THE FUTURE HAS ARRIVED / prophecies being fulfilled? News 02-04-11

Weekly News Update / Feb. 04, 2011

Watch condensed video update of this written article

SIGNS OF THE END OF THE WORLD: These words sound very ominous, and so they should, but those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ understand that the purpose for which God gave us these signs is for us to know when the signs are being fulfilled or close to being fulfilled. Therefore it is important to be aware of current events transpiring in our world; for when these events begin to correspond with Biblical prophecy, then we will know that the time of the fulfillment of all things written is close at hand. For example in Luke 21:9 Jesus warned that … “when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by…” If we are not paying attention to what is going on in our world, how will we hear of wars and commotions and other signs that must be fulfilled before the end comes? 

In past writings and audios I have repeatedly stated that the Bible does not teach that the end of the world means the end of the planet earth. The planet will continue for a long time after the world that presently sits upon it is gone. The best example I can offer is that of the time of Noah. In those days the planet saw catastrophic destruction but the Earth did not vanish. However, the world that then existed was completely and totally destroyed. The planet is a terrestrial body not made by man, but the world that sits upon it consists of cities, villages and other objects that are manmade; it is the manmade structures and everything built my man that will be destroyed as the world comes to an end as it did in the days of Noah. In the process of this destruction by various means, by man himself and by powers beyond his control, the Earth too will experience catastrophic destruction. I believe that the days in which the world will experience the type of destruction not seen since the days of Noah, and loss of human and animal life on a scale also not seen since the days of Noah, are close at hand. Therefore it is more important than ever before to watch closely that which is transpiring in our world and to prayerfully compare current events to scripture to accurately discern present day times and seasons. The Lord Jesus warned repeatedly not to be caught unawares by the long ago prophesied catastrophic destruction of this world. 

It is for the purpose of making us aware so that these times do not overtake us as a thief in the night that we have been given unmistakable signs that would reveal to those who have the eyes to see, and ears to hear, that the end of the world is close at hand. The majority of the people in this world will continue leading their lives in the hypnotic trance that prevents them from understanding these signs; therefore this information is for the small remnant that are not deceived; the small remnant who are ‘watching and praying’, the small remnant who will not be overtaken as a thief in the night by the soon coming ‘End of the World’, and soon coming ‘Day of The Lord’, and the day of vengeance of our God.

The prophetic signs of events that will comprise the ‘End of the World’ may be divided into the following categories (Please review my series of articles titled ‘Is this the End of the World’ for the reasons why these categories are relevant and important. News reports that fit these categories have been linked and prophetic Biblical references have been provided to prove that these events are pointing to an imminent fulfillment of all ‘End of the World’ prophecies recorded in the pages of The Bible.

In the following section, News reports have been grouped according to category. The heading has been linked to the original story and a brief synopsis has been provided. My comments and observations are in italics below the original report. Please click on the link to read the full story and / or to watch videos if included in the story. ECONOMY / End of the world first and foremost means a total collapse of the Global Economy FAMINES / FOOD SHORTAGES / News about food related catastrophes, famines, food inflation etc.  GEO – POLITICAL TENSIONS / News about war between nations, and civil war / social unrest within nations EXTREME WEATHER / Climate related problems of a much greater than ‘normal’ severity PANDEMICS / News of Pestilential infectious and fatal disease outbreaks ANOMALOUS EVENTS / These are events that are neither seen as a norm nor can they be explained as normal occurrence; an example would be the numerous instances of birds falling dead out of a clear blue sky by the hundreds and even by the thousands.

