Dr. Michael E. ToddINTRODUCTIONWe realize that we are not to go by signsbut to walk by faith.(Col. 2:6, Heb. 11:6)The Bible clearly states that Jesus could return at any time.This is called the "Rapture", "a catching up" of the trueborn again believers.(1 Cor. 15:51)Then of course the seven year tribulation follows.The surprising things listed below deal with events that wesee today that seem to be leading up to the tribulationperiod. We are truly in the last days and close to the"Rapture" of the church.
1. THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL (May 14, 1948)
Literally thousands of Jews have returned to theland of Israel in the past 52 years. Even more sosince 1991 when the iron curtain fell in Russia.
Jesus said, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yettender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewiseye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at thedoors. Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS,till all these things be fulfilled."Mat 24:32-34
A GENERATION IS ABOUT 70 TO 100 YEARS.(Note Matt. 24:34 & Isa. 23:15)
2. JERUSALEM IS NOT TRODDEN DOWN OF THEGENTILES ANYMORE
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into allnations: and Jerusalem shall be TRODDEN DOWN OF THE GENTILES, until thetimes of the Gentiles be fulfilled.(Luke 21:24)
3. INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT OVER ISRAEL
There is much fighting and killing in Israel right now.The news is constantly keeping us updatedon the events happening in the Mideast.
4. TEMPLE REBUILT
There have been several unsuccessful attemptsto lay foundation stones. Arab oppositionhas stopped them.
The Jews have the instruments for sacrifice and worshipalready made and waiting to be used in the temple.
In 1990 Time Magazine dealt with this issue.
5. WORLD WIDE COMMUNICATION
THE WHOLE WORLD WILL LOOK AT THE BODIES OF[Moses & Elijah]THE TWO WITNESSES THAT ARE KILLED.
One hundred years ago this would have been impossible.Now it is common to see things happening on the otherside of the world through satellite TV.
"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy athousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth...Andwhen they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendethout of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcomethem, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the greatcity, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord wascrucified. And they of THE PEOPLE AND KINDREDS AND TONGUES ANDNATIONS SHALL SEE THEIR DEAD BODIES THREE DAYS ANDAN HALF, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. Andthey that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry,and shall send gifts one to another; because two prophetstormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and anhalf the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upontheir feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.(Rev. 11:3-11)
6. WARS & RUMORS OF WARS
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled:or all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.(Mat 24:6)
WAR IN THE WORLD
8000 treaties have been made and broken.On any day soldiers are fighting in 30 to 40 nations.7 million people have died since the 1970s due to war.
World War 1; World War 2; Korean War; Vietnam; Grenada;Gulf War & Afghanistan.
SOME VERY SERIOUS WEAPONS HAVE BEENDEVELOPED SINCE WORLD WAR 2
See our special articledealing with these latest weapons of warLatest Weapons of Destruction
7. EARTHQUAKES, PESTILENCE & FAMINES
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes,in divers places.(Mat 24:7)
PLAGUESPestilences are increasing each year -Aids; Venereal diseases; STD; Anthrax; Biological warfare, etc.
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, andpestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there befrom heaven.(Luke 21:11)
(Earthquakes are also increasing every year)
Jesus Christ said,"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:and there shall be famines, and pestilences,and EARTHQUAKES, in divers places."(Mat 24:7)
The following statistics were taken from aNational earthquake center in the year 2001(5.5 and up on the Richter scale)
1800 - 1900 = 645 earthquakes in 100 years.
1900 - 1994 = 1845 earthquakes in 94 years.(2.8 times higher than 1800 - 1900)
1994 - 2000 = 1163 earthquakes in 7 years.(175.2 times higher than 1800 - 1900)
8. FALSE CHRISTS & RELIGIONS
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shallshow great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible,they shall deceive the very elect.(Mat 24:24)
9. ONE WORLD SYSTEM
"The New World Order"During the Gulf War, President Bush Sr.,constantly used the term "New World Order."
10. A ONE WORLD LANGUAGE
And they said, Go to, LET US BUILD US A CITY AND A TOWER,whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest webe scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORDcame down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have ALL ONELANGUAGE; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrainedfrom them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, andthere confound their language, that they may notunderstand one another's speech.(Gen 11:4-7)
English is the number one language in the worldtoday. No matter where you go-Russia; China; Asia; Africa etc.,they are doing their best to learn English.
Please see article dealing with English
One of the beasts in Revelation 13:2 - speaks with a mouth of a lion.
"And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet wereas the feet of a bear, and his mouth as THE MOUTH OF A LION."
The lion is the symbol ofEngland, an English speaking country.
11. ONE WORLD RELIGIOUS ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT
Most mainline churches are "joining hands" towardan ecumenical one world religious system. They talkabout ecumenical dialogue; ecumenical worshipservices; and ecumenical agreements. This ofcourse is exactly what the antichrist will desire.
A famous preacher said,"The reason for this is that the devil canswallow them up in one big gulp."
12. KNOWLEDGE EXPLOSION
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, evento the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGESHALL BE INCREASED.(Dan 12:4)
In 1991 -Knowledge doubled every 10 years.It now doubles every 22 months.
