Prophecy: "Mystery" or a "Puzzle"?

 

Welcome, and thanks for visiting Focus on the Prophecies Ministry.  My name is Kevin SwiftAn award-winning author and staff writer for the New Yorker magazine, Malcolm Gladwell, wrote, "Do you know the difference between a mystery and a puzzle?"  According to Gladwell, mysteries do not have simple answers based solely on fact, since they "require judgments and the assessment of uncertainty."  Puzzles, on the other hand, can be solved because we have all the necessary information; we just need to put it all together for the solution.

 

The ancient Hebrew prophecies are mysteries, not puzzles.  Revelation 10:7 says, "In the days when the Seventh Angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished."  Not until the very end of the end-times will the mystery of God be unraveled as a completed picture.  However, the last generation of saints have the promise of a more complete understanding of final events that center around the prophetic time periods--the 1,290 days and 1,335 days of Daniel 12.

 

"Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand [the prophecies of Daniel], but those who are wise will understand,” Daniel 12:9-10.  This is a great promise to students of prophecy in these uncertain times when there seems to be more questions than answers. 

 

It has been calculated the Scriptures include 8,362 verses containing 1,817 predictions concerning more than 700 different matters. Of these, there are more than 300 prophecies dealing with the coming of Messiah and the end of the ages.  For that reason, we should "cry aloud for understanding, and... look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure," (Proverbs 2:3-4).  We should apply the ancient end-time prophecies to the events of our day; however, we will never know every single detail in advance of the years of trouble.  Why?  First, we cannot comprehend the mind of God (Romans 11:34); and second, we cannot know the full extent of the struggle in the unseen world--the conflicts between the forces of good and evil, between Christ and Satan (Ephesians 6:12). 

 

US & Coalition War on Iran Begins the Appointed Time of the End

 

When the US war with Iran erupts and the Middle East begins to burn (Daniel 8:1-8), we can know the end-time trial is upon us.  Clashes at the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passageway where much of the world's oil passes, will lead to a spike in oil and gasoline prices to unprecedented levels.  The US and other major world economies will collapse.  Russia will launch a nuclear attack on Europe, destroying at least three countries and causing unimaginable chaos and the loss of millions of lives (video); from here, the stage will be set for Antichrist's cryptic rise out of the ashes of World War III to a position of power.  The man of sin will arrive on the world scene with global displays of Satanic signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9); thereby, winning the adoration and worship of the masses.

 

The Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar of End-time Events

 

The Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar shows how the timelines of prophecy align between God's Festivals (Moedim).  Since the discovery that God's Festivals and the prophetic timelines of Daniel and Revelation align to the day, we can now set anticipated fulfillment periods, such as years 2009-2012; still, we proceed with caution and prayer.  Winston Churchill once humorously quipped, "I always avoid prophesying beforehand, because it is a much better policy to prophesy after the event has already taken place." 

 

In spite of past disappointments and the long delay, we must keep on proclaiming the great promise of our soon-coming King.  To do so is to stand in the company of great prophets and saints... John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, James and the Apostle John; they all believed and proclaimed with confidence the end of the age.  Jesus energized the disciples and early church to accomplish great goals in view of the shortness of time.  Each year since those early proclamations brings us that much closer to the Great Day of the LORD.

 

God is faithful to His promises.  There is little doubt we are living on the precipice of World War III and world tragedies.  When it looks like world peace is possible, as symbolized in the Olympic Games of 08-08-08, then sudden destruction will soon follow.  Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, knows that US and European military assets are being sent to the Persian Gulf to make ready to confront with Iran, and he may see this as his opportunity to test the resolve of the West and to eventually reclaim lost territories to the Soviet Union break-up (likely three nations--Daniel 7:5) and gain control of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline--the only route out of the Caspian Sea region not now controlled by either Russia or Iran.  God's Word says, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places," (Matthew 24:7). 

 

In addition to guns and missiles, Americans may face chemical, biological and/or radiological warfare with the spread of these deadly epidemics.  Because of quarantine periods, the normal means of supplies (food, water, etc) will likely be interrupted for extended periods of time.  It is my view you should move out of the larger cities to a rural setting or smaller community as soon as possible, to secure homes and garden spots in preparation for perilous times.  World news and international tensions confirm that momentous events are upon us, likely within months, and God's Hebrew Calendar is soon to be fulfilled. Daniel's timelines will have their historic beginning, and prophetic events will become front page news.

 

By faith, keep looking up,

 

Israel, Iran and the Middle East

 

The world sits on the verge of worldwide disasters, war and nuclear holocaust beyond our comprehension. Years of talk about war with Iran and Middle East conflict transitioned to the Annapolis Conference in late November 2007, and thoughts of peace with Iran in response to the NIE report in December last year. In spite of the peace overtures, President Bush traveled to the Middle East twice in 2008 to remind the regional powers about Iran's continued threat to world stability. The Bible warns, "While people are saying 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape," 1 Thessalonians 5:3. Talks of reconciliation continue between Israel and the Palestinians, and hope continues for a breakthrough with Iran, but this optimism will soon be dashed to pieces. The time of trouble is nearly upon us.

