This world has gone crazy–completely nuts!

How many times lately have you thought or said that, or heard someone else make such an observation? I, myself, make it on an almost daily basis these days. I discern that these are the most out-of-control times I’ve observed in 76 years of life. I really mean that. There are things happening today within this nation the likes of which I’ve never witnessed.

• Things like a former pediatrician, now governor of a state, approving and even pushing that babies scheduled for abortion be legally murdered if they survive the procedure and are born.
• Things like men marrying men and women marrying women, with approval and even smiles of elation by many in the nation.
• Things like grown men being allowed to use public toilet facilities at the same time little girls and women are using the same facilities–all because the man supposedly is conflicted about his gender.
• Things like an 18-year-old young man with his underage transgender friend who is trying to turn into being a male shooting up a public elementary school because he hates Christians and President Trump.
• Things like the mainstream media that totally ignores this hate-filled act against Christians, yet engages in 24/7 coverage if such murderous hate is directed at Muslims.
• Things like sanctuary cities giving every amenity through tax dollars to illegal aliens, even those who murder citizens of those cities.
• Things like people, because of political ideology, who are so-called comedians or entertainers being allowed to talk about wanting to assassinate a president and not being arrested.
• Things like drug users and others being allowed to defecate and urinate on public streets in San Francisco and strew used drug needles in children’s playgrounds, all the while receiving protection from those cities’ governments that allow them to do so.
• Things like allowing a few Millennials who think America is the cause of all the world’s problems, because they have been taught this insanity through a now-perverted educational system, to change a major political party from one merely liberal to completely reprobate and anti-God.
• Things like a congressional committee chairman who hates the president demanding that the attorney general of the United States break the law and give him information that the law forbids him receiving–else holding the AG in contempt of Congress.
• Things like the Democrat speaker of the house being at the head of the party who has broken constitutional law at every juncture as part of the Trump Derangement Syndrome and yet accusing the president as being one who acts contrary to the Constitution of the United States.
• Things like the entire mainstream media, both news and entertainment, being totally against a president based only on the fact that he beat the candidate they wanted to be president.
• Things like that same media, the Democrat Party and even a number of those who claim to be part of the president’s party so hating him that they supported, and continue to do so, outright lies and a vile, fake dossier they themselves cooked up to try to ruin his presidency.
• Things like the top echelon of America’s FBI, CIA, and others of the intelligence services going along and even being complicit in these efforts to try a coup against a president who has inarguably lifted the nation economically, militarily, and, I’m of the opinion, in other ways.
• Things like those who mention the name of Jesus Christ and the need for the lost of the world to receive the grace of His redemptive act on the cross being called “haters”–and even being prosecuted for hate speech.
• Things like the tiny nation of Israel being assaulted by enemies all around, yet world opinion blaming the Jewish state for the hatred against it.
• Things like today’s rise of anti-Semitism, with the Holocaust and the anti-Semitism that spawned the Nazi regime not far back in the world’s collective memory.

I’m sure you can think of even more egregious examples of the madness of this strange age.

All of this is to make the point that we are at a time where those who name the name of Christ should strive to appropriate discernment as never before. This generation is observably bumping up against the very end of the Age of Grace–the Church Age.

Jesus said the following to the Judaizers–the Pharisees and Sadducees who mocked Him and asked for “a sign” that He was the Messiah even though Jesus had performed and was even then performing miracles and wonders prophesied by Israel’s prophets long before Christ’s time on earth.

When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:2-3)

All Christians have within themselves the ability to discern the signals of Christ’s soon bringing an end to this world system. This is a gift from the Creator to those who love Him. It is a distinguishing mark that separates the believer from the nonbeliever. Again, Paul wrote under inspiration of the Holy Spirit who indwells each and every believer.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

This is why Bible prophecy–eschatology, the study of end things–is so important. God has provided a road map of generally what to look for as we travel the course toward the end of the age. The Christian–the spiritually-attuned believer–can discern these weird, troubling times unfolding around us.

It is with this preface that I herein announce my next book. The title will be Discerners: Analyzing Converging Prophetic Signs for the End of Days.

We are working hard to produce this volume. It will be what I believe–based upon the brilliantly written chapters by the authors I’ve read so far–a book that has been given us by the Lord to present at this crucial time. I’m greatly inspired by what the sixteen authors–some of the best known writers, broadcasters, teachers, and ministers–have to say about discerning these times in which we are privileged to live.

We hope to have the book ready by July and will keep you informed. We will ask for as many preorders as possible. We want to get this book into the hands of many, many pastors and teachers as well as into the hands of each of you who want to be discerners like the Lord Jesus Himself obviously exhorts us to be.

While platitudes flow from the political left, claiming that their ideology as the most compassionate, the most tolerant, it’s U.S. Mecca is showing otherwise. As a matter of fact, the city that never sleeps has apparently awakened in ways thought headed for extinction.

Antisemitism is manifesting significantly in New York City, according to a report by the New York Police Department. The report claims a tremendous rise in crimes against Jews and in acts involving crimes of hate in general.

The New York Police Department has reported a massive increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes in the city, with the data showing an 82% increase in such incidents in the first three months of 2019. The Anti-Defamation League’s 2018 audit of anti-Semitic incidents published earlier this week found that there was an even bigger rise of anti-Semitic hate crime in New York State – an increase of 170% from the third to the fourth quarter of 2018.

In the latest in the ongoing series of incidents of harassment and assault against Jews in New York, a passerby spat at and cursed a Jewish man in Brooklyn on Wednesday, an incident which was captured on video and published on social media.

“The data released by NYPD today is deeply disturbing and should serve as an important reminder to all of us that we must continue to be vigilant in the face of hate,” said Evan R. Bernstein, ADL NY/NJ Regional Director. (“Massive 82% spike in anti-Semitic hate crimes in New York City, NYPD finds,” by Jeremy Sharon, Jerusalem Post, May 3, 2019)

Such rise of antisemitism is not unique to New York. Our news sources have been parading such reports for years across our daily headlines. The percentage of incidents have ratcheted up in hockey-stick fashion across the globe during recent weeks.

