Sound The Midnight Cry

“When Will They Ever Learn?”

Years ago during my “hippie” days, a popular folk song asked the question, “When will they ever learn?” Well it appears that for some people the answer is “never.” Let me explain.

For those that study Bible prophecy, these are exciting days. The revelation of what was written thousands of years ago is coming to pass before our very eyes. Yet, there always seems to be an element of people that want a greater revelation. The result many times is that they violate fundamental guidelines of Scripture found in Mark 13:32-33. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is."

Case in point: Daniel W. Matson has written a book called, “Signs of the End – a discovery of biblical timelines.” His premise: He has discovered the exact date of the Rapture of the Church [September 23, 2006]. Here are some other dates that Daniel also predicts:

• 11-08-06 - Possible start of the war in Ezekiel 38 – 39
• 03-05-07 – End of Ezekiel’s war
• 11-08-2010 – The official start of the tribulation
• 04-20-2014 – The official mid point of the tribulation

To fully understand what he is trying to present; you have to have multiple degrees in math, history, astronomy and physics. The scary part is that thousands of people are buying the book and his nonsense.

History shows that many have set dates for the rapture or the end of the world. William Miller and Charles Taze Russell are some early date setters of the past. We know that they were wrong because we are still here. Interesting fact about these two individuals is that out of their date setting, they started two cults which are still in existence today. Miller started the Seventh Day Adventist and Russell started Watchtower Bible and Tract Society [Jehovah's Witnesses].

Then there was Edgar Whisenant who wrote a book in 1988 called, “88 Reasons the Rapture is in 1988.” His confidence apparently affected others as well because Paul and Jan Crouch of the Trinity Broadcast Network swallowed it whole. Instead of airing their nightly Praise the Lord Television talk show, they ran videotapes of prerecorded shows dealing with the rapture. This was being aired for non-Christians who might be watching providing specific instructions on what to do in case Christian family members or friends disappeared and the world was thrust into the tribulation.

So what should you do when you come across someone who says they know the date of the rapture? Just smile, turn around and walk away. As you do remember that Romans 1:22 says, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…” Oh yeah, you might hum the line from that old folk song, “When will they ever learn?”

“The Clock Is Still Ticking”

With the international political pundits spouting their version of the recent cease-fire in the Middle East, the biblical picture may still be hazy to many. But if we look closely to the Bible we can see more clearly the realignments in international attitudes that are setting the stage for these last days.

The United Nations resolution for a ceasefire in Lebanon has advanced its goal of seeing a one world government. It has enabled the seeds of evil to remain alive to build up an even greater fight that will lead to the end-time battle where Russia, Iran and the other nations of the world come against Israel.

The Lebanese government which throughout this conflict has stood by Hezbollah and has praised its attacks against the civilians of Israel, has now become the “innocent victim.” It will now become the focus of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid and billions more to rebuild their country. This will enable them to direct funds to place its troops as part of the "peacekeeping" buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah. One has to question this part of the plan [as well as others] inasmuch as of this writing Hezbollah says they will not disarm and the Lebanese government has said they will not do “what Israel could not do.”

All of this means that in the weeks and months ahead, Russia will increase its weapons trade with Iran and Syria. Iran will continue to export weapons, military technology and weapons systems to Syria. Syria will in turn smuggle these deadly products to Hezbollah [which we must remember is a political party within the Lebanese government] under the watchful eye of so-called U.N. peacekeepers and with the help of the Lebanese Army. And when there are enough missiles, drones, sophisticated Russian-made anti-tank weapons, Iranian and Russian anti-aircraft guns situated in the civilian areas of Lebanese cities, Hezbollah will attack once again. The Islamic world has once again manipulated the West into believing its peace propaganda so that it can continue Jihad against the world.

This U.N. ceasefire will only solidify the forces of evil and allow them to unleash their goal trying to “wipe Israel off the map” in the times ahead. Jeremiah 8:11 says, “They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace, when there is no peace.’”

The clock of prophecy is still ticking! Can you hear it? Tick, tock, tick, tock.

“Judgment or Redemption?”

With the conflict in the Middle East heating up into a full-fledged war, accusations are flying from every side. The Arab world is screaming that Israel is the aggressor with its military might. Israel responds by saying that Hezbollah is the aggressor by kidnapping Israeli soldiers and lobbing missiles into Israel. Meanwhile, political powers that be are trying to work out a “long-term peace” initiative to settle the disputes.

In the midst of all of this is the question, “Why?” Why is this current tragedy happening? Why do so many innocent lives have to be destroyed? Not the least of which is, “Where is God in all of this?”

When war breaks out it is easy to say that it is between “good and evil.” Everyone has their own opinion of who is good and who is evil. However, if that is all that we see, we can easily miss the bigger picture that would give us a clearer understanding of this tumult. Consider the following two facts [more will come in future writings]:

• On the day after Tisha B'Av 2005 (the 9th of Av fast day on the Jewish calendar), Israel started the retreat from Gush Katif.
• The current violation of Israel's borders was the exact same day when the city of Jerusalem was breached before the destruction of the Second Temple.

It was a year ago that Israel as a nation forcibly removed their brothers and sisters in Gaza. When Qassam rockets were fired at their doorsteps, the rest of the nation turned a deaf ear. When their homes and farms were destroyed by their own government, they closed their eyes. Overnight, thousands of productive citizens became unemployed and homeless. Jewish mothers asked why their husbands and sons had to serve in Gaza to protect "the settlers" and jumped for joy at the disengagement and destruction of Gaza.

Now exactly a year later, those who failed to shed a tear at their brothers' misfortune are now homeless, displaced or in shelters dodging missiles. The mothers and wives that complained about reserve duty in Jewish Gaza are now sending husbands and sons to Hezbollah’s Lebanon.

We know that the Tribulation recorded in Revelation is for two purposes: 1) to judge evil 2) to call Israel back to God. It looks like this is the overture of things to come. One can only pray, “Hear O Israel…”

“And The Answer Is…”

A popular game show takes a poll to the answer of specific questions and then tries to get the contestants to match the answers. The host of the show after receiving the answer turns to the illuminated game board and says, “And the answer is…” and reveals the answer to the poll.

The U.N. Security Council has now told Iran that it has until August 31, 2006 to cease and dismantle its nuclear enrichment program. It they fail to do so, the world community has threatened to use economic sanctions against Iran.

As I have mentioned many times over the past 16 months and as the present Middle East conflict is revealing, Iran is the key player in destabilizing that part of the world. It is also the catalyst that seems to be accelerating the events leading to bible prophecy being fulfilled in our day. Much of this is due to President Ahmadinejad’s belief he has to cause an apocalypse to bring back the Mahdi (Islamic messiah). Those that ascribe to this theology believe that when the Mahdi returns, Islam will triumph over all other religions and that an Iranian-style Shiite Islamic theocracy will replace every other government on the face of the Earth. The belief in the Second Coming of the Mahdi is similar to the belief of many evangelical Christians who anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Yet there is an important difference. The cult of the Mahdi holds that the world must experience an Apocalypse before the Mahdi comes back."

Now Iran has said the United Nations will have their answer to their nuclear incentives offer on August 22. Why August 22nd? Is it coincidence that August 22nd coincides with the Islamic date of Rajab 28, the day the great Salah El-Din conquered Jerusalem? Only time will tell.

So now the world sits and waits for Iran’s answer to the world’s demand that they stop their nuclear enrichment program. The guess of those in the intelligence community is that they will not. To those that have studied bible prophecy already know the answer to this question and those that follow. “And the answer is…Jesus is coming soon!”

Have a great week!