Standing on the Prophecy Precipice 

Prophecy Updates:

On April 29, 2018, Israeli jets struck a military base in Syria. Dozens of people from a variety of nations were wounded and roughly 18-24 Iranians were killed.

The next day, three U.S. officials told NBC TV the attack is a sign that Israel and Iran are moving closer to open warfare.

They said, “On the list of the potentials for most likely live hostility around the world, the battle between Israel and Iran in Syria is at the top of the list right now.”

Israel’s Defense Minister soon said that Iran’s regime is “living its final days.”

The Deputy Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said, “100,000 missiles are ready to fly” toward Israel for the destruction of the Jewish nation.

Iran continues to move troops and weapons into Syria even though Prime. Min. Netanyahu said Israel will not let Iran establish a permanent presence there.

Israel’s military is on high alert for the third week in a row.

The government has ordered its bomb shelters in northern Israel to be unlocked and prepared for use.

On May 6, 2018, an Israeli official said, “If Assad [Pres. Assad of Syria] allows Iran to turn Syria into a military vanguard against us, to attack us from Syrian territory, he should know that would be the end of him, the end of his regime.”

Israeli Intelligence has determined that Iranian-sponsored terrorist groups in Lebanon and Syria are preparing to attack Israel.

Israeli satellites have detected increased activity at one of Iran’s two nuclear enrichment centers even though Israel said she will not let Iran get nuclear weapons.

Russia has started construction on a second nuclear reactor in Iran.

It is important to recall that many leaders including those at the UN, EU, France and England have told Pres. Trump that withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal will lead to war because a U.S. withdrawal will trigger sanctions on Iran.

Iran’s Pres. Rouhani said, if the U.S. withdraws from the nuclear deal, “It will soon see that the mistake will be a historic one.”

On May 7, 2018, DebkaFile reported that the U.S., England and France have military forces on the way to bases in nations that share a border with Syria.

England and France have also deployed additional jets to the Middle East.

On May 8, 2018, Pres. Trump announced that the U.S. will withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal and immediately re-impose crippling economic sanctions on Iran. Some companies will be given 90 days to close their businesses.

About one hour after Pres. Trump’s announced withdrawal, Israeli jets attacked an Iranian base with missiles aimed at Israel. The base was approximately 10 miles south of Damascus. One report said 9 Iranians were killed and several were wounded.

That night, the Israeli army warned the citizens of northern Israel that it had abnormal movement of Iranian forces in Syria.

In the past, Iran has said she will retaliate at a time and in the way of her choosing. This time, an Iranian commander said Iran is watching and waiting before going on the attack.

Israel said the campaign against Iran’s presence in Syria has just started.

Bible Prophecy

Will war take place in the coming days or weeks? Let’s hope not unless it is God’s will. I say “unless it is God’s will” because the prophet Ezekiel said God will pull Russia and her allies into the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38:4).

But don’t forget that Isaiah and Ezekiel predicted several wars that will take place in that area at the end of the age, so the possibility exists that those prophecies could soon be fulfilled.

Perhaps, the greatest sign of the end of the age is the convergence of all of the signs, and all of them appear to be converging right now (Matt. 24:33).

Jesus clearly taught that branches and leaves on a fig tree are a sign that summer is near and the convergence of the signs means that His return is near, even at the doors (Matt. 24:33).

I am not an expert on fig trees, but I have read that fig trees usually produce two crops: one in the spring on new limbs and the other in the fall on old limbs.

The spring crop is not very tasty, but the fall crop is very tasty. The tree blossoms between the two crops.

Jesus may have been saying that Israel, the fig tree (Hos. 9:10; Jer. 24:1-7), will appear in the spring, blossom in the summer, and bear good fruit in the late summer and fall.

This fits the two prophesied waves of Israel’s return: a first group of Jews returning in unbelief, the nation blossoming, and a second group of Jews returning as believers.

About half of the Jews in the world today have returned in unbelief (not so good figs; secular and unbelieving Jews preparing to rebuild the Temple, etc.).

