Much attention was given to a documentary series I was asked to participate in. I believe the year was 2009 when I was filmed for the project the History Channel called The Nostradamus Effect.
My novel, released at that time, The Rapture Dialogues, was one reason they wanted to have me comment on the Rapture as part of their ongoing presentation of the sixteenth-century astrologer, apothecary, physician, and reputed seer, Michel de Nostradamus.
The world gives this ancient soothsayer the status of prophet while denying, for the most part, the true prophets of God’s Word. So I and another pre-Trib prophecy observer were more than happy about the opportunity to place truth from the Bible in that series. And, I must say, to their credit, so far as I can determine, the History Channel didn’t edit out what we discussed on camera.
It is truth that we must have in order to warn the world and edify the Body of Christ regarding things to soon come upon a planet destined for God’s judgment and wrath.
Israel, as we’ve seen many times from studying God’s Word and observing history, is critical to getting understanding. That is, God’s chosen nation is the key to where the generation alive now stands on God’s prophetic timeline. Never has that been more true than when digesting the massively important developments involved in the attack on the Jewish state on October 11, 2023.
While the pundits—and even politicians, in some cases—are going to Nostradamus to try to find out what’s happened and where things are going in this Israel-vs.-their-Islamic-enemies war, I am pleased to present what a true prophet of God foretells regarding where we stand at this moment in seeing prophecy unfold.
Zechariah, I propose, provides us a profound look at exactly that:
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And 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 12:1–3)
When Israel was suddenly and viciously attacked earlier this month by Hamas forces—whose unspeakably evil terrorists murdered even pre-born infants, severed babies’ heads, raped girls and women in front of parents and husbands, slaughtered those parents and husbands, and took girls and women captive to continue their horrors—much of the mainstream media, particularly in the US, was relatively silent. As a matter of fact, the main rants coming from the media were calls for a ceasefire to stop Israel’s retaliation against Hamas while IDF forces made Gaza a land of smoking carnage.
Then, the anti-Israel media and all their complicit ilk, including US representatives, got their opportunity to turn it all against the Jews. A Baptist-run hospital in Gaza was supposedly hit directly by a missile explosion. I say “supposedly,” because it turned out later that an adjacent parking lot was the most affected by the explosion.
The cries were a cacophony of rage against Israel. And the rage was almost instantaneously echoed throughout much of the rest of the world–particularly the Islamic world. The following gives perspective:
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that intelligence sources indicate it was an Islamic Jihad terrorist group rocket that hit a Gaza hospital, killing hundreds, as opposed to an Israeli strike as first claimed by international corporate media and terror group Hamas. The IDF provided video to support their claims.
“Following an analysis by the IDF’s operational systems, a barrage of rockets was launched toward Israel, which passed in the vicinity of the hospital, when it was hit,” the IDF said in a statement posted on X. “According to intelligence information from a number of sources we have, Islamic Jihad terrorist organization is responsible for the failed rocket launch that hit the hospital.”
In the immediate aftermath of the blast, it was reported that upwards of 500 Palestinians had been killed with the number expected to rise. U.S. corporate media and some Members of Congress were quick to condemn the Israeli military, citing Hamas claims that it was an Israeli airstrike that hit the hospital. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) said, “Bombing a hospital is among the gravest of war crimes.” Omar insinuated that it was the IDF that orchestrated the attack. CNN and MSNBC both reported that an Israeli airstrike was responsible for the deadly blast – repeating the claims made by Hamas.
Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, also appeared to uncritically accept Hamas’s narrative. “The news coming out of Gaza is horrific and absolutely unacceptable. International humanitarian and international law needs to be respected in this and in all cases,” Trudeau said shortly after the news broke.
“The barbaric terrorists in Gaza are the ones who attacked the Gaza hospital, not the IDF,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pushing back against corporate media that was quick to blame his country’s military. “Those who cruelly murdered our children, murder their children as well.” (“A Jihadist Rocket Aimed at Israel Hit the Gaza Hospital, Killing 500+, Says IDF,” William Upton, The National Post)***
Even the Biden administration–definitely not on the side of Israel, it has proved by its actions—was forced by the massive amount of evidence to admit that it was an errant missile fired by the Islamic Jihad, a terrorist group affiliated with Hamas, that struck the hospital parking area. Despite the terrorists of Gaza killing more than 1,300 Israelis and committing untold atrocities, the president gave the Gaza government $100 million in “humanitarian aid,” which will no doubt go straight to Hamas (the so-called elected governing agents) for rebuilding their weaponry.
Israel has done nothing more than defending themselves by attacking their attackers, yet the world of anti-Israel forces continues to blame them. This blame comes from even some of the leaders within the US government and around the world.
Zechariah’s prophecy is truly beginning to set the stage to come. Israel will become that “burdensome stone and cup of trembling” the prophet foretold.
We can be assured of this based upon things developing so rapidly that it’s hard to try to keep up.
For example, a recent Harvard-Harris Poll indicates that 51% of college students in the United States believe Israel deserves the attacks by Hamas because of Palestinian oppression by the Jewish state.
Last week in New York City, a throng of college-age students marched, wearing masks and shouting “Intifata!” Interlaced within their chanting were the words: “There is only one solution!
To those who are aware of historical precedent, the chanting eerily rings in the ears of memory.
This smacks of Nazi Germany and the likes of SS General Reinhard Heydrich, who led hatred against the Jews at the January 1942 Wannsee Conference that came up with the Final Solution.
Many believe war in the Middle East, with Israel at the center, is the first salvo of what will become WW III. I disagree. That last war of humankind that will end at Armageddon with Christ’s return (Revelation 19:11) will have its genesis following the covenant Antichrist will “confirm,” according to another great prophet, Daniel (Daniel 9:26–27).
