Several years ago, good friends of mine talked me into riding a rollercoaster.  I’m not much of a rollercoaster fan, so was very resistant to the idea.  Therefore, before “the big one,” they insisted that I ride “the small one” that only dropped me about 100 feet at somewhere around 50 mph.  After surviving that one a couple times (without tossing cookies or anything else!), they insisted it was time for the real fun to begin.  They dragged me kicking and screaming to “the big one”…a rollercoaster which, at the time, boasted one of the longest, steepest, fastest drops in the world when it wasn’t turning riders upside down and twisting itself into a pretzel.  It was less than 2 minutes of sheer terror.  (Though I have to admit, getting the bajeebers scared out of me must have done something, as I agreed to ride it again…this time with my eyes open and my mouth closed!)  It was the ride of my life, and I have not been on a rollercoaster since!

Well, fellow sojourners, that ride doesn’t compare to the one we may experience in the days, weeks, and years to come (if the Lord tarries!)  I believe we are at a very critical juncture in history, and what takes place in the days to come may well have a far-reaching impact into the future.  We seem to be climbing aboard “the big one,” and I don’t think we’re at an amusement park.

Here is what I mean:

• March 31 is the deadline in which the P5+1 (US, Britain, France, China, and Russia – 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, + Germany) and Iran will finalize a “framework agreement” regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Iran gaining nuclear capability is a game-changer for the remaining days on this earth!  It is extremely threatening to Israel, who the Iranian regime has vowed multiple times to “wipe off the map.”  But it is also very threatening to allies in the Middle East (such as Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia), as well as the US homeland.  While Iran sees Israel as the “Little Satan,” and has vowed to wipe them out, they have dubbed the US the “Great Satan.”  What do you suppose they want to do to us?
• On March 3, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be in Washington DC to address a joint session of Congress. He has been very clear about the danger a nuclear Iran poses to Israel, and has been invited to address that concern before Congress.  This is a very unpopular move in the eyes of many Democrats, and particularly President Obama, VP Joe Biden, and Secretary of State John Kerry.  None of the Big 3 will attend Netanyahu’s speech, nor will they meet with him while he is in Washington.  Obviously, the rift between the current administrations in Israel and the US is very wide, and very dangerous to the national security of both nations.
• On March 17, Israelis will go to the polls to elect the next Prime Minister. Elections work much differently in Israel than in the US, as the representative government in Israel is built on coalitions of multiple parties.  Netanyahu is considered by most to be the frontrunner for re-election as Prime Minister, though the race will likely be very close.  According to most experts I’ve read, there is no one in Israel more seasoned or steadier in the highly volatile foreign policy arena than Benjamin Netanyahu.  (That opinion is not held by all.)  Israel is in great need right now of leadership who understands the times, with the knowledge of what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32).
• ISIS is poised to continue bullying its way to regional power in Iraq, with the ambition of controlling the world. They will maim, rape, behead, or burn to death those who stand in their way…or those who simply disagree with them.  Jordan is in a fight for its life, and ISIS has ambitions in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.  Yet, we don’t see the most powerful world leaders and militaries boldly standing up to say, “That’s not right, and we won’t let it happen!”
• While eyes are on ISIS and Iran, Russia semi-quietly is taking Ukrainian territory, Hamas is re-arming in Gaza, chemical weapons are being smuggled out of Syria into Hezbollah hands, ISIS-like groups are gaining footholds in places like Libya and Yemen, Syrian civil war pours over the Israeli border at times, and Boko Haram continues to rampage (just as brutally as ISIS) across parts of Africa.
• Here at home, our military is being disarmed, national debt is so high we will likely never recover, entitlement programs may have reached the point of no return in regard to funding, morality is circling the drain with increasing speed, and terrorist cells are simply biding time until they are given commands to launch terror attacks inside our borders.
• We haven’t even talked about North Korea and China…both with ambitions to destroy western ideals and nations.

We’re on the cusp of chaos!  I recall, while taking that rollercoaster ride, inching up a very long incline, knowing that, when we reached the top it would leave me breathless and hanging on for dear life.  Well, we’re inching up the “last days incline” right now.  I’m not sure how far it is to the top, but I know that when we get there, there is only one direction to go.  We’ll be suspended momentarily on the precipice, only to fall headlong into sheer terror.

The Bible tells us that day will most certainly come.  At some point the Antichrist will arrive on the scene and make a covenant with Israel.  That will throw the world into the Tribulation…that headlong fall of 7 years of sheer terror.  Yes, as believers, we are grateful that the rapture of our Lord Jesus Christ will rescue us from that wrath.  However, it doesn’t mean we won’t go through the twists, turns, ups and downs until that fateful day.

Friends, no one knows the day or the hour, and we’re warned not to set dates.  I will not do so here.  However, Jesus also encouraged His followers to know the season.  As birth pangs signal the birth of a child, earthly birth pangs signal the last days.  Those birth pangs are all around us, and I agree with Franklin Graham who recently stated:

“As I read the news, I can’t help but wonder if we are in the last hours before our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rescue His church and God pours out His wrath on the world for the rejection of His Son. I don’t know if we have hours, days, months, or years—but as Christians, God calls us to take the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  Our job is to warn sinners of the consequences of sin and show them that God is loving and gracious, willing to forgive if we come to Him in repentance and faith.”
~cnsnews.com

Netanyahu’s speech to Congress is first up on the calendar of soon-coming major events, and other significant events will follow over the next few months.  Thus, I urge Christians everywhere to pray urgently and consistently for:

• A Third Great Awakening — a sweeping spiritual revival — in the U.S. and Canada.
• The peace of Jerusalem — geopolitical but also spiritual peace through the Prince of Peace
• The Palestinian people in Gaza to be liberated from the reign of terror imposed by Hamas and other terrorist groups
• Israeli, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders to have wisdom to know how best to protect their citizens going forward and live in quiet and calm with their neighbors
• The President of the United States and his top advisors to have a change of heart and to truly stand unequivocally with Israel, America’s best friend and most faithful ally in the Mideast
• The President and other nations to know how best to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons, defeat ISIS and stop the genocide, and prevent terror attacks on the U.S. and our allies
• Persecuted Christians throughout the epicenter to be brave and bold for Christ and faithful lights amidst such darkness
• The protection of moderate Arabs and other Muslims in the region from Radical Islam, particularly in Jordan
• The Lord to strengthen His Church and reveal His Word and the transforming power of the Gospel to all the people of the epicenter, and that the Father would draw them to His Son
  (List borrowed from a Joel Rosenberg email blast – 2/24/15)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
~Ephesians 6:12-13

Come on, Prayer Warriors!  Let’s fight the battle together on our knees!