Jerusalem has become the "burdensome stone" of Zechariah 12:3. Middle Ease peace, or I should say the lack of it revolves around this ancient city. The so-called 'Palestinians' want half of it for their capital, the Israelis say never, and therein lies the reason the Antichrist looks to be a Messiah figure when he appears, finally bringing a supposed peace between these people.

International relations between so many countries of the world give legitimacy to the "wars and rumors of wars" spoken of in Matthew 24:6-7. With North Korea testing nuclear weapons and threatening South Korea, Russia supplying Iran with nuclear fuel for their reactors, Syria supplying Hezbollah with weapons and them massing along Israel's Northern border with Lebanon, and everyone in the region threatening the Jewish state, it makes one wonder when the hammer on the gun will drop. And I haven't even mentioned the problems with drugs and crime in America, let alone the thousand of illegal aliens, many of whom are terrorists sneaking uninhibited across our Southern border which is as open as a theater on free ticket night.

The 'revived Roman empire' spoken of in Daniel 9:26-27 continues to manifest in the guise of the European Union. They're having as much financial difficulty as America, many places worse, and violent riots have broken out in many member states. What with unemployment and new taxes and tariffs being imposed everywhere, people are at their wits end. Television commercials persist to hedge off the worsening economy with purchases of gold and silver, fulfilling the admonishment of James 5:3. This global financial meltdown is but another opportunity for the Antichrist, when he appears, to step up and be a Savior.

There have been "fearful sights and great signs" in the weather giving credence to the incidents described in Luke 21:11. There were earthquakes, heat waves, floods, volcanoes, typhoons, blizzards, land slides and droughts that have killed a quarter of a million people worldwide this year. And the global warming pundits continue in their diatribe that the earth is getting warmer despite much of the country currently being under more than two feet of snow. These people just can't get it through their heads that the earth will be here forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

Technology seems to have increased exponentially just as Daniel 12:4 predicted for the End Times. Computers are now smaller, lighter, more powerful and more mobile than ever before. One can now shop for almost anything, including their groceries from the comfort of their home. And when one does venture into the cold, cruel world standing in line is almost a thing of the past. Self checkouts abound in more and more stores and you can pay in many places with simply a swipe of your hand, making 'the Mark' of Revelation 13:16 a reality but for the Antichrist's forced implementation.

And last, but certainly not least is the growth in number of those scoffing at Christianity (2 Peter 3:3) and a simultaneous rise of those seemingly religious (2 Timothy 3:5-7). More and more people are chiding away from the tenets of the Christian faith, seemingly content in working their way to Heaven by doing penance, confessing to a church authority instead of the Lord Himself or trying to do enough good deeds to buy their way through the Almighty's front door. These are they who "will not endure sound doctrine" and will "turn their ears from the truth" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). And not only them, but the number of those who believe in no diety at all is at an all time high.

These are but a few of the things that we've covered the last several months at the Forum. There have been so many more that they simply can't all be listed in one article, but each one has a prophetic significance: All of these things are signs of the coming Tribulation. So if we see them so numerous now, the Rapture and our Homegoing is at the door.

"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." (Matthew 24:33)

Until that time we have much work to do, whether people want to hear it or not.

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:2)

Time is short. Jesus is coming. Are you ready?

Keith

12-28-2010