Post by Tom Green on Jan 28, 2007 0:38:29 GMT -5
In this very important article, Irvin Baxter Jr. takes a summary
look at Bible prophecy and world events. He believes we are living
in the endtime right now. After reading his logic, you, too, may
conclude the same!
This article appeared in the May/June 2001 edition of Endtime
Magazine.
What would it take to convince you that Jesus will return to earth
during your lifetime? Would three fulfilled prophecies do it? Would
five? Seven? Nine? How many? Please indulge me for a few minutes
while I briefly explain why I am absolutely convinced that Jesus
will return to this earth during our generation.
Rebirth of Israel
There is no greater prophetic fulfillment. The nation of Israel was
driven from her land in 70 AD. For almost 2,000 years, the Jewish
people existed without a homeland; yet, while being sifted through
the nations, they retained their identity.
The low point came between 1940 and 1944. Hitler was determined to
implement his ìfinal solution.î When Allied soldiers entered the
Nazi concentration camps, they were horrified by what they
discovered. Six million Jews had been gassed, shot, tortured and
cremated.
In 1944, if you would have told the soldiers that opened these camps
that the Jewish people would have their own nation and would become
the premier military power in the Middle East by 1967, they would
have thought you were crazy. But that is exactly what happened.
The most amazing thing about all of this is that it was prophesied
over 2,500 years ago. The prophecy of Ezekiel 37 is called Ezekielís
bone yard. Verse 12 states: ìThus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my
people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of
your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.î
The last part of this prophecy states that it will come to pass in
the latter days, just before the Battle of Armageddon. It is at
Armageddon that Jesus returns to earth.
Drying up of Euphrates
The prophecy of Revelation 16:12 has lain quietly for almost 2,000
years, virtually defying fulfillment. It declares that the mighty
Euphrates River will be dried up at the time of the Battle of
Armageddon. But who is kidding whom? The Euphrates is the principal
water source of the entire Middle East. This is like prophesying
that the Mississippi River will be dried up! This Euphrates prophecy
just appeared to be impossible.
At least it did until the shocking headline appeared on the front
page of the Indianapolis Star, January 13, 1990. It read, ìFlow of
Euphrates To Be Stopped for 30 Days.î
The article explained that Turkey had built the huge Ataturk Dam.
Thirty days would be required to fill up the newly constructed
reservoir. So the Euphrates was temporarily stopped.
The river is flowing again now. However, as of 1990, the mechanism
is in place that can stop the flow of the Euphrates at will. The
prophecy states that, at the time of Armageddon, the flow of the
Euphrates will be dried up to facilitate the invasion of Israel. It
will really be very simple. Just push the button, raise the dam, and
the Euphrates stops. But remember, itís only been possible since
1990!
An economy run by numbers
Revelation 13:17: ìAnd that no man might buy or sell, save he that
had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.î
The prophecy simply states that, during the endtime, everyone will
need a mark or a number in order to participate in the economy. How
could such a system possibly be implemented?
Until recently, it couldnít. Only since the invention of the
computer and the advent of the Internet, has the fulfillment of this
ancient prophecy been remotely possible. Now it is becoming
commonplace to see articles proposing a cashless society. Who hasnít
been prevented from using a credit card because of forgetting a PIN
number (personal identification number)? Experiments are already
being conducted with using eye scans, face scans and fingerprints
for proof of identity. Positive ID has become so necessary in a
world that increasingly does business ìonline.î
The new money of Europe, the euro, has been in use for over two
years. Millions of euros are traded every day. And yet to this
point, physical euros do not exist. All transactions have been
electronic ñ cashless! Euro notes and coins will be introduced in
January 2002. Can a cashless society work? Europe has proven that it
can.
Between online transactions and the use of smart cards, the
technology presently exists to set up a cashless society. The only
blockade is public acceptance. How long will it be before society is
able to get used to it?
The Bible is crystal clear that the prophesied economic system will
be implemented during the final three and one-half years before the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Never possible beforeÖtotally
possible now!
