Post by FaithWalker on Mar 5, 2008 9:52:43 GMT -6
Bible Prophecy In The News by Rodrigo Silva
When speaking to the disciples about the signs of the end of the age,Jesus said:
''And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.'' Luke 21:28
In other words,Jesus told his followers to watch for certain signs which would indicate that His return was close.The context of Luke 21 speaks about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jews falling by the edge of the sword and being led away to captivity to all nations.All this was fulfilled a few decades later when the Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and scattered the Jews in 70 A.D.In the same passage, Jesus also said:
''and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.'' Luke 21:24
Jerusalem began to be trodden down of the Gentiles after the Jews were scattered to all nations until the times of the Gentiles was partially fulfilled after the Jews recaptured Jerusalem during the 1967 six-day war.Scriptures tell us that Jerusalem will again fall to Gentile hands for 42 months or the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period.
In parallel passages like Matthew 24 ,Jesus gives more details about what would occur after 1967.He talks about events that will occur just prior and during the Tribulation period.These events include wars and rumors of wars,earthquakes,famines,pestilences,false Christs and false prophets,world wide persecution of Christians,the Abomination of Desolation which will occur when a newly rebuilt Jewish Temple stands on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem,cosmic upheavals and His return after all these Tribulation events.
In this article we will try to examine the latest world events in light of these signs predicted by Jesus.We will quote a few headlines and see how they relate to the prophetic scenario laid out by Jesus himself.That is why this article is titled ''Bible Prophecy In The News'' which is also the name of our ministry and web site.
Let's begin with false Christs and false prophets.
''And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many . . .And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.''Matthew 24:5,11
Jesus said that many false Christs and false prophets would come to deceive many.
On February 21, 2008,the Washington Post reported:
Who is Jesus? He's three people, says Deepak Chopra
''Who is Jesus? According to spiritual guru Deepak Chopra, there are three interpretations.
In his book "The Third Jesus," published this week, Chopra says there is a "sketchy historical figure," a second "abstract theological creation" and a third Jesus with the highest level of enlightenment -- what Chopra calls God-consciousness.
"I want to offer the possibility that Jesus was truly, as he proclaimed, a savior," Chopra wrote. "Not the savior, not the one and only Son of God. Rather Jesus embodied the highest level of enlightenment.
"He spent his brief adult life describing it, teaching it, and passing it on to future generations," he said. "Jesus intended to save the world by showing others the path to God-consciousness."
Read full article: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022101571.html
This headline shows that a spiritual guru is saying that people can achieve ''God consciousness'' and that Jesus came to teach people the way to achieve highest levels of enlightenment.This spiritual guru is basically saying that people become like Christ.They are in fact false Christs just like Jesus said would come in the end times..
On September 12,2006 CBS 4 reported:
The Man Who Claims To Be Jesus
''His name is Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda; his followers call him everything from apostle to Dad, or simply Jesus Christ Man. De Jesus Miranda himself believes he's the living incarnation of "Jesus Christ Man," "the second coming of Christ."
A follower of his believes "he is God, he is God." She also lavishes him with money and gifts.
"I don't have one Rolex," de Jesus Miranda said, "I have 3 because they want to give it to me. It's like that woman that came to Jesus with the expensive perfume and put it on his feet. He didn't reject it, so when someone gives me a watch or a gift, I receive it. I like them too, they're nice."
Read full article: cbs4.com/topstories/jesus.Christ.Jesus.2.395540.html
Indeed Jose Luiz de Jesus Miranda is a false Christ and a false prophet
Now let's look at wars and rumors of wars.
''And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.''Matthew 24:6-7
One thing we must bear in mind is the fact that when Jesus spoke about wars,he was primarily referring to wars in the Middle East.According to Old Testament passages like Psalm 83,Ezekiel 35,38 & 39,Joel 3,and Zechariah 12:1-5 & 14:1-4,all the coming wars would be between Israel and Middle Eastern nations,therefore,Jesus was primarily referring to wars which will include Israel as one of the main players.
