In ancient Rome the Ides of March (15th) was a festive day dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war. Since then it’s become best known as the day Julius Caesar was assassinated. It is said that “On the Ides of March the sea succumbs to chaos and the full moon brings high tides.” These points give the Ides of March a very mysterious quality.
Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;”
According to Plutarch, who was a Roman historian and writer, a seer told Julius Caesar that he would be harmed no later than the Ides of March (thus the phrase “Beware the Ides of March”). On his way to the Theatre of Pompey, Caesar met the seer and joked, “The ides of March have come”, meaning to say that the prophecy had not been fulfilled, to which the seer replied “Aye, Caesar; but not gone (yet).” Caesar was assassinated at the theatre. Thus, the prophecy was fulfilled.
Caesar had demanded to be worshipped as a god. Those who did not worship him were put to death. There is one coming who will confirm the covenant with many to bring about a false peace, and then later will demand to be worshipped as God. He will be guided by Satan and will use sorcery, as will his false prophet, to deceive those on earth. But they will receive the same judgment from God as did Caesar. God tells us in Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
HAVE WE REACHED THE ZERO HOUR?
o If St.Malachy is right, the last leader of the Roman church is about to be elected, who will rule during the tribulation.
o Signs in the sky, on the earth and in the oceans abound that Christ told us would herald His soon return.
o The nations are perplexed and distressed and fearful of nuclear war.
o Israel’s president is calling for the 1993 peace treaty to be confirmed as soon as possible.
o Tests have begun in certain locations using fingerprinting as a way of making transactions. The RFID chip is already here, making us that much closer to the mark of the beast system the bible warns us about.
o Those who run the world are either openly or secretly leading us into the one-world government of the tribulation. They’re spouting phrases such as New World Order, Supranational Authority, Central World Band, and Global Governance.
o There are pastors, both Protestant and Catholic, who are leading their flocks into the one-world religious system of the tribulation.
CONFIRMING A COVENANT WITH MANY
You will hear the words “treaty” and “agreement” and “accord.” These three words mean the same thing. I will use the word “covenant” as it says in the bible.
We’ve heard it said that when the antichrist confirms the covenant with many, this will begin the seven-year tribulation that will herald the return of Christ. I want to discuss this prophecy in Daniel 9:27.
o Orthodox Jewish Bible: “And he (antichrist) shall confirm brit (covenant) with rabbim (many)…” (There are bible scholars who believe “many”refers to Israel).
o Hebrew-English Bible: “And he shall make a firm covenant with many…”
o King James Version: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many…”
Here is a condensed excerpt from Jack Kinsella’s article on raptureready.com titled “The Coming Prince.”
“The covenant the antichrist will confirm is based on the formula of “land for peace” the formula upon which the Oslo Agreement (September 13, 1993 –September 13, 2000) was based. So the treaty exists,
but collapsed before it was fully implemented. The antichrist is said to ‘confirm’ the covenant, not write it, or negotiate it or sign it. He ‘confirms’ it. One cannot confirm anything unless it first exists!
Some translations say “make a firm covenant.” This 1993 covenant was not “made firm” then.
September 1993 marked the signing of a Declaration of Principles for peace between the Arabs and Israelis. Under the terms of the deal, Israel agreed to withdraw its troops from Gaza Strip and West Bank by April 1994, and the Palestinians would receive a form of self-government.
Peace Accords were officially signed on 13 September 1993, at a Washington ceremony hosted by U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Israel’s Shimon Peres held secret meetings to get this deal done. Also involved were Mahmud Abbas, Yitzhak Rabin, and Yasser Arafat. *Rabin and Arafat shook hands on live TV, and it was Peres, who at that time was Israel’s Foreign Minister and (then) PLO Chairman, Mahmud Abbas, who actually signed the peace treaty (covenant) of 1993.
*Rabin’s last name reminds me of the Orthodox Jewish Bible translation of Daniel 9:27: “And he (antichrist) shall confirm brit (covenant) with rabbim…” Could this possibly be a reference to the future covenant being the final confirmation of the 1993 covenant with Rabin? It’s an odd coincidence anyway.
