THE GOOD NEWS MINISTRY AND MISSIONS OUTREACH PROCLAIMING THE SOON RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST!
Revealing Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return!
Do you know what lies ahead in your future? What about the future of your nation and the world? We are not living in ordinary times. We are nearing the end of an age-the end of a civilization.
Our time truly fulfills the words which Franklin Delanor Roosevelt spoke at the beginning of the Great Depression: "This generation has a rendezvous with destiny." Far more than the 1930s generation, which was then fast approaching the most destructive war in the world's history, we, today, truly have a rendezvous with destiny! A world-shaking crisis is inexorably building and will, in the near future, explode the appearance of normalcy which still pervades Western civilization at this time.
Presently, the news media is randomly reporting tragic events, explaining their significance in a way that the average man or woman can understand. You need to know that the progression of disturbing news stories is NOT random and inconsequential. In fact, they foreshadow remarkable key Prophetic trends and specific events that will change everything you are familiar with in the next few decades!
How can anyone know the future for sure? Who really understands the BIG PICTURE?
There is one Source who really knows what will happen. Did you realize that about one third of the entire Bible is prophecy and that about 90 percent of all prophecy is for "the end time"-the time just ahead of us?
These predicted events are sure. Of course, some people are not interested in Bible prophecy. But they should be, since it will affect their own life, their family, their job and their future. There is a real God and the Bible speaks for God. God inspired the words of these prophecies and they are sure.
We had better WAKE UP and believe they will happen! By the time you finish reading this article your eyes will be opened to understand the significance of today's Headline News and where it is all leading.
Listen to what the Apostle Peter wrote about the Bible's prophecies: " We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:19-21).
Why did God preserve these prophecies for us? Because the great God is working out a marvelous purpose here below, nationally and individually. We need to study God's inspired prophecies if we wish to understand His purpose!
Can The Almost Unimaginable Happen?
Do you know what the most important news story of our generation will be? What is the biggest event that will shake the entire earth within the lifetime of most of you? The Second Coming of Christ will be the most important event of this generation. Christ is coming back!
Make no mistake about it. Jesus' return will not happen secretly off in some cave with no one knowing about it. Jesus Christ will literally come back to the city of Jerusalem, to the top of the Mount of Olives, to begin governing the entire earth! There will be a divine, one-world government. What a shock that will be to all humanity!
This event is specifically predicted throughout the Old and New Testaments of your Bible. Hundreds of millions of people believe (superficially) that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The Second Coming is predicted in each of the four Gospels, in the book of Acts and in the epistles of Paul, James, Peter and John. Jesus' return is the focal point of the entire book of Revelation. If you believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then you must believe in the Second Coming of Christ.
If the King of kings is soon returning to establish the Kingdom of God upon this earth, you should be getting ready for it. You should know how it will affect your life, your economic future, your personal safety and everything around you.
You can know what the signs are that will precede Christ's coming and watch for them. Why stay in ignorance about the meaning of the events taking place around you? Jesus commands His genuine disciples to watch and to be ready."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 21:36).
Your entire life is about to change. Events will unfold soon to destroy the Western world's way of life as we have known it.
In the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and Mark are three accounts of Christ teaching His disciples what to watch for before He returns. Matthew wrote, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matthew 24:32-35)
[ see our on-line document - "Revealing The Earth's Final Generation" for insight]
Jesus Christ gave a series of signs that must occur before He returns. Evidently, the fulfillment of Christ's prophecy would happen within the lifetime of one generation-once the signs relative to that specific prophecy begin. So Christ is coming back to this earth.
Soon, mankind will suffer through the most devastating, bloody war in human history which is called, in biblical terminology, the "Great Tribulation." " For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22).
We are now approaching that time, and these things are now being revealed. "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (Dan. 12:9-10.)
Do you understand that our degenerate, corrupt nations are headed for a big fall? Do you fully realize that America's national debts are almost out of control and that, proportionately, Canada's indebtedness is even greater? Can you grasp the full meaning-in God's eyes-of the spiritual and moral toboggan slide of our entire Western civilization?
If you consider yourself a follower of Jesus, then you should pay close attention to His instructions to you, " 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 21:36).
Read on, dear reader, to see what things to "watch" for!
I. Wars, Violence and Lawlessness!
Watch for wars-big wars, little wars, ethnic wars, wars of all sorts and escalating violence, anti-semitism, terrorism and increasing lawlessness-which will increasingly affect all of the world, especially the English-speaking world.
Often, people think the world will get better. Former President George Bush Sr. talked about a "new world order" as though there was going to be peace. This post-Cold War time is unstable and extremely volatile-so much so that one of the world's most respected magazines typified this present time as "strange.... There are few certainties. One, however, is that lions are not going to lie down with lambs: wars will continue" (The Economist, Jan. 8, 1994, p. 16). The "new world order" is only producing a faltering, fading peace. Events will get worse, not better.
Why is our civilization bankrupt of workable solutions to global, peaceful cooperation among nations and ethnic groups? Norman Lear, long-time television producer and political activist, clearly delineated the problem in a speech addressed to the National Press Club. "At no time in my life," said Lear, "has our culture been so estranged from spiritual values... Our problems lie beyond the reach of politics alone."
Again, the Gospel of Matthew contains Jesus' prophecy to His disciples about the state of the world just prior to His Second Coming. " And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."(Matthew 24:6-8). While humanity has lived with warfare over the millennia, the sheer annihilative potential of today's weapons and the possible massive scale of conflict has made for a unique and dangerous time which is unprecedented in history.
