Authors note: The commentary today is taken in part from my conclusion to DISCERNERS: Analyzing Converging Prophetic Signs for the End of Days.
Our weekly column on the raptureready.com website is called “Nearing Midnight” because we discern that planet earth has almost reached the midnight hour of the Church Age, or Age of Grace.
Whereas the geopolitical humanist powers that be frame their view of human history’s closing minutes within their ”Doomsday Clock,” we observe these fleeting times before Christ’s call to the Church by placing the template of Bible prophecy over the converging of prophetic stage-setting.
The political scientists and other scientists can only guess at what will happen to the human race. Most all believe that humankind will meet its end from nuclear holocaust or by climate-change disasters.
We who give total credence to what God’s Word has to say about the consummation of the age can know for certain, through a detailed preview by God, Himself, how the end of all things will unfold. We don’t know precisely when the end will come. We can know, however, the general time when it will begin to manifest.
We can know for certain when the “midnight hour” of God’s prophetic timeline is approaching.
The Lord Jesus gave His family (born-again believers) explicit instruction about how and when to discern the nearing midnight hour.
And when you see all these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your head, for your redemption draws near. (Luke 21: 28)
Note that Jesus didn’t say to watch for when these things “come to pass.” He said “when these things begin to come to pass,” we are to “look up and lift up our heads, for our redemption is drawing near.” At that time, He will be on His way to rescue His Bride –the Church—from the carnage that is about to take place on earth.
The blackness of the midnight hour will descend following that rescue of the Church. At seven years into the Tribulation, complete evil will have engulfed the planet with satanic darkness. The first bright gleaming that pierces that most horrendous time of all of human history will then burst through the billowing storm clouds of Armageddon. Brilliant light will part the heavens, and Christ and His army will appear.
So, discerning the times in which we find ourselves is all-important to the believer. If it was not possible to discern the times, Jesus wouldn’t have told us: “What I say unto one, I say unto all. Watch” (Mark 13:37).
He promises in Revelation 3:10 that we are not appointed to God’s wrath, and will be kept out of the very hour of that wrath.
So, what are the things the Lord forewarned would be taking place–the things beginning to come to pass—that we see happening at this very moment? Exactly what are the things for which we are to look?
Remember, the whole Bible is the Word of God. And, Jesus is that Word (John 1: 1).
Every prophecy, whether it’s already accomplished or yet to come, is attributable to Him. God, the Holy Spirit, inspired the Old and New Testament prophets to give the prophecies. So, we don’t have to consider just what the Lord Jesus, Himself, said by way of prophecy to discern the times in which we live. We can and must consider every prophecy yet to be fulfilled, presented in the Bible by all Bible prophets, as part of our discernment process.
I am of the camp that believes we are seeing the stage being set for fulfillment of prophecy yet future rather than fulfillment itself. The one caveat concerns the nation Israel. My view is that Israel again being a nation after millennia of dispersion into all the world is fulfilled prophecy.
That said, however, everything we see happening around us at this very hour has prophetic significance. Some things are profoundly significant—for example, the coalition of nations forming to Israel’s north.
Russia (land of Magog), Iran (much of ancient Persia), and Turkey (the land of Togarmah) coming together in a coalescing alliance is a spectacular example of God’s foreknowledge of things to come. These, of course, are exactly the central actors prophetically scheduled to come against God’s chosen nation, Israel, according to Ezekiel 38 and 39.
It must be agreed that much of the stage-setting itself is likened to fulfilled prophecy in some ways. For example, the apostle Paul’s “perilous times” words, presented in 2 Timothy 3, offer a vivid snapshot of these spiritually darkening days. While prophecy yet future, for the most part, seems reserved for the Tribulation (Daniel’s seventieth week), developments in our nation and world today are becoming ever more like those given in God’s Word for that last seven years immediately preceding Christ’s Second Advent.
Luciferic darkening has so infected this generation in America and throughout the world that we who “watch” in order to discern the times are brought face to face with end-times insanity born of greatly increased rebellion against God. Other than the fact that Israel itself is what most discerners view as the most dramatic sign of where this generation stands on God’s prophetic timeline, there runs a deadly septicemia throughout humankind that marks this as a generation at the very end of its prophetic rope. The infection proves we are in the terminal stage of rebellion.