“Oslo Accords (I and II)”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_I_Accord
“1993: Rabin And Arafat Shake on Peace Deal” http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/13/newsid_3053000/3053733.stm
IS THE FINAL “CONFIRMING” NEAR?
Twenty years have passed since then, and Shimon Peres and Mahmud Abbas are still around; only this time they are now both presidents, and are the only ones willing to do serious negotiations to confirm the covenant.
The United Nations historic vote in November 2012 accorded Palestine ‘non-member observer state’ status. This puts more pressure on Israel to agree to a Palestinian State. Obama’s first presidential visit to Israel is coming up this month, which it is said will increase the pressure even more.
In December 2012 Peres urged Israel to resume peace talks with the Palestinians, saying their president, Mahmud Abbas, was a willing partner with whom an agreement could be reached. Peres said the only way the Jewish state could positively affect the unpredictable reality in the region was “to complete the peace agreement with the Palestinians.” Peres said that he knew there were different opinions, but that “this isn’t a matter of ideology, but a matter of appraising the situation.” He stated “THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT.”
“Israel Must Complete Peace Deal with Abbas and Peres”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gQ14NPeC92HWymQbbcpsGALj7oow?docId=CNG.44304a7ad9abb8e71927c8804de40c25.161
COVENANT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE VATICAN
But let’s go back to 1993 for a moment. Three months after the September 1993 Oslo Accords, there was another covenant made (in December 1993) – an agreement between Israel and the Vatican. It was called the “Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel,” The Vatican officially recognized the State of Israel, and in return the Vatican was to receive special status in Jerusalem. However, the covenant was not confirmed because of tense relations due to non-fulfillment concerning property rights and tax exemptions to the Vatican. But that’s not the end of the story.
Fundamental Agreement of 1993: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_Accord
COMING SOON TO A SEAT IN THE LAST SUPPER ROOM
The December 1993 covenant between Israel and the Vatican has recently been confirmed. The Roman church has long desired a foothold in Jerusalem, and now they have it in a big and prophetic way. Israel has given the Pope an official seat in the Last Supper Room on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The deal was sealed on January 29, 2013 before the current Pope resigned, and is expected to be ratified in June. This will give the new pope a special authority over the second floor of the building. There are complaints that this was done in secret, without any public debate.
“Exclusive: A Seat for the Pope at King David’s Tomb” Arutz Sheva Feb. 1, 2013 www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/12814#.USLUDB119M8
THE ROAD TO MT. ZION
There is a winding road leading up to Mount Zion known as Derekh Ha’Apifyor (Pope’s Way). Before 1964, the way to Mount Zion was a narrow dirt track. In 1964 Pope Paul VI planned to visit Jerusalem and, in his honor, the Jordanians allowed for the widening and laying of a proper road to enable the Pope to be driven to the Coenaculum. The pontiff was only in Israel for one day and refused to recognize the State of Israel. But, as you can see, all that has now changed.
HEED THE WARNING
This may get touchy for some of you who are Catholic. Like I said, there are pastors in both the Protestant and Catholic churches who are leading their flocks astray. However, the bible says that the one-world false religious system of the last days (combining of all religions) will be headed up by the Roman church. Today, many pastors who call themselves Christian are embracing all religions, especially Islam, and saying all paths lead to God, and we worship the same God. This can’t be farther from the truth. I will discuss extensively in my next article just how these supposedly Christian pastors are misleading their flocks in the deceptively nice-sounding name of “tolerance.” God commands us to warn others and will hold us responsible if we don’t. He tells us to speak the truth boldly. So that’s what I’m going to do. Time is short.
THE ROMAN ROAD OF BIBLE PROPHECY
Todd Strandberg, founder of the Rapture Ready website, had this to say in his Feb. 18, 2013 “Nearing Midnight” report titled Will the Next Pope Be the Last?: “The real reason to watch the next pope is to see how he may fit the role of the False Prophet. The head of the Catholic Church has almost no competition for the job. He is the one the liberal media turns to for religious commentary. He has name recognition that spans the globe.”
Terry James, general editor of Rapture Ready and gifted speaker, gave his “Nearing Midnight” report in the same article. His report is titled Roman Road of Prophecy. Here’s what he had to say: “Bible prophecy tells us in these passages (see article) that Rome will be at the center of world rebellion “until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” A corrupt religious system will be prominently ensconced atop the seven mountains. Make no mistake: With its expansive reach and influence, the doings of the Roman Catholic Church in the coming months are worth watching for the observer of Bible prophecy.”