The Arab-Israeli war
On February 18,2008 the Jerusalem Post reported:
Iran: 'Cancerous' Israel to soon disappear
''The cancerous growth Israel will soon disappear," Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Muhammad Ali Jafari wrote to Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the FARS news agency reported Monday. In a letter of condolence following last week's assassination of Hizbullah terror chief Imad Mughniyeh, Jafari said: "I am convinced that with every passing day Hizbullah's might is increasing and in the near future, we will witness the disappearance of this cancerous growth Israel by means of the Hizbullah fighters' radiation [therapy]."
Read full article: www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203283465824&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
On January 23,2008 MEMRI reported:
Iranian Website: In Response to an Israeli Attack, Iran Can, With Syria's Help, Wipe Out Half of Israel
''Following reports on Israel's January 17, 2008 test of the Jericho III missile, which has a range of 4,500 km, the Iranian website Tabnak, which is affiliated with Iranian Expediency Council secretary and former Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Mohsen Rezai, wrote that the missile's addition to Israel's arsenal does not change the balance of power between Israel and Iran.
The website stated that in the event of a conflict with Israel, Iran would use its strategic alliance with Syria to fire missiles at Israel from Syrian territory. It also hinted that, in addition to assistance from Syria, any attack by Israel would also bring retaliation by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hizbullah.''
Read full article: memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD182008
The Gog and Magog war.
In Ezekiel 38 & 39 we read about a Russian-Islamic alliance against Israel in the end times.
On October 10,2007 Israel National News reported:
Israel Warns World War III May be Biblical War of Gog and Magog
''(IsraelNN.com) US President George W. Bush said a nuclear Iran would mean World War III. Israeli newscasts featured Gog & Magog maps of the likely alignment of nations in that potential conflict.
Channel 2 and Channel 10 TV showed the world map, sketching the basic alignment of the two opposing axes in a coming world war, in a manner evoking associations of the Gog and Magog prophecy for many viewers. The prophecy of Gog and Magog refers to a great world war centered on the Holy Land and Jerusalem and first appears in the book of Yechezkel (Ezekiel).
On one side were Israel, the United States, Britain, France and Germany. On the other were Iran, Russia, China, Syria and North Korea.''
Read full article: www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123961
Now let's look at the possibility of a rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem
''When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)'' Matthew 24:15
The Abomination of Desolation is a future event which will occur when a Jewish Temple stands in Jerusalem.It will occur when the Antichrist enters the Jewish Temple and declares that he is god.
Preparations for the rebuilding of this Temple
On December 2,2007 Israel National News reported:
Temple Institute Announces: High Priest's Crown is Ready!
''The Temple Institute in Jerusalem announces the completion of the Tzitz, the High Priest's headplate - now ready for use in the Holy Temple.The tzitz is made of pure gold, was fashioned over the course of a more than a year by the craftsmen of the Temple Institute, and is ready to be worn by the High Priest in the rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem.''
Read full article: www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124443
On December 24, 2007 the Universal Torah Network reported:
The Golden Menorah: Moving Closer to its Destination
''The Temple Institute is dedicated to bringing about spiritual revolution and preparing for the building of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, in our time.On the second night of Chanuka, 5768 (December 6, 2007), the golden menora prepared by the Temple Institute and fit for use in the Holy Temple, was moved from the archaeological site of the Roman Cardo in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, to its new location, alongside the Yehudah Halevi staircase leading from the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall Plaza. There it overlooks the Temple Mount, site of the future Holy Temple. A small move, perhaps, for the golden menora, but a giant leap forward for mankind, as the rebuilding of the House of G-d becomes one step closer.''
Source: universaltorah.com/programming/2007/12/24/the-golden-menora-moving-closer-to-its-destination.htm
Now let' look at the persecution of Christians:
''Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.'' Matthew 24:9
On January 18,2008 the Bulletin reported:
More On The Strange Case Of The Worldwide Persecution Of Christians
''Why was their more public attention and media coverage of the alleged abuse of Ellen DeGeneres' doggie placement than there was on the 45 million Christians killed for their faith across the 20th century and still being killed and persecuted at an increasing rate?Why was their more attention on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and his dog fighting ring than on the 600 million Christians now suffering persecution (bodily harm or the threat thereof) and various forms of harassment because of their religion?''
