"2 Major Signs You Need 2 Know"

Because so few mainline churches teach on Bible prophecy, many have no idea how far along the prophetic timeline we have come.

Prophecy expert Bill Salus contends God's calendar of endtime events all revolve around Israel and has a definite beginning-the rebirth of the nation of Israel-and another major signpost (yet to come, but also involving Israel) signaling we are getting close to the end.

"The re-establishment of Israel on May 14, 1948 is when the world's hour glass made its final turn," Salus declares.

"The Magog invasion of  Israel (see Ezekiel 38-39), is the other major prophetic maker for this generation to consider. Ezekiel 38:1-39:20 contains forty-three verses of some of the most consolidated and descriptive prophetic information found anywhere within the Bible. The reader of these passages doesn't need to be a Bible scholar, rocket scientist, or even a believer to glean a relatively detailed understand of this forthcoming prophecy. By interpreting these verses literally the reader is made aware of the:

• Timing of the event- (in the endtimes) Ezekeil 38:8,16
• Identities of the invading coalition- (Russia, Turkey, Iran, etc.) Ezekiel 38:1-5
• Motivation for the invasion of Israel- (to plunder Israel) Ezekiel 38:12-13
• Supernatural defeat of the invaders- (through earthquakes, pestilence, flooding rains and great hailstones) Ezekiel 38:18-23

Salus places this invasion just before the 7 years of tribulation, but after the Rapture of the Church.

So, how far along the prophetic timeline are we?

According to Amir Tsarfati of Behold Israel, the Magog coalition of Ezekiel 38 is being formed right now before our very eyes:

" We are watching some very interesting developments...the mainstream news is not telling you the truth. Iran has enough enriched-uranium right now to make at least five nuclear bombs...and nobody is doing anything about it...when the time comes, they will come against Israel."

 According to Bill Salus, when they do, it will officially herald the 'final stage' of the endtimes prophetic timeline.

A wise woman once said: "Things are happening so quickly that observers of the times can't keep up. It's as though the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are now out of the barn...No previous generation has seen this stunning convergence allowing everything to fall into place." - Jan Markell, Olive Tree Ministries

"Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in Me. There are many rooms in My Father's home and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am. And you know where I am going and how to get there" (JOHN 14:1-4).

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News:

• AXIOS:Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to push forward with Rafah ground operation, despite global outcry
• REUTERS: Israel plans to hit Hamas and scale back war; "extraordinary measures" are being taken to avoid civilian casualties, said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
• BBC: "The West Bank is a powder keg waiting to explode" says Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister, as Hamas demands the release of 1,500 terrorists in exchange for 5 female Israeli hostages

"Does The Bible Predict End Time Hyper-inflation?"

If the Bible does not speak directly about a global economic collapse, why have prophecy teachers always taught there would be one? Because, just as the doctrine of the Trinity is never spelled out for us, it is undeniably there. An economic collapse is there too--by implication.

One only has to read the Book of Revelation to get a glimpse of what's coming. There will be wars, pestilence, famine and terrible natural disasters, like massive earthquakes, unprecedented drought, heatwaves, and humungus hailstones. Revelation 6 releases the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; #3 mentions food prices: 

"When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come!" And I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And a voice from among the four living beings said, "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and wine." 

This rider on the black horse takes prosperity from the earth and replaces it with famine and hyperinflation.

The Book of James doesn't mince words when it says in Chapter 5: 

"Look here, you rich people, weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh in hell. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you in the last days."

These Scriptures (among others) paint a bleak economic picture, but Revelation 13:16-17 is the clincher: 

"He (Antichrist) required everyone--great and small, rich and poor, slave or free--to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything with out that mark..."

Well, we don't know about you-but most people would probably balk at giving up their money in exchange for a mark...unless, of course, their money didn't cut the mustard anymore. The Bible makes it clear these judgments will encompass the entire planet. Who could have guessed 2,000 years ago we'd end up with a global economy?

As chaotic as the world seems already, it's important to remember that all the "signs" the Bible says will characterize the 7 years of Tribulation are here on a global scale right now.

But before the Tribulation can begin God must evacuate His ambassadors-His Bride, the Church. There are no signs for that. The evacuation (or Rapture) of the Church will take the world completely by surprise and then comes seven years of God's judgment on an unbelieving, God-rejecting, unsaved world that treated the sacrificial blood of His Son as something worthless.

