God said He knows the end from the beginning and that He declares what has not yet come.

He added that He will do what He wants to do, and that His counsel will stand (Isa. 46:10).

I believe that His ability to reveal the future proves that He is God because He has given hundreds of signs (the return of Israel, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, etc.) that demonstrate His ability (even though some of the prophecies are more than 2,000 years old).

Think about it: God revealed the exact day the Messiah would arrive the first time (173,880 days from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem; Dan. 9:25; Neh. 2:1-8).

How did He know?

This is the point: If God revealed the exact day the Messiah was coming the first time, it should be pretty easy for us to believe that the signs of Messiah’s Second Coming are accurate.

I believe current events are proof positive that He is God and He is the Author of the Future.

Here are some recent articles that seem to indicate that the end of the age is close.

One, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on July 16, the U.S. attacked Iran’s bridges and railroads.

Iran has said that if their infrastructure is hit by the U.S., then Iran will target every last piece of infrastructure of countries in the Middle East assisting the U.S.

Iran specifically cited oil infrastructure.

One reader reminded me that:

• Yemen is on standby to close the Red Sea if the US were to bomb Iran’s infrastructure.
• The bombs happened!
• Saudi Arabia and Yemen are at odds, to complicate matters.
• Moreover, Pakistan has a protection umbrella agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Two, concerning an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters at the end of the age: officials are reporting that more than 10,000 people died above expected levels across Europe during the record-breaking late-June heatwave.

More: On July 16, 2026, Texas was bracing for record-shattering rainfall.

More: Millions of Americans are under air quality alerts this week as more than 800 wildfires continue to rage across Canada. The wildfires are not due to a single cause and can be exacerbated by seasonal conditions, including drought and warm weather. Some were sparked by lightning, which can strike hard-to-reach areas of Canada’s forests and is responsible for most of the total area burned in Canada.

More: Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a State of Emergency for all 55 counties in West Virginia on July 21, after severe thunderstorms produced flash flooding, landslides, road closures, and other hazardous conditions across the state. Flooding has surpassed record levels.

Three, concerning all nations turning against Israel at the end of the age: on July 15, 2026, a majority of House Democrats casting a yes-or-no vote supported cutting off funds designated for Israel, marking one of the clearest signs yet that the Democratic Party is shifting away from its longstanding support for the Jewish state.

Four, concerning the Battle of Gog of Magog and Russia’s desire for a spoil and a prey in Israel (Ezek. 38:12): on July 20, 2026, it was reported that “due to the extensive damage Ukrainian drones have inflicted on refineries deep inside Russian territory, Russia has begun importing refined petroleum products – primarily gasoline – from India.”

Russia is beginning to need energy, and Israel has it.

Five, Israel has started working with Christian groups to prepare for a celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of the baptism of Jesus in 2030.

The initiative is expected to include preparations at the place on the western bank of the Jordan River where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

Israel expects millions of Christians to visit their nation during the year 2030.

Six, concerning the persecution of Christians and Jews at the end of the age: on July 20, 2026, it was reported that, in the Muslim-controlled city of Dearborn, Mich., Christians and Jews have become second-class citizens, facing selective enforcement, propaganda, and real violence.

According to the article, Dearborn’s mayor openly tells Christians they “are not welcome here.”

Here are some day-to-day reports on what is happening in the U.S.-Iran war:

Thurs. Day 139 (July 16, 2026) (Day 86 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (47 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• The U.S. is striking targets in Iran for the sixth consecutive night.
• The United States has approved a proposed $1.96 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia as fighting intensifies across the Middle East and the kingdom faces renewed missile threats from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.

Fri. Day 140 (July 17, 2026) (Day 87 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (48 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• Israel remains on the sidelines of the U.S.-Iran war.

Sat. Day 141 (July 18, 2026) (Day 88 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (49 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• Following the total collapse of Trump’s latest ceasefire and the seventh straight night of U.S. attacks on Iran, the IRGC launched more attacks on U.S. facilities in the nations of Arab allies and Jordan.
• Two U.S. troops were killed by an Iranian missile attack on Jordan.
• The US struck a water desalination plant, disrupting the water supply to 20 villages with a combined population of approximately 10,000 people.