13. FAST TRAVEL
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one againstanother in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shallRUN LIKE THE LIGHTNINGS.(Nahum 2:4)
14. WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE
For the time will come when they willNOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE;.And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall beTURNED UNTO FABLES.(2 Tim 4:3-4)
15. SCOFFERS IN LAST DAYS
SECOND COMING STATISTICS IN 1999Do you believe a mass spiritual event on the scaleof the Second Coming will happenin your lifetime?Out of 12812 responses.
Yes.34%
No.66%
Knowing this first, that there shall come IN THE LAST DAYS scoffers,walking after their own lusts, And saying, WHERE ISTHE PROMISE OF HIS COMING?(2 Pet 3:3-4)
16. FALLING AWAY
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,except there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that man of sin be revealed,the son of perdition.(2 Th 2:3)
17. INIQUITY & LAWLESSNESS
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.(Mat 24:12)VIOLENCE
TERRORISM
CRIME
CORRUPTION
LYING
CHEATING
STEALING
18. LAODICEAN "CIVIL RIGHTS" CHURCH AGE
And unto the angel of the church of the LAODICEANS write; Thesethings saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of thecreation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because THOU ART LUKEWARM,and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Becausethou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, andpoor, and blind, and naked:(Rev 3:14-17)
The Laodicean age included -riots, revolution, anarchy and alukewarm compromising church.This got under full swing in the 1960s.
19. WOMEN SHALL RULE
MEN WILL BE EFFEMINATE -AND NOT BE LEADERS IN THE HOME
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,NOR EFFEMINATE, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,(1 Cor 6:9)
20. DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.(2 Tim 3:2)
21. INCREASE IN ASTROLOGY, SATANISM,WITCHCRAFT & DEMON ACTIVITY
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that IN THE LATTER TIMESsome shall depart from the faith, giving heed to SEDUCING SPIRITS,AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS.(1 Tim 4:1)22. PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.(2 Tim 3:1)
HAVE YOU SEEN...
The video games that the young people play?
SODOMY; PORNOGRAPHY; ADULTRY;SEX; NAKEDNESS; BLOOD AND VIOLENCE!KILL - KILL - KILL
23. INCREASE IN DRUGS
Neither repented they of their murders,NOR OF THEIR SORCERIES,nor of their fornication,nor of their thefts.(Rev 9:21)
Sorceries - enchantment with drugs.(Alcohol; cocaine; tobacco; marijuana; etc.)
24. EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET
Current map of European Union
A common picture dealing with EU todayNote the crystal ball
THE TEN TOES OF THE IMAGE IN DANIEL
Daniel 2, 7 & Rev. 13, 17 states that there will be aten nation confederation in Europe.(This was established in 1979)
Eventually all of the Old Roman Empire will beincluded in the EU
As of January 1, 2002 the EU has itsown currency called a Euro Dollar.
Pope John Paul II has welcomed the arrival ofEurope's common currency.
For the first time since the Roman Empire canyou buy a loaf of bread and a bottle of winewith the same coin in any European country.
25. THE RISE OF A POLITICAL SUPERMAN (Antichrist)
Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers,nor the desire of women,nor regard any god:for he SHALL MAGNIFY HIMSELF above all.But in his estate shall he honourTHE GOD OF FORCES.(Dan 11:37-38)
He will appear for a while as a great peacemaker.
He will gain control over the world.
He will be a genius in all areas of life.
Military; Political; Social; Religious;Business & Financial;
He will be the greatest"CHARISMATIC."
26. FALSE PEACE
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destructioncometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; andthey shall not escape.(1 Th 5:3)
27. PEACE TREATY WITH ISRAEL
And HE SHALL CONFIRM THE COVENANT with many for oneweek: and in the midst of the week he shall cause thesacrifice and the oblation to cease.(Dan 9:27)
The antichrist will make a treaty with Israel for 7 years andthen break it after three and one half years. Even now thereis much talking in Israel about having a peace treatywith the Palestinians.
28. 666 - THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME.
This number is already showing up in various places. Justabout all products now carry the bar code. This code notonly tells what the product is, but other information about italso. On the two ends plus the middle are two lineswhich represent the number 6. As you can see fromthe example below there are three sixes in a row.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO TAKE THEMARK IN THE TRIBULATION?
And HE CAUSETH ALL, both small and great, rich andpoor, free and bond, TO RECEIVE A MARK in their righthand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buyor sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of thebeast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Lethim that hath understanding count the number of thebeast: for it is the number of a man; and his number isSIX HUNDRED THREESCORE AND SIX.(Rev 13:16-18)
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO DO NOT TAKETHE MARK?
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgmentwas given unto them: and I saw the souls of them thatwereBEHEADED FOR THE WITNESS OF JESUS,and for the word of God, and which had not worshippedthe beast, neither his image, neither had received hismark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and theylived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.(Rev 20:4)
Friend,If you died tonight, are you 100% surethat you would go to heaven?
The Bible says, that you can be.
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