Are we living in the 
END TIMES 
before the 
GREAT TRIBULATION?
by:  Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

Jesus warned: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in dives places". (Matthew 24:7)

What does Bible Prophecy tell us about the end times?

The Bible says: "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword (war), and with hunger (famine), and with death (tsunamis, war, earthquakes, mudslides, etc.) and with the beasts of the earth (Mad Cow, Monkey Pox, West Nile Virus, Sars)."  - Revelation 6:8

IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME

The world is fearful.  Everyone is looking for answers.  Everything we hold dear is falling apart! Are we living in the end times, the last days where the Bible scriptures state that perilous times shall come  - are these signs of the end of time and the COMING Great Tribulation?

Are we seeing signs, signals & warnings prophesied in the Holy Scriptures?

NATION SHALL RISE AGAINST NATION, FAMINES, PESTILENCE & EARTHQUAKES

Jesus warned: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and PESTILENCES, and earthquakes, in divers places."  (Matthew 24:7 kjv)

The world has become a very frightening place, indeed!  People are afraid. They are nervous and anxious and full of fear.  We are now living in a very unsafe  world.  We are living in a world filled with violence, terrorism, wars, frightening new diseases and viruses and startling weather disasters that are wiping out thousands of people in seconds.

OUR WORLD CHANGED  SEPTEMBER 11 - WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF TERROR

On September 11 - the world changed forever.  On September 11 - Satan was rejoicing.  On September 11 - Satan scored a victory.  But I am here to tell you that SATAN CAN BE DEFEATED.

Yes - the world changed drastically on Sept 11.  What was a relatively safe, comfortable existence instantly turned into a world of terror.  The Islamic terrorist group al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden accomplished A HELLISH DEED on Sept 11.  The terrorists took away our freedom, the freedom to feel safe, the freedom to feel secure.  And Sept 11 was only the beginning.  The world is dealing with so many issues that its hard for people to cope.  How long will it last? Are we living in the last days.  Are these the end times before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

EARTHQUAKES - TSUNAMIS - GLOBAL WARNING - DISEASES - VIRUSES

Our world is falling apart.  Our air is polluted, our water is polluted, we are experiencing earthquakes, tidal waves, tsunamis in totally unexpected places and at the greatest magnitudes ever recorded.  Global warming is threatening our very existence and the new diseases and viruses we are seeing in animals and food products are alarming.

"WHAT COMES NEXT?" IS THE QUESTION ON THE MINDS OF PEOPLE

The whole creation, including the earth and all living creatures therein, the cosmos and all universes that our Lord has created, are groaning and travailing in pain and travail "together until now."

The earth is "running down"..  Man has polluted the air, polluted the water and the earth.  The earth is polluting and destroying itself through earthquakes, tidal waves, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

NATURE, through solar storms, falling meteors, black holes, white holes and worm holes is doing damage to the universe.  Tornados, cyclones, tsunamis and severe electrical storms cause great bodily harm and death to people and animals, as well as destroying millions of acres of timber annually through forest fire.  The animals and wild life are themselves polluters, spreading disease amongst themselves, as well as being purveyors of many deadly diseases to the human population.

Are AIDS, SARS, Mad Cow Disease, Bird flu last day, end time Bible Prophecy?

What does the Bible say about plagues, diseases, disasters that will come in the end times before the Great Tribulation?

I believe that the outbreak of AIDS, SARS, Ebola virus, Lyme disease, Mad Cow disease (BSE), Foot and Mouth disease (FDM), West Nile Virus, Hanta Virus, Monkey Pox and the latent TB and drug resistant TB that is now rampant (2 billion world wide) is surely Bible prophecy being fulfilled.

There are also so many new viruses, bacteria and parasites spread by animals, rodents and pests to human beings.  Are these new viruses from animals also a precursor to the awful things which will happen during the GREAT TRIBULATION.

NEW VIRUSES APPEARING AT FASTER RATES, SCIENTISTS BELIEVE

A recent headline that appeared (August 2003) in the Washington Post, must have sent shock waves through the Medical Community and the general population.  From a theological perspective, the connection between Biblical eschatology and the phenomenal parade of new emerging viruses being passed from animals to humans, this new report is very significant.

Is Bible prophecy being fulfilled right now with the massive earthquakes, the Sri Lanka Tsunami, terrorist attacks, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and continuing unrest in the Middle East?

