Posted on 4/9/2011, 7:37:58 PM by GiovannaNicoletta
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
A World at War
Presently the United States is largely engaged militarily on three fronts, in Afghanistan, Iraq and most recently Libya but there are many other areas of the world where military conflicts are ongoing as well. Consider the following map I found on Wikipedia:
The areas shaded dark blue represent regions where major wars resulting in 1,000+ deaths per year are occurring. The areas shaded light blue are smaller-scale armed conflicts presently ongoing. Some of the conflicts on the map above are "nation against nation" conflicts. Israel's ongoing conflicts with Arab nations and the Korean conflict (North versus South) are examples. In contrast, other conflicts capturing headlines in the news of our world today can be uniquely identified as "kingdom against kingdom" conflicts.
Kingdom Against Kingdom
A host of African and Middle Eastern nations have been warring against themselves recently, citizen against citizen, citizen against government and vice versa. In light of Christ's prophecy, the spike in civil unrest and warfare we're presently witnessing in these areas is profound and noteworthy, many of the nations currently in turmoil holding key positions in bible prophecies yet to be fulfilled.
Among the nations currently experiencing civil uprisings and war-like "kingdom against kingdom" conditions are: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Famines
Did you know that of the 100 crop species that provide 90 percent of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees? That's the case according to the United Nations Environment Program's executive director Achim Steiner.
Bearing the above in mind, the United Nations is reportedly alarmed by a sudden and ongoing drop in global bee populations and with good cause.
Honey bee populations in recent years have reportedly dropped 10 to 30% in Europe, 30 % in the United States, and up to 85% in the Middle East.
In bible prophecy we're told that food is going to be scarce in the Tribulation Period to come (Revelation 6:5-6). Combine global human population continuing to soar with dramatic declines in honey bee populations and you have a near perfect recipe for prophetic fulfillment to occur, potentially in the near future.
Pestilences
In recent years we have been steadily warned by the global health community that potential exists for a global flu pandemic to occur that could cost millions of lives. The fear has been largely based on the possibility that the deadly bird flu (H1N1) virus would morph into a form transmissible from human to human with catastrophic results. Now scientists in separate studies are expressing concern that the H2N2 or Asian influenza virus, which claimed 1 to 4 million lives upon surfacing in 1957, could "come roaring back." As such, scientists are encouraging a pre-emptive vaccination program be developed as soon as possible.
Not only does potential for a global flu pandemic still exist, many drug-resistant "super bugs" have emerged and been discovered by the global medical community in recent years. It's no coincidence in my humble opinion. In light of bible prophecy and what science is forewarning us may be waiting in the wings for us, we can expect that trend to continue.
Christ's prophetic words ring more relevant all the time, don't they?
Earthquakes
Given what we have witnessed in recent years where earthquakes are concerned, the recent 9.0 Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami still fresh in our minds, there is little doubt that we are witnessing the birth pains of the end times where earthquake activity is concerned.
Like travail upon a woman with child (1st Thessalonians 5:3), we know that all of the events foretold in bible prophecy, including "great earthquakes in divers places", are going to increase, both in frequency and duration. The Japan earthquake is a perfect example for us to consider in light of recent news.
With the Japanese people facing a potential nuclear disaster of epic proportions along with trying to rebuild, it is being reported that a different segment of the fault line responsible for the recent quake has had stress loaded onto it closer to Tokyo. While that doesn't mean Tokyo will be hit by a major earthquake soon, potential exists. Should Tokyo be hit by a major quake it would be devastating to the area's 39 million residents, many of whom are currently under great stress because radiation leaking from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant's reactors is being found in the area's food supply and drinking water. Even as the Japanese people bravely rise to meet the challenges before them, there has to be increased concern they're going to be hit again. It seems to be but a matter of time.
Of additional interest in light of bible prophecy, the Japan quake and subsequent tsunami is reportedly going to be the world's most expensive natural disaster in history.
When these things begin to happen
Luke 21:28: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Christians, while it is natural for us to be concerned by all of the troubling things going on in the world around us, let's not forget that there is hope - a blessed hope that soon we will see Jesus Christ coming to take us home. Albeit somewhat hard to believe at times because we're all so spiritually and emotionally drained, our redemption is drawing nigh! We can be certain of this because the things prophesied by Christ to be taking place in the last days aren't just occurring here and there on our calendars anymore. They're occurring frequently, simultaneously and documentably so keep looking up! Jesus Christ is Lord and He is coming soon!
Ping!
Maybe.
We should always be ready for Christ’s return, whether these are those days or not.
The word “nation” in Matthew 24:7 is translated from the Greek word “Ethnos.” It actually means “Ethnic Group” or “race.”
With that in mind, we should expect race wars and race hatred at the “end of the age.” And that’s exactly what we are seeing!
LOL!! Thanks for proving the inerrancy of the Scriptures and for confirming that we are, indeed, in the final days before Christ's return!
