A Prophesied Age
It is a fascinating yet agonizing task to follow the present trend of world events.
We live in an age of war or the threat of war, both internal and external. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised because Jesus Himself told us in Matthew 24:7, “For nation shall rise against nation.” Indeed, there are many hot spots around the globe that threaten to bring on another world conflict. When you consider the internal conflicts over the past year in the Middle East, along with the accelerating violence in the Ukraine and the simmering anger in other places around the globe, the entire world is a powder keg that could explode at any time. Then sadly, as each day passes it seems more certain that the next target for war is to be Iran, a conflict for which the leaders of the modern Israeli State and America appear to be preparing its people. Still, as I wrote over three years ago, with Russia and China both having huge interests in Iran, it could well bring the final conflict prophesied by Ezekiel 38 into focus. Remember, Ezekiel forecast two invasions from the north, one against Palestine and another against the land of unwalled villages. The land of unwalled villages is North America and when you realize that American military power is spread throughout the world, it is not a comfortable feeling. Is it any wonder that tens of thousands of Americans and Canadians fret over the nations’ ability to protect its own borders in case of provocation.
We live in an age of upheaval. Again, we shouldn’t be surprised because Jesus said we would experience earthquakes, famine, etc. as a sign of His coming and the end of the age. Who can explain the extraordinary weather conditions of the past year; the earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods, fires and so on? Also, the effect of famine strikes millions of people around the world; a report a few years ago from the United Nations suggested that twelve million children around the globe die each year from hunger and treatable diseases.
We live in an age of oppression. We shouldn’t be surprised because God told us that in the final days Israel (True Israel) would lose her dominion; thus the financial bondage, the rapidly subdued freedoms, job outsourcing, strangers getting high above us, etc. It is a world being driven toward one-worldism. In the world of finance, not only are individuals seeing their standard of living declining but nations are rapidly heading toward bankruptcy. Europe is in danger of collapse and we see growing poverty in our North America nations; in America alone it is estimated at nearly fifty million people are struggling as never before. And with mounting trillions of dollars of debt, America, Britain and other Anglo-Saxon nations are teetering on the brink.
We live in an atmosphere of anger. We shouldn’t be surprised because Jacob told Joseph his seed would be hated. (Genesis 49:23) Still, it hurts to watch the hatred toward Britain and America grow, despite the many blessings offered other nations in the past and the present, also promised for the future.
We live in Israel nations where the erosion of faith in God the Father and God the Son has reached a deplorable stage. How sad it is that atheism, political correctness, materialism, spiritual blindness and watered down Christianity holds sway. We shouldn’t be surprised because Jesus Himself revealed the weakness of the Church of the Laodiceans and the Apostle Paul warned of the great falling away.
We live in an age of moral decadence. We shouldn’t be surprised because the prophet Isaiah told us the evil would be seen as good and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20)
Finally, we live at a time where leadership from the pulpits, the legislative assemblies, the corporate community, etc. is terribly lacking in wisdom, humility and courage.
The rapidity of the change has been almost frightening. Those of us who remember the nineteen forties and fifties have difficulty believing we could fall so far, and so fast, despite the modern day conveniences and technological benefits. Then too, deep down, even younger Israelites, who embrace the new reality of the modern world, sense something is amiss, because they don’t understand the unnatural stress in their daily lives.
Yet, in a way we should be glad because all these things simply signal what must happen immediately before the return of our Lord. And at this precious time of the year when we just commemorated His Crucifixion and Resurrection, we long for Him to come quickly. Did you ever throw stones into a lake when you were young? I did, my chums and I used to have contests to see who would get the widest ripples. I got to thinking that if the circle of life’s events have indeed reached their widest point or will do so soon, as evil makes its final plea to conquer, then a most miraculous event will take place. It will be the great unveiling of the secret of the identity of Israel. In Isaiah 25: 7, the prophet exclaimed, “And he will destroy in this mountain [nation] the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail [veil] that is spread over all nations.” In Isaiah 61: 9, he added, “And their seed shall be known among the gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.”
Obviously there are some tragic events which must take place before this great unveiling and the ushering in of God’s righteousness, but it is during these times we must remain resolute, faithful and courageous. Our Saviour is returning soon, of that there is little argument. We may not know the exact date but the remaining prophecies in Scripture seem to pinpoint this moment in time. I cannot help but think the correlation between 1996 (when Jacob’s Pillar Stone was removed from London, I think for safekeeping), 2003 (the beginning of the final judgment) and 2007 (the expiration of 70 weeks of the Reformation) and 2012 (eleven years from 911 and judgment upon the perpetrators’), that it is a vital link in God’s Great Plan.
Only time will tell! Yet, what a blessed people we are, to be alive at this great time of history.