7 Clear Signs We Are Near The End

[kevinsball]

The biggest sign of the end: All of the false prophets claiming they know when the End is.

Amen.

[PointProphetic]

Hello everyone praise to Jesus in the highest. The video below is about the Hebrew, Greek and English Gematria.

It starts out with some English gematria examples with background music. About one third into the video the

author begins discussing the information being presented. He talks about the Herbrew and Greek geamtria and

shows the many different calculation system in the Hebrew, he also discusses the obsolete letter in the Greek.

He touches on 616 and says that the new 616 debate is just an old debate that was settled over 1800 years ago

and is nothing more than new distraction by non believers to discredit the Bible and the correct number for calculation

which is 666. He also talks about Nero's calculation in the Greek and Hebrew and why Nero could not be the Antichrist.

First part of video is demonstrations with background music, narration begins about one third into the video.

*** Edited out the video. ***

Being new here, you may not know that we have a section for videos. You can place your video there and then link to it in this thread, but videos are only allowed in that part of the forum.

Edited March 28, 2012 by OneLight
Embedded video outside of the video forum

[maccauk11]

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad i just read he was jewish. Could he be the Anti Christ any comments

7 Clear Signs of the End Times

Below is a list of seven clear signs of the end times, which highlight the nearness of Christ�s return. In fact, He�s so close He�s knocking on the door:

1) The Holocaust and the Re-Emergence of Israel

One of the preeminent signs of the end times is the Jewish survival of the Holocaust and the re-emergence of the nation of Israel as a Jewish state.

Over 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel foretold these events:

"Then he said to me, 'Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, 'We have become old, dry bones - all hope is gone.' Now give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 37:11-13 (NLT)

As God says, the bones in Ezekiel 37 represent the people of Israel � otherwise known as the Jews.

Following the first century Roman conquest of the Holy Land, the Jews were banished from the land of Israel. The Romans renamed the area Palestine, and exiled its people to farthest corners of the Roman Empire.

Yet, in Ezekiel 37, God promised to bring the Jews out of exile. He promised to bring them back into the land of Israel.

Not only did He promise to restore their nation, but God promised to do so by opening their �graves� at a time when the Jews feel that �all hope is gone.�

The aftermath of Hitler�s Holocaust of the Jewish people created these very conditions, nearly destroying an entire race of people and draining the hope of countless survivors.

But out of the Holocaust, God brought the Jewish people back into the land of Israel, just as He had promised.

On May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel reappeared in fulfillment of not just Ezekiel 37:11-13, but countless Old Testament prophecies.

Of all the signs of the end times, the re-establishment of Israel as an independent nation is the clearest and most unmistakable sign that we are in the last of the last days.

2) Jerusalem is a Burden to the World

Another visible sign of the end times is the world diplomatic struggle over Jerusalem.

The prophet Zechariah foresaw this event centuries ago:

"I will make Jerusalem and Judah like an intoxicating drink to all the nearby nations that send their armies to besiege Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone, a burden for the world. None of the nations who try to lift it will escape unscathed." Zechariah 12:2-3 (NLT)

Since 1967 when the Israelis retook Jerusalem in the Six Day War, the division of Jerusalem and ownership of the Temple Mount in particular, have been a source of countless U.N. resolutions, diplomatic crises, and calls for war.

The struggle over the �Peace Process� in the Middle East is the stated number one priority of world diplomats, and Jerusalem resides at the center of discussions about �land for peace.�

With the threat of World War III casting a shadow over every decision to rebuild Jewish settlements or expand Israeli society, the City of Jerusalem is no doubt �a burden for the world.�

Is this �the way it�s always been�?

No.

Until this generation, Jerusalem was not �a burden for the world.� In fact, prior to 1948, world diplomatic leaders rarely mentioned it.

3) The Dramatic Increase in Travel and Knowledge

One of the signs of the end times that anyone can easily recognize is the recent explosive increase in travel and knowledge.

In a vision, God revealed to Daniel that in �the time of the end,� travel and knowledge will increase:

"But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase." Daniel 12:4 (NLT)

According to the book of Daniel, two things will increase in �the time of the end� � travel and knowledge.

