"Surely, the Lord GOD does nothing

unless He reveals His secret

to His servants the prophets . . ."

(Amos 3:7)

The Bible warns the darkest days of Earth’s history are yet future ...

The events will be awesome and will strike suddenly.  The events will be terrible.  An unbelieving world will be taken by surprise.  The devastation will be complete.  The devastation will be global.

The Bible is clear in its warnings . . .

Please remember, while God promises hope and an escape to the believer, there will be no hope for those who reject Him.  There will be no escape from the devastation.  Fury will be unleashed upon the world.  The fury will be relentless.  The fury will be decisive.

Prophecies are placed in the Bible for a reason.  Let’s not be held accountable for ignoring them.  Warning signs are given to help us draw near to Him for protection before the coming Apocalypse and Armageddon ...

 "But you, brethren, are not in darkness,

   so that this Day (the 'Rapture' and the coming 'Apocalypse')

   should overtake you as a thief.

   You are all sons of light and sons of the day.

   We are not of the night nor of darkness.

   Therefore let us not sleep, as others do,

   but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ"

   (1Thessalonians 5:4-6,9)

On May 14, 1948 God’s prophetic clock started ticking again, loudly.

These prophecies are important because we can now watch the news, read a book on post World War II history, or look at a current map of the world and see there is now a nation called Israel. For almost 2,500 years - starting with the Jewish captivity under Babylon, then Persia, then Greece, then Rome; and, almost 2,000 years since the birth and rejection of the Messiah, when God held the children of Israel accountable, and then, using the Roman army, scattered the people into the nations around the world - the Jews have been dispersed. A people without a nation. However, God said He would one day re-gather the children of Israel into the Land which He has given them as a nation. Through His prophets God also warned He would then judge them for profaning His holy name while scattered around the world. This prophetic re-gathering, which this generation is now seeing take place, is to serve as a sign and a warning to the world that the Apocalypse, the "Day of the Lord," draws near . . .

 "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?

   Shall the Earth be made to give birth in one day?

   Or shall a nation be born at once?

   For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children."

   (Note: This prophecy was fulfilled in one day - on May 14, 1948)

   (Isaiah 66:8)

 "He will set up a banner for the nations,

   and will assemble the outcasts of Israel,

   and gather together the dispersed of Judah

   from the four corners of the Earth."

   (Isaiah 11:12)

 "And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel,

   and say, ‘O mountains of Israel,

   hear the Word of the LORD ...’"

 "But you, O mountains of Israel,

   you shall shoot forth your branches

   and yield your fruit to My people Israel,

   for they are about to come . . ."

 "For I will take you (the children of Israel) from among the nations,

   gather you out of all countries,

   and bring you into your own Land."

   (Ezekiel 36:1, 8, 24)

 "Thus says the Lord GOD:

  ‘Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, (plural ... not Babylon)

   wherever they have gone,

   and will gather them from every side

   and bring them into their own Land;’"

   (Ezekiel 37:21)

   Year 100 AD?   "No."

   Year 500 AD?   "No."

   Year 1000 AD? "No."

   Year 1400 AD? "No."

   Year 1700 AD? "No."

   Year 1800 AD? "No."

   Year 1900 AD? "No."

   Year 1948 AD? "Yes!!!"  There it is . . . May 14, 1948!

How has the world reacted to such a profound fulfillment of Bible prophecy? A miracle that can be documented by simply looking at a map and a Bible. It has ignored it!  Just as God says most of the world will ignore the warnings of the coming Apocalypse. Remember, God uses prophecy to prove that He is who He says He is, and to authenticate the warnings and the promises found in the Bible.

 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling

   unto all the people round about . . ."

   (Zechariah 12:2)

 "And in that day will I make Jerusalem

   a burdensome stone for all people . . ."

   (Zechariah 12:3)

Watch the news anywhere in the world to see these two prophecies being fulfilled. Then ask yourself . . .

   "How many cities in the world are larger than Jerusalem?"

   "How frequently do these other cities make world news?"

   "Do these other cities tremble with so much anger as Jerusalem?"

Through these prophetic verses, God is telling us that He is the one who is making Jerusalem such a trouble spot today.

God sends an ominous warning to the generation which witnesses the re-gathering of Israel in the Land . . .

Jesus warns,

 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree (Israel):"

 "When its branch has already become tender

   and puts forth leaves, (Israel re-gathering in the land)

   you know that summer is near.

   Also, when you see all these things,

   know that it is near-- at the doors!

   Assuredly, I say to you, this generation

   (Mark 13:28-30 - also see Matt 24:32-34, Luke 21:29-33)

Let’s take a closer look at these important verses in order to get a better sense of the significance of what the Lord is trying to tell us, or more importantly what He is trying to warn us about . . .