Read full article: www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=19210513&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=623508&rfi=6
Now let's look at famines,pestilences and earthquakes
''and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.''Matthew 24:7
On December 17,2007 the Harald Tribune reported:
World food stocks dwindling rapidly, UN warns
'' In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday.he changes created "a very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food," particularly in the developing world, said Jacques Diouf, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.The agency's food price index rose by more than 40 percent this year, compared with 9 percent the year before - a rate that was already unacceptable, he said. New figures show that the total cost of foodstuffs imported by the neediest countries rose 25 percent, to $107 million, in the last year.''
Read full article: www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/17/europe/food.php
On January 3,2008 Y Net News reported:
Deadly strain of bird flu found in Binyamina
''The Haifa District Physician, Prof. Shmuel Rishpon, confirmed Thursday that a deadly strain of the bird flu virus has infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten. Earlier Thursday morning 18 of the 25 chickens in the kindergarten's petting zoo, were found dead."The virus was identified as H5N1 bird flue," said Rishpon, adding that humans that contract this strain have only a 50% survival rate.''
Read full article: www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3489988,00.html
On February 15,2008 the Herald Tribune reported:
Earthquake strikes Lebanon, shakes Mideast
''BEIRUT, Lebanon: An earthquake shook parts of Lebanon and neighboring countries on Friday, causing minor damage and panic among residents. Five people were lightly injured in southern Lebanon, according to police.
The Magnitude 5 earthquake was centered near the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre, according to Alexandre Sursock, head of the Lebanese Bhannes Center for Seismic and Scientific Research, and the U.S. Geological survey.
Residents of Syria, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel also reported feeling the quake.''
Read full article: www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/15/africa/ME-GEN-Lebanon-Quake.php
Continued Below!
When speaking to the disciples about the signs of the end of the age,Jesus said:
''And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.'' Luke 21:28
In other words,Jesus told his followers to watch for certain signs which would indicate that His return was close.The context of Luke 21 speaks about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jews falling by the edge of the sword and being led away to captivity to all nations.All this was fulfilled a few decades later when the Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and scattered the Jews in 70 A.D.In the same passage, Jesus also said:
''and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.'' Luke 21:24
Jerusalem began to be trodden down of the Gentiles after the Jews were scattered to all nations until the times of the Gentiles was partially fulfilled after the Jews recaptured Jerusalem during the 1967 six-day war.Scriptures tell us that Jerusalem will again fall to Gentile hands for 42 months or the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period.
In parallel passages like Matthew 24 ,Jesus gives more details about what would occur after 1967.He talks about events that will occur just prior and during the Tribulation period.These events include wars and rumors of wars,earthquakes,famines,pestilences,false Christs and false prophets,world wide persecution of Christians,the Abomination of Desolation which will occur when a newly rebuilt Jewish Temple stands on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem,cosmic upheavals and His return after all these Tribulation events.
In this article we will try to examine the latest world events in light of these signs predicted by Jesus.We will quote a few headlines and see how they relate to the prophetic scenario laid out by Jesus himself.That is why this article is titled ''Bible Prophecy In The News'' which is also the name of our ministry and web site.
Let's begin with false Christs and false prophets.
''And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many . . .And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.''Matthew 24:5,11
Jesus said that many false Christs and false prophets would come to deceive many.
On February 21, 2008,the Washington Post reported:
Who is Jesus? He's three people, says Deepak Chopra
''Who is Jesus? According to spiritual guru Deepak Chopra, there are three interpretations.
In his book "The Third Jesus," published this week, Chopra says there is a "sketchy historical figure," a second "abstract theological creation" and a third Jesus with the highest level of enlightenment -- what Chopra calls God-consciousness.
