As we continue to look at signs of the End Times, our prayers calling for God to bless America should not waver. He has blessed America abundantly since its beginning. Something we should not take for granted but should be grateful for. The problems we are seeing today are the doings of our leadership’s policies and a large segment of our population ignoring God values in electing that leadership. 

Since its founding, America has been abundantly blessed by God. How easily we forget. Earlier generations have traditionally offered their “Thanksgiving" to God. Have we reached a time and generation, when we have forgotten “why” we give thanks or to “Whom”? To answer that, let’s go on to the next slide. 

The Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621. They came to America to escape religious persecution in Europe. They first separated from The Church of England and migrating to South Holland. From there they crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower and landed in Plymouth, New England. Surviving their journey and the challenges of this new land, they gave thanks to Almighty God. Their sacrifices and faith laid a cornerstone that this Nation continued to build on, one of belief and faith that rested on the Lord. Just as God reminded the Israelites how He rescued them from Egypt to build their house and nation on the Lord Almighty. God also brought these early Christians to these shores. 

As Paul noted in his letter to the Romans, and as we see in the Old Testament, the Israelites were God’s Chosen People—yet they turned away from Him pursuing their own desires, for which there were consequences. There are always consequences when a nation turns from God. Anyone familiar with the Book of Revelation will be familiar with God’s wrath being poured out on a sinful, rebellious and evil world, called the time of Great Tribulation. 

On October 3, 1863, in the midst of a bloody Civil War—April 12,1861 to May 9, 1865—President Abraham Lincoln called for a day of national Thanksgiving for this Land, with a proclamation designating “the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving." Despite the War, he found hope and reason for giving thanks. 

Map shows the division of the continental United States during the Civil War. It’s believed that if the South’s succession had succeeded, there would have been no less than three separate countries in what now constitutes the United States of America. Most likely California would have also declared its independence as a separate nation. The free territories may have joined the Union or the Confederacy or have formed a separate nation. The border states, most likely, would have joined the Confederate States of America. God in His mercy and wisdom chose otherwise. God had a plan for the United States of America, as One Nation Under God.

Nearly a month and a half before Lincoln’s famed Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, as shown, he called upon the forgiveness of a higher power for the transgressions of the nation. The higher power of course, was Almighty God. 

Abraham Lincoln refused to accept a permanently divided America over the issue of Slavery. As previously noted, he issued a Proclamation calling for a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God, as noted on the slide—fervently imploring the Almighty to heal our Land. Thankfully, by God’s grace, we were restored as One Nation Under God, one without slavery. 

America and Americans have a tradition of being "Thankful to God”. As I was listening to the radio on Thanksgiving eve, the question was raised, “Who are we thankful to?” In today’s culture, a decreasing percentage of adults identify as Christian, while religious ‘nones’ have grown. What about the next generation? To whom or for what will they be thankful? Will it just be about the turkey? 

We see another example of God’s sovereignty in Genesis and Exodus, where He uses man’s evil to accomplish His good. Joseph’s brothers, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. But God used that evil to raise Joseph in Egypt. As such, he was able to rescue his brothers and his father Israel from famine. Jacob had been named Israel by an angel of God (Gen. 32:28), by which, and through whom, God laid the foundation for the Israelites. 

As we are told, a new Pharoah, who did not know Joseph, came to power (Gen. 1:8). In Ex 1:9-10 Pharoah said to his people, "Look, the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." Yet, God will use Pharoah’s actions and Satan’s evil intent, to bring the Israelites back to the land He promised to Abraham and Isaac. Just as He used Hitler’s evil—the Holocaust—to bring the Jews back to the Promised Land after centuries of exile. It is no accident, but by the Providence of God, that in 1948 the land was officially declared the "State of Israel", with the recognition of the United States.  

God worked through Moses to liberate the Israelites. God works through His people to accomplish His plans as decreed. We are His people, and He will work through us individually or collectively as the world moves closer to the End Times. And the very future of our Nation will rest on us listening to and obeying His call. 

In the Book of Exodus, God directed Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. But Pharoah refused to release them. His refusal had consequences. The Jewish Feast of Passover reflects when the angel of death passed over the Israelites’ homes and killed the first born of the Egyptians, an act that compelled a stubborn and defiant Pharoah to allow them to leave. 

Throughout the Old Testament, God worked miracles to save His people and demonstrate that He is God Almighty, including the parting of the Red Sea for their escape from Egypt. When Pharoah’s army pursued them, the sea closed over the Egyptians destroying Egypt’s might as well. 

In the Book of Judges, chapter 2, the Israelites are reminded how God brought them out of bondage in Egypt, to the land promised to Abraham and Isaac. Yet, they failed time and again to follow and worship only Him, even substituting false gods. God still had mercy on His people. May He also have mercy on us as a Nation and as His children. Will God do the same for the United States? Will He lead us, as a Nation and as a people once again, out of the current circumstance we find ourselves in? It is a time to pray for His help and guidance. 