1. Jesus says - "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:"

There are several places in the Bible where God uses the fig tree as an idiom for Israel.

2. "When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near."

"And puts forth leaves . . . "  This refers to Israel being re-gathered in the Land.  This is a parable, so Jesus is painting a "word picture."  The verses in Ezekiel 36-37 help us out by explaining to us that "shooting forth its branches" refers to Israel being re-gathered into the Land.  Like a tree in winter, Israel has been lying dormant for about 2,000 years, looking dead and barren to the world.  Then, in May of 1948 it sprang back to life and like the re-birth of a tree in springtime started "shooting forth its branches" . . .

 "And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel,

   and say, ‘O mountains of Israel,

   hear the word of the LORD ...’"

 "But you, O mountains of Israel,

   you shall shoot forth your branches

   and yield your fruit to My people Israel,

   for they are about to come . . .

   For I will take you (the children of Israel) from among the nations,

   gather you out of all countries,

   and bring you into your own Land."

   (Ezekiel 36:1, 8, 24)

We can now watch "its branch become tender and put forth leaves" as Israel has begun to prosper. Miraculously, this tiny nation of Israel is today one of the largest exporters of fruit and flowers in the world. Jesus is warning us that when we see these things, we should know that "summer is near," meaning we are close to His return, and that awesome and terrifying "final harvest," which prophet after prophet has cried out and warned against will soon be upon us.

3. "Also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-- at the doors!"

Can’t you sense the urgency in His voice? We cannot comprehend the global destruction which will someday soon sweep across this world. Jesus gives these warnings because we are told that those who are alive and wait for Him in faith will be pulled out or "raptured" just before God’s wrath is poured out on a violent and unbelieving world.

4. "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away"

   Q. Which generation?

   A. The generation that sees Israel re-gathering back in the Land.

   Q. Well, isn’t that generation alive today?

   A. I think so.

   Q. How long is a generation?

   A. I really don’t know, but God answers most questions. Let’s look at a couple of verses from Psalm 90, which is provocative in that it is the only Psalm written by Moses and seems to come out of nowhere . . .

 "The days of our lives are SEVENTY years;

   And if by reason of strength they are eighty years . . .

   who knows the power of Your anger?"

   (Psalm 90:10,11)   (The average life span in the world has now risen to 69 years...and to 80 years in Israel.)

Is then the fullness of a generation 70 - 80 years?  Did a prophetic countdown start with the Nation in 1948, or when Israel regained control over their capital city of Jerusalem in 1967?  We don’t know. 

We are simply warned to "Watch!"  The Bible gives us many warning signs so we will know when we are getting close.  Yet, we will never know the day nor the hour.  However, "this generation" which mocks God and His Word will someday soon know "the power of His anger . . ."

5. "Till all these things take place."

"All these things" means everything the Bible warns will happen including the Rapture, the Apocalypse, Armageddon ... and Messiah's return.

As we will see in these next prophecies, God goes out of His way to tell us a lot about the generation who will be alive at the time of the Apocalypse. God wants us to know and to recognize the generation. God wants us to refuse to blindly follow that generation who will pull the world down into their darkness and into the awesome and terrifying "day of the Lord," also called the Apocalypse and the Great Tribulation . . .

 "But know this, that in the last days

   perilous (savage, fierce) times will come,

   for men will be

   lovers of themselves,

   lovers of money

   boasters,

   proud,

   blasphemers  (mocking God and Jesus Christ ... Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew)

   disobedient to parents

   unthankful

   unholy,

   unloving,

   unforgiving

   slanderers,

   without self-control

   violent (brutal)

   despisers of good

   traitors,

   headstrong

   arrogant (haughty)

   lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

   having a form of godliness  (professing a belief in a 'god')

   but denying its power.

   And from such people turn away (shun, avoid)!"

   (2 Tim 3:1-5)

 "There is a generation that curses its father,

   and does not bless its mother.

   There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,

   yet is not washed from its filthiness."

   (Proverbs 30:11-12)

God also provides prophetic insights into the mood and the attitudes of those who will be found living "in the last days" . . .

 "Knowing this first:

   that scoffers will come in the last days,

   walking according to their own lusts,

   and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?

   For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue on

   as they were from the beginning of creation.’"

   (2 Peter 3:3-4)

1. "Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days,

"The generation" will ridicule those who take the warnings of the Bible seriously and wait in faith. What will people "scoff" at? What events constitute "the promise of His coming?"  The world will scoff at those who believe . . .

  -  God will once again intervene and demonstrate His power over a world which denies Him, mocks His law, and rejects His grace.

  -  Jesus, the Messiah, will return suddenly "as a thief in the night" to safely remove those who believe in Him, to shelter them from the carnage and devastation that will sweep across the globe sometime thereafter.