Both articles in their entirety can be found at: https://www.raptureready.com/nm/445.html
MALACHY’S VISION AND THE POPE
Many of us are holding our breath as we await the election of a new Pope. To lay the foundation of what I’m going to discuss, I have to repeat myself a little from my previous article “Unusual Occurrences.” But bear with me. There are more revelations coming up.
Malachy’s prophecies had been kept away in the Vatican after the vision was first revealed to Pope Innocent. It is believed by some that prophecies up until 400 years ago (which is when they resurfaced), may have been forged by others to suit their own purposes. Since then they have been amazingly accurate. Here’s his prophecy of the last leader of the Roman church, in case you have not yet heard it or read it in the above article I just referenced:
“In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Petrus Romanus (Peter the Roman), who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”
Would the cardinals elect someone who fits Malachy’s prophecy, which many are aware of? They may fear more public scrutiny since many Protestants believe he will be the false prophet of the tribulation. The Catholic Church has already lost many followers due to revelations of sex scandals and corruption. Latin American countries comprise most of the Catholics these days. A “Peter the Roman” pope would have to pull out all the stops to convince people that he is of a pious (devout) nature.
THE REAL POWER IN THE VATICAN
Regardless, the Secretary of State and Chamberlain (prime minister), Tarcisio Pietro Evasio Bertone, is said to be the real power in the Vatican. He holds a few other positions there as well. Even if he doesn’t become the next pope, I’ve read that he would still hold on to his other positions, except for possibly Secretary of State. He does fit the description of Peter the Roman, since he was born in Romano Canavese. Pietro is Italian for Peter. Let’s discuss his background.
Bertone professed his vows as a member of the Salesian Order of Don Bosco in 1950, which was originally known as the Society of St. Francis de Sales. One of its missions is to educate boys to the priesthood. The Order’s members have come into particular criticism in light of inquiries as to sexual child abuse by members of the Catholic Church. St. Francis of Assisi himself warned of heretics and schisms in his Order and the Catholic Church that would occur in the last days.
Patrick Parkinson is a professor of law at the University of Sydney, Australia and a specialist in family law, child protection and the law of equity and trusts. In a parliamentary inquiry in Australia regarding pedophile allegations, Professor Parkinson stated, “I would say they [the Order] are not only unrepentant and defiant, they are untruthful. The lies which were told, the cover-ups, the attempts made to suppress my report, were breathtaking.”
The report stated that, on attempts to extradite three of the Order’s bishops to Australia, two had been shunted off to Samoa, where the local archbishop there was not told about the allegations made against the two, and the third (Bertone) was working in the Vatican.
“Salesians of Don Bosco”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salesians_of_Don_Bosco
“Sexual Abuse Scandal In The Salesian Order”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abuse_scandal_in_the_Salesian_order
“Link the above article references as (3) which shows to whom they’re referring ”
http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2006/08/faithful-secretary.html
“Vatileaks Scandal”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatileaks_scandal
“Italian Newspaper Claims Another Reason Why the Pope Resigned”
Huffington Post: Feb.23, 2013 with video
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/21/pope-benedict-resigned-vatican-gay-lobby-paper-claims_n_2735642.html?1361488175&icid=maing-grid10|htmlws-main-bb|dl1|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D273654#slide=2136473
“Vatileaks: Pope Defends Right Hand Man Cardinal Bertone”
Telegraph U.K. News: July 4, 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/9376220/Vatileaks-Pope-defends-right-hand-man-Cardinal-Tarcisio-Bertone.html
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
In an interview, Bertone says that his birth date is considered to be both on December 1st and December 2nd. That’s because he was born exactly at the stroke of midnight – the zero hour. http://www.30giorni.it/articoli_id_11123_l3.htm
REGARDING POST-BIBLICAL PROPHECIES
The Word of God is the true authority to turn to. The bible tells us to test the prophets to see if they’re of God. In biblical times anyone who claimed to be a prophet of God was put to death if even one of his predictions did not come true. The prophets of the bible were 100% accurate in their predictions for those times – and their prophecies have continued to be fulfilled in this way. This shows they were inspired by God. However, Satan is a great counterfeiter, and he loves to use religion for his own evil purposes. He’s no respecter of persons and will use whomever he can to accomplish his goals, if he can get to them with his deceptions, “even the very elect,” as the bible says. Prophets who are not of God won’t have 100% accuracy in their prophecies.