Verse 22 is a prophetic qualifier which points to only our time of high technology and its awful, brilliantly evil weapons of mass destruction. " And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened...." Today's world is full of widespread wars and rumors of wars. There are many ethnic wars taking place-not only in the former Yugoslavia or Afghanistan, but also in the former Soviet Union and in many places throughout Africa, Asia and The Middle East. Dozens of regional wars are now being fought around the world!
Certainly the Americas are not immune to race riots and ethnic bloodshed. These intercommunity struggles will increase. There will be wars between nation states and civil wars as old amalgams of different peoples fall apart. There will be little wars and there will be big wars. All this striving and pushing will finally result in a great war which will culminate at the battle of Armageddon in the Jezreel valley in Israel-at which point Christ will return.
Some think this is alarmist, pessimistic thinking, unwarranted because of mankind's innate goodness. Such naïve people exude a quirky kind of optimism, proclaiming in the best "Pollyanna" tradition, "Oh, things are going to get better." Well, as a minister of God, I am commissioned to tell you they are NOT going to get better until after Christ returns. Yes, there is a wonderful new World coming, but realistically you should realize that life will get very dark and desperate before a new world dawns.
Have you noticed the completely inexplicable outbreaks of violence-random shootings, murders, terrorism and mass killings? Jesus Christ predicted this societal breakdown just before his return. " And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."(Matthew 24:12). In the United States, we used to think we were a Christian society; perhaps some still do. But today, our leisure time entertainment-TV, sports, videos and movies-rivals ancient Rome's lust for sex, drugs (including alcohol), violence and brutality.
Paradoxically, the United States and Canada have remarkably high percentages of their population who say they believe in God and go to church regularly. But they are not real Christians. They are false counterfeit Christians, using Jesus' name, but are not repentant, have never been baptized or born again spiritually. They still live a life of sin - rebellion and disobedience. This hypocritical national behavior was foreseen as characteristic of the human society existing just before the Messiah's return.
The Apostle Paul was inspired to write, " This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Men deny the authority of God, despite a show of religiosity. Paul commands, under inspiration of God, "thereof: from such turn away." (v. 5)! Get away from people who talk about religion, but deny the authority of God, because they will mislead you. They will confuse you. This sassy, sarcastic, lust-filled generation is headed for big, big trouble. You need to recognize that and not be a part of it.
The sign of wars, increasing violence, terrorism and lawlessness is the first thing to watch for.
2. Drought and Famine
Drought and famine-lack of rain and lack of food-will stalk the earth on a massive scale never seen before. Yes, these things will become much, much worse.
When there is drought you also have wild fires-range fires and forest fires. After the fires have burned off the brush, there is always the danger of floods when it resumes raining because there is no vegetation in the burned area's watershed to retain the precipitation. These catastrophes of drought, famine, fire and flood naturally tend to go together. In Matthew 24:7 Jesus predicted, "And there will be famines." Worldwide famines will engender vicious competition and strife among nations over food. This will mean increased political and military danger, especially for the United States, Britain and the British-descended peoples, whose lands have typically been seen as the breadbasket of the world.
Those of us living in the advanced, developed world have thought these things would only occur in places like India, Bangladesh or Africa. How could famine happen to us? It is practically unthinkable to suggest that one dark day the supermarkets and restaurants would have to close due to lack of food! But famine, the pain of empty stomachs, will occur in the United States of America, Canada, Britain, New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere among the English-speaking peoples of the world. Let us understand what God says and why.
Most people just do not understand that it is God Almighty who controls the weather and that He sometimes uses this power to punish nations that displease Him! King Solomon knew this. During the dedication of God's temple in Jerusalem he acknowledged God's power, " When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: " (1 Kings 8:35).
Does God collectively punish a nation for mocking or ignoring His moral, ethical standards? You bet He does! " For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:30-31).
The book of Revelation confirms this coming famine. "And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." (Revelation 6:5-6).
Yet God is merciful and patient with individuals and nations that have a change of heart. Solomon also understood this point when he prayed, " When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance. " (1 Kings 8:35-36).
We need to recognize that God controls the weather and the forces of nature! He punishes His own people when needed. If our nations would return to God with heartfelt repentance, and begin to keep His laws and live His way, then these plagues need not come. But how many of you believe this will really happen? How many of you believe that our nations will have a heartfelt repentance and get back to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel? I think most of us know better. I wish they would, but I doubt that they will. Regrettably, our nations have some very hard lessons to learn about thumbing their noses at God.
3. Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters
God prophesied that earthquakes and other natural catastrophes will increase. Before Christ will return, we are told there will be "earthquakes in diverse places"(Mark 13:8; Matthew 24:7). In the last few years, most of you realize that there have been frequent earthquakes, sometimes in unusual places. This trend will continue because the Bible indicates that it will. Jesus Christ prophesied of them. And you, too, should be expecting them. Watch, as the number and magnitude of earthquakes grow, because they will become extremely devastating.
There have been earthquakes even in ancient times, as mentioned in the writings of Josephus (Antiquities, bk. 15, chap. 5, sec. 2). The Bible records specific instances of earthquakes in the past and predicts them in the future (Zechariah 14:4-5).
These earth-jarring occurrences arise from natural shifts and changes in the earth's mantle, especially along worldwide earthquake belts or fault lines. A million people died in earthquakes during the 20th century, and scientists acknowledge that the 21st "might see 10 times as many deaths, with a million lost in a single blow"(San Diego Union-Tribune, "Quakes Grow Deadlier," Sept. 28, 1999).