  -  Jesus, the Messiah, will return a second time at the end of the Tribulation, restoring the Earth in innocence and purity, and to establish His Kingdom on Earth . . . a Kingdom of peace and beauty.

2. "Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days ...

The generation of the Apocalypse will blindly believe life will simply "evolve" and continue on as always. The prophet Isaiah offers even more insight into this attitude which will help identify the generation of the Apocalypse . . .

 "Come, one says, I will bring wine,

   and we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink;

(The philosophy of our generation and the path of destruction.)

However, through the Apostle Peter, God does graciously answer those who sincerely ask, "Where is the promise of His coming?" or, "It’s been 2000 years, why hasn’t He returned yet?"

 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,

   as some count slackness, but is longsuffering (patient) toward us,

   not willing that any should perish

   but that all should come to repentance."

   (2 Peter 3:9)

God is patient. We are told He has waited this long because He loves us and wants us to repent, which simply means to change and turn back to Him and His ways, which are good. He is filled with patience, forgiveness, and mercy. He will protect and shelter all who will draw close to Him before the coming time of trouble. He warns us through prophecy so we will realize how perilously close we are to the end. He wants us to realize how far from Him and His protection we have wandered, and to run back to Him as we sense the danger we are in.

 Jesus warns,

 "But as the days of Noah were,

   so also will the coming of the Son of Man be . . ."

   (Matthew 24:37)

   and the Earth was filled with violence.     (the Hebrew word used for "violence" was ''hamas")

   So God looked upon the Earth, and indeed it was corrupt;

   for all flesh had corrupted their way on the Earth.

   And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me,

   for the Earth is filled with violence through them;

   and behold, I will destroy them with the Earth.’"

   (Genesis 6:11-13)

Jesus warns,

 "But as the days of Noah were,

   so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."

 "For as in the days before the flood,

   they were eating and drinking,

   marrying and giving in marriage,

   until the day that Noah entered the ark,

   and did not know until the flood came and took them all away,

   so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."

   (Matthew 24:39)     (The coming Apocalypse will strike suddenly and decisively.)

 "But know this,

   that in the last days perilous times will come . . .

   Evil men and impostors (seducers)

   will grow worse and worse,

   deceiving (lying) and being deceived."

   (2 Timothy 3:1, 13)

The Scriptures tell us God cannot lie and He hates all liars. God says truth is non-negotiable and is fundamental to His law. In the past, liars and perjurers were dealt with harshly and severely. Today we see lying casually accepted and even presented as funny or harmless. In God’s eyes, elected leaders of a democracy are mirrors which reflect the people who elected them and willingly keep them in office. As noted, telling the truth is fundamental to God’s law. In the Bible we find when a nation and its leader(s) defiantly mock, ignore, and turn their backs on God’s law, God will turn His back on that nation and remove His protection and blessings from that people. God help us. The future of that people and nation is usually very, very grim. The other distressing thing found in this prophecy is God warning us the deception and lying will continue to grow even worse and worse. The leaders of "this generation" will not only disobey and ignore God’s laws but will even brand God’s laws as "intolerant" and will somehow twist obedience to God’s laws into "hate." Just watch.

The following verses are taken from a remarkable portion of Scripture found in the Gospels where Jesus sits down with four of His disciples and provides them (and us) with a sweeping outline of the future, in prophecy, as reported in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. This prophetic briefing is called the "Olivet Discourse" because it takes place on the Mount of Olives. Jesus hurtles us through time from the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. to His final return as the Christ, Lord of lords and King of kings, to establish His just rule on Earth.

Four disciples ask about the future . . .

 "Now as He (Jesus) sat on the Mount of Olives,

   the disciples came to Him privately, saying,

 ‘Tell us, when will these things be?’

   And ‘What will be the sign of Your coming,

   and of the end of the Age?’"

   (Matthew 24:3)

Here we find the sweeping scope of the prophecies Jesus is about to reveal. As we study this verse, we find there will be three specific divisions of the future addressed:

1. "Tell us, when will these things be?"

This question refers to the prophecy Jesus had just given concerning the destruction of the Temple (Matt 24:2). We find the prophecies which answer this question reported and outlined in Luke’s report of this prophetic discourse (Luke 19:41-44).

2. "And what will be the sign of Your coming"

This question refers to the signs which will be given and the events which would take place before He returns for His church, "as a thief in the night," sometimes called the "Rapture," in order to shelter and protect those who believe in Him and still wait for Him in faith from those awesome and terrible events which will strike the world during that coming period of time Jesus calls the "Great Tribulation." It is this portion of prophecy we are reviewing in this section.

3. "And of the end of the age?"

