Unholy Alliance

I am away this weekend but thought after last weeks post you might find this article by Britt Gillette of End Times Bible Prophecy interesting as well.  Enjoy.

Russia, Iran, and Turkey Forming a Biblical Alliance

Vladimir Putin will meet with Iranian and Turkish leaders in Tehran this week. The trip will mark only his second trip outside of Russia since the Ukraine war began. In his previous trip outside of the country, Putin visited Tajikistan (home to Russia's largest military base outside of its own borders) to discuss Afghanistan's stability. He then attended a summit in Turkmenistan to discuss energy policy with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. Given Russia's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, these trips highlight the significance of Russia's relationship with these countries - and with Iran and Turkey in particular.

So why should you care? You should care because more than 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel warned of a future time when a vast coalition of nations will attack Israel. The leader of this coalition is a man known as Gog, the ruler of Magog (Ezekiel 38:1). This is why the invading force is known as the Gog of Magog coalition. According to Ezekiel this alliance will send an overwhelming force to invade Israel in the last days. And today, for the first time in human history, we see this alliance forming.

The Invading Nations

Which nations does Ezekiel describe? He identifies the invading nations as "Magog, Rosh, Meschech, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah" (Ezekiel 38:1-6). If you look on a 2022 map of the globe, you won't find any of these nations. So how can I say this alliance is forming?

Because these are the ancient biblical names of these nations, and while their names have changed over the years, we can still locate them on a map today. Below is a list of each nation, followed by its modern day name:

• Rosh = Russia
• Magog = Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan
• Persia = Iran
• Cush = Sudan
• Put = Libya
• Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah = Turkey

Putin's visit to Tehran will mark the third nation he's visited since the Ukraine war began, and all three - Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran - are part of the Gog of Magog alliance. Moreover during the course of these three visits, Putin will meet with two additional members of the Gog of Magog alliance - Kazakhstan and Turkey. Is this a coincidence? I don't think so.

It's been centuries since Ezekiel first recorded these prophecies. Yet, this alliance has never existed. It certainly hasn't invaded Israel. But now? Today, we see it coming together.

An Unlikely Alliance

Putin's trip to Tehran to meet with Iranian and Turkish leaders should be of particular interest to those who study bible prophecy. Why? Because, until recently, these three nations made an unlikely alliance. First, these three nations have never been aligned in all of human history. Second, Turkey is a member of NATO, and until recently, actively sought EU membership. Third, for most of recorded history, Russia and Iran had a turbulent relationship with little cooperation. In fact, until the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, who deemed Islam incompatible with the atheism of the Soviet Union, the modern nation of Iran had little to do with Russia.

But in recent years, Russia's ties with both nations have strengthened. Following the death of Ayatollah Khomeini and the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1989, Russia (then a part of the Soviet Union), started selling arms to Iran. In 1995, the Russian Ministry for Atomic Energy signed an agreement with Iran to finish the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The civil war in Syria was another area of cooperation between the two countries. Russia and Iran share a common interest when it comes to keeping Syrian President Bashar Assad in power. Russia has a vested interest in retaining access to the Syrian naval base in Tartus and stopping the spread of ISIS. As a longtime ally of Assad, Iran also has military forces in Syria. In addition, Iran is the primary sponsor of Hezbollah, a radical terrorist organization. Hezbollah has openly operated in Syria under Assad.

It's clear Russia and Iran have strengthened their diplomatic, economic, and military ties. But what about Turkey? Of all the members of the Gog of Magog coalition, Turkey is the most interesting. Why? Because it seems even more unlikely ally of Russia in an invasion of Israel.

Following World War I, Turkey established a secular western democracy and became a model democratic republic in the Middle East. In 1949, Turkey became the first Muslim majority nation to recognize Israel. In 1952, it joined NATO. For the latter part of the 20th Century, Turkey was a strong ally of Israel, the U.S., and other western nations. As the 21st Century dawned, Turkey explored membership in the European Union. This would have further solidified the nation's western ties. Instead, an event took place that reshaped the future of Turkey.

