"Are Current Signs in the Sun, Moon, Stars Relevant?"

"I've been a solar physicist for 30 years, and I've never seen anything quite like this," says space physicist Richard Harrison.

And as Head of Space Physics at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, England--he should know.

What's he seeing?

A strangely quiet sun.

"If you want to go back to see when the sun was this inactive...you've got to go back 100 years."

Solar activity waxes (a solar maximum) and wanes (solar minimum) on an 11-year cycle.

And though the sun should be at its very maximum of activity right now--it isn't.

Instead of bursting with flares and exploding with coronal mass ejections, or even just teeming with sunspots...we've got almost nothing. Nada. Zilch.

It appears our sun is sleeping.

That's right, folks. Apart from the occasional flare or two, this sun has slept through almost 2 cycles.

"It's completely taken me and many other solar scientists by surprise," says Dr. Lucie Green of London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory.

Mike Lockwood, Professor of Space Environment Physics at the University of Redding, believes there's a significant chance the sun could become increasingly quiet.

The implications? No one knows for sure. Scientists are baffled, with opinions ranging from "expecting a little Ice Age to "not a big deal."

And then we have those spooky Blood Moons everyone is hyped-up about.

"Usually, lunar eclipses come in no particular order," NASA says. "A partial can be followed by a total, followed by a penumbral (very subtle eclipse), and so on. Anything goes. Occasionally though, the sequence is more orderly. When four consecutive lunar eclipses are all 'total', the series is called a "tetrad".

And this particular tetrad (occurring 2014-2015) has the added attraction of landing on Jewish Feast Days.

Coincidence? Perhaps.  "Feast Day Eclipse: What Do They Mean?"

And finally, gang, let's not forget we have an unusual astronomical alignment due on September 23, 2017.

The constellation Virgo (the Virgin) will be clothed with the sun (the constellation will be in the sky during the day), the moon will be at her feet, and the constellation Leo will be over her head, containing 12 stars instead of Leo's usual 9 a la Revelation 12:1-2. "Blood Moon UPDATE: Revelation 12 Connection?"

The Bible tells us in the last days "there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars" (Luke 21:25).

Do we claim these current signs are the ones Luke was referring to? Nope. The timing isn't right. Those signs come immediately before the Second Coming of Christ.

But just as we see a gradual increase in deception, global unrest, earthquakes,pestilences, etc. described as "the beginning of sorrows" in Matthew 24:8, these subtle signs in the heavens may also play a role in reminding us that time is running out. Luke 21:28 goes on to say, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Jesus spoke to His disciples about the importance of watching:

"Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near."

A wise man once said: "The beginning of sorrows literally means 'birth pangs'. The earth continually has birth pangs today (Romans 8:22)...during the tribulation, these 'sorrows' will increase in intensity and frequency until Jesus returns." -Philip W. Comfort, Ph.D.

News:

• USA Today: Officials: "Up to 1K possibly exposed to measles in Arizona; people being asked to quarantine themselves."
• Drudge Report: Doctors have stopped seeing patients who refuse vaccinations...developing.
• Market Watch: 70% of American families walk a financial tightrope with "little, if any, cushion" for emergencies.

"New Bible Code?"

It's baaaaack...the Bible Code, made famous by Michael Drosnin's book with that title, has been recycled, repackaged and renamed "The Torah Codes" in a new documentary produced by director Richard Shaw.

Proponents claim secret messages supposedly encoded within the Hebrew text of the Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament) are revealed by a phenomenon known as Equidistant Letter Sequences (ELS).

Throughout history, Jewish scholars have attempted to find hidden or coded messages within the Bible's text. But with the advent of computers? Let's just say things have gone into overdrive. There's no end of amazing "secret messages" and the controversy (not to mention media-hype) that goes with them. Dangerous? Maybe. Nevertheless, authentic "Bible codes" are sprinkled throughout Scripture.For instance, the very first genealogy in Genesis is nothing short of dramatic evidence of supernatural design.