 

How will final events unfold?  Request your free copy of the Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar today. And just as important, you will want to order the corresponding book Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar: Divine Dates of End-time Disaster & Deliverance, which explains the Hebrew Calendar with insightful details about current world events and how the end of human history could unfold.

 

God's Word portrays final events with remarkable precision and details.  These events are worth your attention; after all, upon their completion we will enter the gates into the Kingdom of God, the great hope of our spiritual journey. We are nearing the time when final events and the last days could begin, starting with the world-changing clash between the West and Iran--the second of twin wars foretold in the Hebrew prophecies (Daniel 8:1-8). The first Gulf War conflict with Iraq started at Shushan Purim, March 19, 2003, and continues to this day and now surpasses its fifth anniversary. The second Gulf War with neighboring Iran is the key prophetic conflict that initiates final events.   The escalation of a Middle East firestorm could begin this year--2008, the 60th anniversary year of Israel's birth as a nation, and the three and one-half (3 1/2) year final events showdown beginning in the spring of 2009, and ending in late 2012.

 

The next Middle East war could be just one rocket away, says Michael B. Oren, a senior fellow at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem. On March 4, 2008, Secretary-General Van Ki-moon of the UNITED NATIONS said Hezbollah is rearming and has an arsenal that includes 10,000 long-range rockets and 20,000 short-range rockets in southern Lebanon.  Syria is 'intensely' arming itself with rockets and missiles to place all of Israel (including Jerusalem) within the firing zone, and Ynet News reports (March 11) that Hizbullah is now ready to fight Israel

 

Israelis were told to prepare 'rocket rooms' for war all across Israel. It was reported in early April that Israel will be redistributing gas masks, just as they did before the Iraq War, amid renewed fears of war with Iran

 

The Western Wall

 

One online source writes, "The Western Wall (see presentation) is a remnant of Herod's grand temple, and is the most holiest site for Jews. It attracts thousands of Jewish worshippers daily around the clock, who come to pray and lay out their problems and seek for heavenly guidance. They feel the presence of God's spirit, who according to their belief resides for thousands of years in the holy temple."  According to prophecy, daily "tamid" worship at the Western Wall and Temple Mount could be taken away--by bomb, by earthquake, or some unforeseen calamity. Daniel 12:11 says, "From the time that the daily ("sacrifice" was not in the original Hebrew text)... is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days."

 

The Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar shows the taking away of the daily early in 2009, a great "shoah" (calamity) indeed, could be the Jerusalem event that ushers in the 1,290 days of the appointed times and the saints' treacherous march towards the Kingdom of God.   The fragile Middle East will soon be turned upside down and the flames of war will blaze.  This escalation of Middle East conflict ... (continue)

 

 

The Russian Bear's Threat:  Europe in the Crosshairs

 

In Daniel 7, a governmental animal is described as a Bear with three ribs in its mouth. The Bear is told, "Get up and eat your fill of [human] flesh!"  A few verses later a monster creature is described as having ten horns, but "three of the first horns were uprooted."

 

For several years, Lesson 4 has taught the Bear represents the Old Soviet Union, which re-emerges from its slumbering (political/military) hibernation to attack the Biblical creature with ten horns--Western Europe, destroying three European nations with its nuclear arsenal.  This prediction looks to be closer than ever.

 

Beginning in the summer of 2007, articles exposing Russia's (Magog) growing anger with the West, its military alliance with Iran (Persia) and Cush (Northern Nile & Africa regions: Libya; Sudan) as foretold in Ezekiel 38, and military maneuvering to increase the Bear's show of power in the Mediterranean/European theatre began to increase in frequency.  Some of these new articles are listed below.

 

August 14, 2008 Editorial Update: As we head pell-mell into end-time events, we are reminded just how quickly relationships can change from good to bad, from bad to worse, and then to disaster.  We are in the beginning stages of World War III.

 

***Most Important Articles, Audios & Videos

Rice: NATO Will Defeat Russian Aims In Georgia, August 18, 2008

***Russia considers nuclear missiles for Syria, Mediterranean, Baltic, August 17, 2008

John Bolton: After Russia's invasion of Georgia, what now for the West? August 15, 2008

***'Russia threatens Poland with attack', August 15, 2008

***Russia Invasion of Georgia Sparks New Cold War Rhetoric, August 14, 2008

Two US Air Force supply planes land in Tbilisi Thursday, August 14, 2008

Analysis: Russia sends message with Georgia conflict, August 13, 2008

Russia masses naval force opposite Georgia’s third region, Ajaria, August 12, 2008

'Russia endangering relations with US', August 12, 2008

Bush deeply concerned by “Russian troop movements into Georgia, August 12, 2008

***Russia Warns of Military Response If U.S.-Czech Missile Defense Agreement Approved, July 8, 2008

Russian flights smack of Cold War: U.S. fighters ID bombers near Alaska, June 26, 2008

***Understanding the New Russian Threat, June 16, 2008

"The bear is once again set to rampage across the world."