You are a living fulfillment of prophecy and give all of us who are watching the signs for Christ's return coming to pass in our generation added confirmation that that event is at the door. Thank you!
Acts 13:40-41Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you’.
Habakkuk 1:4-6 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own.
I did not know that - thank-you!
Mel
Thanks for post! Do not be discourage. Keep it up. I appreciate your posts. Sometimes I think the critics are hoping your wrong because what it all means. It is totally awesome and frightening at the same time.
Today I went out for breakfast, and passed a few gas stations in Lake County, which is north of Crook County (home of Chicago) and high taxes on everything. Gas there was $3.87 at 7:30 am, 4 hours later it had jumped 22¢, to $4.07.
As the "kinetic action" in Libya continues, it drives oil and gas prices higher. As oil prices rise, the demand for bio fuels also rise, driving prices higher. Since corn and soy beans ARE ALSO food, that means the price of these food items will also rise. Farmers will leave behind growing other crops, for the profitability that corn and soy provide.
And there's the makings of a famine. Instead of growing FOOD, farmers will grow FUEL. As more and more US land is used for fuel production, less and less will be used for food production. Now lets compound a GLOBAL situation with the fact that US production PER ACRE is astronomical compared to most of the rest of the world, and in comparison to what was done 20 or 30 years ago. Meaning, more people can be fed off of less ground. But when you take a rising population and shrinking food production acreage, it means that what acreage FOR food production is very important. Imagine floods like the Nashville area had, hitting the Mississippi farm belt in late June or July. It would destroy early crops almost ready for harvest, and later crops that would be ready 1 or 2 even 3 months later.
THAT single event could throw worldwide food supplies into a tail spin.
Right now we are in a recession, and inflation is starting to rear its head. Food prices are ALREADY rising. As fuel costs rise, so does the cost of planting or harvesting crops. Imagine a family farmer planting or harvesting, going through 100 gallons of fuel A DAY, and how much his costs are going to rise to produce food to eat, and pass those costs to the final cost of food. Add to that what a natural disaster could do, if it took out a huge chunk of the food supply.
The Bible tells us, in the last days a loaf of bread will cost a denarius (a days wages).
Our government is broke. We're printing money as fast as the printing presses can print it. Next, they'll start adding more zero's to the ends of the bills. We have a $3.5+ TRILLION federal budget, and our politicians think cutting $35 BILLION is commendable. As money becomes more and more, worth less and less, it will take more money to buy less. Add to that, that it is more profitable to grow food for fuel, so fuel food then becomes more expensive. Add to that, that less food FOOD will be grown, as food FUEL will replace it, means demand for food goes up while supply goes down, so naturally prices rise. As gas prices rise, one: from inflation and two: from a war in the ME causing price instability and supply limitations, that will drive the COSt of food production and delivery higher. One or two ill timed and ill placed disasters could devastate current food supplies, driving prices even higher.
Now the kicker to all this. Bio fuels are subsidized by our government. To "LIMIT" our dependence on foreign oil, we subsidize the bio fuel industry. Next, we shut down domestic drilling in the Gulf. We ban drilling in ANWR. We block production of a pipeline for oil shale and oil sands from Canada. And we block or curtail our own mining of our own oil shale. THEN we GIVE BILLIONS of our own money (which we don't have, so we borrow it) to other countries like Brazil and Venezuela, so they can develop, research and build their own oil industry, and to drill in the waters off of our coasts, into the same deposits we forbid our own companies from drilling in.
We have the VERY MEANS to lower our fuel costs at our very own finger tips. We have fuel reserves in Alaska AND our western states AND the Gulf that EACH MATCH anything that Saudi Arabia has. And YET we block those sources AND we use food for fuel.
It doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to see a possible famine on the horizon OR a loaf of bread costing a days wages. All it takes is connecting the dots.
Thank you for your sweet encouragement! And I think you are exactly right about the motivations of those who will come on every prophecy thread and vehemently deny the word of God - it is fear. But God never tells us to shut up because we face opposition - and I don't intend to shut up.
Thank you again, johngrace - I look forward to seeing you soon!
Everything is coming together, and prophetic Scripture is being fulfilled almost too fast to keep up. All conditions and circumstances are fitting together like puzzle pieces, and it's all happening at the same time.
We're not long for this earth, FRiend. When we see the beginning of all these things, we are to look up - our Redeemer is on His way.
Thank you for an awesome post!
Thank you for the ping, keep up the great work, Giovanna! I so appreciate your postings, you are a great watchman on the wall! Please add me to the ping list for any of your postings on any forum. Don’t be discouraged in what you’re doing, we can expect to encounter scoffers in these last days just as our precious Bible predicts. We have to keep getting The Word out, be prayed up and looking up!
Time is running short for decisions to be made about one's eternal destiny and the more we spread the word, the more Satan is going to try to stop us.
Thank you so much for your encouragement, ragmop. It really means so much!
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