2012 Alerts: October 30, 2009

2012

The interest in the 2012 phenomenon is growing. In a new video (available on You Tube and on my website at www.2012apocalypsebook.com), I quote Christine Brower, an ABC news reporter who wrote this:

Thousands of people worldwide seem to be preparing, in one way or another, for the end of days in 2012. Survival groups exist in Europe, Canada and the United States. A simple Google search for “2012” and “the end of the world” brings up nearly 300,000 hits. And the video-sharing Web site YouTube hosts more than 65,000 clips informing and warning viewers about their fate in 2012.

You have probably seen trailers for the movie, “2012,” which will release in two weeks. In addition, aside from websites featuring information about 2012, news releases are beginning to mention it, as well.

Cindy Mallett, who is a substitute teacher in the Hallsville elementary schools, mentioned recently that two students in her class were talking about how God is going to take up the Christians right before the world blows up in 2012.  She asked them where they had heard that, and one said, “My sister told me!” The other kid said, “My preacher.” Even churches are beginning to disseminate information about 2012!

New Video

I mentioned the new video above. I want to thank John Goodding who, once again, patiently worked with me in putting this together. By the way, when you get a chance, take a look at John’s website at www.289design.com. While there, you will see some downloadable curricula (i.e., Bible studies) from yours truly.

Early Copies of My Book

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the publisher set May 1^st as the release date for my book. Though I was disappointed at that late date, the publisher reassured me that is the best date for the release—in terms of their marketing. I know I need to recognize that if that is the release date, then it is the best one according to God’s timing, as well. However, I was assured that the thousand copies I have ordered will arrive ahead of that date. So if you order copies through me, you will have them sometime before that date.

Illustration of the Drifting of the Church

In my book, I argue that one of the indicators that we may be closing in on fulfillment of Biblical prophecy is the drifting of the Church universal (referring to all who have believed Jesus for eternal life) from God’s word. This drifting is making the Church ineffective at reaching a lost world; thus, Jesus will take the Church out of the world and start over with two prophets of God. An illustration of this drifting can be seen at a Christian Post article published this week.

U.S.-Israel Relations

A survey published this week shows that support for Israel among Americans is higher than ever. However, this is not how Israelis view the U.S. administration, as I have shown in recent weeks. The relationship between the Israeli leadership and the U.S. leadership has become strained (regardless of what our administration states publicly) and is on different pages in regard to the Iran situation and the peace process. In addition, we know that the Bible does not show the United States in prophecy; and since Israel is in the center of the prophetic picture, it seems the U.S. will step out for some reason. Two reasons seem likely to me—political and economic.

The U.S. Economy

I have surfaced articles in past “Alerts” that have pointed out the concern many have regarding the U.S. financial picture. Part of that picture includes the devaluation of the dollar. Another article this week argues that the dethroning of the dollar could happen soon. This means that because of the weakness of the dollar internationally, it could be replaced very soon as the global reserve currency. This replacement could lead to a one-world currency which has been discussed by the IMF (International Monetary Fund). If so (and it is only a matter of time for this to happen), it will likely fit into Bible prophecy regarding a one-world economic system.

Peace Treaty

The U.S. is trying to work with a leader of the Palestinians toward a peace deal with Israel who, according to a Jerusalem Post article this week, sees it in his best interest as not working with the U.S. and not signing a peace deal with Israel. But this fits right into what the Bible predicts about a future peace treaty with Israel. It will not be the Palestinians who sign the treaty with Israel. Instead, it will be ten nations—possibly five Arab countries and five European countries—which will sign with Israel. This treaty will be for a seven-year period which will begin the final seven years before the return of Christ.

A Discovery to Aid the Rebuilding of the Temple

As part of this seven-year treaty, Israel will negotiate to rebuild the Temple on the Temple Mount (in Jerusalem). In my book, I describe three prominent Jewish groups in Israel that are seriously preparing for the rebuilding of the Temple. Preparations are being made, including the making of all the items to be used in the Temple services and sacrifices, along with the priestly garments.

However, God communicated a strict policy regarding priests serving in the Temple. They need to be from the tribe of Levi, and high priests must be from the line of Aaron (Moses’ brother). But after all this time (about 3,500 years) and intermarriage, how will the high priests be determined? As a result of all that the Jews have been through in all of that time, who can know who is from that line? As Richard Nixon used to say, I’m glad you asked!