Israel is starting to blossom (It is powerful, prosperous, and some nations are preparing to move their embassies to Jerusalem, etc.).

About half of the Jews in the world today are still in other nations. Some may be part of, or bring forth, the group that is gathered as believing Jews (good figs) at the Second Coming of Jesus.

The length of a generation (Matt. 24:34) is debatable, but many prophecy teachers believe it is 70 years (Psa. 90:10), and Israel will be 70 years old on May 14, 2018.

May 14, 2018 is a significant date. The U.S. will move its embassy to Jerusalem on that date. The PA and Hamas are unwilling to accept this. They are threatening to launch a great uprising against Israel.

Did you see the report that Pres. Trump’s peace proposal will be released shortly after May 14, 2018?

The report didn’t say how long after (a few days, a few weeks, etc.), but a peace proposal to settle the conflict could soon be on the table.

Another report (denied by the White House) said Pres. Trump wants Israel to give up four communities in Jerusalem that will become the capital of a new Palestinian State. People need to pray that the White House denial is true.

More Prophecy Fulfilled?

Did you see the report that India has already scanned the fingers, faces, and eyes of its 1.1 billion citizens and put the data in its new ID system?

Citizens had to agree to allow their government to do this if they wanted to be eligible for welfare, own a cell phone, have a bank account, take an exam at school, etc.

Did you see the report that Facebook has already started ranking news organizations, and studies show that conservative groups are losing traffic and liberal groups are gaining traffic?

In addition to that, it appears that Mr. Zuckerberg wants to overcome the division in America by suppressing what Christians and conservatives believe and boosting what liberals believe.

Truth is being cast to the ground, and the spirit of antichrist is on the rise.

A precipice can be perilous, and these are perilous times.

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

Jesus 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. 24:32-34). Several Bible verses identify Israel as the Fig Tree (Hos. 9:10; Jer. 24:1-7).

Some prophecy teachers call the generation that sees all of the signs being fulfilled “the terminal generation” (the last generation of Christians or the generation of Christians that is alive when the Rapture takes place).

There are different ideas about the length of a generation and when to start counting on the terminal generation (1948, 1967); but some prophecy teachers believe a generation is 70 and perhaps up to 80 years (Psa. 90:1-10), and some start their countdown on May 14, 1948 when Israel (the Fig Tree) became a nation again.

Concerning this, Hal Lindsey recently made an interesting statement, “No matter how you define a “generation” (and there are multiple definitions), 70 years means that the major part of it has passed and there can’t be much left.”

This is the point: No one knows the day or the hour, but everyone needs to be aware of the possibility that it is very close and the importance of being ready.

First, the destruction of Damascus (War between Israel and Syria; Isa. 17), the destruction of Iran’s nuclear reactor (Elam; Jer. 49:34-39), and the Battle of Gog and Magog (Russia, Iran and others attacking Israel; Ezek. 38-39) could be very close. If they are, this would be a clear sign that the latter days and latter years have arrived.

Russia is threatening to deploy some of its latest state of the art missiles (the S-300 system) around Damascus and some of Syria’s airports. Israel said if those missiles are used against Israeli jets, Israel will blow them up.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN recently told the UN Security Council that Iran controls 80,000 Shiite militants in Syria that have been trained at a military base slightly more than five miles from Damascus.

On Apr. 26, 2018, U.S. Sec. of Defense James Mattis told a U.S. congressional committee he believes “a military confrontation between Israel and Iran in Syria is becoming increasingly likely.”

The next day, it was reported that there are rising concerns at the Pentagon that Iran could strike Israel “in the coming days.”

An aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman, was ordered to stay on alert in the area.

On Apr. 29, 2018, U.S. Sec. of State Mike Pompeo visited Israeli Prime Min. Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr. Pompeo expressed strong U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself and apparently gave permission for Israel to take on Iran in Syria if Israel needs to.

That night (Apr. 29, 2018), Israel struck several military bases in Syria. It was reported that 26 troops (perhaps 18 Iranians) were killed and about 60 others (Lebanese, Iraqis, Pakistanis and troops from Afghanistan) were wounded.

