Day-by-day we take a step closer to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, and as we peel the wrapper off a brand new year, I can’t help but be convinced that Jesus could return at any time!  Of course, the Bible is very clear that no one other than the Father knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36).  Thus, you will find no projections of dates and times on this site!  However, just a few verses prior (Matthew 24:32-35), Jesus clearly taught that we are to learn the parable of the fig tree.  When Israel (the fig tree) is reborn (puts forth its leaves), Jesus is right at the door!  The nations of Israel was reborn on May 14, 1948, and Jesus’s words in that passage tell us that this generation will not pass away until all these things (that He just spoke about in the previous 30+ verses) take place.  Friends, we don’t know the day or the hour, but every day we’re a day closer!

Thus, I want to spend some time over the next few days looking at the state of our world and current events through the lens of Bible prophecies such as Matthew 24 and Ezekiel 38-39.  I’ll call it “Signs of the Times,” and will feature different things that appear to me to be signs of the end times.  Jump on board and follow along!

We will focus first on a discovery that could have major end times implications.  In early-2009 a large natural gas field (Tamar) was found off the coast of Israel, in the Mediterranean Sea.  When drilling began in 2008, seismic studies revealed a 35% chance of finding gas, but partners in the project hit the jackpot as the field is believed to have at least 7.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas!  Domestic production began in April, 2013, and Tamar gas is expected to flow to a production facility in Spain by 2017.

Tamar was the largest gas field in the world found that year, and one of the largest ever.  It was by far the largest Israeli gas field ever discovered.  However, that remained true for less than 2 years because the gigantic Leviathan gas field about 20 miles further east (and still in Israeli waters) was found in December, 2010.  Originally thought to contain 18.91 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, the estimate is now 21.93 tcf.  Gas should start flowing from that reservoir in 2018, and together with Tamar, should propel Israel to be a leading exporter of gas in years ahead.

Then, count the Royee gas field (the third largest Israeli field at about 3.2 tcf) among the major finds in Israeli waters!  Just recently found, it is unclear whether or not Israel will even begin extracting the gas from that field, as there is so much gas in the Tamar and Leviathan fields.  Also, the US Geological Survey indicates that larger gas fields may be found.

Why is discovery of natural gas big news, and how does it fit in Bible prophecy?  Great questions…but too much to answer in one post!  The short answer is this: Israel has something that everyone else in the region wants!  With it, the Israeli economy booms and everyone wants a piece of the pie!  There is more to this story, so check back over the next few days as I share “the rest of the story.”

But meanwhile, feel free to take a peek ahead by studying Ezekiel 38!  You’ll put the pieces together easily enough!

Happy Lord’s Day!