Quite often in recent times I have experienced an urgency in my soul. This is one of those times so I must set aside everything else I have been working on and share some thoughts that are crowding my mind today, including what I believe is coming at us in our immediate future. As most of us know, we are living in a generation like none other. A person would have to be totally oblivious not to see the desperation in our world and question what our future holds. For many of us who were raised in church, we have at least some knowledge of what the Bible says about the future. Hal Lindsey surprised the world in the 1970s with his book “The Late Great Planet Earth.” This was not the first book about the latter days and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, but it and the subsequent movie based on the book became well known all over the world. However, as Bible prophecy began to slowly unfold starting in 1948, many expected all of the “end time” events to be fulfilled much faster than they have been. The seeming delay of prophetic fulfillment has caused many to lose their anticipation of the imminent return of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the terrible events that mark the prophesied “end times.” Four centuries ago, the famous scientist, Isaac Newton predicted:
“About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamor and opposition.”
This prediction has begun to come to pass in our day as many people gradually begin to get their fill of hearing “end time” talk and fail to watch and pray as we see the day approaching. Many have begun to fall back asleep. But I am personally convinced that we are the terminal generation. I am reminded of a passage of Scripture found in the book of Daniel which reads:
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book–will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.
Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time, when the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
“From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” (Daniel 12, NIV)
The prophet Daniel was told not to worry about most of the information he had been given by the angel, because it was for the last generation. So, for well over two millennia very little happened having to do with latter-day prophecies. However, once Israel became a nation again on May 15th, 1948, it seemed like a crack appeared in the dam and prophecies began to not only be recognized, but fulfilled as well. What started as one or two important prophecies a year being fulfilled sixty years ago, has become a flash-flood of world changes, many of these having been foretold 2600 years ago or earlier. In fact, some of what we are seeing today was foretold by the ancient prophet Enoch 5000 years ago. What a day for us to be alive! Our world is changing so fast today most people are not able to keep up with it all. Of course, many prefer not to. I don’t believe we should allow our lives to be completely absorbed in the events around us, but I do believe we must payattention–especially when God has made it so clear to us that we are to be well acquainted with His Word, which includes everything foretold as coming to pass in our day. Mark 13:32-37 puts it like this:
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. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming–in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning–lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
I don’t know that Jesus could have put it any more clearly! It is one of the most riveting statements He made. But I heard a story of a pastor who was asked how many attended his church and he replied, “Oh, we sleep 800!” I’m afraid that way too many believers are asleep in this most momentous time in human history. The Church needs to wake up! As we take a good look at Biblical prophecy in light of the times we are living in, we find that world history revolves around Israel at the time of the end. The clock that tells us what time it is began to tick on May 15, 1948. God had promised thousands of years earlier that Israel would once again be brought back home. Never in the history of mankind has a nation been disbursed for nearly 1900 years and then come back together as a nation again. Isaiah 66:8 puts it this way:
Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? (NIV)
The impossible happened. God’s Word was fulfilled and along with that initial fulfillment, the door was opened for all of the rest of the events that are crowded into this short period of time we call “The Last Days.” Like I’ve said so many times before, God’s foreign policy is based in Jerusalem and extends outward from there. Jerusalem is the center of the world and the temple mount is the “bullseye” of the world. Our world is facing many threats today. I just received a letter from a reader who wrote:
“…I write to you in the midst of the most unprecedented time the world has ever known…diseases are rampant and threaten to obliterate many…there are earthquakes and famines…there is ISIS…there is lawlessness…evil increases and the love of many grows cold. But Jesus…works to will and do His good pleasure and continues His blessed call to ‘Come…you thirsty, come and drink…buy Bread (of life) without money…”
Her comment reminds me of two Scriptures, one being 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God–having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
The second is found in Luke 21:9-19:
“When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
But before all this they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.” (NIV)
