12 Sept
Hope for the Birth Pang Holdouts
It is very distressing to receive email from people who bristle at the idea
that the calamities of the past few years could be a warning from God. It's
obvious that many people don't want anything to do with God, and Hurricane
Katrina is just one more irritation point for them.
What seems to make them the most angry is the immediate threat imposed by
the signs of the time. All that scary stuff in the Book of Revelation is
fine with them as long it doesn't manifest itself in today's headlines.
Well, I've got more bad news for them. Jesus indicated that as we get closer
to the tribulation hour, disasters will increase with intensity. Unless the
rapture is very near, we should expect a very turbulent future.
Because the warning signs are intended to wake up people to the truth of
their fallen state, the birth pangs offer an opportunity of hope for the
folks still unconvinced. At some point, an open-minded person needs to
realize that
the frequency of these disasters is not just purely accidental, and they
need to turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation.
I've already decided that a supernatural entity is involved in this
process. All of those who are still skeptics need to draw their own line where
they, too, must admit the end times are drawing near.
Some people write me to argue that the Black Death (1330-40 AD) and the
great Galveston hurricane of 1900 invalidated birth pangs. When Jesus
mentioned the precursors to His return, He wasn't citing calamities that had
never happened before. Disasters like earthquakes, war, floods, and
hurricanes have been around since the fall of Adam and Eve.
The birth pangs we should be looking for are normally record-setting events. When you read reports of the most "most deadly tsunami in
recorded history" and the "most destructive Atlantic hurricane" you know
they're talking about our generation.
There is a danger in waiting too long to be convinced of the truth. Because
the rapture is predicted to be a surprise, most people will be caught off
guard by its occurrence. In order to be part of the fortunate few, a person
needs to wisely weigh the evidence. On judgment day, I don't believe anyone
will be able to say that God didn't provide them with enough clues.
"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).
The Deaths of William Rehnquist and Bob Denver (Gilligan)
Two people of noteworthy importance have died. Chief Justice William H.
Rehnquist died from cancer at the age of 80. Bob Denver is remembered
for his television roles as Gilligan, the mischievous first mate in "Gilligan's
Island," and Maynard G. Krebs, the bongo-playing beatnik in "The Many Loves
of Dobie Gillis." Denver was 70.
You may be wondering what possible connection I could draw between these two
men other than the fact that they died of throat cancer at the same time. Their
careers could not have been more different, but what they had in common is
the measure of morality they represented in society.
Over the years, I've noticed that Satan has simple strategy for guiding a
nation towards destruction. Because children are easier to influence, he
specializes in corrupting the youth. The devil then waits for them to rise
to prominence as the older generations dies off or retires.
Whoever replaces William Rehnquist as Chief Justice will not likely share
his conservative views. John Roberts has been nominated as a
replacement. I can already see some indication that Roberts, who is still
a good conservative justice, reflects the generational shift. Chances are that the same will apply to
Sandra Day O'Connor's replacement.
As a comedic actor, Denver represented an age when television programming
was not about sexual innuendo and filthy language. If "Gilligan's Island"
were produced today, the Hollywood writers would certainly write the cast
members into all sorts of sexual situations.
Christians are always worried about the Supreme Court shifting to the left
with the appointment of a new justice. What we fail to realize is that the
forces of darkness have a much grander scheme that encompasses all of
society.
In March, the legal battle over Terri Schiavo's life was lost even before it
began. The devil had already filled the Florida court system with judges
who disregard the sanctity of life.
If believers are ever going to make a difference, we need to invest more in
educating the general population. I don't won't to seem too pessimistic, but
at this late stage, it would take a Nineveh-magnitude conversion to save the
world from doom.
-- Todd
Earth’s Prophetic Check-Up
Time has come for another check-up of where the world is positioned on God’s prophetic time line. Global environmentalists who obsess on such matters proclaim incessantly that Planet Earth is heating up. Global warming, many of them have said, was the cause of the most destructive hurricane, economically speaking, ever to hit anywhere in the world. The 90-plus degree waters of the Gulf of Mexico proves –in their estimation—that Earth has an elevated temperature that portends much more ominous things to come.
Many reputable scientists refute that dire assessment –either that there is global warming, or that Earth’s weather will get worse because of that warming. I haven’t the scientific knowledge, acumen, or intellectual curiosity to pursue the question of who is correct. But, I do see a warming of the prophetic temperature of this generation.
