Fulfillment of prophecies.

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Jul 27, 2016 at 18:04

Hi, Lynn

Let me try to respond to some more of your post. You said,

"Sometimes I wonder if much of this has already happened and was covered up. I read an obscure article by an Irish scientist saying he has uncovered evidence that the earth may have been literally dark during the Dark Ages with evidence in bones in South America to writings in China about the sun disappearing."

Of course, solar eclipses have been happening on a regular basis; and there have been natural events that darkened part or all of the sky (such as the Krakatoa eruption in 1883):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_eruption_of_Krakatoa

There were also bloody wars across the globe in the mid-1800s, a terrible famine in China in 1960, etc.

Matt 24
[6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
[7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
[8] All these are the beginning of sorrows.

That "beginning of sorrows" has been going on ever since Jesus was crucified. You went on to say,

"If Israel is surrounded by enemies and the West is determined to appease those enemies even by dividing the Holy City that would bring to mind hell."

I guess some IDF officers would say, "Oh, hell! They're at it again!" Much of what Jesus said in Matt 24 was applicable to the Zealot Rebellion in 66-73 AD. In 1948, Jerusalem was surrounded by armies and captured by the infidels. It will happen again:

Zech.14
[1] Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
[2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
[3] Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Notice that it says "all" nations -- including the US, France, Turkey, South Africa, India, Vietnam, China, the works. That could happen, if the invasion were initiated by a UN resolution. And since the UN spends most of its time condemning Israel for this, that and the other thing, you can see that it could happen any time. As with Iraq and Afghanistan, I expect the US President to take the most prominent role. You went on,

"I think we are in an age of great confusion and I do not know what exactly it is that causes desolation but the thought of atheism joining with Islam leaves my mind desolate."

I have believed for years, that the Muslim control of and presence on the Temple Mount is sufficiently abominable. You went on,

" It seems [the Atheists and Muslims] could partner for as long as it takes to destroy Israel or at least cause the memory of it to be wiped from the earth.

I don't put it past them. However, the Japanese, Chinese and Indians, etc. also band together with the Muslims and Atheists against Israel. The whole world hates Israel, out of envy. You went on,

"What will tempt even the faithful I don't know unless we become so exhausted we give up."

Peer pressure is sufficient. That's what caused the German Christians to support Hitler. Add to this economic and government pressure. Most Americans will attack Jews and Christians, as long as the latter are portrayed as cultists (like David Koresh), friends of Putin, etc. And so many Christians are caught up in the "rapture" heresy, they will abandon God if they feel they have been "left behind". I believe few will remain faithful to the cross. Remember, it happened in Germany, the land of Luther and Zinzendorf; and a goodly portion of Americans are of German extraction. Even so, Anglo-Americans have already fallen away at an even faster pace. You went on,

"What will tempt even the faithful I don't know unless we become so exhausted we give up." The purpose of the swords in the garden, was for Jesus to be counted among "transgressors." It was enough for him to be accused of fomenting an armed rebellion against Rome.

It's getting hot in my room. I have to quit now. Shalom shalom :-)

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".