As we are told in Exodus 12, the people of Israel were in bondage for 430 years. During that time, they grew in numbers sufficient to form a new nation. Perhaps something that could only have happened in Egypt, in the fertile land of Goshen, where God shielded them, their flocks and herds from famine, which was to continue for five more years (Gen. 45:10-11). 

The Map shows Israel during the time of Judges, when there was no king in Israel. Time and again they followed the ways of the pagan world surrounding them, even worshiping the false pagan gods.  Ultimately, God did show them mercy, but not without consequences for their sins and falling away. There will be consequences for falling away as we see on the next slide. 

In Judges 2, the angel of the LORD reminded the Israelites how God brought them out of bondage in Egypt, and to the land given to Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 35:12). Their disobedience had consequences, as we see in v.3. But God reassured them in that He would never break His covenant with them. Nevertheless, there were consequences for their disobedience and sinful choices. 

The Book of Judges ends with these words as noted on the slide. There is a great moral lesson for Israel and for us. Those words would not only reflect ancient Israel, but it’s the direction of our own Nation, today. As the Church, Christians need to pray for a reprieve from a potential approaching End Times. Pray also that the Holy Spirit may strengthen His Church to reflect the image of Jesus Christ. Pray for our Nation and that America may turn back to its roots as “One Nation Under God.” 

A brief view of the End Times. The Great Tribulation is the outpouring of God’s wrath on a sinful, rebellious world. Many think we are on the threshold of a rapidly approaching End Times and Tribulation. Yet we are cautioned by Jesus, not to establish dates as to when it will occur. Jesus tells us in Matt 24:36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (NIV)

There will be a time of Tribulation, as we are told, such as the world has never seen before. We just don’t know when. Many, including myself, believe there will be signs of its coming, just “not when it will come”. Why would there be signs? To turn people back to God and encourage the Church to be steadfast in the faith and take appropriate actions to open people’s minds and hearts to the Gospel. 

A nation divided against itself cannot stand, as warned by Jesus in Luke 11, which should be a sufficient wakeup call for all Americans: Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall…” (NIV). How should we, as the Church, respond? How should we as individual Christians respond? We will explore that in a future posting. 

What are today’s signs telling us? The Russia-Ukraine war? Rising energy prices? Empty supermarket shelves? America’s declining influence on the world stage? Anyone reading the Book of Revelation will know that there will be an End Times, a time of Great Tribulation as God’s wrath is poured out of a sinful, unrepentant, evil world. Will these signs eventually pass or increase in intensity? This is not a time of fear for Christians, but a time of repentance, revival and continued faith in the Lord. 

We as the Church need to pray for revival, beginning within the Church. We will pick up again with this theme on our next posting, including a look at the False Prophet and Antichrist. 

End of this Week's Posting

Are there any signs of America in the End Times? Why would we even consider it, since Revelation was written over 1900 years ago, long before there was an America? The Holy Spirit inspired John for a purpose. One, for addressing the 1st century church with a focus on seven specific churches. Like all of the Bible, Revelation is relevant for every generation. Is God speaking to us today through the Book of Revelation and its signs? How would we know if we’re not aware of the signs? I don’t see how one can study Revelation without having an interest in looking for such signs.

Was the Book of Revelation only intended for those seven churches and the 1st century Christians? Sadly, those churches no longer exist. What had once been the Roman Province of Asia, is now modern-day Turkey, almost 100% Islamic. Did those churches ignore Jesus’ message and warning? If yes, were there consequences for doing so? Perhaps. The Book of Revelation is relevant to us today just as it was to the early church. If it was only for the 1st century Church, a letter would have sufficed, but it’s in the Bible as the inspired Word of God without any limitations, just as the Book of Acts and the Epistles were written to the early Christians, but also apply equally to us. All of which has prompted me, while studying Revelation, to see signs around us that I believe are relevant for understanding Revelation. 

The slide describes those seven churches. Ephesus was a backsliding church. Pergamos was a licentious church, lacking in moral restraint. Thyatira was a lax church. Sardis was a dead church. Laodicea was a Lukewarm church. Only two, Smyrna and Philadelphia, were without criticism. This is probably just as much a cross section of today’s churches. If we, as the Church—the Body of Christ—didn’t give any thought to Revelation, there would be no compelling reason to change. Yet, Jesus warned these specific churches, all of whom, even those without criticism, no longer exist. The warnings as such apply to every church in every age. 

From as early as 184 AD, basilicas were built across much of Europe and the Mediterranean region for God’s glory and congregational worship. Anyone traveling to Europe, would see that basilicas tend to be more tourist attractions than places of worship. One example is St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England. With room for up to 3,000 worshipers, only about 100 attended the Sunday worship service I participated in, while the back of the church experienced a steady stream of tourists. Just as Sardis was warned as being a church in name only, i.e., a dead church, we have every reason to believe that these churches are also warned in Revelation. 

Anyone reading the Book of Revelation will undoubtedly see that it consists of John’s images of prophecies yet to come. No one can read it and easily or fully understand it. It takes a lot of research and insight to come to any conclusion. And even with that, not everything will be understood until the time and place, and people it was intended for. 

