Are there more earthquakes?

It’s been too long since I’ve posted and I apologize. I have been distracted by other projects, but also I haven’t quite known how to respond to world events. It seems too much to process and sometimes it’s easier to keep doing life one foot in front of the other.

It is sad to write as the world tries to come to grips with the terrible devastation in Haiti. Many people are wondering, are the number of earthquakes increasing? The USGS (US Geologic Service) website claims that it only appears that the number is increasing because we have more equipment now to detect earthquakes. They claim that the number of really big earthquakes has remained constant. I’m going to use a parallel example to show why that’s not true.

Last week I read an article in a Christian magazine (I can’t cite this properly because I don’t have the magazine! Sorry!) about how the best, longterm study on the healing effects of prayer had come up with disappointing results. The study was done by Harvard and they had heart surgery patients placed in three categories: prayed for and knew it, prayed for and didn’t know it, not prayed for and didn’t know it. The crazy thing is that those who were prayed for and knew it did the poorest. Those prayed for and didn’t know it, did poor too, and the best group was those not being prayed for! Of course, all of this was controlled in the best scientific methods and the results came out with very strong, conclusive results.

Here’s what I absolutely love about this: if God had chosen to prove the effectiveness of prayer by doing what was asked, namely to heal these patients, we would then have doctors writing prescriptions for healing prayer as though it was something you ordered from the local drug church. If God had chosen to ignore the request altogether, we would then have a bunch of self-satisfied scientists with proof that faith healing is a figment of our imagination. Or God could do exactly the opposite of what was asked, He could withold supernatural, even natural, healing from these patients. What does that accomplish? Well, scientifically you have to admit that something happens when Christians pray. The study is designed so that the results are extremely unlikely to ever happen by chance. However, you have to admit that God is ultimately the one who decides how to answer prayer. Yes, the prayer of a righteous person is effective!

What on earth does that have to do with earthquakes? Well, all the data that I see suggest that the number of earthquakes is increasing. But the scientists assure us that this is merely a figment of our imagination, or rather a figment of more measuring instruments. So what does God do? Exactly the opposite. He witholds earthquakes for a year. Yes, last year had the fewest earthquakes in at least 20 years, maybe longer but I don’t have data any farther back. Actually, I should be more accurate in my claim — last Hebrew year had the fewest earthquakes in over 20 years. Not the fewest by a little, but 25% fewer than even the lowest year. Since the Hebrew new year began in September 2009, the average number of earthquakes over 6 has jumped by about 30%.

You simply can’t explain a lack of earthquakes by saying that we have more equipment to measure them with.

From 1990-1999, the number of earthquakes over 8 was 0.5/ year. From 2000-2009, the number of earthquakes over 8 was 1.3/ year. That’s still not very many HUGE earthquakes, but that’s a real change.

Jesus said that in the last days, there would be earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7,8). Just because there has been changes in the number of earthquakes doesn’t mean Jesus is coming tomorrow. How many earthquakes would qualify? A major earthquake every month, every week, every day? Interestingly, the data also show that the number of people who have died in earthquakes has rising over the past 30 years from a high in the 1980’s of about 20,000, 1990’s high of about 50,000 (in 1990) to numbers like 82,000 (2005), 88,000 (2008) and 228,000 (2004). Not that history doesn’t speak of terrible and deadly earthquakes, but there is a consistency here that we have never witnessed before.

All we can say, we are moving closer to the Day. How close no one can say.

The United Nations and Rome

Who are the 10 horns of Revelation’s beast (Rev.13), the 10 toes of Daniel’s statue (Dan.2), and the 10 horns of Daniel’s beast (Dan. 7)? If these 10 came to light it would be easier to identify the final beast when the time arrives. This is a research trail that I have been digging around in for a while.

Quick review here about what we know about these 10:

1. The 10 toes of iron mixed with clay in Daniel’s statue follow his description of the Roman empire, depicted as legs of iron (Dan.2:40,41). If you’ve been following here, I previously thought the toes may be the modern Islamic empire. I take back that thought.

2. Ten horns are found again on the fourth Roman beast in Daniel 7:7. We are given this information clearly by an angel who gives Daniel the interpretation of his vision. So, both the statue’s legs of iron and the beast with ten horns are the Roman empire in the book of Daniel. But this ten-horned beast is also equated with being the final kingdom before the Ancient of Days comes and the saints possess the kingdom (Daniel 7:21). You might want to try and argue that Jesus came into the Roman empire and after that his followers brought his kingdom to the earth. However, there are too many parallels to Revelation with “the time, times and half a time” of Daniel 7:25 equating with Revelation’s 1260 days (Rev.11:2,3) — three and a half years, 42 months, 1260 days.