This question refers to the signs and events which would take place before Jesus returns the second time, not as a "thief in the night," but when every eye "will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." These will be the signs and events that will take place during that period of time Jesus calls the "Great Tribulation." This upcoming period of time called the "Great Tribulation" is given many names in the Bible and refers to the awesome events which will take place during a 3½ year period of time which represents the last half of a very specific 7 year period of time also known as the prophetic 70^th Week of Daniel (a week of years = 7 years. See Daniel 9:24-). In the Book of Revelation (also known as the Book of the Apocalypse), John lists and details the awesome and terrible events which will strike suddenly and sweep over the Earth. The 7 years will start with a man who will rise to power first over Europe and then over the whole world. This coming world leader (the Anti-christ) will enforce some treaty with Israel for a period of 7 years. Halfway through his enforcement of this treaty, or exactly 3½ years later (using prophetic 360 day years), this "man" (who will perform miracles and will be looked at by the world as the Messiah) will stand in the holiest place or room in a new Jewish Temple which will be built in Jerusalem and command that the world worship him as God. This event is technically and prophetically called the "abomination of desolation," and at that moment God will begin to pour out His wrath on an arrogant, unbelieving, and violent world, night and day, for exactly 3½ years, or exactly 1,260 days, during which most of the world will be utterly destroyed, "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved." After all these things take place, Jesus, the true Messiah (Christ), will then return.

 "And Jesus answered and said to them:

  'Take heed that no one deceives you.

   For many will come in My name,

   saying, ‘I am the Christ (Messiah),’and will deceive many.

   And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.

   See that you are not troubled;

   for all these things must come to pass,

   but the end is not yet.

   For nation (ethnos) will rise against nation (ethnos),

   and kingdom against kingdom.

   And there will be famines, pestilences,

   and earthquakes in various places.

   All these are the beginning of sorrows (birth pangs)."

   (Matthew 24:4-8)

This portion of Jesus’ prophetic discourse reveals the signs and events which will lead up to His sudden return for His church, "as a thief in the night," sometimes called the "Rapture," to remove and shelter those who believe in Him and still wait for Him in faith from those awesome and terrible events which will sometime thereafter strike and engulf the world.

Jesus warns of global "birth pangs" before the Apocalypse . . .

1. And Jesus answered and said to them:

     saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many."

   Jesus warns we will see cults and false messiahs . . . increasing.

2. "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.

   There will be no lasting peace until Jesus, the Messiah, returns.

3. "For nation will rise against nation,"

The actual word used in the Greek which was translated "nation" was "ethnos," from which we get our word "ethnic." Jesus is warning us we will see ethnic tension and violence . . . increasing.

4. "And kingdom against kingdom."

We will see small and large wars around the globe . . . increasing.

5. "And there will be famines,"

We will see hunger, starvation, and famines . . . increasing.

6. "Pestilences (deadly diseases),"

We will see the spread of deadly diseases . . . increasing.

7. "And earthquakes in various places."

We will see the number of global earthquakes . . . increasing.

8. "All these are the beginning of sorrows."

The word translated "sorrows" actually means "birth pangs."

So, although the world has always had false messiahs, cults, wars, ethnic violence and strife, starvation, disease, epidemics, and earthquakes, Jesus tells us that as a sign that we are entering into the last days we will see each of these increase in frequency and size. Described as "birth pangs," these "pains" will continue to grow worse and worse, coming closer and closer together, as signs we are preparing to enter the Apocalypse . . .

Jesus warns,

 "For then there will be great tribulation,

   such as has not been

   since the beginning of the world until this time,

   no, nor ever shall be.

   no flesh would be saved;"

   (Matthew 24:21-22)

Jesus tells us that never in the history of Mankind has there been anything as terrible on Earth as the coming Apocalypse, the "Great Tribulation" - only a small remnant of the world will survive.

The Scriptures say there will be no lasting peace until Messiah returns.

 "For you yourselves know perfectly

   that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

   For when they say, "Peace and safety!"

   then sudden destruction comes upon them,

   as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.

   And they (Israel and the nations of the world) shall not escape.

   But you, brethren (believing Christians),

   are not in darkness,

   so that this Day should overtake you as a thief."

   (1 Thessalonians 5:2-11)

He expects us to be alert, aware, and recognize the warning signs.

Jesus warns,

 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.

   I could wish you were cold or hot.

   So then, because you are lukewarm,

   Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy,

   and have need of nothing’--

   and do not know that you are wretched,

   miserable, poor, blind, and naked . . .

   And he who has an ear let him hear."

   (Revelation 3:15-17, 22)

 "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you

   concerning our common salvation,

   I found it necessary (compelled) to write to you

   exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith

   which was once for all delivered to the saints.

   For certain men have crept in unnoticed, (church leaders)

   ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness . . .

   (who will ignore, change, or deny God’s law to appease the world)

   But I want to remind you, though you once knew this,

   that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt,

   afterward destroyed those who did not believe."

   (Jude 1:3-6)

   (Never confuse God’s patience with approval)

 "Now the Spirit expressly says

   that in latter times some (religious leaders)

   will depart from the faith,

   giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

   speaking lies in hypocrisy,

   having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

   which God created to be received with thanksgiving

   by those who believe and know the truth."

   (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

 "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him

   who called you in the grace of Christ,

   to a different gospel, which is not another;

   but there are some who trouble you

   and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

   But even if we, or an angel from heaven,

   preach any other gospel to you

   than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

   As we have said before, so now I say again,

   if anyone preaches any other gospel to you

   than what you have received, let him be accursed."

   (Galatians 1:6-9)

 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

   And because lawlessness (sin) will abound,

   the love of many (for Christ) will grow cold."

   (Matthew 24:11-12)

   And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world

   as a witness to all the nations, and then, the end will come."

   (Matthew 24:13-14)

There are religions today who teach they must convert the world "by the sword," even using terror. It is important to note that God, the true God of Abraham and Isaac, never forces Himself on anyone. Never in the Bible does Jesus Christ try to force anybody to believe in Him or to attend His church. Jesus simply says that He "Stands at the door and knocks." We have to open that door. God tells us that He has given each and every man and woman a free will to decide for themselves whether or not to accept His Offer of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. He clearly outlines the choice, and sincerely warns us of the consequences. It is a personal decision. God says that He looks at each man and woman’s heart to see if they are sincere in their belief. Christ is looking for people to come to Him out of love. If a man or woman ever decides not to believe in Jesus, that is their choice. It saddens God for He knows what their destiny will be after they die. But, never does He ask others to force a non-believer to return, or try to force them into believing through threats of injury or death. God shows us the only places we will find these coercive conversion tactics are from those who are driven by a depraved spirit and the dark power of Satan. God says the Bible is His Word. The Bible says God cannot lie and God says He will never change. The Bible has withstood the test of time. God challenges every religious system to hold the words of their books, their leaders, their founders, their prophets and their angels up to the light of truth. God welcomes all to search His Scriptures and try to find error, contradictions, or lies. He also includes many, many prophecies to authenticate His Word ...

If you belong to a religion, or church, that follows a prophet or worships a god who is so small and insecure that he would have people threatened with death if they criticize or refuse to join, and will threaten people with death or bodily harm if they decide to leave through their own free will, then flee! If you follow a religion or belong to a church that is afraid to hold the people who founded the religion or the words they spoke and the books they ask you to believe, up to the light of truth, then flee! God’s warning to the non-believer is clear. But God also tells us clearly that we are not to judge others, for they will be judged by Him after our earthly bodies die. God looks directly into the heart of each man and woman to see what each truly believes. Only a strange, twisted, paranoid religion, driven by the dark and evil powers of Satan himself would ever rape, torture, kill, imprison, beat, kidnap, behead, bomb, burn alive, or harm people in any way as a means to convert or to force people into joining, or staying, in their religion. The god of that religion is not, and never has been, the God of Abraham. Any religion that would do these things is not lead by the Holy Spirit of God. It is a religion of darkness. It is a religion of evil, twisted, wicked men, directed and lead by the power of Satan.

Many blessings are promised in Heaven to those who withstand such religions and suffer or die in their faith for doing so. Remember, Christianity is a relationship with God and Jesus . . . not a religion.

We are told through the prophet Ezekiel that God has not re-gathered the Jews in their Land because they deserve it, but because God’s name and His Word are at stake. This means He is doing it because He said He would do it.  The Bible warns us Israel is being re-gathered for punishment and for judgment.  However, God also warns the rest of the world will not go unpunished (see the prophecies of Armageddon). God explains that while the Jews have been scattered and dispersed among the nations, they have profaned His Holy name and have rebelled against His laws . . .

 "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land,

   they defiled it by their own ways and deeds;

   to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman

   in her customary impurity.

   Therefore I poured out My fury on them

   for the blood they had shed on the land,

   and for their idols with which they had defiled it.

   I judged them according to their ways and their deeds.

   (this prophecy was fulfilled around 70 A.D.)

   When they came to the nations, wherever they went,

   they profaned My Holy Name--

   when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD,

   and yet they have gone out of His Land.’  (Israel)

   But I (God) had concern for My Holy Name,

   which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations

   wherever they went."

 "Therefore say to the house of Israel,

   Thus says the Lord GOD:

  ‘I do not do this (re-gather Israel in the Land) for your sake,

   O house of Israel, but for MY Holy Name's sake,

   which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.

   (Ezekiel 36:17-23)

 "And you shall not let any of your descendants (children)

   pass through the fire to Molech,

   Nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

   You shall not lie with a male as with a woman.