And while we have no idea how much time remains before the Church is taken (it could be years, it could be seconds) we do know this: The time to get ready is now.

Playing Russian roulette with your eternal destiny is nothing less than insanity.

A wise man once said: "Recently, the United States, UK, Australia, Germany and other nations began withdrawing their personnel from Ukraine. They did this believing that Russia was about to invade that country and they wanted to get their people out of harms way. The Rapture will happen for similar reasons. God will remove His people from planet Earth before the greatest calamities begin." - Hal Lindsey, author

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close in on you suddenly like a trap" (LUKE 21:34).

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News:

• Washington Examiner: White House: Inflation Will 'Substantially' Increase In Coming Months; Meanwhile, Pres. Biden warns more NATO weapons could spark WWIII.
• Yahoo!Finance: Record Food Prices Could Leap 22% More UN Warns; "Considerable' supply gap if war persists.
• ZeroHedge: UN Chief in 'Bone-Chilling' Statement: "Nuclear War Back "Within Realm of Possibility" over Ukraine

    

"The Clock of Human History is Ticking Away..."

Are we living in the worst of times or the best of times?

Both, depending on your perspective.

For those of us who believe in the imminent return of Christ, these are exciting times. The signs pointing to His soon return are everywhere. For those concerned only with this present life and who either don't know or don't care about a Biblical worldview, these are trying times.

Ironically, the very events that frighten or depress those without a love for His coming, create a growing sense of anticipation in those of us busy waiting for His return. That's the beauty of Bible prophecy: It reveals your spiritual temperature.

For the prophecy student, world events are not arbitrary or accidental, but a carefully orchestrated plan with a divine purpose. Bible teacher Charlie Campbell explains what role fulfilled prophecy plays in validating our hope in the future as laid out in Scripture:

"Fulfilled prophecy is something that sets the Bible apart from all other religious books. There are 26 other books that people of faith (non-Christian) believe are divinely-inspired. And none of these writings contain any specific fulfilled prophecies. There are no fulfilled prophecies in the Qur'an, the Hindu Vedas, the Bhaqavad-Gita, the sayings of Buddha and Confucius, or in the Book of Mormon. The Bible on the other hand is filled with fulfilled prophecy. In fact 27% of the Bible spoke prophetically at the time it was written. And the authors of the Bible did not just predict a couple of vague things like Jeane Dixon or Nostradamus. The Old Testament alone contains hundreds of very specific prophecies that have already come to pass. The fact that these prophecies were literally fulfilled give us the intellectual basis for believing that future, unfulfilled prophecies regarding the rapture of the Church, the Thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, etc. would also be literally fulfilled."

Current events, viewed through the lense of Bible prophecy can (and should) have a purifying effect on the Christian's life. Why? Because as we see the world lining up precisely as predicted, the Bible comes alive for us. Jesus Christ becomes real for us. And the realization that we will stand before a holy God and give an account of our lives, motivates us to live in the way the Bible teaches us to live. What man views as a "good life" doesn't count. It is God's opinion that matters.

"We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Bible scholar Dr. Ed Hindson warns, "The clock of human history is ticking away. It neither speeds up nor slows down. It just keeps on ticking continually and relentlessly, moving us closer and closer to the end of the age. How close we are to the end will only be revealed by time itself. Don't gamble with your eternal destiny. Time may very well be running out. Make sure you are ready when Jesus comes." Visit http://www.heaven-gettingthere.blogspot.com/ to find out how.

A wise man once said: "As the world around us continues to embrace evil, the need for hope radically increases. God's Word holds the solution to this need: Jesus Christ's return! This is the great hope we have and promise we can hold on to in these dark days." -- Jack Hibbs, Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills

"And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame" (1 JOHN 2:28).

News:

• Jerusalem Post: Will Biden Sacrifice Israel Over Iran? U.S. Return to Iran Deal May Weaken Alliance With Israel
• New York Post: Pentagon whistleblower warns of UFO intelligence failure on 'level of 9/11'; report due in June
• DEBKAfile: U.S. holds nuclear talks with Iran; disregards Israeli Intel

"Are You Woke To The Days We're Living In?"

In his classic book Escape The Coming Night, David Jeremiah wrote:

"Jesus told the disiples that before He returned, the earth would be as it was "in the days of Noah". While Noah was building the ark on dry land, his neighbors were laughing at what they believed were the efforts of a madman. They really didn't care what that family of religious fanatics did, because the people's lives were so evil and self-centered that God's warnings were ignored...In the days before the flood, people were looking out for number one, until that final hour when the Noah family and their animal friends entered the ark. When the flood came, the remaining citizens of earth had no dry ground or life rafts to rescue them. With thrir last drowning breath, it was too late to ask God for mercy."

