Nearing Midnight - In depth weekly commentary

Sept 22

Wall Street’s Financial Meltdown

Last Monday morning I called Terry, and as soon as he picked up the phone, he said, ”I know what you want to talk about.” He knew that I closely follow the financial world, so the events of the preceding weekend were on my mind. Little did we know there would be more disastrous days to come. The bottom of this economic freefall was not reached until Thursday.

We literally came within a hair’s breadth of seeing the whole financial system in America come crashing down. For the first time ever, the whole banking system simply froze. It took an infusion of a trillion dollars by the Fed to get Wall Street’s financial heart beating again.

September 2008 will easily go down as the darkest month in U.S. financial history. We have never seen so many large financial institutions falter in such a short period of time:

1. Mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taken over by the U.S. government.

2. Lehman Brothers holdings succumbed to the subprime mortgage crisis. It is the biggest bankruptcy filing in history.

3. Merrill Lynch was saved from bankruptcy by a shotgun merger with Bank of America.

4. The world’s largest insurer, American International Group, was saved from certain collapse by an $85 billion federal loan.

The most troubling part of the financial crisis is the federal government being forced to become the lender of last resort. In March, the Federal Reserve pledged $30 billion to help JP Morgan buy Bear Sterns. This month, it used $200 billion to take over Fannie and Freddie, and it agreed to loan AIG $85 billion. On Friday came the news of a much larger bailout that could cost $700 billion. The government will create a new entity that will buy up bad loans. Just for giggles, the Treasury also decided to guarantee the $3 trillion that sits in money market accounts.

Most people don’t understand what the Federal Reserve and Treasury folks are doing. Because the taxpayers are the ones who are funding the federal government, any risk taken by the Fed ultimately falls on us. When Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taken over, we assumed responsibility for $5 trillion in mortgage bond obligations. The debt load is equal to each of us co-signing for a $50,000 loan. When AIG was given $85 billion, it was like us writing this company a check for $850.00. The proposed $700 billion trust fund would obligate each taxpayer to a loan amounting to $7,000. Money market funds are regarded as very secure, but to fulfill that new guarantee, you and I are saddled with a $30,000 commitment.

At some point, the rest of the world may wake up and realize that America is funding its standard of living through an endless issuance of debt securities. The indication of his would be a crash in the value of the dollar. The events of this past week have done enormous damage to our nation’s credit with the rest of the world. The German magazine Spiegel reflected this growing view when it said, “It really does look as if the foundations of US capitalism have shattered.”

Several foreign banks and investment trusts have lost billions from buying our sub-prime debt securities. The days of easy money are over. Wall Street is now left to beg nations rich in cash for loans to fund their operations.

This financial bloodbath plays into Bible in many ways. The most important factor would be the shifting of financial power away from America . A few months ago, I read a news report that said London was poised to become the financial capital of the world. Now that so many financial firms have either been totally wiped out or lost huge percentages of their capital base, Wall Street should consider itself lucky if it only slips into second place.

Seeing how easily financial firms can collapse, one right after another, has made me all the more certain of how much more devastating the rapture will be to the American economy. The removal of millions of people from the most Christianized nation on earth will create a huge economic black hole.

Right now, banks are losing around three cents for every dollar invested in mortgage securities. In the aftermath of the rapture, losses will be at least 25 percent. When one out of every ten houses suddenly becomes vacant, the value of homes across the nation will simply implode. Because every bank leverages its holdings by an average of 14 times, it would only take a drop of 8 percent to wipe them out.

Terry and I believe the financial system will likely hold together until the rapture occurs. Jesus said He would come at a time when the Church is not expecting Him. If America fell into a deep economic depression, interest in prophecy would soar, which in turn would create a conflict with the prediction of apathy at the time of the rapture.

I see this record level of economic chaos as a warning sign from God. Money is the greatest idol that people worship. By bringing Wall Street to its knees, the Lord is clearly trying to get the world’s attention. If man ignores this latest warning, as he has done with all the other ones, we are certain to proceed towards judgment.

-- Todd

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The Perfect Prophetic Storm

Part 1

Producers of programming for the networks like The History Channel, Discovery, and National Geographic air documentaries from time to time that are titled something like “The Perfect Storm.” The documentaries look at the several large storms in the northeast United States in 1991 that coalesced off the coast of New England in the Atlantic and swept onshore as one, massive blow. The video shows then-President George Herbert Walker Bush’s home in Kennebunkport, Maine, being assaulted by the turbulent Atlantic.

The “perfect storm” was raging along the northeastern U.S. coast at the same time the Bush administration was involved in negotiating Israel’s future in Spain. Here we are, almost two decades later, and another Bush administration is in the middle of Israel’s business, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice trying to get Israel to divide its land and the city of Jerusalem in order to create a Palestinian state alongside the Jewish state. It seems another perfect storm is coalescing while this American interference in God’s plan is taking place. It is a storm that is part geophysical, part socio-economic, and totally spiritual, in the view of many of us who analyze eschatological matters.

Many see as a miracle Israel’s being back as a nation-state with its own language. Hebrew was once thought lost to the Jewish people as a common language following the last diaspora around 135 A.D., when the Roman emperor Hadrian put down the Jewish insurrection and scattered the Jewish people. Yet it is again Israel’s national language, just as foretold for the time near Christ’s return.

America has been at the forefront of Israel’s birth into modernity. There can be no doubt, upon looking into the history of Israel’s coming back into its God-given land, that the U.S. has been first the midwife at its birth, then its protector–in human terms—assuring its right to exist among the nations of the world.

If I may again do a mini-commercial for my book coming out with Harvest House Publishers in February of 2009, titled The American Apocalypse: Is the United States in Prophecy? I must say that while preparing the manuscript, my research brought home to me the stunning proof of America’s God-ordained destiny. No one can explain to any degree of satisfaction why America isn’t mentioned by name in the Bible. There are many speculations and postulations, but the answer to the question about why the United States is not mentioned in Bible prophecy continues to elude. The answer will have to await the unfolding of history. However, modern Israel is living proof that America was established for God’s great purposes. Those are: 1) the capability to preach the gospel message to the whole world; and 2) to bring Israel to birth on May 14, 1948, then to act as its protector as the Jewish state stood on its feet, as prophesied by Ezekiel, chapter 37.

America is living testimony to the absolute truth of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His prophetic Word. America is the most materially and spiritually blessed nations ever to exist. God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 is thus 100 percent validated: “I will bless those who bless thee, and curse those who curse thee.”

The United States has been the recipient of the first part of that promise. Israel’s satanically driven enemies have been recipients of the second part of that promise, and lie strewn in abject desolation along the dark corridors of history. The proof of America’s coming to birth with a foreordained destiny planned by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, leaps from recent history in fashion that is thunderous. The United States has blessed Israel, and as a result, this nation has brought mankind from the dark recesses of the past to the brightness invented by its illuminated genius. Since the time Benjamin Franklin was shocked by lightning while he experimented with a kite and a key, thus--I am convinced--infusing the soon-to-be founding father with special ideas directly from the finger of God, this nation has electrified –literally—the whole world.

The flip side of America’s comportment as of late, however, is as frightening as its brilliant inventiveness and contribution to modern man has been electrifying. This country, so key to bringing fulfillment of end-times prophecy into focus in human, earthly terms by helping put Israel at stage center on the global scene, at present is now key to setting in motion the time of tribulation –the last seven years of human history preceding Christ’s second advent. The “Roadmap to Peace,” the brain-child of geopolitical strategists in America and the European Union, is pushing forward the, perhaps, predecessor to what God calls "the covenant made with death and hell”.

As a result, God’s perfect prophetic storm of forewarning of wrath to come is blowing across this nation. Wrath and judgment could be just around the corner of the next crisis. We will look more deeply next week into the tempest that is sweeping America and the world toward a destiny foretold by Jesus and the Old and New Testament prophets.

--Terry

Believe in Your Heart

Believe in Your Heart

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If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead you will be saved (Rom 10:9).

