45 SIGNS SHOWING THAT THE MESSIAH IS COMING SOON!

Dr B Batarseh (1997-3-29)
Transcribed by Philip Blom

1. Amman has been restored. It was rebuilt on the ruins of the city called Rabbah. In II Samuel 12:26 we read about David's general Joab fighting against it:
   Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel .
   Whereas the Israelites didn't destroy it then, we see in the following scriptures that the Lord intended to do it,
   Jeremiah 49:2 But the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it will become a mound of ruins, and its surrounding villages will be set on fire. Then Israel will drive out those who drove her out," says the LORD
   Ezekiel 25:5 I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
   Amos 1:14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day.
2. The Restoration of Israel represents the sign of the fig tree. The rebirth of Israel in 1948 ended the times of the gentiles and led us to the last phase of the pre-millenial age.
   Luke 21:29 He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
   Amos 9:14 (LB)  I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild their ruined cities, and live in them again, and they shall plant vineyards and gardens and eat their crops and drink their wine. 15 I will firmly plant them there upon the land I have given them; they shall not be pulled up again, says the Lord your God.
3. The Prosperity of Arab Countries. Most people don't notice the addition of "all the other trees", to Luke 21:29:
   He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees". It undoubtedly refers to the affluence of Israel's Arab neighbors since 1973 when the price of crude oil soured from around $4 a barrel to more than $40.
4. The Final Return of the Jews to Israel. Israel is associated with the Jews in more than 700 scriptures from Genesis to Ezekiel. There is therefore no doubt in God's mind about their right to it, and most nations, except of course the majority of Moslem countries, recognise that claim. From the outset, however, God made it very clear that he would ban them from the land for a time whenever they deviate from his ways. In accordance with this there have been a number of  scatterings and returns to the land, with the understanding that they could stay as long as they keep the Law. But the Bible speaks about a final permanent return, that will lead to their purification in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
   Amos 9:15 I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God.
   Jeremiah 33:24 "Have you not noticed that these people are saying, 'The LORD has rejected the two kingdoms he chose'? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation. 25 This is what the LORD says: 'If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed laws of heaven and earth. 26 Then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.'
   Ezekiel 37:24 "'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. 28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.'
5. The Tribes of Israel are being unified. (Added by Transcriber). There are a lot of different opinions about who the twelve tribes of Israel will consist of. A lot of people even think the God of Israel has lost ten of his tribes. All I can say to that is, he won't then have maintained His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob like married people do when they break their marriage vows. God isn't an adulterer, he doesn't break his vows!! God doesn't lose things, and he hasn't shifted his covenant to another people (the church)!! He grafts Gentile Believers [who want to],  into the original covenant - the Olive Tree!!
   Jeremiah 3:17 shows that the unification Judah and Israel in verse 18 will happen at the very end when the Messiah has already taken up his throne in Jerusalem. But, the return of the Jews from the former Soviet Union has already started that process.
   Isaiah 11:13 Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.
   Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
   Jeremiah 3:18 In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance.
6. Some Gentiles will live and serve in Israel.  Israel is a Jewish State and Gentiles are only granted citizenship under exceptional circumstances. It usually is based on meritorious service to Israel, but even then it mostly only entails permanent resident status. Nevertheless, as was prophesied for these times, there are vast numbers of foreigners serving in Israel on temporary conditional work permits, or visas that need to be renewed every three or six months.
   Isaiah 14:2 Nations will take them and bring them to their own place. And the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD'S land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.
   
   The following prophesies, however, seem to indicate that the Lord will settle some Gentiles who serve him in Israel. This might also provide for foreigners who have lost their Jewish identity due to enforced conversion centuries ago. It is amazing how many typical family names occur in the populations of countries around Israel and further afield. Most must have been Jews historically. But the Lord God of Israel knows who they are, and he will bring them back.
   Isaiah 56:6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant. 7 These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. 8 The Sovereign LORD declares--he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.
   