Jesus and the prophets warned us of all the signs to watch for signaling that the time of the final judgment is near. Those signs are here right now, but as in the days of Noah,the warning is falling on deaf ears.

Why? Because let's face it,gang-it's hard to believe. Nothing like it has ever happened before, at least not since the days of Noah. The people of Noah's time didn't believe in Noah's warning because they had never experienced rain before-let alone a flood.

The Bible says,

"...that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire. This will be their argument: Jesus promised to come back did He? Then where is He? Why as far back as anyone can remember,everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created" (2 PETER 3:3-4).

According to Greg Laurie, of Harvest Christian Fellowship,

 "The scoffers in this passage mistook Christ's delayed return to earth to mean that there would be no final judgment at all. They not only doubted Christ's return but forgot about God's judgment in the past. More importantly, those scoffers overlooked God's love and mercy. It is for their sake that God is restraining His judgment because "He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 PETER 3:9).

God will surely accomplish His purposes and promises, even though it may appear that He is slow in doing so. Someday our time here on earth will be up, either through death or the Rapture of the Church.

What happens to us after that? Depends on what we do now.

A wiseman once said: "No one can deny that the world is in trouble. Tragedy stalks our streets. Violence and bloodshed fill the news. Today's political debates spotlight the deep and bitter divsion in a society that often seems to be coming apart at the seams. How do we explain so much chaos? Jesus said there would be days like this".  -David Jeremiah, author

"Everything I prophesid has come true, and now I will prophesy agaim. I will tell you the future before it happens" (ISAIAH 42:9). 

"He will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for Him" (HEBREWS 9:28).

"Look I am coming soon!" (REVELATION 22:7). 

👉HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN! http://heaven-gettingthere.blogspot.com/ ☝ 

News:

CNN: CDC projects 20K virus deaths in next  21 days

The Washington Post: Coronavirus threat rises across U.S. 'We have to assume the monster is everywhere'

New York Post: Protester's burn Bibles, American flags as tensions rise in Portland

 

"Jesus Isn't Playing Games"

The Bible predicts that in the Last Days people will consider nothing sacred. A new video game seems to prove that point.

"I Am Jesus Christ" is a realistic simulator game inspired by the New Testament and scenes from the Bible, developed by SimulaM.

According to the game's distributor Steam, the player can become Jesus Christ and perform all the famous miracles from the Bible just like Jesus did. Including:

• walking on water
• healing the sick
• exorcising demons and fighting Satan
• getting crucified
• and resurrecting

The trailer for "I Am Jesus Christ" was released on December 6 to mixed reactions and "plenty of buzz on social media," said Fox News.

"I'm not sure how to feel about this," wrote one reviewer.

 

Others were definitely critical. 

"Too far, Playway. Thumbs down," said one. 

"Seems Blasphemous," said another. 

"Not psyched about the gamification of my faith," complained yet another.

And then there were the usual mockers with vile comments we won't quote for obvious reasons.

According to Fox, no details of the game's release date have been posted, although the description of Steam says that it is "coming soon".

Sound familiar?

Jesus Himself said He is "coming soon", but is He?

Got Questions.org put it this way:

"The Greek word tachu, which is translated "soon" or "quickly", means "without unnecessary delay." It does not mean "immediately". The meaning seems to be that events have been set in motion that will usher in His arrival without any unnecessary delay. Everything is moving along according to God's timetable."

Peter reassures us that God is not dragging His feet concerning prophetic events. God's timing is perfect:

"The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise to return, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief" (2 Peter 3:9-10).

The Bible teaches that Jesus' return for His church is imminent, which means the Rapture could happen at any moment.

To answer the question,"Is Jesus coming soon?" we say, "Yes. He will come without unnecessary delay" Our advice? Choose Jesus before 'GAME OVER' 

A wise man once said: "God makes it clear that He desires to see more people come into a relationship with Him. For that reason, you should take advantage of every opportunity you have to pray for or witness to someone who needs Christ." -- Greg Laurie, Harvest Christian Fellowship

"Look, I am coming soon!" (Revelation 22:7).