We've all confessed (give assent to or acknowledge) with our mouths and understand its importance to our salvation, but what about the "believe in your heart" portion of the verse? In vs. 10 Paul goes on to say that it's with our heart that we believe and are justified. The Greek word translated justify is from dikaios which means innocent or holy. The King James translates this word "believe unto righteousness" meaning that our belief in the resurrection is what brings us our righteousness, allowing God to regard us as though we're innocent of any sin and therefore holy.

The notion of a bodily resurrection is as old as the Bible itself. It's contained in what is arguably the first book of the Bible actually written.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)

King David knew he would see his newly deceased infant son again (2 Sam 12:22-23) and both Isaiah 26:20-21 and Daniel 12:2 promise a bodily resurrection at the end of the age.

Early Christians had a problem with this so Paul devoted a whole chapter to the Corinthians' questions about resurrection going as far as to state, "If Christ has not been raised your faith is futile, you are still in your sins" (1 Cor 15:7). Yet today many who call themselves Christian still don't believe it. Much of liberal theology does not require belief in a bodily resurrection, and even among Evangelicals it's sometimes spiritualized away. We know that if we believe the Bible we are required to believe in a bodily resurrection, but do we know why it's required?

There's More Here Than Meets the Eye

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of world (John 1:29), not just the sins of the Jews or even of those Jews and Gentiles present at the time, but the sins of the world. Every violation of God's law that ever had been or ever would be committed was to be dealt with. Of course this didn't mean that the world would no longer be a sinful place, but that the penalty for the sins of the world would be borne by the Lamb of God. Here's how He did it.

In Roman crucifixions a sign was posted above the head of the one being executed listing the broken laws for which his life was being taken. It was meant as a deterrent for those watching the public executions. In Jesus' case the sign said "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" indicating his crime against Rome was treason. In Col 2:13-14 we're told that in the spiritual realm another sign was also posted. It listed all the sins that mankind ever had or ever would commit. It explained why His life was really being taken.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Notice it says He forgave us all our sins. Not just the ones we committed before we were saved, and not just the ones we commit by accident. He forgave all of our sins, even those we commit willfully and repeatedly.

Hebrews 10:14 says that Jesus offered for all time one sacrifice for sin and then sat down at the right hand of God, because by that one sacrifice He has made us perfect forever. His death took place on one specific day in time, but its effect applies across the span of time to all the days of every man.

But Jesus actually did much more than bear the punishment due us. 2 Cor 5:21 says that God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. In other words, while on the cross He became the physical embodiment of sin. God can not dwell in the presence of sin, nor even look upon it (Haba 1:13) and so had to turn away, separating Himself from His Son. For 3 hours light was taken from the world and for the first time in eternity the 2 were not 1.

If the ultimate punishment for sin is complete separation from God, Jesus suffered it then. It was the only time in the entire ordeal that He complained, crying, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (Matt 27:45-46) When He had died, His punishment over, He no longer personified sin and the light was restored.

What's The Point?

After His resurrection, Jesus looked like other men to His disciples. He walked with them, talked with them, ate with them and permitted them to touch Him to assure themselves He was not just a spirit, but a man with flesh and bone (Luke 24:36-43). His was a bodily resurrection. Later He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

Now here's the point. Remember, God cannot be in the presence of sin or even look upon it (Haba 1:13). Jesus had taken upon himself every sin of mankind, past, present, and future. If even one was left unpaid by His death, Jesus couldn't be in God's presence and would still be in the grave (Rom 6:23). His resurrection is proof of yours. If you cannot believe that God raised Jesus from the dead then you cannot believe that all your sins are forgiven and that He will raise you.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For in Adam all die so in Christ all will be made alive (1 Cor. 15:20-22).

On that Sunday morning in April of 32AD, as the sun was rising the priests in the Temple were preparing for the festival that always begins on the morning after the first Sabbath after Passover. It was First Fruits, signifying the beginning of the spring harvest for the Nation of Israel.

And Mary was going to the tomb with some other women to complete the burial process interrupted by the holy days. But the tomb was empty. The Son had risen, the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

That empty tomb was the clearest sign we have ever received that the Lord had accomplished His mission. The Lamb of God had indeed taken away the sin of the world, all of it.

