You got the Love

There was a time in my life when Christians annoyed me. I remember them approaching me, thumpin’ their Bibles with their wide-eyed warnings and goofy grins. I was confused at how they could talk about the love and salvation of Jesus and the evil and destructive Apocalypse in the same breath. I remember them cautioning that I needed to prepare myself for Christ’s return because “the end was near”. I rejected their message and inwardly scoffed at how presumptuous and brainwashed I felt they were. Looking back, I realize that I refused to listen and study the Bible because I did not want the Christians to be right - my treasures were here on earth and I was not interested in focusing on the hereafter (“There are none who are as deaf as those who do not want to hear”). However, human beings are both flesh and spirit. Although my flesh was clinging to this world, my spirit ached for the eternal - and demanded that I do my homework.

So…
fast forward, here I am - a Bible thumper. I now understand the urgency behind the wide-eyed warnings and the love and hope behind the goofy grins. I understand that the Bible stands alone as God’s word to man and that no other book in human history speaks of the future like the Bible. Just as the B.C. generations were called to study Messianic prophecy in order to recognize Christ’s First Coming, we are called to study End Times prophecy to recognize the signs of His Second Coming. I have had amazing opportunities to learn from some of the best Bible prophecy/Middle East experts from around the world. How do they know that we are headed toward the tribulation hour? We are among the first generations to understand the following:

“Rise in scoffers/deception”
The Bible warns that near the End Times, there will be a rise in people scoffing at the Bible, Christians, and talk of Christ’s return. “Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:2) If you’re scoffing right now – you are a part of prophecy fulfilled ;). There will also be a rise in false teachers, false prophets, cults, messages that contradict the Bible and appeal to people’s sinful nature. Many of us are frustrated with the blatant displays of evil and abhorrence of facts, logic, reason… how some people can’t see the obvious. Daniel 12:10 warned us that in the end “The wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” 2 Timothy 3:6-7 tries to explain that ignorance of the Bible will lead to deception. As my pastor put it, “If you don’t know your Bible, you will be fooled.”

“Rise in pestilence, famines, earthquakes, natural disasters”
(Matthew 24:3-7) I recently had a government official at my school site. His job was to prepare/inform our staff of the procedures for lock down/quarantine concerning the spread of highly contagious pan epidemic flus/viruses. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration stated that over the past 25 years we’ve experienced an increase in super storms and earthquakes like the world has never seen. According to Rev 16:18:“There will be such a mighty and great earthquake as has not occurred since men were on the earth.” Liberals have their scapegoat ready to go: Global Warming. The Left has appropriately renamed their religion “Climate Change”… and yes, our climate is and will continue to make some serious changes.

“Rebirth of Israel”
After the Romans sacked Jerusalem in 70 AD, the Jews were scattered across the earth - just as prophecy predicted (Deuteronomy 28:64). On May 14, 1948, after almost 1900 years, Israel became a state again and the Jews returned home. This event fulfilled Bible prophecy (Deut. 30:5, Is. 11:11-12, Ez. 36:24, Is. 66:8), and was nothing short of a miracle. Through his parables, Jesus cautioned that when Israel regains sovereignty, you will know that the End Times and Kingdom of God is near.

“Wars and rumors of wars”
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” (Matthew 24:6-7). Wars are occurring all around the world, but the ultimate and final battle will be for Jerusalem. The demonic ideology of antisemitism is on the rise again. The Bible warns us of God’s punishment on the nation’s that divide Israel’s land (yet that is EXACTLY what we are trying to do) and that in the end, ALL nations will rise up against Israel and be punished for it (Zech 12:3, Joel 3:2). Revelation 9:16 discusses an army of 200 million that (combined with pestilence and natural disasters) will wipe out a third of mankind. As the world’s population rises above 6 billion, it is increasingly possible to amass an army of 200 million, but this would have been unthinkable even 100 years ago. In Zechariah 14:12, concerning the final battle it states “Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.” Past generations did not understand this type of instant and complete destruction, but we do – it’s describing how the human body reacts when exposed to an H-bomb.

“Knowledge Explosion”
The book of Daniel describes a great increase of knowledge that the world will experience towards the End Times. Revelations discusses how people from around the globe will be able to access knowledge instantly and simultaneously, that people from all over the world will watch the apocalyptic events as they are unfolding. While this was incomprehensible to past generations, it is common practice for us today thanks to television/internet/satellite (can we say web cams, cell phone videos, You Tube?). Our generation also understands how technology has paved the way for “the mark of the beast” (possibly a micro chip) that a person will have to have in order to “buy or sell”. This mark will also show your allegiance to the anti-Christ and his One World Religion. According to Rev. 20:4, those who refuse the mark will be beheaded. How is it that something as barbaric and ancient as beheadings will be common practice in the future? Here’s a possibility: “I will cast dread into the heart of the infidels: Strike off their heads then, and strike off from them every finger-tip” (Koran, Sura 8:12)

“Every single country mentioned in the Scriptures, regarding the end of time, that God punishes, for attacking Israel, is Muslim today… Do you have 365 days, eight hours a day, so I can show you what the Bible says about the coming Islamic invasion of the world? It’s all over Scripture! God didn’t forget to tell us. You forgot to read the Bible. It is all in there.” ~Walid Shoebat

Walid Shoebat is an ex-PLO terrorist and converted Muslim. As he studied the Bible he realized that Islam’s savior, Mahdi (aka: the Twelfth Imam) is the anti-Christ of the Bible. According to Shoebat, the Bible names the anti-Christ as ruler of the world, but specifically names: “Assyrian” (Syria),”Persian” (Iran), “King of Babylon” (Iraq), “Prince of Tyre” (Lebanon), “Pharoah of Egypt”. The anti-Christ will want to change time (hello lunar calendar), change laws (hello Sharia), will have a disdain for women (hello burka) and persecute Christians, Jews and all others who refuse to accept him (hello infidels) (Daniel 7:25, 11:37, Revelations). The Islamic world has announced that Mahdi will be returning soon. According to Islamic belief, Mahdi will dominate the world, confirm a peace treaty, abolish the treaty half way through (what is known to Muslims as hudna and al-taqiyya), persecute the infidels, attempt to destroy Israel… sound familiar? It’s not only Bible prophecy (Zechariah, Daniel, Revelations) it’s Islamic prophecy as well.

Jesus says that although we will not know the exact hour, we will know He is returning by the signs. “So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near – at the doors”. (Mark 13:29)

With wars raging, the dollar falling, Islam rising, natural disasters and pan epidemics looming, our choice of candidates for the ’08 elections - why the goofy grin? I have found the ultimate treasure and it is not of this world.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-20