In the near future, there will be more earthquakes even in places where they are not normally expected. Earthquake expert John Nance said: "It's dangerous arrogance for any of us, wherever we live, to assume the problem is isolated to any particular region. We stand united in the seismic peril" (Los Angeles Times, "Superquake May Lie Ahead Almost Anywhere in U.S.," Mar. 25, 1989).
In the same article Nance warned, "The Eastern Seaboard is in more danger than the West because they are abysmally unprepared, with building standards far less stringent than California which is 'earthquake country' in the thinking of many people. An earthquake in the American Midwest or somewhere in New England, for instance, could be devastating because there is so little readiness and the shock from the unexpected so overwhelming."
In recent years, scientists have come to a better understanding of the immensity and magnitude of the tremendous fault systems that trace themselves underneath the whole earth. However, not all the earthquakes of the near future will be natural disasters-the usual groans and strains of planet earth's crust. Some will be directly induced by God as a sign of His power, and will be designed to help people wake up. God will take a direct hand in the affairs of men. The earthquakes specifically mentioned by Jesus Christ as a foreshadowing sign of His return will be unusual by their location or unparalleled magnitude.
WHY? Most of us understand. But remember that Jesus Christ directly predicted, "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places"(Matthew 24:7). Have there not always been earthquakes? Of course. So Jesus must have been speaking of more earthquakes than usual-and more powerful earthquakes. And certainly that is exactly what has been happening over the past several years!
In Isaiah 29:6, God says of Jerusalem, "Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire." God says, " For I am the LORD, I change not..."(Malachi 3:6). He did punish ancient Jerusalem with earthquakes and storms. Now, He is beginning to punish modern Israel in the same way.
"Why pick on Los Angeles?" some local journalists have asked. The better question would be, "Why NOT?"
Los Angeles is regarded as the media capital of the world. More rotten, vile movies and television shows featuring murder, mayhem and illicit and perverted sex are produced in Los Angeles than in any place else in the world. California has long been regarded as the "leading edge" of almost any form of perversion known to man. So the Great GOD who guides the affairs of men and nations has every right to punish such degeneracy and rebellion against His laws and His ways by a people He has blessed so much. And the people in California-and in most parts of the English-speaking world-have had many chances to learn the Truth in the past if they had any genuine interest.
Maybe a good shaking up will get people's attention! So, dear readers, watch for increasing earthquakes as a sign that Christ is coming soon.
4. Disease Epidemics
A plague of disease epidemics is beginning to worry public health officials all around the world. AIDS is only the most discussed of these "new" diseases-the ebola virus, "mad cow disease" and many others scarcely heard of just ten years ago are now worrying public health experts worldwide. There have been 32 new diseases that have arisen since 1970 And many old scourges of humanity (malaria and tuberculosis to name just two) are reemerging as super, drug-resistant diseases that ignore penicillin and other drugs which were formerly used to combat them! Of course, degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease continue to affect greater numbers of people, as our food and water supplies become increasingly tainted with the pollutants of our technological age.
The Bible indicates clearly that future disease epidemics will be, in part, spread by wild animals (Revelation 6:8). Some of the worst plagues of humanity have been animal borne, like bubonic plague. Bubonic plague is a naturally endemic problem among wild animals in certain regions. It is only due to society's diligence in maintaining sanitary standards that such problems stay at the fringes of civilization. The HIV-AIDS plaque has now been identified as having originated in the Green Monkey population of Africa. The virus has mutated - being past on to the human population through bites and the eating of raw - infected monkey meat.
People are aware that whenever society is disrupted due to war or natural calamities, there is always the threat of disease. But these disease problems are just a small foretaste of the deadly contagious pandemics which are prophesied to sweep the earth. " And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." (Revelation 6:7-8).
The Greek word translated "pale" is chloros, which signifies the pale-green or the sickly yellow-greenish color of severe disease. Jesus Christ predicted that great "pestilences" would be one of the signs to mankind to warn of His imminent return (Matthew 24:7).
Would God afflict the earth with lethal disease plagues? Moses was inspired of God to write this, "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:" (Deuteronomy 28:1). Notice, God speaking directly through Moses is saying if our peoples today would obey God, and diligently observe to do His commandments, He would set us on high above all the nations of the earth. That is exactly what God did do to the ancient Kingdom of Israel at the time of King David. When King David turned to God with all his heart, He began to bless and prosper Israel magnificently.
But what happened when "And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel..." because they were disobeying? (2 Samuel 24:1). " So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men. And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. ."(vv. 15-16). We, whatever our descent or ethnicity, are no better than those ancient Israelites.
The Old Testament Israelites, who accepted a relationship with Almighty God, promised to live by His Word. They praised His Name with their mouths and thought of themselves as God's people. The Great God of the universe, however, is not impressed with mere words of loyalty and love (hypocrisy), but requires us to back up our words with action, genuineness and honesty.
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:14-17, 26).
We must show ourselves as being fully faithful and engaged in our commitments to God. We must do, or at least make serious efforts to do, all that God requires of us in our family, sexual relations, and every other area of life. Why? Listen to what God inspired to be written for our benefit.
"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.... The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.... The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart" (Deuteronomy 28:15, 22, 27-28).
Disease epidemics are clearly a tool used by God to punish disobedient people.
Yes, God will do all these things to this world, including the modern descendants of Israel, unless we turn back to God in profound, heartfelt repentance in a way that few people have ever done.
