What makes people think that the times Jesus warned about are happening now?
We’ve looked at the escalating warning signs (pre-labor contractions) related to the planet and to the people. Let’s take a look at some other kind of “why now” evidence pointing us to the conclusion that Jesus’ Second Coming is looking pretty close at hand: military, technology, geo-political. There are prophecies that could happen today that could not have taken place a few decades ago or even prior to the last couple of years. As you read Revelation, keep in mind that the apostle John, who wrote down the contents of the Book tried to describe the things he was told and the things he was shown. But he often didn’t know what he was looking at and he didn’t know the words needed to explain it.
From a military perspective, John is very clear when he talks of the “kings of the East” (Rev. 16:12) and their 200 million man army (Rev 9:16). A very specific number with no reason not to take it exactly as written: 200 million. At the time John wrote this book – about 75-80 AD – it is unlikely that there were even 200 million people in the whole world, never mind that many in the army alone. The Second Coming couldn’t happen until it was physically possible for certain prophecies to be fulfilled. This is one of them: Around 1980 China announced that it could field a 200 million man army. Today, thanks to one of the consequences of China’s decades-long law allowing only one child per family and that society’s valuing boys over girls there are enough “extra” men so China can have another 200 million soldiers held in reserve. Only recently have the capabilities been in place to potentially fulfill this particular prophecy; it couldn’t have been managed 70 years ago. Read the Book of Revelation with military and weaponry in mind. Interesting. Lots of things start making sense.
From a technology perspective, in the Book of Revelation we are told that the two witnesses God sends during the Tribulation will (finally) be murdered and their bodies left lying in the plaza.(Rev 11 7-9) to decay in the sun. The Bible says, “every people, tribe, language and nation,” would be capable of seeing the bodies lying there. How would you be able to do that 100 years ago? Impossible. 50 years ago? Still couldn’t. 25 years ago? Satellite TV in village community centers would reach a significant number of the world’s population. Today? No problem. Just check your phone or pad or pod or PC or laptop or CNN News or whatever’s most convenient.
Another perspective to answering the question, “Why now?” is geo-political alliances (which countries are “friends” with each other) that have recently come to the forefront. We talked about the 200 million man army fielded by the “kings of the East”. Until recent centuries Asia was, at best, the also-ran in the minds of the white men of Europe who controlled the world back then; they could be safely ignored. Not so much now. Today China, Japan, both Koreas, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc are on the nightly news and trade and security alliances are being formulated. The thing about geopolitical alliances is that they are constantly in flux; they don’t last very long. Japan and China are no longer the sworn enemies they were in WWII. Russia is no long our buddy and Germany is no longer our enemy. Ezekiel 38-39 talks about a major military campaign against Israel, naming modern countries who we can see are becoming more aligned – Turkey, who is still a member of NATO and until a few years ago was pro-western, is now aligning with Iran, who is becoming more militant, and both are relying to some degree on Russia, who mourns the lost power of the USSR. These alliances will eventually dissipate so any prophetic utterances that include such alliances must happen soon before that alliance is broken and new political and strategic alliances are formed.
Please, neither offhandedly accept nor reject what is said in this blog. Check it out. Look it up for yourself in the Bible. If you are a child of God you are in good hands and there is the most wonderful eternity waiting for you. If you are not a Christ follower, now is a really good time to honestly explore the truth claims of the Bible.
Ringing the Bell 