy much of the plant life in the world (Revelation 8:7), the death of much of the world’s aquatic life (Revelation 8:8–9; 8:10–11), the darkening of the sun and moon (Revelation 8:12), a plague of “demonic locusts” that torture the unsaved (Revelation 9:1–11), and the march of a demonic army that kills a third of humanity (Revelation 9:12–21).

The seventh trumpet calls forth seven angels who carry the seven bowls of God’s wrath (Revelation 11:15–19; 15:1–8). The bowl judgments include painful sores afflicting humanity (Revelation 16:2), the death of every living thing in the sea (Revelation 16:3), the turning of rivers to blood (Revelation 16:4–7), an intensifying of the sun’s heat (Revelation 16:8–9), great darkness and an intensification of the sores from the first bowl (Revelation 16:10–11), the advance the Antichrist’s armies at Armageddon (Revelation 16:12–14), and a devastating earthquake followed by giant hailstones (Revelation 16:15–21).

Together, the seals, trumpets, and bowls of the end times comprise “the great day of [God’s] wrath” (Revelation 6:17) and serve to judge the Antichrist’s kingdom of wickedness. Revelation 16:5–7 declares of God, “You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve. . . . Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”

[ Got Questions ]

https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-seals-trumpets.html

———–

Detailed Answers:

“What are the Seven Seals of Revelation?”:
https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-seals-Revelation.html

“What are the Seven Trumpets of Revelation?”:
https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-trumpets-Revelation.html

“What are the Seven Bowls/Vials of Revelation?”:
https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-bowls-Revelation.html

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“The Seals of Revelation”

In the last 20 years, many Christians have moved away from solid dispensational Bible teaching. They have adopted unique new ways of interpreting several key Bible prophecies, specifically the ones that deal with the timing of the Rapture of the Church and the Tribulation Period. Many people are under the false assumption that the first three and a half years of the Tribulation are a time of peace and tranquility. Some are teaching that those first three and half years, when over 2 BILLION people die, represents the wrath of man, or even worse, the wrath of Satan! A new wave of Bible teachers are espousing the “pre-wrath” theory and the “6th-seal rapture theory,” believing God is going to put us through a time of persecution before we are raptured. Still others believe that the seals of Revelation have already been opened and we are already in the Tribulation! Passionate pastor, Billy Crone, was reduced to tears as he examined God’s wrath on an unbelieving world during the Tribulation period. Gary and Billy take a fresh look at the rapture of the Church and the Seals of Revelation, opening our eyes to the harsh reality of what lies ahead for our world. Get in the Ark before it’s too late!

[ “Prophecy Watchers” interview with Billy Crone ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CycK_5XCulg
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr0uZ3dky5Y

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“Have Any Aspects of End Times Prophecy Been Fulfilled?”

Answer: Revelation 4:1 introduces a section of Scripture that details “things which must be hereafter.” What follows are prophecies of the “end times.” We have not yet reached the tribulation, the revelation of the Antichrist, or other “end-time” events. What we do see is a “preparation” for those events.

Jesus said that the last days would be preceded by several things: many false Christs would come, deceiving many; we would “hear of wars and rumors of wars”; and there would be an increase in “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:5-8). Today’s news is full of false religions, warfare, and natural disasters. We know that events of the tribulation period will include all that Jesus predicted (Revelation 6:1-8); current events seem to be a build-up for greater trouble ahead.

Paul warned that the last days would bring a marked increase in false teaching. “In later times, some will abandon the faith, and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). The last days are described as “perilous times” because of the increasingly evil character of man and because of people who actively “oppose the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-9; also see 2 Thessalonians 2:3). The list of things people will be in the last days—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, having a form of godliness but denying its power—(2 Timothy 3:1-2) seems to fit our modern age exactly.

Can there be any doubt that the prophecies concerning apostasy are being fulfilled? Our 21st-century world has embraced moral relativism, a philosophy which is tainting even the church. For example, many denominations are having a hard time defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, and many religious leaders today are openly supporting homosexuality. The Bible has become subordinate to the modern church’s quest for a more appealing “truth.” These are indeed “perilous times” spiritually.

The formation of the European Union—and the fact that we have a reunified Germany—is very interesting in light of biblical prophecy. The “ten toes” of Daniel 2:42 and the ten-horned beasts of Daniel 7:20 and Revelation 13:1 are references to a “revived” Roman Empire which will hold power before Christ returns. Although the precise political structure has yet to be formed, the pieces can be seen as falling into place.

In 1948, Israel was recognized as a sovereign state, and this, too, has ramifications for the student of Scripture. God promised Abram that his posterity would have Canaan as “an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8), and Ezekiel prophesied a physical and spiritual resuscitation of Israel (Ezekiel 37). Having Israel as a nation in its own land is important in light of end-time prophecy, because of Israel’s prominence in eschatology (Daniel 10:14; 11:41; Revelation 11:8).

While there is no biblical proof that the things mentioned above are prophecy fulfilled, we can see how many of these events are similar to what the Bible describes. In any case, we are to be watching for prophecy fulfilled because Jesus told us that the day of the Lord—His return for His own—would come like a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10), unexpected and unannounced. “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

[ Got Questions ]

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“The Exponential Curve: Is it a sign that Jesus is returning soon?”

Have you noticed how almost everything in life seems to be accelerating? Knowledge has exploded. We are traveling faster and farther than ever before. Instant, worldwide communication has become common place. And the power at our disposal is mind boggling.

A Sign of the Times
The Bible teaches that this acceleration of life which we are experiencing will be a sign of the end times — a sign that will signal the soon return of the Lord.

Consider Daniel 12:4. In this verse the Lord tells Daniel that one of the signs of the end times will be an acceleration of travel and knowledge. Here’s how the verse reads in the Living Bible paraphrase: “Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret… Seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times when travel and education shall be vastly increased.”

The same concept of end time acceleration is found in the New Testament. Jesus spoke about it when He talked with His disciples about the signs of the end times that would herald His return (Matthew 24:5ff). He mentioned a great variety of signs — spiritual, natural, societal and world political — and then He said these signs would be like “birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8).

Any mother knows that as the birth of a baby approaches, the birth pangs increase two ways. They increase in frequency and intensity. Thus, Jesus was saying that the closer we get to the time of His return, the more frequent and intense the signs will become. There will be more earthquakes and more intense ones. Likewise things like famine, pestilence and war will increase in frequency and intensity. [more…]

[ Dr. David Reagan ]

Article: https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-exponential-curve/

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“False Christs in the End Times”

So many false christs have arrived in these end times! Learn how to discern false teachers with Dr. David Reagan and Don Perkins on the show Christ in Prophecy.

[ Christ in Prophecy Ministries ]

Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF8XO5OO5EU

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“Everything About The End Times (With Don Stewart and Greg Laurie)”

Why should we believe in the last days? “Because of many predictions and signs that we’re seeing fulfilled today,” says Don Stewart. God is orchestrating events for His coming return. Believing in Jesus Christ today calls for an urgent plea before it’s too late.

Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HmGdDjgR7s

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“25 Signs We Are Near the Last Days” with Don Stewart”

Don Stewart brings a message of hope as he looks at “25 Signs We Near the Last Days.”

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NutkCjDcMT4

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“The Great Tribulation”

It is significant that the 20th century – which began with such a tremendous aura of promise and hope, when men really thought that they were approaching the golden age of earth and that we had come at last to the place when war could be eliminated and peace could be established throughout the earth—that this same 20th century has proved to be the most violent century that man has ever experienced. That’s remarkable, isn’t it? In our day, just recently, we have been appalled at some of the violence that is breaking out in American cities that had never before known this kind of widespread social unrest and violence. We are wondering what is happening to our nation. Some of you may have been associated with times of riots and disturbances in some of our cities recently and you know the terror that is present—the fear, hate and bigotry that is widespread and expressed everywhere. [more…]

[ Ray Steadman ]

https://www.raystedman.org/thematic-studies/prophecy/the-great-tribulation

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“Tribulation-Thlipsis (Greek Word Study)”

[ Precept Austin ]

https://www.preceptaustin.org/tribulation-thlipsis_greek_word_study

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“The Second Coming of Christ”

We believe in the second coming of Christ. His return from heaven will be personal, visible and glorious, a blessed hope for which we should constantly watch and pray.1

Before He establishes His kingdom on earth, Jesus will come for His Church, an event commonly referred to as the “Rapture.” At that time the dead in Christ will be raised and living Christians will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever.2 In this resurrection, those who have died in Christ will have their redeemed souls and spirits united with a body similar to Christ’s glorified body. Christians living at the time of this event will not die, but will be changed to be like Christ.3 This expectation is a motivation for holy living, as well as a source of comfort.4 No man knows the day or the hour when this will take place.5

After the Rapture of the Church, Christians will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ. He will reward them on the basis of the works they have accomplished.6 This is not a judgment to determine their salvation but a reward for labor on Christ’s behalf.7 The Rapture will also inaugurate a period that the Bible characterizes as the “great day of His wrath,” “the great tribulation” and the “time of Jacob’s trouble.”8 This time of unprecedented difficulty will affect Israel and all nations. Its purpose will be to prepare Israel for her Messiah.9

At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return with the hosts of heaven as well as the Church to establish the Messianic Kingdom on earth.10 His Kingdom will last for a thousand years.11 At this Second Coming, the Antichrist will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Satan will be bound for a thousand years. 12 The nations and their representatives will be judged.13 Israel will be restored to her land, never more to be removed.14 Christ will reign with firmness and equity.15 His kingdom will be marked by material and spiritual blessing, since the curse upon the earth will be removed.16

The Messianic kingdom will close with apostasy and rebellion.17 God will crush this uprising in the last battle of the ages and Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire.18 All those who rejected the Word of God will be resurrected.19 They will be judged by Christ and cast into the lake of fire, the place where they will suffer final and everlasting punishment.20

After this judgment there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is the norm.21 There will be a new Jerusalem and the everlasting presence of God among all the redeemed.22

1 Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7

2 1 Corinthians 15:51–54; 1 Thessalonians 4:14

3 1 John 3:2

4 1 John 2:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:18

5 Matt. 24:36; John 6:39

6 Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:10

7 1 Corinthians 3:9–15

8 Revelation 6:17; 7:14; Jeremiah 30:7

9 Zechariah 12:2, 3; 14:1–3

10 Revelation 19:7–9, 14; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 19:15, 16

11 Revelation 20:2, 4–6

12 Revelation 19:20; 20:1–3

13 Joel 3; Matthew 25

14 Amos 9:15; Ezekiel 34:28

15 Psalm 2:9; Isaiah 11:4

16 Romans 8:19-21

17 Revelation 20:7–9

18 Revelation 20:10

19 Revelation 20:11–13

20 Revelation 20:14, 15; Mark 9:48

21 2 Peter 3:13

22 Revelation 21:2, 3; 2:3–5

[ Moody Bible Institute ]

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“The Four Purposes for the Tribulation”

The signs of the times indicate that we are on the threshold of the Tribulation — a time of unparalleled carnage that will befall the earth. The earth will plunge into a period of time that the Bible describes will be the most horrific period in all of human history.