3.The beast in Revelation contains characteristics of each of the four beasts in Daniel 7. I believe this means that the final empire is not one single nation like the previous four empires. Revelation’s beast has ten horns which are described by an angel as 10 kings who receive authority with the beast (anti-christ) for one hour in order to give him their authority and power and make war against the Lamb (Rev.17:12-14).

Many Christians anticipate the European Union to be the revived Roman empire, but I don’t find that theory particularly compelling. If you’d like to know why, you can read that blog post under the title Gog vs. Antichrist. In fact, I have argued that this final beast cannot be Rome, per se, because the angel tells John that the beast “once was, now is not, and will come” (Rev.17:8). Well, John was living under Roman rule at the time of writing.

All this detailing to get around to my real point. Today the United Nations (UN) symbolizes a united empire more than any other organization on earth. They have been becoming increasingly anti-Israel in their position, suggesting recently that they would unilaterally declare a Palestinian state in Israel, returning half of Jerusalem in the proclamation. Nothing may come of this, but it does show a significant shift in global thinking over the past few decades. Not to mention the war crimes that Israel may be held accountable for in its recent actions in Gaza. I am not arguing for the innocence of the state of Israel, only lining up what the Bible foretells as a great invasion of Israel before the return of Christ.

I did a little sleuthing about the United Nations and compared their symbol to that of Ancient Rome. Bingo! Same symbol, but the United Nations depicts the world behind the two branches and Rome depicts the Roman empire. I also dug around the United Nations governance info. I looked particularly at the UN Security Council since this body has been involved with trying to keep Israel in line with middle east peace issues. Bingo again! There are five nations with permanent membership on this council. One of these is Russia, commonly associated with Gog (see previous post). The UN Security Council also consists of 10 temporary positions. Five of these nations are replaced every year on the council, meaning that the ten nations serve only a single year together.

I promised that I would not play fortune-teller on this blog. It does bear keeping an eye on news events involving the UN Security Council.

The term “beast” is used in Revelation to describe several layers of authority which ultimately all point to an individual we call the Antichrist. There are seven heads (kings or hills) on which the woman Babylon sits and makes herself rich prostituting the nations. I have suggested we watch the G7 here — this group originally formed to ensure oil security. There is an eighth head, the “beast” which once was and now is not, and will be again. I believe this is a specific nation and have suggested Russia as the revived head of the G8, also giving itself to Babylon’s riches.  There are 10 horns (kings) which give their authority to the beast for one hour. I’m suggesting we watch the UN Security Council’s 10 temporary seats for this fulfillment. And then there is the personal “beast”, a man who sets himself against the people of God and against God himself. See the progression of authority — each layer pointing towards a coming antichrist?

The True Meaning of Christmas

Well, the title really is a catch-phrase these days, so forgive me for cashing in on that. This is a devotional I shared a few weeks ago for a Christmas celebration.

When I was in university, I joined a choir and the first song we were to learn was called “Magnificat”. The choir director quickly informed us that although most of the choir could not identify with the religious angle on the lyrics, we shouldn’t be concerned because the song was really about “birth” and since that was a wonderful thing that anyone could celebrate, we should enjoy the song.

Of course, the lyrics for “Magnificat” are Mary’s song of praise recorded in the gospel of Luke.

⁴⁶And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
⁵⁰And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Luke 1 (ESV)

Well, there’s no mention of birth in this song, but there’s a lot about God and His plan to remember His people. Mary is excited and praising God because of what He is about to do “as he spoke to our fathers…” (v.55)

So what did God speak? What promise was he about to fulfill? There were many promises of a coming Messiah. He would come from Bethlehem. He would be a Nazarene.

He would rise as a shoot from the “stump of Jesse” — father David’s royal line that was now without a true king. Isaiah 11 goes on from there to describe a righteous judge who will rule the nations and bring peace to the earth. Not only that, it seems to describe a military leader who leads the Israelites to conquer the surrounding nations (Isaiah 11:14).

If you had written a book called “The Coming Messiah” in Mary’s day, you would have come up with some pretty interesting predictions about what this messiah would look like to fulfill all the prophecies. And you would definitely have been wrong. No one would have guessed that God was about to enter into humanity.

