End-of-the-Age Assessment
It is the “times of the signs,” as my great friend Chuck Missler used to say.
Chuck has been in Heaven for a few years now, so he has missed seeing, from this earthly vantage point, the signs proliferating at an amazing pace. Perhaps he is, as he often proposed when teaching about our future life in that eternal, glorious place, “watching from the balconies of Heaven.”
Whether Chuck is seeing all that is now taking place here on earth or is too busy in other ways in that magnificent place God prepared for him, the signs Chuck often assessed while going about the world in his powerful ministry are exploding all around us—those left here to “watch,” as Jesus instructed (Mark 13:37 and Luke 21:28).
We endeavor in this column, as do other “watchers” in their various forums, to observe the signals of the approaching Tribulation—Daniel’s seventieth week.
The greatest general sign in these times so near that seven-year era, the second half of which Jesus called the worst time of human history (Matthew 24:21), is that Israel is back in the land. Other general signs, as I view them, are:
- The entire world is beginning to turn against Israel, God’s chosen nation and people (Zechariah 12:1–3).
- There is a cry for peace, with a two-state solution involving Israel and its enemies to divide God’s land (Joel 3:2).
- There is a drive-by anti-God force—the Ephesians 6:12 cabal, to tear down the US and all sovereignty of nations.
- Wickedness is growing to the Sodom and Gomorrah level, with insanity gripping the world in the way described by the Apostle Paul’s Romans 1:28 “reprobate mind” diagnosis.
- Apostasy is on the rise (2 Thessalonians 2:3), with the pope of the Catholic Church saying every religion has a way to salvation.
- Technology, through AI and other phenomenal so-called advances, is gushing this generation toward a time of Antichrist’s worldwide control (Revelation 13:16-18).
While there isn’t enough space in this commentary to deal with all these matters, we’ve done so over the preceding months and years. So, I would like to consider here only two specific, most-pointed prophetic elements that are, at this precise moment, on the verge of fulfillment. Certainly the stage is being set for these occurrences to suddenly burst upon this “time of the signs.”
First, I want to consider the Isaiah 17:1 passage involving the destruction of Damascus.
Dynamics affecting this volatile region of Syria have seemingly ignited into an unstoppable circumstance. The removal of dictator Bashar Al-Assad of Syria opened the way for a new anti-Israel regime, composed of several terrorist group leaderships, to take control. The situation now appears to be near exploding into an action by Israel that could cause all of the Middle East to erupt into conflagration.
Here is that prophecy:
“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1).
Here is an article that explains this developing danger of war in the Middle East:
The Sunni radicals that have taken over Syria are demanding that all Israeli forces must leave Syrian territory. On the other side, the IDF is hammering military targets in southern Syria with a blistering wave of airstrikes, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that any military forces aligned with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will not be allowed south of Damascus. Do you understand what this means? It means that Damascus is now right on the front lines of a conflict between Israel and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that is rapidly heating up. If all-out war erupts, Damascus is likely to be absolutely devastated.
Of course, many prominent buildings in Damascus have already been turned into piles of rubble, but now it appears that things could be about to go to the next level.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed that IDF airstrikes are being conducted in southern Syria, and he is warning that any attempt by forces aligned with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to enter the security zone in southern Syria “will be met with fire”…
Israel confirmed it is conducting strikes in southern Syria, as the new Syrian government calls for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory.
“We will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said regarding the strikes. “Any attempt by the Syrian regime forces and the country’s terrorist organizations to establish themselves in the security zone in southern Syria will be met with fire.”
Katz said the Israeli Air Force is “now attacking strongly in southern Syria as part of the new policy we have defined of pacifying southern Syria.” (“Is The Stage Being Set for Damascus to Be Utterly Destroyed and Turned into a Heap of Ruins?” Michael, Rapture Ready News, February 27, 2025)
The other most pressing matter that’s key in these “times of the signs,” I believe, is things coming to a potentially violent head regarding Iran’s nuclear development program. Middle East Bible prophecy expert Bill Salus writes about this Jeremiah 49:34 prophecy concerning a coming disaster to Elam, the very area in which Iran’s nuclear laboratories are thought to be within the Bushehr mountain range.
Bill enumerates, by dissecting through paraphrased biblical terms, the destruction scheduled to take place.
The Seven I Wills and Details of the Lord in Jeremiah 49:34–39.
- The Lord will break the bow of Elam / at the foremost of Elam’s might.
- The Lord will gather the four winds from the four quarters of heaven / and scatter the Elamites worldwide.
- The Lord will cause Iran to be dismayed / before the eyes of its enemies.
- The Lord will create a disaster inside Iran / because Iran has fiercely angered Him.
- The Lord will send the sword after the Iranians / until they are defeated.
- The Lord will destroy the Iranian leadership / and establish His throne in Elam.
- The Lord will restore the land of Elam / and return the exiles to Elam.
(Taken from a document for media use to promote Bill Salus’ NOW Prophecies book and DVD)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long stated, in every relevant forum, that Iran will never be allowed to produce nuclear weapons. Now his declaration is backed by the US president, whereas the previous American administration did everything within its power to resist Netanyahu’s efforts to thwart the Iranian ayatollah’s determination to produce nuclear military capability.
Current developments bring Jeremiah 49:34 into view as we consider the following report:
Iran has placed its missile defense systems on high alert, anticipating potential Israeli and US airstrikes on nuclear sites, The Telegraph reported. The report follows a Bloomberg report citing the International Atomic Energy Agency, which found that Iran’s uranium stockpile has surged in recent months.