The breakout of hatred for Jews, not coincidentally, comes during time of a tremendous rise in Islamic populations across Europe and other places. All one has to do is to consider the dynamics taking place within the U.S. House of Representatives to understand that America and the world face troubles just ahead. They are troubles that are prophesied in God’s Word.

Rants against Israel and, tacitly, against the Jewish race by a newly elected Muslim congresswoman give focus to the mounting evidence of the coming time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). The rants come from an elected representative whose constituency views Israel and Jews as the central catalyst for most all the problems across the world. The Democrat Party Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi–and, for that matter, all of those in Congress–can’t or won’t govern the Muslim woman’s caustic rhetoric against Israel and Jews.

They, instead, do everything to accommodate her wants and needs as a Muslim–for example, throwing out rules against headwear while in session, allowing her to wear her Islamic headdress.

They tolerate her vitriolic spewing of hate, while they and the mainstream media do their best to cover up any mention of Muslim involvement in the many jihad attacks that have been inflicted on thousands throughout the recent decades. We are castigated by those media types anytime we mention the words “Islam” or “Muslim” in conjunction with such hate crimes. We remember recently when both Shepard Smith and Neil Cavuto of FOX News cut off guests when they mentioned Islam as a problem within this context.

American presidents and American congressional members throughout the years since the conclusion of World War II in 1945 joined the Israelis in echoing their declaration, “Never again!”

So, what is happening? The dynamics have changed. The tolerance seems only for those who are adamantly against the Jews–and, for that matter, against Christians. The left goes deafeningly silent when Christians across the world are persecuted, tortured, and murdered. These same “tolerant” within Washington officialdom go ballistic when Israel does what is necessary to protect its people. Muslims should, these anti-Israel political ideologues shout, be allowed to do whatsoever they wish to the Jewish military forces defending the country, because they are being oppressed and kept from taking over their rightful homeland–though Israel’s right to the land is based on longstanding biblical and historical facts.

All of this points to the coming second holocaust–the one that will be instituted by Antichrist, planet earth’s final and most terrible tyrant.

The pledge “Never Again!” in regard to saying genocide against the Jewish people will never again be allowed will be overruled for a short time by the beast of Revelation 13. But, the God of Heaven says “Never Again!” too. We can be assured that pledge will be kept. Israel will never again be removed from her land. Israel will survive and thrive to become the head of all nations for Christ’s millennial reign.

“Behold, he that kept Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalms 121:4).

One of the invectives employed to denigrate the pre-Trib Rapture view continues, and grows more angry in expression. The charge is that we who believe the pre-Trib view as truth from God’s Word claim there will be a secret Rapture.

We are, those who oppose the pre-Trib view say, ignoring the prophecy that “every eye shall see him” when Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation (Daniel’s seventieth week). It is clear, they proclaim, that God will gather the elect from the four points of Heaven upon the Second Advent. There is, they adamantly declare, only one Second Coming of Christ, not two phases of that great event as we believe Scripture teaches.

While listening to a TV preacher the other day, I heard this charge and a number of others. But the scriptural basis for his accusation that we who believe and teach the pre-Trib Rapture are false teachers came primarily from  one premise. We, he–like others of the post-Trib teachers–proclaimed that we “pre-Tribbers” have no understanding of the use of trumpets in prophecy yet future.

These who clutch the post-Trib view on the Rapture of the Church angrily propose that we who hold the pre-Trib position say the Lord will quietly slip into the clouds above the planet. He will then, in a very stealthy manner, sneak believers into His presence. This would be, they inveigh, totally in contradiction to the “every eye will see” Christ prophecy, regarding when He returns in power and glory at the end of Armageddon.

Like those who hold to the mid-Trib view (that the Rapture will occur at the midpoint of the Tribulation) and to the pre-wrath view (that the Rapture will take place immediately before God’s wrath in the great Tribulation begins), the post-Trib purveyors declare that those of us who teach the pre-Trib view endanger Christians. We are false teachers and will cause them to not recognize Antichrist when he comes to power. Christians, therefore, will be in danger of falling for the beast’s lie of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. They might then accept his number-and-mark system and take the mark of the beast of Revelation 13:16-18.

Of course, the question in all of this first comes to mind, as expressed in the title of this commentary: “What Secret Rapture?”

Jesus, Himself, we are told, will shout “Come up here!” (Revelation 4:1). His voice will be like the voice of an archangel. It will be like a trumpet or shofar. Every living believer–and even the dead believers of the Age of Grace (Church Age) will hear the Lord’s call.

There is nowhere in Scripture regarding Paul’s prophecies on the Rapture where this call will be without loud acclamation. The world of rebels might not know what it means, but no Scripture says it will be a secret.

Much more than this, I am persuaded in the deepest reaches of my spiritual heart that Jesus speaks to this very fact in His Olivet Discourse. Christ will make His insertion into the affairs of mankind known! We have looked at it many times. Here are the most relevant scriptural references in trying to make the point.

Jesus foretells precisely the conditions at the time of His next intervention into human history. He first instructs believers about the “twinkling of an eye” moment when He will intervene:

• “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36).
• “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42).

Notice that this intervention into human history will be completely different from the Second Advent (Revelation 19:11) when “every eye will see” Him. For this great event (the first phase of Christ’s Second Coming), there is no notice. No one knows the time of its occurrence. In the case of the Second Advent (the second phase), the exact number of days until its occurrence can be calculated.

Then, Scripture records Christ’s most profound prophetic indicator to prove the point that this will not be a secret Rapture:

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:28-30)

Again, notice that this could not be the Second Advent at the end of Armageddon. Things are going along relatively normal at the time  described in Jesus’ prophecy in this case. The horrors as described in the seals, trumpet, and bowl judgments are not in view. People are going about business as usual.

Jesus says this will be a time when the Son of man is revealed.

Get it? This is not a secret Rapture! It is a tremendously explosive time in human history–like when Sodom and Gomorrah were judged! Here is how we know the pre-Trib Rapture is the truth and not the demonic, imaginative figment of some young witch in the 1800s. God, Himself, tells us precisely that this removal of His people–believers–will happen an instant before His judgment falls.