Is this the case now?

Yes.

At the time the Book of Daniel was written, horses were the world�s the fastest mode of transportation.

In fact, horses remained the world�s fastest mode of transportation for over 2,000 years until the Industrial Revolution spawned such innovations as the steam boat, the locomotive, and the horseless carriage.

Prior to the 20th Century, most people rarely traveled more than 30 miles from where they were born. Today, people routinely travel from one continent to another within the same day.

Today�s world is definitely not �the way it�s always been.�

Frequency and speed of travel have markedly increased!

What about knowledge?

In Daniel�s time, few people received a formal education. In fact, basic literacy was a foreign concept to all but an elite minority of the world until the past 100 to 150 years.

Yet, in the past century alone, human knowledge of science, biology, technology, and countless fields of endeavor has exploded. And the advent of the Internet has created a worldwide archive of human knowledge that far exceeds even the wildest dreams of the great ancient civilizations.

Is humanity�s knowledge base today �the same as previous generations�?

Absolutely not. Human knowledge has also markedly increased.

Given that all this can be ascertained from mere observation, how can anyone say with a straight face that �things today are the same as they�ve always been�?

4) Exponential Growth Marks the Times

If a marked increase in travel and knowledge constitute one of the most clearly observable signs of the end times, then the two are merely components of a much larger sign of the end times � exponential growth.

Jesus pointed to exponential growth as a sign of His Coming:

"Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, 'When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?' Jesus told them, 'Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.'" Matthew 24:3-8 (NLT)

This translation fails to communicate an important revelation from Jesus - that the end times will be analogous to the birthing process.

According to Strong�s Concordance, the word �horrors� as translated above comes from the word �odin� which is best translated as �the pain of childbirth� or �birth pangs.�

This means that, much like birth pangs, signs of the end times will appear with greater frequency and intensity as Christ�s return draws near. This is why Jesus mentioned this sign first when answering his disciples' questions �When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?�

According to Jesus, three things in particular will increase in frequency and intensity as the world draws closer to His return:

1) Wars

2) Famines

and

3) Earthquakes

Have we seen these three things increase in frequency and intensity in the recent past?

Yes.

Let�s take a brief look at wars, famines, and earthquakes over the past 500 years.

Wars � A Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of wars, the past 500 years have witnessed an increase in the frequency of wars:

15th Century � 29 wars

16th Century � 59 wars

17th Century � 75 wars

18th Century � 69 wars

19th Century � 294 wars

20th Century � 278 wars

The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 55 wars, putting humanity on course for 550 wars over the next one hundred year period.

Have these wars increased in intensity?

Yes.

For most of human history, wars were fought through individual hand-to-hand combat. But the past few hundred years have witnessed the ascension of more accurate guns, machine guns, and aerial bombing. Today, a single weapon of mass destruction can kill hundreds of thousands of people.

Famines � A Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of famines, the past 500 years have also witnessed an increase in the frequency of famines:

15th Century � 6 famines

16th Century � 10 famines

17th Century � 24 famines

18th Century � 28 famines

19th Century � 30 famines

20th Century � 44 famines

The first decade of the 21st Century alone has already witnessed 12 famines, putting humanity on course for 120 famines over the next one hundred year period.

Have these famines increased in intensity and severity?

Yes.

As the population of the world has grown, famines have caused more and more death and destruction in their wake.

In fact, while the Roman Empire�s entire population at the time of Jesus is estimated to have been approximately 55 million people, the first half of the 20th Century alone witnessed these famines:

The 1921 famine in Russia (5 million+ dead)

The 1928-1929 famine in China (3 million+ dead)

The 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine (2.6 and 10 million+ dead)

The 1932-1933 famine in Kazakhstan (1.2 and 1.5 million+ dead)

The 1936 famine in China (5 million+ dead)

The 1942-1943 famine in China (1 million+ dead)

The 1946-1947 famine in the Soviet Union (1 million+ dead)

That�s an estimated 18.8 to 26.5 million who perished from famine just from these seven famines alone!

