The pace at which Bible prophecy is being fulfilled these past few years, especially 2004 is awesome. Everything is fitting in that scenario of events that is predicted to take place shortly before the coming of Christ. And it looks like the stage is already set for the return of Christ in almost every part of that scenario.
On a recent Hal Lindsey broadcast, he talked about the increasing in speed of events that are taking place in the last few years, that are fulfilling Christ's predictions of the preceding events before His return. Here are some of the events Mr. Lindsay talked about.
For at least three decades it has been noticed - the increase of global disasters - but 2004 seemed to be the year of a giant leap of intensity and frequency. Most secular groups try to deny this, but in September 2004 the U.N. Disaster Reduction Agency has stated that "not only is the world facing more potentially destructive disasters, but increasing numbers of people are becoming vulnerable to hazards."
Disasters ranging from storms, earthquakes, and volcanoes, to wildfires, droughts and landslides have killed some 83,000 people in 2003. Compare that with 53,000 just 13 years earlier. And this statement was issued before the year of 2004 had ended. John Harding of the same U.N. organization said "Look at the number of hurricanes this year. It is hard to keep up with all the names. The scientific community tells us that the intensity and frequency of disasters are very likely to increase in the medium term due to climate change and that increase may be occurring at this stage."
In 2004, four major hurricanes hit Florida within a two month period. If it had not been for the effective warning system, thousands of lives would have been lost. Property damage has topped 32 billion so far.
More than 1700 tornados have wreaked havoc and destruction in the United States alone.
The U.N. claims that we are witnessing on an increasing scale, the frequency and intensity of earthquakes, war, famine, and pestilence.
NASA continues to document the unsettling changes in the suns solar flare cycles.
The European Union is monitoring the collapse of the earth’s magnetic field.
Scientists from all countries are urgently searching the stars for killer asteroids. Now they may have been there before we had the means to discover and track them, but this is now keeping the planet looking into the Heavens with great fear. This is just as Jesus predicted it would happen near the time of His coming. In the 21st chapter of Luke, Jesus makes the statements "...and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven", "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars...", "People will faint from fear and foreboding for what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken."
Then came the climatic magnitude 9.0 Sumatra earthquake of Sept 26th, which interestingly occurred exactly one year and 58 minutes after the disastrous Iran earthquake of 2003 - which killed tens of thousands of people. The South Asian tsunami has killed well into the 6 figures, and thus far has affected 13 countries. International aid has been rushed to aid over 5 million people. Jesus stated in Luke 21:25 "...and on earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves."
Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:8 that birth pain like signs would occur shortly before His return. He carefully chose that analogy because we know that women develop severe pains that increase in frequency and intensity just before she gives birth. He said that natural disasters would increase in frequency and strength in concert with each other in Luke 21:9-11.
All these birth pains are coming more frequently with greater power, but what is important to note is what Jesus promised to the believers in Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." It is at the beginning of these times that Jesus promise's deliverance to His own - the sudden coming of Christ for his own - (what we call the Rapture) before the onset of the world catastrophe.
Make sure you receive the gift of pardon that Jesus has provided for you.
By George Konig
April 10, 2004
www.georgekonig.org
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