Dear friends and readers,
The mysteries of the ages! Does God give advance warning to certain men regarding horrible future circumstances? We can begin with Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets"! Obviously God does give us a heads up about some future events. So, is there anything on the immediate horizon to indicate that prophecy is about it be fulfilled? But first let's see who is qualified to receive Godly insight.
2 Corinthians 12:2-3 contains a bit of information from the Apostle Paul that has stumped people for centuries. He states "I know a man in Christ, who 14 years ago---whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows---such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man---whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows---how he was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a man I will boast; Yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities".
Was Paul speaking of himself or did he really know someone else who had this remarkable thing happen to them?
Paul is not alone, although he is in extremely famous company; The Prophet Daniel was also given a vision but told in chapter 12 verse 4, "But you Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end; And many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase". Then there is the Apostle John who wrote in the book of Revelation (Revelation 22:10) that the vision he had received was NOT to be sealed because the time was already at hand. So, do only the great and Biblically mighty men of God receive advance knowledge of some future event or have there been others?
Ephesians chapter 4 verses 11-13 is the Apostle Paul telling the Ephesian church about Jesus. He states "And He Himself (Jesus) gave some to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, and some to be Pastors and Teachers". And then goes on to say that these gifts were given for the benefit of the church and those in it. This was speaking of future events and the giving of future spiritual gifts so we know that there must have been other Prophets over the centuries. Personally I have always maintained a skeptical attitude toward people carrying business cards identifying themselves as Apostles or Prophets but that does not mean they do not exist.
The reason that I belabor this point is because, like Paul (not putting myself upon that lofty platform), I too know a man. I will not name this guy because he is still alive and wants no notoriety. Neither does he care to receive harsh criticism that would certainly come his way if he identified what he had seen in a vision. Roughly 35 years ago while transitioning from one career to another, this man had an incredible experience similar to the above stated Biblical giants but he did not see any angels, hear any voices or receive any instructions from "on High"! What I can tell you is that this is a regular guy--nothing special, with no history of embellishment and at the time of his "vision" he knew only that Jesus Christ was Lord. He had not read the Bible, he knew absolutely nothing about Israel (other than the fact that it existed), nothing about Biblical prophecy and in fact did not even attend a church.
During a short period back in the early 80's (2-3 days) he began to see an in color vision of absolutely horrifying worldwide destruction. Abject fear and horrible terror permeated this otherwise normal guy. When I say saw, it was for this man as though he were looking from the outside in, toward some virtual worldwide event with horrible, violent circumstances. At the end of whatever it was that he saw, he relates that it was like someone drew down the shade on a window. One moment this vision was there in living breathing color and the next it was----GONE! The vision was as though he was looking at it from afar, rather than being a part of it. When it literally disappeared from both his sight and his mind, the only things he could remember were that it was huge and horribly destructive in nature, he remembered the absolute fear he had felt and he remembered one other thing. The year of the happening. 2018.
This man relates that he did not feel he was able to share anything about this for roughly 35 years until October 2017. He received no heavenly instructions to do any big publications or write a book or anything of that nature. And I do not believe that he will. But this man has literally been waiting all these years, knowing that 2018 will bring horrible changes to this world like has never been seen before. He has no real idea what that might represent and even though this man has now been walking solidly with the Lord for many years, every attempt to ask the Lord to reopen this vision to him has been met with silence. Just waiting, waiting for a very large shoe to drop. When asked if he believes what he saw might represent the rapture, his answer was a qualified no. Although from my perspective, I suppose it could represent what might happen after the fact. To a world that has just suffered the loss of as many as a billion people or so. Who knows---just a thought!
So, we must ask ourselves a question? Did this person really see what he claims? After all he wants no notoriety whatsoever so what does he have to gain? Or was this the result of some really bad dream brought about by too much pizza the night before? Once again, who knows? But, I for one have paid attention. You might want to as well. Or simply dismiss the entire thing as a guy slightly off his rocker for 3 days. But of one fact I am certain. 2018 is now just 2 months away. I am not sure if I am looking forward to it or feeling more than a bit of trepidation. Actually both! And another pressing question. Is it possible that others may have seen these things for the future as well?
As a writer of Biblical prophecy, I can see that next year could very well bring some unpleasant surprises but I fall drastically short of making any predictions. With that statement, lets take a look at what is happening in the Middle East and to some extent around the world and then you can decide for yourselves what potential scenarios exist if any. Please remember that I am not a prophet so my opinion is simply that, nothing more.
1). First, right here in the good ole US of A. The current President is extremely popular with a huge cross section of conservative voters and thoroughly hated by most of those on the left. In addition he also has a great many opponents in his own political party. I mention that because it seems no matter what the guy does domestically, he is fighting an uphill battle every step of the way. On the one hand he wants to balance the budget but on the other has promised massive build ups in both infrastructure and military assets. With a 20 Trillion dollar national debt, you cannot have both. A huge build up also means adding a huge amount to an already dangerously high debt ceiling. Economists have been predicting a massive financial crisis in the USA for several years now and those who are making those claims are even more concerned by the day. If the "house of financial cards" falls it will take down the economies of many other nations of the world. Do you remember what happened shortly after 9-11? Wall Street was so impacted that the nation barely escaped financial ruin through only one terror attack albeit a huge one.
The nation is swimming in another type of debt as well. Billions upon billions of dollars annually in trade deficits with several very large countries. The Government is trying to correct that but the fact is these efforts could easily ignite massive trade wars on a number of fronts.