From that day to this the only qualification for salvation has been to believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. That's His proof that all the sins of your life have been forgiven, so if you don't believe God raised Jesus from the dead, you can't believe that He'll raise you. Selah 06-21-08

After the Rapture

by Todd Strandberg

I realize this web page will be addressing two audiences: those of you who read this page before the rapture and those of you who read it after the rapture. My focus here will be on those who have found this page after the rapture of the Church. For anyone reading this material before the pre-trib rapture, I highly recommend that you ponder the negative consequences of being left behind and seriously consider committing your life to Jesus if you have not done so already.

What's Happened?

Right now, I'm sure there's a tremendous battle going on, with people offering various points of view and trying to explain why much of the population has suddenly disappeared into thin air.

It's likely that the media is teeming with possible explanations for the disappearances. It would be foolish for me to try to guess what authorities will be telling the general population. I will boldly say the cause of this event was supernatural. The mass disappearance of all these people was the result of the Lord Jesus Christ removing from the earth all believers who were spiritually ready. This catching-up of the Christians into heaven is referred to as the rapture of the Church.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words"
(1 Thes 4:16-18).

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality"
(1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

Why Didn't He Take Me?

If you are reading this after the rapture, you need to realize that you have been left behind. At this time, you may be feeling rejected by God. You might be saying to yourself, "Why didn't He take me?" or "I don't understand; I've led a good life." The problem isn’t that God rejected you; the problem is that you have rejected Him. By not committing your life to Jesus and by declining to follow Him, you have left Him with no choice but to leave you behind.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven"
(Matthew 7:21).

"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother"
(Matthew 12:50).

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool"
(Isaiah 1:18).

Is There Hope For Me?

Depending on when you read this article, you may have heard people say, "Because we've missed the rapture, we are lost forever." That assumption is totally wrong! The only way you can find yourself eternally lost is by receiving the Mark of the Beast on your right hand or forehead. Barring that, as long as you have breath in your lungs, you can gain salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior.

"... him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out"
(John 6:37).

"Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"
(Matthew 11:28).

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name"
(John 1:12).

According to Revelation, a huge number of people will be saved during the tribulation. Some scholars have predicted that tribulation believers would grow to outnumber the saints that were just raptured.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands" (Revelation 7:9).

"And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).

Why Do I Need Jesus Christ To Be My Savior?

To be allowed to pass through heaven's gate, you need to have all of your sins removed. The only industrial strength cleanser strong enough to thoroughly remove sin stains is the blood of Jesus Christ.

You could say heaven is much like the "clean rooms" where computer companies make their microchips, and sin is like any dust or dirt that might try to find its way into one of those rooms.

The manufacturing process for microchips requires "clean rooms" to be absolutely spotless, with virtually zero free-floating dust or dirt particles that could damage the delicate microchips.

Because humans are naturally contaminated with all kinds of dirt and dust particles, whenever workers enter one of these "clean rooms," they need to wear a special suit that prevents them from giving off particles.

To prevent heaven from becoming contaminated with sin particles, God has long set the requirement that anyone desiring to enter into His untarnished dwelling place needs to be covered by the blood of Jesus.

The sin decontamination process is very simple - you simply ask Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for it. First, admit your sinful state. Next, ask Jesus to forgive you of your wrongdoings. Finally, make Jesus Christ Lord of your life by surrending your will to Him.

By dying on the cross, Jesus made it possible for each of us to be granted a full pardon from the punishment of eternal damnation. The reason so few people accept this pardon is that they don't think they need a Savior or they want to find their own way of salvation.

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
(Matthew 16:24-26).

"...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation"
(Romans 10:9-10).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
(John 3:16).

Changing Your Direction

After making Jesus the Lord of your life, you need to change the direction of your life. I remember when I was a young lad, I was on vacation with my parents, and we were headed to a city in Minnesota. We made a turn that some of us in the car questioned. It wasn't until almost an hour later that we realized we were definitely headed in the wrong direction. Well, after having a spirited debate about proper automobile navigation, we found our bearings and headed toward our original destination.