Awesome times are bearing down. We are not talking about some little thing to be done off in a corner. We are talking about the most massive, event-by-event intervention by the Creator in the history of this earth. Nothing in the past can even remotely compare to this. Can you grasp the massive effect that these events will have on your life, or on everything you have ever known?
Listen! God is trying to get your attention. These soon-coming events are real. They will happen. Do not just believe me. Believe what is written in your Bible. Check up and prove it. That is how you come to know God. You must know God to receive His protection in this coming time. Again, these coming events will not occur primarily somewhere off in Africa, Asia or somewhere like that. DISEASE EPIDEMICS will begin to strike America, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia in a worse way than they have ever done in our entire history.
5. The Rise Of an Aggressive, Fundamentalist Islamic Power
In the time of the end, the Bible predicts that there will arise in North Africa or the Middle East, a charismatic personality who will be able to unify, harness and lead a powerful block of nations in which Egypt will have a key role.
"At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him [a power located north from the king of the South]; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.... He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels [will be at his feet or footsteps]"(Daniel 11:40, 42-43).
This is a good example of why you need to watch the daily newspapers. Your newspaper reading will be very interesting if you understand Bible prophecy. You will begin to realize, from now on, what is the significance of the massive arms purchases by Middle Eastern countries from weapon-producing countries like North Korea, China, Russia, Eastern Europe and the U.S.A.
Presently, the whole Islamic world in the Middle East and North Africa is being enveloped by a wave of resurgent Islamic fundamentalism. Islamic fundamentalist insurgencies, funded by rogue states and terrorist organizations, are trying to destabilize the moderate, Western-leaning, secular regimes currently in power, and are seeking to replace them with a unified, resuscitated Islamic caliphate (empire)-the prophesied "king of the South." The final leader over these reinvigorated Muslim nations will be a tremendous religio-political false Messiah or "Mahdi" who will draw his power from a confederation of those nations. He will provoke the key events written in Daniel 11, which must occur before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.
One of the world's leading news magazines, The Economist, had this to say about the potentials of a militant Islamic empire: "An Islamic power, may never come into existence; but, if it did, it would doubtless give the gun [war-making ability] priority over the purse [peacefully building up its domestic economy and lifestyle]. A new state created out of countries in the western part of the Muslim world, professing the principles of Islam, would have a clear-cut ideology in open competition with that of the modern West. If most of its people were Arabs, it would possess the further unifying force of a shared language. And it would have the power of oil, which could be denied to its adversaries or sold for buying the weapons with which to fight them.
"The pugnacious new arrival would confront two ready-made enemies. One would be Europe, its centuries-old quarrel with western Islam still liable to flare up over places like Bosnia. Then would come Russia, whose border with Islam in central Asia remains a blur. It is by no means impossible that a new Islamic power would get into a fight with both Europe and Russia-and, if it did, it might look for an ally to China, which also has a border quarrel with Russia" (The Economist, "The New World Order," Jan. 8, 1994, p. 23).
Do you think that fanatical Muslims will not use those weapons? You had better believe they will. And Bible Prophecy shows how it will all turn out. This great charismatic "Mahdi" (Messiah) will gather together the forces of Islam in a final "jihad"(holy war) against the morally corrupt nations of the West, whose religion, lifestyle and values represent a deadly challenge to the Islamic dream.
He will feel emboldened to provoke or attack the European Union (Daniel 11:40). This angers the fierce "king of the North" and the forces of the king of the South will be completely crushed by this Russian power. The king of the North will then come down "like a whirlwind" (v. 40) and take over the Middle East, including the Holy Land (vv. 41-42). The king of the North's armies will seize control of the region's vast oil reserves (v. 43).
These soon-to-happen events will be awesome to witness. The "king of the North," a future Russian Napoleon or Hitler type of powerful, dynamic leader, will react mightily with a blitzkrieg retaliation. This dramatic military response against the king of the South will set off a chain of other events.
"And they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation" (Daniel 11:31). As we will discuss later, right at the end of this age, there will either be a temple or a special altar in Jerusalem. And the priests of the family of Aaron will again offer the daily animal sacrifices prescribed in the Old Testament until a great military power comes in and places there what is called the Abomination of Desolation.
The story continues in Daniel chapter 12. "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time." This is talking about the American, the British Commonwealth and the Jewish people. So, right after this great Muslim "king of the South" causes a war, and the European "king of the North" conquers much of the Middle East, then this king of the North comes west against God's people, to strike at us. This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation. This is the same time Jesus described in Matthew 24:21, "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor EVER SHALL BE."
We need to realize where all these things are leading, and how they will affect our lives-your life, your family, your children, your job and your future.
6. An Ascendant European Union Seeks Global Supremacy!
Watch Europe! Revelation 13 describes the revival of a great military power. The symbolic language which the Apostle John used about a fantastic beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, depicts a recurring, evil political system which has greatly oppressed and heavily influenced the peoples in Western civilization, and through them, the entire world.
The seven heads represent seven distinct revivals of this evil empire over a long period of time. The ten horns represent the ten leaders (kings, leaders of geopolitical regions ) of the constituent nations which will make up this ungodly federation that will first of all fight against God's saints. "And it was granted to him [the leader of the ungodly empire] to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation" (Revelation 13:7).
These ten leaders will also fight against Christ Himself at His return! "And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:12-14).