Most of the prophecies of the Bible are written in symbols. Only
four or five give the literal name of a person or a place. Two of
these special prophecies appear to have come to pass during the last
fifteen years.
Chernobyl
In Revelation 8:10-11, John saw what he described as a star falling
from heaven. He said the name of the star was called Wormwood.
On April 26, 1986, the worldís worst ever nuclear explosion
occurred. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant located in the Ukraine
malfunctioned, releasing ten times as much radioactivity into the
air as was released at the bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. So
far, 125,000 have died as a result of the accident.
The nuclear cloud created by the Chernobyl explosion was carried by
the winds into Europe. The resulting nuclear rains filled the rivers
of Europe with the nuclide Cesium 137. People who drank the water or
ate food touched by the water ingested the deadly nuclide. Doctors
and scientists estimate that over 2 million people are presently
infected by Cesium 137, which ultimately results in cancer.
The Ukrainian word for wormwood is chernobyl. If we were reading a
Ukrainian Bible, the passage would say, ìthe name of the star is
called Chernobyl.î
Saddam Hussein
Revelation 9:1-11 prophesies a time when smoke will come out of the
bottomless pit. The sun and the air will be darkened by the smoke.
When Saddam Hussein was forced to withdraw from Kuwait in 1991, he
wreaked his vengeance by setting 700 of the worldís richest oil
wells on fire. As a result, the sun was not seen in the area for the
next three months. At noon, it was as dark as at midnight.
In this apocalyptic vision, John saw what he described as locusts
coming out of the smoke. Only these were not ordinary locusts. He
said that the locusts had breastplates of iron, the faces of men,
and their stings were in their tails. John heard the sound of these
ìlocusts.î He said, ìthe sound of their wings was as the sound of
chariots of many horses running to battle.î
Does this sound like a description of the modern helicopter to you?
It does to me! Remember that John had never seen a helicopter. He
was merely attempting to record what he saw in his vision.
The most incredible part of this prophecy is verse 11, ìAnd they had
a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose
name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath
his name Apollyon. Both Abaddon and Apollyon mean ìthe destroyer.î
Many translations of the Bible literally sayóThey had a king over
them whose name is the destroyer.
Why is this so important? When Saddam Hussein was born, his mother
decided to name him Saddam because the name means ìthe destroyer.î
She did this because her pregnancy had been so terribly painful.
The one who was over the darkening of the sun and the helicopters
participating in that war, is called ìthe destroyer.î
Coincidence? You really think so?!
China Waró200 million man army
In summary, the prophecy says that an army of 200 million will
trigger a war that will kill one-third of the worldís populationótwo
billion people.
Of all the prophecies, this one is by far the most ominous! No
matter how we twist and turn its message, it still states that one-
third of the world will be destroyed.
But who will ignite this horrible prophesied holocaust? The Bible
describes an army of 200 million. Has there ever been an army of 200
million on the face of the earth? Most nations donít even have a
population of 200 millionólet alone an army!
The alarming news is that a nation has made the boast that it can
field an army of 200 million. The late leader of China, Mao Tse
Tung, bragged that he could field an army of 200 million soldiers.
The 1999 Fact Book, put out by the CIA, stated that China had 198
million men of military age (15-49). That number went over the 200
million mark as of the year 2000.
A prophecy that could never before have been fulfilled can now come
to pass at any time. Since the Saddam Hussein prophecy happened at
the sounding of the 5th Trumpet and the China War will occur at the
6th Trumpet, it is obvious that this terrible event is the next
major item on Godís prophetic calendar.
Knowing this, we realize how very dangerous the present conflict
between China and the United States actually is!
World army to invade Israel
Zechariah 14:2 states that all nations will come against Jerusalem
to battle at the time of Armageddon. Throughout the 2,000 years
since this prophecy was given, people have wondered how all nations
would be able to gather at Jerusalem.