What is the Tribulation, and what are its purposes?

For the answers to these questions and many others concerning the Tribulation, Dr. David Reagan and Nathan E. Jones address these important end times questions. The full discussion can be found on a special television episode of Christ in Prophecy.

The Four Purposes of the Tribulation
Dr. Reagan: One of the names the Bible gives for the coming worst time period in all of human history is the Tribulation.

Nathan Jones: When it comes to the Tribulation, we have to remember that we’re not talking about the daily sufferings that people go through. Surely, many Christians around the world are suffering immensely. Christians are being persecuted by ISIS, or illegally shut out of public forums, or being treated as second class citizens. Even the daily traumas that we go through in life, the sufferings we endure because of man, Satan, or that we even put upon ourselves due to our sin nature, are not the Tribulation.

No, when the Bible talks about our daily, earthly sufferings, think of tribulation as a lowercase “t”. Rather, when Bible prophecy talks about the Tribulation, think of it as the all uppercase, capped “THE TRIBULATION.” We’re talking about a judgment level equal to the Flood. The Tribulation — capital “T” — is a time period when God will judge the world because of its sins. That time remains future. God will most certainly judge the world for its sins, just as He did during the Flood.

#God will judge the world for its sins during the #Tribulation. CLICK TO TWEET
Dr. Reagan: Isn’t there a special purpose for the Tribulation that relates to the Jewish people?

Nathan Jones: Oh, definitely. There are actually four different, main purposes for the Tribulation.

The first purpose for the Tribulation, as mentioned, concerns the wrath of God. God’s anger can be compared to a cup that over time has been filling up, but is about to overflow. God’s anger has reached the lip of the cup. God’s very nature is patience, but His wrath will eventually pour out when His anger has finally reach its limit. God’s anger will finally consume the world in what the Bible calls the Day of the Lord. So, the first purpose involves the punishment for the world’s sin.

The second purpose for the Tribulation concerns bringing a remnant of the Jewish people back to know God and His Son, Jesus, as their Messiah. By the end of the Tribulation, the Bible reveals that two-breath
of the Jews will be killed tragically in a second holocaust. But, when Jesus returns, those remaining Jews will look up at the heavens, and they will weep and wail, and they will realize that Jesus is the Messiah. Dangling at the end of Antichrist’s rope, they will give their lives to Jesus as their Messiah.

The third purpose for the Tribulation involves the Gentiles, for they too will come to know the Lord as their Savior. Revelation 6 talks about martyrs from every tribe, tongue, nation and people standing before the throne of God and worshiping Him. So, we know that many Gentiles will come to know the Lord due to the trials of Tribulation as well, though most will reject Christ, unfortunately.

The fourth reason for the Tribulation, I think, is also the paramount reason for the Tribulation — Jesus returns. I am talking about Christ’s Second Coming. Jesus finally comes back to earth. When Jesus returns, He defeats Satan and the Antichrist, and He sets up His Millennial Kingdom for a thousand years.

So, those would be the four main reasons why God will plunge the world into the Tribulation.

Dr. Reagan: I agree about those four purposes. One of the reasons I mentioned the Jewish people is because in Daniel 9. Daniel was told by God’s angel that there would be a period of 490 years, called the 70 weeks of years, in which God will deal with the godlessness of the Jewish people. God will attempt to accomplish some very specific purposes, and one of His most important objectives involves the salvation of a great remnant of the Jewish people.

For the Jews, the prophetic time-clock stopped ticking when Jesus died on the cross, for the Jewish people had refused to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Some 483 prophetic years had passed, according to Daniel’s prophecy, when the Messiah was “cut off.” Seven prophetic years as they relate to the Jews remain. The last seven years, also called Daniel’s Seventieth Week, have been put off until after the Church Age. Think of it as God calling a time out in a football game. The last seven prophetic years are waiting to be completed. These seven years are in reality the Tribulation.

So, there is going to be a special focus upon the Jewish people during the Tribulation. Horrifically, half the people on the planet, according to the book of Revelation, are going to die during that time, and that number does not just involve the Jewish people.

A Measure of Grace
Dr. Reagan: I want to emphasize that even when God pours out His wrath, His fundamental purpose is to bring people to repentance so that they might be saved. What a God of grace He is!

Nathan Jones: For some people, they really have to be forced to their knees. Life has to be as hard as it can be before they finally surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. That is what the world will be like during the Tribulation. The world right now is shaking its fist at God. Even now, we are seeing in the United States a great spirit of rebellion, or the great spirit of the Antichrist, as the Bible calls it.

The hard-hearted and deceived people of this world will need to first witness the Rapture of the Church, as the Christians are taken suddenly off the planet by Jesus Christ. Then they will enter into a time period that leads into the Tribulation. Daniel 9:27 reveals to us that the Tribulation begins when a one-world ruler ascends to global power, and he makes a peace covenant with Israel. Daniel tells us that covenant starts the prophetic countdown of Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

Like we said, God has set aside an extra seven years that are particularly meant for the Jewish people, but will become a blessing to the Gentiles as well, so that multitudes will come out of the Tribulation and into salvation. Daniel’s Seventieth Week prophecy is primarily prophesied for the Jewish people to bring a remnant to know Jesus as Messiah, but the whole world will witness the grace of God’s salvation as well, even if they have to endure the hardest of times in order to make a decision.

[ Dr. David Reagan and Nathan Jones – “Christ In Prophecy” ministry ]

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“The Coming of the Lord”

[ Paul Washer ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlZd6ve3W2A

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“Revelation: The Next Dimension”

Pastor Greg Laurie’s first sermon from his series “Revelation: The Next Dimension.”
[ Greg Laurie ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oJsrYnqpWA

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“When All Hell Breaks Loose”

Pastor Greg Laurie’s teaches a message from Revelation 9 in his “Revelation: The Next Dimension”

[ Greg Laurie ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RMGJsjREf8

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“Apocalypse Now!”

Pastor Greg Laurie’s teaches a message from Revelation 9 in his “Revelation: The Next Dimension”

[ Greg Laurie ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxTDKYL0ecs

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“The Rapture and the Day of the Lord”

Form John MacArthur’s sermon series: “What Happens to Christians Who Die?” that focuses on 1 Thessalonians 4-5.

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUDa-aO_qd8
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLXkpZjcNZQ
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAnk3m5xXQc
Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR_ostjI2YA
Part 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPPAkX7JT3c
Part 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po0h1mh95yg
Part 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efEAto4vVUs

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“The Great Tribulation”

Watch this new message from Jeff Durbin as he prepares to talk about the Great Tribulation. There has always been a great curiosity about the Great Tribulation and the end of the world. What does the Bible actually teach on the subject? You may be surprised.

[ Jeff Durbin ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brOMZgRLUlk

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“Decrypting the Book of Revelation”

Did you know there’s a blessing involved in reading and heeding the Book of Revelation? What is Revelation all about? Rabbi Schneider opens this series on Decrypting the Book of Revelation, helping us to understand and simplify what seems difficult. Watch and learn how to understand the prophecies and symbolism in the last book of the Bible. Learn about the signs of the End Times: Terrorism, Fragile Economies, War, Morality Decline… Stay with this series from Discovering the Jewish Jesus and learn how not to be afraid or confused by the coming End Times.

[ Rabbi Schneider ]

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtUWHFWiEzg&list=PLJWIjgjmE9RmxTtk1Ps_19YiFi9s-0het

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“The Tribulation And Christ’s Return”

CFC India Conference – May 2007 – Bangalore, India

[ Zac Poonen – Christian Fellowship Church ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxnX8DSYgLY

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“The Last Days”

[ Zac Poonen – Christian Fellowship Church ]

– The Spirit Of Prophecy For The Last Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EB-Y6Nrax4
– How God Will End Everything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys88IckmpeE
– The Great Tribulation And The Church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CAe56IS-RA
– Five Warnings The Lord Gives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK3Pc2ZTslM
– Great Deception: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxVB_dgSIrs
– Being Ready For Christs Coming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN_bKGW8r-0
– Don’t Get Drunk With Worldiness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvWGDbDbgOM
– Like The Days Of Noah And Lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0rSYHptq8M
– Hypocritical Christians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdm59WFM3FI
– Standing For God In The Last Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui3npEzk-dc
– Deception in the Last Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdmeOrKlWcs
– Faith That Overcomes Fear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQC4ICWzJAU
– Jerusalem in Last Days Prophecy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VABc9UtNHDk
– Enduring In Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d1QDTHEwfY
– A Pure Virgin For Christ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k502YANPzgg

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“The Great Tribulation & End of the Age”

Watch this new sermon from Pastor Jeff Durbin on the Great Tribulation. This is from our series in the Gospel According to Matthew. This is an often misunderstood section of Scripture that has been used in the creation of many aberrant religious groups and has been used as a source of criticism from many unbelievers and higher-critical scholars. When did Jesus say He was going to return in judgment? Where did He say this was going to take place? Why was He warning them of this?

Is this passage about the “end of the world” or the end of the Old Covenant “age”? As Christians, we all believe that Jesus is returning for the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). However, is this particular passage about that truth or is this about a local judgement upon His generation?

Watch this message in which Pastor Jeff starts the conversation about what the “end of the age” is all about.

[ Jeff Durbin ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PephsKFuQc

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“Tribulation – The Day of the Lord”

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZNc_8AgYS8

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“Why We Are the Last Generation”

“Why We Are the Last Generation”

[ Monte Judah ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npCobIFOcSs

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“Preparing for the End Times!”