In 2003, Turkey elected Recep Tayyip Erdogan prime minister. A former member of a banned Islamist political party, Erdogan's administration has been hostile toward Turkey's secular and democratic institutions. Under Erdogan, Turkey has turned from its traditional western allies and cultivated relationships with nations that oppose western democracy. In July 2016, Erdogan cracked down on his political opponents following what he claimed was a coup attempt. He imprisoned thousands of citizens and consolidated his grip on power. A 2017 referendum further extended that power. Now the president, Erdogan is the undisputed ruler of Turkey. The nation, once hailed as a model of freedom and democracy in the Muslim world, has quickly devolved into a totalitarian regime eager to befriend America's enemies.

In September 2018, Turkey met the leaders of Russia and Iran in Tehran to discuss the future of Syria. In February 2019, Turkey met the leaders of Russia and Iran in Sochi to coordinate joint military plans in Syria. Now, these nations are meeting once again in Tehran. The relationship between Putin and Erdogan is strong and growing. All that's left to permanently move Turkey into the Russian ally column is a clear break between Turkey and NATO. What could cause that? We may be witnessing it now. Turkey is experiencing massive inflation. They also counted on Ukraine for a significant portion of their food supply. Inflation and food shortages threaten Erdogan's grip on power. Where can he get a steady supply of energy and food? Russia. It may be what finally drives Turkey into Russia's corner. When that happens, the key players in the Gog of Magog alliance will be in place.

When Will All This Happen?

So when will this invasion take place? The Bible says it will come "in the latter days" (Ezekiel 38:8). The original Hebrew word in this verse is "acharith" which means "after-part, latter part, last, close, or end." In other words, this alliance will form in the last days just prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Ezekiel uses this same word "acharith" eight verses later, when he says the invasion will come "in the last days" (Ezekiel 38:16).

This is confirmed again when Ezekiel reveals the Russian leader's thoughts. Gog says to himself, "I will attack the once abandoned cities now populated with the Jews who returned from exile among the nations" (Ezekiel 38:12). This tells us Russia and its allies will attack the land when it's filled with the exiles who return from among the nations. In other words, the target is modern day Israel. This means the invasion is coming in our day and time.

Ezekiel stresses this fact again and again when He says the invasion will occur "after Israel's people have been gathered from among many nations" (Ezekiel 38:8) and "when I bring my people home from among the enemy nations" (Ezekiel 39:27). This return home from among many nations has happened only once in all of human history - modern day Israel.

While we wait for that moment, the military forces of the three most powerful members of the Gog of Magog alliance - Russia, Iran, and Turkey - are now cooperating in Syria. This puts their joint military forces right on Israel's border. And not just any border - Israel's northern border. This is where Ezekiel said the invading force will come from - north of Israel (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2). Is this a coincidence? Again, I don't think so. Never in history have these three nations formed an alliance. Now, they're all stationed directly to Israel's north.

The stage is now set for the fulfillment of the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecies. Turkey has made a strategic choice to align itself with Russia and Iran. Eventually, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the other nations in the Gog of Magog alliance will send an overwhelming invasion force against Israel (Ezekiel 38:8-9). When they do, God will destroy them and display His power and glory for all the nations to see (Ezekiel 38:23). It's one more sign of how close we are to the Second Coming of Jesus.

Jesus is Coming

The rise of the Gog of Magog alliance is a major sign of the end times and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Remember, Ezekiel said this coalition will attack Israel "in the last days" (Ezekiel 38:16) "after they've been gathered from among many nations" (Ezekiel 38:8). The prophet Jeremiah spoke about this same regathering from among the nations. He said God would "gather the remnant of His flock from the nations where he had driven them and bring them back into the land" (Jeremiah 23:3-4). And then? And then God will "raise up a righteous descendant of King David, a king who will rule the land with wisdom" (Jeremiah 23:5-6). This righteous King is the long-awaited Messiah.

