It’s a frightening thing to consider. For the most technologically endowed nation to ever exist on planet Earth, it would be a nightmare of almost unimaginable proportion. I’m referring to an attack on the U.S. by EMP –electromagnetic pulse—about which there continues to be much chatter in the cybersphere. Most feared is a nuclear blast that could interact with the ionosphere, the shell of electrons and electrically charged particles surrounding Earth, to create a series of electromagnetic pulses that could reach across the North American continent, according to the scientists who study such matters.

In such an apocalyptic scenario, an American enemy would explode a nuclear weapon a certain number of miles above a central point above the continent. This would cause everything that is controlled by electronic circuitry to fail, bringing society and culture as we have known them to an instantaneous conclusion. All modern transportation would be stopped, with planes falling from the air. Car engines and circuitry would cease to function. From the sophisticated technologies of the hospitals, banks, and electric power-generating plants to the electronically powered, smallest conveniences such as coffeemakers, all would be instantly fried, and we would be sent back to the 1850s in a millisecond, according to the experts.

There would be no more TV watching, electronic devices to play music, no cell phone talk, or texting! Now, I know that last bit got your attention. The only positive might be that car accidents caused by texting would cease to occur. For sure, the insurance industry would be out of business. Their electronic files on the texting-caused accidents would be no more…

The stores would be out of food within a day because the vehicles to resupply would no longer be operating. Whoever could get to the shelves first on foot or bicycle would get the quickly disappearing grocery items. Water and sewer systems would begin to undergo contamination and disease would begin to spread.

Those who warn of such things worry that America’s military capabilities would be degraded to the point the U.S. would have no course of action that would protect the nation from invasion. The military machinery and personnel would be as adversely affected as would we civilians.

It is indeed a nightmare to consider.

This is all predicated upon the postulation that it would be an enemy nation or possibly terrorist group that would attack with EMP. However, America has nuclear submarines and many other assets that–like in the case of the cold war and MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)—would devastate any enemy who dared to knock out the American power grid. Even if the enemy could not be determined–such as if al Qaida launched an EMP off a freighter on the Atlantic coast—there are automatic responses programmed that make any enemy think twice before attempting such an untried assault on the most awesome war-making entity ever to exist.

Well, maybe that doesn’t exactly apply any longer. Remember Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Those nineteen terrorists did not seem to regard the awesomeness of America’s military. It’s true they have paid the price for the attack. But the price we’ve paid since is far greater. Not just in the trillions of dollars spent and still being spent, but in lives lost and continuing to be lost.

Disregarding such an enemy for the moment, the experts tell us we face the possibility of an EMP attack from the cosmos. Now, there’s something to truly be concerned about!

Solar flares are the real danger, according to the scientists involved in study of this sort of EMP assault. These coronal mass ejections are enormous sun eruptions of super-hot plasma that spews charged particles across the solar system. They do the same sort of damage that the nuclear weapon EMPs might do, as I understand it.

The Earth is in a period of high likelihood for these types of coronal mass ejections, according to the scientists—authorities on such things. Although Congress has been given ways to help prepare for damage such EMP events can do, there has apparently been little interest from that quarter in making preemptive preparation. We remember the same sorts of fears and warnings about the year 2000–Y2K–event. In that instance billions of dollars were thrown into fixing the feared problems.

Now, however, unlike in the case of the Y2K scare, for example, the mainstream media seems to have all but ignored the EMP concerns. Even peripheral media cable networks and other such media have remained silence. Only the blogosphere is alive with details of the possibility of impending doom.

My own thought is that the Lord is and has always been in complete control of the fate of individuals, nations, and the entire Earth–which He created. That’s why there hasn’t been all-out warfare–nuclear war. That’s why there hasn’t been an EMP event that sets us back to the 1850s or so…

However, there is a prophetic thought that has nagged for a long time. That’s all it is–a thought.

Salem Kirban wrote the novel 666 in the 1960s. He portrayed the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog attack as being waged totally like the Scripture depicts. There were only horses, bucklers, shields, etc., as they stormed like a cloud to cover the land as the Gog forces raged toward Jerusalem. All modern weaponry had been rendered useless–I can’t remember why or how.

An EMP event from Earth’s sun could apparently make Mr. Kirban’s novel truly prophetic, if all we’ve been told about EMP is correct.

The way things are shaping in that region of the world should alert us that maybe we don’t have too long to wait to find out about how Bible prophecy plays out.

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un  continues to fire off missiles that fail shortly after lifting off. But there are enough successes to portend a time when he can arm them with nuclear devices to kill hundreds of thousands. The ayatollahs and military of Iran continue on course to produce deliverable nuclear weapons to rain upon the hated Israel. Russian president Putin becomes more bellicose by the day, sending his bombers near America’s Alaskan shores. He has fighter jets buzzing American aircraft within twenty feet in some cases.

Syrian dictator Assad continues to inflict genocide in the region, no doubt causing Israel’s military to consider preemptive action to protect the Jewish state.

China, despite some minor, peaceful overtures to President Trump and America, continues to build its military and new bases in waters that are considered international rather than Chinese territorial waters. ISIS and the many Israel-hating terrorist entities continue to plan and carry out murderous assaults around the world.

This is a time that there is a cry for peace and safety, while there seems little peace upon the planet.

Our president is going to the Middle East to have a go at formulating a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians–a thing many diplomats of every stripe have tried but failed to achieve.

Everything in regard to those geopolitical exigencies seem to point to just how near this generation is to the time of Tribulation, the final seven years immediately preceding Christ’s Second Advent. But, those represent only one side of the equation that makes up the signals we are to look for in being watchmen on the wall as Bible prophecy fulfillment draws near.

While the volatility and violence that will be part of end-times indicators are certainly something to consider, Jesus painted a much different picture that will be on the scene when He next catastrophically intervenes into the affairs of fallen mankind.

We know that the Bible–that God’s prophets–never contradict one another. If we search deeply enough and long enough, we will see the interconnectedness and the absolute integrity of prophetic truth. So, how, as God’s Word says, does Paul’s prophecy, “evil men and seducers will [get] worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,” comport with Jesus’ own words about the moment He will next break in upon this rebellious world?

How does, for example, the Lord’s own declaration make sense? He prophesies that people will be buying, selling, marrying, and building–doing all the things of everyday life. How does that declaration not conflict with  the Revelation foretelling twenty-one devastating judgments given to John on Patmos?

That is, how does such a not-unpleasant set of circumstances like Jesus describes using the days of Noah and of Lot not contradict the Olivet Discourse? The Lord’s words there describe conditions so horrific when Christ comes back that no flesh would be saved if He did not return at that moment (Matthew 24: 21).

The only answer to why there are these diametrically different prophetic descriptions–that of business as usual and that of the worst times of human history–is, of course, wrapped up in the apostle Paul’s foretelling.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

The pre-millennial, pre-tribulation view of Christ’s return is the only view that answers the big questions about the apparent contradictions.

