During the year 2008, we witnessed spiritual deception on a scale never before seen in Christendom. There was the Florida Outpouring, a much televised event which centred around one particular 'prophet' who believed he was ushering in a 'paradigm shift' that was to sweep the globe. Miracles, signs and wonders, they boldly proclaimed, were to become common place as the angels brought 'winds of change' to the Church. The movement eventually petered out, as did Bentley's marriage following allegations of misconduct in his ministry, but unfortunately many people still bear the scars left by this wolf in sheep's clothing. It was not to be the only New Age deception that year. A prominent psychic by the name of Blossom Goodwin also predicted that a UFO was to appear above the skies of an American city in full view of the world's media. This event would prove once and for all that these benevolent beings exist, and that they have an interest in the human race. The purpose of their revealing was to prepare the world for a great calamity that will soon unfold. But the craft never materialized and the extraterrestrials left Blossom sputtering to explain why. Both these events, in my mind, were simply preparation for two future events mentioned in Bible prophecy. The Florida Outpouring proved that it was possible for even genuine Christians to be misled by a 'wonder-working' false prophet, and that the medium of television is a very effective way of spreading his message. And while the UFO did not appear, the message relayed from Blossom Goodwin still left its mark, and is conditioning the public into accepting the possibility that such things exist and enabling the possibility of a cover-up for the disappearance of millions of Christians from this Earth when Christ returns. It's serious days.

Looking over the past year, there have also been quite a few significant developments concerning Biblical prophecy. Perhaps the most dramatic development this year would be the passing of the Lisbon Treaty. The EU won't change overnight, but it now has its own legal identity on the world stage. It now has the one European voice that Javier Solana once craved, with a permanent President and Foreign Minister at the helm. And it has the ability to acquire new powers from state governments as it pleases. The EU is now effectively a federal superstate, and will soon become the world's last great empire, just as the Bible predicted (Daniel 7:7-8). Concerning the Mark of the Beast, 2009 saw yet another admission by a journalist that the VeriChip RFID implant is often inserted into the right wrist, and not necessarily in the upper forearm as specified by its producers. Following the Asian Tsunami in 2004, we had a startling statement by a journalist who candidly remarked that the Verichip was often injected in the "right hand or forehead", with no mention of any possible connotations with the Biblical Mark of the Beast. This year a journalist went on record to say that, "The Baja Beach Club in Barcelona, Spain, already injects a rice-size VeriChip RFID device into the wrist or upper arm of its jet-set guests to make paying as simple as waving your hand". Perhaps the second most significant development concerning end time Biblical prophecy is in the Middle East peace process. While negotiations have been stalled for over a year now since the breakdown of Annapolis, world patience with Israel in particular is at an all time low. Following Obama's election to office and the subsequent shift in US foreign policy, there has been a worldwide condemnation of Israeli settlements in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. The international community has, for the first time, demanded that Israel cease all settlement construction in these areas. And for the first time, the US President has seemingly put a deadline on the establishment of a Palestinian state, in accordance with Javier Solana's wishes. While President Bush sought to establish a state within his presidency through negotiations, it seems that the world is preparing for the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state in these lands, like the Bible predicted (Zechariah 12:2, Zechariah 14:2, Revelation 11:2). Concerning the division of the city of Jerusalem, the Swedish government, which held the rotating presidency of the European Union at the time, put forward a proposal that would have recognized Palestinian political rights in the east of the city by declaring it the capital of a future Palestinian state. In regards to the building of the Third Temple, as prophesied in Revelation 11:2, we have had several significant developments this year. During a meeting with the recently re-established Sanhedrin, the highest religious authority in Israel, a prominent Muslim author called for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. The Temple Institute completed the manufacture of the Golden Censers which sit in the Holy Place, and also began building the foundation of the altar itself on the anniversary of the destruction of the First and Second Temples. 2009 was also the year that Israeli firms discovered gas off the coast of  Haifa, in enough quantities to ensure they will no longer be dependant on Arab or Russian exports, yet another Bible prophecy fulfilled (Deuteronomy 33:24).

While prophetic events seem to have moved a bit slower than I would have imagined they would, it is easy to see how things are leading up to the end times as described in the Bible. I don't know how much longer we will have on this Earth. But I do know that all of Christ's prophecies concerning the coming judgement mention imminence, and that the world will be taken by complete surprise with the suddenness of the destruction. So I wouldn't necessarily use currents events as an indicator of when Christ may return for His Church. Are you a saved? Have you made preparation against the coming storm? Or like those of Noah's day, are you blissfully unaware of all that is happening around you? Concerning the flood, the Lord said it came, "and took them all away", Matthew 24:39. The same will happen when Christ returns. Your wealth won't save you. Your good works will not avail. Only those who accepted God's plan of salvation survived the flood. Only those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour will survive the wrath that will be poured out on this world. Don't put it off. Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart (Hebrews 4:7). You may not get another opportunity. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.  

John 8:24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.