   It is an abomination."

1. Abortion. Passing descendants (babies) "through the fire". . .  

Do a study of Molech and "passing children through the fire" in the Bible and you will find they refer to sacrificing babies for pleasure and convenience. Today we call this baby sacrifice "abortion." In ancient days people would place a small statue in a fire until the arms of the statue turned red hot and started to glow. Then, an unwanted baby would "pass through the fire" by having the priest (doctor) place the small baby on the glowing arms in the fire in order to kill, or "offer" this unwanted baby to Molech, the "god" of pleasure (convenience is a form of pleasure). Although our methods and technology have changed, the result and the intent are the same - abortion is sacrificing a baby to a god of pleasure and convenience. If you study this abomination and profane activity of abortion - "passing children through the fire" (worshiping Molech) in the Bible, you will find it not only incites and angers God, but it also deeply affects and grieves Him . . .

 "Were your acts of harlotry a small matter,

   that you have slain My children

   (notice God looks upon these little, slain, babies as His!)

   and offered them up to them (to other gods)

   by causing them to pass through the fire?"

   (Ezekiel 16:20-21)

   (Choosing to worship another god is the choice in "pro-choice")

2. Homosexuality. Men lying with men as a woman.

The Bible is not ambiguous in its message concerning homosexuality. God never judges anybody or calls for capital punishment against anything that is simply "genetic." God never calls anything "profane" or an "abomination" if it is a genetic defect. Homosexuality is not new. When we study the passages concerning Sodom and Gomorrah, it appears homosexuality, or sodomy, is symptomatic of a people who have willfully rejected and defiantly mock God’s laws in order to do "that which is right in their own eyes." Sodom and Gomorrah are given as warnings.

Please remember, our God is a forgiving God who will forgive any and all who have sinned against Him. Any sinner, including those who have walked the path of homosexuality or have had an abortion, can be lovingly forgiven and washed clean through the blood of the Lamb. Jesus died for all sinners. And we are all sinners. God hates the sin, but He loves and cares for the sinner. He pleads with all of His lost sheep to stop and repent from doing those things that are wrong, and with tears of joy He will richly forgive and welcome all back with the open arms of a loving Father.

The reason it is important to take such a long look at these verses is because this generation is unique in making homosexuality and abortion their issue. In the Bible, God says these activities are wrong. This generation says God is wrong. So, in order to approve of or accept these things, one must deny God. The prophets warned we would see a generation rise who would do just this. While most of us would simply like to ignore these things, we can’t. Incredibly, special rights are being proposed which would lift these groups above the average citizen. When we look at those who advocate and promote these activities, we even find many who call themselves Jewish and Christian at the forefront, angrily accusing anyone who believes these activities are wrong of being filled with "hate" or "intolerance." The homosexual movement has risen to become one of the most powerful forces in this nation. Look at the spreading AIDS epidemic. AIDS is the first politically protected contagious and fatal disease in the history of this nation. Who is protecting the civil rights and the safety of the uninfected? Although our heart goes out to those who are sick, and they must be cared for, we must also protect the uninfected. Laws which were passed in earlier generations to protect against deadly and infectious diseases are being ignored. This generation is lifting up powerful judges over this land, even at the highest level, who willfully promote and advocate homosexuality and abortion - activities which the God of the Bible, the God of Israel Himself, calls "abominable," and "profane," as they hand down judgments which are in direct opposition to God’s law. In this generation we find church leaders allowing practicing homosexuals to be ordained as shepherds over their flocks, and powerful Jewish leaders loudly promoting abortion. As we just read in Ezekiel, God is aware and conscious of these things. Not since the deepest depravity of Ancient Rome has a single generation so mocked and ignored God’s laws and warnings in such a willful and disobedient way. Our God is a forgiving God, but we sadly find He will turn His back on a nation and a people who have turned their backs on Him. The prophets warned we would see this willful disregard for God’s laws, which the Bible calls "lawlessness," as we quickly approach the Apocalypse.

 "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against

   all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men . . .

   For even their women exchanged the natural use

   for what is against nature (lesbianism).

   Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,

   burning in their lust for one another,

   men with men committing what is shameful (homosexuality) . . .

   that those who practice these things

   are worthy of death  (thanatos - includes HELL which the Bible warns is the "second" death.)

   not only those who do the same but

   also APPROVE of those who practice them!"

   (Romans 1:18, 26, 27, 32)

   (Note: Many other offenses are listed in addition to those listed here.)

As with any sin, there are people caught up in these activities who are struggling in their effort to stop and to change.  We, as Christians, are to love them and help them in any way we can.  We are all sinners.

   who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;"

   (Isaiah 5:20)   ("Woe is a terrible, terrible curse.)

