The Last Days

Anita Clark

“HAST THOU NOT KNOWN? HAST THOU NOT HEARD? THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD, THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, FAINTETH NOT NEITHER IS WEARY? THERE IS NO SEARCHING OF HIS UNDERSTANDING.” ISA. 40:28

As we start another year, we are assured Who is in control? It is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. He has a divine plan and purpose. He is not taken by surprise by anything. He is our hope and comfort as we go into this New Year. We hoped that He would have returned by now, but we can rest assured that He will be on time according to His plan. Hebrews 10:36-38 says, “For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith...” We must go on by faith. The wait seems long, but the glory that shall be revealed in us will far out weigh the suffering of this present time.

Many signs show the nearness of His coming. A few of these follow. The greatest of which is Israel.

ISRAEL - GOD’S BLESSING UNTHWARTED - “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

God has promised that the children of Abraham will be blessed. The book of Galatians tells us that the “seed” of Abraham through which blessing will come for all “families of the earth,” is Jesus Christ. At this time we are celebrating His first advent which brought salvation to all mankind.

However, it has been proven that those who bless the natural children of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob do receive a blessing.

Even though Israel was given the Word of God, the law and the prophesies, they went away from the true and living God. God brought punishment on them by allowing “...the times of the Gentiles,” beginning with Nebuchadnezzar, who besieged Judah (the 2 tribes of Judah and Benjamin), destroyed Jerusalem, and carried away many of the Jews into exile.

After Jesus Christ was rejected by the Jews, God brought judgment again in 70 A.D. Christ prophesied this in Matt. 24:2, “There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.” This brought about the “Dispora.” Jews were scattered all over the earth, but this was not the end of the matter. Praise God! He has a plan that will still be fulfilled.

For centuries the land of Palestine was full of malaria-infested swamps and barren desert. In 1909 the World Zionist Organization created an organization called The Jewish National Fund for the purpose of purchasing land in Palestine. Thousands of acres of land were bought from absentee Arab land owners, who regarded it useless. Israel did not steal the land from the Palestinians. They hold title deed to the land. It is amazing to hear the rhetoric of the Arabs about this subject. More important than having title deed in the natural is the fact that God gave them the land. In Gen. 15:18 God promised it to Abraham’s seed. In Gen. 21:10-12 God makes it plain, “...for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.”

The recent conflict with the Palestinians has brought fear that the trouble will spread beyond Israel’s borders and involve Syria or other Arab neighbors. Since Israeli troops pulled out of Lebanon last May, Hezbollah has doubled its military might there. They have built 30 military posts on the Lebanese side of the border. Also, the militia, which controls southern Lebanon has acquired anti-tank missiles and long-range Katyusha rockets from Iran. Syria has cooperated by transporting Iranian weapons through the Damascus airport.

These are important events. Israel will finally come to a place where they will sign a treaty for peace. There will probably be guarantees that they will be provided with protection from some bigger power i.e. U.S.A. or the European Community. This will lead to the seven years of tribulation. God wants Israel to come to the place that they put their trust in Jehovah God alone. In Old Testament times they trusted in other nations for protection. God was not pleased.

U.N. IN CHARGE - The United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke recently in a news conference regarding recent U.N. sanctions against Afghanistan. He stated that during the recent U.N. World Conference, “Almost all heads of nations present agreed that the U.N. should be involved in all peace keeping efforts anywhere in the world.” He expressed that all nations will allow the U.N. to be the predominant negotiator in any peace conference in the future. He stated that the U.N. is the only entity that is trusted by both Israel and the Palestinians. He has great hope that President Bush will work more closely with the U.N. than former presidents have, and that a solution will come for the U.S. to pay what they owe in arrears to the U.N., so that a better relationship will be worked out. These steps taken by the U.N. may unite the world into the one world government that the Scripture speaks of. AntiChrist will come. Before that time the rapture will take place. We are longing to be caught away into His glorified presence. How wonderful that will be!

GREATEST EBOLA OUT BREAK - Uganda is facing a terrible crisis with the worst imaginable outcome with a widespread outbreak of this most deadly virus known to man. Hospitals are short of help, and often fearful nurses, who are on duty, do not want to take care of individuals who have this most virulent virus. The report is, “Uganda is experiencing the largest outbreak of Ebola virus in the history of the world.” This is a highly contagious disease. There are missionaries and many believers in Uganda. They are proclaiming a fast and prayer time to ask God to deliver the nation. U.N. health officials are watchful concerning this outbreak. The Bible speaks that in the end time there will great “pestilence” (diseases).

WITCHCRAFT INTRODUCED TO YOUTH - Christians need to be concerned about the series of books about Harry Potter, a thirteen year old boy who is a wizard. He is the creation of a former UK teacher who promotes witchcraft and Satanism. The books blaspheme Jesus Christ and God and promotes sorcery, seeking revenge upon anyone who upsets them by giving examples (even the sources with authors and titles) of spells, rituals, and demonic powers. The books are spawning a entire subculture, with web sites and school curriculum. Non-magic persons are labeled “Muggles,” and are said to be unfortunate life forms that fear witchcraft and can’t do anything wonderful, such as cast spells, ride a broomstick etc. (This information comes from Israel my Glory magazine and e-mail information forwarded to me.)

Believers need to be on guard and examine everything your child is reading. Another avenue used by Satan is T.V. cartoons. Witchcraft and Satanism are promoted constantly on many of these. Sit down and watch for yourself. All of this is preparing the young to fall right in step with the Satan filled Antichrist and False Prophet. Pray for our children that they will be shielded while living in “...this wicked and perverse nation...” (Phil. 2:13)

In closing I will mention again to pray for the Christians in foreign lands who are being persecuted for their faith. Recently, we heard that China has closed 1200 churches, and is forbidding home meetings. Christians are being beaten and imprisoned. Christians in Indonesia are suffering tremendously. The leaders of the government of Sudan is continuing the persecution of the Christians in southern Sudan.

Recent reports tell of continued atrocities of bombings, beatings, and of selling the Christian children into prostitution and slavery. It may appear that God is not taking note of the suffering of His saints, but make no mistake He is recording every bit of it. He will repay. “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19.

In the USA we have not experienced that physical kind of persecution, but there is no guarantee that we will not go through hard times before the coming of the Lord. Would we be faithful if we were asked to go through these types of trials? Overcomers are made by overcoming trials. Our trials may be different here in the USA, but they are allowed to make us overcomers. That is my desire and aim. How about you? I want to be there when the dear Lord Jesus is crowned. I want to be in that company who cast their crowns at His feet and proclaim, “Thou art worthy, Oh Lord.”