Through the prophet Micah, God promised to "gather His exiles and form them into a strong nation." Then, He promised to "rule from Jerusalem as their king forever" (Micah 4:6-7). The modern day nation of Israel is the fulfillment of God's promise to regather His people back in the land of Israel. So it should come as no surprise to see Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the other nations Ezekiel noted in cooperation with one another. According to the Bible, it's only a matter of time before they attack Israel (Ezekiel 38:8-9). And after that, it's only a matter of time before Jesus returns to establish His everlasting Kingdom (Revelation 22:20). Take note - Jesus is coming!

http://www.end-times-bible-prophecy.com/russia-iran-and-turkey-forming-a-biblical-alliance.html

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Unholy Alliance

The meeting this week between the leaders of Russia, Iran, and Turkey has, according to an article I read, caused the subject of Ezekiel 38 to trend on social media. It is encouraging to read that and discover that there are many out there who understand just how important this event is in relation to Bible prophecy.  I wrote the following article some time ago but thought it appropriate to share it again with you today.

 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, “and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.”   Ezekiel 38:2-4  NKJV

“The above passage describes an invasion of Israel from the north. Later verses describe its destruction once they reach the area of the mountains of Israel. To fully understand the prophecy, one needs to identify the major players in this divine drama. In verses 1–4, Gog is first mentioned. He is described as the leader of the land of Magog. He is the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. This leader was as unknown to Ezekiel as he is to us today. We do know “Gog” is not a proper name but a title for the ruler of Magog, just as the terms “pharaoh,” “kaiser,” and “czar” were titles for rulers and not proper names. The tribes identified as Magog, Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal can be identified by Scripture and other ancient writings as peoples who once occupied the areas of modern-day Russia. Magog, Meshech, and Tubal were between the Black and Caspian Seas, which today include parts of Iran, Turkey and southern Russia.”

Russia; Looking for Spoil by Dr. Steve Elwart   
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2016/1256/

I believe any believer familiar with Biblical prophecy can see and understand the times in which we find ourselves today.  The signs are all around us that point to the fulfillment of prophecy in our immediate future, including the rapture of the Church that we have all been waiting for.  While it may be disappointing to see certain dates come and go without hearing the trumpet blow and the voice calling us upwards, we still have God’s promise that it will be done.  How I personally deal with disappointment is to continually read the promises we have in His words to us that while we may not know the day, He has said it will be done.

There are, however, prophetic events in our immediate future which sound scholarship can apply dates to with a reasonable chance for accuracy.  One of these is the Gog Magog War spoken of by Ezekiel the prophet in chapters 38 and 39 of his book.  An event that most believers are familiar with, this conflict is believed by many to occur before the tribulation period begins, in essence laying the groundwork for the enforced peace between Israel and its enemies that the antichrist proposes.  While many have tried to set dates for the possible rapture of the Church, I believe this is the event that we all should be watching for as it appears that the rapture precedes it, and as Chuck Missler was fond of saying, “when you see the Christmas decorations going up, you know that Thanksgiving is near. 

Many of you are familiar with the name Grant Jeffrery.  He wrote many wonderful books before his passing a few years ago, and one of my favorite was Armegeddon; Appointment with Destiny. In this book, he spends some time discussing this conflict and one of the more fascinating conclusions he comes to concerns when he believes the Bible tells us this war will occur.  If he is right, then the current moves we see happening today in Syria above the Golan along with Russia positioning itself in the Middle East should be a warning sign no one should ignore.

“Although Scripture does not indicate the year in which this future invasion and defeat of Russia will occur, the prophet Haggai gives us a strong indication of what the actual day may be. Haggai reveals that on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (Chisleu) of the Jewish calendar, the day before Hanukkah, God will deliver Israel as He did twice before on this day: (1) the defeat of the Syrian army and recapture of the Temple in 165 b.c. and (2) the British capture of Jerusalem from the Turks in 1917 during the closing battles of WWI.

The prophet Haggai declares: "The Word of the Lord came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month [Chisleu], saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother" (Haggai 2:20­22).