Based on the Hebrew roots of these ten names, we find the New Testament Gospel "hiding" in the first Old Testament book, Genesis 5:1-32:

• Adam = man
• Seth = appointed
• Enosh = mortal
• Cainan = sorrow
• Mahalalet = the blessed God
• Jared = shall come down
• Enoch = teaching
• Methuselah = his death shall bring
• Lamech = despairing
• Noah =  relief or comfort

Man appointed mortal sorrow, the blessed God shall come down teaching: His death shall bring (the) despairing  relief or comfort.

The book of Numbers, chapter 2 exhibits this remarkable Bible code: God instructed the ancient Israelites through His servant Moses, detailing precisely how to set up their wilderness camp. God wanted the 12 tribes arranged in four groups around the tabernacle:

• one group to the east
• one group to the west
• one group to the north
• one group to the south

Now imagine yourself in a helicopter above this camp. We've got the tabernacle in the center, surrounded by four camps stretching out in four cardinal directions. You would be looking down on the exact shape of a cross--hundreds of years before Christ!

For more amazing Bible Codes, check out our article "Does God Leave Fingerprints?"

"Remember this and consider, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying 'My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill My intention'" (Isaiah 46:8-10).

A wise man once said: "The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed; the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed." -- Chuck Missler, Bible teacher

News

• Associated Press: Russia and Iran sign new military cooperation deal Tues. to expand military ties.
• Fox News Channel: Pres. Obama will not meet with Israeli PM Netanyahu when he comes to Washington next month to address Congress; PM expected to ask for sanctions on Iran.
• Reuters: Government collapse in Yemen sparks fears of terrorist takeover. 

"Global Trends:15 Years in Advance?"

The National Intelligence Council (NIC) introduced Global Trends 2015 way back in the fall of 1999.

The purpose? To predict the future. (Yes indeedy, friends and neighbors, our tax dollars have been hard at work!) using the analysis of:

• academia
• think tanks
• the corporate world

Former CIA Director George Tenet launched this ambitious project enthusiastically declaring,

"Global Trends 2015, which takes a look at the world over the next 15 years (2000-2015) from the perspective of the national security policymaker. This is not a traditional intelligence assessment, depending on classified sources and methods. Rather, it reflects an intelligence community fully engaged with outside experts in a constructive dialogue about the future."

So far, so good. It truly is remarkably accurate (granted, they expected more global-warming than actually materialized, but at least there were no flying cars). Then...just as you think you're out of the woods...there's more.

Waaaay at the end, buried in the appendix, are four Alternative Global Futures...four Alternative Trajectories if you will.

Each scenario highlights "key uncertainties, discontinuities, and unlikely or 'wild card' events": from the use of WMDs to a global pandemic, we're sorry to say, none of these "alternative" scenarios bode well for the good guys.

But guess what gang--every one of these "wild card" events (and more) are suggested in Bible prophecy.

Like what, you ask?

Read Ezekiel 39:11-16. If that isn't describing a military protocol for burying bodies contaminated by WMD--#we'll eat our hats.

Zechariah 14:12 gives a very graphic idea of what may be the end result of using a modern weapon:

"...something so powerful and so sudden it will burn away flesh, eyes, and tongues while people are yet standing upon their feet." (from Atomic Bombs in the Bible).

Then there's Matthew 24 featuring:

• wars
• famines
• pestilences
• earthquakes

And that's just a small sample of coming attractions--time does not permit us to go into the book of Revelation or the many other prophecies detailed throughout Scripture.

Our point? If trends analysts and think tanks believe these "wild card" events are possible, how much more should we believe God's word?

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall become white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."  Isaiah 1:18

A wise man once said: "'The phrase 'Let us reason together' is a legal term.God is prepared to pardon our sins if we repent and turn to Him. He can forgive us based on the payment for sin in the death of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." -- Andrew Hill, Ph.D.

News:

• Associated Press: Russia appeals for calm as crisis forces it to cut budget amid surging inflation; country faces worst economic downturn in 15 years.
• Forbes: Layoffs Hit Oil Companies; Enormous Shock in Texas Economy Expected
• Reuters: "Global economic outlook glum despite cheaper oil," International Monetary Fund warns; nightmarish deflationary spiral may loom.

"2015 Financial Predictions"

International Business Times ran a headline Wednesday asking, "Why Economists Fear 'Nightmare' Deflation From Cheaper Oil."

Apparently in 2015 deflation is the new inflation (just as pink is the new black).

In his January Investment Outlook, financial legend Bill Gross of Janus Capital warns investors of "minus signs" at the end of 2015. "The good times are over," he predicts.

"Timing the end of an asset bull market is nearly always an impossible task, and that is one reason why most market observers don't do it," Gross writes.

"Nevertheless, there comes a time when common sense must recognize that the king has no clothes."

Financial analyst Rick Ackerman agrees that the "good times" are indeed over.

"My perspective is that of a deflationist, and it's been easy for me to see. Even though we have inflation in certain things...the much bigger picture is deflationary."

Ackerman, in an interview on USA Watchdog last week said, "We are definitely in a house of cards situation, and I haven't seen anything as obvious or logical as the energy price collapse as far as what might produce that black swan."

Wild volatility and stock market swings (up one day, down the next) should give us a clue say the experts: Call it a night, the party's over.

For most of us, sliding prices are a dream come true.

Au contraire mon fraire. "Deflation is a nightmare and is difficult to cure," warns Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital.

Last year, "the experts" were all about inflation--next year, who knows? Only God can (and does!) predict the future.

The Bible hints at a major economic restructuring. We know it's coming, but we don't know when. Are the current economic gyrations (that began 7 years ago) part of this economic paradigm shift? We'll just have to wait and see.

 To learn more..."Does the Bible Predict a Global Economic Collapse? Part 1 Part 2

The bottom line? Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:34).

A wise man once said: "We live in a financial fantasy land, and they need to continue the fantasy to prevent collapse."  -- Bill Holter, financial writer

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all else will be given to you besides."  (Matthew 6:33).

News:

• The Washington Free Beacon: Iran Activates 'Real Iron Dome' Missile Defense System while mass-producing its own fighter jets, combat drones.
• Bloomberg News: Iran-Backed Militias Get US Weapons In Spite of 'Gross Human-Rights' Violations
• CNBC: S&P 500 Erases Loss For Year as Stocks Rally For 2nd Day Following 5-Day Sell Off. 

"Top 5 Threats for 2015"

What does National Security analyst Ryan Mauro of The Clarion Project believe jihadists will try to achieve in the upcoming year?

You guessed it--nothing good.

"From manufacturing an oil crisis to Iran's nuclear aspirations and lone wolf attacks, jihadists will be looking to exploit our weaknesses."

According to Mauro, often touted as one of the brightest analysts of our time, "The West will have to contend with two lessons it taught adversaries in 2014"

1. The US negotiates with terrorists
2. The US government/private sector will cave to threats

Mauro calls this: "The Bergdahl-Sony Effect"

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was the US soldier swapped in exchanged for five high-level Taliban terrorists--a lousy deal any way you slice it. Bergdahl was a deserter and the US broke (for the very 1st time) a cardinal rule: Never negotiate with terrorists.

Mauro says, "Hollywood reinforced the dangerous appeasement when movie theaters caved to threats from hackers linked to North Korea..." Though Sony Pictures later released the film, "The Interview", the damage was already done.

"In 2015, the West's enemies will be implementing these lessons," Mauro contends.

In addition to appeasement, what has Mauro determined to be our top threats in 2015?

• Iran nukes--"The Iranian regime is using negotiations as part of a long-term strategy to develop nuclear weapons capabilities. In 2015, the West may miss the opportunity to stop them."
• War--"In 2015, the low price of oil will maximize the incentives for Iran and other hostile governments to instigate conflict." Why? In order to save their oil-dependent economies.
• Terrorists will regain safe havens--"The Islamic State terror group has expanded from Iraq and Syria into Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia." Once US forces depart Afghanistan, we can expect them to expand there as well.
• Homegrown Terror--"The unfortunate reality is that a homegrown terror attack on US soil is all but certain in 2015. The Islamic State has inspired a new generation of homegrown terrorists and a study found that the number of jihadists has doubled since 2010. The number of attacks has tripled."

"Based on these trends," Mauro concludes, "it is safe to say that Islamic terrorism will dominate the headlines throughout 2015 as it did for most of 2014."