This final seventh revival, in form, will be similar to today's European Union-ten different nations, geo-political regions or groups of nations will be represented by ten different kings or presidents. These ten heads of state "receive authority for ONE hour as kings with the beast" (v. 12). In other words, they will rule for a very short time along with the final "Hitler."
That is shocking! The Bible is discussing a wholly evil empire that is yet to arise-not some political power way back in history somewhere. Life in the future will not be "kinder and gentler." This final system is just ahead of us in time sequence, and the men and women in this oppressive government will literally fight Jesus Christ at His coming!
Right now we are living in an unstable transition time in world history. Momentous changes are afoot in Europe. "The European Commission-'Brussels' to its enemies-looms as dark and dangerous as ever in the demonology of Euroscepticism... EU governments have taken over as the driving force behind European integration. And governments will do a much better and more democratically-mandated job of bringing about a United States of Europe, if that is what they want, than will the European Commission or European Parliament....Under the [European Commission's] early guidance, the EU has evolved from its limited beginnings in trade, industrial and farm policy, to a point at which its competence has entered the heartlands of national interest, such as money and, soon, foreign policy and defence' (The Economist, 'Europe's Future,' Oct. 23, 1999, p. 16).
One of the major characteristics of this federated union, described in the Bible as "Babylon the Great," is its enormously attractive economic prosperity and wealth. Material goods will abound for those who cooperate and submit to "Babylon." The Bible says this about the coming, wicked federated union, "For all the nations have drunk the fatal wine of her intense immorality. The rulers of earth have enjoyed themselves with her, and businessmen throughout the world have grown rich from all her luxurious living" (Revelation 18:3, The Living Bible).
Humanity will become seduced by one of the oldest of false gods-the golden calf of materialism and pleasure. Revelation chapter 18, verses 12 and 13, give a partial listing of the commodities being traded in "Babylon." At the end of verse 13 it lists, "...and bodies and souls of men." The original Greek text is talking about not only living human beings being sold as slaves but also the dead corpses of men.
In Hitler's Third Reich human bodies were sold. Dental gold was picked out of the mouths of gas chamber victims for remelting into ingots. Skin was used for lampshades. Hair was used to stuff pillows and make fabric. Could this happen again? Perhaps you did not grow up during World War II as I did. This is exactly what happened in what was supposed to be the most educated, cultured nation on earth-Germany! That was the nation with the greatest number of people with master's and doctor's degrees, proportionately, of any peoples on the earth.
Do not think these things cannot happen again! God says these things WILL happen. There will be a revival of an evil empire in the same spirit as the pagan Roman Empire. It will hate God's people and the Word of God.
Watch closely the economic powerhouse being constructed in Europe. Even just a decade ago, the nations of Europe had a patchwork of competing currencies, armies and policies. Yet with the establishment of the European Union in 1993, intra-Europe ties began to grow tighter, and European distrust of the United States and its NATO presence increased. Since then, 11 of the 15 EU member countries have adopted the "euro" to link and eventually supplant local currencies and foster economic unity. Many taxes and tariffs are no longer set by individual countries, but are imposed by European Union legislation.
Watch the growth of the European military force. "By deciding to equip itself to send up to 60,000 troops to a crisis zone like Bosnia or Kosovo, the European Union aims to become a strategic player that the United States and other countries will have to reckon with," (San Diego Union Tribune, "EU Adopts Military Goal," Dec. 13, 1999).
On the continent, the move toward European unity-and the resulting break with United States influence-proceeds vigorously. As French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac observed of the new military force, "European defence must naturally be co-ordinated with the [NATO] alliance. But as for the development and implementation, it must be independent" (London Daily Telegraph, "Chirac Angers Blair," Dec. 8, 2000).
In the United Kingdom, so-called "euro-skeptics" have gone so far as to accuse Prime Minister Tony Blair of "treason" for his eagerness to cede British sovereignty to Europe. They point to pending EU proposals for further tax harmonization, strengthening of Europe-wide "social policy" and a quickened pace of consolidation. During the EU's summit in Nice in December 2000, British Conservative politicians embarrassed Blair with the disclosure of "a joint German-Italian document calling for another summit in 2004 to plan 'further development of European integration'" (London Daily Telegraph, "Tories Attack 'Superstate Deception,'" Dec. 7, 2000). Many in Britain are uncomfortable with seeing their ties with the United States weakened by the EU, at the same time that British national sovereignty is weakened by the EU's centralizing force.
We do need to understand the momentous times in which we live. A new world order is in the process of emerging. Will the present European Union transform itself into "Babylon the Great"? Watch! The Bible's prophecies will be fulfilled before Christ returns-that is the whole point.
A crucial element that will be essential to the creation of "Babylon the Great" is yet missing from the picture. All of the awesome empires of the past were led by charismatic, dynamic leaders, such as Adolf Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Charlemagne, Justinian, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great and Nebuchadnezzar.
The Bible does give us some information about this coming "great" leader who will assume political and military control of "Babylon the Great." Notice the time setting of this prophecy, "And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purge them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time" (Daniel 11:35). The context of this prophecy is the end-time. Also, it is important to point out that the nature of many prophecies is dual. That is to say, there was one preliminary fulfillment of a prophecy in antiquity, and there is to be a yet future fulfillment of that scripture.
We learn in this chapter in Daniel that a powerful leader is yet to come on the world scene. This "king," who will rise up in Europe, "shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god; shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods..." (Daniel 11:36).