This description by Haggai, and the exact language of his prophecy, is uncannily like the language of Ezekiel 38 and 39 that describes Russia's defeat. The interesting point is that Haggai names the exact day of the year on which this will occur. Since so many other prophecies have been so precisely fulfilled to the day, there is a strong probability that this prophetic event will also occur on its appointed anniversary date of the biblical calendar. "Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken" (Ezekiel 39:8). God's appointment with Russia is set; it will not be postponed.”

http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/rusisrl.htm

“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ ”   Isaiah 44:6-8  NKJV

Every week we are treated to more and more signs that our deliverance is close at hand.  The twenty fourth of Chisleu is only a little over two months away so my question is, are we seeing the Christmas decorations going up?  If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.

 

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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How Much Do You Worry?

 

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble".  Matthew 6:31-34  NKJV

I received a question a while back from a believer concerned with the news of shortages, possible famine, and the crashing economy and they wondered what the proper response from believers should be. They mentioned a program on television which examined the lives of families who are preparing to survive what is described as a coming apocalyptic upheaval of society as we know it.  They have chosen to prepare by constructing underground shelters or above ground fortresses stocked with food, water, supplies, and most of all arms and ammunition to defend themselves.  Now while at first glance this might seem wise if you accept the idea that what they are preparing for is actually going to occur, as believers, the question we need to ask ourselves is should our approach be different than theirs?

Now I have always thought it prudent, especially living in the northwest, to be prepared to survive a few days without power during the winter months when we can experience stormy weather.  In my opinion, however, that is a far different thing than what these individuals are choosing to do.  As always, if we as believers have questions concerning our approach to life’s problems, the first thing we should do is examine what the scriptures have to say that might be applicable under these circumstances.  In this passage from Matthew, we find that Jesus is talking about what most of us worry about at one time or another and that is providing for ourselves and our families.

“Do not worry”.  The very first thing our Lord tells us is not to worry.  Who among us has never worried?  What does it say about human nature if the very first thing Jesus speaks about is not to worry?  Jesus knows our weaknesses and obviously a lack of faith on our part is something we all will struggle with at times.  I think back to all the times I may have worried while trying to provide for my family as my children were growing up and it is almost embarrassing to realize that in every single instance God provided for us, and my worry was a complete waste of time and energy.

“For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”  As parents, I’m sure most of us would agree we had a very good idea of just what our children needed, or didn’t need as they were growing up.  How could we possibly think an omnipotent God would not know the needs of His own children and to provide for us all of the things we need to survive?  Yet we do it all the time by devoting our efforts to not only providing for our needs, but actually accumulating more than we need just as the world says that we should.  I believe the point Jesus is trying to make is that there should be a difference between what the world “seeks” and what believers “seek”.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.  There is a stark difference between the secular world view and the biblical world view.  Jesus tells us that rather than seeking to prepare by accumulating (worldly approach), the believer should trust God to provide and seek His kingdom and righteousness (biblical approach).  What exactly does seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness mean to us as believers?  I think a good clue can be found in an earlier portion of this passage in Matthew where Jesus begins His discussion of this subject and says this;

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."          Matthew 6:19-20  NKJV

How does a believer accumulate treasure in Heaven?  I believe since in many places we are told that when we get to Heaven our works on this earth will be judged and rewards given or lost, the treasure Jesus is talking about is what we choose to do with what we are given on this earth in order to further His kingdom.  I believe God expects us as believers to give generously to those in need, and only keep what we really need rather than “accumulating” as the world does.  In other words, believers should be more concerned with “heavenly prepping” rather than “earthly prepping” and this is accomplished by seeking to supply for the needs of those less fortunate around us.