One explosion was powerful enough to register 2.6 on the Richter scale. The New York Times reported that 200 Iranian missiles exploded.

The next morning (Apr. 30, 2018), Prime Min. Netanyahu placed an unusual call to Pres. Trump. Then, a large number of Israeli weapons were spotted heading north. Then, Mr. Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his security cabinet.

That night, Mr. Netanyahu addressed the Israeli people. He revealed that Israeli Mossad agents had gone into Iran and captured thousands of Iranian documents and CD’s that prove Iran is lying about its efforts to develop nuclear warheads.

Needless to say, the Ayatollah and some of his Mullahs are very upset.

Several excellent prophecy teachers believe Mr. Netanyahu was giving Pres. Trump and world leaders the information they need to justify their withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear weapons deal and to justify an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities if Iran restarts them.

It is impossible to predict how all of this will play out (a limited skirmish; or the destruction of Damascus; or the destruction of Iran’s nuclear reactor; or an incident that leads to the Battle of Gog and Magog, or what); but the situation is boiling, and many prophecy teachers think Hezbollah, Iran or Israel could soon launch a pre-emptive strike. The possibility exists that all of these things will be fulfilled before it ends.

Second, for whatever it is worth, Pres. Trump’s deadline for world leaders to fix or nix the Iranian nuclear agreement will be up on May 12, 2018.

Pres. Trump has said that he won’t renew the agreement, Iran is threatening war if he doesn’t, and France is saying war is a possibility.

The Ayatollah wants to trigger the Tribulation Period and help his Mahdi win the Mother of all Battles (Battle of Armageddon).

Third, concerning a peace treaty, in Dec. 2017 it was reported that some Arab nations were telling PA Pres. Mahmoud Abbas and the PA leadership to stop criticizing Pres. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to get on board with his proposed Middle East Peace Plan.

Some reports said Mr. Abbas and the PA leadership were told that if they didn’t cooperate, they could be replaced with people who would cooperate.

Mr. Abbas and his team of leaders aren’t cooperating – and they are citizens of Jordan, not Israel.

No reason was given, but on Apr. 25, 2018, it was reported that King Abdullah II of Jordan has notified Mr. Abbas and his team that they will soon be stripped of their Jordanian citizenship.

It is unclear how this will impact Pres. Trump’s peace proposal, but Mr. Abbas and his leaders will soon be visitors in Jordan, not citizens of Jordan, and the Temple Mount is currently under the control of King Abdullah of Jordan.

On Apr. 30, 2018, it was reported that Pres. Trump will probably release an outline of his peace plan shortly after the U.S. embassy is moved to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018.

The word “shortly” is vague, but it indicates that a peace proposal that at least some Arabs seem willing to accept could be on the table soon. The response of Israel, Iran and others remains to be seen.

Fourth, the fact that Israel could hack into thousands of Iranian documents is evidence that world leaders will soon have the ability to track buying and selling.

Fifth, on Apr. 25, 2018, it was reported that the U.S. will place a Mezuzah (a small case or tube with a very tiny parchment scroll inside) on the doorpost at the entrance to America’s new embassy in Jerusalem.

The words of God found in Deut. 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 will be written on the scroll, and one of the names of God (Shaddai) will be visible through a small opening in the case or tube.

The meaning of Shaddai is vague, but some think it means “God is the Guardian of the Gates of Israel.”

Mezuzahs are used to remind those that enter and leave a building that the Jews have a covenant with God and the occupants of the building observe a special set of God-given rules, rituals and beliefs.

 Posting a Mezuzah on the doorpost of the U.S. embassy won’t enhance America’s relationship with God, but it is good to have a government that understands what a Mezuzah is and that it is willing to place God’s name and portions of Holy Scripture on the doorpost.

No one knows, but I believe the terminal generation has arrived, and God will bless those that bless Israel. It is possible that God has placed many conservative Christians in the current administration for such a time as this, and it is good for America to be on Israel’s side.

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