ECONOMIC NEWS Mcalvany Weekly Commentary / I highly recommend this audio program that airs weekly on Economic issues. I find the analysis to be profound yet presented simply enough that most ‘financially illiterate’ people can understand it. This week’s interview with a gentleman by the name of Ian McAvity is very informative, and therefore I suggest that rather than listening to CNBC or Bloomberg, listen to this audio because it is factual and will be of much greater use to the average person in understanding what lies beyond the horizon in the realm of Economics and Finance. Baltic Dry Index Set for a Big Fall?  A friend calls from Athens this morning moaning and groaning about the sorry state of the shipping industry. I ask, “What’s new that makes you so grumpy?” He points me to this story concerning the bankruptcy of a Korean shipping company called Korean Lines (“KL”). My friend made the following points on this development: - KL owns about 30 ships and manages another 120. As a result of the chapter filing almost all of these ships are coming back onto the spot market. The KL financial status was known by many insiders (bankers/brokers/shippers). This was a contributing factor in the big run off of the Baltic Dry index recently. - Spot shipping rates have nowhere to go but down as a result. - The Chinese ship construction schedule will bring many new ships into service this year. This will depress rates further. Cargo ship asset values are falling. - Some banks will take big losses. Other shipping companies like KL are now on the edge. - The dry bulk cargo industry has crossed (once again) from boom to bust. The Baltic Dry Index is perhaps the most important indicator of the health of the whole world’s economy. It tracks the flow of goods shipped in cargo ships across the world. A decline in the index is indicative of a slowdown in goods being shipped and therefore a slowdown in global trade. There is a very strong correlation between the Baltic Dry Index and the health of the manufacturing and retail businesses. During 2008 – 2009 the BDI lost some 70% of its value. It seems to be on a downward trajectory again and therefore the MSM fairy tales of a recovery will be shown to be exactly that - fairy tales! Economic Warning Signs: Do you see all of the warning signs that are flashing all around you?  These days it seems like there is more bad economic news in a single week than there used to be in an entire month.  2011 is already shaping up to be a very dark year for the world economy.  The price of food is shooting through the roof and we have already seen violent food riots in countries like Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia.  World financial markets are becoming increasingly unstable as the sovereign debt crisis continues to get worse.  Meanwhile, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits is up, foreclosures are up and poverty continues to spread like a plague throughout the United States.  What we are starting to see around the globe is a lot like the "stagflation" of the 1970s.  All of the crazy money printing that has been going on is overheating prices for agricultural commodities and precious metals, but all of this new money is not doing much to help the average man or woman on the street… The above article provides a good summary of what is happening economically across the United States; these problems are also being witnessed in varying degrees in every nation on this planet, although citizens of countries not impacted as dramatically as some, as for example Tunisia and Egypt, are for the most part oblivious of these problems, but not for long. Church Foreclosures Rising: Residential and commercial real-estate owners aren’t the only ones losing their properties to foreclosure. The past few years have seen a rapid acceleration in the number of churches losing their sanctuaries because they can’t pay the mortgage. Just as homeowners borrowed too much or built too big during boom times, many churches did the same and now are struggling as their congregations shrink and collections fall owing to rising unemployment and a weak economy. Deuteronomy 15:6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee. It would appear that churches these days have forgotten the admonition of the LORD not be borrowers, and neither are they blessed of God, for if they were they would not need to be taking out mortgages to build their fanciful buildings. So are these mega churches houses of worship or places of business? It would seem that they are the latter for they are surely not following the Law of God but are well versed in the business practices of this world.

FOOD  SHORTAGES / FAMINES The 25 Countries Whose Governments Could Get Crushed By Food Price Inflation Food inflation is now a reality for much of the world. It contributed to the overthrow of the Tunisian government, has led to riots across the Middle East and North Africa, driven up costs in China and India, and may only be getting started. This is an ominous headline that I did not expect to see quite so early in the year. Other than a collapse of the US dollar, or a major war in the Middle East, this will be the biggest story of 2011. Although in the early part of the year, attention has been focused on Arab African countries, primarily Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt; I believe the focus is going to shift in the 2nd half of this year to much bigger nations, namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China where more than a 3rd of the world’s population resides, of whom some70% are perennially undernourished, even in China, although China is nowhere near as bad as the other 3 nations named above. The problem at the moment, as the above story reveals, is inflation in the price of food; within 6 months food price inflation will be seriously exacerbated by ‘Food Shortages’ due to severe climate this past year that is straining supply all across the world.  ·         Lamentations 4:5 The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. 5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

GEOPOLITICAL TENSIONS: WAR / CIVIL UNREST / ‘TERRORIST ATTACKS’ Army move in as Cairo erupts with firebombs and gunfire Violent clashes in Cairo between pro-Mubarak supporters and anti-government protesters have continued through the night. Video Egypt riots death toll feared to be 300 as Mubarak mob moves in on eighth day of street protests Feb. 3 2011 – excellent pictures in this story that tell the tale of the Egyptian revolt The big story in this category this week has been ‘Egypt’. I am not sure what to make of the political unrest that is engulfing the Arab world. The agenda may well be the radicalization of moderate Muslim countries in the region. If it turns out that the regimes that will follow the overthrow of the current ‘Dictators’ are fundamental Islamic regimes, then it is certain that this has all been orchestrated at the highest levels to maneuver into place all the pieces that will be necessary to foment major wars that will pit the Islamic world against the West, all in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Kashmir: A Dangerous Nuclear Flashpoint Few people in the West are aware of the most volatile geopolitical region in the world; the Indian subcontinent and China are home to three nuclear powers that have fought major wars in the past. ‘Tense’ would be the right word to describe the political relationship between India, China and Pakistan. This information will not be presented on CNN anytime soon Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