Do these Scriptures describe our time? Yes, there have always been wars, and the world has lived through WWI and WWII in the 20th century. Yet, what is ramping up in the 21st century is the mother of all wars. WWIII will not compare with what the Bible calls the Battle of Armageddon, but it will make the previous world wars of the 20th century seem like child’s play. The threat of war today is great and growing worse each passing day. We have nations threatening nations. Then there are groups of nations challenging other groups of nations. On top of that we have ethnic violence all over the world; race against race, tribe against tribe. I believe that the world has had an additional level of violence and hatred unleashed on it straight from the pit of hell in the last handful of years. Just look at the extreme brutality of jihadist groups including ISIS or “Daash” as it is often called in the Middle East! I have heard news commentators say that the gates of hell seem to have been opened up! I have also heard the accounts of those who have faced some of these demon possessed and enraged killers and they have said that some of them are not totally human. When you look into their eyes, there is no soul! You say that is not possible? I believe that we are seeing the beginning of the end and what has been released is preparing the human race for things they have thought were just the figments of wild imaginations or the makings of “fright movies!” Then there is the threat of disease. Today at the time of this writing, I have read several news articles concerning the Ebola virus that has killed many in the continent of Africa, with several African nations declaring a state of emergency due to this virus. The Ebola virus has now crossed several oceans and is threatening other locations in the world. Only God knows if this virus will become pandemic, but already multitudes are living in fear of it. The Bible tells us that pestilence will be a factor in a huge number of deaths in the last days. Whether the Ebola virus is one of these, remains to be seen. I suspect it is only a precursor to much worse. Scientists today are experimenting with some of the most dangerous chemical combinations ever known to man. Some of these are viruses that are airborne. Experts in the field have said that if a person were to take a coffee can filled with one particular pathogen that they have been working on (one of several), stop at a stoplight in New York / Newark area, open the car window, open the can, with a 5 mph breeze it would be carried out of the car and within a couple days there would be somewhere around 20 million people dead. There are plenty of people in this world who are evil enough to do such a thing! How about famines? For those that are not in a famine-struck area, you might not be thinking about it much, but the day is coming when most will have to think about it! Not many in the West ever question where the food on our table comes from, but quite a number of the world’s “breadbaskets” are being harshly affected today. I have seen photo after photo of crops on huge farms in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and other states being destroyed due to the lack of water and weather-related problems. This is only a warning. In less than a handful of years, this will be the case all over the world. I heard an interview with a well known scientist who described the drought in California as the worst in the last 1200 years! He said that scientific signs indicate that this drought may last another 250 years! The crops that come from California have had a worldwide distribution for many years. This means that the California drought will have a worldwide effect. Then there is Texas where almost all of the water in its large aquifers has been depleted. We find story after story of different places in the world that are facing these problems. I often have people ask me what I expect to come next. Below is what I am expecting within the next weeks and months. War cannot be avoided anymore at this point in time. I believe that God has supernaturally held a major mideast war back from happening for many months now until it fits into His plan. This war is now about to be unleashed. The added factor of ISIS or Daash is adding to the threat of a major mideast regional war. The nation of Israel was not only brought back into existence in 1948 but God has been in the process of fulfilling other Old Testament prophecies having to do with the nation. The fulfillment of these prophecies however also puts Israel in the position of having to deal with an overwhelming number of enemies. The war that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been fighting with Hamas is only a skirmish next to what is about to erupt. The Old Testament details a massive Middle East war between Israel and the nations on its immediate border in the books of Psalms, Obadiah, and Zephaniah, as well as other Old Testament passages. These Scriptures basically tell the story of God’s last days judgment of the house of Esau because of its centuries of abuse of Esau’s twin brother Jacob. It is not hard to tell how badly the house of Esau wants to destroy Jacob (Israel). Just watch the news out of the Mideast for a day or two. God will allow “Esau” to try, but Esau will fail miserably. God will see to it that Israel’s military wins the war decisively, although I suspect Israel will take some serious losses in the process. Israel has already prepared to deal with the Iranian nuclear threat and will not wait much longer to do what it must to eliminate it or at least set it back a few years, regardless of what is said by the White House. Israel also knows that any attack on Iran or any other Muslim enemy will bring the rest of their border enemies into the conflict, including Syria. But Syria will suffer enormously. The Bible tells us that Damascus will be totally destroyed. This is found in both Isaiah 17:1-3 and Jeremiah 49:23-27.
