Recently another blogger and I were having a discussion(http://kfc.joeuser.com/article/337204/This_Woman_is_a_Whore) over a comment I made about how reading the bible  today is very similar to reading the secular newspapers when it comes to end time events.  Everything is lining up exactly as we were told by the prophets of old.  It's really quite amazing. 

In other words much of what was written two thousand years ago is very applicable today.  The signs they told us to watch out for are here like we've never seen before in history.

I know there were times in the past especially during wartimes when many thought it was the end of the world, but many didn't realize, while the expectation of the end was always to be near to our hearts and minds, certain events had to be in place first.   There is a definite scenerio that is to be played out exactly as written.  So let it be written, so let it be done. 

For instance, never before in world history have we been on the brink of world wide globalism like we are today.  That is a must before much of anything is going to happen.  Alexander the Great conqured the known world but died at 32 way before his time because it wasn't time yet.  His kingdom was then divided by his four Generals.  Hitler came close but failed at the last hour because God said "it's not time yet."   Even well before all this, in the beginning of time, there was a man named Nimrod who also tried to bring about globalism in his revolt against God. He failed miserably because God intervened.  It wasn't time yet. 

When I read the newspaper today it's like reading prophecy coming true before my very eyes.  I am not alone.  There are many of us all across the world who are waiting with expectation.  Is this it?  Are we living in the times that we've been reading about for so long?  Aren't we asking the same questions as the saints in Revelation 6 who said "how long O Lord?"  These saints whom John wrote about were futuristic.   Is it now? 

How much longer are we going to see mankind attack, beat, rape, and murder one another mostly over such trivial matters?  How much longer are we going to witness family members killing one another?  Little children being thrown away by their parents or in a fit of rage flinging them across the room smashing their little heads into concrete or submerging them in water  drowning out their cries and the burden they have become?   Such stories are filling our airwaves and newspapers and we are becoming desensitized daily by the sheer amount of such incidences. 

Anyhow back to the news.  Monday the Prime minister of England, Gordon Brown, said this:

"We could allow this crisis to start a retreat from globalisation," he said. "Or we could view the threats and challenges ... as the difficult birth pangs of a new global order."   "The fragility of the global financial system must be addressed internationally," Brown said. "If what happens to a bank in one country can, within minutes, bring potentially devastating effects on banks in a different continent, then only a truly international response -- in policy and governance -- can be effective."    http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090126/tpl-uk-britain-politics-brown1-43a8d4f_1.html

This was read to me yesterday in a very large setting (300 strong) of Christians who meet together  regularly on Tuesdays here to discuss such matters.  The gasp, as this was being read, was very audible.  We understand the implications behind such a statement.  It's here.  Is this it for sure?  Time will tell as events unfold in the coming days.   

When Jesus was asked about the "sign" of the end of the age he responded with a wonderful but frightening outline of future events in Matthew 24.  Much later John echoed exactly this in Revelation, especially in Chapters 6-7.   What Christians for centuries have been waiting for are the birth pangs or the beginning of suffering that would culminate into a new world order.  These birth pangs, much like in the birth of a child, would come first.  After the suffering of these birth pangs would come the time of the end.  But you know your time of delivery is near when you first receive those birth pangs.   He said this:

"Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name saying I am Christ (a position or office not name) and shall deceive many.  And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that you be not troubled for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places.  All thse are the beginning of sorrows (birth pangs).  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake (Jews and Christians).  And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise and they shall deceive many (anti-Christs).  And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."   Matt 24.