God’s next catastrophic intervention into the affairs of rebellious mankind’s evil doings will take place in two phases. The first involves the “mystery” Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55. All born-again believers who have died or are living will in one stunning moment be translated into supernatural bodies and instantly appear with Jesus Christ above planet earth.

Jesus tells that at the time of that event–the Rapture–things will be relatively normal for most living on the earth. As a matter of fact, I believe His words tell that it will be business even better than usual.

I will expand on this greatly in my next book which, God willing, will be available late this year.

The second phase of Christ’s Second Coming will, of course, be that moment when He comes back with all the saints to put an end to man’s most terrible war–Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-12).

At that time, the earth will have been devastated by war and God’s wrath. Again, Jesus said that all flesh would die if He didn’t intervene at that moment.

God’s judgment will begin, Jesus said, the very day He is next “revealed.” That will be at the Rapture, when all the earth will know there has been a tremendous event that made millions simply vanish. Like in Lot’s day, God’ judgment will begin that very day, Jesus says as recorded in Luke 17:26-30. God’s wrath won’t begin until the covenant of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed. But judgment will begin immediately, we are told by the Lord, Himself.

It will be a catastrophic intervention right from that twinkling-of-an-eye moment!

I believe we, as watchmen, should be observing the times to see if there is in the near future a noticeable upswing in national and international economies–this in conjunction with considering all the traditional signals that the Bible describes.

We just upgraded to a system that has added an extra 500 channels or so to our television programming. All of it comes automatically with what I really wanted to acquire, Internet service that increases my download capacity and speed by a factor of three or four.

I realize there are many who read these columns who believe strongly that there should be no television in the home whatsoever, so I’m almost apologetic–but not quite. I was sick and tired of waiting sometimes hours to download materials I needed to do my work for this blog, Rapture Ready and for other work.

Clicking through the myriad of TV channels I now have, I am amazed at all of the things of life that bombard us. I can no longer “see” the programs and their content because of retinas that no longer work–which I suppose makes the upgrade sound ludicrous. I do hear, however, with at least a modicum of ability in my closing ears and years, so I get the gist of the programming. The many aspects of everyday living in America today are astonishing–not in scope, but in the absence of the profound.

By this, I mean that in America all that is presented on the programming revolves around nurturing self-centeredness that directly affects the average U.S. citizen in one way or another–love, sex, finance, lifestyle, and health.

Religion is covered by TV entertainment and news to a much lesser degree, and increasingly in a way that moves ever farther from the biblical fundamentals of the faith once delivered to the saints. The only things that matter for life more abundantly, according to Jesus Christ, are conspicuously absent from this massive programming regime. Things of truly eternal value are sequestered in the corners of the religious channels, and few of those Christ-centered programs exist. The majority of so-called Christian programming involves prosperity-a-thons that are almost as ubiquitous as the secular infomercials that incessantly barrage the late-late-night/early-morning viewers. Most in America in these closing days of this Church Age comprise a generation caught up in a world system that long ago pushed God out of the equation for living on the planet He designed for mankind.

Jesus forewarned of a future generation of believers that would be caught up in such a world system at the time when His return neared. He had just gone through the many signs of His coming again, and had given His disciples the answer to their questions: “Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?”

Jesus said in forewarning that future end-times generation: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

Sadly, Christians in mass numbers seem to fit the description of that final generation of the Age of Grace. If we are honest, we have to consider that it appears that the everyday cares of life hold most captive like the Lord’s description of those who will be alive at the time of the “snare” that will come upon the whole Earth. I’m convinced that “snare” referred to will be none other than the rapture of the church.

It will be a startling thing for those so married to this world to suddenly be in the presence of their Lord. Having been caught up in the world and all of its quicksand of immorality, they will suddenly find themselves “caught up” into the holy presence of the One who died for them.

While every true believer will meet the Lord in the air when He calls, “Come up here,” the above Scripture leaves little doubt that there is a most serious issue involved in the words the Lord used: “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Christians are not to be caught off guard like the lost of the world, for whom the rapture will be a thief-in-the-night experience. To be caught off guard in the sense that we are living like the world, with little thought of Jesus’ coming back for us, will demonstrate unworthiness to stand before Him at that monumental moment. Our worthiness will determine whether we hear Him say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when we then move to Heaven and the Judgment Seat of Christ for rewards earned in this life.

 

 

Third Temple fever is rising surrounding the Temple Mount. It is, I believe, the most burning issue of our time, although simmering just beneath the surface of Middle East madness, just out of sight and mind most of the time.

Upon researching and writing for CAULDRON: Supernatural Implications of the Current Middle East–my book published a few years ago— the Temple again shouldered its way to the top of my thinking.

This is for good reason. The Temple Mount, Mt. Moriah, is the center of the earthly battle in the war Satan has waged against God since being ejected from Heaven with the one-third of the rebel angels that followed him.

Moriah is the spot on the planet where some believe the Garden of Eden was centered. Some hold that the stone under which the Dome of the Rock sits was the place where Adam, then Eve, was created. I don’t necessarily hold to this, but there are serious scholars within Christendom who do. The surface of Mt. Moriah is the place where Isaac was to be offered as sacrifice by his father, Abraham, when God intervened and provided the ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Moriah is the place where the Holy of Holies sat with in the two previous Temples. It is the place where the Ark of the Covenant resided within the Holy of Holies. It is the place where the veil was torn from top to bottom the moment Jesus Christ said, “It is finished,” and gave up His life to death and the grave, to be raised on the third day.

As we have written many times in these commentaries, the signals of this Age of Grace dispensation coming to an end soon are everywhere. It is absolutely mandatory, if that is true, that the most important signal of all be in view at this time. I believe with all that is within me that matters involving the rebuilding of the Temple atop that most centrally important piece of rock must be clearly in view in proving that this generation is near the end of the Church Age.

Some excellent scholars believe and teach that the Tribulation Temple (Third Temple) doesn’t have to be located atop Mt. Moriah. Rather, they believe it will possibly be a synagogue-type structure somewhat north of Jerusalem–Shiloh, to be exact—where the tabernacle stood for 400 years. I respectfully disagree. Satan wants to usurp the throne of God. He cannot do so by taking over the throne of God in Heaven. He has already been banished from that kingdom, except for having the privilege of accusing the brethren.

The devil does want to usurp the earthly throne of God, however, and, in his totally depraved thinking still believes he can do so. That “throne”–which I call God’s touchstone to humanity–is where the Holy of Holies sat, where the Ark of the Covenant resided within Solomon’s Temple. Lucifer the fallen isn’t interested in a second choice for a place to place his “man of sin.” Antichrist must sit right where the Ark, containing God’s Law–the Tablets (Ten Commandments) –rested.

Antichrist will, of course sit in that spot, declaring himself to be God, according to 2 Thessalonians: “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Satan will apparently indwell this “prince that shall come,” thus achieving–in his own demented mind, at least–the usurpation of God’s earthly throne. This, after all, is the place within the Temple Jesus will one day sit as King of Kings during the Millennial Kingdom.

Now, I know the mountain of Moriah will be split in the middle and the Tribulation Temple will likely be completely destroyed. After all, it is the Third Temple built, I believe, by unbelieving Jews; thus, it doesn’t meet with God’s approval. Mt. Zion, as it will be known, will be supernaturally elevated in the tremendous topographical changes that will take place when Christ’s foot touches the Mt. of Olives when He returns. Christ will, Himself, build the Millennial Temple upon Mt. Zion, where He will reign and rule with a rod of iron for 1000 years.

The thing we are considering here is: Do we see signs of the call to rebuild the Temple? The answer is, of course, “Yes!”

Great tensions are currently building around the Temple Mount. Both the Jewish community, which wants to worship on top of Moriah, and the Arab Islamists, who are determined the Jews will never do so, are revving up their emotional engines. The temperature is rising, and the diplomats of the world realize that it is potentially the one place on Earth that is the greatest trigger point to start nuclear Armageddon.

Because we are so near the end of the Church Age (Age of Grace), look for the temperatures of both the Jews and the Islamists to continue to rise as end-times events continue to unfold.

 

 

Which of us who, upon learning that Islamist terrorists were responsible for the most horrific attack ever against America on this continent, would have believed it? Who would have believed that an American president of the United States with the middle name “Hussein” would a little over a decade later be hosting a dinner in the White House in celebration of the very religion that spawned the attacks by murderous fanatics who reportedly shouted: “Allahu Akbar” (from Arabic, literally: God is most great), just before slamming three airplanes loaded with humanity and jet fuel into the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon?

This is not to equate all who believe in the religion of Islam to being people who want to murder all others who don’t agree with them. But this is indeed meant to equate the religion itself to one whose so-called holy book—the Koran—advocates the murder of all who will not yield to the supposed edicts of their supposed god—Allah. The same president who let us know that America is no longer a Christian nation, shortly after his election in 2008, showed himself to be, if not a closet Muslim, certainly one sympathetic to Islam. His family history is steeped in the Islamist faith, even though he told us he is a “Christian.”

I must and will leave that determination to Christ and those who claim to be His followers. However, as a fruit inspector, as I believe we who name the Name of Christ are instructed to be (Matthew 7:16, 20), it is my observation that the former president’s is far from a belief system that holds to major precepts of the Christian faith. He supported abortion—the murder of children in their mother’s wombs, and even outside the mother’s wombs under certain conditions. He supported the homosexual agenda at a number of levels, including gay marriage initiatives. He advocated change in areas where God’s prescription throughout the Bible hasn’t changed—or God does not change.

It is an interesting exercise to wonder how America’s founding fathers might have reacted, should they suddenly have returned to this earthly sphere and have been confronted by the way the country has drifted from the Judaeo-Christian principles upon which they founded the nation. Even the most secular of them like—Jefferson and Franklin—I am convinced, would be absolutely amazed, and chagrined.

They would, I think, have been completely perplexed, even angered, to see a president honoring the Muslim religion’s religious holidays with a White House celebration, while consistently casting aspersions on the Christian religion and favoring the elimination of its influence throughout America at every opportunity.

The then president once celebrated Ramadan by hosting a traditional late dinner, in the State Dining Room of the White House. He remarked that throughout America’s history, “Islam has contributed to the character of our country.” In his remarks before the Iftar dinner eaten by Muslims after sunset, to end the day of fasting, the president quoted from the Koran: “As the Koran teaches, whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see its results.” Mr. Obama said, further, “Muslim-Americans and their good works have helped to build our nation, and we’ve seen the results.”

Within the Koran’s system of righteousness, “good,” is, it seems, a relative term. The only “good” that there is apparently resides within works done for the putting forward of Allah’s will—as given in the shouts the murderous terrorists screamed just before guiding the fuel-laden passenger planes into the Trade Towers: “Allahu Akbar!”

The dangers presented by inviting the Koran’s duplicitous influence upon this nation the former president claimed to love, in honoring its religion with an official state dinner while president should have been mind-blowing to any thinking American.

The following synopsis, I find, encapsulates those dangers inherent within the Koran. This excerpt was written by Frosty Wooldridge, a journalist who for many years worked and lived around Detroit, who watched Islamist influence help bring that once great city to destitution.

You have already seen it in Madrid, Spain, London, England, and Paris, France with train bombings, subway bombings and riots. As their numbers grow, so will their power to enact their barbaric Sharia Law that negates republican forms of government, first amendment rights, and subjugates women to the lowest rungs on the human ladder. We will see more honor killings by upset husbands, fathers and brothers that demand subjugation by their daughters, sisters and wives. Muslims prefer beheadings of women to scare the hell out of any other members of their sect from straying. Multiculturalism: what a perfect method to kill our language, culture, country and way of life. The God of Israel gives the penalty for following any false religious system.

“But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it” (Deuteronomy 20:17-18).

 

 

The United States is divided today as much as it was during the Civil War. We aren’t shedding blood in furious, literal warfare, but the hatreds–the differences in thought–divide as surely as did the north-versus-south issues of the mid-1800s.

Our name “United ” is no longer applicable in the truest sense. We are split in many ways, from political ideology with regard to constitutional authority, to worldview on geopolitics, socioeconomics, and religion. In terms of the discipline of human psychology, we are a schizophrenic country. We have severe split personality disorder, at the very least.

National schizophrenia continues to manifest in ways that indicate mental disorder within some factions of American society and culture. Anger, unfounded, i.e., unprovable as to reasons it is warranted, is growing. Denial of reality, in that much of the population refuses to accept the legitimacy of a constitutionally conducted presidential election, is a prime symptom of the nation’s psychological illness.

Members among that faction talk openly in social media about actually wanting to see the newly elected president murdered. It’s a psychological–even psychotic revisitation, some might say–of those long ago, southern-like sympathizers in the mold of John Wilkes Booth.

Their mindset is not unlike that of the dastardly assassin, who so resented President Lincoln after Lincoln’s directing the winning of the Civil War to preserve the Union that he could abide nothing less than the sixteenth president’s murder.

Voters have spoken within the rational, constitutional process. They put the current president in office. Mainstream media, entertainment media, higher educational institutions, and leftists of every stripe refuse to accept the legitimate election. They are observably driven to a form of madness. They are the ones who manifest the mental illness they accuse the new president of having.

We review just a few of the schizophrenic symptoms manifest in the U.S. It all stems from reprobate or upside-down thinking of which the apostle Paul warned in Romans chapter 1. It’s what happens when any people move in a direction other than that which God prescribes.

• Muslims are called peaceful while Christians are called homophobic, Islamophobic, etc.
• The liberal mindset is that we should do all for the children, yet they are responsible for 58 million being murdered in their mothers’ wombs.
• This mindset calls homosexuality an acceptable alternate lifestyle, while God Word calls it abomination
• Marriage is between one man and one woman, and this culture now says it is legally a marriage between man and man and woman and woman.
• The mindset is to say, “God Bless America,” yet the government has kicked God out of public affairs in 1963 and since.
• Schizophrenia exists as Islamists commit heinous attacks out of hatred for anyone who doesn’t see things their way (bow to Allah), yet the mindset is that we must have open arms and welcome people from those countries–without questioning and examining (vetting) them.
• Christians are called intolerant, yet the progressives won’t tolerate the Christian worldview–they see it as intolerant and hateful.
• Men want to become women, women want to become men–now men want to be made into women who can have babies.
• Presidential administration always looks for a “motive” when it is obviously Islamists who murder. Never call them Islamic terrorists.
• Socialism is literally impoverishing all societies around the world and yet capitalism is called the system that demeans people–examples being Venezuela and other places of late…
• Israel has only a sliver of land and the Arab nations have vast lands, yet the world diplomatic community (and many among the ideological left in America) demands that the Jewish state divide its land and give it to make a Palestinian state–from people blood-vowed to kill all Jews.

The final bulleted point in this list is the most troubling. It holds the very fate of America within its grip, if one believes God’s Word as given in Genesis chapter 12–and we do.

The schizophrenia is seen to be a perhaps unresolvable spiritual malady in this regard. America has for the last couple of decades–particularly over the past eight years–exhibited a split over support of Israel.

The former administration “put light” between the U.S. and Israel, something one of the Obama administration spokespersons vowed would happen as stated at the very outset. The Trump administration has vowed to do just the opposite. It has indeed to this point embraced the Jewish state and even is seriously considering moving the American embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

Yet at the same time, the American government is again befriending Israel, there is a faction, made up of domestic terrorists, it seems, who are exhibiting psychotic hatred reminiscent of that found in the Germany of the 1930s.

NEW YORK – Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States surged by 34 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, and have jumped 86 percent in the first quarter of 2017, new data released by the Anti-Defamation League on Monday showed.

In its annual ‘Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents’, the ADL reported that there has been a “massive increase” in the amount of harassment of American Jews, particularly since November, the month of the US presidential election.

The report stated that there was a total of 1,266 acts targeting Jews and Jewish institutions in 2016, nearly 30% of which occurred in November and December. These incidents included 720 incidents of harassment and threats, 510 vandalism acts and 36 physical assault incidents.

During the first three months of 2017, another 541 incidents took place including 380 harassments and 161 bomb threats. In addition, the beginning of the year saw 155 vandalism acts – including three cemeteries- and six physical assault incidents. Among the latest incident, included one last month, in which a New York rabbi received a threatening email, which read in part: “Things will start getting bloodier for the Jew boys, I know where you live.”

According to the data, if anti-Semitic occurrences continue at this rate, 2017 could end with over 2,000 incidents. (Source: “US Anti-Semitic Incidents Jump 86% at Start of 2017,”Danielle Ziri, Jerusalem Post, April 24, 2017)

For the moment, it seems that the current administration wants to apply healing balm to the rift with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nation caused by the previous administration. But the American schizophrenia remains a most serious spiritual disease that grows within. Believers must continue praying as hundreds of thousands prayed leading up to the presidential election just past. It is the only Rx that will spare this nation the demise that the Lord says will befall all individuals and nations who choose to defy His divine order for mankind.

Jesus’ disciples came to him privately while He sat upon the Mount of Olives and asked Him three questions (Matthew 24:1-3).  One question dealt with the time of the destruction of the temple. The other two questions were concerned with the end of the age. “…What will be the sign of your coming…?” and what will be the sign of “…the end of the age?”  The “end of the age” question was answered by Christ at the beginning of His Olivet discourse.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:9-14

Producing Good Fruit

Jesus told the Pharisees and Sadducees that they needed to produce good fruit (righteous works) like a tree that brings forth good fruit. If they did not produce good fruit, worthy for repentance, they were spiritually worthless to God. As a tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire, so would their destiny be if they did not produce good works that were worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:7-10, 7:15-20; Luke 3:7-9, 6:43-45).

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:8-10

The principle that a tree should bring forth good fruit was taught by Jesus on several occasions. In the parable of the barren fig tree, Jesus used a fig tree (symbolic of Israel) that had not produced fruit for three years to represent the nation of Israel. The fig tree in the parable had not produced any good fruit (ripe figs) during the three years of Christ’s ministry to the Jewish people. Jesus was telling the Jewish nation that His ministry with them was drawing to a close, and if they did not produce fruit within the next year, their opportunity to repent and accept Jesus as their Messiah would soon pass.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’  And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9

Since Israel did not produce good fruit (ripe figs) at Jesus’ first coming, the nation was cut down, as a tree, in A.D. 70 by the Roman army, and the Jewish house of worship, the temple, was destroyed.  Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of the temple, with not one stone left upon another, was accurately fulfilled (Matthew 24:2). As King Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was cut down like a tree, taken from him and later restored, the nation of Israel, represented by the fig tree, was cut down for failing to recognize Jesus as their Messiah and not recognizing “the time of their visitation” (Daniel 4:1-37, Job 14:7-9, Luke 19:41-44). The Kingdom of God was taken away from Israel but will be restored after the Lord refines them “as silver is refined,” and tests them “as gold is tested” at the end of the age (Matthew 21:42-43, Zechariah 13:7-9, 14:1-16).

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him. Matthew 21:43-44

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Figs are symbolic of the Jewish people in several places in the Scriptures (Jeremiah 24:1-10, Hosea 9:8-10).  When Israel did not produce good figs at Christ’s first coming, He cursed the fig tree, which is symbolic of the Jewish nation of Israel (Matthew 21:17-20; Mark 11:11-14, 19-22).

And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it… And when evening came they went out of the city. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”  And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.”  Mark 11:11-22

The question posed earlier in Matthew concerning “What will be the sign of your coming?” is answered by Jesus with a parable (Matthew 24:32-34, Mark 13:28-30, Luke 21:29-32).  The importance placed on this particular parable, as distinguished from the other parables, is magnified by its appearance in three of the gospels. In Matthew and Mark’s versions of the parable of the fig tree, Christ tells us to “learn a parable of the fig tree” while Luke’s version instructs us to “look at the fig tree and all the trees” (“look,” “watch,” or “behold”).

Matthew’s Version of the Fig Tree Parable

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Matthew 24:32-34

The practical application Jesus gave was to be learned from observing the fig tree. When you see a (literal) fig tree with branches full of sap (becoming tender), and producing new leaves, these signs meant that summer was near.  The spiritual application, hidden to many, teaches when the fig tree (symbolic of Israel) comes back to life, we are to know that Christ’s return is near. The generation that sees Israel come back to life will not die off until all the events involved with the second coming of Christ take place. All current and future generations were to watch the fig tree (Israel) for signs of new life. This parable could not be properly understood until after Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans, and the Jewish people were scattered throughout the world.

