The UN International Day of Peace, the Jewish year 5777 and the Great Revelation 12 Sign have come and gone, but God’s Word has not changed. This article will focus upon three very important signs that are still very much with us: Birth pains, the peace negotiations and the battle of Gog and Magog.

Birth Pains

When asked about the signs of His coming, Jesus mentioned the deception of false Christs, wars and rumors of wars, famine, pestilence and earthquakes (Matt. 24:4-7). He called these things “the beginning of sorrows.” The Greek word translated “sorrows” means travail (labor pains or birth pangs).

Birth pains increase in frequency and intensity as the birth of a child nears. The idea is that sorrows or travail (deception, war, famine, pestilence and earthquakes) will become more severe (closer together and more intense) as the Second Coming draws near.

Some believe that this is happening now. Consider the following reports in the first 30 days after the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse that some said was a warning from God for U.S. citizens to repent:

Aug. 21-31, dozens of small earthquakes in Yellowstone National Park.
Aug. 25, Hurricane Harvey hit Texas.
Aug. 30, Hurricane Harvey hit Louisiana.
Sept. 2-6, dozens of small earthquakes in Idaho.
Sept. 3, 229,000 acres have burned in California this year.
Sept. 6, 250,000 acres have burned in Oregon this year.
Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma hit the Caribbean.
Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma passed near and badly damaged Puerto Rico.
Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Virgin Island.
Sept. 10, Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Florida Keys.
Sept. 10, Hurricane Irma hit the state of Florida.
Sept. 10, wildfires have burned one million acres in Montana this year.
Sept. 12, Hurricane Irma hit Georgia and South Carolina.
Sept. 19, Hurricane Maria hit the Caribbean.
Sept. 20, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.

If we include Mexico (a nation on the North American Continent), we can add:

On Sept. 8, an 8.1 earthquake hit Mexico.
On Sept. 9, Hurricane Katia hit Mexico.
On Sept. 19, a 7.1 earthquake hit Mexico City.
On Sept. 22, a 6.1 earthquake.
On Sept. 23, a 4.5 earthquake.

Consider this: The names of Hurricanes Jose and Maria are Spanish. The English equivalent is Joseph and Mary. While the Revelation 12 Sign (Virgo and Leo: Virgin and Jesus; First and Second Coming) was in the heavens for the first time in 6,000 years, Jose and Maria (Joseph and Mary) were impacting each other on earth.

Can anyone but God arrange this in the heavens and on earth?

The Peace Negotiations

On Sept. 22, 2017, White House Correspondent and Bible prophecy teacher, William Koenig, said the following about President Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan (http://watch.org):

It is compromised of the following elements: a U.S. coalition of Sunni countries with Israel to oppose Iran, while calling on the Sunnis to normalize relationships with Israel; expecting Arabs to force Abbas to accept a peace plan with Israel; and requiring Israel to give up most of Judea, Samaria and maybe parts of East Jerusalem.

Trump is motivating Egyptian President el-Sisi and possibly King Abdullah of Jordan to get involved in the Israeli-Palestinian talks, with the inducement of U.S. foreign aid to two countries in great economic need, as well as providing much needed military equipment. Moreover, they have the Saudis and other Sunni countries supporting a U.S./Sunni/Israel coalition out of great concerns over Iran. This follows President Trump’s Sept. 18 statement, “I think there is a good chance it could happen.”

Also, Egyptian Pres. el-Sisi’s Sept. 22 appeal to the Palestinian people said to “be ready to coexist with the Israelis in safety and peace to achieve stability and security for all” (see 1Thess. 5:3).

Notice that while President Trump was talking about his peace plan on Sept. 18, 2017, the very powerful Hurricane Maria was moving in on the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, and the devastating earthquake hit Mexico (see Joel 3:2).

The Battle of Gog and Magog

In late Aug. 2017, Israel advised the White House that it is nearing the end of its diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from stationing of troops and building bases and factories in Syria.

On Aug. 30, 2017, Russia warned Israel “not to authorize an attack on Iranian military facilities in Syria.”

On Sept. 1, 2017, it was reported that Israel has notified the world to stop Iran’s buildup in Syria or “Israel will take military action.”

On or around Sept. 20, 2017, Russia advised the U.S. in a secret meeting that Russia will respond with force if the Syrian army or Russian assets are fired upon by U.S. proxies (possibly including Israel).

On Sept. 22, 2017, Israel destroyed an Iranian-backed Hezbollah weapons convoy near Damascus.

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

 

On Aug. 21, 2017, there was a total solar eclipse over the U.S. and because God used darkness to warn Pharaoh to repent and to let His people go (Ex. 10:21-29), some Jewish Rabbis believe the eclipse was a warning to the U.S. for its citizens to repent of their sins.

The eclipse reached its maximum coverage of the sun over the U.S. in an area of southern Illinois called “Little Egypt.” That area is called “Little Egypt” partly because it has a river system that is much like the Nile Valley in Egypt.

Egypt subjected the children of Israel to slavery. And during the Civil War, there was illegal slavery in southern Illinois.

Several cities (Karnak, Cairo and Thebes) and some businesses (King Tut’s Gas Station) in “Little Egypt” have Egyptian names.

A second total solar eclipse will cross the U.S. on Apr. 8, 2024. It will also reach its maximum coverage of the sun over “Little Egypt.”

