Bible Prophecy 2018

The fulfillment of Bible prophecy continues to advance on all fronts. Several examples are recorded below.

Concerning Russia, in early December Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory over ISIS in Syria and announced the withdrawal of many troops and weapons from Syria. It was deception.

He may have pulled some troops and weapons out, but he is actually building up his forces in Syria and most especially his air force. This is significant because the Bible says Gog “shall ascend and come like a cloud” when he attacks Israel in the latter years and latter days (Ezek. 38:9).

Concerning Iran, the Ayatollah continues to give about $800 million a year to approximately 80,000 Hezbollah fighters and 10,000 Shiite rebel troops in Syria. Despite warnings from Israel, Iran is shipping advanced weapons and missiles to these forces.

There are reports that Iran intends to increase these forces, and even worse, that Iran continues to try to develop nuclear weapons.

These developments prompted Israel’s Security Cabinet to meet several times in Jan. 2018, and it resulted in a major Israeli strike on Iranian facilities and weapons in Syria on Jan. 9, 2018.

Concerning Turkey, Mr. Erdogan continues to destroy his ties with NATO and to move closer to Russia and Iran. There is some speculation that he has already gone too far and that he will wind up fully cooperating with Russia and Iran.

Concerning the U.S., Pres. Trump has turned out to be one of the greatest friends Israel has ever had. His Proclamation that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, his financial and military support for Israel and his recent approval of Israel’s strike on Iranian facilities and weapons in Syria are examples. These are bold decisions that place the U.S. on the winning side.

Several reports say Pres. Trump has reversed his position and he is not going to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. This is a decision he made because Iran is trying to take over Syria, and he has decided not to let it happen.

Concerning the PA and a peace treaty, on Jan. 6, 2018, delegates from the Arab League met in Jordan to discuss Pres. Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. The PA demanded that the Arab League support the removal of the U.S. from the peace process, that the Arab League reject all of Pres. Trump’s peace initiatives until he renounces his decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and that the Arab League support sanctions on every nation that moves their embassy to Jerusalem. All of the PA demands were rejected.

By the way, on Jan. 11, 2018, it was reported that the U.S. will probably establish its embassy in Jerusalem at a temporary location in 2018 while it waits on construction at a permanent location. The site of that permanent location will probably be revealed in the coming weeks. Time will tell.

The prediction that Pres. Trump’s embassy decision would trigger WWIII has not yet materialized. For the most part, the Arab nations have criticized Pres. Trump’s decision, but they have kept a lid on most of the extremists that want to start a war.

Concerning the capital of a future PA state, Pres. Trump offered the PA a town near Jerusalem called Abu Dis. Mr. Abbas is furious and has rejected the offer.

Concerning U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that go to the PA, Pres. Trump has done some backtracking. The first 2018 U.S. payment to the UN will be cut slightly more than 50%. Future payments will be contingent upon changes in the UNRWA and they will require the PA to be involved in peace talks with Israel.

Concerning the EU, on Jan. 10, 2018, it was reported that the EU has scheduled a meeting for Jan. 31, 2018 to discuss ways to force Israel to speed up the peace process. The EU released a statement that read, “There is an urgent need to bring all parties together to discuss measures to speed up efforts that can underpin a negotiated two-state solution.”

It would not surprise this writer if the peace process is speeded up, but speeding up the peace process means speeding up the Tribulation Period, etc.

It is the EU position that Israel will have to share Jerusalem with the PA.

Concerning birth pangs, the natural disasters (drought, wildfire, earthquakes, mudslides, etc.) continue in what is arguably the most immoral state in the U.S. On Jan. 9, 2018, mudslides in Montecito, California killed at least 20 people.

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

Hate, False Accusers and Jerusalem

First, hate is an end of the age sign (Matt. 10:22; 24:9-10). There are many examples: The world will hate Christians and Jews, children will hate their parents, and more.

The attitude toward Pres. Trump is one of the most stunning examples: The Dow Jones Stock Market is at an all-time high; America’s GDP is higher than it has been in years; America’s housing market is booming; black unemployment is lower than it has been in years; two million fewer people need food stamps; hundreds of thousands of jobs have been created, etc., but the hate for Pres. Trump is vicious, widespread and unending.

Why is this? There are many reasons (one is honest disagreement), but it seems to this writer that the main reason for many is that Pres. Trump is not politically correct. People hate him because he doesn’t espouse their views on abortion, same-sex marriage, immigration, Islam, humanism, socialism, patriotism and the like.

This is significant for Christians because the hate won’t stop even if Pres. Trump were to be impeached. If the Rapture doesn’t take place soon, the hate that we are seeing will morph into a full-blown persecution of Christians.

Even if the Rapture does happen in the near future, the hate that we are seeing will morph into full-blown persecution of those who become believers during the Tribulation Period. People will eventually be required to take a Mark to acknowledge their support for those in power. Those that refuse will be killed.

Second, false accusers are an end of the age sign (II Tim. 3:3). I am not defending Pres. Trump, but one attorney sought donations to pay women to falsely accuse him of sexual harassment. One reporter inferred that Pres. Trump cannot read.

Christians are being accused of hate just for saying that same-sex marriage is wrong. Things have reached the point that some haters call anyone that disagrees with them over any issue a racist.

Sexual harassment and racism are definitely wrong, but character assassination to silence a person that someone disagrees with is also wrong. Slandering people, ruining their reputation, calling them names, and getting them fired is not of God.

Sadly, society is becoming more unchurched and unchristian. It is becoming more anti-Christ and anti-God. Wickedness is thriving and the love of many is growing cold (Matt. 24:12). Underneath all of this is the father of lies called Satan.

Third, Pres. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel is one of the greatest events in the history of the world. It has implications for the earthly Millennial reign of Jesus, but not enough people understand it.

There are reasons why the Jews expected their Messiah to be a political leader.

According to the prophet Jeremiah, God intends to place a descendent of King David (Jesus) on an earthly throne in the future (the Millennium). When Jesus occupies His earthly throne, He will establish justice on earth, and all of Israel will be saved (Jer. 23:5-6).

The prophet Zechariah confirmed the reign of the LORD (Jesus) on earth. Jesus will be universally worshipped and accepted (Zech. 14:9).

The prophet Isaiah taught that government will be upon the shoulder of God’s Son (Isa. 9:6).

Understand that Jesus told Christians to pray for His kingdom to be established on earth (Matt. 6:9-13) and that Jesus is coming back as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). These teachings are some of the great positives of Bible prophecy.

This is where Jerusalem comes in. The Lord’s name is on Jerusalem (II Kings 21:7). He will dwell in Jerusalem during the Millennium (Psa. 132:13). He will teach and His Word will go all over the world from Jerusalem during the Millennium (Isa. 2:3).

Jerusalem will be called “the throne of the Lord” and people will gather in Jerusalem in the name of Jesus (Jer. 3:17).

Pres. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel is a game changer. It is a major step toward Jerusalem becoming an occupied city: Occupied by the King of kings and Lord of lords.

At Jerusalem, people will worship only one God. He will sit on a throne there and rule a much better world.

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