Convergence and Urgency

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Mike Hile and I were at the Christ in Prophecy TV studio near Dallas. TV hosts Tim Moore and Dr. Nathan Jones invited me to interview on our latest book, Tracking Toward Tribulation: And the Any-Moment Intervention by Jesus Christ.

I believe strongly that the programming accomplished that day was Holy Spirit-directed for two reasons that involve the meaning wrapped within the words “convergence” and “urgency.”

Lamb & Lion Ministries, the overall parent ministry for the Christ in Prophecy TV sector of that ministry, will, like us at RaptureReady, be concentrating more than ever on the convergence of indicators for prophetic fulfillment we see developing. Certainly, for those who are truly watching for prophetic stage-setting as the time of the Tribulation nears, there are hour-by-hour signals that the world is about to be plunged into the time Jesus said will become the worst in all of human history (Matthew 24:21).

“Convergence” was sort of a central theme we kept in mind while going through Tracking Toward Tribulation, a book with chapters by fourteen top scholars, writers, and broadcasters who have a pre-Trib view of Bible prophecy. Plus, I put my two cents in as general editor. I believe it’s one of the most prescient of these books the Lord has given me to publish. By this, I mean that each chapter seems to have a special, Holy Spirit imprint on the dissection of the times each author presents. And the contributors’ in-depth examinations and analyses engender the word “urgency.”

While filming the programs, as we went through the many signals of convergence bursting forth more and more frequently and intensely in these strange times, it was made clear how the greatest of all prophets expected those who are watchmen to act and react. Jesus said the following in that regard:

“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).

Jesus was saying He wants all who believe He is Lord and Savior not to be like the Judaizers, the Pharisees of the time when He first visited the earth in His fleshly incarnation.

These had their Messiah standing right in front of them, speaking with them, with Heaven-sent signs that He had come into their midst. He condemned them because they didn’t recognize Him despite all the signals. He said they could determine what the weather would be the next day by observing the signals—the clouds, et cetera—but they couldn’t recognize Israel’s King standing before them at that very moment.

Jesus is saying today that the signals will be everywhere and in great profusion when the time arrives for His next intervention into the affairs of wicked humankind. We who have within us the Holy Spirit—whom He sent to indwell us when He returned to Heaven and the right hand of His Father—are to look up and know He is on His way back to take us unto Himself (paralambano in the Greek language). He will fulfill at that moment the mystery Paul would later reveal. Jesus said He would go away but would come again and receive believers to Himself (John 14:1-3). That is the Rapture that Paul, the great apostle, gave us in revealing that mystery Jesus described in John 14:1-3.

Jesus said in the Luke 21:28 account that we will see “all these things.” We’ll see the burgeoning signs of His Return. All of us (believers) are to watch for these signs (Mark 13:37).

Those of us who truly watch have been seeing these things “begin” to come to pass for quite some time. For certain, some who watch have been watching intensely since the rebirth of Israel on May 14, 1948!

The absolute avalanche of prophetic signals is converging at this moment at the end of this Age of Grace like at no other time I can remember. Thus, I and the others in our Christ in Prophecy filming sessions believe there is great urgency to present these signs and all attendant to them as quickly and as effectively as possible. Souls of people hang precariously in the balance.

We want those who don’t know Jesus for salvation not to be left behind to suffer under Antichrist’s hellish evil and God’s wrath during the last seven years leading to Christ’s Second Advent. Nor do we want those who are lost in sin and headed for eternity apart from God to die and go to the lake of fire, that terrible place prepared for the devil and his rebellious angels.

Thus, the urgency cannot be overemphasized. The convergence we see propelling this judgment-bound world toward the Tribulation means there isn’t time to disregard or ignore the call of the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ right now, rather than think to accept His saving grace offer at some time in the future. Because of the convergence of signs, Jesus is, we concluded in that TV filming, perhaps at the very door of Heaven, about to step out on the clouds of Glory to call all believers out of harm’s way in the Rapture.

We want all who don’t know Him for salvation to be saved from the wrath to come and instead be in the shelter of Jesus Christ. Here again is how you can be saved from sin and its deadly consequences. Jesus is the only Way (John 14:6).