The continuing unrest in the Middle East is growing and becoming more volatile each day.  Are all these world disasters, extreme weather changes and mounting hatred, with wars and nations turning against nations world wide a sign of the last days and Bible prophecy coming to pass?

For a very long time Bible scholars were unable to understand the following verse.  Everyone had serious questions about beasts being a source of so many people dying.  When S.A.R.S. struck the world with a vengeance some years ago,  the meaning of the scripture became very evident.  St. John's prophecy was absolutely clear!

Are the new diseases Sars, Mad Cow Disease, West Nile Virus, Bird flu and many others biblical prophecies.  Are these world disasters, extreme weather changes, world disasters and mounting hatred, wars and nations turning against nations world wide Bible prophecy coming to pass.

The Bible states: "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword (war), and with hunger (famine), and with death (tsunamis, war, earthquakes, mudslides etc), and with the beasts of the earth (Mad Cow, Monkey Pox, West Nile Virus, Sars.")  (Revelation 6:8)

THE BIBLE SCHOLARS CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WAS WRONG

The prevalent though was that when famine came, the wild beasts from the forests would enter the cities and towns and kill people for food.  Some translations of Revelation 6:8 placed the words 'wild beasts' in their study notes.

Now we know how wrong that interpretation was.  God's Word is absolutely perfect and as we near the end of time. As a theologian who has studied the Holy Bible scriptures for over 40 years I believe this to be pre-Tribulation more and more as the truth in revealed through events that happen round about us.

In my research, I found found that SARS, Lyme Disease, Foot & Mouth disease, Mad Cow disease, Hanta virus, Monkey pox, Ebola virus, Aids and West Nile Fever are diseases that have all come from animals (beasts) or rodents and insects (pests).  Jesus warned:  "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and PESTILENCES, and earthquakes, in divers places." (Matthew 24:7)

STRANGE & FRIGHTENING NEW VIRUSES AND INFECTIONS APPEARING

Rob Stein wrote: "It happens again and again.  Strange and frightening new infections seem to appear out of no where, such as Lyme disease, Ebola and of course, AIDS.  With Monkeypox coming on the heels of Sars, which emerged not long after West Nile, it is a phenomenon that seems to be happening at an accelerating rate.

"Scientists agree that the trend is alarming and appears to be gathering speed.  In the coming years, they say, dangerous new pathogens emerging."

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY DEATH AND DESTRUCTION - THE WORLD HAS BECOME UNCERTAIN & FEARFUL

On every hand, we see death and destruction.  The Bible states that, "the whole world lieth in wickedness."  (1 John 5:19); "And the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." (1 John 2:15-18)

Not only they, by OURSELVES also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is to say, the redemption (resurrection) of our body."

SATAN IS HARD AT WORK - SATAN IS AWARE WE ARE NEARING THE END TIMES

SATAN'S FILTH & STENCH can be seen, heard and felt across the world.  His evil, unholy and corrupting influence is everywhere present; in homes, communities and nations, as well as in academia, the government, commerce, judicial systems and in the church.

Satan is hard at work as he knows that he is running out of time.  Satan's influence is present everywhere as he seeks to kill and to destroy.

The truth is that the whole world lies in wickedness and Satan is the "prince of the power of the air."  Satan is the author of the "spirit of disobedience" that pervades society today.  This "spirit of disobedience" is affecting millions of people across the earth. (Ephesians 2:2,  Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 3:6)

Even though we as Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit and have fellowship with Jesus and each other, we live in a flesh and blood body.  We are constantly being bombarded with temptations.  We have Christ's promise of divine healing, but we are still subject to ageing and death.

St. Paul states that we groan inwardly because of our limitations and desire to be clothed with a glorified body, knowing that one day we will be changed and receive a glorified body similar to Christ's.  The Bible says: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not."

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."  (1 John 3:1-2).

Death and corruption have been present on this earth and in the cosmos since the terrible 'fall of man' in the Garden of Eden.  Everything is subject to the 'Second Law of Thermodynamics' - that of ageing, deteriorating and corruption.  There is no escaping it.  Everyone that is born dies eventually and will go back to the dust of the earth.  All great men and their empires, small or great will deteriorate and go to ruin.  Now the universe is running out of steam and Bible Prophecy is being fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled as time goes on.

JESUS demanded: “…Whosever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s the same shall save it."

"For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?  Whatsoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the Holy angels." (Mark 8:34-38  KJV).

Christ’s Victory and Satan’s Defeat is our Liberty for time and eternity! Amen and Amen.