Luke’s Version of the Fig Tree Parable

Luke’s version of the parable of the fig tree gives additional insight into what to watch for in order to understand when Christ will return (i.e., “the sign of your coming”).

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Luke 21:29-32

We are told by Jesus in many Scriptures to “watch” for Christ’s return (Matthew 24:42-43, 25:13, Mark 13:33-37, Luke 12:37-40, 21:36, Philippians 3:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6, 2 Timothy 4:8, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28, Revelation 3:3, 16:15).

What are we to watch for? Several signs and indicators are given in the aforementioned Scriptures for the general time of Christ’s return, and we are to watch for them as the Scriptures command. In the parable of the fig tree, Luke records Jesus’ specific words where He said to “Watch the fig tree and all the trees” (Luke 21:29). (1)

1. Watch the fig tree (Israel)
2. Watch all the trees (Gentile nations)
3. Watch for leaves sprouting on the fig tree (signs of life)
4. Watch for leaves sprouting on all the trees (signs of life)

When the fig tree (Israel) and all the trees (Gentile nations) come to life, the parable of the fig tree, which is a date specific and generation specific prophecy, begins its countdown to the return of Christ and the setting up of the Kingdom of God.

Has the Fig Tree (Israel) Put Forth Leaves (come to life)?

The Jewish people, displaced from their homeland for centuries, began showing signs of life during the second half of the 19th century (1850-1900) when waves of Jews (aliyah) started coming back to the land of Israel. Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), the “Father of Zionism,” was the visionary behind the modern return of the Jewish people and reestablishment of a Jewish homeland. (2)

Herzl organized the first world congress of Zionism that met in Basel, Switzerland, in August 1897 and became the first president of the World Zionist Organization. (3) The goals of the organization were set forth in the Basle Program: “Zionism seeks to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine, secured under public law.” (4)

The Balfour Declaration, dated November 2, 1917, paved the way for the United Nations partition resolution for Palestine on November 29, 1947 and the subsequent formation of the state of Israel on May 14-15, 1948. The fig tree (Israel) came back to life during the first half of the 20th century (1900-1950), and Israel is now producing young figs (potential Jewish believers) that will be harvested at the end of the age.

Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?” says the Lord; “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?” says your God. Isaiah 66:7-9

For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.  Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. Job 14:7-9

In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit. Isaiah 27:6

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. 2 Samuel 7:8-10

Have All the Trees (Gentile nations) Put Forth Leaves (come to life)?

Trees are symbolic of nations, kingdoms, and empires in several places in the Bible (Daniel 4:10-26; Ezekiel 17:22-24, 31:3-18; Judges 9:7-21).  In Luke’s version of the fig tree parable, many trees are pictured as coming to life around the same time as the fig tree (Luke 21:29-32).  Jesus said to “watch the fig tree and all the trees.” When they begin to show signs of life, by producing leaves, you are to “know” that the generation that sees this take place will also be the generation that sees the Kingdom of God established on earth.

So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Matthew 24:33 NASB

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Mark 13:29 ESV

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the Kingdom of God is near. Luke 21:31 ESV

The parable of the fig tree does not say that “we might know,” or “we should know,” that “the Kingdom of God is near.” Christ proclaimed in all three gospels; Matthew, Mark, and Luke, that when “the fig tree and all the trees” put forth leaves, we were to definitely and emphatically “know” and “recognize” that “the Kingdom of God is near.” The generation that witnesses “the fig tree (Israel) and all the trees (Gentile nations)” come to life was specifically chosen by Christ to usher in the Kingdom of God at the end of the age. When the fig tree (Israel) puts forth leaves, the generation that sees this take place is to “know” and “recognize” that His coming was “near, at the very gates.”

The Proliferation of Nations

The growth of nations in the world is a long, evolutionary process where the date of a country’s “formation” cannot always be objectively determined.  England and France, for instance, were sovereign kingdoms during the medieval period, however England is not now a sovereign state (having passed sovereignty to the UK in 1707), and France is a republic founded in 1792 but refers to itself as the French Fifth Republic, formed in 1958. (5)

Independence dates for widely recognized states prior to 1919 should be treated with caution, since prior to the founding of the League of Nations, there was no international body to recognize nationhood, and independence had no meaning beyond self-recognition from the sovereign state itself (the role of the League of Nations was taken over by the United Nations after the Second World War). (6)

Since the formation, expansion, division, dissolving and reorganizing of nations is subject to wars, internal conflicts (coup d’état) and changes in leadership and governing bodies, the number of independent, sovereign states (also nations, countries) in the world has been subject to change. Factors for determining statehood have included independence dates, dates of constitutions, symbolic foundation dates and, more recently, international recognition from the League of Nations and its successor, the United Nations. Dates of national formation vary slightly among varied sources, however the total number of independent, sovereign nations in the world today is considered to be 195-197 by several sources. (7), (8), (9), (10)

Before the 20th century (1899 and earlier), there were 44 countries that had achieved statehood. The 20th century saw 147 new sovereign states added, with many splitting off from the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Soviet Union. The first half of the 20th century (1900-1950) saw 38 new states created while the second half (1950-2000) experienced an unprecedented addition of 109 new, sovereign states. Only five nations have been recognized as sovereign states in the 21st century (2000 to date). (11)

The number of new nations in the world multiplied quickly after World War II (1945) and continued at a rapid pace for the next 50 years. This proliferation of new nations during the second half of the 20th century (1950-2000) abruptly ended on October 1, 1994 after Palau became a nation. Only five nations have become sovereign states since 1994 with the last, South Sudan, receiving statehood on July 9, 2011.

Creation of the League of Nations and United Nations

The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during the first World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles “to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security.” The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War. (12) The name “United Nations” was coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first used in the “Declaration by United Nations” on January 1, 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers. In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter.

The charter was signed on June 26, 1945 by representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 member states. The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, after the charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24th of each year. (13)

The Growth in Membership of the United Nations

Only independent, sovereign states can become members of the United Nations (UN). There are currently 193 member states in the UN, with the last member, South Sudan, joining on July 14, 2011. The main functioning bodies of the UN are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat.  All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded. (14)

The growth of membership in the United Nations was rapid during the second half of the 20th century (1950-2000).  At its inception in 1945, 51 countries (original members) joined the organization. By 1950 there were 60 members, 80 in 1956, 135 in 1973, 185 in 1994, and 193 in 2011. (15) There are 54 countries and territories not currently in the United Nations. (16) On November 29, 2012, Palestine was granted the status of “Non-member observer state” but hasn’t yet been admitted to the UN as a full member. (17) As of 2015, there are two permanent non-member observer states at the United Nations: The Holy See and Palestine. (18)

The Judgment of Nations

The judgment of nations and peoples at the end of the age (the harvest) is found throughout the Old and New Testaments and in corresponding passages in the book of Matthew (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; 25:31-46, Zephaniah 3:8, Zechariah 14:1-19). Jesus’ description of the end of the age after His return involves the gathering of all nations together by His angels, who will separate the people, as the sheep and goats are divided. The saved (sheep) will inherit the Kingdom of God and eternal life, and the unsaved (goats) will suffer the same fate as the devil and his angels.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’  Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.  Matthew 25:31-46

Because the nations of the world have scattered the Jewish people throughout the world for nearly 2000 years (A.D. 70 to present) and have been, since Israel became a nation in 1948 till now, persistently harassing Israel to give up their land to obtain “peace and security,” God will, at the end of the age, take vengeance on those who have been afflicting and oppressing His people (Deuteronomy 32:35-36).