The Telegraph cited two high-level government sources that say Tehran has been expanding missile defense coverage around nuclear and missile sites for fear of potential joint military strikes by stealth fighter jets by Israel and the US.
“They [Iranian authorities] are just waiting for the attack and are anticipating it every night, and everything has been on high alert—even in sites that no one knows about,” one source told The Telegraph.
“Work to fortify nuclear sites has been ongoing for years, but it has intensified over the past year, particularly since Israel launched the first attack,” he added.
“Recent developments, including Donald Trump’s comments and reports about potential plans from his administration to strike Iran, have further intensified activities.” (“Iranian Nuke Sites on ‘High Alert’ for Stealth Jet Attacks; Enriched Uranium Stockpiles Near Level for Bomb,” Zero Hedge, Tyler Durden, February 26, 2025)
The times of the signs cannot be missed by those who “watch.” Jesus instructed us to “watch,” as referenced above, in order to assure us that “our redemption is drawing near” when we see “all these things begin to come to pass.”
Here, again, is God’s call to all people who don’t know Jesus Christ for salvation. These lost souls are facing living under Antichrist and the horrors of the Tribulation unless they accept this call to redemption from the eternal consequences of unrepented sin.
“That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10 9-10).
—Terry
A Pause, or an Acceleration?
As the vast corruption of the previous US President and his administration becomes all the more apparent, we wonder how the nation survived during the past four years. President Donald Trump has brought a much-needed change of direction to our nation.
The renewed support for Israel, the uncovering of the vast wasteful and criminal spending of the past several years, and Trump’s strong appeal for peace might suggest to some that the Rapture might not be as close as they thought.
It’s tempting to think that way. I have found myself wondering if perhaps there’s been a pause in the parade of events leading to Jesus’ soon appearing. However, two thoughts bring me back to reality.
First, I remember Jesus’ assertion that the fulfillment of Bible prophecy will happen at the time sovereignly set by the Father (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). God knows the precise time when He will send His Son to get His Bride and bring her to glory. He already took into consideration all that we see happening today when He long ago set the time of our departure from this world.
Second, I’m aware that a strong undercurrent in world affairs remains, which after the Rapture will directly lead to antichrist’s covenant with Israel, which will mark the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation for the world. The lawlessness of those who seek to destroy our nation remains on full display.
So, does that mean that world events are accelerating toward Jesus’ appearing? I prefer to put it this way: the stage-setting for the future one-world government has not ceased or slowed down in any way.
After the Rapture, the demonic undercurrent of lawlessness, already at work, will become even more evident. It’s then that the following earth-shaking events will occur.
Israel Will Become Vulnerable to an Invasion
At the moment, Israel doesn’t need the protection of the antichrist. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu often refers to President Trump as the best friend that his nation has ever had in the White House. Along with hastening the delivery of over 1,800 two-ton bombs, which Biden had delayed, another enormous shipment of bombs and bulldozers will soon be on its way to Israel from the US, if not already there.
It’s doubtful that the Gog/Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38-39 would take place in the near term with a strong America ready to supply more weapons to Israel and defend it against attack. The Rapture, however, will decimate the US as a world power and provide the perfect opportunity for the antichrist to step in as the protector of the Jewish people.
I suspect that the Gog/Magog attack will occur between the Rapture and the antichrist’s seven-year peace accord with Israel. Somehow, that will provide the perfect opportunity for him to offer the nation they cannot refuse, likely sweetened by allowing the Jewish people to build their temple.
The Most Deadly Wars in History Will Occur
Last Friday, February 28, we saw how quickly things can change on the world scene. The White House was prepared to announce a cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia. Apparently, Vladimir Putin had agreed to it, and everyone expected Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, to go along with the cessation of hostilities. But that did not happen.
Zelenskyy turned the Oval Office meeting into an argument to keep the war going rather than settle for a cessation of hostilities.
President Trump warned the Ukrainian President that his actions could lead to WWIII, and that’s exactly what we have seen in the days since the Ukrainian leader’s foolish decision. Many European leaders are rallying to Zelenskyy’s cause with promises of weapons and soldiers on the ground.
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Putin issued a strong warning to the European nations planning to join Ukraine’s war against Russia. He’s quoted as saying, “And today’s war against Russia would be an absolute apocalypse. I advise our colleagues from Europe and NATO to work for the good of the world, not for the destruction of the world.”
In other words, the chess pieces are rapidly moving into place for the start of deadly wars and fulfillment of Revelation 6:3-4, 7-8.
(Update: the Ukrainian president has agreed to give the US the mineral rights it requested, but it’s uncertain if he’s serious about a cease.)
The Restrainer Will No Longer Restrict the Man of Lawlessness
Perhaps the biggest change that will occur at the Rapture is the removal of the Restrainer, the Holy Spirit, who is now holding back the unveiling of the antichrist and the full measure of lawlessness that’s to come. Notice Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8:
“And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”
Amid the chaos following Jesus’ appearing, conditions will rapidly deteriorate across the planet. Lawlessness, already at levels I never expected to see in my lifetime, will accelerate preparing the way for the antichrist and his solutions to the resulting turmoil and strife.
While it might be tempting to think there’s been a pause in the mad rush of events leading up to the start of the Tribulation period, the elite powerbrokers of our world remain busy. They are working behind the scenes to quickly set the stage for when they can openly enslave the world under their domain.
I’m also reminded that the Lord said His “coming” would be “at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). This cannot refer to the Second Coming because, by the end of Tribulation, those who believe will fully expect to see Jesus riding across the sky to claim the nations as His own.
-Jonathan