Q&A with Monte Judah on faith, scripture, and our walk as believers.

[ Monte Judah ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62-QfUW8tG0

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“Final Redemption of Israel”

[ Monte Judah ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX1uBes2OQo

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“Messianic World Update”

[ Monte Judah ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL-ILSgv4cY

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“The Wars of the End Times”

TV show

[ Christ in Prophecy – David Reagan ]

Part 1: https://vimeo.com/73245896
Part 2: https://vimeo.com/73251906

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“The End Times Focus on Israel”

TV show

[ Christ in Prophecy – David Reagan ]

Part 1: https://vimeo.com/160638963
Part 2: https://vimeo.com/161500621

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“Nuclear Weapons in the End Times: Does the Bible predict a nuclear holocaust?”

“And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him…” (Revelation 6:8)

On August 6, 1945, when the Enola Gay’s bombardier Tom Ferebee sighted Hiroshima’s Aioi Bridge, he knew the moment had arrived. Squeezing the trigger on his Norden bombsight, he became the first man in history to drop a nuclear weapon upon a populated city. Tail gunner Bob Caron, after being temporarily blinded, described what he saw on the ground below: “It’s like bubbling molasses down there… the mushroom is spreading out… fires are springing up everywhere… it’s like a peep into hell.”

The people of Hiroshima within half a mile of the explosion were seared to bundles of smoking char in a fraction of a second. Thousands of these small black bundles could be seen stuck to streets, bridges, and sidewalks. Birds ignited in midair, and 70,000 buildings were obliterated. Mankind had entered the atomic age, the end of which was too terrifying to contemplate.

The Nature of Armageddon
Since the beginning of the atomic age, nuclear weapons and the term “Armageddon” have been frequently linked together. Billy Graham rose to prominence in the 1950’s proclaiming that the nuclear “sword of Damocles” was hanging over all the nations, and that only Christ was a sure foundation in such perilous days. Hal Lindsey”s mega best seller, The Late Great Planet Earth (1970), made a strong case for a nuclear holocaust scenario in the days of tribulation predicted in the book of Revelation.

Even secular sources took up the theme. The June 12, 1981 Toronto Globe and Mail noted that the decision to go ahead with the neutron bomb was the biggest step taken toward Armageddon since 1961. In San Francisco today you can call a number and get a recorded message by the Doom Society for Secular Armageddonism, who, in melodramatic tones, tell you that we are living in the end times and that the coming end of the world is a fait accompli. They are quick to deny that God might have anything to do with this, however, and insist that the coming end of the world will be strictly do-it-yourself, as a result of such things as nuclear proliferation, racism, ultra nationalism, and (you might have guessed) religious fundamentalism.

The First Bombs
Many Americans associate nuclear weapons with Armageddon, because, of all man’s discoveries and inventions, they alone contain the capacity to wipe out all human life on the earth within a few short hours. Let us consider the awesome power in the first primitive atomic bombs.

The bomb dropped on Hiroshima, called “Little Boy,” was flown there in a B-29 bomber and aimed with a bombsight. It weighed nearly ten thousand pounds and had the explosive power of 12,500 tons of TNT. At ground zero, the point immediately beneath the weapon, the temperature reached above 3,000 degrees centigrade. Within seconds, what had been a thriving city became a wasteland. No part of the city was left untouched. Eighty thousand people died instantly, many burning into black bundles while in mid step. A six hour firestorm began. An eyewitness — a college professor — described it thus:

“I climbed Hikiyama Hill and looked down. I saw that Hiroshima had disappeared… I was shocked by the sight… I saw many dreadful scenes after that — but that experience, looking down and finding nothing left of Hiroshima was so shocking that I simply can’t express what I felt… Hiroshima didn’t exist — that was mainly what I saw — Hiroshima just didn’t exist.”

50 Years Later
After the end of World War II, Robert Oppenheimer, the director of the Los Alamos project which had given birth to this terrible weapon, was asked whether there were any significant limitations in the future of nuclear weapons. He replied, “If you are asking, ‘Can we make them more terrible?’ the answer is yes. If you are asking, ‘Can we make lots more of them?’ the answer is yes. If you are asking, ‘Can we make them terribly more terrible?’ the answer is, probably.” Today, some fifty years later, that probably has turned into a certainty. We have made them terribly more terrible.

Considering the horrific devastation caused by those first bombs dropped upon Japan, it would be reasonable to suggest that if we merely doubled their destructive power we would have created a monster of mind boggling dimensions. To triple or quadruple such a bomb would be worse still. If one such bomb can create such total destruction to a major city, what could a bomb four times that size do? But we have not merely created weapons three or four times as deadly. While the “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” bombs were measured in kilotons, today’s bombs are measured in megatons. A one megaton bomb contains the explosive power of eighty Hiroshimas. Bombs have been tested which are 4,000 times as powerful as those dropped upon Japan. The only thing merciful about these bombs is that you wouldn’t have to worry so much about horrible injuries to survivors — there wouldn’t be any survivors!

Is This What John Saw?
Nearly two thousand years ago, an elderly Christian leader was banished to an island as a punishment for sharing his faith in Christ. There, as he communed with the Lord on the island, he had a series of visions which described things which would take place in the last days. The man’s name was John and the visions he saw were recorded and are now known as the book of Revelation.

Many have tried to defuse the book by turning it into a giant parable in which nothing can be definitely known except that in the end Christ will triumph and all will be well. But such an interpretation makes all the details of the visions meaningless. Some have dared to suggest that John’s visions may have been more literal than most have supposed. This more literalistic interpretation just might make sense if John was seeing the terrible results of a nuclear holocaust just before Christ’s coming to claim planet earth.

In his book There’s A New World Coming (1973), Hal Lindsey writes:

“Although it is possible for God to supernaturally pull off every miracle in the Book of Revelation and use totally unheard of means to do it, I personally believe that all the enormous ecological catastrophes described in this chapter (Revelation 8) are the direct result of nuclear weapons. In actuality, man inflicts these judgments on himself. God simply steps back and removes His restraining influence from man, allowing him to do what comes naturally out of his sinful nature. In fact, if the Book of Revelation had never been written, we might well predict these very catastrophes within fifty years or less!”

End Time Prophecies
Throughout the Scriptures, terrible times are forecast for the end of this present age. Isaiah describes the earth “empty and wasted” (Isaiah 24:1). In the book of Revelation we read of an “hour of trial” which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth (Revelation 3:10). The Lord Jesus, in the gospel of Matthew, warns us of a “great tribulation” which shall threaten the survival of all life on earth (Matthew 24:21,22). The apostle Paul speaks of sudden destruction that shall come just when men are saying “peace and safety” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

As these verses indicate, the Scriptures (along with current events) make it plain that world conditions will be characterized by chaos, destruction, and death just before our Lord returns to take control of planet earth. In the book of Revelation we read of the poisoning of the oceans, the burning up of the grass and the trees, and the sun scorching people with great heat. The book also tells us that horrible plagues will afflict mankind, that there will be widespread wars and famines, and that the atmosphere will become so polluted as to reduce visibility by one third. In the midst of all this devastation, the earth’s population will flee to the caves, as people cry to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” (Revelation 6:16).

What will bring about such universal carnage on the earth? Is the Bible describing a nuclear holocaust?

Possible Explanations
Actually there are three possible sources of the death and devastation so pointedly predicted by Scripture. First, it could be that the great and terrible destructions predicted will be brought about supernaturally by God Himself without any other possible explanation. Until the nuclear age this was the primary view, as it was hard to see how such a scenario could be brought about by natural human means. In the Old Testament we find God killing 185,000 of Israel’s enemies by one angel, without any natural explanation. If one angel can wipe out that many people, it should not be too much trouble for all the hosts of God’s angelic armies to destroy three quarters of the earth’s population.

Secondly, some of the judgments predicted could possibly come from the cosmic disturbances created by a comet whose path leads it uncomfortably close to the earth. Global earthquakes and tidal waves, resulting in famines on an unprecedented scale would almost certainly be the result. Some, but probably not all, of these judgments could be brought about this way.

The third, and in my mind, the most likely explanation for the terrible judgments which will empty the earth, has to do with nuclear weapons. Since the end of World War II, nuclear weapons have been proliferating all over the globe. At first limited to the United States, then produced by the Soviet Union, they are now in the hands of all sorts of second and third rate powers. It seems almost every year that new nations are added to the list of those countries with nuclear capabilities. Our capacity to destroy all life on earth has multiplied many times over. The fact that we have not yet seen a nuclear war since 1945 can be attributed only to the restraining hand of Almighty God! Surely it is His hand that has prevented us from destroying one another up until this point. How long that hand will continue to restrain us, only God knows.

Quaint Terms for Modern Weapons
It was Hal Lindsey who first popularized the theory that the terrible plagues and judgments seen and described by John in the book of Revelation might be a First Century man’s description of a thermonuclear war. In his book There’s A New World Coming (1973), Lindsey refers to the fractional orbital bomb, and then goes on to cite nuclear passages in the book of Revelation:

“It [the bomb] consists of a dozen or so nuclear tipped missiles which can be fired simultaneously from an orbiting space platform. Because the missiles come straight down from the sky, they can strike several cities simultaneously and with virtually no warning. When these missiles streak through the air they’ll look like meteors showering the atmosphere!”
(Possibly fulfilling Revelation 6:13: “the stars of heaven fell to the earth.”)

The Apostle John’s description of the sun becoming black as sack cloth and the moon becoming like blood perfectly describes the phenomena that would result from massive amounts of dust and debris blown into the sky by multiple nuclear bursts.

“And the atmosphere was pushed apart like a scroll when it is rolled together” (Revelation 6:14). Do you know what happens in a nuclear explosion? The atmosphere rolls back on itself! It’s this tremendous rush of air back into the vacuum that causes much of the destruction of a nuclear explosion. John’s words in this verse are a perfect picture of an all out nuclear exchange… The whole world will be literally shaken apart!