Interestingly, with all the prophecies given to the Jews before Yeshua came, they were never told to watch for his coming. There would be no global fanfare to welcome him. Most people would have no opportunity to hear about his birth in a Bethlehem stable. Mary’s excited anticipation of his birth was almost a lone voice.

But we are not living in the days before Yeshua’s birth. And we are given far more information. We have seen God’s Son, the exact representation of the Holy One, through the writings of his first followers. Again and again our generation is urged by both Jesus in the gospels and John in Revelation to watch. The message is filled with urgency, warning, and anticipation.

^“42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  ⁴⁵“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” (words of Jesus in Matthew 24:42-46)

The Messiah will come like a thief at an unknown time, but we should not give up watching!

⁴But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. … ⁸But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (I Thessalonians 5:4,

We can be ready to see our savior coming.

¹⁵“Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Revelation 16:15)

We are to keep our clothes with us. These clothes are the righteous acts of God’s people we are told in Revelation. We are not be found naked when he comes. We are not to be surprised when he comes.

Mary had a very unique role to play in bringing God’s promise to fruition, but we are each given the amazing privilege of participating in God’s plan. He desires to find us living singularly for him in whatever circumstances we are given. And with Mary we can proclaim “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” (Luke 1:46,47) as we anticipate the soon arrival of the Messiah. This time to complete all prophecy about him.

Jesus is the One

A blog about biblical prophecy would not be complete without showing the amazing way in which God promised a coming Messiah — a savior for all people. Here’s a link to a wonderful compilation of Old Testament prophecies with their New Testament fulfillment in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus is the Messiah

Israel’s Tribulation affects the world – Isaiah 17

Isaiah 17 describes a future time for Israel and the nations.

^“4And in that day^(G) the glory of Jacob will be brought low,
and^(H) the fat of his flesh will grow lean.
⁵And it shall be^(I) as when the reaper gathers standing grain
and his arm harvests the ears,” Isaiah 17:4,5a (ESV)

The image of reaping is used by Jesus to describe the time of the end.

After Israel is “brought low”,

^7(L) In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel.

^9(O) In that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the wooded heights and the hilltops, which they deserted because of the children of Israel, and there will be desolation. Isaiah 17:7&9

Here we see there is a direct correlation between Israel’s tribulation and the cities of the nations being deserted and desolated. It is because of the children of Israel we are told.

I believe that many of the descriptions we find about the time of the end in Revelation, Daniel and Ezekiel are specific to the middle east. But that does not mean that we are going to sit back and watch it all happen on our t.v. screens. It will affect us as well.

Isaiah goes on to describe the great war against Israel, which I suspect is also the war of Gog in Ezekiel 38.

¹²Ah,^(R) the thunder of many peoples;
they thunder like the thundering of the sea!
Ah, the roar of nations;
they roar like the roaring of mighty waters!
^13(S) The nations roar like the roaring of many waters,
^(T) but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away,
chased^(U) like chaff on the mountains before the wind
and^(V) whirling dust before the storm. Isaiah 17:12,13

This doesn’t add a lot of new information to what my readers already know and believe. I’m writing the obvious for two reasons. Someday I may not be here to warn others that the Bible foretold this destruction. Maybe this little blog will stick around longer than I will. Or maybe a lot of Christians will be surprised to discover that we are asked to endure through a time of trial. If that’s the case, I hope that we are able to recognize that the attack on Israel should cause us to seek God’s protection and make the most of every opportunity in difficult times.

In the meantime, may we find our full joy in knowing Christ.

Iraq to prosper?

Joel Rosenberg in his book Epicenter suggests that Iraq (and by default, ancient Babylon) will boom in the future allowing a literal fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies about Babylon. Although I’ve argued that Babylon may refer to an empire, not a city or country, this news article sparked my interest. Eventually, Joel Rosenberg’s literal interpretation may prove true.

Iraq oil capacity to reach ‘12 m barrels per day’

US and Russia seek 7-year nuclear deal

My ears always tingle when I read about a “7-year deal” in the news. I caught this one today.

BBC reports that the current nuclear arms reduction deal between the US and Russia has recently expired, but both countries have agreed to continue observing it until a new deal can be reached. The article states that a future deal with allow 7-years for further reduction of nuclear warheads.