“That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

—Terry

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What’s Behind Paula White’s Rise to Power?

The prevailing assessment of Bible prophecy in many churches today is that it’s of too little significance to teach from the pulpit. Pastors avoid preaching about the Rapture and Jesus’ thousand-year rule lest it offend people and they stop attending. Some claim that beliefs about things to come are “tertiary,” which online dictionaries define as “of third rank importance or value.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The dearth of sound biblical teaching on Bible prophecy has created a void that false teachers have filled with a wide assortment of wayward beliefs regarding the church, Jesus’ appearing, the Second Coming, and Israel. As a result, the prevailing false view in the Christian community is that the church will someday prevail over the ills and evils of our world and inaugurate millennial conditions throughout the world before Jesus returns to the earth.

Lest anyone think that such teaching, known as Dominion Theology, is of little or no consequence for our day, one of its chief proponents now has an office inside the White House.

Paula White’s Rise to Prominence

Televangelist Paula White’s rise to power resulted from the widespread shortage of sound biblical teaching on future things.

White amassed a personal fortune, estimated in excess of five million dollars, by promising her television audience health and prosperity if they contributed to her ministry. The response to such promises has not only made her wealthy but also has given her a platform that caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who selected her as an advisor. He has placed White in charge of his newly created White House Faith Office.

Sadly, White’s unbiblical beliefs, listed below, taint the advice she gives to the President:

1. Jerusalem and the Land of Israel no longer belong exclusively to the descendants of Jacob via God’s unconditional covenants with His people.
2. The Jewish people don’t have a place in God’s prophetic program for the future.
3. The world is not racing toward the seven-year Tribulation judgments, as described in Revelation chapters 6-18, but is rather on a course leading to a time of worldwide prosperity, peace, and security administered by the church.

Sadly, her counsel to the President stems from these errant beliefs. Is it possible that, at a minimum, her beliefs regarding the church’s rule over the earth validate Trump’s belief that great prosperity lies ahead for America under his leadership?

What About Israel?

However, there’s another area where our President needs much better counsel than what White gives to him.

I don’t know for sure if Paula White’s errant views concerning Israel have influenced President Trump’s policies in any way. One has to wonder, however, about the influence of a White House faith advisor who rejects what the Bible says about the future of the Jewish people, the Land that God gave to them, and Jerusalem.

Trump has a proven record of supporting Israel, but will his desire to be a peacemaker cloud his judgment? Will he treat Israel as just another nation and thus fail to recognize its God-given right to the Land?

Stories abound concerning increased tensions between the President and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently said, “I think we will have to withdraw from American security assistance.”

Last week, the Jerusalem Post reported that President Trump was ready to recognize a Palestinian state. Although those close to him vigorously denied the statement, many wonder about the possibility of a peace deal that might include unwelcome compromises for the future of Israel.

On his recent Middle East trip, President Trump most likely encountered tremendous pressure from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to recognize a Palestinian state since these nations remain adamant about the necessity of a two-state solution. It’s also troubling that he didn’t stop in Israel before returning to the U.S.

Bible Prophecy Matters

Paula White’s rise to power demonstrates the necessity of sound biblical teaching on Bible prophecy. Those who say it’s tertiary make a serious error in judgment, to say the least.

Pastors who minimize its importance allow false teaching to flourish in the Christian community. A scripturally valid view of future things is essential for believers to discern truth from error. The inability of Christians to do so has made multi-millionaires of charlatans such as White and others. Even worse, it has given their followers a false hope for the future and, in far too many cases, kept them from recognizing the necessity of trusting Jesus alone for the forgiveness of their sins and eternal life.

I’m convinced that any and all decisions that result from Trump’s jaunt to the Middle East will facilitate the Lord’s plan for the end times and bring us even closer to meeting our Savior in the air. We need not worry about the errant counsel the President receives from Paula White; the Lord long ago already factored that into His sovereign plans to rescue Israel during the upcoming seven-year Tribulation and establish His kingdom on the earth.

This does not excuse, however, the dearth of sound biblical teaching on Bible prophecy that exists today in our churches. It has created a void that has allowed false teachers such as Paula White to flourish and, in her case, rise to prominence in Washington, DC.