But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:29-30)

It will be just like that judgment, Jesus forewarned. There will be great, planetary troubles beginning at the very time of the Rapture of the Church. Judgment will begin falling that very day. While it will become increasingly more destructive as the time approaches the confirming of the covenant of Daniel 9:26-27 and beyond, God’s judgment will begin at the moment (twinkling of an eye–atomos of time) He next reveals Himself to this rebellious planet of earth dwellers.

And, about the pre-Tribbers–as the TV preacher I heard called us in a scathing tone–who are, he says, ignorant or deliberately misleading in consideration of the term “last trump,” I will add a few concluding words. 

The charge is that there is only one “last trump” or “trumpet” in prophecy yet future. The post-Trib view most often concludes that it is found in Revelation 11:15-19. This, they declare, is the same “trumpet” found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52–even though the word “trumpet” isn’t mentioned in Revelation 11:15-19.

In fact, that passage says:

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

I will let you, the reader, look these up for brevity’s sake. Just consider that this is the chief point of their argument against the pre-Trib view, which is based upon many scriptural references, all within specific context.

Dr. Thomas Ice has quoted Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost in tearing apart that post-Trib argument regarding the last trump. He first presents facts about Biblical trumpets.

Throughout the Bible there are a number of trumpets being blown. For example in Numbers 10 there are trumpets being used in order to give commands to the people of Israel. For example, a trumpet is used to assemble the people for their journey and another trumpet that signals the start of their journey. There were trumpet sounds that would tell the people to stop and another sound telling them to assemble. Depending upon whether the people were moving are getting ready to move, the last trumpet would signal them to move or if moving, a second last trumpet sound would tell them when to stop. So even in this context, for example, there are multiple “last trumpets.” (“The Last Trumpet,” by Thomas Ice, raptureready.com)

Dwight Pentecost cites the following reasons as to why the “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is different from any of the trumpet judgments in Revelation.

There seems to be a number of observations that make it impossible for one to identify these two trumps.

(1) The trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15:52…sounds before the wrath of God descends, while…the chronology or Revelation indicates that the trumpet in Revelation 11:15 sounds at the end of the time of wrath….

(2) The trumpet that summons the church is called the trump of God, while the seventh trump is an angel’ s trumpet….

(3) The trumpet for the church is singular. No trumpets have preceded it so that it can not be said to be the last of a series. The trumpet that closes the tribulation period is clearly the last of a series of seven.

(4) In 1 Thessalonians 4 the voice associated with the sounding of the trumpet summons the dead and the living and consequently is heard before the resurrection. In the Revelation, while a resurrection is mentioned (11:12), the trumpet does not sound until after the resurrection, showing us that two different events must be in view.

(5) The trumpet in 1 Thessalonians issues in blessing, in life, in glory, while the trumpet in Revelation issues in judgment upon the enemies of God.

(6) In the Thessalonians passage the trumpet sounds “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” In Revelation 10:7 the indication is that the seventh trumpet shall sound over a continued period of time, probably for the duration of the judgments that fall under it, for John speaks of the angel that shall “begin to sound.”…

(7) The trumpet in 1 Thessalonians is distinctly for the church. Since God is dealing with Israel in particular, and Gentiles in general, in the tribulation, this seventh trumpet, which falls in the period of the tribulation, could not have reference to the church without losing the distinctions between the church and Israel.

(8) The passage in Revelation depicts a great earthquake in which thousands are slain, and the believing remnant that worships God is stricken with fear. In the Thessalonians passage there is no earth quake mentioned.

(9) While the church will be rewarded at the time of the rapture, yet the reward given to “thy servants the prophets, and to the saints” cannot be that event. The rewarding mentioned in Revelation 11:18 is seen to take place on the earth after the second advent of Christ, following the judgment on His enemies. Since the church is rewarded in the air, following the rapture, these must be two distinct events. (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things To Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958), pp. 189-91)

The trumpet blast (Christ’s voice) that calls us into His presence for an eternity of joy and glory will be the most profound ever heard! It will not be a secret, but Jesus Christ being revealed as the Savior who keeps promises without fail.

While news media laser-stream goings-on in the post-Mueller report intrigues, truly portentous things are unfolding, initiated by this White House. Prophetically speaking, matters involved couldn’t be more significant in pointing to just how near this world must be to having unleashed upon humanity history’s most terrible time.

The most powerful signal of where this generation stands on God’s prophetic timeline is the nation Israel. The very fact that it is front and center in the fear of possible thermonuclear war being initiated validates the truth of Bible prophecy. Within that reality, the primary element indicating the nearness to the Tribulation (Daniel’s seventieth week) is that a peace covenant involving the Jewish state will almost certainly be forthcoming.

As anyone who reads our commentaries knows, I support this president. I believe, along with Dallas First Baptist pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress and others, that Donald J. Trump was put into office by the Lord of Heaven. The election was a result, I’m convinced, of the prayers of God’s people, according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Trump’s election was, in a real sense, miraculous.

The ensuing eruption of hatred toward Trump and all of those who support his presidency was and is Hell-spawned, in my view. It has not abated, despite Mueller’s finding no collusion in the Russian interference matter. The minions, both spiritual and human, continue to falsely accuse Mr. Trump, wanting to generate enough lies to bring about his impeachment. It is satanic rage that drives the anti-Trump rhetoric and subterfuge.

So, as stated, I support this president and his efforts in most every area of endeavor to try to “make America great again” (although I think God’s intention is more that of restraining evil for the moment). I believe much of it is God-directed, even if the president himself might be somewhat an unwitting administrator of God’s will at this time in human history.

That being said, I, like others who support Trump, based upon his being God’s man for this hour, am quite wary about reports regarding Israel and the peace process. We get a feel for what might be in the offing through this brief news excerpt.

[President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, said all should keep an] “open mind” about President Donald Trump’s upcoming Middle East peace proposal and said that it will require compromises from both sides, a source familiar with the remarks said…

The proposal has two major components: A political piece that addresses core political issues as the status of Jerusalem, and an economic part that aims to help the Palestinians strengthen their economy.

Unclear is whether the plan will propose outright the creation of a Palestinian state, the Palestinians’ core demand. (Source: White House adviser says peace plan to be unveiled by early June, Reuters Published: 04.17.19)

The concern of those who watch this process, of course, is that the peace negotiators are treading on dangerous grounds. To do anything in regard to trying to bring about peace, through a process involving Israel giving up land for that peace, gets to the heart of Bible prophecy for the end of the age (Church Age).

Daniel 9: 27 is at the center of this concern.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.   

It is heavily rumored that the proposal being considered for Trump’s making the “deal of the century” includes the dividing of Jerusalem. This is known as the two-state solution where the Palestinians would be given some of Israel’s land and part of Jerusalem in order to bring a solution to the centuries-long hostilities between Israel and the Islamic nations. A “covenant” would thus be produced assuring peace.

It is a “covenant” that the Scripture tells us Antichrist will one day “confirm.” It is reasonable to conjecture whether this “deal” might have something to do with that Daniel 9: 27 “covenant.”

It is with this in mind that we who support the president offer our advice that his administration not go down that roadmap to so-called peace. It would be the wrong course–and a most dangerous one (read Isaiah 28:15, 18).

He who touches Jerusalem–and Israel by extension–touches the “apple of God’s eye,” according to His Word. It is with this prophetic, scriptural forewarning that we advise against any such portentous peace planning.

Author’s note: This article has appeared in this and other forums previously. The heads-up it represents to the Christian who should be looking for the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13) has never been more relevant than now. Because the spiritual falling away is so pronounced, the literal (spatial) “Departure”–the Rapture of the Church–has never been more in immediate prospect!

The Scripture is haunting. It echoes and reverberates throughout the spiritual hallways of the Church with each passing hour.

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. (1 Timothy 4:1).

This forewarning fits into the last-days pattern, also given by the Apostle Paul, in the familiar prophetic passage:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of Perdition. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

The “falling away,” apostasia in Greek, means a “departure from.” Paul prophesied in the 2 Timothy 4:1 passage that there will come a time at the end of the Church Age when people will depart from the “faith.” He foretells in 2 Thessalonians that this will be a general “falling away,” the apostasy of the end time. What is this “faith” from which people will fall away, and who are the “people” who will fall away? Another crucial question is: Can the departure that God forewarned be recognized when it occurs?

“Faith,” as here defined, must by context be the faith in the One who is at the heart of the Gospel–faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, chosen from the foundation of the world to be the propitiation for the sin that separates fallen man from God. It is the faith you and I must have in order to confess with our mouths that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and to believe in the deepest part of our spirits that God raised Him from the dead.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)

A person can’t fall from a position (doctrinally speaking in this case) he never has attained. The “people,” then, whom Paul the apostle is writing about in his prophecies of 1 Timothy 4:1 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3 are those who have believed in Jesus Christ for salvation of their souls.

This brings us to the question: Can the departure God, through Paul, foretold be recognized when it occurs? To recognize that “falling away”–that apostasia, or apostasy—when it begins to happen will almost certainly give the Christian attuned to God’s will a heads-up on the nearness of the Tribulation era, thus to the nearness of the Rapture of the Church.

We have looked at the “faith” as faith in Jesus for salvation and at the “people”who will “depart” from the faith as being the Church–that is, the true Christians who are alive at the time of the end, when the apostasy takes place.

Although there are those who think this departure includes the possibility of one losing one’s salvation, the “falling away” of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 cannot include that meaning. A quick look at Romans 8:38 and 39, to name just one security-of-the-believer passage, shows that God’s Word teaches that the believer can’t depart from the Heavenly Father to the point of losing his or her family status. Jesus, in John chapter 17, makes that absolutely clear. I suggest that if you have questions about this, read the Scriptures I just mentioned.

What, then, is meant by “departing from the “faith”? Glad you asked. The “faith” mentioned in 2 Thessalonians and 1 Timothy 2:3 is a collection of faith principles wrapped up in the Lord Jesus Christ. These principles are doctrines put forth by the Word of God. The Word of God is none other than the Lord  Jesus:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

“People” at the time of the “falling away” will “depart” from the “faith”–the doctrines put forth by the Word of God, who is Jesus Christ. This departure will mark the generation of Christians at the very end of the Church Age.

The question that applies most relevantly to us today is: Are we seeing signals of the departure about which Paul forewarned?

We have analyzed, dissected, examined, and inspected every end-time signal found in God’s Word many times in these commentaries: Israel again in the land of promise; the EU looking to be the reviving Roman Empire; Russia, Persia (modern Iran) and other nations looking to be a nucleus that will one day form the Gog-Magog force of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. These, plus, all of the other end-time characteristics of this generation.

However, I believe the most insidious of all the things taking place under the clever, devious hand of the devil–Satan—is the falling away, the departure from the faith being currently orchestrated by Lucifer, the fallen one.

This departure is evident to the spiritually discerning when looking at the church growth movement. This “seeker friendly” approach to both the saved and the lost (all who don’t know Christ) through New Age, corporation-type seminar seductiveness and brainwashing techniques that water down or completely eliminate true Bible doctrine is leading in a profound departure from the “faith once delivered” (see Jude 1: 3).

The new paradigm instituted by the champions of the church growth movement is the shift from New Testament Christianity to “New Spirituality-Driven Christianity.” Like in the modern corporate organization, invented in large part by German economic guru Peter Drucker, who mentored some of the leading designers of the church growth movement, the system is more an organism than an organization–adopting Drucker’s model based upon Freudian psychology and Darwinian evolutionary principles. The individual is assigned a value, and must fit in or be removed from the system. To put it as I heard one person of the movement say: “Pillars just hold things up. So, they need to be moved out of the way.” So, those who hold to doctrine must get out of the way so no one will have their feelings hurt by talk of sin, blood atonement, and eternal punishment in the place called Hell, if repentance is not forthcoming.

Again, the Apostle Paul wrote God’s view of this watering down of doctrine:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)

Are we at the point of departure from the faith that is prophesied for the very end of the Church Age? Maybe we can get a better sense by looking at one more area of Scripture pertaining to the matter:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

There is another prophetically scheduled departure to consider. It’s the one we should be looking forward to. It is a God-ordained one that will remove every child of God of the Church Age–living and dead—from Planet Earth in one millisecond:

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)

Our news as Christians today is filled with trepidation. It seems all is bad news.

Every aspect of life at present appears on the brink of contributing to the bringing forth of the dreaded Tribulation predicted by God’s Word.

Geopolitically, the world is on the verge of war and freedom seems on the cusp of being snuffed. Even the great bastion of freedom–the United States of America–appears subject to a future of such oppression.

Sociologically and culturally, evil men and seducers are growing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Paul’s 2 Timothy chapter 3 “perilous times” are front and center in the news during our every waking moment.

Religiously, even the evangelical body of believers seems to be defecting–moving at breakneck speed into the apostasy of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and beyond.

Economically, while the national situation in fiscal matters is pointed out by “experts” as going “great guns,” one doesn’t have to look too deeply beneath the surface of financial/monetary matters to know there is serious trouble brewing. With a national debt of $22.1 trillion and climbing exponentially, how can future prospects be described as looking other than bleak?

In every direction we look on the future’s horizon, we see the last seven years of human history quickly approaching.

So, the news is bad for the most part; there is no other way to put it.

It is with this fact in view that it was brought to mind the good news/bad news plethora of jokes that have assaulted the ears through my life. Here are a few of the clean ones just to give an idea of those similar to the ones I’m sure you’ve heard, too.

These are jokes aimed at pastors for the most part:

Good News: You baptized seven people today in the river.

Bad News: You lost two of them in the swift current.

Good News: The Women’s Guild voted to send you a get-well card.

Bad News: The vote passed by 31-30.

Good News: The Elder Board accepted your job description the way you wrote it.

Bad News: They were so inspired by it, they also formed a search committee to find somebody capable of filling the position.

Good News: You finally found a choir director who approaches things exactly the same way you do.

Bad News: The choir mutinied.

Good News: Mrs. Jones is wild about your sermons.

Bad News: Mrs. Jones is also wild about the “Gong Show”, “Beavis and Butthead” and “Texas Chain Saw Massacre.”

Good News: Your women’s softball team finally won a game.

Bad News: They beat your men’s softball team.

Good News: The trustees finally voted to add more church parking.

Bad News: They are going to blacktop the front lawn of your parsonage.

Good News: Church attendance rose dramatically the last three weeks.

Bad News: You were on vacation.

Good News: Your deacons want to send you to the Holy Land.

Bad News: They are stalling until the next war.

Good News: Your biggest critic just left your church.

Bad News: He has been appointed the Head Bishop of your denomination.

Good News: The youth in your church come to your house for a surprise visit.

Bad News: It’s in the middle of the night and they are armed with toilet paper and shaving cream to “decorate” your house.

When people approach with these good news/bad news matters, they usually ask: “Do you want the good news first, or the bad?” Most, I believe, answer: “Give me the bad news first.” –At least that’s most often my answer.

So, looking through Rapture Ready news recently, I found these headlines that fit in the bad news category. We will have a brief gander at these first.

* Diplomats at the U.N. commit anti-Semitic acts . Global anti-Semitism can best be observed at the General Assembly of the United Nations.

* Mystery E. coli outbreak sickens 72 people in 5 states, CDC says a multistate outbreak of E. coli has raised alarms and questions: As of Thursday, 72 people in five states have become ill, yet the cause of their infection remains unknown, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.

* China is ‘threat to world’ says dissident writer. A dissident writer…said…that his homeland is a “threat for the whole world”. Liao Yiwu, who was jailed for writing a poem called “Massacre” about the Tiananmen Square protests, told AFP that it would be better for mankind if the economic superpower “splits up.”

* Sources: UN nuclear watchdog inspects Iran ‘warehouse’ Netanyahu pointed to the UN atomic watchdog policing Iran’s nuclear deal has inspected what Israel’s prime minister called a “secret atomic warehouse.”

* Convention at major U.S. hotels showcases extreme sexual depravity That weekend, major Cleveland hotels will host CLAW, the Cleveland Annual Leather Weekend It’s a large orgy of homosexual males focused on “sado-masochism.”

Well, we could have found even more significant signs of the approaching apocalypse. But you get the picture. Bad news is everywhere we look–and in every area of life.

Now for the Good News! Good News, of course, is the definition of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is that Jesus came to die for the sins of mankind so that all people, if they individually accept God’s grace offer of redemption, will not die apart from God, but will have abundant life for all eternity.

Those same Christians are promised that they will not have to endure the Tribulation that is sure to come. They will be kept out of that time of God’s wrath (Revelation 3: 10). –And that’s the entire seven years of Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9: 26-27).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3: 16)

There is, according to some observers, a developing mindset among people in general that something wicked this way comes, as William Shakespeare put it. This developing mindset is particularly pronounced among the Millennials.

We can see this growing angst reflected in the words of U.S. House of Representatives Congresswoman Alexandria Ocassio Cortez (29, I think she is) and others of her politically ideological ilk. They are so concerned about the coming destruction of planet Earth–within twelve years, Cortez says–that they offer insane fixes to prevent the earth’s demise.

She and some others have declared they will work to do away with all airplane travel. They are determined to stop, or curtail at least, the eating of meat. We need, they believe, fewer cattle on the planet because of the cows’ …ahem… flatulence, which, they believe, adds to the methane buildup and other things destroying the breathability of air. Their plans, if they were possible to accomplish and were implemented, would cost upwards of $100 trillion. This amount is considered woefully low in estimation by many who study such things.

The doing away with airplane travel, travel by automobile, and many other brilliant such stratagem for saving the planet are just the tip of the supposedly melting iceberg in their plans to change the way life is conducted on earth. Worries of future, worldwide, catastrophe isn’t confined to Ms. Cortez and her lot. A recent news item tells of a growing anxiety that something wicked this way comes.

In what may be seen as an ominous case of synchronicity, earthquake and tsunami drills were held all over the world in the last month.

On Wednesday, tens of thousands of residents of Oakland, California were shocked when their cell phones buzzed with a message: there had been no earthquake. Though intended to reassure them that the earthquake warning system was operational, many took it is an ominous reminder that they lived in a region with a history of seismic catastrophes… Earthquake drills were also held in other places around the U.S including Connecticut and Colorado.

On Tuesday, sections of the East Coast, including New Jersey and the Virgin Islands, held tsunami drills. Over the last month, a major drill preparing for earthquakes and tsunamis was held throughout the Philippines for the first time. Over the last two months, drills were held in Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and several other nations.

Israel was also part of this informal global seismic drill. Two weeks ago, the Home Front Command held a tsunami exercise in schools throughout the country for the first time. (“End-of-Days Expert: Disaster Drills, Sign ‘Governments Know Something Big is Coming’” by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, Breaking Israel News, March 29, 2019)

The growing alarm among those in Israel as well as among the people of the world at large was brought to the attention  of journalists by Yuval Ovadia. He is an Israeli writer/researcher who has produced films on feared disasters that might be in prospect for the planet. Ovadia has been tracking such drills and government preparations as part of his research into the subject of the pre-Messiah astronomical event.

Ovadia commented, “Everyone, secular and religious, from every country, is talking about the end-of-days. It is clear that there is some knowledge out there driving this. So many governments are preparing for a global crisis, something unprecedented. The governments making these drills know that something big is coming.”

“It is understandable to hold hurricane drills or the like in a specific season,” Ovadia emphasized. “But there is no season for earthquakes. It is remarkable that so many countries decided to hold earthquake drills at the same time.”

While Ms. Cortez and her millennial brothers and sisters are looking for a coming calamity upon the planet within twelve years and the nations are expecting earthquakes and tsunamis of prodigious proportions, there seems no such mindset among–of all people–the people who call Jesus Christ their Savior and Lord.

I’m not talking about the fact that these people simply are not worried because they know they are safely within His wonderful arms. No. I’m saying here that these don’t seem to have even a clue–nor do they seem to think deeply enough on the matters to care–that there is in fact coming upon this planet a catastrophe so enormous that only a few creatures of flesh and blood will survive.

In America, the ignorance seems willful. It starts in the pulpits, with preachers who won’t touch Bible prophecy. Or, if they do touch on it, it isn’t even near the truth about what God’s Word has pronounced on this rebellious, judgment-bound world.

Of course, it is equally the fault of Christians who prefer to not think about the things we are supposed to be discerning, especially as the day of Christ’s return is appearing on the near horizon. Such things are gloom and doom–a downer. Best to just go about life ignoring such things. What will be, will be…

The end-of-the-world mindset held by those who are totally of the world–not Christ’s–is right, that something wicked this way comes. There is coming upon the earth the terrors they are expecting–and much worse.

But it will not be a tsunami that crashes across the upper east coast of the U.S. and destroys their precious New York City. It won’t be the man-made, climate-change, rising sea level that chokes the life out of them and all that is upon the earth. And it is not necessarily due twelve years from now. The catastrophe that is coming is from above. It is the harpazo–the snatching away of millions of Christians in the Rapture.

Jesus said that the very moment it happens, God’s judgment will fall–just like in the days of Noah and Lot’s day in Sodom.

Thankfully, God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. May all of those with the end-of-the-world mindset look to Christ, for He is the only salvation available to them. May the Church begin to truly watch for their Lord, who could call them to Himself, literally, at any moment. And may we who belong to Christ begin living life accordingly.

Our weekly commentaries on raptureready.com are written under the heading “Nearing Midnight.” There can be no better column title for Bible prophecy, in my view, in consideration of the gush of issues and events flooding upon this generation of Planet Earth’s inhabitants.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ “Doomsday Clock,” although an often-specious mélange spewed at us in order to persuade the world to accept globalist sophistry, is on the mark unknowingly. The minute hand is indeed nearing the midnight hour, according to issues and events moving forward under the template of Bible prophecy.

All we must do to see the nearness of midnight is to skim over headline matters appearing simultaneously at this very hour.

Time Ticks On Culturally and Socially

The Apostle Paul’s “perilous times” foretelling stares us in the face every time we watch the news. The prophecies contained within 2 Timothy 3 cannot be missed by those spiritually attuned to the apostle’s forewarnings.

As a society, we have become a people steeped deeply in self love. We are turned inward more and more, lost in our devices with the selfies and all other things that draw us into our inner sanctums. America’s divorce rate–most often with selfishness at its heart–stands at the center of the problems involving this indicator the Apostle Paul gave as that which will characterize mankind at the end of the age.

All that’s necessary to see that we are a generation ripe with those who are covetous, boasters, and proud is to consider the political process and those involved. And, yes, this cuts across all political ideologies and parties.

One party in particular, however, exhibits a specific indicator Paul gives in characterizing end-time man. Blasphemy has been made the very benchmark of this political party. We remember that, during the lead-up to the 2016 presidential nominating process, the Democrat Party gave a voice vote to remove the mention of God from their political platform. The politically wise moderator ignored the “yea” voice votes of the raucous attendees who wanted to throw God out and declared the much less vocal “nays” had won the vote.

Despite that politically expedient vote obfuscation, this party has become the champion of same-sex marriage, homosexual and transgender causes, and the murder of babies, even after infants have survived the abortion process. They are a people devoted to blasphemous ideology and exhibit that they are without natural affection by advocating the killing of the most innocent among us while in the mothers’ wombs. These are indeed unthankful and unholy in their comportment.

Their mantras fly in the face of the Creator. What God declares to be the natural order, they turn upside down in practically every instance. They are more and more manifesting the degeneration into the reprobate mindset forewarned by Romans 1.

 Time Ticks On Geopolitically

Observers of these times in light of Bible prophecy have pointed time after time to the nearness of the midnight hour. They might not use the term “nearing Midnight,” but the observation is there. They consistently blow the siren of alarm. Every signal is front and center that Christ is about to call the Church to Himself.

