THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS

THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS

By Lowell Lundstrom

The recent terrorist attack on America will accelerate end-time prophetic events!

Our hearts were broken by the vicious attacks on our innocent fellow Americans. I cried as I watched events unfold on TV and heard the relatives recalling their conversations with loved ones trapped in the burning flames.

There are three reasons why the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. were targeted:

1. Many poor people living in Muslim countries hate the prosperity of the U.S. This is why they struck the World Trade Center, the symbol of our affluence.

2. We are a Christian nation. Let's not forget that Muslim controlled nations forbid the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Saudi Arabia, Christians are arrested and fined for attending private prayer meetings. In Afghanistan, Christian workers are in jail today because they shared the Jesus film with a Muslim woman. Attempting to convert a Muslim to Jesus Christ is a crime punishable by death.

3. America is also hated because of our support of Israel. In 1948, the U.S. led by President Harry S. Truman, a Baptist, was the first member of the U.N. to recognize Israel as an independent, sovereign nation. Since then, we have assisted Israel with billions of dollars of aid. We have done this to have a strong American ally in the Mideast. This helps protect the billions of barrels of oil that flow to the west from this region.

Centuries ago God spoke to Abraham stating He would bless nations that blessed Israel and curse nations that cursed Israel. (See Genesis 12:3.)

However, in the last days, Bible prophecy declares this anti-Semitic feeling will continue to grow until the armies of all the nations of the world gather to battle against Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation.

"Behold the day of the LORD, I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.

"The city shall be taken, the houses torn down, and the women raped.

"Then shall the LORD go forth and fight against those nations as he fought in battles of the past.

"And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives.And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."

Zechariah 14: verses 1-9, a literal paraphrase

I believe Jesus is coming very soon. Someone has said, "Israel is God's timepiece. If you want to know what time it is, prophetically, look at the Jewish nation. God has chosen them to reveal His power to the world. And the recent attack upon America, prompted by anti-Israeli hatred, tells us that time is growing short.

Continuing terrorist attacks will also cause the nations of the world to form a one-world government-with an international police force protecting people from evil men like Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

The Apostle John wrote, "Little children, these are the last days, and as you have heard that antichrist will come, even now there are many antichrists, whereby we know these are the last days" (I John 2:18).

An antichrist spirit was present in the early days of the church and is even more present today. Paul the Apostle wrote to the Thessalonians, who were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ and feared they were going through the Tribulation:

"That day shall not come except there be a falling away first, and that man of sin (the antichrist) be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God showing himself that he is God"

(A paraphrase of II Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Jesus said when the coming antichrist sets himself up in the temple as God-This will signal the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

"When you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.Then flee.For then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days are shortened there will be no survivors-but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened"

(A paraphrase of Jesus speaking in Matthew 24:15-22).

We can see the storm clouds gathering!

First, an anti-Semitic feeling is rising throughout the world, prompting terrorist attacks and creating fear among the people.
Second, their desire for safety and protection will prompt leaders to form a one-world government and police force.
Third, the president of this last-day confederacy of nations will be the antichrist, who will lead the world in rebellion against God.
Fourth, this will prompt the wrath of God to be poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth during the Great Tribulation.
Fifth, Jesus will return with His saints to rule the world in peace.
Sixth, finally there will be a new heavens and a new earth as described in Revelation Chapter 21.

Our future, as Christians, is great. The Bible says we will rule and reign with Jesus Christ forever. However, the future for non-Christians is frightening. Jesus describes the days ahead as "The beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8).

If you are not a committed disciple of Jesus Christ, serving the Lord with all your heart---pray today! Tell God you are sorry for your sins and want to begin living right.

You and I will never forget the sight of New York's Twin Towers aflame, with people hanging out the windows of the upper floors, some leaping to their deaths, while smoke billowed heavenward.

Workers in the Trade Center were doomed. So is everyone who has not received forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Jesus died for our sins and arose again. He has conquered death and has ascended to the Father's right hand in heaven. He is truly coming again very soon---and the days of sorrows have just begun.