Friday, May 13, 2016
“Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again” (Ezek. 37:21–22).
After being non-existent for nearly 2,000 years the nation of Israel was reborn on May 14,1948 setting into motion the final generation of this present age. WWII was still too fresh for many to see that this was God’s sign of the end of the age. Tomorrow, Israel will have been reestablished and independent among the table of nations for 68 years! That’s significant. The time is short.
Here’s the backstory: God repeatedly warned ancient Israel that if she forsook His law, He would “scatter you among the nations” (Lev. 26:33, Deut. 4:27, Neh. 1:8 and Ezek. 22:15). That’s just what happened. Soon after Israel rejected Christ, Titus the Roman Emperor destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70 and Israel ceased from being a nation and the Jewish people were scattered globally.
Yet, just as surely as God’s Word of Ezekiel 37 came to pass, so too will the Words of Jesus Christ come to pass as He instructs His saints that the rebirth of Israel is “the” marker in time that lets us know of a certainty that the final generation of this present age is now here. Saints, ours is “that” generation and we will see Jesus Christ rapture the elect, “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31) just like He promised! Are you ready to endure to that end?
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: [Israel] When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, [things of Matthew 24:4–28] know that it is near – at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matt. 24: 32–34).
What’s a generation for mankind? In biological terms it’s, “one complete life cycle”. This agrees with Almighty God that, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years” (Psa. 90:10). Generally speaking this is true, for we know that some people live a little longer and others a little less, therefore a generation is 70 to 80 years.
Jesus promised the 70 to 80 year generation that sees Israel restored which began May 14, 1948, that that, “generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place”, meaning the things of Matthew 24:4–31, things which include the first 3 1/2 years of tribulation with great natural disasters, the Antichrist, the falling away, the last 3 1/2 years of great tribulation under the iron teeth of the Antichrist, and then, and only then, the return of Christ for His elect saints.
Read Jesus’ prophesy for the end-times, do the “general” math, and take special note of world conditions. Today we see end-of-the-age signs Jesus gave. Our generation models the heedless days of Noah. Our generation models the sexually immoral days of Lot. Our generation models end-time fulfillments exactly as Jesus Christ foretold thousands of years ago. Praise God!
Now, lest I’m accused of date-setting, let me be clear that I agree with Jesus, that, “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36). But just because “that day and hour” is unknown, does not mean that we cannot know the “general” time frame of Christ’s return. In fact Jesus rebukes those who cannot read the signs of the times.
With God’s prophetic fulfillments come challenging end-time prophetic promises that men like John Darby (1800–1882) and all his followers of the pre-trib rapture refuse to believe as being applicable to them. They’ve deluded themselves believing they do not need to prepare for the end-time tribulation events as Christ foretold. But they are just like the five foolish virgins.
Our generation promotes and glorifies the existential threat to humanity via homosexuality and transgenderism. These are the days of Lot. This is Satan’s mission, “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). And much of the lukewarm church has already fallen prey to these evils as they heedlessly take the way that seems right to man, confirming, again, the days of Noah.
Soon, millions will die from Revelation 6:4 wars and Satan will sift the church by the reign of Antichrist in his seven-year attempt to overthrow God. But we must, “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16). “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).
We must prepare for these final seven years, their start is very near. Jesus clearly said, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13). Do you know what that entails? Are you expectant of these things? What preparations have you made? Have you studied and discussed Jesus’ plainly described end-time events with your family? If not, please do so immediately!
Note this headline from SecureIDNews, “Will biometric payments become reality?” The article continues, “Making a payment using a part of your body is no longer science fiction. These are exciting days in the world of biometrics and payments. Visa and MasterCard are both working on specifications that will impact consumers globally.” Listen, the world is excited about the Revelation 13:16–17 mark of the beast in the hand or head, it views it as a progressive good!
Have you noticed that Christians are losing the struggle against the world’s tide of evil? God promised the end would be like that. In fact, God tells us at Daniel 7:21 and Revelation 13:7 that Antichrist overcomes the saints. Note this Christian Today headline, “Chief Justice Roy Moore suspended for opposition to gay marriage licenses”. Judge Roy Moore is a devout Christian, and many like him are now being routed from their local, state and federal government positions.
Satan wants to eradicate Christians. Just note this 5/10/2016 Breitbart headline: “HARVARD PROF URGES LIBERALS TO TREAT EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS LIKE NAZIS”. Dear saints, unbelievers want removed from their minds every shred of conviction that their disdain for God and His Word will one day force their knees to bow and their tongues to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But until that day we must love them as people without God’s Word.
Surely you’re familiar with the fact that Christian bakers, florists and numerous businesses are steadily losing against the evils of our U.S. government and that all things Christian are rapidly being banned in America. Surely you’ve noticed evils creep into the church as pastors embrace the same on the guise of love, when in reality its hatred, because love would boldly tell people with antichrist agendas that they are headed for an eternal hell of unquenchable fire.
Pat Robertson of CBN said concerning the transgender issue, “It’s the constant driving of the agenda of anti-Christian bias. We’re going to destroy any semblance of the Christian morality that exists in our country, and our government is going to be at the forefront of it. That’s what you’re looking at. It’s one more attempt by the so-called progressives to destroy the Judeo-Christian fabric of America”. (5/9/2016 cnsnews.com) We’re seeing Dan. 7:21 and Rev. 13:7.
Have you noticed the increased earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, sink holes and wild weather? The rise of terrorism, violence and hatred resulting in many deaths is now the new normal. Jesus foretold all this. Due to unbelief and wickedness people and nature are both in revolt under the lessening restraint of the Holy Spirit, while the hostile spirit(s) of Antichrist will increase until “the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:4–6), “at the last day” (John 6:40, 44, 54).
Surely you’ve noticed nations in perplexity as more and more become fiscally insolvent. Central banks can no longer bail out bankrupt cities and nations. Gone are the illogical days of, “they’re too big to fail”. Fiscal death is setting upon economies with no help in sight. Thus, Pope Francis’ U.N. 2030 Agenda is the One World Order, bringing a one world currency, with a one world ruler. It’s all foretold in God’s Word, but sadly, many Christians brush it aside as irrelevant.
Surely you’ve noticed that an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) threat to America is very real. An EMP is a nuclear detonation high above the heartland that could destroy the electrical grid. All electric-dependent devices would be rendered useless. We would revert to the mid nineteenth century without electricity. That realistic threat comes from Russia, China and North Korea.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone, an under-ocean fault off the west coast, threatens an imminent earthquake followed by a tsunami that could destroy everything west of Interstate 5. Thomas Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center also said that the San Andreas fault appears to be in a critical state and as such, could generate a large earthquake imminently.
Terrible earthquakes and volcanic threats are as real in America as an EMP. God has watched America murder 60 million infants. God watched as U.S. President Barack Obama bathed the White House in homosexual pride rainbow colors. How long will God’s judgment be withheld? What have you done to prepare for these end-of-the-age events Christ promised?
As we celebrate the 68th birthday of Israel, tomorrow, let’s be reminded with sobriety that we are the final generation of this present age; let’s be the wise virgins of Matt. 25:1–13 and prepare to endure to the end as Jesus taught. I urge you to believe Jesus Christ by faith, heed His every teaching, and in knowledge and power of the Holy Spirit endure to the end as Jesus taught.
Marlin J. Yoder