Here’s what the bible says:
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
2 Peter 1:20 “A true prophet does not give his own interpretation of scripture. Every prophecy he or she proclaims will agree with already established truth. If they receive new light, it must agree with the old light God has already given.”
Deuteronomy 18:10-11 “There shall not be found among you…one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.”
We will soon see if Malachy’s and other prophecies I’m about to mention will come true. They do seem to agree with what the bible says about the false religion of the last days and the destruction of the Roman church. Saint Francis of Assisi, who died in 1226 A.D., had the following vision of the last days.
“There will be an uncanonically elected Pope who will cause a great schism. There will be diverse thoughts preached which will cause many, even those in the different orders, to doubt, yea, even agree with those heretics which will cause my Order (Salesians) to divide. Then will there be such universal dissensions and persecutions that if those days were not shortened, even the elect would be lost.”
Pope Pius X had several visions:
“Who can fail to see that society is at the present time, more than in any past age, suffering from a terrible and deep-rooted malady which, developing every day and eating into its inmost being, is dragging it to destruction? You understand, Venerable Brethren, what this disease is—apostasy from God… When all this is considered there is good reason to fear lest this great perversity may be as it were a foretaste, and perhaps the beginning of those evils which are reserved for the last days; and that there may be already in the world the ‘Son of Perdition’ [Antichrist] of whom the Apostle speaks.”
(Pope St. Pius X, E Supremi, Encyclical On the Restoration of All Things in Christ, n. 3, 5; October 4th, 1903).
“What I have seen is terrifying! Will I be the one, or will it be a successor? What is certain is that the Pope will leave Rome and, in leaving the Vatican, he will have to pass over the dead bodies of his priests! Do not tell anyone this while I am alive.”
These were the last visions he had before he died:
“I have seen one of my successors, of the same name, who was fleeing over the dead bodies of his brethren. He will take refuge in some hiding place; but after a brief respite, he will die a cruel death. Respect for God has disappeared from human hearts. They wish to efface even God’s memory. This perversity is nothing less than the beginning of the last days of the world.”
“I feel pity for my successor. I shall not be here. Truly ‘devastated religion’ is upon us.”
Pope Leo XIII had a terrifying vision where he beheld Satan and his agents soon to be reigning triumphantly over the world.
There is controversy surrounding the third secret of Fatima. Cardinal Bertone was accused of not revealing the contents of the last page. If so, what could he be hiding?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Secrets_of_F%C3%A1tima
ONE NAME STANDS OUT IN PAPAL REIGNS
I decided to research the papal name of Pius due to Pope Pius’ vision of this future pope “of the same name,” and I found something strange. The bible speaks of terrible war in the last days, and there is a pattern of Pope Pius’s reigning during significant wars we’re familiar with.
Pope Pius VI
Reigned from 1775–1799. He was pope during the American Revolution and French
Revolution.
Pope Pius VII
Reigned from 1800–1823. He was pope during the Spanish-American War as well as the
Napoleonic Wars.
(Pope Pius VIII was only pope a very short time (1829-1830)
Pope Pius IX
Reigned from 1846–1878. He was pope during the American Civil War.
Pope Pius X
Reigned from 1903–1914. He was pope when WWI began. This was the pope I mentioned in another article who had visions of a leader of the Roman church “with the same name” who will be forced to flee from Rome during a time of great tribulation just before the return of Christ. Pope Pius X was terrified that it might be himself. He suffered a heart attack in 1913, but his condition was worsened by the events leading to the outbreak of World War I. This put the 79-year-old pope in a state of melancholy, and he died just 23 days after the war broke out. Benedict XV became pope after his death.