-Jonathan

Donation Drive May to July

Once again, it is time for me to give a report on our accomplishments over the last quarter and ask for your continued support. Rapture Ready continues to rank as the top site in Bible prophecy.

I have some good news in our battle with social media. For the past three years, big tech sites have been using their monopoly power to crush sites run by Christians, Republicans, and certain Libertarian organizations. Social Media has the power to pull the plug on anyone without notice.

About a month ago, I was listening to George Gammon, who posts videos on financial matters like the nation’s debt and other threats to our fiscal health. One day, he said this might be my last broadcast on YouTube. Gammon had two different sites that were blocked without warning. A few days later, Gammon got all his sites unblocked. He was told it was all part of a misunderstanding.

George Gammon purposely avoids any discussion of politics. His site bio shows he only wants to help people:

“This channel will help you build and protect wealth through investing, real estate, and an extreme dose of the economic RED PILL. By using a unique strategy, I’ve increased my personal freedom and thrived financially in a world of out-of-control central banks and big governments. And now I’m going to teach you to do the same.”

Gammon joined YouTube in 2013 and has built up a following of half a million subscribers. It is troubling to realize that anyone can ban your content without warning or review. Before I decided to pull all ads on RR, I would get daily emails saying that we can’t have certain ads because they violated constantly changing rules.

It was very pleasing to read that Attorney General Pam Bondi hosted an inaugural meeting of a task force consisting of other members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet to discuss its mission to eradicate alleged “anti-Christian bias” within the federal government.

The task force is an initiative born out of a February executive order by Trump, in which the president accused former President Joe Biden’s administration of fostering an “anti-Christian weaponization of government.” Bondi quoted a part of Trump’s order at the beginning of a meeting, saying, “The Biden administration engaged in an egregious pattern of targeting peaceful Christians, while ignoring violent anti-Christian offenses.”

Among the several examples of supposed anti-Christian bias Trump listed in his executive order was the mention of federal cases in which anti-abortion activists had been convicted of violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act.

There are major DOJ lawsuits against social media for monopolistic tactics. Because these firms have become massive, even with a long winning streak, it will take years to restore full liberty. As a student of Bible prophecy, I know that all forms of freedom will be taken away. We firmly believe that despotism will not come until after the rapture.

“To stay afloat, Rapture Ready relies on your financial support. We face a time when all Christian websites may be banned, but before that dark hour, all believers will be gathered in the “Blessed Hope.”

There are three ways you can contribute to RR: You can send a financial gift via our P.O. Box address; you can make a one-time donation; or there is a “frequent” option that allows you to make monthly donations. If you’re interested in signing up, find the links on the Donation Depot page. Donations can be sent to our P.O. Box at:

Rapture Ready
P.O. Box 969
Benton, AR 72018

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These Wars and Rumors of War

A note from a frequent emailer friend in India brought to my spiritual understanding that indeed all we see happening on the peace-effort front might have prophetic significance beyond what I’ve fully covered.

I’ll just mention his name as “KS.” He proffered his thought that we could be right at the point near what’s described in 1 Thessalonians 5:3:

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

KS then indicated that his thoughts included a nuclear deal with Iran and talks for a two-state solution that might be key to bringing about the Rapture and the “sudden destruction” Jesus spoke of in His “days of Lot” prophecy (Luke 17:2 8–30). The destruction might then eventuate to be the foretold permanent removal of Damascus as a city (Isaiah 17:1) and possibly the Psalm 83 war many believe to be in the near future (I still don’t agree with that).

It’s not that I haven’t considered the many issues involving possible war and peace under the light of Bible prophecy for the end times. It is just that there are so many major war dynamics erupting so often, I must now explore them more closely than ever. We have examined these things many times, based upon the words of the greatest of all prophets:

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6).

Jesus made it clear that as the end of this age (the Age of Grace) approaches, there will be a ramping-up of wars across the world. Yet He said we shouldn’t be troubled; these terrible wars and dire warnings of war to come will not mean it is the end.

How in the world could the Lord say we shouldn’t be troubled–that this didn’t mean it is the end?! If there are to be more of these wars–many with the possibility of nuclear exchanges—shouldn’t that be reason for being more troubled, not less?

When thinking on Jesus’ prophecy here, the words of World War II Prime Minister Winston Churchill come to mind. As Hitler’s Blitzkrieg and the bombings came to an end against London early in the war, Churchill tried to fortify the British people for the hellish war against the Nazis he knew Britain and the world still faced.

He said in a broadcast to his people and the rest of the world: “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

I wonder if Sir Winston, in his famous speech, framed his thoughts after studying Jesus’ words found in the Matthew 24:6 warning of things to come. Probably not. But Churchill’s own words might be expressed in terms of what we as a nation and world face at this moment.

Our own time at present in facing war is certainly not at an end. Ukraine versus Russia is at a critical phase, with obstacles against which even our own president, a master negotiator, can’t seem to make headway. Israel versus Iranian terrorist proxies rage and build daily toward becoming a truly troubling conflict. And my friend who lives in India faces rumors of nuclear war with Pakistan, where another of my friends makes his home and conducts Christian ministry. Both India and Pakistan now have heating-up hatreds long simmering, each possessing nuclear weaponry.

And, at the same time, a profoundly perilous “rumor of war” threatens regional and world peace.

Iran, with fanatic Islamic leadership that daily threatens to destroy the much-hated Israel, and that sponsors terrorism globally, is perhaps days from developing nuclear weapons it will use to accomplish its blood-vowed intention.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised Iran will never be allowed to develop such weaponry. He is backed by the president of the United States who has proven he will follow through with what he promises. He has promised that if negotiations don’t work and the Iranian regime gets close to having an atomic weapon, the US military will lead the way in taking out Iran’s underground facilities.

Russia has signed pacts with the Iranians, and such lethal actions as will be necessary to destroy the underground weapons labs would make Russia put up or shut up in its friendship of protection with Iran.

This is indeed a “rumor of war” to consider!

The following news item tells of dangers involved in terms of the tenuousness of peace for Israel and the Middle East:

[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking in JNS interview]

“I’m saying this for the ambassadors who are here—all of you know this,” he said. “We just tried a Palestinian state in Gaza,” he continued. “You saw what that brought, right?”

The Jewish state had been “attacked savagely, horribly” on Oct. 7, 2023, said Netanyahu. When German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, who visited Israel early in the war, “saw the film of the horrors and visited the sites, he said there: they’re exactly like the Nazis,” the Israeli premier recalled.

“And I said, well, they’re different. Not in intent, not in savagery—but the Nazis tried to hide their crimes. And these people carry GoPro cameras, live, you know, they’re ecstatic about the blood they shed, the people they butcher, the women they rape, the men they beheaded, the babies they burned,” he continued.

“You cannot build peace and security on lies. If you do so, sooner or later, these lies will crash on the realities of the Middle East,” he said…

“So what’s left? Well, quite a few things and many opportunities, but obviously they’ll all go down the tube if Iran gets nuclear weapons,” he added, vowing to work with Washington to ensure that Tehran will not be able to enrich uranium under a possible deal. (“‘Folly’ to Think Palestinian State Will Produce Peace, Netanyahu Tells JNS,” JNS staff, JNS.org)

My friend KS from India is looking for the Rapture like so many who can discern these end times of “wars and rumors of war.” Jesus has promised that there will be no such all-out, world-shattering war before He calls the Church (all born-again believers) to Himself in the Rapture. (Read again the “days of Lot” prophecy in Luke 17:28-30.)

In this sense, we can apply Mr. Churchill’s wartime statement to this time when the stage is being set for the quickly approaching Tribulation. What we see in these times of war and rumors of even greater wars of the nuclear sort, when viewed through the prism of Bible prophecy, is that this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps very soon, the end of the beginning.

This satanic assault on humanity, and particularly upon Israel, is about to end for those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. The Tribulation–the great end-times war—will then have its beginning in all its full-blown virulence and violence.

Now we can more clearly understand with spiritual assurance why the Lord Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” Believers will not be here on Earth to participate in the coming wars and humanity’s final war, Armageddon.

