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.
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