It could be nothing, but it never hurts to keep an eye on these kinds of headlines. Of course, it is Daniel 9:27 that I am watching for – “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ’seven.’” Although many Christians anticipate a middle east peace deal, there’s no reason it couldn’t apply to something like this.

Talks between Russia and US on nuclear pact extended

Another interesting point — the new Lisbon Treaty that is to be ratified shortly as the European Union’s new guiding document, will also allow a 7-year year transition period before coming into full force. I doubt it’s related to Biblical prophecy, but it never hurts to be aware of world events.

P.S. The EU just signed a 7-year deal to reduce banana tarrifs on Latin American produce. Really, they did. lol

Gog vs. Antichrist

What is the relationship between Gog and the Antichrist?

Ezekiel 38 and 39 describe a future war. Gog of Magog from the far north comes with many nations to attack Israel. God rises up on behalf of Israel in an awesome display of power.

¹⁹ “In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. ²⁰ The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. ²¹ I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. ²² I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.” Ezekiel 38:19-22

Some people believe that this event falls prior to the fulfillment of Revelation and the antichrist’s attack on Jerusalem. That expectation struck me as strange since the above passage parallels Revelation’s description of the coming of Jesus. Revelation points to the greatest earthquake in history (islands and mountains disappear), lightning and thunder, and hailstones (Rev.16:18-21; Rev.11:19; Rev.6:14).

The army of Gog ends up as vulture-food — “On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. ⁵ You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.” Eze.39:4,5

And the antichrist’s army? — “The two of them (False Prophet and Antichrist) were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. ²¹The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” (Rev.19:20b,21) Yup, vulture-food again. While the antichrist is described as being thrown into a lake of burning sulfur not an open field, they aren’t necessarily contradictory or exclusive.

But the real problem with placing Gog as a separate person from the antichrist is in this verse: “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them.” Eze.38:17

The terms Gog and Magog are mentioned together in only one other place in the Bible and that is in Revelation’s post-millenial war against Jerusalem. If God tells us that Gog is the one spoken of by the prophets long ago, there must be some previous reference to this guy. What other person is described as an end-times ruler attacking Israel?

Isaiah (prior to Ezekiel’s time) describes a future in which Israel is returned to their land by the nations and they possess the nations. They triumph over their adversary the king of Babylon who is described in antichrist-like terms.

“You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. ^[c]

¹⁴ I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13,14

Certainly it seems that Isaiah was referring to the same characteristics that Daniel describes in the anti-christ. “He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods.” (Dan.11:36)

Isaiah 33 describes a “destroyer” and “traitor” that God destroys. Chapters 32 & 33 describe a time of war, including hailstorms and God thundering. “The peoples will be burned as if to lime.” (33:12) Very apocalyptic.

It may be that God will fulfill both Revelation and Ezekiel 38 & 39 in separate events. Although I don’t see that as being obvious in Scripture, I certainly have great respect for Christians who hold this view.

I think the main reason it appears necessary to separate the two figures is that Gog is to come from the far north – either Russia or Turkey, while the second end-times figure seems to come from the middle east (Babylon). Although it is thought by some that the king of Babylon must be from the city Babylon, which has yet to be rebuilt, I don’t see any reason he can’t be king of the Babylonian empire which covered much of the Middle East. Either is possible.

One possible explanation is that the Gog/ Antichrist is from the north middle east, Turkey or Syria, thereby fulfilling both prophecies. This is possible, but one little thing doesn’t fit with that.

Daniel 11 gives a clearer picture of the person of the antichrist than anywhere else in the Bible. Here’s one excerpt:

^“37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. ³⁸ Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.” Dan.11:37-38

If this prophecy is going to be fulfilled in my lifetime, there’s only one “god of fortresses” that is going to fit this bill and that is Islam. Now, if this god that the antichrist honors was not known to his fathers, then the antichrist is not likely to come from an Islamic nation. I’m betting Russia is the home nation of the antichrist. However, the antichrist clearly maximizes on his radical Islamic alliances. This is exactly the picture portrayed in Ezekiel 38.

So how do we explain the second Middle Eastern anti-christ imagery written about by the prophets? I’m going to suggest something here. (I’ve never read it anywhere else, so it would take a lot of affirmation by scholars to give it any credence!) What if the second figure described refers to the False Prophet? As I’ve written before, it makes perfect sense for the False Prophet to be from Islam, a follower of the Mohammed, the prophet. Revelation 13 describes two beasts, an antichrist and a false prophet. They both seem to have “satanic” natures and are thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where they are joined by the devil. (Rev.19:20&20:10) Almost an unholy “trinity” that attempts to displace God. It may be difficult to differentiate these two figures in OT prophecy if their master and goal are the same.

