Signs of the End Times? Fearful Sights of Terror

By Dianne E. Butts –

In Luke 21:11, as Jesus was telling His disciples about the End Times, He said, “There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” According to the booklet, 101 Last Days Prophecies, published by Eternal Productions, “The Greek word translated fearful is phobetron, which can also be translated terror” (p. 6).

Do you think the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, were signs of the End Times? Some people do. Have you read the book The Harbinger? It’s written as fiction, but it details events that have actually taken place in America starting with 9/11.

According to the author, Jonathan Cahn, several prophecies have occurred in America since 9/11. He bases this on one rather obscure verse in the Bible, Isaiah 9:10:

“The bricks have fallen down,
but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars.”

Does that look like multiple prophecies to you? Well it didn’t to me at first either, but then I started searching the internet for more information. I found interviews with the author of The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn. Then I read the book. It’s fascinating! Here’s some of what I learned:

• The day after the Attacks on America on September 11, 2001, then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle gave a speech in which, he quoted the above verse, Isaiah 9:10 in order to encourage Americans. However if you back up and read the verses leading up to verse 10, you can see it is not an encouragement but pure defiance against God. The previous verses say:

“The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;
it will fall on Israel.
9 All the people will know it—
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria —
who say with pride
and arrogance of heart,
10 “The bricks have fallen down…(Isaiah 9:8-10a, emphasis mine).

• Three years later on the third anniversary of 9/11, then-Vice Presidential candidate Jonathan Edwards gave a speech in honor of 9/11 and he quoted Isaiah 9:10.
• A “dressed stone” was laid as the corner stone of the new building at Ground Zero.
• On the corner of Ground Zero, there stood a tree that was knocked down during the events of September 11, 2001—a sycamore (fig).
• A tree has been planted to replace the sycamore tree—a cedar.
• The church at the corner of Ground Zero was the very church where George Washington prayed dedicating America to God as his first official act as our first president. Though all the other buildings around it were destroyed, this church stands with relatively little damage, except for a crack in its foundation. Has the foundation of our nation cracked? How long before it crumbles?
• The church at the corner of Ground Zero originally owned the land on which the Twin Towers were built.
• On September 29, 2008, the Dow Jones plummeted 777 points, losing 7% of its value. Seven is the number that represents God. On the Jewish calendar every 7th year, the Shemittah year, land is supposed to rest with no crops planted or harvested and debts are cancelled. The people were to trust God with their finances. This occurs on the last day of the Shemittah year. Any guesses what the date on our calendar was of the last day of the last Shemittah year? That’s right. September 29, 2008.

There’s more, but you get the idea. What do you think? God is clearly sending us a message. Are these events signs of the End Times?

Old Faithful

By Cheri Cowell –

Many people visited our nation’s oldest national park this summer, and our family was among them. The big attraction in Yellowstone National Park is the geyser named Old Faithful. Thousands gather to watch it erupt every 90 minutes. We were told by a park ranger that the reliability of the geyser can be attributed to the fact that it is not connected to any of the other thermal features in the area. It was one-of-a-kind. As I watched one of the predictable steam-powered shows, I thought about the faithful God who created this amazing geographical feature. I thought about the ways in which I have sinned against God and His amazing faithfulness to forgive and forget. His faithfulness is worthy of the ooohs and ahhhs Old Faithful receives every 90 minutes, and so much more.

In the third chapter of Romans, Paul is addressing the question that if the Jews stand on the same level with Gentiles and they are unfaithful what will they then stand upon if not their lineage? Paul answers by pointing out the obvious problem with their logic. If man is dependant upon his own efforts he is doomed from the beginnning. Paul further points out that our faith must be placed in the only One who is faithful. God alone is faithful. Even a geyser named Old Faithful is not as faithful as our God. He alone is worthy of our praise.

PRAYER: Dear faithful and loving God, You alone are worthy of my praise. Thank You for Your faithfulness in spite of my faithlessness and help me strengthen my faithfulness so I might one day be lovingly called “old faithful” by those who witness my steadfast faith.

“Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged” (Romans 3:2-4 ESV).

Mountain on Fire

By Peter Lundell –

Colorado mountain on fire. High winds blow it into conflagration. Firefighters come from across the country. Thirty-two thousand residents evacuate. Panicked people drive on the wrong side of the road. Cell phone networks jam. People in safety still feel panicked. Others repeat the word “nightmare.”

