These are times the entertainment industry gleefully uses to take advantage of those they see as nutcases. The supposed nutcases are those whose determination is to prepare for what they envision as the coming meltdown of civilization.

You can see the programs on the various channels during the course of any given week. The producers of such programs, it is obvious from the programming, pick and choose the most conspiratorially prone of the “preppers,” as they are called, to film while the producers follow those preppers’ every move.

You can sense from the tone of the narration that it is, for the most part, tongue-in-cheek so far as the producers of these programs are concerned. They are simply trying to entertain the viewers by doing case studies on the fringe “kooks” who are out there in the few wildernesses left in America.

Of course, the kooks themselves are clueless. They are dead serious about their prepping, and that makes it all the more entertainment fodder for the hip TV production crews as they send the filmed fruits of their labor into such areas as, particularly, the sophisticated, metropolitan regions of the Northeast and the cool, with-it West Coasters of places like San Francisco.

I think I’m considered in with the “nut jobs,” at least until they talk to me, by the producers of such programming. It used to be that I only got emails, followed by phone calls from the documentary producers who wanted my take on the Rapture. The Rapture is, of course, also fodder for entertaining the hip of the nation. However, now I am included in the producers’ search for those who want to make the case for the prepping going on in this nation and elsewhere. In most cases, I never hear from the producers again, after the initial “pre-interview,” as they call it. When those call, I give them the biblical explanation of these things–with chapter and verse. I don’t go into my personal opinion–at least rarely do so.

They don’t seem to like the answers they get. I think it is because I usually end it with the Gospel Message, weaving it as adroitly as possible into my answers to their inquiries.

By the end of our conversations, they usually say something like, “Thank you so much. This is great. We’ll get back shortly.” Then they ask: “Do you know anyone we might talk to who says they know the day of the Rapture?” Or, in the case of this prepping question: “Can you give us the names of anyone who believes the world will soon be destroyed?”

I never give them the names they seek. I never hear from most of them again.

I have to say that I’m not a fan of the prepping TV programs. But I think it wise to at least think about having finances in order and some degree of preparations in place–like food and emergency-kit-type things in case of severe economic downturn, not unlike preparations that the wise citizens of places along the coastal areas might make, just to be ready in case of hurricane aftereffects.

But there seems to be a kind of prepping in reverse going on in this country and around the world. This is what I want to address, if I may explain… The prepping for truly bad times to come is being done, as I see it, by government and its enablers/propagandists in mainstream media, in particular. Forget the masses. They are, for the most part, absorbed into the entertainment and day-to-day ether that obscures all perception of what’s really going on around them. They seem blissfully ignorant when it comes to the preparatory activity taking place, readying the hapless masses for fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

Two areas I see as most obvious are those involving economy and religion. Another is preparations being made for setting up the false peace that will bring all nations to Armageddon–but that one will have to take second place for the moment.

Anyone who has carefully examined the financial upheaval since 2006 or so, leading into the 2008 collapse and rise in debt of nations around the world, and particularly in America, will acknowledge that control of finances by individuals has forever been usurped by governments who have mortgaged the futures of the citizenry of those indebted national entities. This is all about prepping for fulfillment of Bible prophecy, although largely not realized by those in governments who have done the usurping.

It is the same in the religious realm. All have been prepping. Congresses and presidents, parliaments and prime ministers in the Western nations have for decades been turning out the light of Christianity by proposing banning God–particularly the name of Jesus Christ–from public places. Many ways to God are embraced within the governance of the people in the name of “tolerance,” although total neutrality is preferred by the increasingly agnostic leaders. Jesus Christ is unmentionable, proving the Lord’s word as true–that the world would hate Him, and eventually, will hate all who claim His Holy Name through belief in Him. This is all prepping by the humanistic one-world builders who are determined to establish change. They want change that doesn’t include God in any fashion except that which will be the god of this world once this false religious system comes to fruition.

We find this religious and economic prepping’s prophetic culmination in 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13. The way is being prepped for world-wide religious worship, as given in Revelation 13: 8: “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

The object of this new-world-order worship is found in the following prophetic passage given through the apostle Paul: “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; Who opposed 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 2:3-4).

Prepping is being carried out at every level of culture and society by Satan-inspired human governments for fulfillment of Bible prophecy. That prophecy involving worldwide economic control is found in the following: “And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:16-18).

So, how should the Christian be prepping for the bleak future that is immediately set before us? I think the following scriptural admonitions are the best preparation to be found: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:19—20).

The most solid advice of all is given to us by the Word of God as follows: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Then we are to do the following: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

 

There are today so many obvious assaults against God-given principles through which we are meant to comport ourselves, that choosing any as the number-one assault should be a difficult thing to do. But, it isn’t, as I believe we will understand upon reaching the end of this essay.