Sun. Day 142 (July 19, 2026) (Day 89 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (50 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• The U.S. military bombed Iranian military sites for three hours, for the ninth consecutive evening of attacks.
• Trump said the ongoing American military campaign against Iran was aimed at ending “any chance where they can have a nuclear missile.”

Mon. Day 143 (July 20, 2026) (Day 90 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (51 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• Bank of America’s Global Investment Strategy Division has published a report this morning from its Global Research staff revealing there are only forty-three (43) Days of Oil remaining in the United States. They said this is the lowest US Inventory in 45 Years.
• The price of oil started to slowly increase due to America’s continuing war with Iran.
• Trump ordered a tenth consecutive night of strikes on Iran. U.S. forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran struck Kuwait’s power-generation and water-desalination facilities, and it was the fourth consecutive day of attacks on infrastructure essential to the Gulf nation’s survival.

Tues. Day 144 (July 21, 2026) (Day 91 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (52 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• S. forces carried out an eleventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran.
• In response to a request by Iran, senior officials in Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and Pakistan have presented a proposal to the U.S. for a 10-day ceasefire.
• Irantransferred thousands of uranium enrichment centrifuges to underground facilities deep inside Natanz’s Pickaxe Mountain last fall.
• The Pentagon said that nearly 100 U.S. service members have been wounded to some extent since the renewal of the US-Iran hostilities, and 96% have returned to duty.
• Iran said, “If the U.S. attacks Mount Pickaxe, Iran will directly attack Israel.”
• Amir Tsarfati said. One thing is crystal clear: the Islamic Republic did not

bury thousands of centrifuges and possibly highly enriched uranium beneath hundreds of feet of rock because its nuclear program is peaceful. They built this nuclear fortress to survive.

• Lebanese President Joseph Aoun pledged that his country would work to permanently end hostilities with Israel.
• Trump warned Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels that the U. S. is prepared to take military action if the terrorist group follows through on its threat to blockade Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.

Wed. Day 145 (July 22, 2026) (Day 92 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (53 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• S. forces carried out a twelfth consecutive day of strikes on Iran.
• Iran launchedanother volley of ballistic missiles at Jordan.
• Trump said, “From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by missile, rocket, drone or another device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran.”
• The U.S. is rapidly moving additional military forces, aircraft, medical personnel and weaponry toward the Middle East. They may not be used, but they will be there if Trump wants to use them.
• Trump announced a multibillion-dollar dealto provide Saudi Arabia with a civilian nuclear program—and a potential pathway to enrich its own uranium, if a 2-year study finds that it is warranted. The deal has to be approved by Congress.

Thur. Day 146 (July 23, 2026) (Day 93 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (54 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• S. Sec. of State, Marco Rubio, said, “The number one threat to the world is these (Iranian) lunatics in possession of a nuclear weapon.”

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God, who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

• duck_daymond@yahoo.com

 

 

On July 9, 2026, Damian Paletta, The Wall Street Journal’s Washington coverage chief, wrote the following:

• President Trump has used every tactic in the book to wind down his war with Iran.
• Threats (he threatened the end of their civilization).
• Cajoling (he offered them hundreds of billions of dollars).
• Loosely worded interim deals (there have been at least two, the April ceasefire and then the June memorandum of understanding).
• But none of it has worked.
• Iran has continued attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
• This week, Trump took away Iran’s ability to sell oil.
• He’s bombing dozens of sites in the country.
• Iran is launching attacks at Bahrain and Kuwait, where there are U.S. bases.
• The stock market is falling.
• And oil prices are spiking.
• Is it a full-blown war again?
• Hard to tell.
• But it’s sliding toward ugly.

(My opinion: It seems to me that Paletta is right. This war keeps dragging on; very little, if any, is getting resolved, and some things seem to be getting worse.)

(FYI: I don’t know, but I also believe that we MIGHT be sliding toward the prophesied Battle of Gog of Magog, POSSIBLY a false peace, POSSIBLY the Tribulation Period, and POSSIBLY a global economic collapse. If it slides that far, it will be worse than ugly.)

More: On July 14, 2026, it was reported that:

• Trump has resumed hostilities with Iran following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire, gaining more leverage to escalate conflict.
• His governance announced the re-implementation of sanctions against Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz blockade to weaken Iran’s energy sector and economy.
• Expert analysis suggests that this strategic shift allows Trump to negotiate from a position of strength, as active hostilities increase the military and economic pressures on Iran.

Update:

• On July 3, 2026, Pres. Trump held an emergency meeting to discuss a massive offensive against Iran in a bid to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
• It comes after the US leader threatened Iran with airstrikes against their bridges and suggested “other people” will launch a ground campaign for him.
• As fighting in the region intensifies, the US president said he will hit Iran “very hard” in the coming days.
• “Next week comes the bridges. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’ll knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”

Here are some recent articles that seem to indicate that the end of the age is close:

One, on July 9, 2026, Michael Snyder, author of The Economic Collapse blog, wrote:

• We knew that this wasn’t over.
• The ill-fated “Memorandum of Understanding” may have delayed the inevitable, but now the ceasefire is dead, and fighting is raging throughout the Middle East all over again.
• Sadly, we shall soon see just how far both sides are willing to escalate matters.
• In my opinion, we are going to witness some absolutely shocking escalations in the months ahead.
• None of the parties involved in this war have any intention of backing down, and I am convinced that some very shocking “surprises” are ahead.

Two, on July 9, 2026, it was reported that:

• Israeli officials have increasingly indicated that Jerusalem is ready to return to military action if it determines that circumstances demand it.
• Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said Jerusalem is supportive of the position of the United States and would fly alongside U.S. aircraft if called on to do so.
• Israel’s Prime Min. Netanyahu said, “The war is not yet over. Alongside old challenges, new ones are emerging.”

Three, concerning the effort to destroy Israel at the end of the age: on July 10, 2026, it was reported that:

• As former national security adviser Giora Eiland observed this week, Iran sought to surround Israel with a Shi’ite ring of fire.
• Turkey, he warned, increasingly appears interested in building a Sunni one.
• That explains why Netanyahu went on American television networks to lobby publicly against an administration policy still under consideration.
• If Iran’s decline is creating a regional vacuum, Israel fears Turkey is positioning itself to fill it, and that American F-35s, coupled with Trump’s embrace of Erdogan, might help it do so.

(FYI: Muslims are like Christians. There are different kinds of Muslims – Shiite, Sunni, etc. – and different kinds of Christians – Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, etc. Iran wants to establish a Shiite world government and religion. Turkey wants to establish a Sunni world government and religion. Both want to destroy the U.S. and Israel so they can establish an Islamic world government and religion. This war is not over. Israel knows it and believes the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets and engines to Turkey is a big mistake. I think it is a big mistake too. But I also believe God will destroy Turkey and Iran – Battle of Gog of Magog – before the Antichrist rises to power.)

Four, on July 11, 2026, the Sweden Herald reported that:

• Revenge for the former ayatollah is “the nation’s demand,” according to a written statement purportedly from Mojtaba Khamenei.
• We promise to avenge your innocent blood and the blood of all martyrs in these wars from the criminal and dishonorable murderers.
• This revenge is the will of our nation and must be carried out, the letter reads, according to state-run Fars.
• Khamenei the Younger, who succeeded his father as supreme leader, has not been seen in public since the attack that killed Ali Khamenei in late February.
• He also did not appear at his father’s funeral ceremonies this week, and according to multiple reports, he is likely injured or disfigured.
• Iranian state media has on several occasions released written statements purporting to come from the new ayatollah.

Five, concerning the expansion of Israel’s borders at the end of the age: on July 12, 2026, Israel granted city status to the Jerusalem suburb of Givat Ze’ev, officially making it the fifth Jewish city in Judea and Samaria.