An article this week highlights the work of Dr. Karl Skorecki who works on the cutting edge of molecular science. This former university professor has become world famous for applying genetics to genealogy, finding evidence to support traditional claims that modern-day Jewish priests, Cohanim, are descended from a single common male ancestor—Aaron, Moses’ brother! As a result, legitimate candidates for high priest, fitting the Biblical description, can now be identified!

The timing on this discovery is fascinating—particularly in connection with other preparations currently underway for the rebuilding of the Temple! Could God be indicating through this that the time is close?

Iran Again!

As one of my favorite philosophers, Gomer Pyle, used to say, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” Iran in the news again? What a first-class surprise!

When we realize that God raises up kings and takes down kings (Daniel 2:21), He obviously has a purpose for Iran. I believe that purpose relates to Israel and the preparation of ten nations to sign the seven-year treaty with Israel, as I have expressed in the past. Anyway, let us see what Iran is up to in this week’s articles.

The Washington Post states that Iran is up to its old game-playing, buying time to enrich uranium for nukes while the U.S. and other Western nations are seeking to dialogue with it. Just when the U.S. thought they had struck a deal with Iran to ship its uranium to Russia, Iran turns around and says, “We’ve made no deal!” As cited by the UK Telegraph, one diplomat close to the negotiations said that dealing with Iran is like playing chess with a monkey; “You get them to checkmate, and then they swallow the king.” Thus Iran continues to frustrate the U.S. while, all the while, enriching more uranium to prepare for nuclear weaponry.

Of course, even if we could get Iran to ship uranium to Russia, Bob Worth of the New York Times points out why that plan will not work to slow down Iran’s race toward nukes. Just this week, Iran announced that the world cannot stop it from achieving its nuclear goal.

In addition, Russia this week announced that sanctions against Iran are unlikely and wouldn’t do any good even if they were leveled against Iran. This is code-speak for Russia saying they will not allow sanctions against Iran, and without Russia and China’s cooperation, it is unlikely that serious sanctions will be put on Iran—at least not anything that will hurt that country (especially with Russia and China supplying what it needs).

In the meantime, Iran is close to acquiring nuclear weaponry, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s threat this week of “obliterating” Iran if it launched nukes against Israel only reinforced to the Israelis that the U.S. has already accepted Iran’s nuclear capability. That is also the assessment of the Washington Times which also cited Iran as the number one sponsor of terrorism in the world today.

So how does all of this fit into Biblical prophecy or the 2012 phenomenon? Israel understands it has little time before Iran acquires nukes. It also understands that once Iran does, Israel is not safe. So it seems, because Israel does not believe the U.S. under the current administration will not attack Iran, that it must do so. When it does, it will likely create an atmosphere which will bring down the current Iranian regime which is still trying to regain control in its own country following its bogus presidential election. When it is overthrown, it will also bring down the greatest sponsor of terrorism today, possibly creating the atmosphere (along with the announcement of a seven-year treaty with Israel) for the world to proclaim “peace and security”—a fulfillment of 1 Thessalonians 5:3. This will then most likely lead to a very serious focus on peace in which, as a result of the favor and strength Israel will have shown by attacking Iran, five Arab countries will be willing to sign a treaty co-sponsored by five European countries. I can see all of these events tied together, but we’ll see. If and when it occurs in this way, I may be the first to proclaim, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!”

“2012 Alerts” in Four Continents

Thanks to some of you, we now have subscribers to the “2012 Alerts” on four continents. Thank you for passing this along to others; please keep it up.

Book Update

Cindy Mallett has been working hard on doing some format changes to my manuscript. When she is finished (maybe by the end of this weekend?), I will send it back (for the third time) to the editor. I can’t see that there will be much else to do on it, but we’ll see.

A Possibility

A friend of mine has a very good connection with Outreach.com which markets and distributes studies to churches, particularly on “hot” current topics. He told me that if I put together a synopsis of a curriculum on 2012, there may be a good chance of them using it. I hope to do that soon (as soon as I can crawl out from under a pile I created for myself), so please pray for that, if you would. That would be huge, as Outreach distributes nationally!

Please continue to pray that God will get a copy of the book into the hands of each person open to His truth. As one reviewer stated, it could change their lives! Thank you for your support.

Keep looking up!

John