We can with certainty state that in America at this moment, Satan is leading assaults on God’s prescription for marriage. It is working. Not too many years ago, more than 70 percent of people involved in romantic relationships in the United States got married, in the legal sense. These were man-woman marriages. Today, fewer than 50 percent are getting married, choosing to engage in live-in arrangements. But, the number of marriages of men to men and women to women, although still low, is growing. It is more than obvious that this is a satanically inspired trend that is prophetically scheduled to increase. (Jesus said it will be like it was in the days of Lot when He next intervenes, catastrophically, into the history of man. Homosexuality was at the heart of Sodom’s society and culture.)

This isn’t, however, the top assault Satan and his minions are making on this generation.

An even more horrific attack on humanity is the murder of babies in their mothers’ wombs. The evil one has convinced a large section of those who claim to be the most compassionate, caring, intelligent among us–the “progressives”—that burning little ones to death in the womb, or ripping them apart, or–if still breathing upon making it to birth–killing them by severing the spines is nothing more than birth control after the fact. At this infanticide–getting rid of human beings like refuse–the devil has been most successful.

This isn’t, though, his number-one priority.

The great deceiver incessantly attacks the human, fallen mind, inciting the greed within, fanning the flames of avarice. The result is movement toward one-world, economic enslavement, in which the few intend to control the rest of us by severely governing our ability to buy and sell. The devil is working, seemingly to perfection, his plan to one day install the 666 “Beast” system of Revelation 13:16-18. Even this love-of-money incitement, though, is not the number-one assault being made by Lucifer, the fallen one.

His absolute hatred for the creation called man is eclipsed only by his insane detestation of the God of Heaven. He drives the hatreds man has for his fellow man, instigating conflicts and wars at every opportunity. In this he has been highly successful, with well over 15,000 wars being waged and countless millions of lives being destroyed over the centuries.

This carnage is increasing, with the twentieth century seeing the most prolific loss of life in war ever, due to the horrendous capability of modern weaponry. With the fantastic weaponry available now–and that’s on the drawing boards of the military-industrial complex that studies war-making–there will come warfare that will make even World Wars I and II pale by comparison. We know that Armageddon looms.

But, again, this is not Satan’s number-one assault on this generation.

Then, his number-one assault must be to bring all the world into a hatred for God’s chosen people, Israel, I can hear some surmising. Certainly the words of the prophet Zechariah can be seen materializing into reality before our amazed eyes:

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 are gathered together against it.”

We have gone over many times how this is an all-important plan of Satan–to destroy that people. God’s ultimate salvation plan would be thwarted, were this to happen, because the Lord’s promises would have been proven false. The fallen one has made great strides in bringing all against Israel, and this assault certainly continues—sometimes seemingly unabated.

Yet, as integral to Satan’s war on God and man is to his fiendish intentions, the destruction of Israel is not his number-one objective in assaulting this generation. Time after time it has been seen that the most powerful plans are often the simplest. So it is with Satan’s plan to destroy as much of humanity as possible in the short time I believe he is aware he has left.

I am convinced that Satan’s number-one priority is to convince as much of mankind as possible to do away with one particular scripture. That’s it! Just do away with one Scripture, and the devil’s plan will blossom to full bloom…and men, women, and children will be swept into the abyss.

Satan’s number-one priority is to convince America’s Christians that Jesus wanted, above all, unity of belief. Jesus Christ wanted us to accept that unity of all religious systems must be achieved–that His followers must learn to tolerate each other and all other “believers,” no matter their “beliefs.” If this happens, all wars will be eliminated, because–Satan wants us to believe–all wars are instigated in one way or another by religious intolerance.

Secondly, the devil wants us to believe that the real gospel involves the realization that we must not be judgmental. This, you see, is closely related to intolerance–the basis for all hatred, bigotry–and, well, for wars.

If we just would not be judgmental–the rant goes– we would tolerate all religious belief systems. This would produce unity, which is what Christ taught. He wanted all “believers” to come together in unity. Thus, the “progressives” of the religious world within Christianity exclaim they are correct in saying we must accept all ways to God–ways proposed by each and every religion of the world.

Strangely, it is only Christianity that, in actuality, overtly hangs onto one way only!

John 3:16 has been replaced today in the church, particularly as the most quoted by younger people. Statistics bear out this contention–statistics that I don’t recall at the time of this writing. The Scripture that has replaced John 3:16 as the most-quoted Scripture is the following: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matt 7:1)

This is the verse that is thrown in the face of every Christian who witnesses that Jesus is the only way to salvation. We are not to “judge” others, or their religions.

Like all Scripture taken out of context, a case can be made in this instance that convolutes the Word of God. This sounds so pious and condemning of being judgmental–of intolerance. But, the meaning in context of the Scripture is that we must judge rightly, righteously. One does that by first making sure one is in right–that is righteous—relationship with God through Christ. That is the teaching of God’s Word about having good judgment. Unless we have the mind of Christ–are subject to Holy Spirit guidance–we cannot judge another. In Christ, we are discerning of truth and of the false.

But, the father of lies has convinced an ever-growing number of Christians and, of course, multiplied millions of others, that the new Scripture personifying Christianity is Matthew 7: 1, rather than John 3:16.