WEATHER Indonesia: Govt urged to declare extreme weather national disaster Severe weather drives fishermen to poverty Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang | Mon, 01/31/2011 The situation is dire as many fishermen have begun selling their household goods to meet their daily needs, while other have been trapped by loan shark obligations. “The unfriendly weather has been here for almost four months, and it is too risky to go to sea,” 48-year-old fisherman Ajijan recently told The Jakarta Post. Although the Climate camera has been focused on problems in Australia, Brazil and North America, extreme weather has inflicted much damage and hardship in SE Asia and Indonesia. As the above story relates, floods and extremely stormy conditions have wreaked havoc in coastal regions of Indonesia for months.  Monster Storm Creates Travel Woes, Danger Across a Third of U.S. Storm Could Cause 25 Foot Waves and Coastal Flooding Along Lake Michigan This winter parts of  USA and Canada have experienced unprecedented amounts of snow, and winter is far from over. This past storm stretched some 3000 km. across 6 States of the US and a third of Canada.    Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy WRAPUP 5-Giant cyclone pounds Australia coast; no deaths reported INNISFAIL, Australia, Feb 3 (Reuters) - One of the most powerful cyclones on record tore off roofs, toppled power lines and terrified tens of thousands of people hunkered down in their homes in northeastern Australia on Thursday but there were no reports of deaths. TODAY IN CRAZY WEATHER: Beijing Faces The Worst Winter Drought In 60 Years The Global Warming Nightmare Scenario Is Happening Right Now This story is a pictorial record of extreme weather caused catastrophes in the last few months. Well worth a look since in this quick fix world of tweeting and IM, we tend to quickly forget reports from more than 24 hours ago; thus it helps to refresh our memories from time to time to remind ourselves of the severity of weather problems that have been witnessed in our world in just the recent past. There is nothing unusual about winter storms, cyclones, floods and other severe weather at all times of the year. What is unusual about the extreme weather being reported in early 2011 is the magnitude of the storms, cyclones, floods etc. The above story reports that cyclone Yasi was one of the most powerful cyclones on record, the winter storm that blanket a large portion of The US and Canada was described by the US Weather service as one of ‘historic proportions’, and the floods in Queensland, Australia were classified as being of ‘Biblical proportions’. It is such terminology that drives home the point that these are not normal weather problems but of a much greater magnitude.

PANDEMIC NEWS Japan Culls 410,000 Chickens in Miyazaki Farm as Bird Flu Outbreak Spreads By Aya Takada - Jan 23, 2011 9:19 PM ET Japan is culling about 410,000 chickens at a farm in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki as avian influenza spreads to the nation’s second-biggest growing region for poultry. The government is taking measures to contain the disease as the H5 flu virus has been detected in chickens found dead in the farm in Shintomi town, about 8.5 kilometers (5.3 miles) from where the first flu outbreak this year was confirmed, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Officials in Miyazaki culled more than 10,000 chickens on Jan. 22 after six out of 36 chickens found dead at a separate farm tested positive for influenza. I have been following this poultry culling story for some years now, at least 7 back to 2004. Despite millions of chickens, geese, ducks and other birds being culled this past decade, and despite tens of thousands of animals like sheep and cows being killed to prevent avian flu and, foot and mouth disease, neither one of these diseases has been eradicated. It is only a matter of time before a highly contagious outbreak of some disease occurs among humans that may prove fatal for millions worldwide.  Luke 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

ANOMALOUS / UNCOMMON / PARANORMAL  NEWS Updated List Of Animal Die-Offs ducq iapetus 1-27-11 What really surprised me in the above story was the length of the list of Animal Die-Off reports being filed all across the globe. There are more than 50 reports in the past two months which averages out to just about one a day. The ‘experts’ would have us believe that this is all normal; I am not sure how they define ‘Normal’ but these reports seem anything but normal to me. I am not sure if the following story is normal but it seems strange to me that 100,000 sharks would amass only 100 yards from the shore. 100,000 Sharks Mass Off Florida’s Beaches Daily Mail: Pilot Steve Irwin was astonished after spotting a mass of more than 100,000 sharks swimming just 100 yards off Florida’s sandy beaches.  Hosea 4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.  At the end of 2010, the last article I posted on my blog was titled 2011 Predictions. I am truly surprised by how many of the events that were expected to transpire based on Biblical prophecy have already come to pass in just over a month in 2011. Are we witnessing, or will we be witnessing the beginning of the end of the world in the very near future? It is a bit too early to declare that this is indeed the case but there may not be much doubt left by the end of this year if events continue to unfold as they have at the beginning of the year.