Pentagon sees Russia strengthening nuclear arsenal, June 11, 2008

***The Bear is Back, May 24, 2008

Russia's new president names Putin as PM, May 7, 2008

May 9 Parade of Russian Military Hardware on Moscow's Red Square, the First Since the Soviet Era, April 24, 2008

Russia Air Force to get new Tu-160 strategic bomber in April, April 24, 2008

Russia Mulls Stronger Strategic Deterrent, April 8, 2008

NATO Fighters Accompany Russian Bombers Near Alaska, March 26, 2008

Russian Bomber Approaches U.S. Aircraft During Training Off South Korea, March 7, 2008

***RUSSIA THREATENS NUKE STRIKE, February 14, 2008

U.S. Assessing Russian Flyovers, Febrary 12, 2008

***Russia on the March: The Return of the Red Square Parades, February 11, 2008

Syria Acquiring Russian Rockets at 'Furious' Pace, February 6, 2008

***Russia Plans Buildup in the Mediterranean, February 5, 2008

Planes Join Russian Naval War Games, January 28, 2008

Russia Warns US, EU over Kosovo Independence, January 28, 2008

***Russia puts on Flashy Display of Military Might, January 23, 2008

Russian Bombers to Test-fire Missiles in Bay of Biscay, January 22, 2008

***"NATO Must Prepare to Launch Nuclear Attack", January 22, 2008

***Russian Army Chief: We'll use Nuclear Weapons if Threatened, January 20, 2008

 

More Russian Threat News Articles

 

 

Converging Lines of Evidence

God's Festival Calendar & 6000 Year/Jubilee Timeline

vs.

Mayan Calendar & the St. Malachy Prophecy of Popes

 

There are two primary sources of information concerning end-of-the-world events: from God and from Satan. As end time events heat up, sources other than the Word of God will be turned to for answers to the overwhelming chaos in our world. I want to address these right up front. God's Word relays final events as the Hebrew prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit.  We can say that God's Word must be our only source of real truth; it is reliable and trustworthy, through and through.

 

Does the world end in the year 2012, as shown on the Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar?  If the Iran war begins in late 2008 or early 2009, and events of God's Calendar begin at Purim in March 2009, we can start to count the timelines of prophecy and know the year (not the day or hour) of the climax of human history.  After-all, this is the purpose of the time periods in Bible prophecy--that the last generation of saints may know the signs of the times and know where we are in relation to Christ's return. The saints will need to know God's final plan in order to counter the nearly overwhelming deceptions about to overtake our planet.

 

There are four converging lines of evidence that indicate we are sitting on the brink of the appointed time of the end.  First is the alignment of God's Festival Calendar to the timelines of Daniel & Revelation, as illustrated here on this website.  This "to the day" connection was made around 15 years ago, and the Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar represents the next alignment period, which starts in early 2009, and ends in the fall of 2012. 

 

Next, the climax of 6,000 years of human history in its fallen condition. Dr. Franklin S. Fowler Jr has done a great job in making the case for God's 6,000 year fulfillment of time, followed by the seventh millennium.  He has determined that we are at the end of the 6,000 year period of sin and the beginning of the 1,000 years...(continued)

 

 

George W. Bush:

President of Daniel's Prophecies?

 

"When it comes to choice between bombing Iran and taking some political heat, the President [George Bush] will do what he wants. Look, no decision has been made, no order has been given, I've never said it's going to happen. But I had breakfast this morning in Washington with somebody who's close to a lot of military people, and there's a sense among them that the President is essentially messianic about this. He sees this as his mission. It could be because God is telling him to do it...," Who Wants to Bomb Iran, October 4,2007.

 

Daniel had visions about the future when war with Persia (Iran) would escalate, and daily worship at Jerusalem's Temple Mount would be taken away.  Daniel 8:19b-21 says, "The vision concerns the appointed time of the end. The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media (Iraq) and Persia (Iran). The shaggy goat is the king of Greece (Hebrew "Javan," meaning Western powers), and the large horn between his eyes is the first king (President George W. Bush). The vision indicates that Iraq will be crushed (which has occurred), followed by the larger horn--Iran.  The forthcoming battle against Iran, which seems to be fomenting nearly every day, will initiate the final events and the appointed time of the end. Learn more (click here).