I keep coming back to the same place in each blog post. I really don’t believe that there are a bunch of prophecies that must yet be fulfilled before we could see the beginning of the end. In fact, one of these days I will argue that some prophecies have been fulfilled already in this century. It’s possible that we will see a major Russian invasion of the middle east and the city of Babylon rebuilt before the antichrist comes (as per Joel Rosenberg’s perspective, which I highly value), but it’s also possible that these events will not look as we expect.

Iran disdains threats

Iran has been making headlines for months with its declared “peaceful nuclear programme”. This is not a new game for those who have been watching the activities and intelligence coming out of Iran for years.

Iran has made very clear statements in the past that it would use nuclear military force against Israel once it gains the technology. Intelligence reveals that they have been smuggling the pieces they need for this end from Russia and other nations for some time now. (Epicenter, Rosenberg, 2008)

What is new is that Iran is brazenly defying the international calls for them to halt work on their newly exposed facility at Qom, a uranium enrichment site which is estimated, according to data in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s report, to produce enough uranium for military production, but not enough for their “peaceful” energy plant. The IAEA has demanded that all work stop on this facility, so they must have some idea that peace isn’t on the agenda.

According to Joel Rosenberg, Iran’s president is convinced of the most extreme Islamic line. His core beliefs drive him to hasten the arrival of the Twelf Imam who will iradicate all non-Muslims from the planet. This imam will return during a time of chaos.

So why would Iran be so defiant? News reports yesterday show that they have announced another 10 nuclear enrichment sites despite refusing to respond to the offer to have uranium enriched for power purposes outside the country. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8386261.stm

It seems to me that Iran is not afraid of international action against them. In fact, it would seem they even desire confrontation. Maybe they are close enough now to having their nuclear weapons that they are willing to engage. Maybe they are willing to play the UN’s bluff. Either way, the game is getting very dangerous, not just for Iran, but for all of us. Iran’s leadership has stated that Israel is only Little Satan. The Big Satan is, you guessed it, the United States.

Ezekiel 38 describes a war against Israel with Gog of Magog and Persia joining forces. Persia is easily identified as Iran, and most experts point to Russia as Gog of Magog (though there are some who believe it’s Turkey). Russia under Putin was building increasingly close ties with Iran and fueling much of their armament. In the past couple of months, under president Medvedev, they seem to be backing off. I expect when Putin tries to return to office by 2012, we could see the coziness resume.

Revelation 13 describes two beasts. One beast is a description of the anti-christ.  Another beast is a False Prophet who rains down fire from heaven and forces everyone to worship the anti-christ. It is the False Prophet who orders everyone to receive the mark or face beheading. Interesting that God chose to use the word prophet since Mohammed centuries later became known as “The Prophet” and today is accepted as such by millions. It wouldn’t surprise me if the False Prophet were someone like the current Iranian president who is devoutly seeking to bring all the earth into submission to Islam by conversion or the sword. In fact, the president believes that he is appointed by Allah to usher in the return of the Prophet’s Twelf Imam.

It’s important to recognize that the word (ga) used for “earth” in Revelation 13:18 referring to the False Prophet’s area of power can also be translated “country or land”. It seems very likely to me that the False Prophet will be enacting his harsh judgments in the middle east. Not that there will not be global ramifications, but I want to impress on you that there is no reason to believe that Revelation requires “One World Goverment” or “One World Currency” or even a micro-chip in the arm system of cash. In fact, we could be staring Revelation (and Ezekiel 38) right in the face.

A Savior from Heaven

There are wonderful clues in the Old Testament which should have opened minds to the real identity of the Jewish Messiah – that he would be God-nature.

Check out Psalm 49 excerpts here!

⁷ No man can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for him-

⁸ the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough-

⁹ that he should live on forever
and not see decay.

 

¹² But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
he is ^[c] like the beasts that perish.

¹³ This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Selah

 

¹⁵ But God will redeem my life ^[f] from the grave;
he will surely take me to himself.
Selah

 

No one but God himself could pay the ransom for a life. Jesus, being in very nature God, gave his life for us. Awesome!