   The Arabs (Palestinian) living in Israel are descendants of Ishmael, and they don't  (biblically) have a right to be there - even in territories previously allocated to Jordan or in Gaza. Unless, of course, they turn to the God of Israel for their salvation like some have already done - with them a peace agreement would even have been possible. But there are also Palestinians of Jewish descent, and the Lord will most certainly provide for them to stay in the land if they bind themselves to him.
7. A Highway will be built from Egypt to Assyria. This highway runs via the Sinai Desert to Eilat and Accaba, through Jordan to Bagdad.
   Isaiah 19:23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.
8. A Pact between Israel, Egypt and Iraq. Although it sounds impossible, diplomatic meetings, probably in Europe, have already taken place which might eventually lead to such an agreement.
   Isaiah 19:24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. 25 The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.
9. Damascus will be destroyed. Although Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world, it has never been destroyed. This prophecy still needs to be fulfilled, and the present deadlock in peace negotiations between Israel and Syria and their backing of Hisbullah will most probably lead to a confrontation that will end in the destruction of Damascus. Due to the deadly missiles Syria now have, Israel  will just simply have to act in a way that will bring an immediate end to the war, for instance, by means of a nuclear bomb.
   Isaiah 17:1 An oracle concerning Damascus: "See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.
10. Iraq will be humbled. The gulf war was instrumental in doing just that.
    Isaiah 10:12 When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.
    Isaiah 30:31 The voice of the LORD will shatter Assyria; with his scepter he will strike them down.
    Nahum 3:18 O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your nobles lie down to rest. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them 19 Nothing can heal your wound; your injury is fatal. Everyone who hears the news about you claps his hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty.
    Zechariah 10:11 They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down and Egypt's scepter will pass away.
11. Lebanon will be destroyed.
    The demise of Lebanon was initiated by the destabilizing the Palestinians refugees had effected there after they had been banned from Jordan - after they nearly succeeded to unseat the government in Jordan. It led to a disrupting of the balance between the Christian and Moslem sectors of the Lebanese society, in favour of the Moslems - backed of course, by Syria, who are now basically ruling the country. Syria could, for example, stop Hisbullah's operations in South Lebanon if they wanted to.
    Zechariah 10:10 I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them. 11 They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down and Egypt's scepter will pass away. 12 I will strengthen them in the LORD and in his name they will walk," declares the LORD. Zechariah 11:1 Open your doors, O Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars..
12. Restoration to Israel of sectors of Lebanon and Jordan that historically were parts of the Promised Land. This is roughly the security zone Israel is presently maintaining in South Lebanon and the northern part of Jordan which they need to possess. See Zechariah 10:9-10 under point 9.
13. The Nile will dry up. This might be caused by a massive flood due the collapse of the Aswan Dam. It will split the Nile into seven streams. The USA advised the Egyptians not to build the Aswan Dam, but they went ahead and did it with the help of the Soviet union. It might not be able to withstand a flood from the Lake Nasser.
    Isaiah 19:5 The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry. 6 The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither. 7 Also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more. 8 The fishermen will groan and lament, all who cast hooks into the Nile; those who throw nets on the water will pine away. 9 Those who work with combed flax will despair, the weavers of fine linen will lose hope. 10 The workers in cloth will be dejected, and all the wage earners will be sick at heart. 15 There is nothing Egypt can do--head or tail, palm branch or reed.
14. The mighty Euphrates River will be crossed on foot. This is already possible due to the dams built by Turkey and Syria.
    Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.
    We see in Ezekiel 38/39 that 200 million soldiers are going to march  on Israel from the East through the Euphrates. Dr Batarseh felt that they will more likely be Moslems than Chinese. But, the Bible talks about more wars in Israel in the end than just Armageddon in Megido. It also refers to a war on the mountains of Juda.
15. The readiness of other countries than Gog and Magog mentioned in Ezekiel 38 to join an alliance aimed at destroying Israel: Ethiopia (including Sudan, which has split off from Ethiopia - the hatred of its Moslem government of Israel and their support of terrorism is no secret). Ethiopia's communist government can also not be trusted.
    Persia (Iran) -- In its determination to destroy Israel, it is at the moment stocking up on arms, has obtained permission from Iraq to cross its territory to attack Israel, supports of Islamic fundamentalists like Hamas and Hisbullah whose aim is destroy Israel, etc.
    Libya - - its hatred of Israel and the US is no secret.
    Gomer. It used to be East Germany, but its attitude hasn't really changed since about 70% of its government is still communist. Nothing has really changed to prevent it to join an alliance with Poland, Bulgaria and Russia to attack Israel. About 600 arms factories in Russia are still in full production, while the US has basically stopped producing arms. In the war they will initiate, the world will be burned with fire and about a third of its population will be killed.
16. The enemy from the East. Apart from the fact that the Euphrates can easily be crossed on foot, a highway has also been build to that region all the way from China. Inside China this road runs through very difficult mountainous terrain and building it cost 10,000 people their lives. From there it runs through Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
17. Moslem Brotherhood. Its fundamentalist drive to destroy all infidels is a threat to world peace.
18. Horses will be used in the onslaught on the Middle East. This will be due to the immense cost of fuel for motorised transport and weaponry for the fast numbers of assault forces that will be involved.
    Ezekiel 38:15 You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army.
    Ezekiel 38:16 You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
    Zechariah 12:4 On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness," declares the LORD. "I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.
19. The European Union coming together as a fulfillment Daniel's vision of the ten kings.  More than ten countries were involved at the time of the lecture, but it didn't change the principle since the strength of the EEC basically lies in  about ten countries. The false Messiah's support will be from Europe, since the economic power of the US will fall away.
20. Jerusalem will become a stumbling stone for the nations. Different groupings of nations will get involved for different reasons.
    (1) UN-based -- The Palestinian Authority's strategy to get what they want, is to persuade the nations to side with them in their battle with the Israelis. This will probably lead to a political and human rights (Green) based involvement and confrontation with Israel. It will be by means of a UN task force constituting troops from many nations that will not invade Israel, but will be "legitimately" present around Jerusalem. It will probably be either to enforce a division of Jerusalem and thereby protecting the rights of the Palestinians or to implement the internationalization of Jerusalem - insisted upon by Christians and Moslems. This UN force could be powerful enough to defeat the IDF.
    (2)  Armageddon -- (Ezekiel 38/39) Russia and its allies. Russia is already striving for recognition in the Middle East. The following report from the ICEJ MID-EAST DISPATCH - ISSUE 354 - 16th May 1997, serves as an example:
    THE COMMUNISTS VISIT LEBANON
        The leader of the Russian Communist Party has met with Lebanese officials as part of a two-day visit aimed at reactivating ties with Lebanon and promoting Russia's role in the Middle East. Gennady Zyuganov held talks with President Elias Hrawi, Druze leader and Minister of Refugees Walid Jumblat and Parliament Vice-President Elie Ferzli.  
        Zyuganov said his country should play a "more active role" in the Middle East,  it backs Lebanese and Syrian demands and stands "in order to preserve the regional unity between the two countries." He told reporters more unity and cooperation between Russia and the Arab countries were needed to reactivate the stalled Arab-Israeli peace process.  Zyuganov, who met with Syrian President Hafez Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, said his party would try to restore Syrian-Russian ties to "what they were before the collapse of the Soviet Union." The Soviet Union was Syria's main ally and weapons supplier until 1992. During his Damascus visit, Zuyganov also signed an accord of cooperation with Syria's ruling Arab Baath Party. {UPI 5/15 H}
    