And from 1959 to 1961, the Great Chinese Famine is estimated to have killed more than 36 million people.

Famines have dramatically increased in both frequency and intensity since Jesus first answered His disciples� questions.

Earthquakes � Another Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of earthquakes, the past 500 years have witnessed the following number of earthquakes described as a magnitude 7.0 or greater:

15th Century � 2 earthquakes

16th Century � 3 earthquakes

17th Century � 7 earthquakes

18th Century � 13 earthquakes

19th Century � 29 earthquakes

20th Century � 123 earthquakes

The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 144 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or greater, putting humanity on course for 1,440 such earthquakes over the next one hundred year period!

The dramatic increase in devastating wars, famines, and earthquakes from the time of Jesus until today is one of clearest signs of the end times.

5) Rise of the Gog / Magog Alliance

Yet another sign of the end times is the current rise of the Gog / Magog Alliance.

The details of this future military alliance against Israel are found in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39:

"This is another message that came to me from the Lord: 'Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others.'" Ezekiel 38:1-6 (NLT)

The nations cited in the verses above are associated with their Old Testament predecessors, but they all represent nations that exist today.

Below is a list of those nations, each followed by its modern day equivalent:

Magog, Meshech, and Tubal = Russia

Persia = Iran

Cush = Ethiopia

Put = Libya

Gomer = Turkey

Beth-togarmah = Turkey, Armenia, and the Turkish-speaking people of Asia Minor

According to God, Russia will mobilize a coalition that includes these nations in the last days.

Throughout human history, there�s never been a cooperative military alliance between the nations of Russia and Iran � at least until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Since then, a cooperative diplomatic and military alliance between Iran and Russia has formed and slowly expanded, ultimately leading to Russia�s assistance in providing Iran with the necessary support to make the Bushehr nuclear power plant operational in 2010.

So when does the Bible tell us this alliance will form?

It definitely says, �in the last days�:

"Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands. You and all your allies - a vast and awesome horde - will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud." Ezekiel 38:7-9 (NLT)

According to Strong�s Concordance, �in the distant future� is better translated as �achariyth shaneh� which means �end years.�

6) The Rise of Global Government

Another sign of the end times is the current trend toward globalization.

According to the Book of Revelation, globalization involves more than just multinational corporations and global commerce. One day, a single man will rule all the people and nations on the earth:

"And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation." Revelation 13:7 (NLT)

With each passing day more and more nations are ceding their sovereignty to larger institutions such as the European Union, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Court.

Given the current global financial crisis and the potential catastrophe of a global war, more and more diplomatic leaders and world politicians are calling for global government.

And as human technology continues to advance and mature, we�re quickly reaching a point where global totalitarian rule will be possible.

7) The Good News Preached Throughout the World

Jesus revealed the following sign of the end times to His disciples in response to their questions about the end of the age and the sign of His coming:

�And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.� Matthew 24:14 (NLT)

According to Christ, His Coming is preceded by the preaching of the Gospel �throughout the whole world.�

This idea is reiterated in the Book of Revelation.

�And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world � to every nation, tribe, language, and people. �Fear God,� he shouted. �Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.�� Revelation 14:6-7 (NLT)

In the time of Jesus, the Gospel was confined to a relatively small number of people in and around Israel. And much of the earth�s land mass was completely unknown to the disciples of Jesus, so the odds of the disciples preaching the Gospel of Christ �throughout the whole world� in their own time was quite remote.

Yet, 2,000 years later, the Gospel is preached in every nation, the Bible is translated in hundreds of languages, and the Gospel of Christ is delivered through thousands of ministries via radio, cable TV, satellite, and the Internet.

Is this �the way it�s always been?�

Nope.

The truth is our generation is closer to preaching the Gospel �throughout the whole world� than any preceding generation.

These are just seven signs of the end times, but they aren�t the only signs.

The Bible has much to say about the last days and the time of the end, and as followers of Christ, we are warned to recognize the signs of the times.

"Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near." Matthew 24:28 (NLT)

Why?