As we read the book of Revelation, we find John did not use terms like “nuclear weapons, ICBM’s, or fractional orbital bombs.” Instead we find him describing things like “hail and fire,” “a great mountain burning with fire,” and “a great star… burning like a torch.” This is what we would expect of a First Century man, describing things he had no knowledge of in the only terms he knew to use. Could it be that what John was really witnessing in the Spirit, was an end of the age nuclear holocaust? The effects he describes certainly seem to bear this out.

The Nature of the Bomb
Let us consider the nature of a nuclear explosion. Nicholas Wade, in his book World Beyond Healing (1987), gives us a graphic picture:

“The explosion of a nuclear weapon is an event of immense power… Within a fraction of a millionth of a second, the nuclear materials and casing of a one megaton weapon are transformed into a packet of energy five times hotter than the center of the sun.”

“Out of this mini-sun bursts a flash of Xrays so intense that the air for several feet around the weapon is heated into an incandescent ball.”

“This little fireball, only a few millionths of a second old, contains the vaporized contents of the weapon, and a vast flux of energy created by the fission and fusion reactions of the nuclear explosion. So immense an amount of energy packed into a tiny space creates temperatures of 100 million degrees centigrade and pressures of millions of pounds per square inch. A violent expansion begins.”

“In less than a thousandth of a second, the fireball of a one-megaton weapon has grown to 440 feet across. In ten seconds, the fireball is more than a mile in diameter.”

It should be evident that what we are talking about is a weapon unparalleled in human history; a weapon with the capacity to obliterate huge cities in seconds. This is a scenario that perfectly fits with the kind of swift, mass destruction spoken of in the book of Revelation. Indeed, considering the widespread death predicted by John, it would be hard for us to imagine anything other than a nuclear holocaust which could come close to producing such carnage.

The poisoning of the waters (Revelation 8:11), the severe reduction in visibility (Revelation 8:12), the death of much of the earth’s vegetation (Revelation 8:7), malignant sores (Revelation 16:2), the end of ocean life (Revelation 16:3), and the inability of the atmosphere to block out harmful ultraviolet rays, resulting in severe burns (Revelation 16:8) are all expected results of nuclear war. The implications of these prophecies is not pretty — this earth has an appointment with a devastation which shall be horrible beyond imagination.

Secular Confirmation
Amazingly, predictions by secular writers parallel the horrific visions of John in nearly every major detail. Contrast the words (in regular print) of secular writer Jonathan Schell author of the book The Fate of the Earth (1970), with what the Bible says (in parenthesis) as he describes the consequences of a nuclear war:

“Bearing in mind that the possible consequences of the detonations of thousands of megatons of nuclear explosives include… the extinction of many ocean species, among them some at the base of the food chain…”
(“And every living creature in the sea died” — Revelation 16:3)

“… the pollution of the whole ecosphere with oxides of nitrogen.”
(“And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night” — Revelation 8:12)

“… a significant decrease in photosynthesis in plants around the world; the scalding and killing of many crops…”
(“And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up” — Revelation 8:7)

“… the increase in rates of cancer and mutation around the world…”
(“… and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast” — Revelation 16:2)

“… the attendant risk of global epidemics…”
(“And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences” — Luke 21:11)

“… the possible poisoning of all vertebrates by sharply increased levels of vitamin D in their skin as a result of increased ultraviolet light.”
(“the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat” — Revelation 16:8)

“… and the outright slaughter on all targeted continents of most human beings and other living things by the initial nuclear radiation, the fireballs, the thermal pulses, the blast waves, the mass fires, and the fall-out from the explosions.”
(“By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed — by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone” — Revelation 9:18).

“Considering that these consequences will all interact with one another in unguessable ways and, furthermore, are in all likelihood an incomplete list… one must conclude that a full-scale nuclear holocaust could lead to the extinction of mankind.”
(“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” — Matthew 24:22).

The Nature of God’s Wrath
Why would God allow such a terrible devastation upon the earth? Is He not the God of love and compassion? The God of all mercy? Certainly the Bible makes plain that God is all of that. Yet we also learn from the Bible that “Our God is a consuming fire,” (Hebrews 12:29) and that He will not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:7).

It is interesting to note the way God judges sin in individuals and nations. We find that He almost never seems to bring immediate judgment for sin. He allows people to lead cruel and wicked lives for years while enjoying prosperity. This is the great stumbling block that has caused many to question either God’s love or His involvement in human affairs. Job cried out, “The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure — in what God provides by His hand” (Job 12:6).

We find that sin has an accumulating effect. In the book of Revelation we read about Babylon: “Her sins have reached up unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:5). In Genesis, Abraham was told that his descendants would have to wait 400 years before they could take possession of the promised land, for “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16). It appears that God lets sin “pile up” for years, or even generations before it provokes Him to act in swift decisive judgment and destruction. In Romans, Paul writes that sinners are “storing up for themselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5).

If that is true for nations and individuals, could it not also be true for the entire planet? What if God has been restraining His judgment for thousands of years, while men have filled the earth with blood, hatred, war and immorality? Could it be that the terrible plagues and judgments in the book of Revelation are the accumulation of God’s wrath over the history of mankind, stored up for that season of time which would immediately precede the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? This certainly appears to be the thought given in the sixth chapter of Revelation where the world’s leaders, along with the rich and the poor of the earth cry out, “The great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:17).

Is There Any Hope?
Up to this point the picture seems grim and hopeless. And in a certain way it is. There is no hope for this present evil age. It is under a death sentence from Almighty God. The flood of hatred, violence, immorality, abortion, homosexuality, and the mockery of all that is good and holy will finally produce a response from heaven. God has decreed that this present evil age shall pass away in a flame of fire, death, and judgment. No amount of peace talks, goodwill conferences, or think tanks will be able to change that.

Likewise those who refuse to repent and turn to Christ are in a hopeless situation. There is no peace or security for those who determine to live life by their own rules. When God’s wrath begins to fall, it will overtake the rich and the poor, the celebrities along with the unknown, the sophisticates with the simpletons. No hiding place on earth, no amount of wealth or prestige, no measure of cleverness or ingenuity will be able to spare people from the wrath to come.

The good news in all of this is that God has always provided a hiding place whenever He poured out His wrath. In Noah’s flood, that safety was found in the ark. In the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot was told to flee to the mountains. Rahab found safety from the destruction of her city by staying in her house with a scarlet cord tied to the window.

In these last days God’s hiding place will be found, not in a cave in the mountains, not in a mammoth ark, but in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was on His Cross that Jesus took the wrath of God upon Himself, in order that those who would put their trust in Him might be spared. The Scriptures tell us, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). For those whose godly lives reveal that they have truly placed their faith in Jesus, He will come and take them unto Himself.

[ Dr. David R. Reagan ]

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“7 AMAZING End-time Prophecies HIDDEN in the Book of Daniel!”

Did you know that there are many end-time prophecies hidden in the book of Daniel? Yep, it’s true. The book of Daniel complements the book of Revelation by providing amazing prophecies that confirm the prophecies that John recorded in the book of Revelation. You can actually piece together an entire timeline to end-time events using the book of Daniel alone. Here are 7 hidden prophecies in the book of Daniel.

[ Allen Parr ]

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx7-7gdU1A8&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTAVEyK-p4fG9Gb1nK3sMoh9&index=12

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“The Holy Spirit in the End Times: The nature and role of the Holy Spirit in preparation for the return of Jesus”

One hundred years ago, as the 20th Century began, the Holy Spirit was not alive and well in the Church. Christendom was in bondage to the theology of Deism which held that miracles had ceased, all aspects of the supernatural (such as angels and demons) had been laid to rest, and that God was a grand old man in the sky, best identified as “The Great I Was.”

A Deceptive Doctrine
The Church had been deceived into adopting a theological argument which had the effect of stifling and quenching the Holy Spirit. The argument was based on a statement in 1 Corinthians 13:10 — “… when the perfect comes, the partial [prophecy, tongues, and knowledge] will be done away.” It was argued that the “perfect” was the completion of the perfect, inerrant Word of God. Thus, it was argued, all supernatural gifts of the Spirit, as well as other manifestations of the supernatural, ended with the completion of the New Testament canon around 95 AD.

To this was added the argument that gifts of the Spirit could only be passed along to others by the Apostles through the laying on of hands. Therefore, when the last Apostle died (John in about 95 AD), the gifts ceased.

Flawed Arguments
The arguments were so neat. But they were full of holes. For one thing, they flew in the face of experience. Throughout Church history, there is abundant evidence of spiritual gifts being experienced on the part of the small minority who continued to believe in them. There had also been major outbreaks of the supernatural, as in the camp meetings on the American frontier in the early 1800’s.

The argument revolving around 1 Corinthians 13:10 was faulty because it denied the contextual meaning of the word “perfect.” In context, the word refers to the return of Jesus. This is made clear in verse 12: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then [when the perfect comes] face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully …” The argument also overlooked the clear teaching of 1 Corinthians 1:7 that all the gifts of the Spirit will continue to be operative until Jesus returns: “… you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Finally, the argument about the Apostles passing the gifts along to others was a sham because it attempted to convert the gifts of the Spirit into gifts of the Apostles. The Apostles may have been able to lay their hands on people and pray for them to receive certain gifts, but the gifts came from the Holy Spirit, not from the Apostles. Furthermore, every believer receives at least one supernatural gift of the Spirit at the time of his or her salvation (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Paul put it this way: “To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).

An Important Prophecy
The anti-Holy Spirit mentality of the Church in 1900 also ignored the clear teaching of Bible prophecy that the end times would be characterized by a great outpouring of God’s Spirit. The key passage is found in Joel 2:28-29:

It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Church’s position in 1900 was that this prophecy had been fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost in 31 AD and was no longer applicable. It was argued that the “last days” began at Pentecost when the Church was established (Hebrews 1:2 and 1 Peter 1:20). Also, it was pointed out that the Apostles themselves quoted this passage from Joel when they were asked what was going on as they began “to speak with other tongues” (Acts 2:4).

More Flawed Arguments
But again, these arguments about Joel 2:28-29 ignored the context of the passage. Note that the passage beings with the words, “It will come about after this…” After what? If you back up and read verses 18 through 27 you will see that the chapter is talking about the regathering and resettlement of the Jews in the land of Israel — something that did not occur until the 20th Century.