The things we harp on most stringently are things involving the geopolitical world of issues and events. The American political process has been a most fertile ground for analytically plowing through these issues that are flooding every news cycle.

Again, the Apostle Paul gave what most believe were prophetic utterances for this specific hour. His declaration includes that men will be truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, heady, and high-minded. The last two years have brought to the forefront each of these characteristics, at least in my view.

Despite all of these nefarious intrigues by those trying to bring down a presidency, nothing significant enough to do so was found. This shows the evil and insidious nature of those who seem to possess “perilous times” traits.

The Lord–again in my view–has been the restraining influence in preventing things from going the way of the globalists elite. The prayers of His saints, imploring His intervention, is key, I have no doubt. The Lord of Heaven has continued to intervene to prevent the collapse of America for His own purposes. This is important because the rest of the world is intricately linked to this nation. A collapse of the US economy would surely bring about world collapse. I am convinced God’s purposes for preventing collapse at this time have at their center the desire to bring as many to salvation as will come to Christ.

When the Church–all born-again believers–go to be with Christ, the Restrainer will remove from that supernatural office and all will come crashing down.

Time Ticks On Economically

And, make no mistake, this nation and world will suffer a colossal crash once the Church leaves this world. None will be more catastrophic than that of the economic realm.

Economic experts are baffled as to why the level of debt and other unprecedented, existential fiscal factors haven’t already collapsed the financial order because of the great weight involved. With America’s national debt at more than $21.1 trillion and its extrapolated debt at more than $150 trillion, normal, monetary principles should have long ago kicked in, causing catastrophic collapse. Again, the experts can’t understand what is holding things in place. That is because God is never figured into the equation for the inexplicable holding pattern this world is experiencing.

Time Ticks On Religiously

We witness daily the defection of even some evangelical Christians from scriptural truth. They seem to want to follow Pope Francis into the abyss of Laodicean apostasy.

Most illustrative of this defection is the betrayal of Israel. Many have become almost anti-Semitic in their anti-Israel biases. They sign onto the effort to treat the Jewish state as anathema in matters of international commerce, despite the fact that Israel is one of the most vibrant economies on the planet in every respect.

There is a religious fervor against the Jews developing in practically every nation on earth. The United Nations is almost completely comprised of Jew-hating nations. In America, the many Democrat Party presidential candidates refused to attend the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPC) meetings. This is because the Democrat base is now made up of young people who almost as one champion the Palestinian causes and see Israel as responsible for all the problems in the Middle East.

Thankfully, this president is a strong supporter of Israel and defends its right to the Golan Heights, recently declaring that militarily essential, elevated, territory to belong to the Jewish state. This has set the Muslim world and most of the diplomatic world into frenzy. While the stated frenzy is based upon political anger, the actual root of it all is religious. Satan hates Israel…the world hates Israel.

This is how God’s prophetic Word said it would be at exactly this time so near the midnight hour of the age.

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)

Nearing Midnight… A most apropos title for a Bible prophecy column, don’t you think?

Some time ago I received an email in which the correspondent expressed his adamant belief that there is no such thing as the “age of accountability–i.e., he declared that those under such a fictitious age will not automatically be transported into Heaven by Christ’s shout at the time of Rapture.

I replied that he had touched on a topic that is a hot issue with yours truly. On this, I give no quarter, whatsoever. But, through experience in dealing with the issue, I am fully aware that no matter what evidence I offer to the contrary, those who accept 1 Corinthians 7:14 as dealing with children and the Rapture consider it a verse that stands alone as proving their point that only children with at least one saved parent will go to Jesus in the Rapture. And, most won’t change on that.

Here is that Scripture: “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”

Even the great Dr. John Walvoord believed this Scripture indicates that only the child below the age of accountability who has at least one “saved” parent will go to Christ when He calls the Church to Himself.

I’m name-dropping, I guess, but I asked my good friend, Dr Walvoord (he wrote  a number of chapters for my books and we were indeed good friends and talked by phone and in person on occasion), if he could give any other Scriptures that backed up the contention that this verse indicated as he believed.

He thought for a moment and shook his head no. “No, I can’t,” he said somberly.

I no longer debate the matter when given a contrary opinion, but respond one time and one only.

This is a salvation matter between Jesus Christ and the child (an eternal matter–not a matter dealing with physical life and death). It is not a matter of earthly relationship (child to parent) and religion (to church affiliation) or morality (to personal conduct).

Children who have died physically and children who will be taken in the Rapture have in common the fact that they were/will be instantly with the Lord. This is because they are seen in God’s merciful economy as innocents, considering the factors as dealt with in this treatment of the subject.

Most importantly, it is an INDIVIDUAL matter–God dealing one on one, not collectively or corporately with the salvation issue.

Acceptance of Christ is based upon a decision to accept or reject. If a person doesn’t have–and has never had–the ability to accept or reject because he or she doesn’t have the mental capacity to understand, they cannot accept or reject.

The Bible says that those who know to do good and do it not–to them it is sin. Conversely, I believe that the whole body of Scripture  presents the case that if one doesn’t know they are lost because of sin, they are not condemned. But, when maturity that brings understanding comes (and the Holy Spirit draws them, convicting them of sin), they must accept God’s offer of reconciliation.

The very character of God, as  presented throughout the entire Word of God, is at stake. All in Christ will go at the Rapture. Paul says “all will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” What does this mean–“all” that are “in” Christ? It refers to the fact that all who are redeemed by the shed blood of Christ are a part of the Body of Christ–the Church.  The child–even though born into sin because of Adam’s disobedience–is “in” Christ before he/she is able to comprehend God’s salvation provision. None who are in Christ will have to face the wrath of God during the coming Tribulation (Daniel’s seventieth week).

One area of Scripture regarding the wrath of God that addresses the position of all in Christ–thus the Rapture–is found here in 1 Thessalonians: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him” (2 Thessalonians 5:9-10). During this Age of Grace (Church Age), all who are born and have not reached the age of understanding–thus accountability–will go to Christ when they die. This is totally in keeping with God’s character, again, as plainly laid out in God’s holy love letter to mankind.

