The UN International Day of Peace, the Jewish year 5777 and the Great Revelation 12 Sign have come and gone, but God’s Word has not changed. This article will focus upon three very important signs that are still very much with us: Birth pains, the peace negotiations and the battle of Gog and Magog.
Birth Pains
When asked about the signs of His coming, Jesus mentioned the deception of false Christs, wars and rumors of wars, famine, pestilence and earthquakes (Matt. 24:4-7). He called these things “the beginning of sorrows.” The Greek word translated “sorrows” means travail (labor pains or birth pangs).
Birth pains increase in frequency and intensity as the birth of a child nears. The idea is that sorrows or travail (deception, war, famine, pestilence and earthquakes) will become more severe (closer together and more intense) as the Second Coming draws near.
Some believe that this is happening now. Consider the following reports in the first 30 days after the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse that some said was a warning from God for U.S. citizens to repent:
Aug. 21-31, dozens of small earthquakes in Yellowstone National Park.
Aug. 25, Hurricane Harvey hit Texas.
Aug. 30, Hurricane Harvey hit Louisiana.
Sept. 2-6, dozens of small earthquakes in Idaho.
Sept. 3, 229,000 acres have burned in California this year.
Sept. 6, 250,000 acres have burned in Oregon this year.
Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma hit the Caribbean.
Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma passed near and badly damaged Puerto Rico.
Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Virgin Island.
Sept. 10, Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Florida Keys.
Sept. 10, Hurricane Irma hit the state of Florida.
Sept. 10, wildfires have burned one million acres in Montana this year.
Sept. 12, Hurricane Irma hit Georgia and South Carolina.
Sept. 19, Hurricane Maria hit the Caribbean.
Sept. 20, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.
If we include Mexico (a nation on the North American Continent), we can add:
On Sept. 8, an 8.1 earthquake hit Mexico.
On Sept. 9, Hurricane Katia hit Mexico.
On Sept. 19, a 7.1 earthquake hit Mexico City.
On Sept. 22, a 6.1 earthquake.
On Sept. 23, a 4.5 earthquake.
Consider this: The names of Hurricanes Jose and Maria are Spanish. The English equivalent is Joseph and Mary. While the Revelation 12 Sign (Virgo and Leo: Virgin and Jesus; First and Second Coming) was in the heavens for the first time in 6,000 years, Jose and Maria (Joseph and Mary) were impacting each other on earth.
Can anyone but God arrange this in the heavens and on earth?
The Peace Negotiations
On Sept. 22, 2017, White House Correspondent and Bible prophecy teacher, William Koenig, said the following about President Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan (http://watch.org):
It is compromised of the following elements: a U.S. coalition of Sunni countries with Israel to oppose Iran, while calling on the Sunnis to normalize relationships with Israel; expecting Arabs to force Abbas to accept a peace plan with Israel; and requiring Israel to give up most of Judea, Samaria and maybe parts of East Jerusalem.
Trump is motivating Egyptian President el-Sisi and possibly King Abdullah of Jordan to get involved in the Israeli-Palestinian talks, with the inducement of U.S. foreign aid to two countries in great economic need, as well as providing much needed military equipment. Moreover, they have the Saudis and other Sunni countries supporting a U.S./Sunni/Israel coalition out of great concerns over Iran. This follows President Trump’s Sept. 18 statement, “I think there is a good chance it could happen.”
Also, Egyptian Pres. el-Sisi’s Sept. 22 appeal to the Palestinian people said to “be ready to coexist with the Israelis in safety and peace to achieve stability and security for all” (see 1Thess. 5:3).
Notice that while President Trump was talking about his peace plan on Sept. 18, 2017, the very powerful Hurricane Maria was moving in on the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, and the devastating earthquake hit Mexico (see Joel 3:2).
The Battle of Gog and Magog
In late Aug. 2017, Israel advised the White House that it is nearing the end of its diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from stationing of troops and building bases and factories in Syria.
On Aug. 30, 2017, Russia warned Israel “not to authorize an attack on Iranian military facilities in Syria.”
On Sept. 1, 2017, it was reported that Israel has notified the world to stop Iran’s buildup in Syria or “Israel will take military action.”
On or around Sept. 20, 2017, Russia advised the U.S. in a secret meeting that Russia will respond with force if the Syrian army or Russian assets are fired upon by U.S. proxies (possibly including Israel).
On Sept. 22, 2017, Israel destroyed an Iranian-backed Hezbollah weapons convoy near Damascus.
Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com