On Apr. 8, 2024, Bible prophecy expert Hal Lindsey wrote,
- These (nations arming as never before, Russia attacking Ukraine, China threatening Taiwan, etc.) and a host of other things going on today make a perfect setup for events that the Bible says will take place during seven years of tribulation. I believe those years are very close. But they are not imminent. The global conflagrations described in Revelation will not take place until after the Rapture — that is, until after God has evacuated His people from the planet.
I can only speculate on what Hal Lindsey’s list of “other things” would include, but here is a short list of things that I see:
- Israel has come back into being, Jerusalem has been rebuilt, radical Muslims are trying to destroy Israel, the whole world is turning against Israel, Israel has unblemished red heifers, religious Jews want to rebuild the Temple, world leaders are demanding a covenant of peace, etc.
- Europe (the Revived Roman Empire) has reunited, leaders are talking about creating and financing an EU military, etc.
- The New World Order (world government by 2030 or sooner) is rising, a global economic collapse appears to be looming, the price of gold and silver is soaring, the technology to track all buying and selling is almost ready, etc.
- Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others have troops in Syria; Russian troops and Iranian proxies in Syria are moving closer to Israel’s border; Russia is building military sites on Syria’s border with Israel; Iran is threatening to attack Israel, etc.
- Deceit, immorality, false teachings, Satan worship, drug abuse, and murder are rampant.
- Knowledge (artificial intelligence, quantum computers, etc.) is increasing faster than society can adapt.
These things are a perfect setup for the fulfillment of Tribulation Period prophecies, and (as Hal Lindsey noted) the Rapture will happen before that.
Here are recent events that appear to indicate that the end of the age is near.
One, on Apr. 13, 2024, Iran started attacking Israel:
- Israel, Syria, and Jordan went on high alert.
- It took 4-5 hours for the bomb-carrying drones to reach Israel.
- The drones were large because they had to be big enough to carry several hours of fuel and a bomb.
- It is estimated that about 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles and rockets were fired at Israel (and Israel, the U.S., UK, and Jordan shot down about 99% of them).
- Some of the 1% that got through were shot down over Jerusalem. (Oddly enough, Israel wound up protecting the Dome of the Rock from Iran.)
- Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets at Israel.
- Israel called it an unprecedented attack by Iran on Israel.
- Israel’s war cabinet approved a powerful response on Iranian soil.
- The U.S. urged Israel not to retaliate.
- Biden told Israel U.S. forces will not participate in an Israeli attack on Iran.
- The U.S. asked Israel for advance notice before they respond.
- Israel said it will coordinate their response with the U.S.
- Russia warned the U.S. not to attack Iran.
- Russia started moving ships with supersonic missiles to the Middle East.
- Israel said, “The fact that Iran commanded and synchronized the attack with its proxies (Hezbollah and the Houthis) who also launched drones and missiles, is proof beyond doubt that Tehran directs the forces of terror in the Middle East, is behind efforts to destabilize the region, and is the source of the problem in the area.”
On Apr. 14, 2024,
- At America’s request, the G-7 met to coordinate a diplomatic response to the attack.
- At Israel’s request, the UN Security Council met to discuss the attack.
- Israel notified the UN that it reserves the right to retaliate against Iran if it decides to do so.
- Iran said the matter is concluded, but if Israel makes another mistake, our response will be more severe.
- Israel’s war cabinet met to discuss a response to Iran’s attack but did not make a final decision.
- Some U.S. and Israeli experts said Biden’s timid Iran policy led Iran to believe they could attack Israel and get away with it.
- Iran threatened to strike U.S. bases in the Middle East if Israel retaliates against Iran.
(More: Concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog, God said, “Thou (Russia and her allies) shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.” Iran’s drones headed toward Israel like a cloud. When Russia and her allies attack Israel, the planes and drones will head toward Israel like a cloud: Ezek. 38:9.)
(More: God promised Israel, “No weapon formed against thee shall prosper.” Iran’s drones failed, and the planes and drones of Russia and her allies will fail: Isa. 54:17.)
On Apr. 15, 2024,
- An Israeli official said an Israeli strike on Iran may be imminent.
- Iran vowed to launch 1,500 missiles at Israel if Israel retaliates for Iran’s drone attack.
- According to Israel Channel 12, an unsourced report said, “The response will be designed to send the message that Israel ‘will not allow an attack of that magnitude against it to pass without a reaction. The response will also be designed to make plain that Israel will not allow the Iranians to ‘establish the equation’ they have sought to assert in recent days. This appears to be a reference to Iran’s warning that future Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, including its international diplomatic premises, will henceforth again be met by Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel.”
- Iranian citizens posted messages on X urging Israel to kill the ruling Iranian leaders and free them from being oppressed.
- Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
On Apr. 16, 2024,
- Israel’s war cabinet expects to make a final decision on retaliation against Iran today.
- The U.S. and EU are considering more sanctions on Iran. (My opinion: Sanctions on Iran are not enforced, and they are a sham that doesn’t work.)
- Israel’s war cabinet decided to retaliate against Iran, but they did not set a date due to the complexities of preparation. Another report said Israel’s retaliation will likely be after Passover so citizens can celebrate the holiday before the fighting spreads.
- Turkish Pres. Erdogan blamed Netanyahu and his “bloody administration” for Iran’s first-ever attack on Israel (think Gog and Magog).
On Apr. 17, 2024,
- The Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah launched a drone in Lebanon that struck a community center in Israel and injured 18 civilians and reservists (4 serious, 14 moderate to light).