Some Bible students assume this is talking about the great, end-time false prophet, who will be contemporaneous with the rising political-military leader. But there are to be two different individuals involved. Verse 36 is about the secular-power leader-the coming dictator-who will be a charming flatterer, cunning, egotistical and ruthless. This leader is destined to exalt himself above any other religious entity. He will be "full of himself." "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done" (Daniel 11:36).
God uses vicious leaders like the coming "king of the North" to punish His hypocritical people, who say they worship Him and print His name on their money, but do not do the things He commands. This future "Hitler" will execute God's wrath, especially upon the peoples of America and the British countries, because as nations they have rejected God's values and chosen sinful pleasures and conveniences.
"And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel 'An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. Now the end has come upon you, and I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations. My eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity; but I will repay your ways, and your abominations shall be in your midst; then you shall know that I am the Lord!' "Thus says the Lord God: 'A disaster, a singular disaster; behold, it has come! An end has come, the end has come; it has dawned for you; behold, it has come! Doom has come to you, you who dwell in the land; the time has come, a day of trouble is near, and not of rejoicing in the mountains. Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury, and spend My anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways, and your abominations will be in your midst. Then you will know that I am the Lord who strikes'" (Ezekiel 7:2-9).
This coming king of the North "shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above them all" (Daniel 11:37). This despicable political leader will cooperate with a false church system for a time, but he is not attracted to its religious teachings personally, and only wishes to use it to achieve power. He sees himself above it. In his enormous ego he tries to make a god out of himself.
"But in their place," this coming Hitler type will "honor a god of fortresses," or a god of munitions, as some translations have it; "and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things" (v. 38). This powerful individual will dedicate tremendous amounts of international resources to building up his military machine. And he will worship his power and that military machine. "He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall make more wealthy, and shall appoint them as rulers over many, and shall distribute the land for a price" (Daniel 11:39, NRSV).
Here is this awesome power of a coming "Hitler," and, as we explained, there will be exactly ten nations or groups of nations eventually in Europe having ten kings or rulers over them. They will give their power and strength to this coming dictator, this "Hitler," for a short time just before Christ's return. And as verse 40 shows, this European power block will also fight against the Islamic power block to the south.
7. A Powerful Charismatic Religious Figure Leads a Counterfeit Religious Revival
One of the definite "signs of the end-times" which will herald the close of this present evil age is the arrival on the scene of a great charismatic false religious leader, called in the Bible the "false prophet" (Revelation 19:19-21). This religious leader will possess great charisma, and will exercise a very powerful influence over a political power-the soon-coming "Beast" (Revelation 13, 17, 19). He will be the long-prophesied, influential head of a great, militant, ecumenical - ecclesiastical COUNTERFEIT Christian church centered in Europe. Together, this combination of personal charisma and awesome power to influence others, will have an enormous effect on the fortunes of the nations of the Western world.
This coming false religious leader-a leader who is prophesied to sit astride the end-time "Beast" (the revival of a governmental system having characteristics similar to the old Holy Roman Empire which was a combination of Roman church and state) is described in the forty-seventh chapter of Isaiah. "Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon" (v. 1). Notice this is a daughter of ancient Babylon. A modern sort of Babylon is to rise up! "Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate" (same verse).
Who, then, is this "lady" mentioned in the 47th chapter of Isaiah? God's Word gives us a clear answer, "Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the Lady of Kingdoms" (v. 5). This woman is called the "Lady of Kingdoms" because she has a fornicating political relationship with, and actually rules over, quite a number of different kingdoms or governments of this world.
Now continue this important end-time prophecy, "I was angry with MY people," says God (v. 6). Who are God's people? There are two ways this can be properly understood: one is the Church, the other is God's physical people, Israel-"You [Israel] only have I known of all the families of the earth" (Amos 3:2). This prophecy is definitely speaking nationally, so this is not talking about God's true Church. Clearly, this is speaking about the end-time nations which comprise modern Israel.
So God says, "I have profaned My inheritance, and given them into your [the Babylonish system's] hand. You showed them no mercy; on the elderly ['ancient' people, Israel-KJV] you laid your yoke very heavily" (Isaiah 47:6).
Notice the word "yoke." This is a yoke of slavery laid upon us by the daughter of the ancient Babylon. "And you said, 'I shall be a lady forever,' so that you did not take these things to heart, nor remember the latter end of them" (v. 7). And so this modern "lady," this false counterfeit Christian religious system, will put a yoke on God's birthright people-those who have received their tremendous national inheritances from God Almighty.
God speaks of this woman as being a "Lady of Kingdoms," putting a "yoke" on the neck of God's chosen people, Israel, and says this Romanized Babylonish "lady" will not think she is doing any terrible thing when she afflicts God's people. Then He says, "Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, who dwell securely, who say in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children'" (v. 8). "But," God says, "these two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: the loss of children, and widowhood" (v. 9).
That is what God says! But where is this explained in the Bible? How can we know that this is an end-time prophecy?
Let us turn back again to the book of Revelation, where He is talking about this same system. God says, "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury" (Revelation 18:3). A great religio-geo-political trading system!
Well, what is that trading system? Verse two says, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit." Yes, this modern Babylon, which is now in the process of forming in Europe, will be a very sophisticated, wealthy system that will soon dominate most of Europe. Yet it will be heavily influenced by Satan!
Notice God's warning to His people, "Come out of her, my people" (Revelation 18:4). Dwelling in this Romanized Babylonish system will be some of God's people (this applies both physically and spiritually)-and they are commanded to "Come out... lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" (vv. 4-5). And so this Romanized Babylonish system and the people in it will be warned!