Also, the preceding verses speak of the outpouring of the Spirit symbolically as the “early and latter rain,” referring to the two rainy seasons of Israel. In other words, the prophet was saying there will be two great outpourings of the Spirit. The “early rain” was at Pentecost and continued throughout the early history of the Church, as recorded in the book of Acts. The “latter rain” would immediately precede the return of the Messiah in judgment. This is made clear again by the passage itself in verses 30-31: “And I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” This is classic language about the Second Coming of the Messiah.

Yes, the Bible speaks of the Church Age as the last days: “He [Jesus] was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you” (1 Peter 1:20). But it also speaks of the Lord’s return as the last days when it says Christians are being protected “by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time… at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:5, 7).

We have been in the “last times” since the Day of Pentecost. We are now in the latter part of the last times.

Joel 2:28-29 was fulfilled in part on the Day of Pentecost. Its total fulfillment was yet future in 1900, awaiting the “latter rain” that would be one of the signs of the Lord’s soon return.

A Move of God
The Church had its jaw set against the Holy Spirit as the 20th Century began. But God was ready to burst on the scene with a great move of the Spirit in order to prepare the way for the return of His Son. That move began at a poverty-stricken school in Topeka, Kansas in January 1901 when a student named Agnes Ozman received the gift of tongues. A year later a great Holy Spirit revival broke out in the English area of Wales, led by a remarkable young man named Evan Roberts. Then, in 1906, the Spirit fell with great power on a home meeting in Los Angeles led by a black preacher named William J. Seymour.

At Seymour’s meeting, spiritual gifts were manifested, spectacular healings occurred, people were “slain in the Spirit,” and sinners were saved. The meeting grew quickly and had to be moved to a dilapidated building on Azusa Street. It continued for almost four years, with preaching every day, three times a day!

The Azusa Street meeting gave birth to the Pentecostal Movement. The latter rain had begun. But it was only a sprinkle in terms of its impact on Christendom at large. The Pentecostals were written off as “Holy Rollers,” and their religion was considered appropriate only for the superstitious and uneducated. But they were paving the way for a rediscovery of the Spirit.

The Latter Rain
The latter rain did not become a downpour until after the regathering of the Jewish people to the land of Israel (1900-1945) and the re-establishment of the state (May 14, 1948). Then, just as Joel had prophesied, the heavens opened and the downpour began — first, with the anointing of Billy Graham’s ministry in 1949 and then with the emergence of the Charismatic Movement in the 1950’s and 60’s.

Today, much of Christendom is caught up in the Third Wave Movement that grew out of the Charismatic Movement in the 1970’s and 80’s. It is made up of churches that fully recognize the ministry of the Holy Spirit, including the significance of Spirit-led worship, the continuing validity of spiritual gifts, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the importance of a Spirit-filled life in winning that warfare. However, unlike the Pentecostals and Charismatics, the Third Wave Movement does not put an emphasis on the gift of tongues as the sign of having been baptized in the Spirit.

Confusion About the Spirit
The 20th Century has been the century of the rediscovery of the Holy Spirit. Yet, widespread ignorance and confusion about the Holy Spirit still characterizes the Church. A 1997 poll by the Barna Research Group showed that only 40% of Americans believe in the existence of the Holy Spirit (as opposed to 90% who believe in the existence of God). But what was even more stunning was the response of “born-again Christians.” More than 5 out of 10 born-again Christians (55%) agreed that the Holy Spirit is a symbol of God’s presence or power but not a living entity! It appears that Christians have been brainwashed into believing that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal power like “The Force” in Star Wars.

Why is there so much continuing confusion about the Spirit? I think it relates in part to the self-effacing role of the Spirit. As we will see, one of the primary roles of the Spirit is to point people to Jesus as Savior and Lord. He does not draw attention to Himself. He works behind the scenes. Another factor relates to the many symbols that are used of the Spirit in Scripture — things like wind, rain, and fire. These symbols seem to communicate an impersonal force.

Our Creator God has been revealed to us as our Father. That is a concept we can grasp. Jesus took on a human body and lived among us. We have biographies of Him by eye witnesses. But for most people, the Holy Spirit is a shadowy entity difficult to grasp. Trying to get hold of the concept for many is like trying to nail jello to a wall.

The Identity of the Spirit
So, let’s look for a moment at the identify of the Holy Spirit. The first thing you need to keep in mind is that the Spirit is never referred to as an “it.” The Spirit is not an inanimate object. The Spirit is not, for example, the Bible, as some contend. The Spirit is intimately related to the Bible because it was the Spirit who inspired the biblical writers (2 Timothy 3:16), but the Bible is the “sword of the Spirit,” not the Spirit Himself (Ephesians 6:17). The Spirit works through the Bible to draw people to Jesus, although the work of the Spirit is not confined to the testimony of the Scriptures. The Spirit can witness directly to our spirits (Romans 8:16).

The Holy Spirit is a person. The Spirit is always referred to directly in the Scriptures as “He.” Referring to the Spirit, Jesus told His disciples that when He left, He would send a “Helper.” (“Paracletos” in Greek, meaning a helper or intercessor.) Jesus added, “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:7-8). To Jesus, the Holy Spirit was “He” not “it.”

The Bible says the Holy Spirit can be lied to (Acts 5:3-4). It also says the Holy Spirit can be quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and grieved (Ephesians 4:30). These are characteristics of a personality. You cannot lie to a chair, or quench a wall, or grieve a light fixture.

The Holy Spirit is the supernatural presence of God in the world today. Paul put it this way: “The Lord is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Luke stated that the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of Jesus” (Acts 16:6-7). Peter equated the Holy Spirit with God the Father when he told Ananias and Sapphira that they had lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3) and then added, “You have not lied to men but to God” (Acts 5:4). Remember that old axiom in geometry: “Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.”

The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons who constitute the One God. That’s the reason we are told to be baptized “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). As such He is co-equal to Jesus and the Father, but He plays a different role.

The Work of the Spirit
This brings us to the work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has two roles — one toward the unbeliever and another within the believer. With regard to the unbeliever, the Holy Spirit is the Father’s Evangelist. With regard to the believer, He is the Father’s Potter. Let’s consider these two roles in detail.

Jesus summarized the work of the Spirit regarding unbelievers. He said that the Holy Spirit would “convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8). Specifically, the Spirit convicts unbelievers of their sinfulness, impresses upon them the righteousness of Jesus, and points them to the judgment of Satan (John 16:9-11). The Bible makes it clear that no person can come to Jesus apart from the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Jesus put it this way: “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). And how does the Father draw unbelievers to Jesus? Through the Holy Spirit who bears witness of Jesus as the Father’s only begotten Son (John 15:26 and 1 John 5:7).

When a person responds to the witness of the Spirit by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, he is “born-again” (John 3:3), and the Father gives that person a very special birthday present — the Holy Spirit! That’s right, the Holy Spirit ceases to be on the outside drawing the person to Jesus. Instead, He moves inside the person and takes up residence within him (Romans 8:9). And when He does so, His role changes.

The Spirit in the Believer
Within the believer, the Holy Spirit is the Father’s Potter. His role is to shape each believer into the image of Jesus (Romans 8: 29 and Galatians 4:19), a process which the Bible refers to as sanctification (Romans 6:22 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13). The Spirit does this by first of all gifting us. Each person, when he or she is born-again, is given at least one gift of the Spirit, and sometimes more than one (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). And if we are good stewards of our gifts, using them to advance the Lord’s kingdom, we may be given additional gifts during our spiritual walk with the Lord.

The Spirit also accomplishes His work of sanctification by guiding us (Romans 8:14), comforting us (Acts 9:31), strengthening us (Philippians 4:13 and 1 John 4:4), praying for us (Romans 8:26-27), encouraging us (Romans 15:5), defending us (Luke 12:11-12), and illuminating us as we study the Word (1 John 2:27).

The work of sanctification is life long. It continues until we die or we are raptured to meet the Lord in the sky. The Holy Spirit wants to fine tune us into the image of Jesus because the Father is interested in nothing less than perfection in our lives (James 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:13-16). Yes, He is a God of grace who will accept us in all our imperfections, but He desires that we be perfected (Matthew 5:48).

Think of it this way — when a child takes his first step, his father rejoices. But no father is going to be satisfied with that one step. He will not be satisfied until the child can walk and then run without falling. For this reason, Christians are commanded to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

Are you filled with the Spirit? Have you been baptized in the Spirit? Are you walking in the power of the Spirit?

[ Dr. David Reagan ]

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“What is the Mark of the Beast?”

What is the mark of the beast? Will the mark of the beast be a barcode tattoo? Will the mark of the beast be a implanted microchip?

[ Got Questions ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLSNj3dhyek

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“Triumph of the Lamb”

The key to unlocking this book is hanging right on the front door. You will also learn 7 major prophecies outlined in the book. Join Adrian Rogers as he looks at God’s word and unfolds a panorama of prophecy.

Series:
1. The Future Is Here [#2333]
2. Making Numbers Count [#2334]
3. Triumph of the Lamb [#2335]
4. He Holds the Keys [#2336]
5. The Golden Key to the Book of the Revelation [#2338]
6. The Windows of Heaven and the Doors of Hell [#0632]
7. Is it Nice to be Narrow? [#0640]
8. How to Keep Your Spiritual Fire Burning [#2339]
9. The Midnight Cry and the Rapture of the Church [#2340]
10. Worthy Is the Lamb [#2341]
[ Adrian Rogers ]

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxoaY-xQDY8&list=PL4bVl_dWau6ZKw1nPBAKvro3gT4gvRwB0

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“Understanding Revelation”

Gary Stearman and Ron Rhodes discuss the Book of Revelation.

[ “Prophecy Watchers” interview of Ron Rhodes ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7fgBR6ymS0

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“Day of the Lord”

In this world we face hardships (hunger, poverty, homelessness, suffering, sorrow, etc.). But one day death will be swallowed up (1 Corinthians 15:55), so set your mind on things that will last (Colossians 3:2).

Key lyrics:
“The art of life in living is loving the best that you can.
Lend your neighbor a hand
Let us be forgiving, the day of the Lord is at hand.”

