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.

It’s a Set-Up!

Olive Tree Ministries (Link) - Heidi Swander (March 30, 2010)

I’ve got good news and bad news and good news. First, the good news: GOD IS IN CONTROL! A link to this beautifully encouraging and challenging song was emailed to Jan recently. And we all need this encouragement after being so demoralized in the last week -- not to mention the last couple of years. Our Heavenly Father absolutely knows what is happening to us, and He has it well in hand.

Now I’ve got some bad news -- although I have to say I don’t really see it as totally bad news because of my perspective on it: I am convinced we are watching the set-up for what’s known as the Tribulation.

Let me ask you a question: If one were to go about preparing for a world system that would be taken over by someone empowered by Satan, a system that would give this someone complete control of and loyalty from the people of the world, how would he do it? Well, we’re not going to go through all the maneuverings today, but let me give you a little taste and see if anything sounds familiar.

LAY THE FOUNDATION: The most necessary thing would be to lay a satanically inspired foundation for this structure: A broad base upon which this system would be built. Now it just so happens that a woman named Alice Bailey (1880-1949) who founded a publishing company named The Lucifer Publishing Company, communed with a demon known as “The Tibetan.” Through Alice Bailey, “The Tibetan” explained that the world must change. Specifically, he said, “The old established rhythms, inherent in the old forms of religion, of politics, and of the social order, must give place to newer ideals . . . and to the new order.”

In his new, critical book Grave Influence, Brannon Howse gives the background of 21 radicals who have each contributed to society’s transformation process. Of Bailey he says, “Bailey’s worldview and goals have shaped the thinking of many individuals we examine in this book. To fully grasp the worldview war raging among us, we must understand the philosophies of Alice Bailey.” Bailey and her Tibetan friend laid the foundation for this New World Order.

Spiritual Wickedness in High Places

Chuck Baldwin Live (Link) - Chuck Baldwin (February 17, 2010)

Almost immediately after Adam’s fall, Lucifer and his minions collaborated with evil men to usurp God’s authority and sovereignty. And nowhere is God more sovereign than in the heart and conscience of man. In the spirit world, the First Commandment (“Thou shalt have no other gods before me”) is the battleground that is most fought over. The war for man’s heart and soul is never-ending.

Nimrod was the first would-be tyrant to try and bring the world into a global “New World Order.” His handiwork produced the Tower of Babel, which brought about a cataclysmic judgment from Jehovah. However, while Nimrod was the first globalist to try and unify the nations against God, he was certainly not the last. The Pharaohs, Darius, Artaxerxes, Cyrus, Alexander, Nebuchadnezzar, the Caesars, and hundreds like them have all brought their tyrannical rule over the hearts of men. And their ideas and passions are as alive and active in the world today as ever.

With every would-be world tyrant, there is one constant: the unholy marriage between a supranational government and Big Religion. If Jehovah God made anything clear in the Mosaic model of government, it was the fact that--until Christ Himself comes to occupy both offices--the offices of Priest and King were to be eternally separate. At least one Old Testament Jewish king learned that lesson the hard way.

The Kings Of The North And The South

Grace Thru Faith (Link) - Jack Kelley (October 17, 2009)

This is an update of an article I first posted 2 years ago. Two things prompted me to post it again at this time. First, it’s a good follow up to last week’s article on the growth of Islam. And second, last week, at the last minute, Turkey booted Israel out of a joint training exercise also involving Italy and the US. When they withdrew in protest, Turkey responded by scheduling a training exercise with Syria instead. The reason Turkey gave was Israel’s inability to deliver an order of Heron surveillance drones to Turkey on the agreed schedule, even though it was the failure of a part produced by Turkey that made on time delivery impossible.

Turkey has been distancing itself from Israel since the Gaza offensive, and on top of the canceled training exercise recently began airing a TV series depicting Israeli soldiers as child killers. Inside sources indicate that Turkish PM Erdogan has become convinced that Turkey is destined to play a more pivotal role in Middle Eastern politics by reviving the Ottoman Empire. To that end Turkey has been more involved in MidEast diplomacy, acting as a mediator between Syria and Israel, and has formed a pact with Syria and Iran that features increased military and commercial involvement among the three. Some see in this the re-birth of an end times military force known as the King of the North in Daniel 11. Let’s take a closer look.

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.

Communitarianism & the War on the Saints

This is the first I have heard of Niki Raapana, who I just read about from Constance Cumbey's blog. I must say given President-elect Obama's stance on community organizing and planned community service, that this perspective adds some definition as to how the global governance will have eyes and ears throughout the world and we seem to be headed toward implementation of this soon.

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.

End of Nations - EU Takeover & the Lisbon Treaty

End of Nations - EU Takeover & the Lisbon Treaty : Video - 1:22:28

“We set out to make a video about the pros and cons of the Lisbon Treaty and found out to our horror the lies, manipulations and deceit behind the EU. From MEPs, legal experts and EU researches the true nature of the EU unfolded, how it really operates from behind closed doors and away from prying eyes. We discovered the massive power grab away from citizens and nations to the elites that is being proposed in this treaty. Most shocking of all was how our elected representatives are willingly handing us over to this emerging Totalitarian Superstate by deception , propaganda and outright lies.

“This video details how the structures of the EU really operate, what the full significance of the Lisbon Treaty is and how it is the end of Nations within in the EU. MEPs describe their experience in Brussels and how they are undermined by the real power of the unelected and unaccountable Eurocrats who run the organization. How the politicians are working together for their own selfish needs while being used for a bigger agenda.”

The Coming Times: 2008 And Beyond

In the course of studying Bible prophecy and watching current events, a series of events became clear that I would like to lay out for you here. It began with my personal search through the Bible to see for myself if God’s Word clarified itself to the point of the bride of Christ being able to understand the times in which we live. I had read in the Bible that we would not be in darkness and that we should watch and pray, but there are so many personal interpretations of scripture out there and I hadn’t taken the time to really search the scriptures myself because I didn’t feel I had the background to understand. So acknowledging my deficiencies, I came before the Lord in prayer and asked Him to reveal His Word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and show me His plans and not my own desires or interpretations of His plans.

This doesn’t mean I’m always right and this is not a claim to have all the answers. I will never stop warning people not to take my word for anything but to search the scriptures themselves to see whether these things are so. Acts 17:11 The Watchman Bible Study website is the result of my search for Truth and my desire to share the clarity I’ve discovered written into and interpreted by the Bible. While I am not always correct the Bible is, and so if this sequence of events does not turn out to be completely accurate that doesn’t change the Bible’s validity, just shows my lack of full understanding.

What I would like to focus on in this post is a collection of diverse prophesies found throughout the Bible in the order of events as understood through examining the context of these prophesies in light of the HIStory, Our Future Bible studies. The premise of this collection of research by other watchmen on the wall traces Israel’s judgment history through time and showing how that snaps to Israel’s feast days and the 70th week of Daniel, the final seven years of God dealing with Israel before His return in glory. These studies examine the precision of Bible prophecy and history to build faith in what was already fulfilled with 100% accuracy to look toward the future with faith that God’s Word will again be fulfilled in the future with that same accuracy. According to Matthew 24:14,15 “the end” comes at the abomination of desolation, which the HIStory, Our Future Bible studies place in just under one year (February 16, 2009) from today (March 3, 2008).