"I want to offer the possibility that Jesus was truly, as he proclaimed, a savior," Chopra wrote. "Not the savior, not the one and only Son of God. Rather Jesus embodied the highest level of enlightenment.
"He spent his brief adult life describing it, teaching it, and passing it on to future generations," he said. "Jesus intended to save the world by showing others the path to God-consciousness."
Read full article: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022101571.html
This headline shows that a spiritual guru is saying that people can achieve ''God consciousness'' and that Jesus came to teach people the way to achieve highest levels of enlightenment.This spiritual guru is basically saying that people become like Christ.They are in fact false Christs just like Jesus said would come in the end times..
On September 12,2006 CBS 4 reported:
The Man Who Claims To Be Jesus
''His name is Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda; his followers call him everything from apostle to Dad, or simply Jesus Christ Man. De Jesus Miranda himself believes he's the living incarnation of "Jesus Christ Man," "the second coming of Christ."
A follower of his believes "he is God, he is God." She also lavishes him with money and gifts.
"I don't have one Rolex," de Jesus Miranda said, "I have 3 because they want to give it to me. It's like that woman that came to Jesus with the expensive perfume and put it on his feet. He didn't reject it, so when someone gives me a watch or a gift, I receive it. I like them too, they're nice."
Read full article: cbs4.com/topstories/jesus.Christ.Jesus.2.395540.html
Indeed Jose Luiz de Jesus Miranda is a false Christ and a false prophet
Now let's look at wars and rumors of wars.
''And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.''Matthew 24:6-7
One thing we must bear in mind is the fact that when Jesus spoke about wars,he was primarily referring to wars in the Middle East.According to Old Testament passages like Psalm 83,Ezekiel 35,38 & 39,Joel 3,and Zechariah 12:1-5 & 14:1-4,all the coming wars would be between Israel and Middle Eastern nations,therefore,Jesus was primarily referring to wars which will include Israel as one of the main players.
The Arab-Israeli war
On February 18,2008 the Jerusalem Post reported:
Iran: 'Cancerous' Israel to soon disappear
''The cancerous growth Israel will soon disappear," Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Muhammad Ali Jafari wrote to Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the FARS news agency reported Monday. In a letter of condolence following last week's assassination of Hizbullah terror chief Imad Mughniyeh, Jafari said: "I am convinced that with every passing day Hizbullah's might is increasing and in the near future, we will witness the disappearance of this cancerous growth Israel by means of the Hizbullah fighters' radiation [therapy]."
Read full article: www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203283465824&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
On January 23,2008 MEMRI reported:
Iranian Website: In Response to an Israeli Attack, Iran Can, With Syria's Help, Wipe Out Half of Israel
''Following reports on Israel's January 17, 2008 test of the Jericho III missile, which has a range of 4,500 km, the Iranian website Tabnak, which is affiliated with Iranian Expediency Council secretary and former Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Mohsen Rezai, wrote that the missile's addition to Israel's arsenal does not change the balance of power between Israel and Iran.
The website stated that in the event of a conflict with Israel, Iran would use its strategic alliance with Syria to fire missiles at Israel from Syrian territory. It also hinted that, in addition to assistance from Syria, any attack by Israel would also bring retaliation by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hizbullah.''
Read full article: memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD182008
The Gog and Magog war.
In Ezekiel 38 & 39 we read about a Russian-Islamic alliance against Israel in the end times.
On October 10,2007 Israel National News reported:
Israel Warns World War III May be Biblical War of Gog and Magog
''(IsraelNN.com) US President George W. Bush said a nuclear Iran would mean World War III. Israeli newscasts featured Gog & Magog maps of the likely alignment of nations in that potential conflict.
Channel 2 and Channel 10 TV showed the world map, sketching the basic alignment of the two opposing axes in a coming world war, in a manner evoking associations of the Gog and Magog prophecy for many viewers. The prophecy of Gog and Magog refers to a great world war centered on the Holy Land and Jerusalem and first appears in the book of Yechezkel (Ezekiel).