[ Phil Keaggy and Rex Paul ]

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpTK-C8dCOM

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“Revelation Song”

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain Holy holy is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on Heaven’s mercy seat
Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain Holy holy is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on Heaven’s mercy seat

Holy holy holy, is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You
(I will adore You)

Clothed in rainbows of living color
Flashes of lighting rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor strength and glory and power be
To You the only One for me

Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You
(I will, I will adore You
adore You)

Filled with wonder awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your name
Jesus Your name is power breath and living water
Such a marvelous mystery

Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You

Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore you

[ Jennie Lee Riddle – Preformed by Kari Jobe ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3VatGbLH-Q

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“Tribulation”

In the Holy Bible it tells us of a day
When the beast shall walk among us and many shall fall away
Famine war and desolation nation rising against nation
Trouble everywhere you turn
As in the time of Noah in the days before the flood
Sin will cool the love of man and the streets will run with blood
Rape and murder grief and sorrow just like Sodom and Gomorrah
This world is gonna burn

I believe that we are living in the days John wrote about
The end times are upon us and of that there is no doubt
Get your mind out of the world and take your Bible off the shelf
Read the book of revelations for yourself
(Tribulation) I don’t want to be here
(Tribulation) when that flaming star comes down
(Tribulation) when the seven seals are broken
And the seven vials are opened and the seven trumpets sound

As quick as lightning streaks from east to west across the sky
God’s faithful ones will disappear in the twinkling of an eye
Many are called but few were chosen
Brother don’t let your heart be frozen don’t you want to go
This world will be in bondage under Satan’s evil power
The antichrist will rule until that final glorious hour
When pain and sorrow disappear and God will wipe away all tears
Joy forever more

I believe that we are living…
[ fiddle ]
I believe that we are living…

[ Charlie Daniels Band ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS3qAkUA3UU

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“In The Sky”

I saw the news today,
The world seemed to stop.
Fear was everywhere,
And hope was so lost.

In the circus of darkness,
May I reply,
I see him coming in the sky!

Watching and praying,
And waiting all the day,
With all it’s abilities,
It walks away.

God speed that moment when I can stand up and cry,
I see Him coming in the sky!
I see Him coming in the sky!

I see Him coming,
I see Him coming,
Splitting the heavens in the twinkling of an eye!
I see Him coming,
I see Him coming!
I see Him coming in the sky!
I see Him coming in the sky!

People are trying to find what they need.
Hopeless illusions, where will it lead?
Well, I’ve found the answer in the sweet by-and-by.
I see Him coming in the sky!
I see Him coming in the sky!

I see Him coming,
I see Him coming,
Splitting the heavens in the twinkling of an eye!
I see Him coming,
I see Him coming!
I see Him coming in the sky!
I see Him coming in the sky!

Oh, that perfect moment,
Won’t be very long.
I’ll trade a broken heart for a beautiful song.
And the angels singing Egyptians lullaby,
I see Him coming in the sky!
I see Him coming in the sky!

I see Him coming,
I see Him coming,
Splitting the heavens in the twinkling of an eye!
I see Him coming,
I see Him coming!
(Yeah, yeah, yeah!)
I see Him coming in the sky!
(I see you, I see you!)
I see Him coming in the sky!
(I see you, I can see you in the sky!)

[ Russ Lee, Bob Carlisle,and Ashley Cleveland ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_8x4l1eCcc

*****************************
“It’s Happening Now”

All of my life I’ve been hearing
That Jesus is coming back someday
For two thousand years the world’s been waiting
He just told us to watch and pray

We don’t know the minute nor the hour
But the signs that the Bible speaks about
All point to the day of His returning
It’s happening now

We may be the raptured generation
Rumors of war are in the air
Nation is rising against nation
False messiahs are appearing everywhere

The word’s being preached to all the nations
There’s famine and flood, earthquakes and drought
The Jews have gone back to claim Jerusalem
It’s happening now

Let the righteous rejoice at the sound of His voice
Let the word be proclaimed
Let the word be proclaimed
Let the message be sent to receive
And repent for He’s coming again
Coming again

Let the righteous rejoice at the sound of His voice
Let the word be proclaimed
Let the word be proclaimed
Let the message be sent to receive
And repent for He’s coming again

The hands on the clock are moving faster
Humanity’s sun is going down
With each passing day the time grows
Shorter and shorter and shorter and shorter
It’s happening now, it’s happening now

[ Charlie Daniels Band ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emI955SAnkY

*****************************
“In Armageddon Valley (Someday)”
(Parody of “Pleasant Valley Sunday” by The Monkees)

The global clock moves down to zero while the armies march along
They surround Israel’s weakened sides; They’re just about to throw their bombs

In Armageddon Valley someday (someday)
Christ’s returning in the air
Rows of thousands that have that have called His name
And no one seems too scared

Jesus displays his power today. He’s got His soldiers on platoon.
They met the Beast who can’t believe he got defeated there so soon

In Armageddon Valley someday (someday)
Fiercest battle in the land
Bible explains about a war like this
And the simple don’t understand

The future comforts those
who know He won their souls
They’re lookin’ forward to this scene
Armageddon day
It isn’t so far away
You need to change your loyalty

Da da ta ta…

In Armageddon Valley someday (someday)
Christ’s returning in the air
In Armageddon Valley someday
Fiercest battle in the land

In Armageddon Valley someday (Armageddon Valley someday)…

[ ApologetiX – “Biblical Graffiti” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK75BbqY6aQ

*****************************
“Revelation Man”
(Parody of “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers)

There’s a man who seems just like a savior
With everyone he meets he gains their favor
Oh, with every move he makes,
Another hand he shakes
Odds are he won’t give you peace tomorrow

Revelation Man
Revelation Man
Hey, he’s givin’ you a number and takin’ away your faith

It’s there in Revelation that you find
A pretty beast who has an evil mind
He led the world astray;
They’ll give their souls away
All that he will give is grief and sorrow

Revelation Man
Revelation Man
Hey, he’s givin’ you a number and takin’ away your faith

Bringin’ all the world together one day
Then saying that he’s God Almighty next day
Oh, but you fell for all his tricks
By listenin’ to 666
God’s not who he is you’ll see tomorrow

Revelation Man
Revelation Man
Hey, he’s givin’ you a number and takin’ away your faith

Revelation Man

[ ApologetiX – “Biblical Graffiti” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eMKPWjz4wc

*****************************
“Revelation”
(Parody of “Revolution” by The Beatles)

You say you got a revelation, well, you know We all wanna save the world
But transcendental meditation, well, you know It ain’t gonna save the world
‘Cause then you’re talkin’ ‘bout deception
Don’t you know that you should cut it out
You know you gotta see the light – the light – the light You say you got some information, well, you know From a woman in a trance
I ask you for some confirmation, well you know
We all do need evidence
But in Deuteronomy 18 the Bible says
Prophets who tell you the future can’t make mistakes You know it’s gotta be all right – all right – all right LEAD
You say the zodiac is ancient, well, I know
Babylon’s where it began
You’re followin’ the constellations, well you know They’ve all been moved around since then
But if you’re an Ares, a Pisces or Gemini
It’s all just a Cancer on everyone, then they die
You know you gotta see the light – the light – the light The light … is Christ! The light … is Christ!
The light … is Christ! The light … is Christ!

[ ApologetiX – “Chosen Ones” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJH3UsXdn5s

*****************************
“Bad Dude Risin’”
(Parody of “Bad Moon Risin’” by CCR)

I see a bad dude arisin’; I see the devil on the way
I see a master of disguises; I see the world led astray
Don’t fall for the lies ‘cause he’s just a fake, not Christ
There’s a bad dude on the rise
I read in Second Thessalonians; I know the man is comin’ soon
He’ll set himself upon the throne and he’ll get the world to play his tune
Don’t get all surprised ‘cause he comes before the Christ
First the bad dude must arise
He’ll bring the countries all together. They’ll see his miracles and signs
They’ll think this world is gettin’ better. They’ll find he’s really anti-Christ.

[ ApologetiX – “Radical History Tour” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw7c_-6OBxg

*****************************
“Devil Fell”
(Parody of “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol)

That’s right, there is a danger when answering your door
The Bible says that angels can come from another source
He sends them all beaming with false light and false love
Where did they get this brightness? He fell from above

Because
It’s the midnight hour, so find the Lord, Lord, Lord
When the devil fell, he cried war, war, war!
Whoa! It’s the midnight hour, babe – draw your sword
It’s in Revel. 12 — more, more, more, war, war, war!

He don’t look unsavory, he don’t dress in red
But when you try his roadway it leads to death
John 10:10’s creed – I want you to read, babe
God’ll set you free
You need to hear my plea
CHORUS

You’ll think he looks like a gift from Heaven
But check it in Second Corinthians 11
Well, he shines false light to project a glare
Check First John verse 4:1 and don’t get unprepared
Hey! Oh!

Christ watched him fall in Luke 10
As lighting strikes – it’s true
He’ll try to sear your brain, men
A trillion trials for you
He’ll steal your soul from you, friend
He wants you to burn with him
Why risk it all to have fun, then?
Listen, listen, listen, you have to hear my plea
CHORUS

Beware the devil’s angels
They want more
1:8, 9 in Galatians
They want more
More, more, more, more, war!

[ ApologetiX – “Singles Group” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suEbBRMVNv4

*****************************
“Casket Place”
(Parody of “Basket Case” by Green Day)

Do we have much time to live until we find
A lot of things are happening all at once?
Violent crime explodes – the Lord has many foes
Morality is low – they’re proud about it

Sometimes I think this world’s asleep
Soon we just might be history
It all keeps adding up — I think I’m waking up
I’m not just paranoid — I’m not alone

I went to great lengths – to analyze these things
It’s just like back in Second Timothy now
I read through some more in Matthew 24
To get some signs when God will bring the first round

Sometimes I think this world’s asleep
3:1 through 5, Second Timothy
It all seems bad enough – I think I’m packin’ up
He might just tarry more – He might just come

Oh oh
Last days soon unfold – so you better know God
LEAD

Sometimes I think this world’s asleep
Keep your eyes on the Middle East
The whole scene’s getting rough – I think that backs it up
And I just can’t ignore – the signs I’m shown

[ ApologetiX – “Ticked” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS5JzHdnonI

*****************************
“Catch That Fever!”
(Parody of “Cat Scratch Fever” by Ted Nugent)

Well, I don’t when He’s comin’, but the Lord will come
I hope He’s comin’ for me
And He says that if we’re lukewarm then He’ll just spit us out In Revelation Chapter 3
We need to catch that fever! Catch that fever!
Well, He told them go into the into the world, but they didn’t go He prob’ly wondered what they were waitin’ for
Then the church got persecuted and the next thing you know They busted open all the doors
We need to catch that fever! Catch that fever!
Acts kind of fever! Catch that fever!
Listen to Jesus! He said He came to bring a fire to the earth Wish it was started, a long time ago
What do you think about His words?
Have you ever really burned?

