After WWI (1914-1918), lead to a post-war booming peacetime era of consumerism during the 1920’s called the Roaring 20’s. America and soon after many other nations of the world, notably in Western Europe were booming, GDP growth was growing at a record pace – all was well, so it seemed, until the collapse of the financial industry that lead to the Great Depression of the early 1930’s.
In 1920-1921 there was an acute recession, followed by the prolonged recovery throughout the 1920’s. A branch of the federal government called the Federal Reserve expanded credit, by setting below market interest rates and low reserve requirements that favored big banks, and the money supply actual increased by about 60% during the time following the recession. The phrase “buying on margin” entered the American vocabulary at this time as more and more Americans over-extended themselves to take advantage of the soaring stock market and expanding credit.
In 1929, however, Federal Reserve officials realized that they could not sustain the current policy of easy credit. When the Fed started to raise interest rates, the whole house of cards collapsed. The Stock Market crashed and the bank panics began. (Wikipedia)
The evil empires of the world had been defeated, the UN (League of Nations) was formed, Israel was reborn and in a very short time, we went from a booming economy to a devastating depression. You can see why many asked during that time, ‘are we living in the end times?’
What rose out of the ashes of this depression was more uglier and evil, than what preceded it…WWII.
It wasn’t enough that 40 million perished during WWI, but here was a war with more modern weaponry, more deadly than ever before since the dawn of mankind – and in it’s wake left over 70 million people throughout the world dead.
Fast forward to today and you can see a very eery parallel developing that started with 9/11, a brief recession, followed by war and a booming economy – leading to a global economic collapse of the banking system.
Now, as before, many are asking “are we in the end times?”
Or are we just experiencing more of the world’s birth pangs, leading up to the times of the end?
In Jeremiah 30:5-7, the Lord says: “For so says the LORD, We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see whether a man is giving birth? Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, like a woman in labor, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. “
Though space does not permit me to explain the history of Jacob, whose name was turned to Israel, one must understand that Jacob had twelve sons that eventually split into two Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. The Kingdom of Judah comprised of two tribes (sons) are the modern day Jewish people, now called Israel.
Bible prophecy (Ezekiel) tells us that one day in the future, all 12 tribes of Jacob (Israel) will once again be re-united and joined together, dwelling in peace in the Holy Land.
Ezekiel 37:16-22 And you, son of man, take a stick and write on it, For Judah and for his companions, the sons of Israel. And take another stick and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel, his companions. And join them to one another into one stick. And they shall become one in your hand. And when the sons of your people shall speak to you, saying, Will you not declare to us what these mean to you? Say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions, and I will put them with him, with the stick of Judah, and will make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand. And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes. And say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and will gather them on every side, and will bring them into their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and one King shall be king to them all. And they shall not still be two nations, nor shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
But where are the other 10 nations or descendants of Jacob living now?
They are scattered throughout the world, but predominantly they can be identified by the blessings given by Jacob (in Genesis 48) and later by Moses (in Deuteronomy 33); as the nations of Great Britain, some European nations and America.
Now, look at which nations of the world are entering into the most severe economic recessions and soon to be depressions today and you will see what is meant by the “times of Jacob’s troubles”.
These nations, because they have been given so much by God and at one time acknowledged God for His blessings – have forsaken Him and thus are reaping the consequences of their actions.
This my friends, as these Westernized nations struggle to feed their own people, will lead once again to a rise of evil in the world unlike any before it. Out of the ashes of this global economy collapse will rise a new world government, with a world economic system and for a time, it will bring about a booming economy, but the end result will be total control of all peoples, by a world dictatorship – where no one will be able to buy or sell without their allegiance.
Already Ireland is on the verge of collapse, as is Britain, soon to be followed by many other nations around the world.
Bible prophecy calls this “the times of the Gentile nations” – those who have not descended from Jacob, which is why you see the oil rich nations flourishing or not suffering as much, along with the nations of India, China and even Russia.
Unfortunately, mankind has not learned how to govern himself, nor has he learned how to live in peace with his neighbors – for since the beginning, he has rejected the one true source of peace and prosperity, reaping what he has sown throughout history.
Thankfully, we have a loving God, who for the sake of His elect, will cut short mankind’s self-destruction and established a true One World Government, based on His laws and principles, a Government for the people, but not by the people, an everlasting Government. There will be no more elections, no more corruption, greed and bribery, no more power brokers – but instead true peace and prosperity – where every man, woman and child will enjoy the fruits of their labors and live together in peace.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. There is no end of the increase of His government and peace on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will do this.
Are we in the end times yet?
We are close, but as the scriptures say:
Matthew 24:14-16,22 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.”
And in…
Matthew 24:32-37 “Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. “As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
Watch and be mindful of the times we are in and make sure you are right with God, do not be caught unaware or unprepared and be swept away as the unbelievers were in the times of Noah.
May we all be found worthy to escape these things and to stand before God and finally begin a new world order, that should have been from the beginning of man’s creation.