Givat Ze’ev, located in Samaria some three miles northwest of Jerusalem, has more than 35,000 residents, and the new municipal status is intended to allow for further growth.

More: On July 13, 2026, Israeli Settlements and National Missions Minister Orit Strook called for building Jewish communities throughout all of Judea and Samaria, including in Palestinian Authority-administered areas. She said, “This entire land is ours—not only Area C, but also Areas B and A.”

Update: On July 14, 2026, Israel approved a 1.3 billion shekel ($434 million) plan to establish and develop dozens of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

Six, concerning the globalist effort to establish a world government: on July 13, 2026:

• The U.S. launched a campaign to “dismantle the threat” that the International Criminal Court (ICC) poses to U.S. sovereignty.
• The initiative will be led by the State Department and include diplomatic pressure on countries to withdraw from the court, particularly nations that receive U.S. military protection, security cooperation, or other assistance.
• The U. S. does not recognize the authority of international bureaucrats an ocean away who seek to upend America’s 250-year history of self-governance and impose an illegitimate legal order on our sovereignty.
• America’s sovereignty is and always will be non-negotiable.

Seven, on July 1, 2026, the long-simmering war on the Arabian Peninsula erupted again as Saudi forces struck Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital and the Iranian-backed rebels answered within hours with ballistic missiles and drones aimed at southern Saudi Arabia.

Eight, concerning an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters at the end of the age: a 1-in 1,000 rain (more than 12 inches in 24 hours in some areas) in south central Missouri caused flash flooding, extensive damage, and required the rescue of many people.

Here are some day-to-day reports on what is happening in the U.S.-Iran war.

Fri. Day 133 (July 10, 2026) (Day 80 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (41 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• S. officials said Washington expects Iran to publicly commit by Saturday, July 11 that: commercial vessels will no longer be attacked; every shipping channel through the Strait of Hormuz will remain open; and ships will be allowed to transit without Iranian tolls (no attacks, all lanes open, and no tolls).
• Iran threatened to attack Israel if the US continues to attack Iran.

Sat. Day 134 (July 11, 2026) (Day 81 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (42 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• S. forces hit approximately 140 Iranian military targets. This marked the third round of U.S. strikes against Iranthis week, bringing the total number of targets hit to more than 300.
• The IRGC said it had launched attacks on American military assets in Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan.
• Following a report on July 9, 2021 that Iran is considering a plot to assassinate Trump, today he said “1,000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands more to immediately follow should the Iranian Government act on its threat.”

Sun. Day 135 (July 12, 2026) (Day 82 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (43 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• The U. S. launched a fourth wave of strikes against Iran, targeting military sites near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz after Tehran attacked American-aligned Gulf nations. The targets included missile and drone installations, naval capabilities, ammunition depots, communications networks and coastal surveillance facilities used to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
• After years of claiming that Israel falsely accused Hamas of blocking humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza, the UN said that the terror group has “endangered humanitarian personnel, intimidated workers delivering lifesaving food assistance, and disrupted lifesaving humanitarian operations.”

Mon. Day 136 (July 13, 2026) (Day 83 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (44 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• Trump said the U.S. will be “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz.
• Starting at 4 p.m. tomorrow, the U.S. will blockade ships going to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
• Trump ordered more strikes against Iran in response to the Islamic Republic’s attacks on civilian-manned commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tues. Day 137 (July 14, 2026) (Day 84 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (45 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu issued a blunt warning to Iran, declaring that any renewed attack against Israel would be met with a response far more powerful than the military action Tehran has already witnessed.

Wed. Day 138 (July 15, 2026) (Day 85 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (46 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• Trump orders preparations for a massive attack against Iran within 72 hours.
• The U.S. struck multiple targets in Iran for the fifth straight day.

Thurs. Day 139 (July 16, 2026) (Day 86 of Trump’s latest ceasefire extension) (47 days from the day Pres. Trump said he will declare total victory over Iran)

• Iran said it had carried out attacks on Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait in response to U.S. attacks on Iran.

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God, who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

• duck_daymond@yahoo.com