WHICH “SPARK” WILL SET OFF THE FINAL CONFLAGRATION?
We are in the “end times” of this age, and we are looking for the imminent return of our Saviour, Christ Jesus. We realize, in accordance with the words of Christ as found in Matthew 24:36 – ” But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” – that we will not know of the day or the hour.
But we are instructed in Matthew 16: 3-4:
“O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it.”
These words were directed at the ancient Pharisees and Sadducees, but are they not aptly applicable to the modern versions of the Pharisees and Sadducees? There are numerous “signs of the times” provided in the Scriptures, but, as a people, we either cannot see these signs or, more probably we don’t want to discern or recognize these signs.
As these “signs” appear on the worldly scene, we will be drawing ever closer to the ultimate conflict and the final conflagration.We are instructed in Matthew 24: 21:
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time [the end time], no, nor ever shall be.”
I know that a lot of Fundamentalist Christians believe that they will be “raptured” out of this world before these catastrophic times occur, and so they continue on their merry way with no thoughts on the coming conflagration.
Reading further in Matthew 24, and specifically verses 37-39, we learn more about this time:
“But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe [Noah] entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Is this so difficult to understand? The wicked and evil ones were destroyed, while Noah and his family were saved aboard the ark. The misinterpretation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17, often referred to as the “rapture” verse, will lead to the destruction of many. Realize also that the word “rapture” appears nowhere in Scripture (KJV). It is a man-made doctrine that is supported by what I term as “baal” ministers – so-called “shepherds” who are scattering the flock and leading the Lord’s sheep astray.
There is nothing to fear from this period of coming tribulation. Consider the promises in the following:
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler, Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou had made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” – (Psalm 91)
Despite the contentions of the government and the media that our economy is healthy, we find severe discrepancies. The number of foreclosures on homes has reached numbers never before encountered, with tens of thousands of such homes found nationwide.And it appears that this is just the beginning. New construction, which was running at record levels up to a year ago, has all but ceased. Many people have lost their jobs, been demoted, or taken work for less pay. The war in Iraq is draining hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of American lives in what appears to be a futile effort to eliminate the “supposed” enemies of the Jews. The economic bubble has burst and we feel that this may contribute to a collapse.
We are making a major effort to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities, while at the same time ignoring the 600+ nuclear weapons* held by the Israelis. The Jewish nation has stockpiled their nuclear weapons cache at Dimona which happens to be near the base of the Mount of Olives. Could this fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 14:4, where he speaks of the return of Christ:
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives…and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof towards the east and towards the west”
Surely a great number of nuclear weapons detonating at one time could cause the mount to split. Will war, in one or several geographic areas, be a contributor to the final conflagration which will herald the return of Christ?
We are warned time and again in Scripture about allowing and accepting strangers into our land. We are not speaking of the stranger who is a fellow Israelite and may be unknown to us, but rather we are speaking to the alien stranger, many of whom we have allowed into this land. Today, we see racial tensions escalating and violent confrontations occurring on a regular basis. Could one of these episodes explode into a worldwide confrontation? It is a fact of human life that different peoples cannot share territories without conflict unless one is far superior in numbers than the other. While much of the racial differences are covered up by the need for “political” and “social” correctness in our society, there is an undercurrent of bias which is prevalent among all races. Could this be a part of something which would lead to a final conflagration?
Then there is the concern about “natural disasters” which could have a bearing on a catastrophic happening. We have spoken in the past of the potential for a major volcanic eruption in the vicinity of Yellowstone Park. This, when combined with the fault lines prevalent on the west coast and in the Mississippi Valley areas, could have a devastation on our civilization. We refer to the Scripture found in Revelation 6: 15-17:
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand.”
Volcanic and earthquake activity could destroy our modern civilization. Revelation makes mention of the Babylonian system – government, commerce, and religion – being destroyed during the tribulation period. There are many natural disasters just waiting to happen and these could be a contributing factor to the end-time events.
The entire 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew speaks to conditions which will be coming upon the earth. A second witness to these happenings can be found in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 13, and a third witness in Luke’s Gospel 21: 7-36. And there are many additional references to be found throughout Scripture which relate to these end-time conditions. We are told that these are events which will occur at the conclusion of this age and surely,when referring to these verses, we can attest to the fact that they have not happened up until now.
I am further convinced that, in order for the devastation to be so complete, there has to be celestial happenings to go along with, or cause, earthquakes and volcanic activity.We know that there is something having an affect on the earth and indeed our entire solar system. Whether it is “planet X,”or “Niburo,” or something else related to such heavenly bodies is beyond my knowledge. There appears to be some sort of cover-up relating to this topic, although the scientific types realize and understand that something definitely is causing modifications. If the truth be known and the puny and ineffective solutions of world government realized, would it cause a panic among the people? Would governments, nations and indeed societies collapse or would anarchy exist?
I don’t know what will cause the final catastrophic happening, although I do know that it will happen. It could be one of the subjects addressed herein, a combination of two or more of the subjects, or some additional criteria which will occur and then bring about the return of our Saviour Christ Jesus. Realize that there is nothing which will destroy the earth. Our earth today is so polluted that we have almost succeeded in its destruction. In Revelation 21 we leam of “a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”
Praise our God for his love and mercy and may it abide with you forever.Amen. §
* U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency
Courtesy:Destiny Letter No:95