This brings up a question: Why did God choose “Little Egypt” to receive the first dose of maximum darkness and why did He choose it to receive a second dose about seven years from now?

If darkness in Egypt was a warning to Pharaoh to repent, is darkness in “Little Egypt” a warning to the U.S. for its citizens to repent?

Without question, repentance is needed and it is a good thing. But some question any connection between the eclipse and repentance in the U.S. so I suggest that we look at some interesting facts.

Just know that God loves people, but He loves their souls more. Know that God brings good out of everything and He uses problems to draw people to Him before they perish or have even greater problems.

Know that more people in Texas, Louisiana and Florida have probably talked to God longer and harder since the eclipse than they did before. Know that many have a greater understanding of the power of God. Know that many now realize that they were taking God and their blessings for granted.

Many people are suffering and they will suffer more, but if just one person got saved that soul is worth more than all the property damage that occurred.

The eclipse didn’t last three days, but three days after the eclipse tropical storm Harvey became a hurricane. It struck the Texas Coast a few hours later.

The first Plague in Egypt was water turned into blood, dead fish, stinking and unsanitary water (Ex. 7:14-25). During the flooding in Texas and Louisiana, raw sewage and chemicals got into the water. In some places, strong contamination caused the water to stink and receding water left behind dead fish and animals that quickly started to stink.

The third Plague in Egypt was lice (The root word means gnats or mosquitoes).

Health officials in Texas and Louisiana warned that stagnant water will provide millions of places for mosquitoes to breed. They called for aerial spraying to control mosquitoes that spread diseases (Zika, Cholera, etc.).

The fifth plague in Egypt was the death of the cattle, horses, camels, donkeys and sheep (Ex. 9:1-7). Hurricane Harvey killed many animals.

The seventh Plague in Egypt was hail (Ex. 9:13-35). God said hail would fall unlike anything that has ever happened before or anything that will ever happen again. Some did not believe God’s warning because Egypt is a very dry country with less than one inch of rain per year.

Because of the warm temperatures, Florida rarely gets hail, but it does happen. In fact, on Sept. 10, 2017, it was reported that hail had fallen in Tampa and Miami during hurricane Irma.

The ninth Plague in Egypt was darkness (Ex. 10:21-29). Although it was a different matter, the Dept. of Homeland Security said at its peak on Sept. 11, 2017, about 15 million Floridians were without electricity. Three-fourths of the state was in darkness. In an amazing turn around, the electricity (and light) was restored to about 10 million homes in just 2 days.

The tenth Plague in Egypt was the death of the first-born son and animals (Ex. 11:1-12:30). Following the death of multitudes, Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night. He ordered the Jews to leave Egypt. “And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men” (Ex. 12:33).

As Hurricane Irma approached, everyone that could was urged to leave Florida. The roads were jammed.

When the Israelites left Israel, Pharaoh pursued them (Ex. 14:1-31). Pharaoh thought he had them trapped against the Red Sea. The Israelites were afraid, but Moses said, “The Lord shall fight for you.” God told Moses to lift his rod and stretch it over the Red Sea and divide it. Moses did and God sent a strong east wind that made the waters go back so that the Israelites could cross on dry ground.

Many skeptics deny that this happened. Some suggest the Jews crossed in shallow water, an earthquake or a landslide dried up the water, etc.

The Bible says the Lord did it. And many conservative theologians and preachers accept it as a historical fact. Some things in the Bible may not make sense to us.

But it is wrong to question the Bible.

At Tampa Bay, Florida, strong winds from the northeast blew the water out of the Bay. People walked on land that is usually under water. It proves that God could send a strong east wind to divide the Red Sea and let the Jews cross on dry ground if He wanted to (Ex. 14:21-22). A similar event also happened in the Bahamas.

Also, at Tampa Bay, two Manatees got stranded on dry ground because the water receded so fast. People put the Manatees on tarps and drug them 100 yds. back to the water.

There are other fascinating things:

One, the rod of Moses turned into a snake (Ex. 7:8-12) and there were snakes in the flood waters in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

Two, the children of Israel complained about their need for drinking water on at least two different occasions (Ex. 17:1-7; Num. 20:9-12) and some of the flood victims complained about a lack of water.

Three, hurricane Jose looked like it was going to strike the Caribbean, but it turned away and wandered around in the southwest Atlantic for several days; and the children of Israel looked like they were going to enter the Promised Land, but they turned away and wandered around in the wilderness for forty years.

Even though the citizens of Florida were urged to evacuate, some decided to stay and have a “hurricane party.” Menu favorites included cold beer and hot wings. Some lifted their drinks in the air and shouted, “Happy Hurricane.”

Concerning His return, Jesus said, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:37-39).

Did God choose “Little Egypt” to remind the U.S. that He sent Ten Plagues on Egypt?

Did God choose “Little Egypt” to remind the U.S. we have been taking our blessings for granted and He can take them away anytime He wants to do it?

Did God choose “Little Egypt” to remind the U.S. that He is in control and no nation has enough wealth, weapons or whatever to resist Him?

Has God sent or allowed birth pang like disasters (increasing in frequency and strength) to remind the U.S. of an important sign of our Lord’s return?

Understand that as bad as it was, the flooding in Texas, Louisiana and Florida was a little puddle compared to the great Flood in Noah’s day and what our nation has gone through is nothing compared to what will happen in the Tribulation period.

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