Only in recent times has it become apparent how this prophecy will
be fulfilled. Beginning with the Gulf War in 1990-1991, the worldís
trouble spots have been dealt with by the forces of the World
Community. When conflict arises somewhere on the globe, the United
Nations passes a resolution to solve the problem. Any faction that
does not bow the knee to the decisions of the World Community runs
the risk of invasion by the International Forces. So we understand
that every single nation on earth may not be present at Armageddon,
but the forces of the World Community representing the United
Nations will be there.
Within the last month, the UN Security Council voted on a resolution
to send soldiers into Israel to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. Only a veto from the United States stopped the UN from
moving against Israel.
This failed vote was a precursor to one that will succeed. Whether
the United States will decide to allow international intervention in
the Middle East or whether UN reforms result in abolishment of the
veto power, we donít yet know. But somehow a UN resolution against
Israel will be allowed to pass. ResultóArmageddon and the Second
Coming.
Great tribulation in Judea
As Judy and I stepped onto the bulletproof bus at Jerusalemís
Central Bus Station a few weeks ago, the prophecy of Matthew 24:15-
21 kept running through my mind. Jesus had said that those living in
Judea would suffer great tribulation during the times immediately
before His Second Coming. Bus #170 would take us out to Beit El
(Bethel) in Judea, referred to as the West Bank by the media.
During the one-hour ride north of Jerusalem, we circled around
Ramallah where the brutal lynching took place a few months ago. I
couldnít help but look at the thick double glass covering the busí
windows, wondering if it really would stop a sniperís bullet. But
the thought foremost in my mind was the prophecy. Two-thousand years
ago, Jesus had prophesied about this time and the danger that would
engulf this specific area. Here we were, in 2001, traveling through
the area only because we were shielded by the bulletproof bus. And
to think that the worst is yet to come! An article recently reported
that a plan already exists for the Palestinians to overrun the
Judean settlements when the time is right.
I came away from this unique experience, knowing that I had glimpsed
a preview of the Great Tribulation, and it wasnít pretty!
Another compelling sign that we are living in the endtime! Taken
alone, most of these prophetic fulfillments might be able to be
explained away as coincidental. However, there is a question that
sincere, thinking people must ask themselvesÖAt what point does
coincidence end and divine providence begin?
look at Bible prophecy and world events. He believes we are living
in the endtime right now. After reading his logic, you, too, may
conclude the same!
This article appeared in the May/June 2001 edition of Endtime
Magazine.
What would it take to convince you that Jesus will return to earth
during your lifetime? Would three fulfilled prophecies do it? Would
five? Seven? Nine? How many? Please indulge me for a few minutes
while I briefly explain why I am absolutely convinced that Jesus
will return to this earth during our generation.
Rebirth of Israel
There is no greater prophetic fulfillment. The nation of Israel was
driven from her land in 70 AD. For almost 2,000 years, the Jewish
people existed without a homeland; yet, while being sifted through
the nations, they retained their identity.
The low point came between 1940 and 1944. Hitler was determined to
implement his ìfinal solution.î When Allied soldiers entered the
Nazi concentration camps, they were horrified by what they
discovered. Six million Jews had been gassed, shot, tortured and
cremated.
In 1944, if you would have told the soldiers that opened these camps
that the Jewish people would have their own nation and would become
the premier military power in the Middle East by 1967, they would
have thought you were crazy. But that is exactly what happened.
The most amazing thing about all of this is that it was prophesied
over 2,500 years ago. The prophecy of Ezekiel 37 is called Ezekielís
bone yard. Verse 12 states: ìThus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my
people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of
your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.î
The last part of this prophecy states that it will come to pass in
the latter days, just before the Battle of Armageddon. It is at
Armageddon that Jesus returns to earth.
Drying up of Euphrates
The prophecy of Revelation 16:12 has lain quietly for almost 2,000
years, virtually defying fulfillment. It declares that the mighty
Euphrates River will be dried up at the time of the Battle of
Armageddon. But who is kidding whom? The Euphrates is the principal
water source of the entire Middle East. This is like prophesying
that the Mississippi River will be dried up! This Euphrates prophecy
just appeared to be impossible.