Most believe the writer was the Apostle John, while a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos—a Roman penal colony. The title on the image refers to it as “the Gospel”. Revelation is the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and not just a 1st century letter. Generally, we only think of the first four books of the New Testament as Gospels. Yet, a gospel is a message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God and salvation, which we see throughout Revelation. 

Which takes us here. Based on a rapidly changing world, more and more people seem to be wondering if we are at the threshold of the End Times? One reason it caught my attention is that we are studying the Book of Revelation, and I have been researching the various interpretations for John’s “visions”. Let me be clear, I am not predicting the End Times. Only God knows when. But I am looking at world events and how they relate to the prophecies in Revelation. Our confidence should always be in God’s sovereignty. It will only come when He deems it to come. Nevertheless, we should take comfort in His everlasting love for us as His people. 

The question I need to address is, am I even close to understanding John’s prophetic images? Let me start with an explanation. I spent decades in aerospace designing spacecraft- and aircraft-systems, and solving complex system problems, by looking for clues and signs. I am also a history buff. As such, I have always been inclined to look for signs that led to specific historical events. Few things in history are random events. There were plenty of post WW1 signs, mostly ignored by the Allies, that led to WW2. Addressing those signs may have prevented WW2. Without signs one cannot recognize the root cause of problems. In today’s world, I am seeing signs pointing to the End Times. Of course, only God knows the date and time. Events and signs can and do change. So, let’s look at what Jesus tells us about the End Times….  

In v.3 Jesus' disciples weren’t aware that they were questioning two different events. In v.2, Jesus described the destruction of the Jerusalem temple by the Roman army in 70 AD. The Jewish nation was also destroyed, and their people scattered far and wide. The other event they asked about was His second coming at the end of the Seven Year Tribulation (Rev. 19:11-21), 

In v.4-6, Jesus looks ahead beyond 70 AD. Rome itself would fall in 476 AD. The Christians who lived in Rome at that time, were certainly alarmed as the city and nation met destruction. And yet, the end was still to come. Most believe that what Jesus is warning about goes way beyond the fall of Rome. But how far beyond? Let’s explore that further. 

None of the following slides are intended as just news articles, but as an observation of events relevant to what I see as signs of the End Times, based on Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation. The potential consequences of those events may very well put the world on a path to the End Times, which is what this posting is about. Will it happen in our lifetime? We don't know, but we certainly would want to be prepared. 

What was described as the “Cold War” between the Soviet Union and the United States (as leader of the free world) ended with the final collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. During that time, America’s resolve and military strength served as a deterrent to Soviet aggression, further contributing to its collapse. 

As Jesus told us in Matt. 24:6, one of the signs of the End Times is “wars and rumors of wars”. Is Russia’s unexpected invasion of the Ukraine one such sign? Could it have been avoided? Many believe a strong United States, as a NATO member, would have been a deterrent to its invasion of Ukraine. Has America lost its resolve? Is it no longer perceived as a world leader? As the war continues, will Russia miscalculate and use nuclear weapons? Would it draw NATO into a world war? That remains an open question. 

How desperate is Putin? How desperate are the hardcore Russians? A recent Russian Rally urged Putin to strike the US with their Nuke-Capable Satan II Missile—particularly against Washington DC. How insane is that knowing the U.S. would have the capability to launch a retaliatory strike?  But perhaps not the resolve?

The headlines on the slide is a big question mark on the world wide web. So why am I posting it? Again, Matt. 24:6, Jesus tells us there will be wars and rumors of wars. Hmmm? But He also tells us not to be alarmed, and that’s good enough for me. 

Nevertheless, the United States and its NATO partners are prepared, just in case. Five NATO carrier strike groups, including the US Navy’s supercarrier, are patrolling waters around Europe. Obviously, a message to Russia NOT to expand its aggression any further. Will the Russians calling for a nuclear strike against the US heed that warning? 

Let's go back to Matthew 24, where Jesus tells us that nation will rise against nation. We know it doesn’t apply to the first century Christians, since nothing like it occurred until the fall of Rome in 476 AD. Nor were there any major earthquakes or widespread famines recorded between 70 and 476 AD. Perhaps Jesus was looking ahead to WW2, which devastated all of Europe and Asia, like never before? Yet, no earthquakes, except perhaps the A-bombs dropped on Japan, that ended the war. So, was WW2 the beginning of End Times’ birth pains? More than a few believe so, and it does seem plausible. 

Jesus summarizes His Matt. 24 message with v.14. by telling us that the End Time will only come after the gospel has been preached to the whole world, which certainly didn’t happen in earlier centuries, but certainly is happening in our day and age. TV and satellites make it possible to reach the entire world. 

Matt. 24:7 also warns of famine as one of the signs of the End times. So, let’s explore that further. As previously noted, famine generally accompanies war. We are currently seeing signs of it in the Russia-Ukraine war. But is widespread famine even possible in today’s Western world and especially here in the United States? We will explore that further in our next posting. 

This concludes this week's blog posting, but there is plenty more to consider. Could today's Western world and even the United States face something even remotely close to famine as noted in Matthew 24 and Revelation? 

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