This is a tremendous time to be serving the Lord! As we approach the year of 2000, there are many who are expecting great things to happen. But I would like to inform you that God and the Holy Spirit is not bound to times and dates. I do believe that we are approaching the coming of the Lord. The Word of God declares," No man knows the day nor the hour" yet Jesus tells us that certain signs shall appear, before his coming. In Matthew 24, Jesus tells us to look for signs such as spiritual deception, the appearance of false Christs, wars, and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, false prophets, lawlessness, and the restoration of the nation of Israel. The Lord is very near.

In Matthew 24:8, the Lord says, "All these are the beginning of sorrows." The Greek word for sorrows means birth pains. A woman experiences pain before giving birth to a child and then an intensifying birth pains - so we are seeing that prophetically today.

There is an intensifying of the things Jesus talked about. Because of this, I believe, along with many Bible prophecy teaches, that the coming of the Lord is very near. In fact, I strongly believe that we will see the great catching up of the church in our generation.

A Period of Peace

Prophetic scriptures should be kept in mind as we look at the events unfolding in Israel and in the Middle East. The scriptures declares in Ezekiel that Israel will have a period of peace with its Arab neighbors for only a short season so the Gospel can be preached to that part of the world. We are seeing this taking place. That is why the peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians cannot be stopped.

The Word of the Lord declares in Ezekiel 38:11-12 (11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, 12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.)

These scriptures very prophetically state that Israel will have a short period when they will experience rest and safety. That means peace with their neighbors. And then the Word declares that the enemy will come. Ezekiel 38:12 "To take a spoil and to take a prey..." We will see war break out immediately after the time of peace. Keep in mind this time of peace will come so the Gospel can be preached. Because of these events in the Middle East are part of the reason I believe the coming of the Lord is very near.

Take a look at Europe, they are uniting. This prophetic statement that coming together of a new superpower in Europe is also predicted in God's Word. Europe is uniting economically and will complete that economic unity in 1999. They are also in the process of uniting politically.

When this takes place, I believe the Antichrist will be on the scene. The coming together of Europe economically and politically points to the coming of the Lord. There is no doubt in my heart that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming very soon. Because of that, we must obey what He said to us believers.

Preach The Gospel

We must heed to Matthew 28 where Jesus commanded his disciples to go to all the nations. For in Mark 16:15, the Word of God says," Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

It is our responsibility: we must do it...for Him. The day will come when we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. I know that you can not always be with us, but you can support what the Lord has called us to do together. I will go, but, I must have your help prayerfully and financially. And as a partner, the Lord has touched your heart to stand with me to take this Gospel (Good News) to the ends of the earth. Whether it is the 2000 or after, Jesus is surely coming. All we know is that he is truly coming for the saints. Let us not forget...the job must be done now.