For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. Joel 3:1-3

The Peace and Security Agreement

While the nations of the world, with the United States taking the lead, have been involved with on-going negotiations in Middle East peace talks to force Israel to accept a diabolical peace agreement, these unwitting persecutors of Israel do not realize they are setting a trap for themselves that will lead to their “sudden destruction” (Luke 21:34-36, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Revelation 3:10).

This judgment from God upon the global leaders, who are continuously pressing Israel to accept a false peace covenant (Isaiah 28:18, Daniel 9:27), will come upon them in the same manner as a woman having birth pangs. The implication is an increase both in frequency and intensity of warnings that will end abruptly with their “sudden destruction.”

The four main participants pushing the Israel-Palestinian peace process, referred to as the Quartet (US, Russia, EU, UN), who use the words “peace and security” on a regular basis in their speeches and formal documents, send veiled signals to those who are watching for signs of Christ’s return, that we are living in the “times and seasons” of the rapture and the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:1-11).

The words “peace and safety” or “peace and security” are ancient code words used by the apostle Paul, in his essay to the Thessalonians, that could not be fully understood until Israel had been restored to their land and the Israel-Palestinian peace process had become a major concern of all the nations in the world.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

The Day of the Lord and the Day of Redemption

The code words “peace and security,” that are used frequently in the ongoing Israel-Palestinian peace process, signal the imminent arrival of “the times and seasons” of the catching up of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  The repetitive use of the words “peace and security” by the globalists is also a harbinger of the “sudden destruction” linked to “the day of the Lord” that follows the translation of the saints (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

The rapture of the saints, which comes as a thief in the night (Matthew 24:42-44, Luke 12:35-40, Revelation 3:3, 16:15), and the day of the Lord, which also comes as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10), may well be describing events that are closely connected (contiguous). (Rapture—1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, John 14:1-3, Titus 2:11-14; Day of the Lord—1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Joel 1:15-20, 2:1-11, Amos 5:18-20, Zephaniah 1:7-18)

The apostle Paul describes two types of people: Those who are caught off guard by “the day of the Lord” and those who escape “the day of the Lord.” There are those who are in darkness, and those who are not; those who are overtaken, and those not overtaken; children of the light and day and those of the night and darkness; some who are awake and others who are asleep; some who are watching and are sober and others who do not watch or remain sober; those who receive wrath, and those who receive salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:4-9).

The day of the Lord brings wrath to some (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, 9; Luke 21:34-35, 2 Peter 3:10), and the day of redemption brings salvation to others (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, Romans 8:19-23, Luke 21:28, 36, 2 Peter 3:9). For those living just prior to “the day of the Lord,” the only way to escape “the day of the Lord” will be removal before it begins, which will be accomplished by the catching up of the saints on “the day of redemption” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28

But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day (the day of the Lord) come on you unexpectedly. For it (the day of the Lord) will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things (the day of redemption) that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

The Parable of the Net

The coming to life of many nations during the 20th century also lends additional support and meaning to the Parable of the Net (also dragnet) where many people (also nations) are gathered together for judgment at the end of the age. Is there solid, Scriptural proof in the Bible that confirms we are nearing “the end of the age,” and the generation that is now present on earth will see the return of Christ and the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom?

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:47-50

Are we living in the “times and seasons” just before “…the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus?” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, 9-10, 2 Peter 3:3-14, Jude 14-18).

The prophet Daniel was not given understanding of events that would take place at the time of the end; however, he did understand that God would give wisdom to those living in the end times who knew the Scriptures, especially the prophetic Scriptures, and understood “the times and seasons” of the coming of the Lord (Daniel 2:20-23, 2 Timothy 3:14-16, 1 Chronicles 12:32, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18-5:1-11).

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase… but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. Daniel 12:4, 10

World Government and the Rise of Antichrist

The total number of sovereign, independent nations present in the world grew from 44 at the end of the 19th century (1900) to around 195 nations in just over 100 years.  Nearly all the nations of the world (193) have agreed to the United Nations Charter and have become members since its formation in 1945. Since the growth of new nations in the world appears to have reached its climax, and the majority of nations now belong to a world order (UN) that wants to eliminate national borders and form a one world government, are “all the trees” (Gentile nations) alluded to in Luke’s parable now in place for the rise of Antichrist and implementation of global government? Are we approaching the end of the age where one global ruler will create a surveillance society and control all commercial transactions involving buying and selling? (Daniel 7:15-27, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Revelation 13:1-18).

And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.  

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain… And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. Revelation 13:6-18 NASB

Watch the Fig Tree and All the Trees

Does conclusive evidence exist in the Scriptures and today’s headlines that reveal the “times and seasons” of Christ’s return? (Acts 1:7-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Hebrews 10:23-25, Luke 21:28-32). Are we seeing prophetic stage setting take place in the Middle East with Russia (Magog), Iran (Persia) and Turkey (Togarmah) forming alliances that will come against Israel as predicted by the prophet Ezekiel over 2500 years ago? (Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39).

A significant, but concealed indicator of the approaching end of the age is contained in Luke’s version of the Parable of the Fig Tree. Jesus said to “Watch the fig tree and all the trees.” Watching “all the trees,” as we now know, meant watching all the nations as they come alive in conjunction with Israel before the end of the age. The proliferation of new nations during the 20th century gave new meaning to “watch…all the trees.”

“The fig tree” (Israel) officially came back to life in 1948, and “all the trees” (Gentile nations) have come alive, some before, and more after Israel became a nation in 1948. There were seventy-five nations present in the world when Israel became a nation on May 14-15, 1948. After Israel’s rebirth as a nation, 120 nations have been recognized as independent, sovereign states. (19)

Jesus told His apostles before His ascension that it was not for them “to know the times or the seasons” when the Kingdom of God would be established on earth (Acts 1:6-7). Rather, Christ reserved the understanding of this mystery about “the times and seasons’ of His return for the generation that would see “the fig tree and all the trees” come to life (Luke 21:29-32, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18-5:1-11).

