Today I want to provide an update on what I’ve been doing.
It’s been awhile since I’ve discussed the topic of Bible
prophecy directly. I want to let you
know that I have not stopped working on completing a series of articles
relating to Ezekiel 38, Ezekiel 39, Revelation 17:16, prophecies concerning
Egypt & Libya, the identity of Babylon the Great, when Babylon the Great will be destroyed, the End Times siege of Jerusalem, Armageddon, etc.
Recently, I’ve focused on the Coming of Christ and the
Rapture. The two topics are of
significant importance since the events that take place in the world will ultimately
lead to these events and many Christians are waiting for these events to occur. I’ve been
reevaluating my own views concerning these events after studying some interesting chapters like Psalm 18, Psalm 79, Psalm 97, and Psalm 102.
Please understand as I work on completing these studies that I am not afraid to admit I'm wrong if I find that I am wrong about something. I’ve spent a lot of time in the past studying and writing about these
topics and others, but I am not afraid to alter my views concerning these
topics and others when new information comes.
I am not attached to certain Bible prophecy positions to the degree that
I am unwilling to change my views or unwilling to consider evidence that is
contrary to the positions I’ve adopted in the past. I strive to provide as accurate information concerning
Bible prophecy topics as I can.
Thank you for your patience and your readership.
I did not anticipate that these studies would take this long to work on
when I began them more than a year ago. I
hope to be finished with these studies in the near future. I hope the results will be worth the wait.
I plan to write about a Bible prophecy topic in my next article unless some major news event demands immediate attention.
Ongoing Bible Prophecy Studies Update
A Video on How Syria’s Geographical Challenges May be Contributing to Its Unrest
Today I would like to share an interesting video produced by Stratfor discussing how Syria’s geographical boundaries could be playing a significant role in the current unrest in the country. The video notes that Syria’s current boundaries were artificially created by the League of Nations’ French Mandate following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. This is an important point to consider because countries that had their boundaries set artificially tend to experience a lot of internal problems over the course of their existence.
- If you cannot see the video below, you can access it at the following link:
Examining the Political Change of the 1930s vs. Today
Last weekend saw the defeat of Nicolas Sarkozy in France’s presidential election and saw Greece’s mainstream political parties get punished in a parliamentary election. These two events come at a time of significant political change throughout much of Europe.
Not everyone is pleased about all the recent political change in Europe. One commentator recently warned that the ongoing political change in Europe is beginning to replicate “the pattern of the early 1930s”.
- The comparison between the 1930s and today is a thought-provoking one. I decided to look at some data to see how much political change took place around the world during the 1930s.
- Today I intend to present some data to show you how volatile the 1930s were politically.
Reanalyzing Whether Domestic Politics May Play a Role in Benjamin Netanyahu’s Handling of the Iran Situation
Update: In a surprising turn of events, Netanyahu has agreed to form a unity government with Kadima. The agreement cancels the early election that was scheduled to take place on September 4. The next parliamentary election in Israel is now unlikely going to take place until October 2013. The analysis I wrote a few months ago regarding Netanyahu and domestic political factors applies again since the next election is now far away again.
A few months ago I wrote an article discussing the role that domestic politics may play in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Iran situation. The main conclusion in the article was that domestic political factors were unlikely going to impact Netanyahu’s handling of the Iran situation unless Netanyahu calls for an early election.
Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that there will be an early parliamentary election this year in Israel. The comments of Netanyahu suggest the move to call for an early election is motivated by the need to stabilize his coalition government which he says “has begun to crumble”. A recent poll indicates that Netanyahu’s Likud Party will strengthen its representation in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), so the move to call for an early election makes political sense if Netanyahu indeed wants to strengthen his coalition.
Given that Benjamin Netanyahu has officially called for an early election, I think it would be a good idea to reexamine whether domestic politics may play a role in Netanyahu’s handling of the Iran situation.
Interesting Video Analysis About the Growing Crises in Europe
I came across an interesting video over the weekend from Stratfor. The video analyzes the current situation in Europe, including a growing crisis that is beginning to have impact on the politics of Europe. The analyst speaking in the video believes that Europe is dealing with crises that could have a major impact on the future course of Europe.
