Just two years ago, I had little interest in the End Times. My interest has since been piqued by recent events. This week’s posting hinges on what some believe are signs of the End Times in Revelation. Can we conclude that God is warning us of what’s to come? If yes, where do we start? Why not right here at home. Just look at the radical changes in the United States in less than two years and the uncertainty it has led to around the world. It’s apparent that something is seriously wrong. More than a few pastors believe we are on the threshold of the End Times. If we are we can’t wait until it happens, because it would be too late for too many (which we will look at later). Certain current events seem to be a shadow of the prophecies in the End Times Great Tribulation. 

Rev 6:4 NIV

 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword. 

The first four seals on the scroll in Revelation chapter 6 brings the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. All of whom represent the consequence of war and introduces the Antichrist represented by a rider on a white horse. War is very much a part of the End Times. Some thought WWII was the End Times, because of the destruction and death it caused, but of course it wasn’t. But we can’t overlook the fact that WWII shaped the world we live in today and set the stage for many of today’s events as we'll see.

The Soviet Union gained power outside of its own borders during WWII. Very much setting the stage for Russia as a world power. A power that expected a quick win in its invasion of the Ukraine, but because of U.S. and NATO support of the Ukraine, its advancement has bogged down, and even retreated on certain fronts. Russian losses have been particularly heavy, to everyone’s surprise.

Those loses led to Russia calling-up 300,00 constricts. In response, many Russians who do not support the war, are fleeing the draft as the Reality of War hits Home. With the price of airline tickets skyrocketing and a limited number of flights to only a few destinations, still open to Russians, being fully booked, many are trying to flee across land borders into the neighboring countries of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and even Finland. 

Russia is a very large country. Ezekiel prophesied that a mighty nation from the North would come against Israel and that God would utterly defeat them, to show His power and to show Israel's enemies that He was their God and would protect them (Ezekiel 39:1-7). This is thought by many, to be during the time when Israel has made a pact with the Antichrist, during the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation (Ezekiel 38:8-9, 14-15; Daniel 9:27a). I can only wonder, is the stage being set, especially with the current American leadership. 

Shown are some of the thousands of military-age men leaving Russia since President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial” mobilization. A question raised by certain experts, if Russia can’t replenish its depleting armed forces, will it resort to tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine? If so, what will be NATO and the U.S.’s response? An equally important question: “Can Putin admit or even face defeat, both personally and politically?” 

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow warned those with dual citizenship to leave the country as soon as possible, and any Americans in Russia to avoid participating in any protest groups or activities, because they cannot be protected by the U.S. Embassy. 

My goal in this blog posting is to look at potential signs that could lead to the events in the End Times. Nevertheless, individual signs can and do form a pattern, which leads me to the question: “Is a pattern beginning to emerge?” 

Only tomorrow can tell us if today’s events are signs of the End Times or not. They will diminish or intensify. But, for future postings, I’m willing to go along as best I can, as long as I see what I perceive as signs. You’re welcome to join me. 

When looking for signs, do we wait until an event happens, or look for indications that could lead up to the event? I prefer the later approach. It’s too late to look for signs when an event is happening. Rev 9:15 tells of the four angels who had been kept ready for that very hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The Tribulation is no minor event that the world can recover from. We are the Church, if we don't care who will? 

As stated in Revelation 9:13-21, an army of 200-million are set loose on the world. Only China, with a population of over 1.4 billion, could raise such an army. China is striving to replace the USA, both economically and as a global military power. A sign? Perhaps. But certainly, a step in that direction. One news report claimed that China announced that it is sending soldiers to help Russia in regard to the Ukraine. The move has been condemned by the United States and other countries. True?  TBD. They do have a military alliance with Russia. If they do, how quickly can things escalate out of control? 