- Iran warned that the tiniest invasion by Israel would bring a massive and harsh response.
Two, concerning the decline of America: on Apr. 15, 2024, protestors in NY City,
- Waved Hezbollah (a terrorist group) flags and chanted “Death to America.”
- Grabbed a U.S. flag out of the hands of a young man, set it on fire, and it caught his clothes on fire.
Three, concerning deceit and the coming economic collapse: on Apr. 10, 2024, it was reported that “Democrat economist Larry Summers (served Clinton and Obama administrations; Harvard Univ. Professor; Chief Economist of World Bank, etc.), who repeatedly warned President Joe Biden in 2021 that his reckless government spending would lead to a serious inflation crisis, warned again this week that things have not improved and inflation is running much higher than the official government numbers state.”
As I understand it, this influential, highly respected Democrat warned that the American public is not being told the truth about the rate of inflation and the danger it poses for the U.S.
(More: On Apr. 13, 2024, it was reported that the price of oil has started back up, and if gas reaches $4 a gallon, Biden may sell more oil from America’s strategic oil reserves to improve his chance of being re-elected.)
(More: On Apr. 16, 2024, the Institute for Energy Research said the Biden administration and its allies have taken over 200 actions against the oil and natural gas industries that are deliberately designed to make it harder to produce energy here in America. This is contributing to the price increase, and they may try to cover it up by finishing off America’s already low strategic oil reserves.)
(My opinion: It seems to me that it would be wiser to spend money to replace the oil that has already been taken out of our strategic oil reserves than it is to finance drag shows, transgender surgeries, gay rights, and abortions in America and other countries.)
Four, concerning deceit and bias in the media: a senior editor (a Democrat) at the National Public Radio (NPR) organization recently admitted that 100% of staff in editorial positions are registered Democrats (87 Democrats and no Republicans).
U.S. taxpayers are NPR’s primary source of funding, so Republicans are asking why the organization only employs registered Democrats to edit its programs.
Five, concerning a borderless world and the surrender of America’s sovereignty: on Apr. 11, 2024, a group of 20 state attorneys general sued the Biden administration for flying “hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens from crime-plagued nations directly into cities across the United States.”
(More: On Apr. 11, 2024, a federal judge ruled that Georgia’s law requiring voters in Georgia to be citizens of the state of Georgia is legal. Plaintiffs argued that using their driver’s license, etc., to prove they live in the state is an unfair and illegal burden. In essence, the judge ruled that it is reasonable and not illegal.)
(More: On Apr. 13, 2024, former Pres. Trump met with the U.S. Speaker of the House to discuss new legislation to prevent illegal aliens from voting in U.S. national elections and possibly impacting the outcome. The Biden administration opposes attempts to require voters to prove they are citizens.)
Six, concerning deceit, a borderless world, and the decline of America: on Apr. 16, 2024, the U.S. National Security, Border, and Foreign Affairs subcommittee is expecting to be told that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service officials are monitoring 6 million illegal immigrants that have been let into the U.S., and approximately 617,000 of them have criminal convictions or criminal charges pending against them.
The subcommittee expects to be told that many of these criminals are gang members, drug dealers, and outlaws.
Incidentally, the Biden administration has been telling us that our border is secure.
Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war:
Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2024 (Day 187): The one hundred-thirty-second day of the resumed war.
- S. and Israeli sources said an Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel is a matter of when, not if.
- Netanyahu warned Iran that Israel will attack Iran if Iran attacks Israel.
Thursday, Apr. 11, 2024 (Day 188): The one hundred-thirty-third day of the resumed war.
- The U.S. notified Israel that its commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad.
- An Israeli news site reported that Iran has decided to delay an attack on Israel or alter its retaliation plans (perhaps retaliate through proxies) because the U.S. said it might intervene on Israel’s side.
- Netanyahu said, “We set a simple principle: Anyone who hits us, we hit them.”
- 1,000 Jewish protestors marched to Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem to demand an Israeli attack on Rafah to find and release the hostages.
Friday, Apr. 12, 2024 (Day 189): The one hundred-thirty-fourth day of the resumed war.
- Israeli officials said they believe Hamas is delaying a ceasefire in hopes that world leaders will force Israel to withdraw from Gaza without Hamas being defeated or releasing the hostages.
- An Israeli plan to attack Iran on Iranian territory was approved in the event that Iran attacks Israel on Israeli territory.
- Biden sent Iran a message: “Don’t. We are devoted to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”
- The U.S. is moving warships to the Middle East.
- Israel killed a Hamas commander in the West Bank in Israel.
Saturday, Apr. 13, 2024 (Day 190): The one hundred-thirty-fifth day of the resumed war.
- It was reported that a captured Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) spokesman admitted under interrogation that the terrorists used all the Gaza hospitals and many of the hospital ambulances during the war. He also admitted that the PIJ manipulates the media to create a false narrative about the war.
Sunday, Apr. 14, 2024 (Day 191): The one hundred-thirty-sixth day of the resumed war.
- Following Iran’s attack on Israel, Hamas rejected a ceasefire proposal in its war with Israel in Gaza.
Monday, Apr. 15, 2024 (Day 192): The one hundred-thirty-seventh day of the resumed war.
- Israel warned Palestinians that it would be dangerous to return to northern Gaza with the war still going on.
Tuesday, Apr. 16, 2024 (Day 193): The one hundred-thirty-eighth day of the resumed war.
- Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander.
- Israel killed a second Hezbollah commander.
FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there (John 14:6).
Finally, are you Rapture Ready?
If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.