Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Headlines for a day

Ahmadinejad: Mideast upheaval will spread to West

Qaddafi launches jihad with sea barrage: blocked oil exports

The dawn of a new Libya? Gaddafi on the brink: Protesters seize control in east and foreigners flee after 1,000 deaths

Flashpoint in the Gulf: Tiny Bahrain Poses Big Headache for the West


All eyes on Bahrain as Gulf tremors frighten oil markets
A few quotes from this one:

"We believe the unrest in Bahrain may be of far greater importance to the strategic balance in the Middle East and to the oil market."
The risk group Exclusive Analysis said there is a "moderate risk of an extremely violent transition" in Bahrain, the linchpin of stability in the Gulf and host to the US 5th Fleet. "There is a significant probability that the present order is completely overthrown and replaced by a new order aligned with Iran," it said.

Iran is clearly hoping to bring Bahrain into its orbit.


Libyan unrest rattles oil markets

Alarming number of dead dolphins being studied

Peculiar geese deaths baffle wildlife officials

Fear of 'Catastrophic' Crash Rising Despite Bull Market

Palestinians fire mortars, IDF fires back

Peres: All of Europe under nuclear threat

Palestinian FM: Statehood by September

Iranian naval vessels sail through Suez Canal

And the day is still young.

Is it just me, or does it appear that the entire world is just on the brink?

"On the brink" - what does that mean exactly?

It is hard to describe - but combining daily headlines for several weeks now we can see the following shaping up:

- Collapse of the U.S. dollar, world financial crisis
- Continual calls for a central currency
- Turmoil spreading throughout the Middle East - with "stable" governments falling to radical Islam
- Israel under increasing threat - almost on a daily basis
- Approaching the "deadline" for a "PA State"
- Earthquakes spreading around the world
- Christian and Jewish persecution growing throughout the world
- Famine spreading and promising to become worse due to droughts, flooding, severe winter, etc.
- Energy prices skyrocketing
- Israel facing a "forced" PA State with new (shrinking) borders, making them more vulnerable than they have been since 1948.
- The EU forming military forces to be used for border control around Europe and the Middle East
- Pending changes in leadership in both the EU and the Med Union
- Oil shortages and dramatically rising prices
- Concerns about another stock-market crash in the U.S.
- Mysterious mass animal deaths - still unexplained
- Rapidly shifting magnetic poles in the world with unknown consequences
- Unusual solar storms approaching from the sun
- Coalitions forming and uniting against Israel
- Iran approaching the ability to produce nuclear weapons, while promising to destroy the U.S. and Israel
- North Korea threatening war against South Korea
- China's rise to world power status


Did I leave anything out?

It is clearly a world that is literally on the brink.

And what we know from biblical prophecy, is that this represents the beginning of "world turmoil" - turmoil which will be dramatically worsened by events which we know are coming, such as:

- The destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17), presumably triggered by the events described in Psalm 83
- The massive battle/war of Gog-MaGog (Ezekiel 38-39)

And a worsening of every item mentioned above.

Throw the Rapture of the Church into this volatile mix and we can easily foresee a world that will be looking for a powerful, charismatic leader who can "explain" such events and offer solutions. Solutions that will immediately become embraced by the world, who will be willing to give up almost all freedom in the effort to gain security. He will even come up with a peace plan for the Middle East after so many years of constant turmoil.

But we know what happens then (after the Church's removal from this earth) - after the initial period of stability in the beginning of the Tribulation - as described by the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying, 'Peace and safety', destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman and they will not escape."


They will not escape, because they missed the one and only opportunity to escape - via the Rapture of the Church. The apostle Paul was very careful in this passage to describe the difference in those who believe in Christ vs those who rejected the message of the gospel.

He now turns his attention to the Church to reveal the difference in our future vs. the rest of the non-believing world. It is quite a contrast:

"But you brothers are not in darkness...You are sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness...For God did not appoint us to suffer the wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(1 Thessalonians 5:4-9)

We clearly have a different future in store. Our instructions during these days of approaching darkness are as follows:

"...and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."


Note what the apostle Paul didn't say.

He didn't say to worry. He didn't say to have a spirit of fear. He didn't say to hoard necessities and to prepare for the Tribulation era. Nothing like that.

He said to look up and watch for Christ - because His return would be imminent - and because He would come for His people.

These words are bolstered by the the written words of Luke:

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
(Luke 21:28).

As things get worse on earth, and as we see the prophetic signs increasing in leaps and bounds - we have specific instructions biblically:

We should be focused on Christ and His return.

It couldn't be more clear.

14 comments:

Expected Imminently said...

Scott

Update on horse deaths.

23rd February 2011-02-23 Telegraph

Apparently this was the first race, so the whole meet was cancelled!

“…Workers from the Southern Electric company, called in to help investigate the deaths, later dug up part of the paddock using a bulldozer and found a cable, which is thought to date from when the racecourse's Berkshire Stand was being built in the early 1990s.

The investigation is continuing, with officials trying to ascertain whether the cable might have caused the accident…”
?

Expected Imminently said...

Scott

It may end up being a freak accident with the electric and the horses.

Don’t want to speculate too much, but I am wondering about the other sudden animal deaths including the sea creatures, caused by a sudden electrical discharge from the earth.

In 1666/7 the Bristol Channel experienced a Tidal Wave – or Tsunami. It was reported as a fine day, but suddenly the sea receded and then piled back as a huge wave that spread up the Bristol Channel where both shores were deluged by the flood as much as 4-5 miles inland.