 

 

America's Homeland Security warns...

Get Ready!

 

Please, get your family survival ready.  At a minimum, you should follow the advice of Homeland Security to get a survival kit ready for any potential catastrophe--whether natural or manmade.  BE AWARE AND PREPARED, NOT SCARED! Fear is reduced by education, communication, and both physical and spiritual preparation---not by trying to hide from the real world and dangerous age we live in.

 

The Rapture Debate

 

Some believe Jesus will rapture the Church at any moment.  Others say He won’t do so until the middle of the tribulation.  Still others place the rapture at the very end of a seven year tribulation period.  Are any of them right, or could the Bible teach a different option altogether? (continue)

 

The Times and Seasons No Man Knows: What Does This Mean?

 

An Interview with Messianic Pastor Mark Blitz on the Feasts of the LORD

Source: Prophecy in the News

 

 

"It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts."

-- John Wooden, Legendary Basketball Coach 

 

 

Jerusalem Time

 

APPOINTED TIMES & SEASONS CALENDAR

DIVINE DATES OF END-TIME DISASTER & DELIVERANCE

Original Price $15.95/ SPECIAL $11.95

 

Iran & the Coming War With the West

According to prophecy, the Iranian clash will usher in the last days, escalating into nuclear war, mass destruction and the rise of Antichrist.

 

ARTICLES ABOUT THE GROWING HOSTILITIES BETWEEN IRAN/RUSSIA

& US/ISRAEL/EUROPE

DISCLAIMER: The following articles are from various online new sources. The views expressed

often DO NOT represent those of this ministry.

 

August 20, 2008

Turkish observers speculate Bush to attack Iran before leaving office

August 20, 2008

Bush to strike Iran as he leaves

August 19, 2008

US In a Hurry to Install the FBX-band radar missle protection in Israel by September

August 18, 2008

DEBKA: Arab world fears an Iran war may be impending

August 13, 2008

U.S. Armada En Route to the Persian Gulf: "Naval Blockade" or All Out War Against Iran?

In the region soon will be 80 warships from the following countries: US, Britain, France, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Turkey & Pakistan

August 12, 2008

Russian offensive imperils U.S. aims on Iran, energy

August 11, 2008

Three major US naval strike forces due this week in Persian Gulf

August 9, 2008

Rep. Ron Paul: The US is heading to Iran

August 7, 2008

Massive US Naval Armada Heads For Iran

August 7, 2008

While Diplomats Dither, Iran Builds Nukes

by John R. Bolton

August 7, 2008

'2 US aircraft carriers headed for Gulf'

August 6, 2008

Israel builds military stocks to defeat Iran

August 5, 2008

Iran again fails to give final nuclear reply: EU source

August 5, 2008

Video: 'Israel perceived as weaker'

August 4, 2008

A War of Self-Destruction

August 4, 2008

Counting the Cost of War With Iran

August 2, 2008

Israel warns Iran is heading towards nuclear breakthrough

August 1, 2008

Mofaz says Iran heading toward nuclear breakthrough

AUGUST 1--TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE (Gen. 1:14)

July 30, 2008

U.S. Intel: Iran Plans Nuclear Strike on U.S.

July 30, 2008

Strike on Iran still possible, U.S. tells Israel

July 29, 2008

Video: Iran Should Sue to Stop US Attack

July 28, 2008

Iranian president: 'Big powers' going down: World on verge of new era

July 27, 2008

Officials: US talks to Iran to legitimize attack

July 26, 2008

Video: Former Head of Israel's Mossad On Iran

July 26, 2008

Report: Iran now has 6,000 centrifuges for uranium

July 26, 2008

Olmert says Bush has deserted Israel against Iran

July 25, 2008

Iran ends cooperation with U.N. nuclear arms probe

July 24, 2008

By late 2009, early 2010 Iran will be able to assemble nuclear bomb

July 23, 2008

Video: Massive Naval Exercise Underway Off US Coast In Possible Preparation For Strike On Iran

July 23, 2008

Iran set to receive advanced Russian anti-air S-300 by September

July 23, 2008

A final chance for Iran?

July 21, 2008

US, UK, France launch sea exercise for naval blockade on Iran

July 20, 2008

Senior Israeli official: If nuclear talks fail, Bush will order Iran attack between November and January

July 18, 2008

Using Bombs to Stave Off War

July 16, 2008

We only get one strike

July 16, 2008

Audio: Iran--All Out War or Economic Conquest

July 16, 2008

Wising Up on Iran

July 15, 2008

U.S. seeks talking over war with Iran

July 15, 2008

John Bolton: Israel, Iran and the bomb

July 14, 2008

Amber Alert!  Get ready for war

July 14, 2008

High military tension over Iranian presence on strategic Lebanese peak

July 14, 2008