Pope Pius XI
Reigned from 1922–1939. He was pope when World War II was looming on the horizon, and he openly condemned Hitler’s Nazi Party. Britain’s Neville Chamberlain met with Hitler three times in 1938 in an attempt to prevent war, to no avail. The war was well underway in 1939, but starting dates differ. Pope Pius’ cause of death in 1939 was listed as a heart attack; he’d been in failing health for some time. His primary physician was the father of Mussolini’s mistress, leading some to wonder if the pope was silenced by Hitler and his cohort.
Pope Pius XII
Reigned from 1939-1958. He was pope during World War II and the Korean War.
Could it be that a Pope Pius XIII will head the Roman Church during the tribulation war the bible speaks of, or is this just an unusual coincidence?
Interestingly, shortly after being named Chamberlain of the Vatican, Bertone defended Pope Pius XII against claims that he was indifferent toward the Jews during The Holocaust. The link below describes what Pius XII did and didn’t do, the Vatican’s and Israel’s discussions since then to resolve this, as well as Pius XII’s and the Vatican’s desire not to have the Jews return to Palestine.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/pius.html
WILL THE REAL PETER PLEASE STAND UP?
Here are some translations of the name “Peter:” Petrus; Pietro; Perez; Pier. I’ve already gone into detail about Bertone, whose middle name of Pietro is Italian for Peter.
“Pier” Bersani has just been elected as Prime Minister of Italy and will take office in March. He has a communist/socialist background. He is Roman Catholic, born in Emilia-“Romagna.” Before being elected as Prime Minister, he was President of Emilia-Romagna. Hmm….. another “Peter the Roman.”
Shimon “Peres,” Israel’s President, supports a Palestinian State, which will again chip away at the tiny state of Israel – the land God gave to His chosen people. The translation of “Shimon Peres” is “Simon Peter.” We all know that the apostle, Simon Peter, was the first one of the disciples to recognize that Jesus was the Messiah; the Son of God. But Peres’ actions make him the opposite of Peter.
Peter Turkson is the former archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, and current president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Since he now lives in Rome, he’s been able to attend all meetings. Turkson is calling for the establishment of a “global public authority” and a “central world bank.” Does the phrase New World Order ring a bell?
Peter Erdo, archbishop of Budapest is considered a frontrunner for the papacy. He has served as president of the Hungarian bishops’ conference since September 2005.
Archbishop Pier (French for Peter) Celata is the Vice-Chamberlain at the Vatican under Cardinal Bertone. He too lives in Rome. I’ve heard nothing about him being in the running.
DO FRONT RUNNERS FINISH LAST?
Few front runner candidates have been elected pope. Modern-day exceptions to this would be Benedict XVI, who was given 7 to 1 odds by the international media, and Paul VI, who was considered most likely to win the seat. There is a long tradition of surprise voting patterns by the cardinals.
St. Malachy gave very short descriptions of popes. But he went into detail about the last leader of the Roman church in his prophecy. If this person might not actually have the title of Pope, but just be the “leader,” then what else might he be? Well, like I said, he could be referring to someone who is the real power in the Vatican. The Vatican just announced that Benedict would retain the title “His Holiness” even though a new pope will be elected.
ANTIPOPE
In my research I’ve heard the last pope referred to by some as an antipope. The definition of an antipope is “one who opposes the legitimately elected Bishop of Rome (the pope), endeavors to secure the papal throne, and to some degree succeeds materially in the attempt.” There hasn’t been an antipope in 574 years, but it is generally accepted that there have been at least 37 antipopes.
There is another meaning the word “antipope” conveys to those who use the term: One who only pretends to be of the Catholic faith but really hates the church, and secretly has no religious beliefs at all.
I don’t believe the new pope, or as the case could be – the antipope – will take Peter for his papal name. Pius is a possibility. But don’t hold me to it. It’s just a guess.
Will the true pope be forced to flee from Rome, forced out by an “antipope?” It’s always a possibility. Could it be what the bible refers to when it tells us that the antichrist will destroy the false one-world religious system that helped him rise to power? As I said, this religious system is coming together.
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY?
There’s another possibility why the last leader of the Roman church may not be the actual Pope. That could be if some world event happened that would put everything in such turmoil that they wouldn’t have the chance to elect a new pope. If the Rapture were to take place, the uncorrupted cardinals and bishops who truly follow Christ would disappear before their eyes, and it would throw the whole world into a tizzy. These are only speculations. We’ll soon find out how it all plays out.