All of the children who have died–before maturing to the point of being able to make decisions regarding salvation–are now with Christ. To God’s holy praise, that includes every one of the millions upon millions of babies this evil world system has aborted and continues to murder. This number of “innocents” includes every child who has been slain in wars throughout history or who have died due to other causes.

The Scripture that talks about the name being blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life deals with this, I’m convinced. The names of all who are born are in that book, I believe. Once the child reaches the age he/she realizes Christ is the way to salvation, but rejects God’s way (John 14:6) have their names blotted out. They are written back in when salvation does occur in the only way God prescribes.

And, I’m convinced that not one child born after the Rapture into that horrendous, seven-year era will ever reach that age. Thus, all children born following that event will go to be with the Lord–either upon their deaths, or during the sheep/goats judgments following the triumphant return of the Lord Jesus. As a matter of fact, read Jesus’ words here: “And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!” (Matthew 24:19).

Jesus is talking here about the Tribulation era–the last seven years of human history before His Second Advent. The Lord mentions two age classifications: 1) children who are in the womb, and 2) those who are so young that they are still at the mothers’ breasts.

There is no mention even of toddlers–i.e., these children have been conceived or born during the Tribulation period. And Jesus is talking here about halfway through the seven-year period.

All children below the age of being able to make decisions on the salvation matter will go to be with Jesus–I have absolutely no doubt, after studying the matter for forty-plus years.

I respect thoughts and beliefs of others on the matter. But as ol’ Dr. J. Vernon McGee used to say with a chuckle, “You have room to disagree, but if you want to be right, I’m sure you’ll want to come along with me.”  ( I say this, even though Dr. McGee, like Dr. Walvoord, most likely held to the generally accepted seminary line that 1 Corinthians 7:14 indicates contrary to my position. I don’t recall Dr. McGee’s belief on this issue.)

We will see the truth of it when we stand before Christ. I believe that time is not far distant.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 50:10-11)

God has spoken the precise consummation of history. His Word about these matters will come to pass. The world’s global elite might not like it; the diplomats of the world might resent it. God’s word about the wind-up of history, however, cannot–will not–be changed.

In filming documentaries on prophecy, whether it’s about Bible prophecy, or prophecy by the Nostradamuses of their times throughout history, the documentarians make sure a certain statement is made in summation: “These prophecies are given as a warning. They are given so we can alter things we as human beings do in order that these terrible things not come to pass. Man can change the outcome if he only strives to do so.”

The Lord of all Creation says: “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” His Word says further: “yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

God’s prophetic Word will come to pass–100 percent, even if it comes to pass in ways and through people, places, and things we don’t necessarily foresee or understand.

Developments of a profound nature seem in the making. some who observe things going on behind the scenes in Israel believe those developments are farther along than might be suspected by those of us who are most diligent in observing and reporting on the prophetic weather. I must admit that I don’t particularly like the way things are shaping–that is, I don’t like to have dissolved my neat, little order of how I perceive prophecy unfolding.

The Lord doesn’t always proceed in neat, little ways in order to get things done. Looks like I would have figured that out in 76-plus years of living. He, as often as not, uses the good, bad, and the ugly to work in fulfilling His ultimate will.

While not a sure thing, it looks to some as if He might be allowing the unfolding of a couple of prophecies, using all three ingredients to bring about stage-setting for the Tribulation and Armageddon.

Movement toward the building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem is almost certainly and swiftly racing forward. My friend, Tom Horn, CEO of SkyWatch TV is, in my estimation, among those leading in the examination of developments in Jerusalem concerning building of the Third Temple. Recent developments indicate just how near the Tribulation era might be, based upon apparent Temple planning.

Horn states on his ministry website that developments in the plans for the Third Temple “are, in fact, earth-shattering, and will accomplish nothing less than altering the course of history. What is about to unfold could set in motion arrival of Antichrist and Armageddon, followed by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.”

Regarding intrigues in Temple planning, he writes further, “It’s happening right now behind the scenes in clandestine negotiations between global powers and religious leaders.” Horn and others observe that some of the Jewish clerical hierarchy are convinced that American President Donald Trump equates to the reincarnation of a Cyrus-like figure. Cyrus was a king whom some rabbis believe the God of Israel raised up to initiate the Messianic era and construction of the Third Temple.

On a more cautious note, I’ll report that Tom Horn offers that Saudi Arabia, Jewish religious leaders, and Donald Trump are negotiating behind the scenes to transfer control of Israel’s holy sites—including the Temple Mount—to the Saudis, to complete a “peace covenant” that could result in, among other things, the building of the Third Temple. This unverifiable conjecture–as I view it at this point–has yet to be seen, but it is worthy of consideration because of other developments of significance.

A Jerusalem Post article reports the following:

A senior reporter for the Al Riyadh, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent newspapers, claimed that the US President Donald Trump’s “Deal of the Century” will divide Jerusalem.

The reporter Hadeel Oueis wrote on her twitter account that “The Old City of Jerusalem will be divided in half: the Arab and Christian quarters will go to the PA [Palestinian Authority], while the Jewish and Armenian quarters will fall under Israeli control.”…

Oueis further tweeted that “Arab areas adjacent to Palestinian Area A and B will go to a future Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem.”

Saudi Arabia has been in touch with the US administration regarding the peace initiative, as it was rumored that the deal will include recognition of Israel by surrounding Arab countries. (“The U.S. Peace Plan Will Divide Jerusalem,” Hadeel Oueis [@hadeelOueiss] March 5, 2019])

It is quite disconcerting to yours truly that this president could be complicit in developing plans that God’s Word says will lead to His bringing all nations into the Valley of Jehosephat and the killing fields of Armageddon. However, the Lord’s prophetic Word will be accomplished, regardless of the people, places, and things involved in its fulfillment.

You and I need not be a part of that history-ending conflict and all the carnage leading up to that bloodiest of all wars. Simply and genuinely believe that Jesus Christ died to redeem you from the dread sway of sin. Then confess with your mouth that God has raised Him from death, and you will be saved. You will go to be with Christ instantaneously when your heart beats its last beat, or at that glorious moment of rapture when the living and dead are called into His presence forever.