Every day, there are indicators in the news that the end of the age is near.

Consider these examples.

First, Jerusalem will be a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone for the whole world at the end of the age (Zech. 12:3).

On Apr. 7, 2019, Pope Francis and the King of Morocco issued a joint statement that said Jerusalem is “common patrimony of humanity and especially the followers of the three monotheistic religions.”

As I understand it, the pope and the king said Jerusalem is the world’s inheritance and it is especially the inheritance of Christians, Jews and Muslims because those religions trace their roots back to Abraham.

This “joint statement” fulfills Bible prophecy by challenging the ownership of Jerusalem and by documenting another step by Pope Francis toward a one-world religion.

On Apr. 16, 2019, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for the PA, said, “As long as Jerusalem is not on the table, Trump’s [Middle East peace] plan will not be on the table.”

Notice in both of these examples that Jerusalem is the burdensome stone.

Second, many Bible prophecy teachers believe that Ezekiel chapters 36-39 pertain to events that are taking place or shaping up in modern times.

Notice these words from Ezekiel chapter 36:

• “Prophesy unto the mountains of Israel” (Ezek. 36:1a).
• “Ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel” (Ezek. 36:8a).
• “I will cause men to walk upon you [the mountains of Israel], even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men” (Ezek. 36:12).

On Apr. 16, 2019, Pres. Trump’s Mideast advisor released a new map that shows the Golan Heights are now part of Israel.

On Apr. 18, 2019, the U.S. State Dept. announced that it is changing the U.S. Foreign Affairs Manual so that U.S. citizens born on the Golan Heights will have their place of birth listed in passports as “Israel,” not “Syria.”

The Golan Heights are a possession of Israel.

Third, many Bible prophecy teachers believe Russia, Iran, Turkey and others will attack Israel on the mountains (Golan Heights, etc.) in the latter days and latter years to seize Israel’s territory and wealth.

Notice these words from Ezekiel chapter 38:

• “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them” (Ezek. 38:8).
• “Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” (Ezek. 38:13).

On April 15, 2019, it was reported that another new gas field has been discovered off the coast of Israel, and this solidifies Israel’s position as a global energy superpower.

In 71 years of existence (since May 14, 1948), Israel has been transformed from being a poverty-stricken wasteland to being a global energy superpower with great wealth.

Fourth, the Bible teaches that there will be a departure from the faith in the church when the return of Jesus is approaching (I Tim. 4:1).

On Apr. 13, 2019, it was reported that Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI has written an article for a German periodical called Klerusblatt. In the article, Pope Benedict wrote that if the Catholic Church really wants to be credible, it needs to return to God. He blamed immorality in the Catholic Church on the “absence of God.”

As I write this article, it is the day before Easter Sunday, and I am thinking that many people will go to Church tomorrow (Easter), but God won’t be there.

It never occurred to me that a pope (or Pope Emeritus) would say there is an absence of God in the Catholic Church, but I agree with him; and sadly, it is a problem in the mainline denominations too.

Without provocation, the gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, recently publicly criticized V.P. Pence’s stance on same-sex marriage.

According to Mr. Buttigieg, the Mike Pence’s of the world have a problem with the Creator, not with him.

Rev. Franklin Graham spoke out on this. He said, “We don’t define sin—God does in His Word, the Bible.”

He said, “To set the record straight, Mr. Mayor, the issue isn’t whether somebody has a problem with who you are – the issue is that we all have a problem with God because of our sin, and it applies to every single human being.”

He added that God doesn’t change.

One reason why there will be an absence of God in the Catholic Church and some of the mainline denominations on Resurrection Day (Easter) is because the pastor and many of those that attend have abandoned both God and His Word.

They will be like whited sepulchers, beautiful on the outside in their new Easter clothes, but full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness on the inside because they are writing their own Bible, redefining sin, condemning the faithful, etc. (Matt. 23:27).

Pray that God will raise up more preachers like Rev. Franklin Graham with the courage to tell this lost and dying world the truth.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com

On a daily basis, the news continues to show that God’s Word, including Bible prophecy, is absolutely true.