    Russia and its European allies' interest will also be economical. They will go after the wealth of the Israel, for instance the fortune in minerals  from the Dead Sea, perhaps even oil (at the foot of Asher), and brain power. The Jews from the former Soviet Union were mostly well educated, and their departure caused a major brain drain from Eastern Europe.
    (3)  Islam -- Dr Batarseh is of the opinion that the army of 200 million attacking Israel from the East will be Moslems. They might just want to rid the Middle East of Israel, or they might be drawn by something more serious, like the destruction of the mosques on the Temple Mount.
21. Economic hardship in the world. It will be due to money being in the hands of a few, the recent merger between Boeing and McDonald Douglous involving total assets of about $59b and Bill Gates' fortune of more than $34b being an examples.  Although there is economic hardship in some countries, the tremendous business activity of our day characterizes the situation during the end-times spoken of in Luke 17:28 "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building....").
22. Famines. Famines we've seen in Africa and that presently in North Korea, are examples.
23. Disease. Malaria has again become problematic; TB has virtually become incurable; 200m people have the HIVirus.
24. War. We have seen many wars in the last decades, but as Jesus had indicated, war in itself will not initially be the ultimate sign,  until the final battle comes in Israel when the whole world will gang up against it.
    Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
25. Earthquakes. We,ve seen a number of earthquakes in recent years, but much more powerful ones are still to come, for instance in California and Japan. A major earthquake in Tokio might also lead to the collapse of the American economy due to withdrawal of Japanese investments for rebuilding purposes.
    Mark 13:8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
26. Knowledge. The amount of travel mentioned to Daniel could only become a reality in our age of intercontinental air travel. The emergence of computers has lead to the increase of knowledge mentioned in the prophecy.
    Daniel 12:4 "But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up that it will not be understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly increased!"
27. The availability of the Nitrogen bomb and chemical arms that only kill humans and other primates but do not harm plants, buildings, etc.
    Revelation 9:3 And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Revelation 16:8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire.
28. Increase in environmental heat. This is happening due to the destruction of the ozone layer. It could become worse by a slight movement of the earth.
    Revelation 16:8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
29. Mt Olives will tear in two. The Hebrew University could not be expanded further south on the Mt Olives due to the discovery of a crack in the mountain.
    Zechariah 14:4 On that day his feet  (the Messiah's) will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
30. Clear water will flow from Jerusalem. As the crack is already present along which Mt Olives will slit, so is the water that will be released from under the Temple Mount. It will probably be released by the splitting of Mt Olives.
    Zechariah 14:8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter.
31. Signs in the moon and the stars. Man's visits to the moon in our time, could be part of it. In recent years the moon has also appeared blood red.
    Luke 21:25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.
    
