In the last book of the Bible we are given a list of the merchandise that is key to commerce in the future Great Tribulation. “Merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ 18:12-13).
We call the merchandizing of people, human trafficking. Jeffrey Epstein was a financier and convicted sex offender who became widely known for his involvement in sex trafficking. Implicated by the Epstein prosecution are folks like Prince Andrew, Alan Dershowitz, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and William Jefferson Clinton. A recent headline read, Bill Clinton to be unmasked as ‘John Doe 36’ in Epstein sex case.
Epstein died in prison. Cause of death was ‘suspicious suicide.’
The recent very excellent film, The Sound of Freedom, is set in the world of trafficking. It’s being widely criticized. TIME magazine wrote, “While it doesn’t take a direct political stance or invoke QAnon, the fervent support for the film from the right has resulted it in being labeled “MAGA-friendly” and embraced by both mainstream conservatives and far-right conspiracy theorists.”
Trafficking is not the only activity devaluing human life. In Australia teenagers as young as 14 could get voluntary assisted dying. Human Rights Minister Tara Cheyene thinks children should have the same choices as adults in how they end their life as “Young people under the age of 18 can also experience intolerable end-of-life suffering through terminal illnesses.”
In the Netherlands anyone from the age of 12 can request euthanasia, but parental consent is required if a child is under 16. There is no age requirement in Belgium.
The devaluing of human life is one of many signs of the End Times. The Bible predicts things like Biometrics, Artificial Intelligence, cashless commerce, the manipulation of human DNA, global government, the exponential growth of human knowledge, one-world religion, instantaneous global communication, the rise in popularity of the occult, a falling-away from the faith in Christendom, and the rebirth of national Israel.
All of these are increasingly trending in the news – just as you’d expect.
We live in the Church Age, between the first coming of Jesus and His return to establish and rule the Kingdom of God on earth. His return will be preceded by a seven year time of incredible trouble upon the earth. Most commonly it is called the Great Tribulation, but the prophet Jeremiah calls it the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. It is a reminder that God will use that time to reveal Himself to unbelieving Israel. By the end of the seven years all Israel will be saved.
Jesus promised His Church, “I… will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).
He keeps us entirely out of the 7yr Great Tribulation by raising deceased Church Age saints, then rapturing “we who are alive and remain.”
When? The return of the Lord for us is imminent. It could happen any time. Nothing needs to occur before Jesus can come for us.
Are you ready for the rapture? If not, Get ready; Stay ready; Keep looking up.
Ready or not, Jesus is coming!