Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. -Matthew 24:34
Heraldsofthemorn
Spreading the word of God to the final generation – "The truth must not be muffled now. Plain statements must be made. Unvarnished truth must be spoken, in leaflets and pamphlets, and these must be scattered like the leaves of autumn."—Testimonies for the Church 9:231.
Truly it has never been this clear that we are living at the end of time, everything is in agitation, once again the US is about to officially inject itself into another war. The world is already unstable without another war, the middle east is already unstable as it is, and another war in that region can only put the entire word in an even more precarious situation.
Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security?There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate.Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win. – {DA 636.1}
We will briefly look at seven of the worlds recent / current agitations. The first agitation we will look at is war.
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6-8) It is the mercies of God why we are not at war with Korea, Iran, or at least for the time being Syria(while the US congress vote on whether or not to declare war). Man today are in possession some very dangerous weapons such as nuclear, that can kill millions, but God still has a work for his people to do and it is not until God allows it that the major wars will begin.
The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the strained, restless relations that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they recognize that something great and decisive is about to take place—that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis. {Ed 179.5}
Angels are now restraining the winds of strife, that they may not blow until the world shall be warned of its coming doom; but a storm is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth; and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture. {Ed 179.6}
Coming New Economy
The second agitation we will consider is the global economic crisis, that started back in the year 2008. The major economic powers of the world are feeling the hardest crunch, America, Japan, Europe. This is the final economic crisis that will usher in the mark of the beast. “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:16-18) In the book of James, chapter 5 we read:
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh”. (James 5:1-8)
Clearly, this prophecy of James chapter 5 is being fulfilled, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.”
The third agitation is that of homosexuality, sodomy. We have also seen same-sex marriage and other LGBT issues taken the forefront, and not only have the issues taken the forefront, but those that do not agree with these lifestyles are being penalized.
The prophecy that is being fulfilled here can be found in Luke 17:28, and also Genesis 19
(Luke 17:28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
The fourth agitation escalating crime, and we need not here detail the horrific crimes that have happen in our neighborhoods, or across town, in our country or other countries, but we know these stories all too well. There are some cities that have become so dangerous that even the cops are scared. We are reminded of godly counsel to “get out of the city”, you can read our post, Seven reasons for leaving the cities.
The Bible tells us, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
The fifth world agitation we will look at is the weather phenomenon. All of us has been affected by the strange weather patterns. A lot of weather related records are being broken, the coldest it has been in 100 years, or the hottest. We are seeing powerful destructive tornadoes and hurricanes, floods, droughts, etc. Even the fruit trees are bearing out-of-order, they are bearing out of season.
“The day of test and purification is just upon us. Signs of a most startling character appear, in floods, in hurricanes, in tornadoes, in cloudbursts, in casualties by land and by sea, that proclaim the approach of the end of all things. The judgments of God are falling on the world, that men may be awakened to the fact that Christ will come speedily” (The Review and Herald, November 8, 1892). {7BC 950.5}
The sixth agitation is the movements. For the first time in history, the pope, Pope Francis, is a Jesuit. Never before has this happened, do we understand what this mean? For more on this you can chapter 12 of the book The Great Controversy also read our post A Jesuit elected as the new pope. The current pope is also a people’s person. He mixes well with the common people and the lest fortunate. He is going about doing good. Let us remember the words of Christ “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24) What is all of this preparing the world for?
As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ.The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15.The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.” Acts 8:10. {GC 624.2}
Another historic event for the papacy is the resignation of pope Benedict XVI. This is only the second time in history that this has happened, and you will be amazed at the parallelism with then and now, read our article here.
The seventh and final agitation of the world that we will briefly look at is the unrest, riot and bloodshed that is sweeping the world. We have seen this is Libya, Egypt, Syria and many other countries mainly in northern Africa and the middle east. According to prophecy the unrest, riot and bloodshed will not just be limited to those areas mentioned, this will be world-wide.
At the same time anarchy is seeking to sweep away all law, not only divine, but human. The centralizing of wealth and power; the vast combinations for the enriching of the few at the expense of the many; the combinations of the poorer classes for the defense of their interests and claims; the spirit of unrest, of riot and bloodshed; the world-wide dissemination of the same teachings that led to the French Revolution—all are tending to involve the whole world in a struggle similar to that which convulsed France. {Ed 228.2}
It would prove a tremendous blessing for us to read and re-read the chapter 15 “The Bible and the French revolution” in the book The Great Controversy, click here to read it.
Jesus says in the book of John “And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” (John 14:29) So now that these signs, agitations are coming to pass, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28 Let us “…follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” (Revelation 14:4)
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation’s hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided.Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut.– {DA 636.2}
..Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel (Seventh-day Adventist) Amos 4:12
With all the pomp and style of this current pope, many are being deceived. Let us not forget the words of Christ. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” -Matthew 24:24
Did you know that it is reported that it is reported that three million people attended the pope’s mass in Brazil? “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” -Revelation 13:3
Never have we seen a pope like this before, he is kissing babies, visit slums and those that have been forgotten, disregarding security details and mingling with the crowd, not staying in the regular pope’s quarters, but staying in a more modest quarters. Sounds good right, he seems like a very humble and Christlike man. But what do we know from the word of God, even through the writings of Ellen White?
Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from earthly ties and human interests, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power. The gospel of Christ had enabled its adherents to meet danger and endure suffering, undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, to uphold the banner of truth in face of the rack, the dungeon, and the stake. To combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired its followers with a fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy. – {GC 234.2}
Do we see how the above quote has exposed the workings of the enemy through the Jesuits and the current pope? Are we awake? Do you see the ultimate goal of the Jesuits, to overthrow Protestantism?
When appearing as members of their order, they wore a garb of sanctity, visiting prisons and hospitals, ministering to the sick and the poor, professing to have renounced the world, and bearing the sacred name of Jesus, who went about doing good. But under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were often concealed. It was a fundamental principle of the order that the end justifies the means. By this code, lying, theft, perjury, assassination, were not only pardonable but commendable, when they served the interests of the church. Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They became servants to act as spies upon their masters. They established colleges for the sons of princes and nobles, and schools for the common people; and the children of Protestant parents were drawn into an observance of popish rites. All the outward pomp and display of the Romish worship was brought to bear to confuse the mind and dazzle and captivate the imagination, and thus the liberty for which the fathers had toiled and bled was betrayed by the sons. The Jesuits rapidly spread themselves over Europe, and wherever they went, there followed a revival of popery. – {GC 235.1}
“…visiting prisons and hospitals, ministering to the sick and the poor, professing to have renounced the world, and bearing the sacred name of Jesus, who went about doing good.” Did we see this in Rio de Janiero?
Brother and sisters in Christ let us not be deceived, we are children of light, not of darkness.
“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
We are truly here at the end of time, we are no longer seeing one sign years apart, we are seeing them simultaneously.
“The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.” – {CCh 37.2}
Remember, that Satan himself will walk this earth claiming to be Christ, is this a precursor to this event?
As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.” Acts 8:10. – {DD 41.4}
“An end is come, the end is come:it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come. The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land:the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.” Ezekiel 7:6-7