Paul explains very clearly that infection, satanically injected into humanity’s collective bloodstream.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:18-32)
God condemns those who are caught in this evil, destructive quagmire of depravity. But Jesus gives us the way out of that soul-destroying quicksand:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Oh, YES! and AMEN! I see it all coming together just as The Bible has told us. It’s ugly and evil, but our Lord warned us. I am clinging to Him Who is the Truth and the Way Home. He has told us, “Fear not for I am with you…”
Hold on to me, dear Savior!
Judy M.
I see it also. And with Judy I pray for Jesus the Christ to hold on to me. The evil and depravit is more than I can stand. I have seen enough.
Thank God the Father for our Lord’s sacrifice, and the seal of the Holy Spirit!
You can feel how close the Tribulation is!
I cannot help but make comment on the point which should be obvious to everyone. (I do not mean to diminish in any way that which is our Blessed Hope, but restore a little balance to what I am hearing.) The Rapture was written about 2000 years ago , roughly. There were many prophecies which had to be fulfilled first and have been There remain some things yet to be fulfilled. It seems ludicrous that the “Early Church Fathers’ could teach that none of these things had to occur first. If you look carefully at history the world has been headed towards the climax which we are now more clearly focussed. The Rapture has to be because God so planned it but it will take place only when God so planned . His word tells us what we need to know without the ‘Early Fathers’ putting their 2 cents worth in. Stick with God’s word alone and do not be mislead by the liars and false prophets whom we were warned would come.
I am listening to every word online coming from reliable and faithful Bible pastors, theologians and eschatologists. I know Jesus is so very near, hearing of His coming gives me comfort and a “piece of Heaven” until He takes us home.
He told us the world would not understand the signs of His coming but WE would understand them. Thank you Jesus! It seems like they are jumping out at us every day. I am praying earnestly for the unredeemed elect to turn to Him now, and be raptured BEFORE the breaking of the Seals and the rest of God’s wrath falls upon the world.
We probably have an idea of how Noah felt, preaching and pleading with people to come to the Lord before the rain began, but they mocked him and laughed. Most Americans are the same, putting their faith in the November 2022 elections, so foolish! Jesus is the only Door through and out of what is coming.
Our world today has the fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies of Christ’s first advent and we are watching the convergence of the signs of His second…oh, but I have so many people who are not yet saved that I pray for. My heart grieves for them.
Even so, come Lord Jesus! What incredible hope we have, to know soon He is taking us to be with Him FOREVER! Hallelujah!!!
There is one thing which concerns me when reading this series of writings Some of the readers do not seem to think for themselves but follow what others tell or have told them. There seem to be a number of Cessationists among them. i.e, Those who believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today – That they died with the early Apostles. They claim that we have the whole of God’s word in the Bible. They are blind to the evidence so freely available which tells them otherwise. God speaks to everyone today who will draw near to Him in all seriousness. We have classic examples in men such as Charles Finney the great evangelist and revivalist of the 18/19 century whose auto-biography is clear evidence as to what I am saying .However we do not have to go back in history . So many Christians who are faithfull to Gods word , hear His voice today. And yet they say they read God’s word (but apparently do not believe it). I have been accused of following NAR teachings. That group is apparently of fairly recent origins , but clearly it has not the endorsement of Cessationists. Neither have I any personal experience of it, but neither am I a Cessationist. I believe God’s Word the Bible and His Rhema word ( the things which He speaks to me today. They are consistent, coming from the one infalable sauce.
When I say that that the Imminency of the rapture is false doctrine I say so with all sincerity, believing that what He has revealed to me must take place first. Of course, if one is to continually repeat that the rapture is imminent he/she must inevitably be right when all else has taken place so it will actually occur.
I truly appreciate the irony of you claiming that the imminence of Christ’s return is false doctrine which people believe because they have been told by others, while YOU claim special revelation otherwise, in clear (infalable?) opposition to scripture. Such that false teachers like you are ever hearing but never listening, and ever babbling but never speaking the whole truth. Before this year did you understand Jeremiah 30:6, which immediately precedes verse 7, The Time of Jacob’s Trouble?