Because if we acknowledge the signs of the end times as well as our Lord�s command to stay awake and alert, we will be driven to live Godly lives. Paul emphasized this in his letter to the Romans:

"Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11 (NLT)

Remember, all prophecy exists to give a clear witness for Christ:

"For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." Revelation 19:10 (NLT)

And prophecy is telling us that Christ is coming.

�In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.� Matthew 24:33 (NLT)

Link

[maccauk11]

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad i just read he was Jjewish. Could he be the Anti Christ any comments. Also anyone got any thoughts about the 2012 illuminati games ......... i mean olyimpic games

[Floatingaxe]

As the Antichrist is to come to power and highly esteemed by the world as a man of peace, I highly doubt the hateful Ahmadinejad fits the bill.

[Guest]

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad i just read he was Jewish. Could he be the Anti Christ any comments. Also anyone got any thoughts about the 2012 Illuminati games ......... i mean Olympic games....

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sounds More Like His Old Countryman Haman Than A Jew

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. Esther 3:4-6

And As For Those Games....

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:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21

[maccauk11]

He is the president of Iran.His parents are jewish they converted to Islam

[dylanoakley]

We are witnessing the emergence of the ‘new world order’. An order that US President George H. Bush, on September 11, 1990, declared was “coming into view”. A world order that his son, US President George W. Bush, later described as the “new order of the ages…an ancient hope that is meant to be fulfilled” when he delivered his second inaugural address in 2005. Indeed, a topic of conversation that was once ignored as the crazy talk of fringe-dwelling, conspiracy theorists has now made its way into clear view, for all to see. For many prophetic writers and researchers, 2012 is considered to be the capstone year for the Illuminati and for the ushering in of their much-anticipated ‘new world order’. The times are serious and we need to speak plainly about these things. As some of you would have sensed, 2008 was a big year for the Illuminati and their globalist agenda and it wasn’t hard to see their fingerprints all over the ‘global financial crisis’. In the office where I was working at the time, I’d often have a small group of young executives around me listening to my ‘wild conspiracy theories’ about a new world order and how we needed to separate ourselves from a crumbling world system and find solid ground in a living relationship with Jesus Christ. And then one Thursday morning in November, I was at my desk when this young guy comes racing over and says, "Dylan! That new world order thing you’re talking about – it’s on the front page of the newspaper!" I followed him into the tea room and there was Obama on the front page of The Gold Coast Bulletin and a headline announcing, “A new world order”. I remember just standing there in shock. Needless to say I gained new credibility with my young colleagues. Ha-ha, glory to God!

Fast forward to 2012 and I sense again in my spirit an urgency to position ourselves. For those not convinced of the danger and the day of reckoning that’s fast approaching, I recommend you read Apollyon Rising 2012 by Thomas Horn. (I bought my copy from Koorong so it should be easy to get hold of a copy). Also, it’s worth watching the documentary, Secret Mysteries of America’s Beginnings. How have we become so vulnerable in these days? Essentially, we have as a people been conditioned to not only accept but also welcome a global government that will provide us safety in exchange for our freedom. Constant threats of terrorism, disease outbreak, environmental catastrophes, rogue nation states, natural disasters, and economic collapse have frightened and corralled the populace into believing that we desperately need a strong government to protect us, vaccinate us, save us, and provide for us. It’s the age-old formula of crisis-reaction-solution based on the Hegelian Dialectic. As crises increase and intensify, a morally weakened people react in fear and cry out for government intervention, whatever the cost to their freedom. Think back to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and the impetus that crisis created for a massive increase in government control and surveillance. With 2012 carrying so much significance in the occult world and in the Illuminati timetable, we can expect to see more crises unfold according to this Hegelian Dialectic. Crises create public demand and momentum for government intervention and, as Rahm Emanuel (former White House chief-of-staff to Obama), revealed in November 2008, “you never want a serious crisis to go to waste…[it provides] an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before."

I read recently US President Barack Obama’s comments about the threat of nuclear material falling into the hands of terrorists. Speaking at the Nuclear Security Summit in South Korea, Obama said, “we're under no illusions. We know that nuclear material – enough for many weapons – is still being stored without adequate protection. We know that terrorists and criminal gangs are still trying to get their hands on it, as well as the radioactive material for a dirty bomb... the danger of nuclear terrorism remains one of the greatest threats to global security…it would not take much – just a handful or so of these [nuclear] materials – to kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people." As disturbing as this may sound, I wonder if this is more staging and conditioning for a nuclear terror crisis? As I write this blog, British Prime Minister David Cameron, is defending proposed laws that will permit the government to monitor the calls, emails, texts and website visits of every person living in the UK. Laws that would complement nicely the 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain (about one camera for every fourteen people)! Again I wonder what kind of ‘serious crisis’ might be required to get these kind of proposed laws through parliament? In the words of David Rockefeller, “this present window of opportunity, during which a truly peaceful and interdependent world order might be built, will not be open for too long. We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order” (Address to the United Nations, 14 September 1994). We must be wise as serpents (Matt 10:16) in these days and realise how crises cause widespread public fear and empower secular governments. In fact, we are warned about this diabolical modus operandi in Scripture. It is the mystery of lawlessness that Satan uses to move power and control into the hands of the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:7-12).

Diverting our attention to the upcoming 2012 London Olympics for a minute, it is worthwhile considering the significance of the Olympic Games to the Illuminati. The Olympic Games began as a pagan festival that featured sporting events alongside ritual sacrifices in honour of the ancient Greek god, Zeus (known as the ‘father of gods and men’). After being abolished along with other pagan cults and practices by Theodosius in 393 AD, the Games staged an official comeback in Athens in 1896. Fast forward to recent years and the Games are the one event that effectively brings the governments and citizens of the world together in a remarkable display of goodwill and global cooperation, albeit in honour of demonic powers. So understandably the Games have become the premiere religious celebration of the Illuminati and occultists. If you’re not convinced, read the Olympic anthem, observe the increasingly occultist and demonic symbolism and messages in the opening and closing ceremonies, study the history of the Games and understand the rituals being performed. Clearly, the whole event is demon worship on a grand scale. Even though modern society has sought to sanitise the demonic realm through the designation of ‘classical literature’, the reality is that the gods and goddesses of the ancient civilizations are none other than demons (1 Cor 10:20). Erasmus, in the sixteenth century, exposed the danger of masking the demonic identity of ancient gods when he wrote that, “under the cloak of reviving ancient literature, paganism tries to rear its head, as there are those among Christians who acknowledge Christ only in name but inwardly breathe heathenism.” Looking at the planning and promotion and marketing of the 2012 London Olympics, clearly it’s awash with occult and Illuminati symbolism and it’s shaping up to be one of the grandest worship events to date. Being not ignorant of the devil’s wrath (Rev 12:12) or his devices, I’m choosing to keep my distance, friends.

What do we do with this sobering knowledge that a deception is taking place on a grand scale, hidden in plain sight? Where is our safe ground, as a beast rises out of the sea? Thinking back to what I shared with my young friends in 2008, the message remains the same, only more urgent. We need to flee idolatry and adultery with the world system and we need to return to our first love with Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. As the covenant people of God, we should not be in a position where we look to the world system or the state for our salvation. That’s a trap. When we see problems in society, we should think twice before we complain, "what’s the government going to do about it?" It’s that kind of pervasive attitude that gives rise and legitimacy to the ‘nanny’ state. Sure, the world may think like that. But then they have no saviour except the state, when it comes to the curses of sickness and disease and famine and lawlessness. But for the covenant people of God, we look to El Shaddai – Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth – for the power to transform our world. Our treasure is in His kingdom and so too are our hearts. We have not thrown our lot in with the world system, we are not drunk with the cares of this world, and we stand strong and separate as sons and daughters of the Most High God. We rest in the safety that our covenant offers and we connect ourselves to the generosity of our God. When the day of reckoning arrives, and the beast demands we exchange our God-given freedom and dignity and worship in return for peace and security, we will resist with the courage and anointing of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And we will experience their deliverance! At least, this is how we see ourselves when we look into the perfect law of liberty (Jam 1:25). Let’s not forget what we look like and who we are, brothers and sisters! Let’s be doers of the Word, let’s have a living faith that is demonstrated and completed through our actions (Jam 2:18-26).