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News:

• LIFESITE: Netflix streams blasphemous 'Christmas' video depicting gay Jesus, adulterous Virgin Mary prompting more than one million to petition its removal.
• CBN: Parents outraged as middle school student questioned on graphic sex acts without parental consent
• CNBC: Stocks rise on China trade deal and strong economic data; 4th straight day of record high stock gains

"Is God Using Trump To Fulfill Bible Prophecy?"

What are the odds that the three nations prophesied to attack Israel for financial gain are all on the brink of economic collapse?

In his Mid-East Prophecy Update, Pastor JD Farag highlights some of the amazing specific details given in the Ezekiel 38 prophecy and how precisely they are lining up with current events.

For instance:

• The prosperity of Israel at the time they are attacked, (a recent development with the discovery of oil and natural gas), added to on Monday by Trump's defense and aid bill.
• The fact that Saudi Arabia (as unlikely as that seemed only a short while ago) is friends with Israel at the time of the attack.
• And how Iran, Russia, and Turkey are now on the verge of economic collapse (due, in part, to recent sanctions imposed by President Trump).

JD Farag believes the infamous Gog and Magog War prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39 cannot be far off. All the major players are on Israel's border even as minute details of the prophecy fall into place.

"Everything is lined up perfectly," asserts Farag. "I don't know how it could be any more exact. Wouldn't it also stand to reason it couldn't stay at this point for very much longer?"

"Look at how much has happened in just the last three years," Farag points out. "And fast forward the clock to even three years from now. Would all this still be in place? No, I don't believe so."

While Farag denies any knowledge of when the Rapture of the Church will occur, he does urge Christians to "wake up."

"We are very close," he says. "I don't think it's possible to overstate the urgency of the hour."

Farag goes on to explain that "there are many who believe that the Rapture will take place prior to or even in concert with the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy. And if that's the case...then the time is at hand."

So is God using Trump, a secular businessman, in His prophetic alignment? Only God knows the answer to that.

A wise man once said; "Both President Donald Trump and Cyrus the Great, the ancient King of Persia, recognized Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel, thereby giving Israel a hedge of protection." -- Endoftheage.com

" Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can know His return is near, right at the door."  Matthew 24:33

HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN

News:

• Y Net News: Moscow would regard more U.S. sanctions as economic war.
• Arutz Sheva: Iran Turkey Russia On Verge Of Economic Collapse
• Yahoo! Finance: U.S. sanctions slam Russian ruble, Turkish lira tumbles

"What's Next On The Prophetic Calendar?"

When God told Moses to proclaim seven holy convocations, He referred to them as "My feasts" (Lev. 23:1-2). In English, that means "appointed times" or "dress rehearsals". In other words the God of Israel established an annual cycle of holidays to be practiced year after year as their prophetic "type" is fulfilled by the Messiah. Jews all over the globe continue the holiday cycle having little understanding of their prophetic significance because they do not recognize that their Messiah has come.

There are seven feast days divided by seasons linked to the agricultural cycle of Israel. Four come in Spring:

• Passover (Pesach)
• Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot)
• First fruits (Ha Bikkurim)
• Pentecost (Shavuot)

Three come in the fall:

• Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)
• Atonement (Yom Kippur)
• Tabernacles (Sukkot)

These appointed times (or dress rehearsals) of the Lord provide a panorama of God's plan for mankind. They are an overview or outline of history that has amazing implications for every one of us.

According to Kevin Williams of RBC Ministries, "Many Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus share the conviction that the first phase of Messiah's deliverance has been recorded on the center page of human history."

He goes on to explain that the plan of God was revealed during the holy days of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First fruits, and Pentecost. "With a sudden turn of events, the first four feasts of Israel took on the personality of a miracle worker who bore the marks of God's Messiah. On Passover, Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb whose blood marked all who believe in Him for deliverance. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, He died to take away our sin and to give us, in the place of our own efforts the "bread" (life-sustaining provision) of His eternal presence. On the Feast of First fruits, He arose from the dead to show that it was by God's power that He carried out our rescue. Then 50 days later on the Feast of Pentecost, Jesus sent His Spirit to show His presence with all who are willing to stake their lives on Him."

In other words, the first four feast days have already been fulfilled.

So what's next on the prophetic calendar? The Feast of Trumpets aka Rosh Hashanah which many believe will be fulfilled by the Rapture of the Church, This year people are going nuts over the Revelation 12 sign in the heavens to occur on September 23rd, two days after Rosh Hashanah.

