Watchman Blog

Strange Prophetic Silence

Bible Prophecy Today (Part 1 | Part 2) - Rapture Ready - Terry James (October 18, 2010)

Todd often makes the observation these days that there seems to be a strange lack of prophetic activity; nothing in the news rivets the observer in the dramatic way, say, that an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities might grab one’s attention.

This Strandberg perception of a lull in prophetic progression, as he calls it, might seem at first nonsensical, considering the tremendous procession of probable end-times issues and events that we at Rapture Ready address each week. Geopolitically, there are many signals of biblically prophetic significance. The European Union (EU) continues to consolidate power while remaining at the same time loosely confederated. Certainly, we legitimately can and do make the case for this strange entity being the likely candidate for producing revived Rome – the ten toes of iron and miry clay given in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream-vision of the final world empire (Daniel 2).

Russia is a brooding giant to Israel’s north, and at every opportunity, Iran threatens the Jewish state with oblivion. These nations combine with Turkey and others to constitute a coalescing agglomerate that has the characteristics of the foretold Gog-Magog military machine of Ezekiel 38 and 39.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin openly displays ambition that easily qualifies him as one who might aspire to be the Gog of the Ezekiel prophecies. Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spouts the kind of hatred for God’s chosen people that the prince of Persia no doubt will use to inspire Iran’s (Persia’s) leader to join with Gog in raging against Israel in that satanic attack (Daniel 10:20).

Economy Nucleus of Tribulation

Bible Prophecy Today (Link) - Terry James (August 30, 2010)

One prophetic element stands out in considering the seven-year Tribulation era, with regard to the Antichrist regime. That is the economic platform prophesied to be at the heart of the beast system.

With so many signals in view that point to the brewing Tribulation tempest, we should expect - if we are reading the end-times signals correctly - that this heart of the Beast should be well along in its construction. We have covered all of the indicators found within current issues and events that we believe are signals like those given by Jesus and the prophets. National and world economies have been dealt with in our efforts to make prophetic sense of the dynamic rearrangements taking place in recent years, months, weeks, and days.

America’s staggering weight of debt and swift economic decline is front and center in pointing to the fact, we believe, that this is the generation that stands at the end of one dispensation – the Church Age - and upon the precipice of the next – the Tribulation. Each hour seems to bring additional confirmation that the Tribulation storm is about to break upon an uncomprehending world. Such confirmation is present in abundance in the realm of geopolitics and global economics.

Since Bible prophecy clearly foretells that the Antichrist government, thus the economic engine that will power that absolute dictatorship, will emerge from Europe, we need keep our prophetic antennae pointed in that direction - i.e., we must be especially alert to news involving movement within Europe to cause significant changes to global economic structure.

Immigration Policy and the Bible

Bible Prophecy Today (Link) - Dr. Gary Frazier (May 19, 2010)

Like millions of Americans with common sense I am shocked beyond words at the absurdity of the non-stop attacks on Americans who believe in the rule of law. Who would have dreamed illegal immigrants would be encouraged, aided and supported by Americans in their ongoing quest to snub their noses at our laws to the point that would motivate the great State of Arizona to say “we’ve had it” and take action.

We are getting daily doses of anti-Americanism via our leftist media outlets to the point it ought to be insulting to every American. I ask you, do you know anyone who opposes immigration? I must say I have never met a single individual who is in opposition to LEGAL immigration. That said the first and key word in this issue is ILLEGAL! Either we have rule of law or we do not. Either we enforce our laws or we become lawless which leads to anarchy.

America's Direction?

"A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism."

Thanks to the economic situation brought about through recent history for many reasons, we are seeing greater socioeconomic controls being placed on business as government keeps "bailing" them out. Of course there are always strings attached and it seems now that government is getting more and more involved in the operation of business, people don't seem to recognize the dangers of going down this road. I have only recently begun to look at history more and it seems we are repeating it, only now it has a form more acceptable to the people because it can't really be identified with some of the terms defined above.

