The last few years Lisa and I have been able to pick up a new hobby – international travel. As you might expect the picture of the world based solely on what we see in the news is not exactly the whole picture. To get closer to the truth I try to pull information from several different sources spanning the spectrum. Fortunately we have now been able to add some personal experiences to the list of information sources.
Today’s blog is going to be different. I have been stirred for the past couple of weeks because of a number of events occurring around the world that point to a significant “culmination of events”. While I do not consider myself a biblical prophesy expert, I have read enough to know there are certain things that will be in place at the end times and it looks like the stage is pretty well set.
1) The rise of ISIS and the Vision of an Islamic Caliphate. I was surprised to learn that the teachings of Islam have end times prophesy not unlike the bible. The prophesy of the end times has battles in the region of Syria and Iraq taking place with a charismatic leader rising from this time to unite the nation of Islam and attack Israel and all unbelievers who will not convert. Today, ISIS leaders believe it is their destiny to usher in the end times. Unlike typical soldiers who willingly put their lives at risk, but strive to do so in a manner that allows them to fight another day, ISIS fighters are convinced paradise awaits them as soon as thy die if they can do taking a bunch of infidels with them.
It is important to note that Iran is very much tied into this part of the story too. Iranian influence has grown greatly in the region. The government overthrow in Yemen over the last month was orchestrated by rebels loyal to Iran. Libya is mostly overrun by rebels loyal either to ISIS or Iran.
Saudi Arabia is very much at risk to Iranian influenced rebels / terrorists. I read an article about the Islamic end times prophesies and it pointed to the death of the Saudi king being a trigger point for the end times. Within the past month the Saudi king died. Iran, ISIS, and to a degree a large part of the Muslim world believes the end times are near and it is incumbent upon them to help usher it in.
I saw a clip yesterday of Glenn Beck speaking to this topic and I believe he had some sound advice. His words to our leaders are to understand what we are getting into if we seek to put boots on the ground to wipe out ISIS. While we need to seriously consider whether we are ready to launch World War III, we need to be aware that to the Islamist, this is truly the war to end all wars.
2) Weapons of mass destruction. One of the untold stories in the mainstream news was the validation of the Bush era concern of weapons of mass destruction. While they were never found and trotted out for the world to see, it now appears that they did indeed exist. Unfortunately they where successfully hidden when the United States helped overthrow Saddam Hussein, but ISIS may have found them. Admittedly this story is one that my trust-o-meter is only about 50 – 60% on, but my gut gives it credibility.
But Iraq was not the only source of weapons of Mass Destruction. Two other nations that are not our friends either have, or will soon have the capability to have nuclear weapons. Pakistan is already equipped with nuclear capability and out relationship with that nation is not very strong.
But far and away the biggest threat is Iran. Have you ever wondered why a nation with tremendous oil reserves and such a strong push-back against their nuclear ambition would continue to strive so hard to achieve nuclear capability? They would be so much better off if they ditched their nuclear program. The world would rush to embrace them, relations with many nations would normalize, and prosperity would come to the nation. But instead they doggedly push for nuclear capability they don’t need. Why? I believe it is for the bombs they intend to make.
3) Jesus reaching out to Muslims and others. This is one of the most exciting things I have heard. I have heard a number of reports of the Lord sovereignly reaching out to Muslim Imams, Hindu leaders, and others through dreams and supernatural “coincidences”. The stories are like Paul’s vision on the road to Damascus. And the results are amazing. Within the “enemies’ camp” the Lord is raising a testimony to the one true God and Jesus Christ, the only way to be reconciled to the Father.
4) Financial warfare and the fragility of the worldwide economy. I am reading the book, “The Death of Money” by James Rickards. He knows financial systems and has helped our government strategize and develop protections against financial attack and cyber warfare. While some in our government grasp the significance of the threat many do not. Personally, I have been uneasy about the $18 trillion of government debt and what that is liable to do to future generations but I didn’t know enough to be really concerned about financial warfare. Now I do and I realize that we live in a time when tremendous damage can be inflicted upon millions and millions of people without ever firing a shot. A panic can be created within our financial systems that brings on a recession or worse around the world and it has already some close on a number of occasions.
A piece from network news that touches on the vulnerability is the hacking of Sony pictures databases by North Korea and the subsequent international blackmail that stopped the release of a movie that portrayed North Korea in a negative light. I didn’t follow that story to the end to see if it was really North Korea alone or in collaboration with others, but the point is if a nation that is so seriously under-developed can make such a huge impact simply through a few keystrokes, then our financial systems are an open target.
To be balanced here the US is still probably the most sophisticated and advanced in the realm of cyber-warfare. We can do the same or worse to others. The problem is we are not equipped to anticipate and prevent a major well-executed attack without suffering major damage to our financial systems. Wealth would be destroyed, businesses would go under, people would lose their jobs, and in the midst of this distraction a real war, say in the Middle East aimed at Israel, could begin.
5) The New Prime Minister of Greece – Alexis Tsipras. I only mention this because of how much his rapid accent from relative obscurity so closely reminds me of Nicolae Carpathia in the Left Behind series of novels on the end times. It concerns me greatly when unknown persons who proudly deny the existence of God, rise to rock star status and tremendous power in a matter of just a few months. It appears that at this moment this gentleman has within his grasp the ability to make or break the European Union AND he is very close to Russia.
Oh, just a tidbit that could play into this is that some of the richest persons in the world are actively promoting and working toward a one world government to solve the world’s problems such as climate change. Bill Gates and George Soros are two men who have dumped large amounts of money into making the world fit their vision of what it should be like. I see a charismatic leader filling the political role and then deep pockets people like Gates and Soros being able to provide the platform to usher it in.
6) I didn’t even mention the war in Ukraine. It is telling that this major event – Russia fostering war in a sovereign, western-leaning nation, is at the position of #6 on the list of events. In more normal times this would be a headliner with a strong, consistent US response. Right now it is barely on the radar for us… but not to the people suffering through the offensive by Russian supported separatists.
I mentioned at the start of this article that Lisa and I have been able to travel some in the past few years. We went with a group from our church to Israel this past year. In fact it was the trip right after my heart procedure. One of the sites we visited was Mount Carmel. It was really cool to stand on the brow of the Mountain and hear the story of Elijah in 1Kings 18:16-46. Elijah stood alone as the single prophet of God before 450 prophets of Baal. God showed up in a mighty way that day demonstrating His ultimate power, delivering Elijah and showing the people who the true God was.
After that story we then walked up to the top of the church to the balcony which got us above the trees for a view of the Jezreel Valley. It was a beautiful view and I will attach a few pictures. Our guide then explained how another name for this valley was the Valley of Armageddon where the final battle would take place. In Ezekiel 38 and 39 it speaks of a major battle in Israel with the location most likely being in this location. Revelation 16:16 is the only place where the specific term Armageddon is used. In both descriptions God sovereignly intervenes for the nation of Israel with a mighty earthquake and fire from heaven.
I find it interesting that the very areas that the bible describes in Ezekiel – Gog, Magog, Cush, Put, Persia, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer correspond to the lands that are right now engaged in the conflicts mentioned above – Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Ethiopia, the Saudi Peninsula. And for the record, the biblical prophesies in Ezekiel were written late in his life probably around 575 – 571 BC. That’s over a thousand years before Islam’s great prophet was alive.
So what are we to do with this information. I must admit as I read and digest this it tends to begin stirring a sense that I need to “do something” to get ready. In reality we all need to do something, but it depends totally where you are in relation to the God of the Universe. The reality is that all this is transient. It always has been and one day, perhaps sooner than most people can conceive, it will all come to an end. Eternity is real and, as the name implies it is forever. God’s plan is, and always has been, to redeem those who would follow Him. He did this through sending His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. He asks us to simply exchange our sin-wracked life for His perfect sinless life.
So if you do not know Jesus your first step is to get to know Him. Ask God to reveal Himself to you. Please reply to me if you are interested in learning more or if you want to go ahead and take your next step. The church I attend is also very dynamic and has an excellent online service. Check it out at NewSpring.com.
If you are a believer then the “do something” is to pray and tell people about the Lord. More than ever people will be looking for answers since the world cannot give answers that truly fulfill the deepest questions.
The thing the Lord keeps reassuring me is to Trust Him. He is in control. I do not know if this is the end times or another difficult time in world history like the middle ages or WWII, but I do know that the Lord is sovereign and whatever happens He is working in it for the greater good.
I close with Paul’s exhortation to the believers in Rome who were facing some persecution, but soon to face so much more. Romans 8:28-39
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
For your sake we face death all day long: We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. (from Psalm 44:22)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Read Full Post »
I was out in the snow the night before and I enjoyed the intense quiet of a world muffled of sound by the blanket of falling snow. I had the feeling of being in a majestic cathedral empty of anyone except for the Ever-living One and myself.
As I slowly walked through the woods that morning I paused thinking I would again be surrounded by silence but instead I heard the sounds of a forest coming awake. 
The birds were calling, in the distance a dog barked, and interestingly, every few seconds I would hear a rustling and a gentle whoosh. I paused to ascertain the source of the sound and finally I saw it. 
From the very tops of the trees, where the sun was just hitting, a clump of snow would release and fall to the ground. The clump did not remain a clump for long, but usually struck a lower branch and burst into a fine powdery cloud floating to the ground. 
If I was facing the sun the cloud of snow dust became a cloud of sparkling diamonds fluttering to earth.
It’s amazing how majestic the mundane can become when it is clothed in a fresh mantle of pure white snow. It reminded me of what Jesus does for us when we give Him our lives and put our trust in Him. A holy exchange takes place. We give up our sin-stained outer garments and we put on a robe of Christ’s righteousness. From Isaiah 1:18 we read, “Come now, and let us reason together says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.”
I walked through the woods and along the road simply praising and clicking, praising and clicking – it was glorious. I had in mind to try and get a view of Yonah Mountain, a local peak that is a few miles away from my parent’s home. While I didn’t succeed in gaining a good vantage point, the search took me throughout the neighborhood and to many great pics.
I was still mindful of the whoosh of snow as a tree would shed it’s burden so I was watching with camera ready to catch the event. I am sure I was comical looking to anyone watching. I would be pointing at one area waiting to catch the snow just as it released and I would hear the whoosh off to my side. Whirling to the sound I would snap a picture of a branch devoid of snow and whatever snow cloud had existed had vanished. Of course you know what happened right after I turned… that’s right, the snow whoosh would occur back where I had been pointing just a moment before. That lesson was that patience and trust are two key attributes I still lack.
As I stood watching and waiting, I realized the magnificent sunshine was melting enough of the snow in the trees that the burdens were slipping off all around. As the upper limbs became unburdened, they stood up a little straighter and reached a little higher as if offering uplifted branches in thanks and praise to the sun that had set them free.
areliablefaith 