Now notice verse 7, "In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she [this modern Babylon] says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.'" Do you remember those words? That is quoting directly from Isaiah 47. Yet modern Babylon will say those words!
"Therefore," God says, "her plagues will come in one day [just like God said back in Isaiah 47:9]-death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her" (Revelation 18:8).
But first, the modern descendants of ancient Israel will be brought down and punished by God through this system. These people will be punished as no peoples have EVER been punished in modern history, because of their flagrant rebellion and disobedience, and their going after every ungodly abomination.
A Great Charismatic False Religious Leader
The great charismatic false religious leader will rise up very soon now-in our very day! He will deceive not a few hundred people-like David Koresh and his Branch Davidians-but hundreds of millions! Yes, prophecy indicates that hundreds of millions of people will be deceived! That is exactly what will occur before Christ's coming.
The Apostle Paul, in a letter concerning the Second Coming of Christ, says, "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him..." (2 Thessalonians 2:1). He then cautions God's people "NOT to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come" (v. 2). Some were even writing letters purporting to be from Paul. "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition [or son of destruction]" (v. 3).
Clearly, a great charismatic false religious leader will rise up before Christ returns to this earth. What will be the attitude and modus operandi of this great charismatic false prophet? "Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (v. 4).
This man will have supernatural POWER to deceive! He will have the ability to perform great miracles such as causing fire to come down out of the sky (Revelation 13:13-14). Will you follow such a man? Or, will you now begin to study and understand your Bible so you will know what is ahead? "And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs [miracles] which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image of the beast who was wounded by the sword" (v. 14).
This great charismatic false religious leader will have tremendous impact on the Western world-make no mistake about it! You need to watch for these things so that you will not be misled or deceived by him (the soon-coming great "false prophet") or by any man! "Take heed that no one deceives you" (Matthew 24:4)!
Keep alert! Keep your eyes open! Be on the lookout for a great, charismatic false religious leader-a "false prophet"! He, like the early New Testament false prophet, Simon Magus (Acts 8:9-11), will deceive hundreds of millions into thinking he is a great servant of God.
If you know God's Word-and obey it!-you will not be one of those many millions who will be deceived by a Counterfeit Christianity and the soon-coming, great "false prophet"!
8. The Gospel Of The Kingdom of God Preached To All Nations
The great "Olivet prophecy" of Jesus Christ is pivotal in understanding future events. In Matthew 24:3, Jesus was asked by the disciples, "Tell us, when shall these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" As we have seen, Jesus first warned them about false prophets, wars and rumors of wars leading to world war, famines, disease epidemics and earthquakes, and said, "All these are the beginning of sorrows" (v. 8).
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation" (v. 9). The coming Great Tribulation will affect the Church as well as national Israel. "And [they will] kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake." This verse is quite significant because it says, in effect, that God's true Church and Work will be known by all nations. People will not hate it unless they know about it, will they? They will hate the true Work of God because they will hate its message.
"But he who endures to THE END, shall be saved" (v. 13). The end of what? Well, certainly the end of your physical lives individually, but this also applies to those alive at the end of this age. By this statement, Jesus intended to signify the end of 6,000 years of human experience and sin under the influence of Satan the Devil which is heralded by the Second Coming of Christ as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
In verse 14 Jesus mentions another sign that must happen before His Second Coming-and it is happening right now. "And this gospel of the kingdom"-the Good News of the coming Kingdom or world-ruling government of God, based on God's laws-"will be preached in all the world as a WITNESS to all the nations." This Gospel means Good News, but it contains a warning. Every nation on earth, not just a few, will hear about this as a "witness," not to convert them, but as a testimony of God's future intentions.
This is not the time when God is trying to convert everyone, as many ministers, who are trying to "save" the world now, would have you believe! God is not going around like a lonely hound dog, wagging his tail and hoping someone will pay attention to him. Through his sins, man has cut himself off from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44). This is the only way one can come to God. God's True Church is proclaiming the Gospel, witnessing to humanity so that those who are willing can seek Him. Whoever has their mind opened by God can understand. You are reading part of God's "witness" right now!
9. When Faith Again Becomes a Matter of Life or Death
Watch for persecution of The True And Faithful Bible Believing Christians and the True Church, that keeps the Commandments of God (Revelation 12:17; 14:12). Jesus said, "Then they will deliver you up to... kill you" (Matthew 24:9). Here He is speaking to His people, His genuine disciples. The Apostle John gave the True Church and anyone who reads the Bible a test to determine who is a bona fide Christian and who masquerades as such. "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:3-4).
It is these commandment-keeping Christians who will be persecuted. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake" (Matthew 24:9). Jesus clearly foresaw that the world would be full of religious confusion during the end-time. "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many" (Matthew 24:11). Only the few seem to understand; only those called by God. Verse 12 shows the result of this spiritual blindness and confusion: "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." So at the end there will be widespread chaos and lawlessness. And God says much of it can be traced back to false teachings of a COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANITY, the religious confusion from a Babylon of denominations and religions.
God's people will be persecuted at the time of the end, just as the early Christians faced vicious attacks. "If the world hates you," Jesus told the disciples, and this certainly applies to us, His disciples today, "you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19).
This present society around us will become increasingly hostile to God's people and the moral standards they live by! The political, business, media, cultural and religious elites will feel condemned by the True Church which will not compromise with God's Word. God's Church will be politically incorrect. This world will feel guilty.
