Someone wrote me recently asking about what signs we should be looking for that point to the end of the world and if the recent conflicts in the Middle East means that time is now.  I thought I’d share my response:

Things certainly are going crazy.  Some hold the Middle East as a key to the time of trouble.  I don’t necessarily see that in the Bible because we are all spiritual Israel and the predictions about attacks on “Israel” are pointing to all God’s people, not some geographic area.  However, Jesus did say there will be wars and rumors of wars right before the end and I think the extremists are providing that piece in the region. 

One of the things I’m watching in the U.S. is the sudden spiritual depravity and new strong attacks on Christianity.  A family movie with nothing at all offensive in it was just given a PG rating and the warning says that it may be offensive to some viewers because it contains Christian themes.  See article about this: http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=RELIGION-FAITH-06-07-06

At Oregon State U. their school paper published two pictures of Jesus in the nude with an erection.  In one of them He is kissing another nude man.  When asked by Christians to apologize they said they had nothing to apologize for.  The school also saw no reason to apologize or discipline these student editors.  Imagine if they had made the same pictures with Martin Luther King, Mohamed, Gandhi, or Buddha – the world would have gone crazy and these students would be kicked out of school for certain.  But for some reason it is ok to defame Jesus in this way.  You can see these sick pictures with pixilated areas at:  afa.net/images/jesus_and_man.jpg make sure to start with www. (I didn’t because these pics then would be shown with this article and they are very disturbing).

This last Easter I was shocked at how many new television shows there were that basically called the historical Jesus a lie.  One said He was a power hungry person who was thrust into popularity by His family.  There were other ridiculous theories on many other programs too.  Even though there is not one shred of evidence to be found any where at all, some person makes up a story to try to disprove Christ’s divinity and they actually make a show like it’s credible.  If anyone made any kind of claims like these about any other historical figure they would be laughed at and no station would ever air such ridiculous claims. 

It is ok to be gay, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, etc. But if you’re a Christian you are automatically a narrow-minded bigot, believing in some outdated fairytale.  Again, signs of the end.

Another thing I think is a sign of the end coming soon is global warming.  This planet’s environment is so stressed that nature is going crazy.  Plus, I can’t see how the human species could even survive on this planet at the rate we’re destroying it for more than 50 years unless there are some huge changes.  We’re bringing some of the end time plagues upon ourselves.

It makes one think that we have little time to do what God has called us to do.  What do you think? 

God bless!

Yes I think the end is nigh...but our quality of life is going to drop out from beneath our feet, im sure of it. In the past the Waldensies (spelling?) lived in th mountains but were often attacked, dragged out, and burnt at the stake, or tortured, but that pocket of godly people held on to GOD’s hand with a firm grasp. They had to live in cold, cramped, muddy places sometimes, and feared most of the world around them.
I beleive that in the days leading up to the true end times we will all experience things like this and some of us, much worse. Right now it seems bad, yes students think of oral sex as at the same level as prolonged kissing, yes terrorism is on the rise, yes were having more earthquakes and severe natural disasters. However I feel this is just the beginning of things much worse. I think america will experience the same state of hopelessness as some third world countries, crime, looting, rape, religous supression, and spiritualism (demonically influenced religion) will be exposed on the streets…
I think that more natural disasters and terror attacks will push the stilts that our countries’ economy is on, out from under it. We will see mass poverty, like the great depression.
I beleive that the spiritualism we will see in the near future is being initiated through the media we consume now, getting people used to the idea that if it exists...its ok. The more we see death on the television the less it affects us, the more we see homosexuality (it used to startle me) the more we get used to it, an expect it. So with spiritualism, the more we see it in books we read, in movies, hear about it on the television...the less scary it will be. the more likley it is for some to give it a whirl.
We as seekers of the truth need to know our stuff before entering these times, the bible says if it were possible even the elect will be fooled. All it takes is for us to break out of the american inspired attitude we secretly know is lazyness. We must seek out the truth in the pages of the bible. (we must strive to be the unfoolable ELECT)
I dont think nature is going crazy, i think if we look back at what nature is like right now when the end is really really near, we would laugh at the idea that it was going crazy. YES hundreds of thousands have been killed in tsunamis and huricanes, but just wait. (all this is just in my opinion)

I Really enjoy Daniel and Revelation. At one time I memorized the last half of Revelation because it gives such hope for our futures.

There is always the question “Who is the 144,000”? Rev 7:1-8 Could it be that this is not just a lable but an actual number of people who come through the time of tribulation and present the truth about Christ and His love for mankind. Rev. 14:1-6 states that the Three Angels Message will be given to them at the beginning when the trumpet blasts which announces the beginning of God’s wrath on sinners. I believe this special group of people come from all over the world and are of many faiths. They will be working simultaneous in their efforts. Notice I did not say they will be the only ones who will be saved. Next in Rev 7:9-17 you will notice after the 144,000 who were sealed there is another group of people mentioned, a great multitude that no one can count who will be standing before the throne. These people are sincere in their walk with Him. Perhaps these folks cooperate with the 144,000. It will be part of the 144,000 mission, at the time of the 5th trumpet when Satan is allowed to appear as Jesus to announce ”If anyone worchips the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too will drink the wine of God’s fury”. The message kinda of reminds me off the type of message a prophet would of given.