For instance, "dictator" is not really applicable in our current stage, but how far are we from that essentially being the fact? Not necessarily one man driving policy but rather one group of leaders doing so with one mind? What is that mind moving towards? From where I'm sitting, it is more centralization under government control reaching into business and banking while continuing its control of international business through trade laws. See here and here and here and here and here...

Another difference is in the suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship. We currently still have freedom of speech and so it can't be said that we are in a Gestapo-style environment. However look at the way terminology is being manipulated and societal norms are being adjusted while indoctrination of these changes is part of the curriculum in public schools. Terror is not currently against oneself, but rather a fear of mankind's affect on the environment and the control that government gains with a population in agreement. And the mainstream media and Hollywood are aligned with this in such a way that the big lies are just repeated to the point of acceptance.

Then there is the last difference from "belligerent nationalism and racism." In today's world while racism is still enflamed by some it has become less of an issue, and rightly so, than in the past. Along with this, nationalism is being vilified in exchange for a more star trekky global consciousness idea where national borders are replaced by a united world of humanity. Of course with the deterioration and elimination of God from the global consciousness in parallel, mankind is increasingly looking to self for salvation, the goal of the new age.

Money To Mark: Conspiracy Or Future Reality?

Some of the more doom and gloom watchers, who first warned of the current financial crisis over a year ago - Gerald Celente, Catherine Austin Fitts, Glenn Beck and others - are now predicting a global depression in 2009 with protests around the world. (Gerald Celente) To me, a studier of Bible prophecy, this possibility has a much more sinister end to it that will likely be scoffed at by believer and non-believer alike - for there are many from all walks of life who would rather believe that we could not be living in the end time as close to the rise of the man of sin as that. What do I mean?

I believe the current financial system is currently and will increasingly be portrayed as a failed and dying system. As globalism continues to march toward unity among nations brought about by the war on terror, free trade, climate change and wars and rumors of wars, a new system will be devised – if not already created – to be the new global financial phoenix that will rise from the ashes of the current  diverse financial systems. This will be a further unification amongst the others much like the Euro was localized in Europe. Only now that the Dollar, Euro and every other currency is faltering, a new plan, a new way is needed.

Like A Thief

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

I’ve posted this passage many times as indeed it is central to where I feel called, to watch. The question is, how is it that the day of the Lord could come like a thief without the majority of the world noticing? I think Glenn Beck recently hit the nail on the head in his October 8, 2008 radio show regarding the things that are happening and what they could mean. Things are going to be coming fast and hard leaving those who haven’t been watching and don’t understand what is going on dizzy and confused in the whirlwind of events. Many who have built their treasures on earth will be wondering what to do. When a person is overloaded with so much from all sides, they have a hard time keeping track of anything.

On the financial side of things, the calls have already been made from leaders around the world for a globalized financial system (news here and here) and the central banks from around the world have now worked in cooperation to lower interest rates globally. (news here) Now a post-election global talks being pushed by the EU on the current financial crisis are being planned for November 15 in Washington D.C.. (news here) Meanwhile, Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden is warning his constituents of coming unpopular decisions Obama will make. I believe these are all steps to to the ultimate financial control described in Bible prophecy.

Revelation 13:16-18
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

But we are not in darkness. Who is “we” and how can we not be in darkness? We are a special group, not for anything of ourselves, but rather in spite of ourselves by the grace of God. The only thing special about us in this world of darkness today is that we have seen the Truth in God’s Word and believed it. For this we are also rejected by those of this world, but Truth and reality will always overcome fables because they exist outside of an imagination that fades away. For a greater understanding of how we will be rejected, look into the Alliance of Civilizations (more here) with the understanding that “the world” is increasingly pluralistic in its view of acceptable belief systems. There’s also endorsement from the Obama campaign of the AoC. (news here)