Once you realize you have been heading in the wrong direction, the only option that makes sense is to turn right around and start heading in the right direction.

You cannot just say a few words and then continue on your merry way. You need to make a full commitment to Jesus Christ by reading His words and following His examples of holy living.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it"
(Matthew 7:13-14).

There Will Be Strong Delusion

I imagine that on the Sunday immediately following the rapture, every church on earth will be filled to overflowing. Suddenly, all those left behind will discover a need to renew their faith.

Unfortunately, the revival is going to be very short-lived. The Apostle Paul, in the Book of Thessalonians, predicts that because most men's hearts will still love unholy living, they will follow after a deception that God Himself will send. Jesus foretold that the false prophets would arise using "great signs and wonders" to trick people into believing satanic lies.

There will be no middle ground. The people who failed to fully dedicate their lives to Christ will be totally ensnared by the demonic delusion that will sweep over the world.

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness"
(2 Thes 2:10-12).

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect"
(Mat 24:24).

During the next few years, a world leader--whom the Bible calls the Antichrist--will arise. At first, he will seem like the most benevolent leader who has ever held office. However, by the end of the tribulation, he will easily put the likes of Hitler and Stalin to shame. Because the lies of the Antichrist and false prophets will be so pervasive, you will need to assume that everything you read and hear in the mass media is tainted doctrine. Your only source for the truth must now exclusively come from the Bible.

Do Not Trust Christian Leaders

In the coming days, you will see and hear messages from some of the biggest names in Christendom on radio and TV, and these messages won't be ones recorded before the rapture. The broadcasts you'll be hearing will be either live or taped after the rapture. They will be from Christian leaders who have also been left behind.

Millions of people will be reassured by the fact that their favorite Christian celebrities are still here on earth. I expect most of these well-known leaders, possibly out of embarrassment, will be working feverishly to disprove the rapture event. They may say things like, "I don't know where or why those people disappeared, but I will tell you this: That was not the so-called rapture of the Church."

I'm sure it will be quite confusing to hear people who were regarded as the leading authorities on the pre-tribulation rapture now proclaiming contradictory theories. Don't listen to them, no matter how well respected they appear.

Many religious and political leaders will attempt to persuade you into believing some logical explanation for the rapture. All of their lies will be contrary to the Word of God. Remember, they were left behind just like you; what business do they have instructing you?

Enduring To The End

Well, folks, here comes the unpleasant news. Most of you will likely have to choose martyrdom if you wish to maintain your commitment to Jesus Christ. There will be no middle ground. During this tribulation hour, you will have to choose between two masters--the Antichrist or Jesus Christ.

Your decision to follow Jesus will not be a popular one. The majority of the world's population will soon be falling captive to the Antichrist's hypnotic words. Because true believers will refuse to join the chorus of praise, the Antichrist will demand that all nonconforming Christians be put to death.

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints"
(Revelation 13:7-10).

"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled"
(Revelation 6:9-11).

At first, it may seem rather easy to secretly be a follower of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, very soon the Antichrist will be requiring everyone to receive a mark in his or her right hand or forehead. This electronic implant will be the means by which everyone will buy and sell goods and services. If you do not have this implant, it will become quite obvious.

"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name"
(Revelation 13:17).

Because the Bible says that everyone who receives this implant (Mark of the Beast) will be eternally lost, I'm going to strongly advise you to decline the offer when the government informs you that it has your implant ready for insertion.

"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name"
(Revelation 14:11).

In the coming persecution, you will probably face some of the greatest trials that Christians have ever had to endure. How long will you have to endure? From the time the Antichrist declares himself to be God, there will be only 1,260 days until Christ returns to earth.

As time passes and the suffering caused by the tribulation grows more severe, your desire to see Christ should grow all the more stronger. From my understanding of Scripture, I would guess most tribulation saints will not live to see the conclusion of the tribulation. If you are facing a situation that requires you to lay down your life, I promise you that the brief moment of pain will be nothing compared to the pleasures of an eternity in God's glory.

"And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved"
(Matthew 10:22).