July 29, 2006
Newsletter Archives

Those interested in Bible prophecy are wondering if the present conflict in the middle-east is predicted in the Bible. The short answer is, No! But it certainly is a shadow of the terrible conflagration that lies in the future for that region. It will be a conflict that will leave unimaginable carnage.
The apostle John records that blood will be like the crushing of grapes and run like a river so deep that “…..blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horses bridles, by the space of a thousand, six hundred furlongs” Revelation 14:20. Blood the height of a horse’s bridle and will travel from Jerusalem about one hundred miles north to Syria and one hundred miles south to Egypt. Without minimizing the suffering in that region at this very moment, I can say that the Bible forecasts that this is a mild pin-prick in contrast to the agony that will cause the whole region to convulse in the day of great tribulation.
The Lord Jesus stated that “There shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” Matthew 24:21. It will be so devastating that if it continued much longer, no-one would be left alive. Again the Lord Jesus stated, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved…” Matthew 24:22.
There are dreadful days ahead! Yet in spite of this, people are largely indifferent. Certainly people are interested momentarily. But when the conflict is over, other news will grab their attention and they will forget that the present conflict should be a warning to make preparation for the future.
Here again the Lord Jesus predicted that apathy would grip the world. He said, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be” Matthew 24: 38,39.
Those who are true Christians will be taken away to heaven before the final conflict begins. The apostle Paul assured the believers in Thessalonica that “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” 1Thessalonians 5:9. By the way, that is how I know that this is not the final conflict, because I am still here.
Yet in the light of the coming terror, every person ought to ask him or herself, Will I be here when the world finally falls apart? Another way to ask the question is, Is my soul saved? The Lord Jesus warned, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh” Matthew 24:44.

Jim Beattie

submitted by Russ Nesbit