The raging power of the flames roars through the forested slopes, eating animals, homes, ranches, anything in the way of its jaws. The sky bloats with white smoke, black smoke, brown smoke, a mile high and as far as one can see. It then descends across the entire city of Colorado Springs and beyond. Like an alien invasion. It is the worst fire in the state’s history.

Life goes on with us in the rest of the city, but unease lines people’s thoughts. The feelings of collective loss and the taunting sense of helplessness lie heavy.

Perhaps at some time your life has been brutally interrupted as well. Natural disasters hit cities. But more often cancer, debilitating illness, divorce, or losing a job hit individuals. These afflictions come like raging flames roaring through our lives, eating bodies, relationships, or the worlds we’ve so carefully built for ourselves.

Despite insurance, diligence, and all the cautions we may take, we are still fragile, still vulnerable. When we’re hit, life still goes on. And we may feel very alone. But we’re not.
And we’re never without hope. We mainly need to see right. My friend Cec lost his home and son-in-law in a fire several years ago. And what he said will forever stay with me: “I’m in God’s hands. I was in God’s hands before the fire. And I’m in God’s hands after the fire.” Think about what that means.

Be ready for anything that may happen to you: Are you in God’s hands?

PRAYER: Lord, no matter what I go through, I am in Your hands. My family is in Your hands. My job is in Your hands. All I have is in Your hands. All my failures and successes, fears and hopes are in your hands. . . .

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV).

Free Spirit

By Judy Davis –

For months I had been searching for a bicycle. I  looked for one on sale and priced several, but they were too high. Every time I went to a store that sold bikes, I would price them. Early one morning after my daily prayer walk, I glanced at the For Sale section of the paper and noticed a new 26 inch, 10 speed ladies bicycle for $65.00. Wow, I could not believe this low price.

Immediately, I called the lady and she said she had paid $130 for the bike but only rode it once. She had fallen and broken two vertebrae and would not be able to ride again. I got directions to her home. It would take me over an hour to get there and back home.

Since I  made arrangements to meet several ladies from the church at 10:00 to set up tables, I felt it would be best to wait and go get the bike. However, I knew if I waited, the bike may be sold.

I ran into my bedroom and got the $50 I had been saving. I had a crisp five dollar bill in my billfold. I looked on my husband’s desk and found 13 dollar bills. I grabbed them and left, knowing I would not have time to go to the bank.

It took over an hour to find the little green house at Lake Wildwood. As I walked into her lovely home, I couldn’t help but notice all the beautiful dolls in her den. She had dolls from Holland, Germany, England and all different shapes and sizes.

She showed me the burgundy bike waiting for me. I paid her the money and as I started to leave, I thanked her. She mentioned how she had broken two vertebrae recently in a fall. I immediately asked her if I could pray for her. She said, “Oh, honey yes.” I knew even in the rush, I could not leave without praying for this dear lady. I then took the bike and squeezed it into my Mustang.

The next morning, just like a child with a new toy, I couldn’t wait to ride my new bicycle instead of walking for my daily exercise. The cool breeze blowing against my face made me feel like a free spirit. It was then I thought of God being a free spirit, moving through each of His children wanting to give us the desires of our heart. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

After I returned home and was putting my bike away, I glanced at the frame of the bike and written across my brand new bike were the words “Free Spirit.”

Spirits Can Be Restored

By Susan Dollyhigh –

An empty old Georgian style house with magnificent columns in front sits on my street. Passing by this old house, I think how beautiful it must have been when it was first built and in times past. Neglected for many years, the white paint is fading and peeling. The house has even been vandalized inside and out. Having been empty for so long, it’s hard to know how much damage has actually been done. How much would it cost to restore this old house? I wondered. Can it even be saved?

How I wish someone would move in and fix up that old place! I know it has the potential to be so beautiful. That dilapidated old structure is a lot like many of us. We come into this world so beautifully created by our Maker. Then someone we trust hurts us; emotionally, physically or both. We may shut down emotionally because it hurts too much to feel. We may not care about our appearance. Beautiful spirits broken and sometimes even destroyed. After our “spiritual house” sits empty for so long, others may start to wonder if we can ever be restored. What will it take to restore us? How much will it cost? Can we even be saved?

The answer to this question is simply, “yes.” If we allow Jesus into our hearts, He can heal the scars caused by abuse and repair the broken spirit. And, unlike that old house on my street that would probably cost so much to restore, the cost of Jesus’ restoration is free. And Jesus’ work is always beautiful; after all, He is the Master Carpenter.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for being the Lord who heals us. Help us to feel Your healing touch today.

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5 NIV).

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