"each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward."         1 Corinthians 3:13-14  NKJV

Generosity towards others is not limited to our material blessings from God, but also includes our service for Him by giving of our time and efforts to do good works in His name. You might watch worldly preppers and come to the justifiable conclusion that they are obsessed with their efforts to prepare for what they believe is coming, as well as noticing their efforts are all designed to help themselves and not others.  Our question to ourselves should be do others see us as obsessed with preparing for the coming Kingdom, or rather worrying about the things God already promised He will provide for us?  The world should see our works for God and wonder much in the same way as we look at them and wonder.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’         Matthew 25:34-40  NKJV

Although the future does indeed look scary, we have God's promise we have nothing to worry about. So considering His promise, what exactly have you chosen to prepare for?

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God's Redline

 

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”  Revelation 1:1-3  NKJV

For those who have experienced the process of pregnancy and delivery, most will admit that the last few weeks are by far the longest days of the entire nine months.  It seems as if the day of delivery will never come, and can’t come soon enough after waiting for so long of a time.  Those of us who have been called by God to serve as watchmen share similar feelings concerning the end of this age as we have watched the process move forward for so many years.  Jesus did, however, warn us that we would know the end was approaching by comparing the eventual end of the Church age to a woman in labor, and the pains she experiences getting stronger and closer together until the time of delivery arrives.

You may wonder, then, why I chose to begin this week’s column with this passage from Revelation rather than Jesus’ words from the book of Matthew 24 where He uses the analogy of a woman in labor.  The truth is, in the very first sentence here Jesus says much the same thing, but in a totally different way. He does that by using just one word which most completely miss, and that is the word “shortly”.  Now most of us would be tempted to argue that there has been nothing short about our two thousand year wait for His return, but allow me to share something interesting with you which I recently discovered.

Like many men of my generation, I have always been interested in cars and have had, in my lifetime, several which could be described as hotrods.  One thing most of us did when we bought a car to build as a rod was save our money to buy a tachometer.  While most all cars today have one, years ago virtually none did. If you planned on trying to race or get the most horsepower out of your motor that you could, a tachometer was essential as a means to tell you when your motor was approaching its “red line”, or the point where it would catastrophically fail.  I can vividly recall one instance where a dragster experienced such a failure no more than twenty feet away from me and I can assure you that it is a rather spectacular and frightening event.

If you are wondering where I am going with this,  I don’t blame you but here is where things get interesting.  In this passage, Jesus tells us the events of the book of Revelation will “shortly” take place.  The Greek word Jesus uses here translated shortly is “tachos”, which coincidentally is the word from which we get our English word “tachometer”.  It can also be translated as “quickness”, referring to a measure of time which increases exponentially.  In other words, this is another way Jesus tells us that the events leading up to the end of this age will increase quickly to the point where there is an explosion, and the tribulation will then begin. 

Somehow I rather doubt that many would care to argue that what we have witnessed the past two years in this world, and especially in this country, certainly could resemble a motor revving up to the point where it will fail and explode when it reaches its redline.  I want to share an article with you today by Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries which I believe illustrates what we see happening all around us.

Trending Towards the Tribulation: 7 Indicators To Watch

By Jan Markell

I have been watching the convergence of the so-called signs of the times ever since someone handed me Hal Lindsey’s “Late Great Planet Earth” many years ago. The book got my attention! Since then, I am fascinated with how Bible prophecy is being fulfilled now for several decades.

The apocalypse is in the air!

But in the last few years, things are happening so quickly that observers of the times can’t keep up. It’s as though the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are now out of the barn, but they can’t make their global appearance until the Church is called Home in the Rapture. The Bible is clear that we will be with Jesus in Heaven before these riders begin their deadly trek across planet earth.

Here is a very short list of things I am noting in this year of 2022, indicating time is winding down and we will be whisked away very soon.

• We already see the formation of this coming New World Order through the U.N. and the World Economic Forum (WEF). Without firing a shot, they have gained the allegiance of most world leaders for their Marxist plans to enslave the people of the world. The globalists believe they have the means to reshape the world, according to their agenda, via the influence they have gained over the global leaders of our day. A one-world government will be birthed once the Church vacates! The players are in place.

