Discerning the Signs of the times

[hethathathears]

WHY- Heed the Council of Apostles and Prophets

Over the last 600 years, pressure had been building along a fault line under the Indian Ocean. The pressure was suddenly released on December 26th, 2004 that resulted in a massive earthquake that lasted 8 minutes and 3 seconds which registered as a 9.2 on the Richter Scale. The massive quake’s fault line was 994 miles long that thrust a 50 foot ridge of earth up from the bottom of the ocean floor. This sudden rise of earth on the ocean’s floor sent a series of waves towards Indonesia and the surrounding countries that were two feet high that traveled 500 miles per hour. As these waves would reach land, they began to slow as they would meet the resistance of the outgoing tide from the shore. This resistance made these two foot waves turn into a series of massive 45 foot waves. In the process of building to these great heights, the ocean’s tides would go out exposing a good 100 yards or so of beach that was never ever exposed under regular circumstances.

10 year old Cheryl White was out on the beach with her family. They were all talking and joking about feeling the earthquake that had just befallen Indonesia over a half an hour ago. Cheryl and her family went there on vacation over Christmas break and was having the time of their lives. It was 10 year old Cheryl White that noticed the ocean’s tide receding out into the ocean exposing a good 100 yards of beach. Fish were left flopping around and there were many beautiful shells that covered the beach. Many of the tourists went toward the ocean to collect the shells and the fish that covered the beach. Cheryl turned to her mother and warned that they needed to get out of there, that the ocean receding was a sign that a great tsunami was about to come. The mother, knowing her daughter to be a very sober child warned the other tourists of the impending wave that was coming. The other tourists didn’t listen but continued their activities of collecting shells and fish on the shore. Cheryl and her mom, loaded up the car, and in their rear view mirror, they could see the massive 45 foot wave hitting the shore and destroying all that is in its path. Sadly, all those tourists that refused to leave were swept away, never to be heard of again.

David Livine also saw the signs of the receding waters. He was a science teacher on vacation from the United States who took his family there over Christmas break. When he saw the receding water, and after feeling the quake, he knew that he and his tour group had better get out of there before they would feel the destructive wrath of Mother Nature. Fortunately, his tour group heeded his council.

Adar Singh was a beach vender that rented surf boards and kayaks. She also noticed the sign of the ocean receding, and saw the foolish tourists wandering out on the beach. With great hast, she ran out on the beach, waving her arms, warning, “Flee! Run for you lives! Very shortly, there will be a tsunami wave that will cleanse the beach.” The people listened and were saved. Sadly, few people saw the signs of the killer tsunami that claimed the lives of over 225,000 people.

In Matthew 24 Jesus gives a discourse on the signs that will happen before He returns again. He spoke of wars, and rumors of wars, that kingdom would fight against kingdom, and that there would be famines and earthquakes in diverse places. Then he goes on to say that these will be the beginning of sorrows. In the Greek and Hebrew, sorrows isn’t the best translation, the words birth pains or labor would be a more correct translation. After an expectant mother carries a baby in her womb for nine months, and when the time for the delivery is at hand, labor comes on unexpectedly. It is this sharp pain that tells the mother that she needs to get to the hospital very quickly. As the time for delivery gets closer, the interval between labor get closer and closer together, and becomes even more intense. The same is true with Jesus’ signs of the times.

YEARS --- NUMBER OF QUAKES DURING THIS PERIOD --- TOTAL DEATHS
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From 1960 to 1969 --- 28 major quakes from 4.2 to 9.5 --- 67,478
From 1970 to 1979 --- 35 major quakes from 4.5 to 8.0 --- 429,726
From 1980 to 1989 --- 36 major quakes from 5.0 to 8.0 --- 30,819
From 1990 to 1999 --- 47 major quakes from 5.6 to 8.2 --- 60,268
From 2000 to Present (2007) --- 405 major quakes from 4.8 to 9.5 --- 687,211

We can trace the pattern of Jesus’ labor pains in the area of earthquakes. The same also hold true with WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR-
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1900 to 1945 (45 Years) --- 40 major wars World War I --- 13,690,430
World War II --- 61,000,000
1946 to 1989 (45 years) --- 102 major wars Korean War --- 5,640,410
Veitnam War --- 6,264,758
1990 to 2008 (18 years) 94 major wars Gulf War, Bosnia,
Kosovo, Afghanistan, 2 Iraq wars In Luke 21:25 we see more Birth Pains revealed in a list that must take place before the Savor comes again.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars. On the
earth nations will be in anguish at the ROARING AND TOSSING OF THE SEA.”

This birth pain hit on Dec 26th, 2004 as a massive Tsunamis hit Indonesia killing over 212,000 people. Another labor pain came 8 months later with Hurricane Katrina. It was the greatest natural disaster of our time that hit the American coasts. Due to the 175 miles per hour winds, this hurricane claimed the lives of 1,836 due to the roaring of tossing of the sea. Was this just bad luck, or was it Birth Pains?

In 1997 we had 19 major solar flares blow out from the sun. In 1999 we had 136. Last month alone we had 153. Could this be what it is talking about in Revelations 16:8 when the 4th angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat…

And then we have the killer Tornados and Twisters. Burma's Cyclone that killed 74,000 with another 60,000 missing. Not to mention that this year in the states we have tornado's in areas that there have never been before. Bad luck, or Birth Pains?

So the question is, do you see the signs, or are you to busy with the cares and concerns of the day. Over the last couple of years, inspired men have heard the whisperings of the spirit telling them that we need to prepare. Sadly, few are taking this very seriously. The question is, should we take this preparedness thing seriously, or should we just continue as we have been, just kind of taking life as it comes along. It is my prayer that we prepare in faith.

[Hemidakota]

If you truly want to know the past and the future, not only watch and listen to the prophets that governed us, but stay as close as possible in having that Comforter that you can clearly call your FRIEND.