However, that replacement attempt does not constitute Satan’s number-one priority to which I’m referring here.

What, then, is Satan’s number-one priority that supersedes all other priorities in his assault on the world today?

It is this: That one certain verse must be forever done away with in the minds and hearts of those who claim Christianity. To do away with this Scripture means there will one day come acceptance of all other religious systems. An ecumenical system will one day amalgamate into spiritual unity that will give worship to Satan’s man, Antichrist.

That verse is this: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the father but by me” (John 14:6). Get rid of that truth, and the way will be clear for there to be unity and tolerance. It will forever do away with judgmentalism. We heard Pope Francis give lip service to this new “tolerance,” by implying there are many pathways to God. Jesus said, however, that He will one day say to those who fall victim to such satanic convolution of God’s Word: “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23).

 

 

Aldous Huxley had published in 1932 his futuristic novel Brave New World, in which every facet of humanity came under central control of the ultimate, despotic government. The author described some pretty amazing technological tools for the times for use in enslaving all peoples.

Evidence mounts that our own generation is moving swiftly into a new, troubling world, and the tools Huxley’s fictional world utilized seem like child’s toys by comparison with what is in view now. The technologies that have developed truly constitute what could be termed the “big brother” of those technological instrumentalities described in the long-ago novel. More about that in due course. For now, let’s look at the intrusions into everyday life that increase with each passing day.

Not long ago I received a troubling news report about a small town near where I once lived in northern Arkansas. The town is about an hour away from Memphis, which lies to the east. The chief of police was acting like a Nazi thug, as best I could determine from the report. The headline of the story was “Police State Comes to Arkansas.” The police chief reportedly said, “[Police are] going to be in SWAT gear and have AR-15s around their necks.” He said further: “If you’re out walking, we’re going to stop you, ask why you’re out walking, check for your ID.”

The head policeman said that while some might be offended, they shouldn’t be. “We’re going to do it to everybody,” he said. “Criminals don’t like being talked to.”

One of the town officials backed the chief of police. He said: “[The citizens] may not be doing anything but walking their dog,” he said. “But they’re going to have to prove it…. This fear is what’s given us the reason to do this. Once I have stats and people saying they’re scared, we can do this,” he said. “It allows us to do what we’re fixing to do.”

The chief of police added, “To ask you for your ID, I have to have a reason,” he said. “Well, I’ve got statistical reasons that say I’ve got a lot of crime right now, which gives me probable cause to ask what you’re doing out. Then when I add that people are scared…then that gives us even more [reason] to ask why are you here and what are you doing in this area.”

Individuals who do not produce identification when asked could be charged with obstructing a governmental operation, the policeman said. He added that he realized what he was proposing was much like martial law, but that he really didn’t care.

The report gave statistics on the fact that increasing percentages of towns, especially some of the larger cities, are using SWAT teams to do routine patrols, following the models in other parts of the world.

In one area of the beleaguered city of Detroit, the Nazi-like tactics–or perhaps Soviet-style tactics–were recently employed against citizens. Government officials decided to cut off a large portion of the power grid because there wasn’t enough cooperation from the citizenry. When the levels of cutting off air-conditioning weren’t satisfactorily complied with, the authorities cut off all power to the grid. This was done to “send a strong message” that the orders must be obeyed, one of the officials said without apology.

Now to the latest technology that surpasses the imaginations of even Huxley and George Orwell. But, this is real, not fictional, technology that has already been proven in places like the battlefields of Afghanistan in 2011. The technology mentioned here is one of the least draconian of the many that are in development and even in use in some areas of the world.

A new gadget built by Diehl Defense, much like a portable Electro-Magnetic Pulse ray gun, can disable a vehicles electronic circuitry rendering it useless in battlefield or pursuit conditions… Police departments and militaries around the world will likely grovel over the device. The official website for Diehl Defense explains the use for the device in a convoy protection scenario reading, “The new HPEM (High-Power-Electro-Magnetics) technology protects convoys against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), can stop getaway vehicles and prevent unauthorized access to limited access areas… HPEM sources can be used for personal and convoy protection, for instance, to overload and permanently destroy radio-based fuzing systems. In contrast to conventional jammers, the HPEM convoy protection system is also effective against new types of sensor-based IEDs. Enemy vehicles with electronic motor management can be stopped inconspicuously by mobile and stationary HPEM systems (car stopping) ( Shepard Ambellas, “New Police Toy Resembling ‘Ray Gun’ Can Disable Threatening Vehicles Via EMP,” Intellihub News, September 16, 2013).

Move over, Captain James T. Kirk. The phaser is here, now. And it’s apparently set to stun America’s own citizenry at some point as policing technologies incrementally take over our lives!

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads” (Revelation 13:16). The beast system that will make Huxley’s fictional dictatorship seem child’s play by comparison is approaching rapidly. You don’t have to be a part of that new, deadly world. Accept Christ today and not Antichrist.

“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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

 

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.