• Three words in the Bible jumped out at me recently: “without natural affection” (2 Tim. 3:3). That happens to a final generation. But, who could have imagined today’s society celebrating the trans movement, homosexual marriage, and the slaughtering of the unborn? All of these operate “without natural affection.”

And these issues are a leftist obsession! They love every imaginable aberration. Those standing for biblical values, such as pro-life groups, are under literal violent attack!

• That same passage opens talking about “perilous times.” Sure, we’ve had perilous times since WWI. The destruction of WW2 was unthinkable. But, now Russia’s lunatic leader is threatening the world with nukes. There are more than 40 wars or serious conflicts raging in the world right now, displacing millions and often involving circumstances that are, indeed, perilous.

• Let me spend an extra moment on economic issues, inflation, and famine, all prophesied to occur during Daniel’s 70th Week, or the Tribulation, the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” Are we not seeing the stage-setting for that now?

As the food “apocalypse” approaches, the poorest peoples will suffer as they always do. But it is feared that the pain will rapidly move up the global food chain. With that comes a surge in political turbulence, humanitarian crises, and global instability.

Add to this the shortage of fertilizer and the word apocalypse is, indeed, appropriate and not over used here. U.S. farmer sentiment plummeted in May as producers have become anxious about their farms’ financial health. More than 60% of farmers predict farm input prices to be at least 30% higher this year compared to 2021.

Throw in the mysterious destruction of multiple food processing plants and in June, the deaths of thousands of cattle from excessive heat—or was it foul play?

Also in June, the soaring stock market took a nose dive and Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell, admitted they are looking at replacing cash with digital currency.

Surely the black horse is ready to ride!

• To be blunt, economies around the world are on the verge of collapse. JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is warning about a “coming economic hurricane.” He states, “Right now, it’s kind of sunny; things are doing okay. Everyone thinks the Fed can handle this—but that hurricane is out there, down the road and coming our way. We don’t know if it’s Superstorm Sandy or Andrew. You better brace yourself.”

• How can I not reference the raging apostasy, the wolves among the flock, and the doctrine of demons all thriving in many churches today? This sad state of church affairs may be one of the most significant signs of the times out there.

In May we learned that a new study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that just 37% of Christian pastors in America have a biblical worldview. A spiritual awakening is needed in the pulpit just as much as in the pews! Imagine that two-thirds of our pastors (all denominations) don’t have a biblical worldview!

• Israel is sounding the war drums. In the face of Iran’s continued development of nuclear capability (she’s almost there), the Israeli Air Force has developed a new capability to fly its F-35 jets from Israel to Iran without requiring mid-air refueling.

This development is a boost to the IAF capabilities and comes as the Israeli military has upped its preparations for a strike against Iran’s nuclear capabilities—a scenario possible even yet this summer! This may be the most stunning geopolitical development of 2022—even more grave than Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Throw into the mix the collapse of Israel’s government in June. Word has it that Joe Biden and his administration will do everything they can to prevent a return of Benjamin Netanyahu, one of Israel’s finest leaders.

I have provided just a few short bullet points that I have kept my eye on here in 2022 that tell me the King is coming any day. I could list dozens more. We are trending towards the Tribulation, the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” And while believers can rejoice at our destination, remember that contained in the above situations are much suffering and perplexity globally. And human beings cannot solve these problems. That is why the word “perplexity” is seen in Luke 21:25.

The King of Kings must return to establish His earthly Kingdom on earth and clean up chaos, confusion, and consternation brought about by the Antichrist and his minions. The stage is being set now. The curtain for the last act could rise any day.

https://harbingersdaily.com/trending-towards-the-tribulation-7-indicators-to-watch/

I feel confident saying that in my opinion, we are almost to God's redline. To those believers who have become frustrated that we are still here and nothing seems to be happening as fast as they would like, I offer this.  When it comes to prophecy, we need to understand events progress according to God’s clock, not ours.  Most of us are familiar with the verse which says that to God, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day.  That being the case, the truth is that in God’s eyes, it has only been two days since Jesus said that these things will “shortly” take place.

Keep watching.