    Spiritual signs
32. Loss of contact with what God is doing and saying - like in the days of Noah. This is noticeable among secular Jews and Gentiles, in churches (especially those that adhere to the dogma that they have replaced Israel), etc.
    Luke 17:26 "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
    Jude 1:18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
    II Peter 3:4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.
33. False Prophets.
    Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.
    II Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
    Jude 1:19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
    Examples of religions that were initiated by false prophets who claimed to have heard from God are Islam, the Mormons and Yehova's Witnesses.
    The biggest lie anyone can believe is that there is just one God. It is a lie from the pit of hell and forms the basis of the New Age movement. Why would God say?:
    Psalms 81:4 This is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. 9 You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god.
    
    The main distinction between between the God of Israel and the gods of other religions is that He has a Son (The Branch) who represents him on earth in a human form - not some image like a black stone, some statue, etc.
    Daniel 3:25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods. (Nebuchadneser speaking).
    Daniel 7:13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. (Jesus infuriated the Pharisees by calling himself the son of man).
    Proverbs 30:4 Who  (but God) has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know. (He is not refering here to Israel).
    Abraham spoke to God's Representative, calling him my Lord:
    Genesis 18:1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. 9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. 10 Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
    Notice that the Lord was one of the three men and that Abraham knew it. No wonder God called Abraham His friend. Then we also read about the Lord on earth and the Lord in heaven in Genesis 19:24,
    Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the LORD out of the heavens.
34. False Miracles. We already saw this with the Egyptian magicians performing some of the miracles Moses did. Satan forever tries to equal God, even by forms of resurrection from the dead.
    Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.
35. False Messiahs. The true Messiah must fulfil the prophesies connected to his coming, eg.be born from a virgin, be born in Betlechem, be able to bear our sins (Isaiah 53), etc.
    Luke 21:8 He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them.
36. False Peace. The destructive potential of modern day arms has forced the nations of the world into attempts to find negotiated peace treaties and settlements everywhere. It is as if the prestige of world leaders depends on the peace deals they are able to extricate from nations that are at odds with each other. Ironically, those who want peace with Israel, don't have anything to trade for it. Only they stand to gain. The God of Israel saw this coming and spoke about it through His prophets. For example:
    Jeremiah 6:14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace.
    Ezekiel 7:25 When terror comes, they will seek peace, but there will be none. Ezekiel 13:10 "'Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash.
    