Here are several examples:

First, it was recently reported that Pope Francis told the king of Morocco that Jerusalem is the “common patrimony (inheritance) of humanity and especially the followers of the three monotheistic religions.”

I interpret this to mean that Pope Francis believes that Jerusalem belongs to the world and especially to the three religions that trace their roots back to Abraham.

If I am right, Pope Francis is either totally in the dark about what the Bible teaches or he is a false teacher that doesn’t believe the Bible.

God does not contradict His written Word.

Second, I was recently honored to speak at the Mid-America Prophecy Conference in Tulsa, Ok.

Dr. Mike Gendron, a former Roman Catholic and an expert on Bible prophecy, was one of the speakers.

Dr. Gendron is a former corporate executive and the founder of Proclaiming the Gospel ministry.

He has devoted his life to exposing false doctrines in the Roman Catholic Church.

I said to Mike, “I am not ready to say that Pope Francis is the False Prophet, but I admit that he has me wondering about it. What is your opinion?”

Mike’s reply went something like this, “If we are as close to the return of the Lord as it seems, we have to admit that he is the only candidate on the scene.”

I got the impression that Mike believes that the Roman Catholic Church and Islam will come together to form the one-world religion, and Pope Francis is the most likely person to head it up.

Considering the Pope’s age (82) and that he would have to be alive and active until the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period, a one-world religion would have to be close.

Third, the Bible is clear that God is against the division of the Promised Land.

Three days before the April 9, 2019, Israeli elections, the polls showed that Prime Min. Netanyahu would lose.

In a TV interview on Apr. 6, 2019, Prime Min. Netanyahu promised to extend Israeli sovereignty over all of the Jewish settlements on the West Bank, if he was re-elected.

He said he will not allow the Palestinian Authority (PA) to rule over the Jewish settlements on the West Bank.

He may let the PA rule over some Arab communities on the West Bank, but he will not allow them to have a separate army, air force, etc.

Mr. Netanyahu’s strongest opponent called these promises irresponsible, and the election suddenly flipped.

Mr. Netanyahu took a Biblical stand against dividing the Promised Land, and he came from behind over the next three days to win re-election.

Fourth, the disciples asked Jesus about the sign of His coming, and of the end of the age” (Matt. 24:3).

Among other things, He said, “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 (Matt. 24:32-35).

Notice two things: 1) Jesus said when Israel is young and growing you will know that His return is near, and 2) Near means the generation of Jews that sees a convergence of all of the prophecies won’t pass away until everything is fulfilled.

In 1948, Israel became a nation again.

In 1967, Israel retook East Jerusalem, the Temple Mount and the Golan Heights.

In 2018, the U.S. moved its embassy to Jerusalem.

In 2019, the U.S. recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

In 2019, Prime Min. Netanyahu said he intends to annex the Jewish settlements on the West Bank.

Israel is literally a young and growing nation that will soon be 71 years old.

Fifth, in late March, the city of San Antonio, TX, banned Chick-Fil-A from doing business (buying and selling) at the city airport because of the company’s religious beliefs.

This is a good example of the Mark of the Beast that will be used to force people that want to buy and sell to support world government dogma.

San Antonio has been asked to reconsider its decision to keep Chick-Fil-A from buying and selling its products because of the owner’s religious beliefs, and we should pray that they do.

In the meantime, please support Chick-Fil-A for standing on the Word of God.

Sixth, on Apr. 13, 2019, Israel struck Iranian targets near a Russian base in Syria.

Israel has taken responsibility; it has been reported that several Syrian, Iranian and pro-Iranian troops were killed, 17 others were wounded, and satellite photos show that the destruction was extensive.

The Iranians are furious because Russia didn’t try to shoot down the Israeli jets.

It turns out that Pres. Trump had sent a back-door message to Vladimir Putin to leave Israel’s jets alone.

Mr. Putin understands that Pres. Trump might protect Israel if Russia starts trying to shoot down Israel’s jets.

Please pray for the U.S. to continue to support Israel.

Seventh, this week it was reported that another new gas field has been discovered off the coast of Israel.

This solidifies Israel’s position as a global energy superpower.

It also adds to the proof that God’s Word, including Bible prophecy, is absolutely true.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com