A wise man once said: "Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. Is is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." -- William Jennings Bryan, US Secretary of State (1913-1915)

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."--(Proverbs 19:21)

News:

• Y Net News.com: 2014 Record-breaking Year for Jewish Immigration to Israel With 32% Increase
• Watchdog.org: US state, local governments face massive, growing budget gaps in 2015; could mean higher taxes
• Sputnik International News: Islamic State to Systematically Target Europe in 2015--Predicts Mid-East Expert Jean-Michael Vernochet.

"How Many Minutes Before Midnight?"

According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and their famous Doomsday Clock--it is 5 minutes before midnight.

Headlines from 2014 seem to prove their point. Consider:

• US and Russian relations have cooled to the point of a new Cold War over Moscow's perceived role in Ukraine's separatist conflict. 
• The Islamic State (ISIL) terror group is still rampaging across the Mideast, kidnapping and torturing children. ISIL has now spilled into Lebanon, close to the Israeli border.
• The Ebola outbreak has spread to multiple West African countries, affecting tens of thousands. The possibility of it spreading further cannot be ruled out.
• Cyberwars are keeping the DHS up nights. Russia is the most likely suspect behind a destructive "Trojan Horse" malware program discovered in critical US software that makes what North Korea did to Sony look like child's play.

Not to mention: international unrest in various countries, the recent racial unrest right here at home, the massive security breach that is the US border, and the ever present threat of a nuclear Iran.

In 1948, the nation of Israel was born (again) and with it many Biblical prophecies were fulfilled, each graphic, literal, and exact.

In fact, the entire Scripture is woven through and through with provable, precise prophecy in regards to God's chosen people--the Jews. (For a detailed account of those prophecies, see archived posts from July 2011: Israel: The Key to Prophecy-Part 1 Part 2

The Scriptures seem to indicate the Jews will only be back in their Land for one generation (See Matthew 24) before the return of the Messiah.

Is it possible the Atomic Scientists are correct in setting The Clock @ 5 minutes before midnight - or are they  just alarmists? You do the math.

"So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. He died for us so that we can live with Him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of His return."  (1Thess. 5:6-10)

A wise man once said: "Paul warns us that God will hold all people accountable for their attitudes and actions. So don't procrastinate. God wants us to act immediately to receive His forgiveness and power to help us change."  -- David Stoop, author

News:

• Reuters: East-West aerial confrontations heat up with Russia and China pitted against US and allied pilots on a scale not seen since Cold War Era
• AgenceFrance-Presse (AFP): Islamic State downs warplane over Syria, claims capture of Jordanian pilot
• Reuters: Japan fears North Korea cyberattack, works to secure infrastructure

"Do You Side With Satan?"

According to Pastor Ron Johnson of Community Bible Church, God came to earth with a very specific purpose, a purpose that easily gets lost in the Christmas "mythology, fables, and traditions."

"Tradition tells us that it was a silent night when all was calm and quiet."

"Not true," says Johnson. "This night God launched a full-scale attack on sin and Satan, and Satan launched a full-scale attack on Jesus and His followers. Hardly a silent night."

The big question? Whose side are we on? God's or Satan's?

"Whose side you are on is determined by your reactions to Jesus and what He came to do," says Pastor Johnson. "Every person choosing to walk in sin is choosing to side with Satan."

In other words:

It doesn't matter what we say we believe, our actions tell our true beliefs.

• Do we lie?
• View pornography?
• Get drunk?
• Do our actions support Satan?

The Bible says, "You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:16).

Jesus knows our choice by the way we live our lives. Everything we do (in public or in private) indicates our choice.

Jesus said, "Anyone who isn't with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn't working with Me is actually working against Me." (Matthew 12:30).

So, do our actions match our true beliefs? The Bible says they do.

"I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me." (Proverbs 8:17)

A wise man once said: "It's human nature to take the things Jesus died for and to make it seem like it's not that big of a deal. That's what we do when we make light of sin. What does it say about us if we proclaim Christ but side with Satan? Hypocrite." --Pastor Ron Johnson, Community Bible Church

"But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve." Joshua 24:15

News:

• Gold Core: Russia Supplies China with Hi-tech Military Hardware.
• Yahoo! Finance: Russians flock to stores to pre-empt price rises kicked off by staggering fall in the ruble.
• RT News: Pentagon confirms military buildup along Russian borders for 'peace and stability'