The Pharisees and Sadducees were spiritually blind to the signs of Christ’s first coming (Matthew 16:1-3). When they asked Him for a sign, Jesus acknowledged their ability to interpret the weather, based upon the appearance of the sky, but they failed to grasp “the signs of the times” present everywhere. How much more are many of the religious leaders of this generation blind to the “signs of the times” that are heralding Christ’s second coming?

After observing the coming to life of “the fig tree and all the trees” after World War II and during the second half of the 20th century (1950-2000), we can be assured, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the events that take place just before Christ’s return are nearing fulfillment. This means His coming is “near, right at the door.”

According to Christ’s words, when “the fig tree and all the trees” put forth leaves (come alive), we are to absolutely and confidently “know” the Kingdom of God is near, and the generation that is living at that time “will not pass away until all is fulfilled.” The preponderance of Scriptural and global evidence is overwhelming that we are the generation Christ was talking about.

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Endnotes

(1) A Literal Translation of the Bible, Jay P. Green, Sr., The Interlinear Bible—Hebrew, Greek, English,  Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts, copyright 1976

(2) http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/theodor-binyamin-ze-rsquo-ev-herzl

(3) https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodor-Herzl

(4) http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/world-zionist-organization-wzo

(5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_date_of_formation

(6) ibid

(7) LeParisienhttp://dictionnaire.sensagent.leparisien.fr/list+of+countries+in+chronological+order+of+achievin     g+statehood/en-en/

(8) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2088.html

(9) http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_of_the_world.htm

(10) https://www.countries-ofthe-world.com/all-countries.html

(11) LeParisien

(12)  http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/history-united-nations/index.html

(13) ibid

(14)  ibid

(15)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlargement_of_the_United_Nations

(16)  https://www.quora.com/United-Nations-What-countries-are-not-part-of-the-UN

(17)  http://www.worldometers.info/united-nations/

(18)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly_observers

(19) LeParisien

Unless specified otherwise, all scripture quotes are from the English Standard Version (ESV), NASB—New American Standard Version, or NKJV—New King James Version.

Bible prophecy’s number-one sign that God’s next intervention into the affairs of mankind is near at hand was again front and center in the headlines. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had just completed a mission for the Obama administration, consulting (to some extent at least) with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about getting the “Roadmap to Peace” process back on track. The process had been on hold for an extended period, but with apparent loosening of stipulations involving the 1967 borders–by both sides, the Israel and the Palestinian Authority–the deadly peace process was at the time seeming to once again get traction.

I use the word “deadly” without reservation, because that’s exactly the way the Lord portrays any man-made peace process involving Israel and its enemy neighbors that excludes the Lord. His Words through the prophet Isaiah spell out God’s anger against subterfuge in the matter of human attempts to impose godless peace on His chosen nation. He minces no words in admonishing those of his nation who would be part of this subterfuge.

“Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves… And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.” (Isaiah 28:15, 18)

The land in the long-disputed territory involved is God’s, and He gave it to Israel forever. He is jealous of any attempt to change things in that regard. He is so adamant about this, as a matter of fact, that His Word, through His prophet, Joel, foretells that God will bring every nation to Armageddon precisely because they attempt to change His directive in this matter.

“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” (Joel 3: 2)

America, during the entire time of the Obama Administration, was at the forefront of trying to impose such peace as is forbidden by the One who made the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And it doesn’t take much to read between the lines as to whose side the Obama Administration and its State Department wanted most to listen to in the process. One report summarized:

On his visit, Kerry had marathon talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas–including a stop Friday in Ramallah. Kerry also met Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in Amman and had been consulting Israeli officials by telephone, a U.S. official said. The Palestinian leadership on Thursday did not accept Kerry’s latest plan, but signaled that it was leaving the door open for him to continue pushing for talks. (Mandel Ngan, “Kerry Says Israel, Palestinians Laid Groundwork for New Peace Talks,” World News, AP/Reuters)

This is the way President Obama always saw fit to deal with Israeli leadership in almost every situation. We remember when, immediately following his first election, the president summoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. He then talked to, not with, him for a few minutes before saying that he had to go have dinner with his family, leaving a condescended-to Netanyahu sitting alone and perplexed.

During the course of their relationship over the next years of Obama’s presidency, it’s reported that the president calls Netanyahu and told him what’s what, but rarely listened, even refusing to take calls from the Israeli leader at times.

But, this is pretty much the way Mr. Obama handled all of his meetings. We noticed how abbreviated was his response to serious questions he didn’t want to address–like those about Benghazi, the IRS scandal, the NSA scandal–well, you name it.

And, the press conferences were so few and far between with the president before the microphones that the press must have wondered why they even attended them, just to hear Jay Carney play “Ring Around the Rosy” with them. But, members of the mainstream news media were and are so devoted to keeping this president –now ex-president– from any political fallout that we have our answer as to why they kept coming to hear the president’s propaganda minister instead of the man, himself.

So, the Israeli prime minister is just like the rest of us. He, like American citizens, had to wait, and then endure the phone call or presser in which Mr. Obama, like when he depended upon the Teleprompters, gives a one-way lecture.

It appears to this point that the Donald J. Trump Administration has a much different attitude about dealing with Netanyahu and with this all-important prophetic nation called Israel. Still, the idea of a land for peace deal of any sort, no matter the president or other who tries to force it, is a most deadly matter.

Just my opinion…

But it is fact, not just my own view that the issue of peace involving Israel is the number-one issue and signal that shows the nearness to Christ’s call to His church in the Rapture.

 

Some will remember the boast, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” It was true for a considerable period of time. Between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, the British Empire was the most expansive in history, basically touching, in terms of modern time calculation, all time zones with its overseas possessions and trading posts. Thus, the sun was just arising on one part of the empire while it was in process of setting on another.

Even the Roman Empire, which many of us who study Bible prophecy believe is referenced in the book of Daniel and other scriptural places, came nowhere near matching the British Empire in scope and influence. Some Bible prophecy scholars and students believe that Britain and its influence is, in fact, mentioned in prophecy yet future, although obliquely. These references, it is conjectured, are found in Daniel:

“Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.” (Daniel 7:2-4)

The lion in this prophecy might be Britain, those prophecy watchers believe.Certainly, England has been symbolized by the lion in legend, lore, and in the annals of war.

Another place in Scripture that many–including me–believe Britain is likely mentioned is in Ezekiel’s prophecy about the Gog-Magog attack on Israel:

“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” (Ezekiel 38:13)

Here, those who hold that Britain is referenced believe the term “merchants of Tarsish, with all the young lions thereof” is significant proof of their position. The area of Tarshish (“land of tin”) is thought to be where the isle of today’s England sat in ancient days. They believe “the young lions” of this Scripture likely refers to the United States and other of Great Britain’s offspring.

Upon hearing the news pundits going a bit gaga over an approaching birth of a royal British baby some years ago, my thoughts ran with cogitations of contrast to another news item in headlines at that time. All of the talking heads had been conflabbing about the upcoming birth of the baby who would become fourth in line to succeed the present queen, I believe. There seemed some confusion among the pundits about exactly what number in line the child would vbe.