For a balanced view, check out this video  by Pastor J.D. Farag.

A wise man once said: "Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone expects of you." - Henry Ward Beecher

News:

• Reuters: U.S. 'greatly concerned' over N. Korea missile tech advances
• The Telegraph: China prepares for manned moon landing
• DEBKAfile: Mystery missile wipes out 16 top ISIS commanders in Syria; U.S.-led contingent suspected

"Like a Thief in the Night"

As far as most people are concerned, Christ's return is irrelevant. If they think about it at all, it's mostly to mock those who believe in it.

And who can blame them? False dates and fanaticism have deceived and damaged the faith of millions.

But is fear of repeating past mistakes reason enough to avoid the subject? Not according to Luke 12:37: "There will be special favor for those who are ready and waiting for His return." Luke 12:45 gives us the consequences of not being ready: "But if the servant thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while', and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk--well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected. He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the unfaithful. The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it." Apparently, God expects us to know the general time of Christ's return.

Before we go on, let's get something straight: Christ will come twice: once at the Rapture of the Church which takes place before the 7-year period known as 'the Tribulation' and for which there are no signs. He will come like a thief in the night when the world at large least expects Him. Then, at the end of the seven years of tribulation, amid unmistakable signs, Christ will come a second time.

Got that? There are yet two comings. One to rescue the church (the Rapture) and the Second Coming to rescue the Jews. We'll go over all this in more detail later.

For now, here's a simple overview of prophetic events:

1. The Rapture. When God delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
2. The Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema). Where believers' lives are examined. If we've used our gifts and talents to help build the kingdom, we'll be rewarded. If we've squandered our lives on selfish living, we'll suffer loss. (1 Corinthians 3:13).
3. The Tribulation. When 7 years of trouble come on the earth consisting of deception, war/rumors of war, famines, pestilence, and earthquakes. (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Daniel 9). These 7 years are divided into two, 3-1/2-year periods. At the beginning of the 1st half, the Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel and the Jewish Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem. The 2nd 3-1/2 years herald the Great Tribulation when the Antichrist breaks the 7-year covenant. (Daniel 9:27).
4. Armageddon: armies from around the globe gather at Megiddo in Northern Israel to launch a massive attack against Jerusalem. (Rev. 16, Zechariah 12:1-3, 14:1-5, Revelation 19:19).
5. Second Coming of Christ to earth. to rescue His Chosen people, the Jews, from annihilation and set up His millennial reign on earth. (Dan. 2:44, Matt. 24:27-37, Zechariah 14:4, 1 Thessalonians. 3:13, Rev. 19:8).
6. Judgment of the Nations. (Matthew 25:31-46).

 (Scripture references are not all inclusive. There are just too many to list them all. Please check cross-references in your Bible).

Words to the Wise: Be like the Bereans, "...in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11).

News:

• Vox.com: Dems weigh "nuclear option" over Comey firing: shut down the Senate
• Daily Mail: N. Korea defector says war "unavoidable"; urges Trump to topple Kim.
• Associated Press: U.S. may send Patriot missile to Lithuania amid Moscow threat..

"Judgment of America?"

First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire.

This will be their argument: "Jesus promised to come back, did He?"

"Then where is He? Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created."

They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of His command, and He brought the earth up from the water and surrounded it with water.

The He used the water to destroy the world with a mighty flood.

...The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise to return, as some people think.

No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent.

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.

Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment (2 Peter 3:3-6).

"God's judgment is coming to America and it's going to be ugly," says Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Rev. Billy Graham.

"This past spring, Joel Rosenberg and I taught through the Book of Joel as we led a prophecy seminar...It was my privilege to give the first two messages that covered Joel 1:1 through Joel 2:17. The impact on me was profound.

"Both times, when I stepped off the platform, I knew God had spoken. The messages almost made the hair stand up on the back of my neck," she said. 

"Why? Because God was clearly warning that His judgment is coming on America and on our world and it's going to be ugly. I knew it then, and I know it now," Graham Lotz contends.

click  for more on Graham Lotz's warning...

A wise woman once said: "Institutions will collapse. Banks will close. The stock market will plunge. Government in America at every level will disintegrate...it's time to cry out to the Lord."  -- Anne Graham Lotz

"Watch out! Don't let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep a constant watch. And pray that, if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36).

"Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to Me again. Unless you do, I will come upon you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief" (Revelation 3:3).