LEAD
Well, the church was gettin’ kicked around in Acts chapter 4 They got together and prayed
And they asked the Lord for boldness to go preachin’ His word I think we need that today

[ ApologetiX – “The Boys Aren’t Backin’ Down” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjP25AHoRac

*****************************
“Hold On, Christ’s Comin’”
(Parody of “Hold On, I’m Comin’” by Sam & Dave)

Don’t you fret and be sad
Please don’t weep when times are bad
If you stay calm and you don’t doubt
In the midst of trouble
He will bail you out
Just hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Christ’s on His way if you’re sufferin.
If you just hold fast, Christ will keep His covenant (Hallelujah) Don’t have to worry (No worries)
In blind fear (No fear)
Don’t need His number, baby (‘cause God’s in the Book)
He’s right here (Hey yeahhhhhh!)
Just hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Lookee here!
Keep out of reach
Those bad distractions, yeah
Lookee here, baby! Here’s all you got to do
Call Christ’s name, yeah – and quit reactin’
Yeah, yeah, yeah – yeahhh!
LEAD
Now don’t you fret and be sad
People are mean, and their crimes are bad
When the day comes and He comes down, baby
He’ll deliver His loved ones
Way up off the ground
Just hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Just hold on (Don’t you worry)
Christ’s comin’ (Here He comes)
Hold on (Wait on God to save you)
Christ’s comin’ (Yeah!)
Hold on (Don’t you worry)
Christ’s comin’ (Here Christ comes)
Hold on (Our God will save us)

[ ApologetiX – “Transformed Soul” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Dz8AH49hKVI

*****************************
“Life In The Last Days”
(Parody of “Life in the Fast Lane” by “The Eagles”)

It’s sorta hard to understand, but it’s totally awesome
And it’s eternally finished
Who wrote it up? It was John the Apostle
And the Lord said it won’t diminish
He had fantastic revelations of the future news
Sent here from Jesus, sent here for you
When he saw Jesus comin’, John fell down as dead
He told him, Grab your tablet and write this down instead
Life in the last days — sure to make you lose your mind
Life in the last days — yeah, heh
He saw four horsemen, holding the reins
Of colorful stallions, who brought different things
He who rode the white conquered, and the red one brought war
And the black one brought famine; then pale horse number four
There was death in the saddle, ridin’ out through space
He had Hades right behind him, killed a fourth of the human race
All of the people, were trying to hide
When the earth started shakin’ and the moon turned to blood — the sun was
Black in the last days — sure to make you lose your mind
Life in the last days — yeah, heh
Life in the last days — everything prophesied
Life in the last days — yeah, heh
So much to tell you; I’ve got one verse. Man didn’t heed the stop signs
And the earth got worse and worse
If you’re a Christian, baby, you don’t need to fear a thing
If you’re not, go read the Bible ‘cause there’s more than I can sing
There’s a false messiah, the people will think he’s Christ
The world will take his number, but they’ll have to pay his price
They’ll look up and they’ll see Jesus and they’ll know that they’ve lost
He won the war when He was dyin’ on the cross and it was
Life in the last days — sure to make you lose your mind
Life in the last days — yeah, heh
Life in the last days — everything prophesied
Life in the last days — yeah, heh

[ ApologetiX – “The Boys Aren’t Backing Down” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDdcSY_VgvE

*****************************
“Won’t Get Born Again”
(Parody of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who)

They’ll be frightened of the beast
And they still will have no peace
And the hero that they worshipped will be gone
And the man who spurred them on
The one they thought could do no wrong
Is a tyrant a lot like Genghis Khan

A tip I have for the United Nations:
Take a browse through the book of Revelation
Bible says there’s a stranger comin’ round
Who’ll specialize in charm and grace
Pacify every race
But he led all the people astray
Who don’t get born again

A savior had to come – they knew it all along
But they never read about the one that’s false
And the world will bless his name
It’s a mystery and a shame
‘Cause the man that they love won’t win the last war

A tip I have for the United Nations:
Think about what you’ll do on that occasion
Bible says there’s a stranger comin’ round
Who’ll shoot up like a star in flames
Can’t quite guess his name
But he’ll get all the people to pray
Who don’t get born again – no, no

He’ll fool the world when he finally arrives
They’ll be happy till they’re left out to dry
He’ll get all the nations to buy into his lie
But I know that the Israelites won’t comply – Will ya?

LEAD

Yeahhhh!
And nothing is complete
Till all of Israel is redeemed
It’s in Romans verse 11:25
And the Lord will heal the rift
In all the hearts of Israelites
And the people and their God will both unite

A tip I have for the United Nations:
Wake up now to the dude in Revelation
Smile and grin when there’s peace all around
(Don’t) forget about the price you’ll pay
There on Judgment Day
When you get on your knees and pray
But won’t get born again – won’t get born again – no, no LEAD
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Meet the true God – name is Jehovah

[ ApologetiX – “The Boys Aren’t Backing Down” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iECEk_EEuX0

*****************************
“You’ve Got Another King Comin’”
(Parody of “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” by Judas Priest)

Won’t lie – I’m not political

They’re takin’ bribes — they get so hypocritical
Scandals – crimes done we’re findin’ out
It’s non-stop and it’s wrong – an abuse of power

Evil kings have been around since the world was five
You think you’d like a good one – He’s still waiting to arrive
Although it’s unfortunate, maybe you’ve been had
It stinks to Heaven – don’t get mad
You’ve got another king comin’
You’ve got another king comin’

Left, right – each has their talkin’ heads
And if they listen once, it’ll be some accident
MSNBC and Fox — could have a nice time if they all learned to box
If you’re sick of sittin’ ’round while they shift away the blame
If you’re tired of votin’ for the lesser-evil name
Out there is a horseman – faithful, true – we have
The King of Heaven’s coming back
You’ve got another king comin’
You’ve got another king comin’

In this world of driven men, the man of prayer gets swallowed
Men with power who won’t praise Him — ain’t for you to follow

Don’t throw rocks – just try to make the best, yeah
Hang tough like Romans 13 says
Respect government’s authority
‘Cause God ordained that
Read 2: 1-2 First Timothy, yeah

If you think I’m wimpin’ out, that’s no big surprise
I think First Peter 2 verse 17 it still applies
Power is apportioned – even to the bad
The King of Heaven knows all that
You’ve got another king comin’
You’ve got another king comin’
You’ve got another king comin’
You’ve got another king …
Comin’ for you!
(Comin’) You’ve got another king comin’
(Comin’) It’s in Titus 3: 1
(Comin’) He’s a comin’ y’all!
(Comin’) That’s what Revelation says
(Comin’) Oh yeah, oh yeah
(Comin’) He’s a comin’, He’s a comin’ king
(Comin’) They can’t defeat Him, They can’t defeat Him
(Comin’) He’s comin’ all at once, so hold strong, come and ride along
(Comin’) Hey yeah, hey yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
(Comin’) Babe-babe-babe-baby
Revelation 19: 16 “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

[ ApologetiX – “Hot Potato Soup” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTnisH96B0s

*****************************
“Bathwater”
(Parody of “Backwater” by The Meat Puppets)

When will you wake up to the warning
‘Cause Jesus may come back today
Like the flood of Noah, His appearing
Will surprise the world and happen suddenly

Some think He never came
And they say He won’t come back here but He’s going to just the same
The date’s been prearranged
He’ll be back in a hurry – there are some people who’d better change

And when they say He’s been gone a long time
They laugh and say He’s kinda late
Just when they say there’s peace and safety
Destruction comes on them suddenly

Some think He never came
And they say He won’t come back here but He’s going to just the same
I maybe see a drain
With the bathwater circling – there are some people who’d better change

They are blind to the signs
Now’s the time for you to decide

You’d better wake up to the warning
‘Cause Jesus may be on His way
Though we might not know the day or evening
We’re still one day closer now than yesterday

Some think He never came
And they say He won’t come back here but He’s going to just the same
The date’s been prearranged
He’ll be back in a hurry – there are some people who’d better change

Some think He never came
And they say He won’t come back here but He’s going to just the same
I maybe see a drain
With the bathwater circling – there are some people who’d better change.

[ ApologetiX – “Apopletic” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt_gKoTQb_Y

*****************************
“Bible In Hand”
(Parody of “Travelin’ Band” by Credence Clearwater Revival)

See the Lord in Heaven’s comin’ out of the sky
Well, He said He’d come to get us and He did not lie
You gotta move
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand, yeah
Well, it’s time for Christ to land
Find Him while you can
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
Let me do a show and tell
I ain’t gonna go to hell
C’mon, c’mon, won’t you let me tell the truth
You gotta move
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand, yeah
Well, it’s time for Christ to land
Try to understand
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
Listen’ to the way to go
Talkin’ to all the lost souls
Come to God through Christ you gotta call His name and listen Gotta move
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand, yeah
Well, it’s time for Christ to land
Try to understand
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
LEAD
He will come again like a thief in the night
Will you finally recognize Him – will you get that we were right? You gotta move
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
Well, it’s time for Christ to land
Find Him while you can
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
Whoa!
SECOND LEAD
Whoa! Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
Find Him while you’ve still got a chance
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
Well, the time is close at hand
Find Him while you can
Prayin’ with a Bible in hand
Whoa!