As I grew up in faith it was taught to me the the 144,000 was the number of people who would be saved. this was omenous to me because that is such a small number to come out of the time of the end. It has also been presented to me as the number being a label, such as the Fortyniner’s are a football team. Neither one sat right with me. I would much rather believe from my studies this is a very special froup of people who will be given special insights, knowledge, or final interpretation of D & R. who will with the Holy Spirit make the final rally of Gods calling before Christs return for his most beloved children in this world! ki

Ki (Gardengirl)
This is a novel interpretation of the number 144,000! I think that it sounds better than the other explanations I have heard as well. I still am not sure that its a specific number, but if it IS then it sounds about right for the number of people the world over who are going to be the elect. I think that a world wide network of people..........I was JUST struck with something. I think that many truth seeking individuals, highly spiritual people will experience many of the spiritual gifts that are normally NOT included in lists of spiritual gifts. Things like prophecy, martyrdom, tongues, and interpretation of tongues, and miraculous healing. There may be others. Jesus had every spiritual gift (just a note). Much like the pentecost…

ACTS 2
1 On the day of Pentecost[a] all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Garden Girl you said…

“at the time of the 5th trumpet when Satan is allowed to appear as Jesus to announce ”If anyone worchips the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too will drink the wine of God’s fury”. The message kinda of reminds me off the type of message a prophet would of given.”

How did you reach the conclusion that this is Satan? And how did you reach the conclusion that he would be allowed to appear as Jesus? I beleive this but...Im not sure why.

HI Jessie, As I let the Bible interpret it’s self I have believed the beast to be Satan. Rev 9:1-11 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from the sky to the earth. Remember Lucifer was called the morning star before his fall. As I read on in these tests i see what looks like Satan personating Jesus as closely as he is allowed. I think the locusts are his angels also with power that will deceive the lost by appearing beautiful and with deceiving powers. As we read on we see they “have a king over them the angel of the Abyss”. I can see it now, this star surrounded by billions of his angels (locusts) deceiving many that this is the second coming. An over whelming deception to those who do not have their names written in the Lambs book. Rev 17:8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of Life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not and yet will-come.. Again in Daniel 11:36-37 we find how Satan shows his arrogancy “....but will exult himself above them all.” Satan will be worshiped by the lost.

Remember in Rev. 12:3-4 Than another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon .....His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The great Red Dragon appeared in Heaven. Not on the earth where he was thrown, cast, hurled out of heaven with a third of angels he had deceived.

Rev. 13:1-18 ”Than I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon.”, Satan impersonating Christ (the lamb).

Jessie you stated “I was JUST struck with something. I think that many truth seeking individuals, highly spiritual people will experience many of the spiritual gifts that are normally NOT included in lists of spiritual gifts. Things like prophecy, martyrdom, tongues, and interpretation of tongues, and miraculous healing. There may be others. Jesus had every spiritual gift (just a note). Much like the Pentecost… “ I totally agree. I even think we can draw on them even now, personally if I did, it would be very humbling and I do not think I could testify to such powers because there is so much unbelief even among believes. All praise for miracle’s should go to our Abba anyway.

Now it would be hard for me to believe I will be one of the 144,000 as I interpret it, a supporter of them yes. I can hardly remember where any thing is found in the Bible. Other than Revelation I have a hard time giving a bible study on any topic. Even with Daniel and Revelation I have to keep going back to the book to find the support for my beliefs on the interpretation of the prophesy. Do not expect to have a verbal conversation with me and it flow right of the cuff.

Your right any thing out of the traditional will be seen as trouble. Ellen G White stated in Fundamentals of Christian Education page 403, “Those who have been enlightened in reference to the truth for these last days, will not find instruction in the books generally studied today, in regard to the things which are coming upon our world; (and my favorite part) but the Bible is full of the knowledge of God...” This can be so threatening to many. We can only believe what God convicts us of. We must study for ourselves and test what is taught us.

Here is a cool text, Habakkuk 2:3 For the revelation awaits a appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Revelation means, “the revealing or the disclosure of that which was previously unknown.” I look forward to when God will unveil the complete and correct interpretation of Revelation. We must be patient and know the mysteries of the end time will be revealed to those of us who are faithful.

I find the book of Revelation to be quite fascinating.  I look forward to the day to be able to hear Jesus himself walk us through it.  “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, ...” (I Cor 13:12).

Keep it realz…