At least it did until the shocking headline appeared on the front
page of the Indianapolis Star, January 13, 1990. It read, ìFlow of
Euphrates To Be Stopped for 30 Days.î
The article explained that Turkey had built the huge Ataturk Dam.
Thirty days would be required to fill up the newly constructed
reservoir. So the Euphrates was temporarily stopped.
The river is flowing again now. However, as of 1990, the mechanism
is in place that can stop the flow of the Euphrates at will. The
prophecy states that, at the time of Armageddon, the flow of the
Euphrates will be dried up to facilitate the invasion of Israel. It
will really be very simple. Just push the button, raise the dam, and
the Euphrates stops. But remember, itís only been possible since
1990!
An economy run by numbers
Revelation 13:17: ìAnd that no man might buy or sell, save he that
had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.î
The prophecy simply states that, during the endtime, everyone will
need a mark or a number in order to participate in the economy. How
could such a system possibly be implemented?
Until recently, it couldnít. Only since the invention of the
computer and the advent of the Internet, has the fulfillment of this
ancient prophecy been remotely possible. Now it is becoming
commonplace to see articles proposing a cashless society. Who hasnít
been prevented from using a credit card because of forgetting a PIN
number (personal identification number)? Experiments are already
being conducted with using eye scans, face scans and fingerprints
for proof of identity. Positive ID has become so necessary in a
world that increasingly does business ìonline.î
The new money of Europe, the euro, has been in use for over two
years. Millions of euros are traded every day. And yet to this
point, physical euros do not exist. All transactions have been
electronic ñ cashless! Euro notes and coins will be introduced in
January 2002. Can a cashless society work? Europe has proven that it
can.
Between online transactions and the use of smart cards, the
technology presently exists to set up a cashless society. The only
blockade is public acceptance. How long will it be before society is
able to get used to it?
The Bible is crystal clear that the prophesied economic system will
be implemented during the final three and one-half years before the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Never possible beforeÖtotally
possible now!
Most of the prophecies of the Bible are written in symbols. Only
four or five give the literal name of a person or a place. Two of
these special prophecies appear to have come to pass during the last
fifteen years.
Chernobyl
In Revelation 8:10-11, John saw what he described as a star falling
from heaven. He said the name of the star was called Wormwood.
On April 26, 1986, the worldís worst ever nuclear explosion
occurred. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant located in the Ukraine
malfunctioned, releasing ten times as much radioactivity into the
air as was released at the bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. So
far, 125,000 have died as a result of the accident.
The nuclear cloud created by the Chernobyl explosion was carried by
the winds into Europe. The resulting nuclear rains filled the rivers
of Europe with the nuclide Cesium 137. People who drank the water or
ate food touched by the water ingested the deadly nuclide. Doctors
and scientists estimate that over 2 million people are presently
infected by Cesium 137, which ultimately results in cancer.
The Ukrainian word for wormwood is chernobyl. If we were reading a
Ukrainian Bible, the passage would say, ìthe name of the star is
called Chernobyl.î
Saddam Hussein
Revelation 9:1-11 prophesies a time when smoke will come out of the
bottomless pit. The sun and the air will be darkened by the smoke.
When Saddam Hussein was forced to withdraw from Kuwait in 1991, he
wreaked his vengeance by setting 700 of the worldís richest oil
wells on fire. As a result, the sun was not seen in the area for the
next three months. At noon, it was as dark as at midnight.
In this apocalyptic vision, John saw what he described as locusts
coming out of the smoke. Only these were not ordinary locusts. He
said that the locusts had breastplates of iron, the faces of men,
and their stings were in their tails. John heard the sound of these
ìlocusts.î He said, ìthe sound of their wings was as the sound of
chariots of many horses running to battle.î
Does this sound like a description of the modern helicopter to you?
It does to me! Remember that John had never seen a helicopter. He
was merely attempting to record what he saw in his vision.
The most incredible part of this prophecy is verse 11, ìAnd they had
a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose
name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath
his name Apollyon. Both Abaddon and Apollyon mean ìthe destroyer.î
Many translations of the Bible literally sayóThey had a king over
them whose name is the destroyer.