- The first crisis deals with the question of the viability of the European Union itself as a growing number of people question whether the European Union is needed.
- The second crisis concerns the field of politics. The analyst suggests that several mainstream political parties in Europe are at risk of losing significant support to non-mainstream parties who may not be so committed to European integration as mainstream political parties are.
The video is embedded below. If you cannot see it below, you can access it at the following link
The challenge for European leaders will be to keep the European Union together through this time of crisis on the economic front and (now) on the political front.
- It’ll be very interesting to see how the ongoing crises influence the future course of Europe. It’s likely, in my opinion, that the ongoing crises in Europe will play a role in preparing/shaping Europe for its eventual End Times role (whatever that may be).
Examining Trends in Deadly Earthquake Activity
A reader commented that measuring trends in large magnitude earthquake activity may not be the best thing to watch for as we approach Christ’s Second Coming. The reader suggested I take a look at other factors related to earthquakes like casualties and destruction. The idea is we may see more destructive and deadly earthquakes as Christ’s Second Coming approaches.
Today I’ll attempt to look at one item that the reader suggested. I’ll look at trends in deadly earthquakes over the past 1100 + years in today’s article.
Providing A Sense of How Widespread Christian and Jewish Persecution Is Worldwide
A reader recently mentioned persecution as a phenomenon we’ll see more in the future. I agree with the reader because Christ warned that persecution will become quite prominent in the future, especially as Christ’s Second Coming approaches. Christ warned that people will be hated and killed for His name’s sake:
- Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
I mention the reader’s comment because the reader’s comment got me thinking about writing an article on the topic of persecution.
Last August I shared a link to a Pew research study on the rise of restrictions on religion worldwide. For newer readers and those unfamiliar with the report, Pew found that nearly 1/3 of the world’s population faced greater government restrictions on religion or faced greater social hostility towards religion during a recent three year study period (mid 2006-mid 2009).
- The reason why I bring up Pew’s research study again is that the study provides some statistics of how widespread Christian persecution and Jewish persecution is around the world. Today I’ll share a few statistics from the study to give you a sense of how widespread the persecution of Christians and how widespread the persecution of Jews is worldwide.
Charting 6.5 and Greater Earthquakes Since 1973
I mentioned at the end of my previous article on earthquakes that I was thinking of doing a study about trends in magnitude 6.5 and greater earthquakes over time. I found some time after publishing my previous article to locate and analyze data about magnitude 6.5 and greater earthquakes over the past few decades.
- Today I’ll share my findings with you so you can get an idea of how magnitude 6.5 and greater earthquake activity in recent years compares with the past.
2012’s Large Magnitude Earthquake Activity Through April 16
I periodically published articles last year about trends in large magnitude earthquake activity (“large” is defined by magnitude 7.0 and greater) since 1900 and about where the year 2011 stood in terms of large magnitude earthquake activity. The reason I periodically publish articles about trends in large magnitude earthquake activity is that one of the birth pangs signs that Christ mentioned to watch for is great earthquakes in many places.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
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Mar 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
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Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
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I think the birth pangs analogy implies that the intensity of the signs will increase as time progresses. Therefore, I think it is useful to monitor trends in phenomena like great earthquakes over time.
Last week two magnitude 8.0+ earthquakes struck near the western coast of Northern Sumatra while a near magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Gulf of California. These recent events have compelled me to write an about how the year 2012 has fared so far in magnitude 7.0+ earthquake activity.
The Bible Prophecy Rich Book of Psalms
There are verses with Bible prophecy implications throughout the entire Bible: from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation. One of the books that I think is underrated in terms of how much Bible prophecy content it contains is the Book of Psalms. I spent some time over the past few days searching in the Book of Psalms to find verses, passages, and chapters that may have Bible prophecy implications.
- Today I’ll share some of what I found to show that people should not ignore the Book of Psalms when trying to find information that can help us better understand the future.
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