I googled ABCnews.com to find out just who were the royal parents and other details. No problem: The first link said: “Royal baby due date has world on pins and needles.”

The headline was far elevated above the other matter–the matter starkly in contrast:

“Gay marriage is set to become law after clearing the House of Lords. “The Queen is expected to be asked to give her approval to the Bill–one of the most radical pieces of social legislation of her reign–by the end of this week.

“It opens the way for the first legally recognized same-sex weddings to take place in England and Wales by next summer and brings the centuries-old understanding of marriage as being solely between a man and a woman to an end. “Peers gave their assent to the third reading of the Government’s same-sex marriage bill without a formal vote after a short debate in the Lords, also backing plans for a review of pension arrangements for gay couples… “Baroness Stowell, the Government spokesman who steered the bill through the Lords, told a chamber packed with peers wearing pink carnations, that it was an “historic” achievement.” (John Bingham, Telegraph)

My first thought was to whisper to myself the–I guess mean-spirited–statement, “Well, there will be no royal babies produced from those unions.”

On second and third thoughts, however, with all of the gene-splicing and other corrupting of genetics being carried on today, who knows?

The Creator–who is the Lord Jesus Christ–laid down the rule and provided the physiological means to produce offspring. One man and one woman, in marriage, for life. The sun has definitely set on that law, so far as the humanist God-rejecters are concerned.

It is appropriate to consider, in thinking on the upper house of Parliament’s decision, that the sun set long ago on the British Empire. It is in process of setting on the greatest of all empires in history to date–the American empire of influence. America is following directly in the footsteps of Mother England, it is apparent. The final throes of decline and fall of world empires are easily determined by study of the greatest of them.

Greece, Rome, Britain–each saw a marked influence of homosexuality as their demise approached.

Enough said.

The words of the Lord Jesus apply to empires as well as to individuals, and none of Christ’s words are more apropos in regard to all of the above than the following:

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7: 26-27)

 

No prophetic indicator more precisely relevant to our time can be determined than what we have seen develop within recent weeks and days to my way of analysis.

Specifically, I would like us to examine in this brief commentary things in our headlines of late─that I believe parallel Paul’s perilous times forewarning found in the following portion of 2 Timothy, chapter 3:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be…traitors, heady, highminded…” (2 Timothy 3:1a, 2a; 4a).

First, we should get these words down in terms of the definitions given in the Greek language, in which the New Testament was written. I invite you to check out the Greek in the Strong’s Greek Lexicon, or another source to get the exact Greek word. I deal here only with the definition of each of these words that I believe so fit our day in regard to being end times:

Traitors: A betrayer─in the sense of giving forward into another’s [the enemy’s] hands. Heady: 1): to fall forward, headlong, sloping, precipitously 2): precipitate, rash, reckless (Example: Acts 19:36. Paul advises to never act rashly.)

Highminded: 1): to make proud, puff up with pride, render insolent, to be puffed up with haughtiness or pride 2): to blind with pride or conceit, to render foolish or stupid

These characteristics have in recent days, in my opinion, been on display in glaring, unmistakable fashion for anyone who is willing to honestly acknowledge America’s slide into reprobate thinking, as Paul forewarned:

“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” (Romans 1:28).

One particular young man has been at the center of this end of the age display of God’s prophetic truth since 2013. Paul’s perilous times characteristics have been manifesting before our eyes on an hourly basis. Edward Snowden is stuck in Moscow, awaiting word on possibly being given sanctuary. Of course, we all know his story by now. He divulged massive amounts of National Security Agency (NSA) information regarding the snooping agency’s intelligence gathering.

Most troubling, apparently, to the powers that be in Washington has been the revealing of the methodologies the NSA uses to collect the data and use it–even against American citizens. The 30-year old contractor, who reportedly doesn’t have a college degree, was in position to collect information on the capabilities of, arguably, America’s most secretive clandestine service.

Everyone in power, from the Obama Administration to senators and representatives, and mainstream media pundit-types  were at the time calling him a traitor and demanding that he be immediately extradited to the U.S. Snowden claims he divulged the information–and would divulge a lot more─because the NSA and other clandestine services are spying on individual American citizens and collecting dossiers in a way that violates the Constitution. For example, the Fourth Amendment.

Snowden went to China and to Russia with the information─America’s traditionally most powerful, antagonistic opponents─so the word “traitor” is a term that is appropriate, it can be argued. –Thus, although the betrayal might be viewed as well as being carried out against a corrupt, intrusive government, not as against the American people.

Regardless of his motive–and only the Lord and Mr. Snowden know for certain what that is—he has opened himself up to appear to have selfishly performed a traitorous act by placing himself in a position to be debriefed on these sensitive documents by America’s most dangerous foes, in terms of geopolitical intrigue.

Now, I would like to look at an even more worrisome matter in all of this — the betrayal or traitorous activities by those in the high places of government who are so heady and highminded─to use Paul’s Holy Spirit-inspired Words. Those In the NSA, the IRS, and other such agencies who have wantonly and recklessly disregarded the Constitution the founding fathers gave this nation have violated, and continue to violate, apparently, the very spirit of what has made this unprecedented experiment in human liberty unique in all the ages of human history. That they do their dastardly, enslaving activity under the guise of “national security” makes the crime worse.

They have, and continue to betray the trust a people must have in its leaders in order to carry on with civil and productive society and culture. Make no mistake─there are those principalities and powers in the high places─both human and supernatural─who want you to be the servants of the ruling class, rather than those whom are served, as the founding fathers wrote into that most noble document. Here is what Benjamin Franklin had to say about a national, salaried bureaucracy:

Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men…ambition and avarice-the love of power and the love of money… What kind are the men that will strive for this profitable preeminence, through all the bustle of cabal, the heat of contention, the infinite mutual abuse of parties, tearing to pieces the best of characters? It will not be the wise and moderate, the lovers of peace and good order, the men fittest for the trust. It will be the bold and the violent, the men of strong passions and indefatigable activity in their selfish pursuits. These will thrust themselves into your government and be your rulers…

Franklin said further:

There will always be a party for giving more to the rulers, that the rulers may be able, in return, to give more to them…The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes, the greater need the prince has of money to distribute among his partisans, and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance, and enable him to plunder at pleasure .There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh-get first all the people’s money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants for ever…I am apprehensive, therefore─perhaps too apprehensive─that the government of the States may, in future times end in a monarchy…and a king wills the sooner be set over us. (My thanks to Bill Federer’s American Minute, June 28, 2013 –From Ben Franklin’s speech on June 28, 1787 Constitutional Convention, at 81 years of age.)

The traitorous, heady and highminded are among us. We have come to a time very near that of a Constitutional crisis. These times in which we live look to be the perilous times that Paul said, will be prevalent at the moment Christ calls His church to be with Him forever.