Why is this so important? When Saddam Hussein was born, his mother
decided to name him Saddam because the name means ìthe destroyer.î
She did this because her pregnancy had been so terribly painful.
The one who was over the darkening of the sun and the helicopters
participating in that war, is called ìthe destroyer.î
Coincidence? You really think so?!
China Waró200 million man army
In summary, the prophecy says that an army of 200 million will
trigger a war that will kill one-third of the worldís populationótwo
billion people.
Of all the prophecies, this one is by far the most ominous! No
matter how we twist and turn its message, it still states that one-
third of the world will be destroyed.
But who will ignite this horrible prophesied holocaust? The Bible
describes an army of 200 million. Has there ever been an army of 200
million on the face of the earth? Most nations donít even have a
population of 200 millionólet alone an army!
The alarming news is that a nation has made the boast that it can
field an army of 200 million. The late leader of China, Mao Tse
Tung, bragged that he could field an army of 200 million soldiers.
The 1999 Fact Book, put out by the CIA, stated that China had 198
million men of military age (15-49). That number went over the 200
million mark as of the year 2000.
A prophecy that could never before have been fulfilled can now come
to pass at any time. Since the Saddam Hussein prophecy happened at
the sounding of the 5th Trumpet and the China War will occur at the
6th Trumpet, it is obvious that this terrible event is the next
major item on Godís prophetic calendar.
Knowing this, we realize how very dangerous the present conflict
between China and the United States actually is!
World army to invade Israel
Zechariah 14:2 states that all nations will come against Jerusalem
to battle at the time of Armageddon. Throughout the 2,000 years
since this prophecy was given, people have wondered how all nations
would be able to gather at Jerusalem.
Only in recent times has it become apparent how this prophecy will
be fulfilled. Beginning with the Gulf War in 1990-1991, the worldís
trouble spots have been dealt with by the forces of the World
Community. When conflict arises somewhere on the globe, the United
Nations passes a resolution to solve the problem. Any faction that
does not bow the knee to the decisions of the World Community runs
the risk of invasion by the International Forces. So we understand
that every single nation on earth may not be present at Armageddon,
but the forces of the World Community representing the United
Nations will be there.
Within the last month, the UN Security Council voted on a resolution
to send soldiers into Israel to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. Only a veto from the United States stopped the UN from
moving against Israel.
This failed vote was a precursor to one that will succeed. Whether
the United States will decide to allow international intervention in
the Middle East or whether UN reforms result in abolishment of the
veto power, we donít yet know. But somehow a UN resolution against
Israel will be allowed to pass. ResultóArmageddon and the Second
Coming.
Great tribulation in Judea
As Judy and I stepped onto the bulletproof bus at Jerusalemís
Central Bus Station a few weeks ago, the prophecy of Matthew 24:15-
21 kept running through my mind. Jesus had said that those living in
Judea would suffer great tribulation during the times immediately
before His Second Coming. Bus #170 would take us out to Beit El
(Bethel) in Judea, referred to as the West Bank by the media.
During the one-hour ride north of Jerusalem, we circled around
Ramallah where the brutal lynching took place a few months ago. I
couldnít help but look at the thick double glass covering the busí
windows, wondering if it really would stop a sniperís bullet. But
the thought foremost in my mind was the prophecy. Two-thousand years
ago, Jesus had prophesied about this time and the danger that would
engulf this specific area. Here we were, in 2001, traveling through
the area only because we were shielded by the bulletproof bus. And
to think that the worst is yet to come! An article recently reported
that a plan already exists for the Palestinians to overrun the
Judean settlements when the time is right.
I came away from this unique experience, knowing that I had glimpsed
a preview of the Great Tribulation, and it wasnít pretty!
Another compelling sign that we are living in the endtime! Taken
alone, most of these prophetic fulfillments might be able to be
explained away as coincidental. However, there is a question that
sincere, thinking people must ask themselvesÖAt what point does
coincidence end and divine providence begin?