2). We (the entire world) are closer to a nuclear holocaust than anytime since the Bay of Pigs in the term of the late President John F. Kennedy. North Korea has verifiable nuclear assets and continues to make threats. Just one nuclear device launched in any direction could easily set off a regional conflict which could spread into a worldwide conflagration. Iran is doing it's best to "hoodwink" the world while still trying to develop a nuclear arsenal and they work very closely with the North Koreans.
3). China is trying desperately to achieve worldwide financial domination including replacing the dollar as the worlds currency with the Yen. China is also pushing for physical dominance in the North China sea which threatens the sovereignty of Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and others.
4). Russia under President Vlademir Putin is once again in the ascendancy and has global aspirations as a replacement for the United States as world leader. In my opinion Putin is trying to rebuild the old Soviet Union but this time under the flag of Mother Russia and eventually headed by a new era replacement for the Czar---namely himself. Both the USA and Russia have tested new long range intercontinental ballistic missiles this past year. Once again we are on the edge of absolute brinkmanship on nuclear steroids.
5). Both India and Pakistan are nuclear nations who are located side by side and who are mortal enemies. Pakistan could easily be taken over by military coup or those with extremist ideology which would put nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists.
6). After over 13 years the United States is still embroiled in a no-win war in Afghanistan which could easily boil over into Pakistan and India on the East and even more so into China with a massive influx of war torn refugees. Also Westward into Iran and Northward into several of the former Soviet "Stans" . It would appear that the US is once again building up troop strength in that area of the world. To what end?
7). North Korea and South Korea are on the brink of war and have been since the armistice was declared invalid by the north in 1953. Any kind of war between these two nations will absolutely spill over and involve the United States, China and Russia. Catastrophe in the making. Only a matter of time.
8). Several nations on the African continent are once again at war or threatening to do so. Drought, Plague and famine are once again threatening millions of people.
9). Israel, the only Democracy in the entire Middle East is surrounded by extremely violent enemies. Hezbollah located in Lebanon has over 120,000 missiles pointed at Israeli cities. Both Hezbollah and Hamas on the Gaza strip are proxy armies of Iran. Turkey to the north was a long time ally of Israel and a Democratic modern nation. Now in just a couple of short years Turkey has been taken over as a dictatorship run by Muslim extremists with pure hated for Israel. This is a powder keg ready to explode and one tiny spark is all it will take.
10). Saudi Arabia and Jordan are both royal kingdoms and both live in daily fear of overthrow by religious extremists. At this moment Saudi Arabia has begun purges of wealthy aristocrats and even a few members of the Royal family. Another powder keg and no one really understands why this is happening other than the fact that it destabilizes the Middle East to an even greater extent. Yemen and Libya are not really legal forms of Government and are literally havens for every type of violent terrorist on the planet. The Sinai peninsula is heavily occupied by remnants of ISIS, which although loosing tactical ground in the Middle East is waging a deadly war on European nations plus the USA using proxies and homegrown terrorists.
11). Syria is run by a tyrant and is awash with civil war creating death and destruction for untold millions of people with more reduced to incredible levels of poverty and homelessness. Forced to leave their ancestral homes and countries to become an unending flow of refugees. Not to mention more Christian martyrs than since the Roman Empire specialized in Gladiators and Colosseum entertainment with Christians being burned alive and fed to lions. The evil government in Syria is being propped up by the Russian Government and that of Iran with ever increasing aid from Turkey. The unholy alliance if three. The very same three who will one day invade Israel.
12). The war of Gog from the land of Magog (Ezekiel chapters 38-39) is in the forming stages as we speak. A huge invasion army led by Russia and Iran and probably other groups located in and around both Turkey and Africa who will one day invade Israel. Russia, and Turkey and Iran who have throughout history been violent enemies are now coming together in the Middle East and have forces very close to Israel's Northern boarder with Syria near the Golan Heights.
13). In other areas of the world instability is a key words such as in Argentina which is a huge oil exporter, another Democracy recently taken over by extremist Socialist ideology and a virulent dictatorship.
Frankly this list is an abbreviated form of a world on the brink of war that could spill over and make both WWI and WWII look like child's play. And in just one and one half months we begin the first half of 2018. What will it portend for everyone on planet earth?
Is the fact that 2018 is the 70th year of Israel's independence an important factor? Or will Jesus words be important (Matthew chapter 24 verses 34-35) "Assuredly I say to you this generation (believed to be the one that saw Israel once again become a nation), will by no means pass away till all these things take place". Is there any connection to His statements about "this generation" and Psalm 90:10 ? "The days of our lives are 70 years---". Let's see now, the year Israel became a nation---1948 plus 70 years? Ah yes, that would also be 2018. Please know that these are the questions I am asking myself, they are not statements of fact.
And what of the "man I know" who had that vision over 35 years ago? Has he waited all those years in vain? Or will 2018 signal unspeakable violence and terror for mankind? Frankly I sincerely hope not but I am also looking at the world map and do not like what I see. Nor the various circumstances, any one of which could ignite a raging fire from which it might not be possible to pull back.
Finally, I am normally a very positive guy. My cup is the one that is 100% full. At the same time I do believe that worldwide circumstances are racing toward problems so severe that it will usher in the events necessary for the anti christ to step onto the world stage. I don't know if 2018 will be that year but I am frankly, full of suspicions.
God bless,
Pastor Rance.
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