I have a love of the truth, Mike . I do not want to remain in ignorance , but remain teachable. I wish it were so for all others. No-one is infallible.
I am sorry but I do not understand your point except that you wish to be offensive. You offer nothing to support your charges. The time of Jacobs trouble is the Tribulation period , not yet. In support of what I earlier said about imminency of the Rapture I earlier quoted 2 Thess.2:1-3. Please , read it. These things (and others) must happen before the Rapture can take place. We do not live in a void. Every moment things which were written in Scripture are happening. We simply must learn to’ join the dots’ correctly.
The doctrine of imminacy for the Rapture which simply says there is no prophetic sign to be fulfilled before the Return of Christ in the air for His Bride is a Early Church teaching covering the question of “when.”When can know the times or the seasons and we certainly live in interesting and significant End Times.The important Biblical concept is to live holy lives as faithful believers in terms of Titus 2:11-14 and “occupy” until He comes.That is the Blessed Hope referred to.
Who are those early Church teachers to whom you refer Lyndon? Is their opinion to be preferred to Scripture? My authority is 2 Thess 2:1-3 which any reader can understand. These words must be fulfilled before the rapture can take place. What God has told me, I will not repeat but simply watch with expectation to see its fulfillment . I am sure all will be glad to experience it but I am only concerned that others should not be led astray. I mean ,for example, that the Rapture will not come tonight , nor tomorrow nor next week. Of course we must continue to hope and believe Gods whole word and do as the Holy Spirit leads us. I am minded again of the word that came to me recently. “The just will live by faith.” (“We must build ourselves up in the most Holy faith” we are told elsewhere in the Word.
Now Biden thinks HE can divide Jerusalem between the Palestinians and the Israelis. And we have the attempted takeover of all the nations of the world by the Who/UN.
I have been in prayer for our nation and for our world to repent and return to God the Father, Creator. Yes, I have known the frustration of Noah when even the church would not listen to what God was saying in His Holy Word. i was accused of trying to frighten people into becoming Christians. But, wait, didn’t Peter and Paul and the other apostles and disciples do that. By merely telling people what is coming, it should frighten them into getting right with the Father lest they feel His wrath.
God help us all. These seem to be building up to become the worst of times for the sinful world that will not repent and ask for God’s forgiveness and the best of times for the Christians who are paying attention to what God is telling us.
My husband’s ashes are in a box on my mantle waiting to be taken to Oklahoma to be spread on his parents’ graves. i can think of no greater joy than his Rapture with mine not long after. I have prayed that we would go together and that was also his prayer but… he died 3 months ago.
With the deaths from the “vaccines” (myocarditis, blood clots, strokes etc), do you think Matthew 24:22 is referring to this?
Matthew {10:28} And fear not them which kill the body,
but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is
able to destroy both soul and body in hell. [Jesus is the speaker.]
According to this, there’s nothing wrong if what you are telling people scares them into smartening up, Dawn.
You just keep at it and when we you get to heaven, I’m reasonably certain those who did accept Jesus because of your witness will thank you personally!
And so will the Lord!
If not the total picture (we don’t know exactly what is to come yet) what Ed is referring to is clearly part of a falling away).As society continues in its spiral downwards, hearts are hardened further towards God. ‘If he exists’ they say, ‘why does he let such terrible things happen?’ Not understanding, they blame Him in whom they do not believe. I cannot forget His words though and His very nature, that ‘He is not willing that any should perish’ and He will yet bring many into the Kingdom before the end.
1 Timothy {4:1} Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; {4:2} Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; {4:3} Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Though I get the sense that Paul was directing this message primarily to the church which was under Timothy’s charge, I think it also applies to the state that the human race will universally reach at the end of this age.
My impression is that we’ve reached a point of “seared consciences” wherein most of humanity either embraces evil or is incapable of recognizing it, despite its prevalence.
I have no doubt the societies of Noah and Lot were exactly in the same condition before God directly intervened. Since that was the case for them, what does that say about our world now?