On one side were Israel, the United States, Britain, France and Germany. On the other were Iran, Russia, China, Syria and North Korea.''
Read full article: www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123961
Now let's look at the possibility of a rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem
''When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)'' Matthew 24:15
The Abomination of Desolation is a future event which will occur when a Jewish Temple stands in Jerusalem.It will occur when the Antichrist enters the Jewish Temple and declares that he is god.
Preparations for the rebuilding of this Temple
On December 2,2007 Israel National News reported:
Temple Institute Announces: High Priest's Crown is Ready!
''The Temple Institute in Jerusalem announces the completion of the Tzitz, the High Priest's headplate - now ready for use in the Holy Temple.The tzitz is made of pure gold, was fashioned over the course of a more than a year by the craftsmen of the Temple Institute, and is ready to be worn by the High Priest in the rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem.''
Read full article: www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124443
On December 24, 2007 the Universal Torah Network reported:
The Golden Menorah: Moving Closer to its Destination
''The Temple Institute is dedicated to bringing about spiritual revolution and preparing for the building of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, in our time.On the second night of Chanuka, 5768 (December 6, 2007), the golden menora prepared by the Temple Institute and fit for use in the Holy Temple, was moved from the archaeological site of the Roman Cardo in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, to its new location, alongside the Yehudah Halevi staircase leading from the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall Plaza. There it overlooks the Temple Mount, site of the future Holy Temple. A small move, perhaps, for the golden menora, but a giant leap forward for mankind, as the rebuilding of the House of G-d becomes one step closer.''
Source: universaltorah.com/programming/2007/12/24/the-golden-menora-moving-closer-to-its-destination.htm
Now let' look at the persecution of Christians:
''Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.'' Matthew 24:9
On January 18,2008 the Bulletin reported:
More On The Strange Case Of The Worldwide Persecution Of Christians
''Why was their more public attention and media coverage of the alleged abuse of Ellen DeGeneres' doggie placement than there was on the 45 million Christians killed for their faith across the 20th century and still being killed and persecuted at an increasing rate?Why was their more attention on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and his dog fighting ring than on the 600 million Christians now suffering persecution (bodily harm or the threat thereof) and various forms of harassment because of their religion?''
Read full article: www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=19210513&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=623508&rfi=6
Now let's look at famines,pestilences and earthquakes
''and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.''Matthew 24:7
On December 17,2007 the Harald Tribune reported:
World food stocks dwindling rapidly, UN warns
'' In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday.he changes created "a very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food," particularly in the developing world, said Jacques Diouf, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.The agency's food price index rose by more than 40 percent this year, compared with 9 percent the year before - a rate that was already unacceptable, he said. New figures show that the total cost of foodstuffs imported by the neediest countries rose 25 percent, to $107 million, in the last year.''
Read full article: www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/17/europe/food.php
On January 3,2008 Y Net News reported:
Deadly strain of bird flu found in Binyamina
''The Haifa District Physician, Prof. Shmuel Rishpon, confirmed Thursday that a deadly strain of the bird flu virus has infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten. Earlier Thursday morning 18 of the 25 chickens in the kindergarten's petting zoo, were found dead."The virus was identified as H5N1 bird flue," said Rishpon, adding that humans that contract this strain have only a 50% survival rate.''
Read full article: www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3489988,00.html
On February 15,2008 the Herald Tribune reported:
Earthquake strikes Lebanon, shakes Mideast
''BEIRUT, Lebanon: An earthquake shook parts of Lebanon and neighboring countries on Friday, causing minor damage and panic among residents. Five people were lightly injured in southern Lebanon, according to police.
The Magnitude 5 earthquake was centered near the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre, according to Alexandre Sursock, head of the Lebanese Bhannes Center for Seismic and Scientific Research, and the U.S. Geological survey.
Residents of Syria, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel also reported feeling the quake.''
Read full article: www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/15/africa/ME-GEN-Lebanon-Quake.php
Continued Below!