If you want to go to Christ and to the safety of the clouds of Glory when He calls believers to Himself, follow God’s holy instructions:

“That if you will confess the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

—Terry

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Sudden, Unexpected, World Changing

Just when I think we might be months or perhaps even weeks away from the appearance of the four riders of the apocalypse as described in Revelation 6:1-8, there appears to be an easing of the crises that prompted such thoughts, or we move even closer to the threat with nothing happening.

For example, there are days when the world appears to be on the verge of devastating wars with severe loss of life, such as what will happen with the seal judgments. Although tensions continue to rise by the day in many hot spots, we have yet to see the sparks ignite a worldwide conflict. Several months ago, I thought that China would invade Taiwan at any moment, but fortunately, that has not yet happened. The war in Ukraine has repeatedly brought the world to the brink of WWIII, and still might do so.

Predictions of an impending economic disaster for the U.S. economy have persisted for many years. It’s not that the information behind these dire forecasts of financial gloom was inaccurate; it wasn’t. However, the full impact of such a catastrophic economic collapse awaits the Lord’s opening of the third seal (Revelation 6:5-6).

Today, perhaps more than at any previous time in history, we see the hand of the Restrainer that Paul wrote about in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8. Antichrist cannot take his place on the world scene until God sovereignly removes His constraining hand from human affairs. The full emergence of lawlessness in our world, along with the wrath of the Day of the Lord, cannot happen until after the Lord takes us home to glory (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). We are so close to this moment in time; so close.

The nearness of Jesus’ intervention in human affairs points to at least a couple of biblical truths about Jesus’ imminent appearing.

It Will Happen Suddenly

In 1 Corinthians 15:52, Paul writes that the Rapture will happen “in the twinkling of an eye.” When the Lord appears, He will instantly transform us before taking us to the place He’s preparing for us.

In 1 Thessalonians 5 1-3, Paul tells us that Jesus’ appearing will quickly lead to the Day of the Lord wrath upon the earth:

“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

The Lord’s abrupt intrusion into human history will quickly disrupt the lives of those thinking that all is well and initiate a time of “sudden destruction” throughout the world. “Quick” and “unexpected” sum up the devastation in store for the world after the Rapture. Can you imagine the chaos that will rapidly ensue after the sudden disappearance of tens of millions of people?

It may be an ordinary day, just like today, when the Lord suddenly appears and we appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4).

It Will Change Everything

The world will dramatically change in the chaotic aftermath of the Rapture.

The US economy, which has teetered on the brink of calamity for years, will finally collapse, leading to dire financial conditions across the globe and fulfilling what John wrote about with the third rider of the apocalypse (Revelation 6:5-6). Any financial stability that’s gained in the coming months or years will quickly vanish.

The globalists will have their long-desired opportunity to restore order from the ensuing anarchy, which will enable them to establish a world government. They will no longer need the contrived climate emergency to force governments to accept their tyrannical rule.

(My opinion: recent developments have not discouraged the globalists as much as some suggest. The elite might see these things as a temporary setback, but they remain ready to implement their plans for world dominance when the opportunity arises. Particularly in America, we see a demonic insurgence actively countering the current efforts to undo the vast corruption of the past several years as they seek to discredit those uncovering it.)

Regardless of how near or distant the events chronicled in the book of Revelation seem on any given day, the Rapture will change everything and rapidly bring the world to the start of the Day of the Lord’s wrath upon the earth.

Our Hope

For us, our hope rests solely in Jesus’ soon appearing. In 1 Peter 1:13, the apostle puts it like this:

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Even though John had not yet written the book of Revelation, Peter uses the same words that we find at the very beginning of the last book of the Bible, “The revelation [apocalypse] of Jesus Christ?” The only reason that we have hope in light of the coming apocalypse is because we will miss it. Because of His amazing grace that has already saved us from the punishment for our sins, the Lord will take us out of the world before His wrath quickly falls on the unsuspecting world.

Because the time when Jesus will open the seals and the riders of the apocalypse will spread terror across the earth seems so near, we know that the time of Jesus’ appearing must be exceedingly close. I believe what we see today are precursors and warnings of the judgments described in Revelation 6 so that we as believers might be ready to meet Jesus in the air. For the unsaved, they warn of the extreme dangers ahead for them if they continue in their unbelief.

We live in the season of Jesus’ return for us; we just don’t know how much longer we must wait.

-Jonathan