 "Then Jesus called a little child to Him,

   set him in the midst of them, and said,

  ‘Assuredly, I say to you,

   unless you are converted and become as little children,

   you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

   Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child

   is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

   Whoever receives one little child like this in My Name receives Me.

   But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin,

   it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around

   his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

   Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come,

   but woe to that man (or woman) by whom the offense comes!"

   (Matthew 18:2-7) 

   If anyone loves the world,

   the love of the Father is not in him.

   For all that is in the world--

   the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --

   is not of the Father, but is of the world."

   (1 John 2:15-16)

 "Do you not know that friendship with the world

   is enmity with God?

   Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world

   makes himself an enemy of God."

   (James 4:4)

The world is powerful. It despises the Cross. "The world" can be seen and heard 7 days a week, 24 hours a day on CNN, MTV, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, HBO, Time Warner, Buena Vista (Disney) Pictures, etc, etc, etc, speaking through the shows we watch, the music we hear, and the things we read. The world speaks powerfully from the Media centers of Hollywood, New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, and others. A deadly spiritual virus flows from these centers and infects all that it touches. It blinds and numbs our soul. The only inoculation against this deadly virus is through the blood on the Cross. We can open the door of our hearts and invite Jesus Christ into our lives, allowing the innocence, the goodness, the honesty, and the purity of His word and spirit to flow through our veins. He is our only protection.

Sadly, most of us are no longer taught in many of our churches or synagogues to discern, or even care to discern good from evil. It’s tough. Movies, television, music, magazines, and newspapers are all a major part of our lives. These are the new pulpits and podiums of the world. Each can powerfully change, shape, and form our attitudes and beliefs, yet we are seldomly allowed to see or get to know the people who actually create the characters and write the words . . .

Watch television, read a newspaper, read a book, watch a movie. When you finish, think back to which character, group, or person you were told, taught, or directed to like, approve of, or feel sorry for, and then think back to the character, group, or person you were left hating, disliking, or disapproving of. Ask your children which character they thought was good and which character they thought was evil, or which character they would like to be like. Now, consider and look at how the writer, actor, or director, subtly shaded, lighted, and presented each character. A month from now will you remember, or will your children remember, that the evil character was a "reverend of the cult of celestial ..." or will your children only remember that the wicked, evil character looked like a church minister wearing a red or white collar on his neck. Watch where the director places a Cross in a scene, or how each person who prays or quotes Scripture is depicted. Watch for "miracles" such as a "virgin birth" or Biblical "plagues" in a movie. Who are we left believing performed these miracles? As with Eve in the Garden, many things which are seductively offered to entertain us and are "pleasant to the eyes" will attack our faith in God, the Bible, and Jesus by subtly planting seeds of doubt or confusion. Our thoughts, our beliefs, our likes, and our dislikes are dictated by that which we see, hear, watch, and read, and how each idea, character, or belief is presented. This is why an advertiser will pay millions of dollars for only a few seconds of "air time" during a Super Bowl. In just a few seconds they know they can effectively begin to subconsciously direct our likes and dislikes. One powerful tactic in "mind manipulation" is to use a person who appears wise, attractive, funny, or popular as the spokesperson. Another powerful tactic is to add "children" to a photo, a message, or a cause. Associating children with a person or cause is a widely used method of manipulating public opinion. Another successful tactic is to find a spokesperson who is angry, loud, or shrill - a person who will mock, ridicule, and interrupt anyone whose ideas they fear and whose ideas they cannot compete with, in truth. These tactics are very effective in manipulating the minds of the audience. Also, the younger the audience is, the more vulnerable they are to such powerful psychological manipulation. The most transparent and subtle attacks on your opinions and beliefs are the most powerful and effective. This is why so many things which the Bible says are wrong and against God’s law are now casually accepted and even promoted as good. You or your children can easily be de-sensitized to even the worst evil if it is presented in the right way. Look again at the characters in your last movie, television show, book, or news broadcast, and see who was lifted up as good or smart and who was cast as evil, or ridiculed. Consider how subtly, artfully, and effectively the characters were cast, portrayed, and presented to you. Now, consider sincere Christians, who simply believe in Jesus Christ and are taught to do their best to respect and obey God’s laws. How is the Christian portrayed in your movie, television show, book, or news broadcast? The Bible warns that Satan, who is also called "the prince of the power of the air," will plant seeds of hate and doubt into your mind whenever and wherever he has a chance. It works!!! Just say the words "Jesus Christ" or "born again Christian" and see how you feel inside. Has the world successfully made you feel ashamed, unwelcome, afraid, or embarrassed to be called a Christian?

Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) warns believing Christians will be hated ...

 "If the world hates you,

   If you were of the world, the world would love its own.