It continued up the river Severn to Gloucester (where I live) causing death and destruction on both banks of England and Wales.
Part of the report is most interesting and as yet still unexplained!

On the crest of the wave ‘sparks’ of light were seen – some sort of an electrical discharge was being emitted through the sea. Not only were there human and animal deaths recorded, but also many FISH.

It seems this has been noted in more recent times, and it isn’t clear why or how this happens. It has been speculated that turmoil of the water has banged certain rocks together and caused a discharge – like a flint box I suppose?

Could this be happening in localized areas on the sea bed, and on the earth perhaps caused by the polar shift that’s going on?

Lot’s of thoughts on this to do with the energy of animal sonar and navigation abilities. In the case of the horses, the grass was wet with dew – electricity and water --- That’s it, it’s as far as I can think with limited my knowledge.

Sue

Anonymous said...

Again......

Not to beat a "dead horse" - (no pun intended) but we have entered the time of "birth pangs".

You will soon see the rise of the Antichrist - and the Church will still be here, only to be "Raptured" at a later time. Scripture is quite clear on that.

I will continue to pray for you all.

Expected Imminently said...

Anonymous
Prayers are always welcome, so thank you for your concern.

The birth pangs began with the 1st World War and have steadily increased just as Jesus said they would.

All is progressing perfectly to the build up of the 70th Week of Daniel. This involves the trial of 'earthdwellers' ONLY. If you have not been born again then you will indeed go through the Tribulation.

The Church's citizenship is in heaven, we are not 'earthdwellers'. We are even at this very moment seated in heavenly places IN Christ, only our bodies are yet to be redeemed at the Pretrib Rapture of the living and the dead in Christ.

Maranatha! :)

Anonymous said...

That was quiet a list you compiled for us Scott. Thanks for making it crystal clear. We are indeed on the brink. Jesus said, "As in the days of Noah" He would return which indictes a pre trib rapture and one where it is business as ususal before He comes for His Bride...I think we are very close if we can see tribulation events described in Revelation chapter 6 on the horizon. Now is not the time to be slothful concerning our redeemers return. He said, "when you see these things occuring to look up, for your redemption is drawing near."

Maranatha! See you guys soon.

Mark

DrNofog said...

Anon said... "You will soon see the rise of the Antichrist - and the Church will still be here, only to be "Raptured" at a later time..."

That brought tears to my eyes!

Bwaaaaaaaah haaaa haaa haa!

Do write more for us, please!
;D

DrNofog said...

Scott,

I had a thot last nite [ it's been a while so, yeah, it hurt...]. An epiphany, maybe...

I wuz thinking about the Iranian "war ship" going thru the Suez and it suddenly occurred to me that after the Ps.83 war, if Israel regains all of the Abrahamic land:

Genesis 15:18 "In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates"

The Suez will belong to Israel and that may be one of the 'bargaining chips' that ol'AC might include in his covenant; unfettered access thru it for his kingdom as well as contracting for continued oil and gas to the EU...

Wot think ye??
;)

Anonymous said...

DrNofog:

read the comment posted 2/23/11 at 1:32 pm and I believe that is Hawaii time. You agree?

Scott said...

DrNo
Thats an interesting idea re the Suez....I could see that as a possibility and Israel regaining land.

I believe Gog-MaGog leads to the covenant confirmation of Dan 9:27. Its the only scenario in which I can see the Muslims conceding part of the Temple Mount (I believe the Temple will be placed alongside the DOTR) - as they will have been virtually destroyed at the battle - by God - and won't be in a position to negotiate anything.

R U saying that Sue is in Hawaii?

Anonymous said...

Dear Scott >>>>

Bottom line to all this

No AC revealed, No rapture....!!!!

I am still waiting

please tell me if you see anything.

I just got off the UFM Secretary
website, nothing new....

They still got Masadeh's pic in there. So that is confusing.

Stephen in Hawaii

Caver said...

Well, shucks. The world does seem a tad bit on the antsy side these days.

Facts we got aplenty, theories are cubed, and interesting enough for two bowls of popcorn.....all for the price of accepting His offer and having the Holy Spirit as our Guide. We have the clarity to see.

Really, its numbing. Beyond words in my language actually. Well, all except for the post trib view but what the matter, it ain't a salvation issue so no harm-no foul. I know a few pretty bright blokes that agree that way. Guess we'll know for sure pretty soon. If there be a Mr. AC on TV, we were wrong. If we go in the big "Poof" first, we were right.

My bet is on the big "POOF".

DrNofog said...

Anonymous said... "read the comment posted 2/23/11 at 1:32 pm and I believe that is Hawaii time.
You agree?"


I most definitely do not!

It is my understanding that whichever web host-server you contract your site to be hosted thru, in whichever time zone it, not you, is located, establishes the date and time for all postings!

Oh! Did you mean EI's posting??

Well, normally speaking, when she's lucid...
...yeah, I tend to agree...

PS. BTW, Again, which Anon is axing???
Any "tag" at the end will do; Mark, Kem, Alice, Ooooo! Use "Stephen", That'll mix it up real good!
;-D

Alice said...

Like Caver, my bet is also on the big POOF...

But if I could, I would like to see and hear the two witnesses. That would be very cool!

DrNo, interesting thot on the Suez... very interesting...

Oh, and how do we become anonymous? I like anonymity...

Expected Imminently said...

EI ent in Hawaii, EI be in the land of the Angles up the River Severn - we got the Sharpness Canal and Su ez not in Egypt either - unless I am elucidating?

Big poof? Some say a/c is a big poof! hm?