World in Turmoil! What does it all mean?

Our world seems to be reeling and rocking like a drunk man. It actually appears that our entire world system could come crashing down at any moment like one huge house of cards! What does it all mean? Is there any method to the madness?

 

The headlines pound away at our sensibilities like a relentless jackhammer. Bear Stearns collapses! Merrill Lynch bought by Bank of America! Lehman Brothers bankrupt! AIG taken over by the government! Washington Mutual bought out by JP Morgan Chase! $700 billion bailout!

 

In the meantime, we are told that the Iraq War is getting better, but things in Afghanistan are getting worse! The U.S. is now launching operations in Pakistan. Russia invades Georgia! The U.S. concludes pact with Poland to install anti-missile defense system there. Russia sells missile-defense system to Iran. Russian ships to harbor in Syrian ports. Russia conducts military games in Caribbean…first time since end of Cold War! Russia plans to help Venezuela with nuclear capability! Ahmadinejad says Iran will not stop uranium enrichment. Israel said to be planning attack on Iran.

 

And the beat goes on…

 

Jesus prophesied about this time…

 

”And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:6-7

Is there any order to the chaos?

Do any of these world-shaking events mean anything? Is there a purpose and a plan behind the turmoil? Did Jesus say what the end result would be?

World financial crisis

Scripture teaches clearly that the Antichrist and his one-world government will use the economy to control the people of the world. In Revelation 13:15-18 it states that every person will be forced to have a number, without which they will be unable to buy or sell.

 

Ominously, verse 15 says that people will have to “worship the beast” in order to get their number. However, Revelation 14:9-11 says that any person who worships the beast will be cast into the lake of fire. What a choice! Not able to buy food, clothing or housing…or eternity in the lake of fire!

 

Notice that the Bible is not saying this might happen. It is absolutely certain that it is going to happen. And the world’s economic systems are preparing for it right now!

 

The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has asked the nations of the world to give each of their citizens a globally standardized ID by 2010. By 2010, 186 out of the 192 nations on earth will have implemented national ID cards conforming to the standards set by the United Nations. Obviously, this makes them global ID cards. Within the next two years, almost every nation on earth will have implemented the system. Having a valid, government recognized ID and being in the national database will be required before a person will be permitted to hold a job. No job? No buying or selling! When this is implemented, the mechanism will be in place for enactment of the mark of the beast that was prophesied 2,000 years ago!

Iran will invade Israel at the battle of Armageddon

The prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 describes the coming battle of Armageddon. Ezekiel 39:17-20 talks about the great supper of our God when the birds of the air and the beasts of the field will eat the flesh of captains, mighty men and men of war. The exact same description of Armageddon is given in Revelation 19:17-20.

 

In the Ezekiel prophecy, it states that Iran (Persia) will be one of the key participants in the battle of Armageddon, which will be fought against the nation of Israel (Ezekiel 38:5). We should not be surprised that Iran is Israel’s number one enemy today, since we are nearing the time for the battle of Armageddon. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad never misses an opportunity to declare that Israel will soon be wiped off the map.

 

Isn’t it amazing that the leading force that will come against Israel with Iran is Meshech (Moscow)? And who is Iran’s number one ally today? Who is selling uranium and advanced military equipment to Iran? Russia! The stage is being set for Armageddon right now!

Wars and rumors of wars

Just as the surge is supposedly working in Iraq, we are being informed that we need to send more troops to Afghanistan. Then we find out that U.S. troops have been crossing the border into Pakistan in hot pursuit of al-Qaeda terrorists.

 

At the same time, Israel states in no uncertain terms that she will not tolerate the possession of nuclear weapons by Iran. The international community has been conducting negotiations with Iran for five years now. The result? Iran has continued to enrich uranium uninterrupted—moving ever closer to the day that she will have the necessary enriched uranium to build nuclear weapons.

 

The prophecy in Revelation 9:13-16 says that a war will begin from the area of the Euphrates River that will result in the killing of two billion human beings. Take your pick! Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Pakistan—all from the Euphrates River area. The thing to know is that this prophesied war is not a possibility. It is an absolute certainty!

Seven years to Armageddon?

President Bush has stated that he wants to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement resolving all issues by the end of 2008. The Bible teaches that, when such an agreement is signed, if it provides for the sharing of the Temple Mount between Jew and Gentile, the final seven years to Armageddon and the Second Coming will begin.

 

Reports are indicating that the final borders between Israel and the Palestinians have pretty well been agreed. The status of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount has already been under negotiation. President Bush, Mahmoud Abbas, Tony Blair and Condoleezza Rice have all said that a final agreement can still be reached yet this year. U.S. Secretary of State Rice has been to Israel every month of 2008 except for July. In July, the negotiators flew to Washington and met with her there.

But the End is Not Yet

When Jesus prophesied the things above, He specifically said, “…but the end is not yet.”

 

We know for certain that we have not entered the final seven-year period—yet. But, all the prophetic signs indicate that we are very close to the beginning of that time. Whenever the final seven years do begin, events will move forward at breathtaking speed! A war that kills one-third of the human race; a temple built on the Temple Mount; animal sacrifices resumed; a cataclysmic war in heaven; the Antichrist revealed; the great tribulation begins; the two witnesses begin their ministries, the False Prophet pulls down fire from heaven; the mark of the beast implemented; and finally the battle of Armageddon.

Jesus described the culmination of events

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31

 

“…And so shall we ever be with the Lord!”