'When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads...'

85 Seconds To Midnight? God's Clock Tells A Different Story

PNW STAFF

The world is holding its breath. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has moved the "Doomsday Clock" to 85 seconds to midnight--the closest humanity has ever come to total annihilation since the clock's creation nearly 80 years ago. Nuclear weapons, climate disasters, and artificial intelligence are all cited as ticking threats. Alexandra Bell, the group's president, warned bluntly, "Humanity has not made sufficient progress on the existential risks that endanger us all. Every second counts, and we are running out of time."

The headlines are terrifying. The U.S.-Russia arms treaty is expiring, atmospheric carbon dioxide is at record levels, AI-driven misinformation spreads like wildfire, and global tensions are rising. Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin's science board, even called out the increasing aggression of nationalistic governments, warning that history shows unaccountable leaders bring misery and conflict. From a human perspective, the world seems dangerously unstable, teetering on the edge of catastrophe.

Yet for Christians, this is not a reason to panic--it is a reason to look up. 

While secular warnings paint humanity as helpless, Scripture paints a very different picture: God is sovereign. History is not random. The end of the age is not a mystery hidden from His people. In fact, God has laid out a perfect, unshakable timetable, visible through His prophetic Word.

Israel: God's Divine Timepiece

For decades, evangelical teachers like John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, and Mark Hitchcock have emphasized that Israel is the central "clock" of biblical prophecy. The creation of modern Israel in 1948 was not just a political miracle--it was a prophetic event. Isaiah 66:8 asks, "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?" When the Jewish state came into being, prophecy moved from theory to reality. It was a clear signal: God's clock is ticking.

But the story doesn't end there. Scripture points to other milestones that indicate the nearness of the end: the return of more Jews to Israel (Ezekiel 37), the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 9; 2 Thessalonians 2), and global conflict targeting God's people, including the prophetic Gog and Magog War (Ezekiel 38-39). Each of these events acts like a hand on God's divine clock, marking the approach of the final chapter of human history.

False Peace and Global Unrest

Secular experts warn of global instability--but Scripture warns of even more: deceptive peace. 

Matthew 24:6-7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:3 describe a world plagued by wars, rumors of wars, and promises of stability that cannot last. Daniel 9:27 specifically references a covenant of peace that will be confirmed and then broken, signaling the approach of unparalleled tribulation. 

Today, headlines about rising nationalism, AI-driven chaos, and false political alliances echo the patterns described in Scripture centuries ago. The world may seem out of control, but God's plan is unfolding exactly as foretold.

Technology, Weapons, and Human Fear

From nuclear arsenals to artificial intelligence, humanity has created tools capable of unimaginable destruction. The Doomsday Clock ticks ever closer to midnight, warning of catastrophic consequences. 

But the Bible reminds believers that these developments are not random--they are instruments within God's sovereign plan. Revelation 6-8 describes calamities and global upheaval, yet they are framed as God-directed judgments, not uncontrolled disasters. Each crisis, each news report of rising tension or technological risk, is a signpost pointing to the fulfillment of prophecy.

Watchfulness Over Fear

Ultimately, the fulfillment of prophecy, especially through Israel, should inspire vigilance, not panic. Every war, every natural disaster, and every geopolitical flashpoint aligns with what Scripture foretold. While scientists measure seconds, God measures ages. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." The Doomsday Clock may terrify the world, but believers can rest in the certainty that history unfolds under the guidance of the Almighty.

Israel's rebirth, the gathering of Jews back to the land, the potential rebuilding of the temple, false peace agreements, and escalating conflicts are all part of God's divine narrative. The secular clock may tick ever closer to midnight, but for those who trust in Him, the end times are not chaotic--they are perfectly orchestrated.

The warning from the Bulletin should serve as a call to reflection and prayer. Humanity's plans are fragile, but God's plan is unshakable. While the world worries about catastrophe, Christians are reminded that nothing happens outside God's sovereign control. The end is approaching, yes--but it is precisely timed, perfectly mapped, and guaranteed to fulfill God's promises. The Doomsday Clock is a wake-up call for the world--but for those who watch God's clock, there is no fear, only hope and assurance.

The Revived Roman Empire Grows: Trump Is The Pressure Point For Europe To Unite - Another Prophetic Footprint?

Trump Is The Pressure Point For Europe To Unite - Another Prophetic Footprint?

PNW STAFF

At an emergency summit of European Union leaders in Brussels, the building blocks of a new continental order were quietly taking shape. Europe is no longer debating abstract ideals; it is actively pursuing the foundation of a "super Europe" -- bigger, stronger, and capable of standing independently in a world dominated by unpredictable powers.

The driving force behind this transformation is unmistakable: Donald Trump. His blunt, transactional approach to diplomacy -- demanding greater burden-sharing, questioning alliances, and challenging long-standing norms -- exposed Europe's vulnerability. For decades, the continent relied on American guarantees for security, trade, and stability. Trump stripped away that assumption, forcing Europe to confront a stark reality: dependence is a risk.