If you know you’re not where you need to be, if you can see your vulnerability and you sense a need to reposition yourself, praise God! That’s the starting point! Repentance is a beautiful thing and will see the power of God released mightily in your life. Returning with all your heart to the blood covenant you have with Almighty God will see you revived and positioned in a safe, broad place. Remember, as we cleanse ourselves from what is dishonourable, we become vessels for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work (2 Tim 2:21).

[Zemke]

Hi D. O.

Your heart comes through about repentance and using world events as a way to preach Jesus and there is a truth in doing so but

un-regenerated man will always strive to recreate the garden and rebuild the Tower of Babel. With or without the illuminate.

"You are not to say, 'It is a conspiracy!'

In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy,

And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.

It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy.

And he shall be your fear,

And He shall be your dread.

Then He shall become a sanctuary;

Isaiah 8:12-14

Using world events is a biblical way to preach the gospel but in conjunction with pointing to the Word and saying "The bible said it would happen and it did happen, it is happening and this is what will happen." "Jesus said this would happen, Ezekiel said this would happen, Isaiah said this would happen" etc.

In Matthew 24 Jesus said "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world and then the end shall come."

John the baptist was the end of the old but the beginning of the new, his message "Repent for the kingdom of God is nigh."

The message is no different today.

The importance is not on the "how it is happening" but on the fact that these things "are happening". Seeing the world through the perspective of the Word.

It took one of the worlds most horrid events to create an atmosphere for the Jews to return to the land.

A war in 1967, nothing short of a miracle, that returned Jerusalem and it become their capital.

Much labor, finance, trouble and difficulties went into the irrigation systems and reforestation of the land after the return of the Jews.

It isn't as important how it happened as it is God said it would happen. And it did.

z

[rjp34652]

I will add something to this thread. Something it would be wise to ask Jesus about.

Over thirty years ago Jesus told me a time was coming soon when man would suffer more than he has ever suffered. I was to give a word and leave. Out of that word a community would grow. He wanted a place of safety for his people.

'Community', 'place of safety' and 'his people' are trigger terms which can identify false doctrine used to mislead people into joining a saucer cult. That's my term, by the way. A saucer cult is a group of people who justify their mistaken beliefs that they are 'special' and can 'avoid' the apocalypse by several methods;

* hide in the woods

* hide in the desert

* hide on an island or in a jungle or on a hilltop

These groups are usually formed for the purpose of;

* witnessing a ufo landing

* participating in an extraterrestrial/spiritual abduction/evacuation

* witnessing the return of Christ for their group only

* finding safety in a passing comet, the arms of a passing angel, a hidden doorway to a kingdom of caves below the surface of the earth

* hiding somewhere beyond the reach of the civil/military authorities

I'm not being sarcastic here at all. Far from it. All these are examples from history.

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to relive it".

The above quote was hung at the retreat of Jonestown, Guyana where 909 souls were led to establish a 'community' and who all died in a mass suicide.

Such communities are usually closed to the bulk of society, the bulk of reasoned interpretation of scripture and religious tradition and trends of history.

On some occasions they have resulted in suicide, as in Jonestown or Heaven's Gate, or violent death of their proponents as at Ruby Ridge.

One does not need to ask Jesus about this because he's already commented on it.

I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil.

John 17:15

The intent of this word of calm, courage and confidence is that wherever we are and whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, we can be confident that Jesus will see us through. We are to join the body of believers that Our Lord has already established within our communities and participate in its work.

The real solution of Christians in these troubling times is in participation, not evacuation or as a spectator of disaster. Somehow real work seems to have a therapeutic effect upon faceless fear.

If the reader feels they must ask Jesus for an answer, then ask where he or she can serve. I bet He'll give you a good answer or lead you to a good place.

but that's just me, hollering from the choir loft...

Edited May 30, 2012 by rjp34652