The Final Countdown

We know that the Tribulation begins when the Antichrist signs a peace contract with the Middle East nations (Daniel 9:27), an agreement Israel makes with “death and hell” (Isaiah 28:15) that includes a Palestinian state and the division of Jerusalem (Joel 3:2; Zechariah 14:2). All outside nations involved in trying to forge peace, including the United States, demand the two-state solution be part of any arrangement deal reached. This is exactly what happens when a leader arises after the EU morphs into a world government (Daniel 7:8, 20, 24, 9:26; Revelation 13:1) and constructs the peace contract. Today, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal was quoted as saying the group wants a Palestinian state along with a ten-year peace contract signed, but we know when the deal actually happens it will be for seven years (Daniel 9:27).

According to World Net Daily, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government is already erecting a barrier to divide the land. Netanyahu also said he is ready to engage in peace talks with the Palestinians and Arab world. Amazing! It is all coming together right before our eyes.

Tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East. On the same day a Hizbullah terror cell in Egypt admitted to plotting terrorist attacks in Israel, an Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that Israeli possession of nuclear weapons is the greatest threat to security in the region. Meanwhile, an Iranian Army General Commander announced that he could “wipe Israel out of existence in 11 days,” yet another fulfillment of Psalm 83:4.  Egypt (Daniel 11:40), Iran (Ezekiel 38:5), and Palestine (Psalm 83:7) are all part of the Russian led confederation (Psalm 83:4-5; Ezekiel 38:8, 16) that attacks Israel (Ezekiel 38:15) 42 months after the original contract is signed (Daniel 9:27; Ezekiel 38:11).

Every thing is falling into place. Soon the Jews of Israel will rebuild the temple and begin following the ordinances of sacrifice from the Old Testament. We know this because after the Antichrist is killed and resurrected, he is incarnated by Satan (Revelation 12:12-13, 13:8, 17:8), and sits in this temple and announces to the world that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4), putting an end to the animal sacrifices of the Jews (Daniel 9:27).

Glory to God, Jerusalem will be saved, for the Lord Jesus Christ returns to Jerusalem (Zechariah 2:10, 14:4). After reigning for 1,000 years He will deliver the Kingdom back to the Father and be recommissioned (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), and then Christ reigns with His saints forever and ever (Revelation 11:15, 22:5; Luke 1:32-33; Hebrews 1:8; Daniel 7:18, 22, 27). The earth will be restored, for it will never end (Ecclesiastes 1:4; Psalm 104:5, 125:1) and will become the inheritance for many (Isaiah 60:21; Psalm 37:29; Matthew 5:5).

There are a lot of smaller stories in the news today, so instead of making several shorter postings, let’s combine some of the more appropriate stories into one post.

Lebanon wants to keep strong ties with Egypt while Jordan continues to push for Palestinian statehood.  Lebanon (Psalm 83:7), Egypt (Daniel 11:40), Jordan (Psalm 83:7), and a Palestinian state (Psalm 83:7) are all part of the Russian confederation that tries to eliminate Israel (Psalm 83:4-5) halfway through the Tribulation (Daniel 9:26-27; Ezekiel 38:11).

North Korea proclaims it has restarted its nuclear facilities and is said to be harvesting plutonium. North Korea is also reprocessing fuel rods at a time when three of its national companies have been blacklisted by the UN for their role in developing ballistic missile technology. North Korea will be one of the Oriental nations to join with China in a march to the Middle East (Revelation 16:12). This follows the Russian led march against Israel mentioned above. In both instances nuclear weapons will be used (Revelation 8:7, 9:18; Isaiah 13:10-13; Joel 2:3, 30; 2 Peter 3:10-12).

Great Britain has announced a plan to monitor every email and listen to every internet phone call that comes through its borders. The Antichrist, whose headquarters will apparently be in Europe (Daniel 7:20, 24; 9:26), will use similar technology to monitor and track every human on earth, but at an even deeper level (Revelation 13:16-18), enabling him to gain control over the whole earth (Daniel 7:23; Revelation 13:7). The technology exists for this now, and it is already in use in some instances.

Two Christians were executed by the Taliban for protesting Muslim graffiti that demanded they renounce Christ. There have been more Christians murdered for the faith in the last 100 years than in the previous 1900 years combined, and it will continue to get worse. During the Tribulation, millions of souls will be saved (Revelation 7:9-14) thanks to the preaching of the 144,000 converted Jews (Revelation 7:4-8). Most (not all) of these new believers will face death by beheading, just as it is done in Muslim countries today (Revelation 20:4). It is often done at the hand of one’s own parents or children (Mark 13:12-13), because they think that by obeying the Antichrist, they are doing God’s work (John 16:2), because he claims to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 11:36).

Also of note, the group responsible for the murder of these Christians, the Taliban, is gaining traction in Pakistan, a nuclear power nation. They could get access to nuclear weapons and nuclear technology, helping to fulfill the above prophecies concerning the Arab states.

World leaders are looking to the United States to spark the recovery out of the current global recession. The US will still be the world’s creator of wealth into the Tribulation (Jeremiah 51:3; Revelation 18:11-15), at which time she appears to be laid desolate (Revelation 18:10) by Russia (Jeremiah 50:9).

As predicted, Iran celebrated National Nuclear day by proclaiming that it has “accomplished the last stage of the nuclear fuel cycle.”

Iran is now running 7,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges, a senior official said on Thursday, an announcement likely to increase Western concerns about the Islamic Republic’s disputed nuclear plans.

Gholamreza Aghazadeh, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, also said it had obtained the technology to produce more “accurate” centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium.

Referring to the inauguration of a nuclear fuel production plant by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier on Thursday, he said in a televised speech: “Today we praise … the accomplishment of the last stage of the nuclear fuel cycle.”

Iran–which constantly repeats its promise to annihilate Israel and the United States–will join with Russia (Ezekiel 38:5), Egypt (Daniel 11:40), Syria (Isaiah 17:1, Psalm 83:8), Ethiopia (Ezekiel 38:5), Libya (Ezekiel 38:5), Turkey (Ezekiel 38:6), Jordan (Psalm 83:7), Lebanon (Psalm 83:7), Palestine (Psalm 83:7), and several other nations to attack Israel (Psalm 83:4-5; Ezekiel 38:15).