"This is not a cosy place," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Davos, describing a global order changing at an "unprecedented pace." "Europe has got the message," he added, promising an ambitious reform agenda centered on security, competitiveness, and unity. A day after the summit, Merz signed an accord pledging close coordination with Italy's Giorgia Meloni, signaling that Europe's two most influential leaders are aligned in their vision of integration.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the challenge: "We know we have to work for a more independent Europe. This is not something which happens overnight. This is hard work." Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reflected on the continent's newfound cohesion: "When Europe is not divided, when we stand together, and when we are clear and strong...results will show. I think we have learned something in the last days and weeks."

Enlargement is central to Europe's new strategy. Nine nations are now knocking at the EU's door. Montenegro and Albania are closest to accession, while North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia are waiting in line. Moldova and Georgia applied following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Iceland could hold a referendum on membership -- partly as protection against U.S. assertiveness. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever explained: "People want to join the European Union. Nobody wants to join China. No neighbour of the United States wants to join the United States. Because we have respect, we have the rule of law. We do speak softly."

If the EU incorporates the Balkans, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, and Iceland, its territory could expand by almost 400,000 square miles, and its population could swell by 57 million. 

A European official emphasized: "In this new world, size matters. It will make our single market larger, it will bring stability and security." To achieve this, Brussels envisions a "multi-speed Europe," bending old integration rules and creating a flexible structure where nations like Britain could maintain close ties without full membership.

Trump's pressure accelerated this transformation. By forcing Europe to defend its own interests, he has spurred initiatives that might otherwise have taken decades. Europe's response -- enlargement, centralization, and strategic autonomy -- reflects a continent awakening to its own potential power, almost unintentionally.

Europe's strengths make this ambition plausible. Its single market rivals the United States in scale, its regulatory authority shapes global commerce, and military spending is rising. Yet Europe's weaknesses remain: cultural fragmentation, economic unevenness, and political divisions. Centralized authority is proposed as the solution -- fewer vetoes, faster votes, and tighter compliance.

And here is where history and prophecy converge. For centuries, scholars have identified Europe as the heir to the ancient Roman Empire. 

The prophet Daniel envisioned a final kingdom symbolized by a statue whose ten toes were "partly iron, partly clay" -- strong yet fragile, united yet fractured. 

Revelation describes a coalition of nations that ultimately consolidates power under a single leader. From the Holy Roman Empire to modern EU institutions, the impulse to unify Europe under centralized authority has repeatedly resurfaced, especially in moments of crisis.

European elites are accelerating the centralization of power -- reducing national sovereignty, sidelining dissenting states, and empowering supranational institutions in ways that align uncannily with the prophetic vision.

This is not to suggest Europe's ambitions are inherently sinister. Cooperation can prevent war, and collective defense can deter aggression. But history shows that empires rarely remain purely administrative. Power centralizes. Crisis justifies control. Leaders arise who promise salvation -- at a cost.

Trump did not create Europe's imperial instinct. He exposed it. By stripping away the illusion of guaranteed American backing, he forced Europe to choose between dependence and dominance. Europe has chosen to integrate -- rapidly, deliberately, and with growing confidence.

Whether this transformation becomes a force for stability or sets the stage for the darker currents of history and prophecy remains uncertain. One thing is undeniable: Europe is no longer merely a participant in world affairs. It is preparing to rule within them.

Israel and the Syrian Threat

Israel and the Syrian Threat

Hugh Fitzgerald

While Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has traded his combat fatigues for a suit and tie and insists he wants peace with all of Syria’s neighbors, has clearly taken in the Americans, from Ambassador Tom Barrack to President Donald Trump, the Israelis have not been fooled. They have seen his army’s attacks on the minorities — the Alawites in Latakia, the Druze in their Sweida stronghold, and now the Kurds in northeastern Syria — as part of his attempt to terrify them into submitting to the Sunni Arabs who now rule, by agreeing to submit to the dissolution of their own militias, and the integration of their fighters into the Syrian National Army. 

And just now, the Syrian Army has pushed the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) out of their role guarding the tens of thousands of Islamic State (ISIS) fighters and their families kept imprisoned in camps in Syria. The Syrian army has now entrusted the operation of those prison camps to the UN Human Rights Commission. Some ISIS fighters and their families have managed to be set free. Those freed are now making their way back to their countries of origin, including many in Europe. They are just as fanatical now as they were when they were first captured and imprisoned.

Given all this, Israel is determined to hold onto the territory it seized just after Assad’s fall. This includes a new buffer zone created by the IDF just north of the Golan Heights, where nine military outposts have been built, and taking over all of Mt. Hermon, giving Israel control of its commanding heights that overlook the road to Damascus far below. 

More on Israel’s deep distrust of the new regime in Damascus, and its moves to protect itself from future Syrian aggression, can be found here: “Why Israel must not trust the new Islamist order in Syria,” by Amine Ayoub, Israel National News, January 24, 2026:

The fall of the House of Assad in late 2024 was heralded by many as a victory for the Syrian people, but for the State of Israel, the transition to an Islamist-led order in Damascus has created a strategic nightmare that is currently culminating in a “jihadi time bomb” on the northern border.

The fragile security apparatus that once contained and kept at bay tens of thousands of Islamic State (ISIS) fighters and their families has shattered following the rapid withdrawal of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) under military and political pressure from the new central government.

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