THE LAST DAYS

by Anita Clark

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall no more be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.” Ezekiel 37:21-22

God allowed Israel to be taken captive by Gentile nations because of their idolatry and other wickedness; first the ten tribes taken by Assyria, and then years later the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin taken captive into Babylon. Some of them filtered back into the land when Cyrus King of Persia allowed them to return, however many of them had settled down in the lands of their captivity and were content to remain there. Years and years passed, and finally after World War Two, the Jews were allowed to come to Palestine as it was called. The rest is history. The prophecies have been fulfilled so far up until today, however there are many more to be fulfilled.

Very soon the prophecy of the end time pertaining to the covenant made between Israel and the nations will be fulfilled, for just as sure as the other prophecies have come to pass, all of them will be fulfilled. We are waiting eagerly to see if these present peace talks will produce fruit or not. The one big thing that Israel demands is that the other side agree to recognize them as a Jewish state. Because a large number of Palestinians live in Israel, Mahmoud Abbas refuses to do this. He doesn’t want any Palestinians to have to leave Israel, rather for them to stay there and multiply their number until they can take over the democratic state. Israelis are not producing many children, so the demographics will change, and eventually Palestinians will out number Israelis. If nothing changes, the U.S.A. has stated that there could be consequences for Israel if they do not sign the treaty by April 29, 2014.

Mahmoud Abbas said April 23rd, “Israel will have to reassume responsibility for the Palestinian areas - including providing basic services for some 2.5 million people - if the US-sponsored peace talks finally collapse in a week’s time [April 29].” He says he is considering dismantling the Palestinian Authority if talks end, without an extension.  He went on to set conditions to Israel for a nine-month extension to the peace negotiations. First he wants Israel to outline the borders of the future Palestinian State, and second, immediately stop all settlement construction in the West Bank, and withdraw Israeli troops from that area, third, release the fourth wave of prisoners that are still being held, which Israel had agreed to release, but recently refused to do so.

Today, April 24, 2014 Abbas of the PA and Hamas leadership have talked and have joined in a Unity Deal. Hamas agreed on Wednesday to the formation of a joint administration under Hamas leadership within five weeks. This agreement came as the US-led peace talks were seeming hopeless and nothing had been agreed upon between the parties. In 2006 elections swept Hamas into power, but the EU and the USA both declared they would not deal with Hamas unless it renounced violence, recognized Israel right to exist and past peace deals. Washington has just reaffirmed that position on Wednesday.

Some do not believe that these talks will accomplish anything, but God is in control. Man thinks that he is in control, but if it is time for THE PEACE TREATY of Daniel 9:27 which will usher in false peace for Israel, it will happen, not one moment sooner, not one moment later, just when God has ordained it. That treaty will bring in the tribulation of seven years, which is very soon to begin. We are watching and waiting.

ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT THIS MAY - 2014 – European officials believe that they are on the precipice of “true political union” as they approach the elections this year. They have designs for a “United States of Europe” which will fundamentally reshape the way the EU works. There would be two chambers - the European Parliament and a senate of member states. This would allow a president of Europe to be elected with a longer ruling term and with more power.

This is a significant happening because we believe that united Europe, which is the revived Roman Empire will bring forth THE MAN, The Antichrist. According to the Word of God at first, He may be one among several noted men of this region, but gradually will come to the fore, and will be the ignominious leader of all the world. We are watchful of events of the EU because this man will make the covenant with Israel, which will promptly begin the seven years of tribulation (Dan. 9:27). Other signs show that we are on the verge of the tribulation of seven years right now. One thing we know for sure, it is all in God’s competent hands, He who knows the end from the beginning. His will move according to His Master Plan, which will be accomplished.

EVIL ABOUNDING IN THE U.S.A. AND THE WHOLE WORLD – Everyday, the abominations multiply. One could become perplexed or even angry at circumstances reported on the daily news. Sin is abounding in all forms. We read the description of the endtime in II Timothy 3 and immediately see more than anytime before, that we are living in the last days.

Jesus warned that, “As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” What was happening in the days of Noah? Genesis 6:5-7 says, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart. And the LORD said, I shall destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth...for it repenteth me that I have made them.” The next judgment, the Tribulation of seven years is at hand. God will not destroy all men on the earth, but will save many who accept salvation. Before the tribulation starts He will rapture those who are fully yielding to Him, and later others (I Thess. 4:13-18). There will also be a group of Israel who are preserved through the seven years, known as the Remnant of Israel. There will be some Gentile believers, who believed after the tribulation began, who will be kept through that time. Also, national Israel who haven’t believed on Jesus will be kept through that horrible time, to believe on Jesus as He returns in power and great glory. Zech. 13:8,9 shows that one-third of Israel will be in that group. All of these will be “earth dwellers,” who will be here on earth through the 1,000 year reign of Christ, and no doubt live on earth in a glorified state for eternity after the earth is completely made new.

What a glorious plan! The Master Designer has planned this in eternity (past) and it will all be brought to pass, just as He has decreed. Beloved saints of God, Christ is coming very soon. Just as God did not abide the evil of Noah’s day, and the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the wickedness of Israel, He will not wait much longer to judge the wicked world of today.

There is nothing we can do to cause that time to come sooner, but pray for the Lord to “Come quickly.” It behooves us to be more diligent, more yielded, ever watching, eager for Christ to come to deliver us from this evil world. We must not be contaminated with the world, but set apart to God. He will catch away His Beloved Bride in “a moment in the twinkle of an eye,” and “so shall we ever be with the Lord.”