[ ApologetiX – “The Boy’s Aren’t Backing Down” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA3dfdfB3E8

*****************************
“Babel, Babel”
(Parody of “Rebel Rebel” performed and written by David Bowie)

Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo

We got some others in the world
They’re not sure if they should boil us in oil
They hate – the Israelites
They say, let’s go and unite
It’s like reading the Second Psalm
It’s like glancin’ at the Book divine
The Lord laughs at their pagan hordes
The world roars at His warning voice

They put me down – and they all scoff
Attacking things that put them off
Babel, Babel – their former address
Babel, Babel – that place was a mess
Babel, Babel – how could they know
God’s plans – they just move slow
Told ya

Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo

We got the mother of all wars
We’re just – not sure when but we’re sure of the source
He hates — the Israelites
He hates men sold out to Christ
He likes peace and he likes it false
He loves tramplin? on the Book divine
He’s got plans and he plays his part
He wants war and he comes with force

He hooked the crowd – but they are wrong
Their crafty kiiing – he put them on
Rebel nations – their forward address
Revelation – 16:16 says – it’s
Armageddon – how could they know
God’s plans – they just move slow
Told ya
Uhh!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo

Babel, Babel – the Torah says
Babel, Babel – a snake’s in the grass
Babel, Babel – why don’t they know
God?s plans – they just move slow
Told ya

Their former address – was facin’ a mess
In chapter 11 of old Genesis
They got the — translation of the languages
Now and — news live and their cameras and crews
Who wanna — be there when the battle ensues
‘Cause they love distress
But the dude won’t have success
Because he’s facin’ the best
But how could they know
I said, how could they know

So what you ought to know
The Revelation described
In chapter 19 long ago
Their man is doomed to lose and Christ defeats their troops
Because his forward address
Is a lake of regrets
Ooh – their faith is amiss
Ooh ooh — so how could they know
Heh heh — how could they know
Heh

[ ApologetiX – “I Know You Are but What Am I?” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mMADfBIs2w

*****************************
“Lightning Flashes”
(Parody of “Lightning Crashes” by Live)

Lightning flashes all over the sky Weather center calls for a storm This ain’t no ordinary sky
The invasion begins
Who thought that God would step in and stop the war? Lightning flashes … an old book of mine
Clearly mentioned all this before
We ain’t supposed to be surprised
But the few who prepared
Are gone now as we face the wrath of God
Ooh, I see Him comin’ back again
Like the lightning comes from east to the west
Faces fallin’ as the Son returns to earth again … I can see Him Lightning flashes … the moment of Christ
This moment He’s been waitin’ for
The angel hosts have arrived!
Pale and paralyzed, we face the Son
But the glory is too bright! Bright!
Ooh, I see Him comin’ back again
Like the lightning comes from east to the west
Voices callin’ out as sinners on the earth confess, “I believe it!” Ooh, I see Him comin’ back again
Like the lightning comes from east to the west
We’re so sorry, but repentence doesn’t work right then, I can see it Ooh, I see Him comin’ back again
Like He told in Matthew’s Gospel back then
Chapter 24 the 27th verse, amen … I believe it

[ ApologetiX – “Ticked” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOpzUnPlMBU

*****************************
“An Old King in the New Age”
(Parody of “Anarchy in the U.K.” by The Sex Pistols)

Quite loud! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

I am in debt to Christ
And I am bought with a price
Don’t know what I was but I know I regret it
I wanted this joy God supplied
Now I wanna please Him and our King
No doubts about it!

And our King’s more than you say
He’s coming sometime — it may be
A really long time off or rapidly
The future greets men with shocking speed
‘Cause Christ was our priest and our King
And He still is!

How many ways to God did you want?
Christ is the best – why use the rest?
Why choose the enemy? I choose John 14:6
I’m gonna believe in our King
That’s the only way for me!

“Is this the end?” people say
What is with the huge delay?
But He’s patient, why aren’t they?
My God, He wants all you saved
Read Second Peter chapter 3
And then 2:4 First Timothy

Christ wants to free men like me
And Christ wants us free and happy
And Christ wants us free and our kids
You dare not miss – this – joy!

[ ApologetiX – “I Know You Are but What Am I?” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfzgYNvOAJE

*****************************
“There Are Wolves Among Us”
(Parody of “Werewolves of London” performed by Warren Zevon)

I saw a weird wolf with a Bible trembling in his hand
Talkin’ to the sheep that don’t know where to graze
He was lookin’ for some ways to fleece those flocks
Gonna get a big church and preach ’bout faith

There are wolves among us
There are wolves among us

I hear ’em prowling around on Christian shows
Whenever I tune ’em in
Seen the holy Word of God mutilated late last night
They’ll do it Sunday again

There are wolves among us
There are wolves among us

If you dare to say repent
They’ll brand you a malcontent
Label me an overzealous naysayer
“You’d better stay away,” they grin
We preach on love, not sin!”
Huh, then why’d we need a Savior

There are wolves among us
There are wolves among us

Well, I saw the Lord Jesus warnin’ you and me
We should beware of wolves among us
I saw the Lord Jesus do it in Matthew 7:15 — uh
We should beware of wolves among us
I saw various Apostles speakin’ to people about it — I made a list
It’s filled with verses – ha
Aw hoo! Acts 20:29
There are wolves among us

There are wolves among us

There are wolves among us

[ ApologetiX – “Only a Glorified Cover Band” album ]

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMXgauV8LrM

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“Midnight Hour, Pt. 2”
(Parody of “In the Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett)

He’s gonna wait till the midnight hour
Till everyone is saved
He’s gonna wait till the midnight hour
That’s when the dead come from their graves He’s gonna come on down from Heaven
At 60 minutes past 11 – The midnight hour He’s gonna wait till the stars fall down Until He cleans up all the mess
He’s gonna wait till the knees bow down Till every tongue confess
He’s the only Lord above and
He’s really, really comin’ – In the midnight hour He’s gonna wait till the midnight hour
Till everyone is saved
He’s gonna wait till the midnight hour
That’s when the dead come from their graves He’s gonna take us up to Heaven
At 60 minutes past 11 – The midnight hour

[ ApologetiX – “Radical history Tour” album ]

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DEEP THOUGHTS:
“I tell myself I have time. But the itch forming along the back of my neck and across my shoulders says otherwise.

I hate this. It’s like I’m racing a clock ticking down to doomsday without knowing how much time I have left.”
[ Erica Cameron ]

“It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theater. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought it was a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning. They shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid the general applause from all the wits who believe that it is a joke.”
[ Søren Kierkegaard ]

“Bible teaching about the Second Coming of Christ was thought of as “doomsday” preaching. But not anymore. It is the only ray of hope that shines as an ever brightening beam in a darkening world.”
[ Billy Graham ]

“Jesus said they would be able to escape the great tribulation if they followed His exact instructions.”
[ J.A. Hardgrave ]

RELATED SCRIPTURE VERSES:

Matthew 24:21-22
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Psalm 83
O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5 For they conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Asshur also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah

9 Do to them as you did to Midian,
as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at En-dor,
who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves
of the pastures of God.”

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,[a]
like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest,
as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 Fill their faces with shame,
that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
18 that they may know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.

Ezekiel 38
The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech[a] and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech[b] and Tubal. 4 And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. 5 Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.

7 “Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. 9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.

10 “Thus says the Lord God: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme 11 and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ 12 to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders[c] will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. 16 You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

17 “Thus says the Lord God: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? 18 But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord God, my wrath will be roused in my anger. 19 For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. 21 I will summon a sword against Gog[d] on all my mountains, declares the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. 23 So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Jeremiah 30:5-7
“For thus says the LORD:
‘We have heard a voice of trembling,
Of fear, and not of peace.
Ask now, and see,
Whether a man is ever in labor with child?
So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins
Like a woman in labor,
And all faces turned pale?
Alas! For that day is great,
So that none is like it;
And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble,
But he shall be saved out of it.

Luke 21:36
Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Luke 21:34
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

Revelation 6:9-11
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Revelation 11:1-5
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 14:2-3
For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then the LORD will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.

Matthew 24:12-13
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Revelation 12:14-15
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.

Matthew 24:3
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:15-16
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Matthew 24:29-30
‘Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Luke 21:11-23
And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

Revelation 11:7
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:10
And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Psalm 91:1-8
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

Isaiah 6:13
But yet a tenth will be in it,
And will return and be for consuming,
As a terebinth tree or as an oak,
Whose stump remains when it is cut down.
So the holy seed shall be its stump.’

Isaiah 26:16-18
LORD, in trouble they have visited You,
They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.
As a woman with child
Is in pain and cries out in her pangs,
When she draws near the time of her delivery,
So have we been in Your sight, O LORD.
We have been with child, we have been in pain;
We have, as it were, brought forth wind;
We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth,
Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

Ezekiel 5:1-4
“And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber”s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel.

Daniel 12:1-2
“At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Joel 2:12-16
” Now, therefore,” says the LORD,
” Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him—
A grain offering and a drink offering
For the LORD your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the people,
Sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and nursing babes;
Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,
And the bride from her dressing room.

Revelation 16:15-16
“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”

Joel 3:2
I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.

Joel 3:9-17
Proclaim this among the nations:
‘ Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.”
Assemble and come, all you nations,
And gather together all around.
Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD.
‘ Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, go down;
For the winepress is full,
The vats overflow’
For their wickedness is great.’
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
The sun and moon will grow dark,
And the stars will diminish their brightness.
The LORD also will roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem;
The heavens and earth will shake;
But the LORD will be a shelter for His people,
And the strength of the children of Israel.
“ So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,
Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain.
Then Jerusalem shall be holy,
And no aliens shall ever pass through her again.”

Zachariah 14:2-3
“For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle.”

Revelation 16:14
“For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.”

Amos 4:12
“Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel;
Because I will do this to you,
Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

Isaiah 13:9
“Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.”

Zechariah 14:16
“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”

Matthew 10:22
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

Matthew 24:9
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.

Matthew 24:32-34
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Mark 13:19
For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

2 Timothy 3:11-12
persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

1 Peter 4:17
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Revelation 2:11
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.””

Revelation 13:4-5
So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

Revelation 13:11
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

Revelation 13:13-15
He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

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“A quick summary of the Christian “Gospel”:
JESUS’ PROPITIATION made our SINS FORGIVEN and IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so that we have GOD’S ACCEPTANCE into His Heaven and ETERNAL LIFE.”
[ Mark Besh ]

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Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ‘pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!

FOCUS VERSES:

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”
[ Matthew 24:6-8 ]

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
[ Matthew 24:21-22 ]

“For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.”
[ Mark 13:19 ]

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
[ 1 Thessalonians 5:9 ]

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
[ Revelation 3:10 ]

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
[ Matthew 24:29-30 ]

Mark

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If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net

Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.

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