    It is very possible that the sacrificial Oslo peace accord with the Palestians the previous Labour government has committed Israel to, might in the end prove to be the agreement Isaiah 28:18 refers to as:
    Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it.
37. The Beast. The Beast will be made to speak. This is already done via all the lies we see on TV. Eg. what Bosnian Serbs did to the Bosnian Moslems, but not what was done to them; CNN calling Har Homa Palestinian land, not saying that the Palestinians only shut down a bomb factory two months after the Israelis had told them about it, etc.
    Revelation 13:11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.  
    (Secure financial transactions over the Internet, smart card technology, etc. that will enable cashless buying and selling, are already in place. All that still needs to come is a mark of some kind to control access to the system).
    16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead. 17 So that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
38. Godlessness and Lawlessness. There are many examples of this today, like  the power of the Mafioso, drug dealers, political groupings teaching their followers civil disobedience (the ANC did this in South Africa during their freedom struggle - now that they are in power they need to cope with it), etc.
    II Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
    II Thessalonians 2:7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
    Jeremiah 9:3 "They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me," declares the LORD.  4 "Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. 5 Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning
39. Distress in the world. When Jesus was asked what the signs would be of the time of the end, he said, among other things,
    Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again.
    
    It will be mainly due to the judging of the people of the world, as we see in Romans 2:9, There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
    As with everything else, it will start with the Jews and then conclude with the Gentiles.
    Joel 3:2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.
    Throughout the history of Israel, we see in the Bible and in history books how the Jews were punished when they sinned. This has also happened to other nations in history that lead to the disappearance of some. This is the difference between the Israel and the nations: due to God's eternal covenant with them, they will never be wiped out. In fact, the Bible says about them:
    Romans 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
    There are 98 references cross-referenced to this verse in the Godspeed computer Bible program, of which most confirm that it only to do with the restoration of the Jews, eg.: 
    Micah 7:16 Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power. They will lay their hands on their mouths and their ears will become deaf.
    We can already see the run-up to this situation with the involvement of the nations in the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.
    The Bible also states that the nations will in the end gang up against Israel and try to destroy them, which will cause them immense agony. Actually the God of Israel will stir them up and drag them there according to:
    Jeremiah 50:41 "Look! An army is coming from the north; a great nation and many kings are being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
    Joel 3:2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.
    The irony is, however, that Yasser Arafat has set this process in motion that will lead to the fulfillment of the prophecy, by his efforts to involve the nations in his struggle with the Israelis. The best example of this was the international conference on terrorism Arafat got the nations to attend after his people had blown up a second bus in Jerusalem early in 1996. I found it so ironic that he involved the nations of the world in the critical situation in Israel he could have controlled, and generalized it instead by accentuating the global problem of terrorism).
40. Failure in the world. Evil has been part of mankind from the beginning of the human race due to the sin of Adam and Eve and we need to be delivered from our sinful root by the Messiah. But it is as if the evil of man in our time is getting to the level the Bible says it is going to be. This is to a large extent the result of excessive human rights of our day which led to legalized sin like abortion on demand, homosexual marriages, pornography - especially now on the Internet, etc.
    II Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy. 3 Without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good. 4 Treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 5 Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
41. Failure of the Church. Few will disagree that the scriptures below accurately reflects the situation in most of the church today. This is also the situation with Jewish religious institutions due to Jews becoming more and more secular, not knowing the Bible - just taking note of  Rabbinical legalistic rulings.
    Revelation 3:1 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
42. Backsliding of believers.
    Matthew 24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
    Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
    
    Contrary to the picture of diminished spirituality in the last days born out in scriptures, some churches receive prophecies about a great harvest. It is mostly based on the following scriptures:
    Revelation 14:15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
    Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow--so great is their wickedness!
    It could very well be that what the angel in Revelation 14:15 calls for, would be an execution of the prophecy in Joel 13:3. The ingathering of the harvest in the end time will therefore be of those who had been chosen for salvation, to spare them from God's judgment of the world.
    See more about this harvest in the article, "And all Israel will be saved" .
43. The Spirit will be poured out on all flesh.
    Joel 2:28 'And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
    In 1977 only 50m Christians belonged to charismatic churches, as against 277m in 1988. The Assemblies of God is today the fastest growing church in the world. This tremendous growth of the charismatic church during the last decades shows that the world has been experiencing this outpouring of the Spirit.
44. The kingdom will be preached in the whole world.
    Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
    Judging from the rate at which the Gospel is presently spreading, expectations are that all people groups on earth would have heard about it by the year 2,000.

45. Spiritual Darkness over the world. We already see a lot of it, and it will get much worse.
    John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
    II Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

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