With amazing brevity, our all-knowing God gave all who will pay attention an incredible glimpse of the future almost two thousand years before it happens. The Almighty said:

“And he [the False Prophet] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [the image of the Antichrist], that the image of the beast should both speak [a high-tech image], and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed [death or no freedom of religion].

And he causeth all [a global society], both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell [a controlled society], save he that had the mark [a monitored society], or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:15-17).

Concerning a high-tech image that can speak, science is going forward at such a rapid pace it is difficult for non-techies like me to keep up. The Bible doesn’t say that the False Prophet’s violent talking toy will be a robot. But robots that can speak to each other and carry on a normal conversation already exist, and more revolutionary robots are on the way. One company called Hanson Robotics has built almost two-dozen robots in the last decade. They believe it is possible to create robots more intelligent than human beings and just as socially adept.

Concerning no freedom of religion, President Obama has taken away the freedom of religious speech by our military personnel, denied military personnel the right to have a Bible on their desk and is forcing Christians to buy insurance that pays for abortions and morning after pills. Concerning persecution, he wants to fine Christians who don’t buy the insurance, he has sued some who object to buying the insurance on religious grounds, and his administration was caught delaying the tax-exempt applications of Christians based on their position on abortion and homosexuality, the prayers they prayed and the books they read.

Concerning a global society, that’s what the New World Order is all about. On December 3, 2012, Pope Benedict called for the establishment of a world government. On April 5, 2013, Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the Export Import Bank Conference in Washington, DC and said, “The affirmative task we have now is to actually create a new world order.” Books have been written on the subject, but the fact that a former Pope and the Vice President of the U.S. have both called for it should cause people to pay attention.

Concerning a controlled society, President Obama has signed hundreds of executive orders empowering him to take control of almost everything in the United States. He has purged close to 200 of America’s top military leaders who disagree with his policies on women and gays in the military. Some who have taken civilian jobs say they have been warned not to criticize his policies. And CNN recently reported that some of America’s largest insurance companies have been warned that they should not say anything negative about the Affordable Healthcare Act and that they should not release information on how many insurance policies have been cancelled.

Concerning a monitored society, the NSA is monitoring our Internet searches, text messages, e-mails, Facebook postings, live chats and phone calls and the CIA is monitoring international money transfers. There are surveillance cameras everywhere. And drones that can track everything that moves in a 15 square mile area are becoming more and more common.

And over in the EU, the so-called model for the world, politicians are considering a bill (called the European Framework National Statute for the Promotion of Tolerance) to establish special administrative units to monitor all of their citizens who are suspected of being intolerant. As I understand it, their idea of intolerance includes individuals such as Islamophobes and homophobes; parents who teach their children moral values that are not politically correct; faith-based groups; privately owned newspapers, radio and TV stations; government critics and more.

As I was writing this, several verses of Scripture came to my mind. First,“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). Second, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). Third, “when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33). Fourth, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

FYI: God Has Spoken (And We Know It) by Daymond Duck is available, (linked to my publisher @ https://www.raptureready.com/terry/book17.html). Books and a Kindle version are available at amazon.com. A Nook version is available at bn.com. Check out what it says about Syria, Russia, Iran, Egypt, natural disasters, the Two-State Solution, etc.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck

Jesus told us to watch for His coming because we don’t know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:42; 25:13). He told us to watch lest He come and find us sleeping (Mark 13:33-37). He told us to watch and pray that we will be accounted worthy to escape all the things that are coming upon the earth (Luke 21:36). He told us to watch or He would come upon us as a thief (Revelation 3:3). And Paul told us to watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6). So we should watch, but “What should we be watching for?”

Concerning His return, Jesus said:

“Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:29-33).

So Jesus said watch all the trees, but pay specific attention to one particular tree (the fig tree). But someone could ask, “So we should watch the fig tree and all the trees, but why?”

In the Old Testament, God compared Judah to a cedar tree and its king (Jehoiakim) to the highest branch in that cedar tree (Ezekiel 17:3-4, 12).  God compared Assyria to a cedar tree with fair branches whose height (stature, greatness and power) was exalted above all the trees of the field (nations of the world) (Ezekiel 31:3-6). In the New Testament, John the Baptist appeared to refer to Israel as a worthless tree (Luke 3:8-9).

Jesus definitely referred to the fig tree as a sign of His return (Matthew 24:32-33). And the fig tree is clearly a symbol of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Jeremiah 24:1-10). So the fig tree is Israel and all the other trees are all the other nations. Then, concerning the Second Coming of Jesus, we should watch Israel and all the other nations.

We should watch the fig tree (Israel) because that tiny nation must exist for many prophecies to be fulfilled. Israel must exist for the Antichrist to confirm a treaty for seven years of peace between Israel and the PA that will trigger the Tribulation period (Daniel 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). Israel must exist before all prophecy can be fulfilled, before the Jews accept Jesus as their Messiah, etc. (Daniel 9:24). Israel must exist to rebuild the Temple before the Antichrist can sit in it and show himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Israel must exist to rebuild the Temple and resume the animal sacrifices before the Antichrist can stop them at the middle of the Tribulation period (Daniel 9:27). Israel must exist before the Jews in Judea can flee into the wilderness when the Antichrist defiles the Temple (Matthew 24:15-16). Israel must exist before the battle of Gog and Magog can take place in the latter days and latter years (Ezekiel 38-39). Israel must exist before Jesus can rescue her at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21). The existence of the fig tree is a prelude to the fulfillment of major Second Coming prophecies.

We should watch all the other trees (nations) because the Antichrist will try to force all the nations into a world government (Daniel 7:23; Revelation 13:7) and that is the purpose of the New World Order. All the nations of the earth must experience economic problems and high food prices (Revelation 6:5-6) and many are predicting a global economic collapse at some point in 2014. The Antichrist will rise to power in a revived EU (Daniel 9:26) and the EU now exists, and some are calling for a super-president.

The nations must divide Israel (Joel 3:2) and that is what the two-state solution is all about. The nations surrounding Israel must desire Jerusalem enough to attack Israel (Zechariah 12:2) and that is being negotiated under threat of an Intifada, right now. Syria and Israel must go to war with each other (Isaiah 17:1-14) and both are threatening each other right now.

Egypt must get into a civil war, come under the rule of a cruel leader, experience high unemployment, etc. (Isaiah 19:1-22) and that is the situation today. Russia and several Islamic nations, including Iran, must go to war with Israel (Ezekiel 38-39) and that could happen very soon. The Euphrates River must dry up so China and her allies can move into the Middle East (Revelation 16:12) and dams and drought are making that possible. The trees have a message for those who will listen.

I don’t know that it is true, but I have read that the fig tree is one of the last trees to leaf out during the spring in Israel. Leaves on the fig tree are a sure-sign that summer is near. In like manner, the return of Israel along with today’s global and national events—are a sure sign that the world is running out of time.

So to all the born-again tree watchers, Jesus commanded you to know that it is near, even at the doors. And He added that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled (Matthew 24:33-34). But to all who are not born-again Jesus said ye must be born-again (John 3:7). Otherwise, your future is bleak.

FYI: God Has Spoken (And We Know It) by Daymond Duck is available, (linked at raptureready.com to my publisher). Books and a Kindle version are available at amazon.com. A Nook version is available at bn.com. Check out what it says about Syria, Russia, Iran, Egypt, natural disasters, the Two-State Solution, etc. Please post a comment.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck