It is no longer a question of whether or not the end-time signs Yeshua told us would be happening just before his arrival to resurrect the dead and rapture his bride are burgeoning. Indeed, they are.

Earthquakes and Earthquake Swarms

Mark 13:8 – “There will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines… These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

Luke 21:11 – “And there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”

For the past umpteen years, I have given the number of earthquakes each year and stated that the total number of quakes has increased each year since 2012. Guess what? The trend continues, and this year there is a marked increase in the average of greater earthquakes – despite the best efforts of the USGS to hide this fact – and a lot of earthquake swarms throughout many parts of the world. In short, all of the greater earthquake numbers exceed the averages.

On November 28, 2021, three 7+ magnitude earthquakes hit close to Barranca, Peru – USGS only reported one (1). The next day three 6+ magnitude earthquakes hit in the Izu Islands, Japan region – USGS only reported two (2). On August 12, 2021, an 8.1 and three 7+ magnitude earthquakes hit the South Sandwich Islands region – USGS only reported two (2), one 8.1 and one in the 7+ range at a different depth. Thus far, USGS has under-reported the totals by 5. For a more in-depth discussion of this phenomenon, click here: https://www.raptureready.com/2021/06/06/changed-earthquake-statistics-by-jeff-van-hatten/

For those who insist on percentages, numbers, and data, below are the mind-numbing 2021 statistics:

The total number of earthquakes (159,633) is 11.25 times the average (14,194 from 1900 to 2000) and over 279 times the amount in 1949 (571). As of December 31, 2021, the numbers are:

1. Quakes in the 8.0 and above range (3) were 300% of the average since 1900 (1).
2. Quakes in the 7.0 to 7.9 range (21) were 150% of the average since 1900 (15).
3. Quakes in the 6.0 to 6.9 range (141) were 105% of the average since 1900 (134).
4. The number of large earthquakes (165) was 110% of the average since 1900 (150).
5. The total number of earthquakes (159,633) is 20.99 times greater than the total number in the 1950s (7,605).
6. The total number of earthquakes (159,633) is 8.13 times greater than the total number in the 1960s (19,639).
7. The total number of earthquakes (159,633) is 5.02 times greater than in any of the years prior to 2012 (31,777 in 2008).

Other Signs

Luke 21:11 – “There will also be famines and pestilences…”

Luke 21:25 – “And upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.”

Hosea 4:3. – “The beasts of the field, the fowls of heaven, and the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.”

 Pestilences and Plagues

Gee, anyone heard of worldwide viruses, or worse yet, the genocidal death serums produced by big Pharma? The latest VAERS data shows 1,859,633 adverse events from these serums, which according to the VAERs website, may only account for 1% of the actual number of adverse effects.

A record number of manatees died this year in the US State of Florida, primarily from starvation due to a red tide. Several people in California were killed by a toxic algae bloom more deadly than toxic nerve gas. A maximum-security prison in regional NSW, Australia had to be emptied of inmates after it was lost to a $100 million mouse plague. New York state saw five times more mosquitoes this year than last. Rome was plagued by problems as a wild boar and cockroach invasion roamed the streets to eat from the ever-increasing overflowing garbage bins. Avian flu hit Ireland, the Czech Republic, Finland, South Korea, and China. The African Swine Flu hit China and Vietnam.

 Locusts

Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Eritrea and Yemen had swarms arriving. Somalia and Ethiopia lost their fights against the new locust invasions.

 Wildfires

Italy, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Ukraine tackled dozens of wildfires. More than 500 summer wildfires broke out across Greece alone. The US west coast states were once again ablaze. Nearly one-hundred wildfires raged across thirteen states in the US. The Dixie fire in California took out 963,309 acres, and the Caldor fire took out 221,835 acres. The bootleg fire in Oregon ravaged about 400,000 acres. Late December saw Boulder County, Colorado and surrounding communities destroyed by the Marshall Fire.

 Volcanoes

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is still erupting. The volcano that erupted on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma has not yet slowed its activity. Mount Etna dumped a year’s ash in 45 minutes: Mount Sinabung Indonesia, San Cristobal Nicaragua, and Guatemalan Pacaya volcanoes all erupted this year. Starting mid-December, the Ring of Fire has been exploding to life.

 Wind Events

Hurricanes in 2021 were at peak levels. Hurricane Sam was the strongest storm of the 2021 Atlantic season as of October. Hurricane Ida made landfall 16 years to the day since Katrina devastated Louisiana. Katrina, Gustav, Isaac, Harvey, and Ida all made landfall on the 29th of August! Italy, Greece and Spain were hit by anti-cyclone Lucifer, causing temperatures in Sicily to hit 120° Fahrenheit…. In December, the Biden administration affirmed its commitment to the two-state solution and the importance of joint action by all parties to move forward to achieve peace and stability in the region. The worst tornado disaster in the history of the state of Kentucky killed dozens of people and flattened countless buildings mid-December, killing over 70 people. This was just one of five states that were impacted by tornadoes in December as Yahweh’s response to this betrayal of Israel (Genesis 12:3).

 Floods

Maharashtra, India was flooded with 24 inches of rain in just 24 hours, killing at least 110 people. Eastern Australia saw massive flooding caused by torrential rains, which forced the evacuation of some 40,000 residents. It was the worst flooding in over a century in Australia. Zhengzhou, China received 24.5 inches of rain in just an hour, causing the evacuation of 200,000 people. Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands were also flooded with over 100 dead and even more missing. More than 100 people died after flash floods and landslides hit Indonesia. England, Wales and Northern Ireland saw a lot of rain in 2021, and Kyushu, Japan saw overflowing rivers and landslides as record levels of rainfall fell in August. December saw record levels of rain in Southern California and record feet of snowfall in both California and Nevada mountains.

 Droughts

Again, worldwide. Here’s a short list of some of the countries that have been hit: The worst drought in 40 years has hit Southern Angola; and in Taiwan, the worst drought in 50 years. China, North Korea, Brazil –which is experiencing the worst dry spell in 91 years – and Mexico, which has had drought conditions covering 85% of its land; Konya, Turkey which has been so dry that over 600 sinkholes have appeared; and the United States – 90% percent of U.S. West is in drought for the first time – have all been hit hard by drought in 2021. On the positive side, the start of 2021 in Morocco was marked by heavy rainfall, which refilled many of its reservoirs after two years of drought.

 Famines

The United Nations says Ethiopia’s Tigray region is currently facing the worst global famine in decades. Madagascar, South Sudan, Yemen, the Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, Guatemala, and many other countries are now standing on the edge of a full-scale famine. Famines this year have been amplified once again by the worldwide lockdowns.

 Temperature Extremes

The days-long winter storm that hit Texas left millions of residents without power. Makes one wish for the good old days of coal-fired power plants. On the other side, countries in the Mediterranean saw some of the highest temperatures in decades, as did North Korea, Europe, and the western US and Canadian states – mostly only in July. But unfortunately for the Global Warming crowd, 2021 was less warm than recent years due to the influence of a moderate La Niña at the start of the year, and will likely only come in between the 5th to 7th warmest year on record. Alexandria, Egypt was hit hard by a once-in-a-century snowfall in late December. The cold snap extended to Lower Egypt, Greater Cairo, North Upper Egypt, the cities of the Suez Canal, and the Sinai Peninsula.

 Mass Deaths

2021 saw 154 known mass animal death events in 52 countries or territories as of December 31st.

Contrary to many assumptions, it was not viruses that were the leading cause of human deaths in 2021, but once again abortions with another 42.6 million deaths as of noon on December 31, 2021. This corresponds to approximately 125,000 worldwide abortions per day. According to statistics provided by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), more than 1.1 million abortions had already taken place worldwide in the first ten days of 2021!

The demonically designed genocidal death serums have killed over 21,000 people thus far, which according to the VAERs website, may only account for 1% of the actual number of deaths.

Conclusions

Mark 13:8 – “… These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

Luke 21:11 – “And there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”

Bluntly put: “The brown fecal matter has squarely hit the round oscillating apparatus.” I pray you are not standing directly in front of the oscillating apparatus. Those who hate Yahweh are desperately trying to institute their version of Re-Set: Order out of Chaos. Natural disasters around the world again occurred at an alarming rate in 2021. Earthquakes and fires demolished entire towns or cities; wildfires burned hundreds of thousands of acres – unprecedented in past history. Tornadoes, cyclones, and hurricanes hit the planet, many of which also caused mass flooding and loss of life. Pandemics, both viral and infestational, exploded. The birth pangs are, indeed, breaking forth.

Final Thought

Luke 21:28 – “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!”

May Yom Teruah this year be fulfilled in the resurrection of the dead. Be sure you are ready and watching. Yeshua Ha’Mashiach is coming soon – so be of great cheer, keep looking up, lift up your heads and see your redemption draw near. Keep maintaining an attitude of gratitude. Be sure Yeshua is your Redeemer, King, and High Priest, and your sins are forgiven.

Website: https://raptureparty.net

Email: jeff@raptureparty.net

The New Testament References to The Day of the Lord

The DAY OF THE LORD is “The Day of Jehovah,” and its usage is always associated with something dire, with judgment, and with events outside the implementation of man. In other words, it is the intervention of God with the power of God in the affairs of this world. It has a primary application to Israel, but that is always extended often to a wider field, and that involves the world. Its main focus is in the Tribulation that is coming. Part 9 completed the references in the Old Testament we looked at, and now we move to the New Testament references. We continue:

[1]. 1Thessalonians 5:2-4 “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you 1Thess 5:2 for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 1Thess 5:3 While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child and they shall not escape, 1Thess 5:4 but you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.”

This is a vital passage and one we must understand so as not to be overtaken by error and disquiet. Most conservative scholars of Bible prophecy will understand this passage, but careless preachers and teachers, and those who read superficially, are misleading people. Why, even in Paul’s time, the Thessalonians were misled in their thinking.

Because the Thessalonian Christians had entered into persecution, they thought they were in the Tribulation (Day of the LORD). They were so worried about it that they contacted Paul, who wrote this letter to them to explain why they were not in the Tribulation. In the three weeks among these new converts from paganism, Paul taught all about the Christian faith and also all about eschatology (Rapture, Tribulation, Second Coming). Yet there are some today who say Bible prophecy ought to be downgraded because it is not properly understood or it will confuse the people. They are false teachers who deny their churches the great promises of the Bible. Many of them are wolves of confusion. The second letter to this church also takes up that theme.

In verse 2, Paul says firstly that the Day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night. We know the Day of the LORD does not commence until AFTER the Rapture, so this “thief in the night” term has nothing to do with the Rapture, only the Day of the LORD.

It upsets me greatly that people go on using this term for the Rapture. It is absolutely wrong. The Lord DOES NOT come as a thief for His Church. He comes in LIGHT and love to claim His bride, not prowl around like a thief in the night trying to steal something. Please, never use the thief in the night term for the Rapture. It is dishonoring. It is the false teacher, the one puffed up, who keeps insisting on using this term for the Rapture. They are promoters of confusion.

What “the thief in the night” expression means is that the great wrath of God comes on the world when it does not expect it, just like a thief who is unexpected. More particularly, this term will apply to the day of the Second Coming when the Lord appears in glory and great anger at Armageddon. The Lord used the reference – Matthew 24:42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming, Matt 24:43 but be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”

In the Olivet Discourse, He speaks to His Jewish disciples, and it is the Jewish disciples to whom He says, “For you do not know which day your Lord is coming,” and that is the Second Coming.

The words “thief in the night” refer to the Second Coming and NOT to the Rapture. None of Matthew 24 is connected with the Rapture. It is all about “the signs of Your Coming and the end of the age” and is 100% Jewish orientated. Be careful how you apply the term! Again, it is the false teacher who keeps pushing Matthew 24 as the Rapture.

Peter wrote – 2Peter 3:10 “but the day of the Lord will come like a thief in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” There you have its exact setting. The simile of a thief is matched with the Day of the LORD, not with the Rapture. Again, it is distressful to suggest the Lord is a thief for His Church. Never use that term regarding the Rapture!

Then you have one other reference that is so precise – Revelation 16:15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.”) Here, right at the end of Revelation, when the Second Coming will be just around the corner and the 7 years of Tribulation will be coming to an end, the Lord says He is coming. BUT He is coming like a thief. NOT, NEVER the Rapture.

By the way, this Revelation verse will connect exactly with the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25. Staying awake will be important for the Second Coming (not in the sense of “no sleep” but being alert). Whether they realize it or not, those who falsely teach that the Rapture is in Matthew 24 and that the Rapture is like the thief are promoting the idea that the Church is going to be in the Tribulation.

Verse 3 is “then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child and they shall not escape.“

All that relates to the thief in the night, just more confirmation that it applies to the Second Coming and not to the Rapture. We don’t face destruction. The people there at that time will not escape the destruction and terror, but we will because we won’t be here. Great is the mercy and grace of God that has made an escape for us through our Lord Jesus Christ and called us to Him. We should always be grateful and look to Him as our coming Bridegroom in light, coming to claim His redeemed Bride. (A bridegroom does not go about as a thief!)

Verse 4 – “but you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day [the Day of the LORD] should overtake you like a thief,” again is logical. We are not in darkness. We are children of light and children of the Light. The Day of the LORD is all about gloom, darkness, terror and all the other signs we have been considering. That day won’t overtake us because we will not be here to be overtaken! It does not apply to us at all. We have to be taken before it can happen. Those who claim the Church goes through the Tribulation, or through half the Tribulation, talk rubbish, and it is dishonoring to the Lord who delivered us from the wrath to come by enduring the wrath against sin for us on the cross. We are children of the light where Christ dwells, not children of darkness where the thief will operate.

[2]. 2Thess 2:1-5 “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?”

((This is a crucial passage linking the Day of the LORD with the impossibility of it for Christians.

These Thessalonians continued to be disturbed about being in the Tribulation, which they understood as part of the Day of the LORD, correctly so. NOTE – In assuring them, Paul states two reasons why they cannot be in the Day of the LORD (therefore not in the Tribulation).

NOTE – HERE IS THE FIRST REASON. THE SECOND ONE IS IN THE NEXT PART – PART 11. The first reason is this – for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first.” A lot of material is around regarding this “apostasy,” and most of it is false and misleading. There are those who preach that there must be a great decline in the world in the Christian faith before the Lord can return for His Church, a great falling away from the faith, and they base it on this verse. I suppose it is easy to be conned by that when we know what the conditions are like today in the world with liberalism, denial, rejection of biblical authority, and humanism and socialism running some if not most churches. The reason for the great decline of our times is NOT this apostasy matter but two definite reasons.

The first is that we are in the days of Laodicea, the last of the prophetic churches of Revelation 3, a church (it is also a church period) where all is lukewarm and the Lord is shut outside the door. The second reason is that Paul stated prophetically that it would be so – 1Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” Those two reasons are clear. A very careful consideration of these words – “for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first” – should lead you to conclude something special is being stated here, not a decline in church doctrine and belief and practice. It is something special!

Now, what is this apostasy?

KJV – 2Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

NASB – 2Thesslonians 2:3 “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.”

These verses speak of the Day of the LORD without using that term. 2 Thess 2 v 3 declares that there must first be a “falling away” (KJV) or “apostasy” (NASB).

The Greek words used for this expression are “o apostasia,” generally translated “apostasy” or “falling away.”

The expression normally means defection, revolt or rebellion, BUT it can also be translated by “disappearance” or “departure.” And it has been suggested by the great Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest in Prophetic Light in the Present Darkness and by E. Schuyler English in Rethinking the Rapture that the reference is not to an apostasy from the faith (didn’t that occur some 1,600 years ago?) but to the translation of the Church from the world, that is, the departure of the Rapture.

Wuest points out that the word “apostasia” is derived from the root verb “afistami,” which means to remove, withdraw, depart, go away, etc. Of its 15 occurrences in the New Testament, it is 11 times translated “depart,” and Wuest accordingly argues that the substantive must mean “departure.” Since the Greek text has the definite article [o = THE], then a particular departure is in view. There is one, and that departure is the removal of the Church, THE Rapture. These are the references to the use of “apostasia/afistami.” (NASB) ))

SPECIAL NOTE: This is not a good place to end, but not to do so will make the next part far too large or far too small.

Part 11 is to follow.

ronaldf@aapt.net.au