Periodically, it is good, I think, to take the temperature of the times in which we are privileged to live. Just as Rapture Ready’s Rapture Index records the speed with which we are heading toward the rapture of the Church and consummation of human history, I believe there is an unseen gauge that measures–to some extent, at least—just how feverish is end-time activity that presages the end of the age.
How near is the world of earth-dwellers to the deadly tribulation hour? We’ve looked at the symptoms before in the "Nearing Midnight" updates. It’s time to take out the stethoscope of God’s prophetic Word and examine once again the vital signs of this lost and dying world.
Forced withdrawal from Gaza and other areas–removing Jewish settlers who have faced hardships and dangers to possess a small part of the vast land God granted Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-- is the forefront of the end-time sickness that elevates Earth’s temperature.
Beginning the check-up with the top vital sign, we consider Israel, which is destined to become the head of nations during Christ’s millennial reign upon Planet Earth.
Just as foretold by God’s prophets Daniel and Zechariah, Israel is at the center of the world’s attention as far as geopolitical issues and events are concerned. Zechariah prophesied the following:
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zech. 12: 2-3).
America’s support for Israel is one of the key points of hatred terrorists like Osama bin Laden proclaim in their rage to wage jihad. God’s chosen people are marked by the Islamic fanatics as targets for eradication. The Jew must either leave the land God gave them, or be pushed into the Mediterranean, according to practically every leader in the countries that surround Israel. Three major wars have been launched against Israel in attempts to accomplish the Islamic goal –in 1956, 1967 (although Israel preempted that attack by launching one against the gathering Arab forces) and 1973.
Daniel predicted a peace treaty or covenant that will bring about man’s last seven years that will lead up to Christ’s return to Earth. He prophesied:
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Dan 9: 27).
Our examination of what’s going on with Israel at this moment clearly presents two symptoms of those profound prophecies:
1) The whole world (international community) is joined with the U.S. in pressuring Israel to give up land God gave them forever; and
2) The "Roadmap for Peace" is being forced down the throats of the Israelis –a “peace” that will shrink the land God gave Israel even more than the withdrawal being forced upon them at present.
The second most important vital sign, in my view, at least, consists of the swiftly moving dual events transpiring within: 1) the European Union’s sphere of influence, and 2) the developing one world religious system.
While the EU seems to have slowed a bit as of late in its lumbering toward fulfilling its role as Antichrist’s beast-state base for world domination that will culminate in Revelation chapter 13, Satan has been working overtime to entice all religions of the world into unity. Sadly, even many within Christianity are falling for his lies that we must all unite in love –because God is the God of all religions, and He is Love, and would not judge or condemn anyone. That is, He would not condemn anyone with the exception of those who believe that Jesus Christ is the only way, truth and life. Such belief is bigoted, narrow-minded, and is counterproductive to the harmony Planet Earth must appropriate in order to achieve peace.
The third vital sign for examination in this end-time check-up is also a two-fold matter:
1) The the whole earth seems filled with violence, like in Noah’s day, and Lot’s day. Jesus said that the time He comes back will be like it was in those generations (Luke 17: 26-29).
The terrorist acts this generation has witnessed cannot be disregarded; they are acts of violence that are beyond the pale of sanity. The acts of people firing AK-47s at those trying to rescue the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the flood-ravaged streets of New Orleans are stunning reminders of where we are on God’s prophetic time line.
2) Natural disasters seem to be setting records with regard to new levels of ferocity. The tsunami in the Indian Ocean and Hurricane Katrina are the most recent, each bringing unprecedented levels of destruction, if not purely in loss of life, certainly in economic damage.
Planet Earth is sick, and beginning in earnest to reel to and fro like a drunkard, perhaps a precursor symptom of the staggering that will take place, according to prophecy, during the tribulation. Thankfully, God is the Great Physician who will one day make all things right. He will restore health and balance during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, the King of all kings.
This generation is indeed nearing the midnight hour of human history --Daniel’s seventieth week –the Tribulation. It is time for us to examine our lives in light of that reality. Christ is the ark of safety during this upcoming apocalyptic flood of end-time events predicted by Daniel. All who know Him for salvation can say with Paul the Apostle:
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thes. 5: 8-11).
--Terry