How about you? If the Word of God reveals some Truth to you which may be inconvenient, embarrassing, or personally or financially costly-what would be your reaction? Will you get angry at God because He is meddling? God says He has a right to tell you what is right or wrong in the most sensitive areas of your life. Some people will even start spitting in hatred at the mere thought that Someone else seeks to impose His values on them! And they will not like it. All animals and human beings blink when suddenly exposed to light when they have been in darkness. They do not like that bright light. So it is with the light of the Truth.
"Remember," Jesus said, "the word that I said to you. 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also" (John 15:20). Did the religious and political authorities of Jesus' time keep His Word? No, they did not. They crucified Him instead. But Jesus continued, "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me" (v. 21).
10. A Crisis Strikes Jerusalem
Watch! The modern nation of "Israel," populated by the descendants of the biblical tribe of Judah (plus significant remnants of Levi and Benjamin) will suffer serious military losses with part of its territory occupied by enemies just before the Second Coming of Christ. This is of utmost significance!
Many students of Bible prophecy declare that 1948 saw the "Budding Of The Fig Tree" (Matthew 24:32-35) The great regathering and re-birth of Israel in the Holy Land and the final establishment of the nation of Israel. Meanwhile, the hard-pressed Jewish people in Israel will be attacked during the Armageddon Wars and defeated once again. This is difficult to say, but the Bible makes that very, very clear.
"Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city" (Zechariah 14:1-2).
"For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. They have cast lots for My people, have given a boy in exchange [as payment] for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink" (Joel 3:1-3).
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near" (Luke 21:20). Jerusalem has been partially surrounded by armies in recent years, but we will see Jerusalem completely surrounded by armies. Notice this prophecy, "Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains" (v. 21). Those who trust in God, those who believe in Christ, those who are true Christians will understand what to do when these things occur because they will have been studying these various signs as Jesus said. They will have been watching and praying. They will flee to the mountains. "Let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance" (vv. 21-22).
So in the future, Jerusalem, the political and emotional capital of Israel, will be overrun by her enemies, until Christ returns and fights the aggressor nations (Zechariah 14:3). Once again the city of prophets, kings and the Messiah will be brought down and punished horribly. This major event in the prophetic end-time scenario will witness further outrage.
11. The Abomination of Desolation
When the city of Jerusalem is attacked and conquered, the foreign occupying power will begin what the Bible calls the "abomination of desolation." What is that? Jesus Christ describes this abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15-20. Start with verse 15: "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation' [a loathsome contamination], spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place... then let those who are in Judea [today known as the modern state of Israel] flee to the mountains." The people in Judea, when they see this terrible abomination of desolation, are instructed to flee to the mountains.
Prophecy predicts that Jerusalem is again to be surrounded by armies (Zechariah 12:2), and an idol will be set up in a holy place. Jesus warns those who are faithful to escape quickly when this desecration takes place. "Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes" (Matthew 24:17-18). In other words, you are to get out immediately when you see this happening because if you wait-it will be too late to safely escape. "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those with nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath [God's people will be keeping the Sabbath]" (vv. 19-20).
There is a historical parallel to this end-time overthrow of Jerusalem and the erection of an idolatrous object on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, some 160 years before the First Coming of Christ, pigs were sacrificed as offerings by the pagan Seleucid Greeks upon the altar of God. A statue of Zeus, the chief Greek god, was set up.
Something similar will occur once again. We are living during a time which is like the calm before a menacing, destructive storm. If you had been a Jew in Germany in 1935, would you have been alert to your people's future destiny? Would you have taken appropriate action to save the lives of your family members? You need to be paying attention to what is happening in world events! The cost of ignorance, laxness or a dilatory attitude will be extremely high.
Remarkably, an important implication of Matthew 24:15 is that there will once again be animal sacrifices on an altar at Jerusalem's Temple Mount dedicated to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel! Another scripture confirming this states, "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up..." (Daniel 12:11).
Since there is prophesied to be a place of sacrifice, many wonder if there will be a great temple raised up in Jerusalem. An alternative idea would be that there will be merely an altar set up, as happened when the Jews returned from their captivity in Babylon (Ezra 3:2). Watch for this in your world news. Prophecy clearly shows that the Jews will once again be sacrificing at Jerusalem. Whether in a temple or at a simple altar is not yet clear. The Jewish people-remember the Six Day War-move swiftly and courageously when they are urgent about something.
From the time that the daily sacrifices to God are stopped by a foreign aggressor (possibly by the coming "king of the North") and the abomination of desolation is set up-"there shall be 1290 days" (Daniel 12:11). This scripture discusses a certain period of time after the abomination of desolation until the end of this present civilization when Christ returns to this earth as King of kings to usher in a genuinely new world order, the Kingdom of God.
"Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the 1335 days. But you," God told Daniel, "go your way, till the end; for you shall rest" (Daniel 12:12-13). In other words, Daniel would not himself see the fulfillment of the prophecies God inspired through him. Daniel was to live out his days and die never having understood the prophecy he was inspired to write down. But today, we can read Daniel's words and understand, if we begin to walk with God and study these things thoroughly. We need to realize that we are living in momentous times when all these things are about to occur. Let that motivate us to really study God's Word. And most importantly of all, let us obey our God in all things!
12.The Collapse of the English Speaking Nations
Before the glorious Second Coming of Jesus Christ to establish His Kingdom, watch for the decline and eventual conquest of the English-speaking nations by their enemies! The biblical terminology for this event is "The Great Tribulation."