CHANGING LAWS AND TIMES FOR PAPAL ELECTION: FORETASTE OF THINGS TO COME?
Just a day or so after I heard that the Vatican was looking into changing the time of the papal election, they did it. To do so they would have had to find a loophole in canon laws on conclaves or get a dispensation (special consideration). I figured they would find a way, given the fact that the Pope resigned rather than died, Easter is coming up this month, and the one who runs the affairs of the Vatican, Cardinal Bertone, is an expert on canon laws. So, he had to “think to change the laws and the times.” Where have we heard that phrase before? I’ll talk about that in this next section.
THE ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET
Before I begin this section, I want to make it clear that I don’t know exactly who the false prophet and antichrist are. The one I’m looking for is Jesus Christ to return to the air and take His true church, the body of Christ, in the Rapture. But some who read this article may not be a believer in Christ and will need to have some idea what to look for. If this helps to lead them to pick up the bible or helps win them to Christ, then I’ll have done what God commands me to do.
That said, the bible makes it clear that the false religious system will assist the antichrist in his rise to power, and that the antichrist will “think to change the times and the laws.”
King James Version: Daniel 7:25 “And he (antichrist) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the *saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws:”
(The saints are the tribulation saints – the ones who will come to belief in Christ during the tribulation. They will be killed by the satanic antichrist and false prophet for not taking the mark of the beast).
Coincidentally, the New King James Version uses the word ‘pompous.’ “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute (wear out) the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law:”
The word “pious” has two different meanings. One is good and the other one is not:
Pious: devout; religious; virtuous; moral.
Pious: pompous; self-righteous; smug, superior; holier-than thou.
Here are some articles about the antichrist and false prophet.
www.raptureready.com/lbl/leftb49.html
http://www.arewelivinginthelastdays.com/article/antichrist/antichrist.htm
https://www.raptureready.com/featured/gillette/ac2.html
www.raptureready.com/featured/gillette/false-prophet.html
www.raptureready.com/abc/False_Prophet.html
Could it be that among the names mentioned in this article are the names of the antichrist and/or false prophet? The world will soon know. Whether they are or not, signs point to the fact that “something wicked this way comes.”
Jesus said in Matthew 24: 30-31 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. *And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
*This verse refers to the tribulation believers who are still alive at His Second Coming (at the end of the tribulation). They will be gathered safely to Him just before he judges the enemies of Christ on the earth.
Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 24: 32-34 “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
The bible refers to the fig tree six times in the bible as “Israel.” Israel was reborn as a nation again in 1948. A lifespan has been the age of 70 (up to 80 by reason of strength) for the past 3000 years, as it says in Psalm 90:10.
SATAN, THE ACCUSER
Job 1: 6-7 “One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from? ’Satan answered the LORD, ‘From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it’”
The bible tells us that even though Satan was cast out of heaven long ago, he still has access before the Throne of God, where he accuses the brethren day and night. But during the tribulation, he will be cast out permanently.
Revelation 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
Knowing his time is short, he will unleash his fury upon the earth that will have already gone through a terrible tribulation.
Revelation 12:12 “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
As you all know, lightning struck the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica on February 15th just hours after the Pope’s resignation. The next day, a 4.8 earthquake was felt in Rome. Both of these events aren’t unusual in themselves, but in the light of recent developments I would describe them as such.
God gives us signs and warnings before they happen. I think the world has just been warned.
Luke 10:18: “And I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”
LOOK UP!
Wow! We’ve got a lot to look forward to in March. We’re getting a new pope who just received his official seat on Mt. Zion, a comet is supposed to appear in the sky, Israel’s president is calling urgently for the covenant to be confirmed, Obama has decided to finally visit Israel since becoming president, and Italy just elected someone who also fits the description of Peter the Roman.
I’m looking forward to spring. And yes, I’ll be looking for the white smoke that will tell us a new pope has been elected. And I’ll be looking up for the comet in March and the one in the fall. But more than anything I’ll be lifting my head and looking for that day when our Blessed Hope will arrive to take us home to glory.
Luke 21:28 “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”
1 Thessalonians 5: 9-11 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”