I believe things will keep moving toward the apparent start of that dreaded final war, but that the most spectacular event of all history will preempt plans of the globalists to provoke conflict that will have people of the world crying for “peace and safety.”
The Rapture is that great event, I believe God’s Word promises. The Rapture will provide escape from the “Zechariah Effect,” which brings cursing upon a world that curses Israel and will bring all anti-God rebels to Armageddon. Here is how to be part of God’s family and go to Jesus when He calls all believers to Himself:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus , and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10)
Terry James Prophecy Line 
I am a believer and love Israel but there is so much more to this story.Critical thinking is needed here – how was it that Hamas was “allowed”to do what they did when this border is the most protected in the worldby the IDF? How come there was NO ONE there to defend the borderand that it took IDF at least 6 hours to intervene?? This was an inside job and now Israel has most of the world on their side to go in and ethnic cleanse the population of Gaza where 50% of the population arechildren – is this what Jesus would do???Netanyahu does not have the Israeli people behind him as he has beendoing some nefarious things and this is a distraction from his demise.Please look into the situation more with a critical mind knowing that war is also full of lies. The media are corrupted and backed by theseliars – how is it you won’t believe that the Israeli’s bombed the hospitalbut will believe everything that Hamas has done even though the reporterthat said babies had been beheaded retracted her statement later?There has been no proof of this but this is what feeds the war instinct andmakes it seem like this is the right thing to do. War is never right and I feelthat Christians are taking sides and this is not okay – I am devastated by thecarnage – these are war crimes being committed by Israel and I will not backthis type of tyranny and evil.
From the Hamas Charter:
“This is the charter of Harakat al- Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Hamas)…. Our battle with the Jews is long and dangerous, requiring all dedicated efforts. It is a phase which must be followed by succeeding phases, a battalion which must be supported by battalion after battalion of the divided Arab and Islamic world until the enemy is overcome, and the victory of Allah descend.”
“Even though the Islamic Resistance Movement looks forward to fulfill the promise of Allah no matter how long it takes because the Prophet of Allah (saas) says: The Last Hour would not come until the Muslims fight against the Jews and the Muslims
would kill them.”
“ ‘Israel will be established and will stay established until Islam nullifies it as it nullified what was before it.’ The Martyred Imam Hasan al-Banna (may Allah have mercy upon him)”
From the Declaration of the Establishment of Israel:
“THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
Claims of an “inside job” and “fraud” were made about 9-11 and the Sandy Hook school killings in my own state (Connecticut) were found to be totally without merit. With the information above, do you think it’s possible yours may also be likewise wrong as well, Elaine?
2 Thessalonians {2:7} For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth* [will let,] until he be taken out of the way. {2:8} And then shall that Wicked** be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: {2:9} [Even him,] whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, {2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Notes: *restrains.” The one who is doing that, at present, is the Holy Spirit. ; ** the Antichrist.
When we see how the media, politicans, the universities and just about every other source of information is already twisting the facts concerning the Israeli-Hamas conflict, that people want to be deluded is already clear. This is not a new attack on the truth but an intensification which has been going on for a long time, especially since the turn of this awful 21st Century. In my 70+ years I have never seen anything like it.
It is exactly this mentality that will let the Antichrist come to power in the seven years of the Tribulation.
Just so, Terry and Ed.
Unfortunately too many people are moved by their emotions rather than by the TRUTH and the Bible. Jesus said repeatedly to not be deceived in these last of the Last Days. He knew there would be great deception, and warned us to trust in Him alone.
One of Satan’s favorite, and most effective, tactics is to use our emotions and his pithy slogans to deceive us, and the world. He doesn’t care how he manipulates us into lies and Hell, as long as we go there, and preferably take others with us. Some of his most effective modern battle cries are “Love is Love!” And “What would Jesus do?!” And “My God would never send anyone to Hell, because He is a God of love and peace.”
No, the Word alone must always be our only source of truth. Especially in times of great stress, we must not lean on our own reasoning or our emotions. When it comes to thinking, Isaiah 55:8-9 says in God’s voice 8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” As modern Believers, we has some scant concept of just how high the Heavens truly are and it is staggering. That is why we must rely solely on the words of our Lord Jesus.
As for our emotions, Jeremiah 17:9 tells us “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it?” Our heart is a built-in, sin-filled liar, plain and simple.
Eyes on Jesus, mind in the Word, and constant faith in His promises and direction.
Well said, Robin and you are absolutely right.
After telling his disciples that the temple would one day be totally destroyed, his first warning was to be aware of deception. I’m pretty sure he had good reason to make this initial statement, seeing now how rampant deception is and how willing people are to accept it.
Paul echoed these same warnings regarding the church:
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 liesin hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
Now if even the church could fall victim to deception, what chance does the secular world have to resist it?
Spot on Terry! I was thinking a couple of weeks ago that this could very well be the event that turns the whole world against Israel. Looking forward to being in His kingdom with all of my brothers and sisters. See you soon!
Although the unredeemed have no fear of God, I tremble on their behalf. (Such were we all before salvation. Praise Jesus for His mercy and grace.)
Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” Therefore, everything in creation was “very good” in God’s eyes. Creation…ALL of creation was very good?! We’d describe it as mind-blowing, awesome, stupendous, unbelievable, and fall on our faces in worship if we witnessed it. I would argue we should all continue to do that every day. God is marvelously humble, isn’t He?!
Along that same line of thinking, just imagine what He means in 2 Thessalonians by great deception and great apostasy. Those are very strong adjectives when coming from the Almighty. I find it terrifying and overwhelming. We see so many people who are blinded and deceived already. The Lord’s judgment and wrath will literally destroy their minds, and thereafter their souls.