   Yet because you are not of the world,

   but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

   (John 15:18-19)

We can now see the separation between believing Christians and "the world," including the rapidly changing definition and division of "church and state," gaining momentum every day.  Events will take place that will be unjustly blamed on Christians and laws will be passed with deceptive names and titles which will come down hard, very hard on anybody who will stand firm in their faith and stand firm in their obedience to the Bible and God’s law.  The mocking and ridicule of believing Christians will continue to heighten to higher levels of vehemence and frenzy until someday soon when it will take a much darker, and violent turn . . .

The Lord has clearly warned us. He warned there would be a generation who will pull the world down into their darkness. He says if we turn from our arrogance and stop worshiping and casually accepting the violence, lies, gross immorality, greed, and selfishness; and if we simply return to Him and His ways, which are good, with a sincere and humbled heart, He will relent and withhold that which is about to strike the Earth . . .

 "If my people, which are called by my name,

   shall humble themselves,

   then will I hear from heaven,

   and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

   (2 Chronicles 7:14)

There is a day and an hour

   I have been still and restrained Myself. (God’s patience will end)

   I will lay waste the mountains and hills"

   (Isaiah 42:14-15)

   I will halt the arrogance of the proud"

   (Isaiah 13:11)

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for not knowing and for blindly ignoring the prophecies.

 "He (Jesus) answered and said to them (religious leaders),

 "When it is evening you say,

  ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red;’

   and in the morning,

  ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’

   Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky,

   but you cannot discern the signs of the times."

   (Matthew 16:2-4)

 "When you see all these things,

   know that it is near -- at the very doors!"

   (Matthew 24:33)

 "And what I say to you, I say to all: WATCH!"

   (Mark 13:37)

 "When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’

   and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked

   from his wicked way, to save his life,

   that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity (sin);

   but his blood I will require at your hand.

 "Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn

   from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way,

   he shall die in his iniquity;

   but you have delivered your soul.

 "Again, when a righteous man

   turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity,

   and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die;

   because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin,

   and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered;

   but his blood I will require at your hand.

 "Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man

   that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin,

   he shall surely live because he took warning;

   also you will have delivered your soul."

   (Ezekiel 3:18-21)

 "When I (God) bring the sword upon a land,

   and the people of the land take a man from their territory

   and make him their watchman,

   when he sees the sword coming upon the land,

   if he blows the trumpet and warns the people,

   then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet

   and does not take warning,

   if the sword comes and takes him away,

   his blood shall be on his own head.

   He heard the sound of the trumpet,

   but did not take warning;

   his blood shall be upon himself.

   But he who takes warning will save his life (in Heaven).

   But if the watchman sees the sword coming

   and does not blow the trumpet, 

   and the people are not warned,

   and the sword comes and takes any person from among them,

   he is taken away (his or her soul after he dies) in his iniquity (sin);

   but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand."

   (Ezekiel 33:2-9)

Please remember . . . 

The Kingdom of Heaven is available to every man, woman, boy, and girl in this world, no matter who they are, where they live, or what they have done.  It is freely offered to any and all who will receive it.  Simply learn of Jesus (Yeshua), the promised Messiah, invite Him into your life as Lord, believe He died on the Cross for all of your sins and rose from the grave (proving there is a Kingdom of Heaven ... and a Hell).  Learn of Him and believe in Him . . . for He was the only one who has ever loved you enough to substitute Himself for you on the Cross.  He shed His blood, suffered, and died on the Cross to save you from your sins and from the utter darkness and torment of Hell, if you will accept it, believe it, and trust in it.  That is why Jesus is called Savior.  He now lovingly and graciously offers you life in Heaven (and we are warned it is a "take it or leave it" proposition.)  We have to consciously receive it and accept it in faith.  If you sincerely admit you have sinned (which means you will need a Savior to get into Heaven) and ask Jesus to come into your life and honestly try to stop doing (and saying) those things God says are wrong, you will go to Heaven ... and with open arms and tears of joy He will receive all who will come to Him in faith and in love ... It's God's Promise!!!

The only unpardonable sin is to reject or ignore or treat as a common thing God's love and His free offer of life in the Kingdom of Heaven by rejecting Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) who stepped forth from Eternity ("from of old, from everlasting"... see Micah 5:2) ... not to condemn the sinner, but to save the sinner (from the torment of Hell) and who willingly and lovingly shed His blood on the Cross so we can be washed clean of all our sins.  The Bible warns there will be no peace in our lives until we make peace with God through His Son, Jesus (Yeshua), the promised Messiah.  The Bible also says there will be no peace in Israel or on Earth until Jesus (Yeshua), the Messiah returns . . .

Grace and Shalom

Most of the Bible Prophecy studies found on this site are drawn from this book ...

                    "The Prophecies ... A Journey To The End Of Time"

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