Not sure you're ready? click here

News:

• The Washington Free Beacon: Russian Nuclear Bombers Intercepted 39 Miles Off California Coast; Pilots Issued Veiled Threat, according to Defense officials
• DEBKAfile: Iran Violates Nuclear Accord Signed Earlier This Month; Buys 100 Russian Refueling Aircraft in Defiance of Arms Embargo.
• L I News: Iran's Supreme Leader Taunts U.S. & Israel on Social Media

"What are the Signs of His Coming?"

Christian author and founder of  The Berean Call , Dave Hunt, died last week. He left behind a legacy of expert scholarship, impeccable research, and a wide variety of in-depth studies we can all benefit from. He also left us with a couple of warnings:

• "There are two solemn and related warnings which Christ gave concerning His coming again. First of all, He repeatedly and earnestly declared that He was coming very soon and should be expected at any moment. That He hasn't come in more than 1900 years, far from discrediting that promise, makes it all the more urgent that we heed it in our day. By heaven's reckoning, Christ has been gone a very short time; and His coming is nearer now than it ever was."

• "Secondly, He warned us about preoccupation with the things of this life. Christ knew the attraction which the pleasures and ambitions of this world, wicked though we realize it to be, can have for each of us. So He warned us that unless we kept the thoughts of His return fresh in our hearts at all times, we would be caught by surprise at His coming."

Dave Hunt was adamant about the fact that there are no signs for the rapture of the church. Not even one. There is absolutely nothing that must proceed it. Jesus said that He would come like a thief: "At such an hour as you think not" (Luke 12:40). Some translations say He's coming when you least expect Him. There are at least twenty warnings in the Bible telling us to watch, be ready, and stay awake.

Why? Because complacency is human nature. Remember the parable of the 10 bridesmaids in Matthew 25? "When the bridegroom was delayed, they all lay down and slept" (emphasis added).

The world is asleep right now and sadly, so is the church. And yet:

• Israel is back in the land (Ezekiel 37:21)
• surrounded by enemies (Psalm 83)
• Iran and Russia have a military alliance for the first time in history (Ezekiel 38:5)
• technology has advanced to the degree that everything predicted in the Scripture is possible for the first time in history (Revelation 13)
• the financial world is sagging under its debt load (Revelation 6:5-6; James 5:1-3)
• sin is rampant; deception everywhere (Matthew 24:9)
• everything has gone super sized (i.e. earthquakes, storms, tsunamis, etc.) (Luke 21:25-26)

People--these are signs for the Tribulation and the Second Coming, not the Rapture, two distinct events that take place 7 years apart.

No one knows the day or the hour of the Rapture, but once it comes (when we least expect it) the Second Coming can be calculated to the very day. Everything hinges upon the Rapture because it is the kickoff of the last 7 years as detailed in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 9:20-27).

Jesus said, "Watch out! Don't let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep a constant watch. And pray that, if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36).

Why did Jesus warn us to keep a constant watch? Because the signs of the Tribulation will all be there in the distance for anyone who is aware and watching to see. For those who are not watching it will be "business as usual right up until the hour when the Son of Man returns" (Luke 17:30).

"So keep a sharp lookout! Don't let Him find you sleeping when He arrives without warning. What I say to you I say to everyone: Watch for His return!" (Mark 13:35-37).

A wise man once said: "How close are we? Christ could come at any moment--before I finish writing this page, or before you finish reading it. Does that thought bring joy or regret--perhaps even fear? The honest answer to that vital question reveals one's spiritual condition and the measure of one's love for Him." -- Dave Hunt (1926-2013)

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News:

• World News Now: North Korea fuels ballistic Musudan missile with a range of 2,175 miles putting U.S. bases within reach. U.S. and Seoul on emergency threat level WatchCon2, one step away from war.
• Yahoo News: 'Devastating' quake strikes near Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant, kills 37 and injures 870
• U.S. News: Massive storms and giant tornadoes rip through Midwest leveling homes and causing power outages, 1 death and many injuries
• Bloomberg: Distrust of Federal Reserve and concern that U.S. dollars may become worthless, fuel push in more than a dozen states to recognize gold and silver coins as legal tender
• Drudge Report: ACLU accusing IRS of reading taxpayers personal emails without warrant
• Fox News Channel: Maryland to enforce "rain tax" on homeowners, charging them for rainwater runoff each time it rains; states finding ways to raise revenues through new taxes and fees