An oracle concerning Damascus: “See Damascus, will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will like down, with no one to make them afraid. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from damascus; the remnant of aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,” declares the Almighty.” (Isaiah 17:1-3 NIV)
Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea. Damascus has become feeble, she has turned to flee and panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her, pain like that of a woman in labor. Why has the city of renown not been abandoned, the town in which I delight? Surely, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.” (Jeremiah 49:23-27 NIV)
It is a separate study to detail the exact location of all the smaller towns and territories mentioned in these two Old Testament prophecies. Suffice it to say that the destruction of Damascus and the surrounding towns and territory will be massive, and for the most part, suddenly…..within one day. We do find in a rather obscure passage of Scripture that the ancient land of Elam (part of Iran) will also be devastated. This is found in Jeremiah 49:34-39. An excellent book written by Bill Salus recently came out which goes into great depth on what happens to Elam. The research is thorough and gives excellent insight into another event that is imminent. In fact, this event could happen even before the Psalms 83/Obadiah war, which Bill also has written about, is unleashed. All of these events are now imminent and could unfold before any of us gets up tomorrow morning. Here is how the passage about ancient Elam reads:
This is the Word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “See, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the heavens; I will scatter them to the four winds, and there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go. I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who seek their lives; I will bring disaster upon them, even my fierce anger,” declares the Lord. “I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them. I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials,” declares the Lord. “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares the Lord.
Ancient Elam is about 1/6 of the modern day nation of Iran; in fact, it is the western portion around the Bushehr nuclear reactor. Apparently, what happens is so devastating that people will have to leave the area entirely and will scatter all over the world. This is an event that has not happened yet in Elam or Iran’s history. A promise at the end of the passage says that Elam’s fortunes will be brought back once again, but that will be in the time of the Millennium, the 1,000 year reign of the Messiah Jesus. Whether the destruction of Damascus and Elam are part of the great Middle East regional war or not, remains to be seen. It does seem that after this Syria no longer plays the part of an enemy to Israel as they are not listed among the enemies of Israel in Ezekiel 38 & 39, which is a vastly larger war–very possibly even WW III. The destruction of Elam however does not destroy Iran. Iran is one of the listed enemies in the Ezekiel war. The immediate outcome of the war described in Psalm 83, Obadiah, and parts of Zephaniah will be in Israel’s favor but will quickly bring a much greater force against them. The defeat of Allah’s Islamic forces will provide Allah with a very noticeable black eye. Jehovah God will have humiliated the demon god Allah! This will enrage the Muslim world and the Gog/Magog war will be unleashed next. Since the inner ring of Israel’s enemies will have been utterly defeated with Israel expanding her borders, the outer ring of enemies will quickly band together with a vengeance and with the backing of Russia and her extensive military machine. This war is described in great detail in Ezekiel 38 & 39. This is a war that is much too big for tiny Israel and its military to handle, no matter how powerful it has proven itself to be. This military force coming down into the mountains of Israel will be in the millions. The Old Testament tells us that God Himself will step into this conflict as He so often did with ancient Israel and Israel’s enemies will again be destroyed. Ezekiel tells us that 85% of this massive force will be destroyed in the mountains of Israel. The Bible also tells us that this victory for Israel will be so well known to the world that it will be obvious that God is fighting for Israel! What an amazing event that will be! Are we close to these events? Absolutely! The stage is setting before our very eyes! What about America? America today is in a lot of trouble. America has gone from being a nation highly blessed by God to a nation that has angered Him exceedingly for decades now. America has decided that it does not want God’s commandments; it does not want God’s moral code; it refuses to have prayer in its schools, and neither does it want His guidance in its governance. This is bringing great judgment upon America. America as a nation will not be salvaged at this point in history, but God will continue responding to as many as will humbly turn in His direction for mercy. The time of His mercy and the days of His grace are dangerously near their end. The days of the Gentiles are also near their end. America as the greatest nation ever in the history of mankind is very close to collapse economically, and it will soon after be destroyed as a nation. I believe this is described in both the Old and New Testaments. Because of the length of this article I will not go into the additional threats of climate change, drastic geological changes, and burgeoning cosmic threats that the world is facing. These threats are not imaginary; in fact, they have many in the scientific community, as well as world leaders, in a panic. All this points to one thing: Jesus is coming, and He is coming very, very soon! Are you ready for His return or have you just ignored all the signs? Tomorrow could literally be too late! Below is a prayer that God will hear if you pray it from your heart:
Lord God Almighty! I come before You today because I realize I need to make sure I am in right-standing with You. I realize that Jesus’ first coming to Earth, His death on the cross, and then resurrection back to life on the third day was for the sake of a fallen human race—including me. I need forgiveness for all the sins in my life, but even more than that, I need for You to set me free of the broken relationship with You as my Creator that I was born with. I ask You to forgive me, give me the relationship with You that I was designed for, and help me to find my place in Your plan in whatever amount of time is left in this world. You promised that no one coming to you in humble repentance would You reject. I am one of those today! Thank you for hearing me, forgiving me, and receiving me back into your grace. I pray this in the name of Jesus and receive him as my King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
God Bless, Jake Geier