The two flags shown are China and Russia, signifying their alliance. A Chinese military attaché to Moscow stated: “Russia, China should stand together to protect the world against American aggression.”  Are the pieces starting to come together? No guarantee that it won’t be in our lifetime, but definitely a step in that direction. Only China can muster 200-million troops (Rev. 9:13-16). Neither China or Russia have signed up for the Climate Change Accord ideology or taken steps to comply as had the U.S. and Western Europe. It was also stated that China is backing the use of nuclear weapons by Russia as a defense against America and NATO aggression. Oh my!

China population statistics. A piece of the puzzle? I think so. The signs in Revelation do constitute a pattern collectively. 

Another sign? Perhaps. The Nord Stream gas pipelines provides fuel from Russia to Germany and then distributed to other European countries. Without it, Europe doesn’t have sufficient fuel to heat homes in winter or cool homes in summer. It makes Europe totally dependent on Russia for energy supplies.  A sign? Perhaps? 

Picture shows the Nord Stream pipeline extending from Russia to Germany. President Trump denied its approval with the U.S. offering to provide Europe’s energy needs at a time when America was energy independent and had sufficient reserves to meet Europe’s energy needs. Europe, going “Green”, has shut down its energy production, making Russia’s supply essential. President Biden authorized its approval along with his efforts to make America “Green”, by shutting down domestic energy production. Oh my…

Once Russian fuel reaches Germany, it’s distributed to other European nations. But there’s a catch, as we see on the next slide. Europe has gone “Green” big time and depends on importing natural gas from Russia. Leaving it without sufficient fuel for heating homes in the approaching winter, or cooling homes in the summer. What will be the consequences if the supply was interrupted, exposing the old and very young to freezing winter temperatures? 

Leaks have just occurred in the Nord Stream pipeline. This is what the leaks look like on the surface. When they were discovered, explosions were also heard indicating sabotage. Some believe it could have been sabotaged by the U.S. to cut off fuel revenue to Russia. Some believe Russia did it to punish NATO nations for their support of Ukraine. Was it the USA? If so, what then? Only time will tell. 

The U.S. was energy independent and even an exporter of oil and natural gas under the Trump Administration. Modern life depends on energy, much of which is a by-product of oil and natural gas. The military also depends on oil to fuel its ships and planes. Without it everything shuts down. 

One of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve sites. 

What is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)? The slide is posted in THE past tense. President Biden has been selling off the strategic reserves, even to China. Our national defense is being compromised as we see on the following slides and lessons from history. 

Does America defend on its oil reserves? Not according to those driving us to be totally dependent on Green-energy. What’s the truth? The slide explains, as reported by some news outlets. 

Chart shows the decline in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves. 

The U.S. Navy needs a continual supply of fuel to continue operations. The SPR is available to provide that fuel in an emergency if supplies are not readily available. Potential conflict as U.S. and China fleets occupies the South China Sea? A lot is going on in the world that the mainstream media does not cover or show. 

What can we learn from history in regard to availability of a constant supply of fuel for ships and aircraft, especially when facing the Chinese Navy in the South China Sea? Is this a lesson learned or a lesson ignored? The next few slides tells us…

What does history tell us? We will look back on the rise and fall of Nazi Germany as a lesson to be learned. A lesson that can be costly for our Nation, if ignored. 

Nazi Germany ran out of sufficient oil reserves to meet the needs of their military. They even created synthetic fuel and rubber products, but it was insufficient for their war effort. Oil was imported from conquered nations. Toward the end of the war, when they could no longer obtain oil, being exposed to a harsh winter, and the onslaught of masses Soviet forces, they ran out of fuel and were forced to abandon their tanks and heavy equipment. Consequently, they surrendered or died. Their lifeblood to continue fighting was oil, and they suffered the consequences without it.

The consequences of running out of fuel--they abandoned their tanks, heavy equipment, and aircraft that never left the ground were destroy by allied aircraft. Photo of an abandoned German tank. They did not lose every battle, but lacking fuel they were forced to abandoned their equipment and surrender or retreat. 

What next? There is a lot more to consider. So far, we looked at events that could be signs of the End Times in Revelation. Next, we will look at certain aspects of the End Times in the Book of Revelation. 

The End of this week's posting

(Our next posting will continue with this theme)

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