THE MIDNIGHT HOUR IS UPON US

By Pastor Mike Taylor

34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36)

As we slide further into the time of the end, and the bright sunny days continue to be spiritually dark, it is common for us to look around for an indicator of how long it will be until Jesus Christ  returns. We might scan the horizon for any clue to how and when the end-time prophecies will be fulfilled and Christ will return. We watch events as the world continues to churn seemingly out of control. We see many key prophecies being fulfilled and those on the verge of fulfillment.

According to the Bible, the world in the last days is divided up into four distinct power blocs.

1. The Western Alliance of Revived Roman Empire spoken of in Daniel chapter 9.
2. The Kings of the South to include all of Africa to include Islamic countries to its northern half. (Dan 11:40)
3. The kings of the east to include China and southeast Asia including N. Korea who is in our news lately. (Revelation chp. 16)
4. Gog-Magog alliance of Russian backed Islamic countries mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.

Of these power blocs, the Bible prophesies distinct descriptions of these four global spheres of mankind's attempt to rule himself, independent of the God of heaven.

These four power spheres have been realigning themselves in regional covenants that would have been unheard of not over 50 years ago, as they were natural enemies of one another. This seems to be happening without rhyme or reason, but for political purposes and fulfilling prophecy written down by the prophets, they are coming to pass.

There are actually five spheres beyond those mentioned, and that fifth is the United States. Most of the world is turning against her domination of the economy of the world and her military might that has been second to none in the last 70 years since the birth of Israel and the end of the last world war. But she is growing more isolated as the USA (at the moment) does not align herself with the world powers that be against our only real friend found in the nation of Israel. The rest are “friends of convenience” because at the present, they need us, as the world's economy is tied to the dollar and the economy of the USA is what is holding this world's nations together.



For if the USA would fall, then this world would be in immediate chaos. So those who proclaim friendship with the American people, are not really “friends” using us for our wealth and resources to prop up their own economies. From the last “administration” that did nothing but apologize for this country and went on a world tour to foster friendship among our most natural enemies, the Islamic countries of the Middle East and Africa, she finds herself suddenly lonely and in conflict with the rest of the world, for the policies of the Trump Administration who has deemed that we must take care of ourselves and “Make America Great Again”. This which flies in the face of the plans for a One World Government and a new World Order that the last “idiot” who occupied the Oval Office tried to implement.

Some of these pretend “friends” include Arabic nations such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, and even Egypt. Others include our once NATO allies of France and Germany which are at odds with the USA over the Iranian Nuclear Deal that did nothing but give Iran the green light to build the bomb. They are our “friends” because at the present they are not our enemies...at least not yet.

It is no accident that our only true friend in the sea of nations, (as mentioned) is the tiny democratic government of Israel, as she is in the bulls-eye of the end time events that are soon to play out all over your TV sets and the internet. As most of you know, Israel is the door to end time prophecy and Jerusalem is the key to that door of the fulfillment of prophecy of the end times, that was given over 2500 years ago, written down by men who spoke as the Holy Spirit moved them. The Old World powers are in a rage that the USA would actually recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capitol and move our embassy to that city.



Besides that, no one who is alive and awake, can miss all the news concerning what is going on in the Middle East concerning Russia, Iran, and Syria. They have terrorist proxies of Hamas, Hezebollah, and the Islamic Jihad to mention the main players who do their bidding in terrorist activities against Israel.
Many believe, including this writer, that war could break out at any given moment, but it will be based on the timing of God's will. Iran is invading the northern borders of Israel's Golan Heights and building missile factories that are a real threat to the security of Israel. We have seen clashes of Iran and Israel lately over Iranian spy drones and an IDF plane being shot down, and Israel stepping up attacks on clear and present danger as Iran attempts to become a major power broker in this region of the world. Iranian threats to Israel are real.



ON THE BRINK OF WARS IN THE MIDDLE EAST



Two wars come to mind instantly when you speak of hostilities breaking out concerning Israel and her Islamic neighbors. The first, that I believe will happen first and possibly soon, is the Psalm 83 war that describes Israel decimating all of her enemies that surround her country from all sides. With God's Divine help, Israel will be victorious and acquire major lands in her conquest of those who cause her to engage in mass destruction of her opposing enemies. This war could also see the Oracle of Damascus being fulfilled and the city never to be inhabited again. I see Islam being set back on her heels when Israel takes land from Egypt east of the Nile River to the river Euphrates in Iraq in a war that will be swiftly won, because Israel has greater firepower than those who surrounds her, and they should know it. There will be casualties on both sides, but Israel will win. The Arab nations have tried before to wipe Israel out of existence and failed miserably even with huge troop advantages and weapons, but Israel has a “Secret Weapon” that will not abandon her, and that is ALMIGHTY GOD.



The next war past the victory won by Israel against her neighbors is the prophesied Gog-Magog war that involves nations that have not been conquered by Israel, meaning Russia, Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, Turkey, and possibly nations of eastern Europe. This war comes after the war of defense inflicted on invading Arab neighbors and we don't know how long a period between these two wars will Israel have peace and security they have longed for.

But returning to those spheres of influence, as measured from the Holy City of Jerusalem, Russia is to the north, China is the east, Islamic nations in the Middle East and Africa to the south, and the rising revived Roman Empire found in Europe to the west, in the old world found across the big pond of the Atlantic, those are the divisions of power.

WHERE IS AMERICA?

Apart from these regional actors, the fifth and most powerful sphere of influence is the United States which is resented by all of the other power brokers in the Old World. The coming wars, especially the Gog-Magog war will engulf the whole world. Reading Ezekiel 38-39 gives us the actors that will come against Israel just before a regional war draws all people into a conflict that threatens to rage out of control and cause a 3^rd World War.


As we read God's Word, it gives a role to each of these four Old World players on the end time events, -Gog-Magog, the Kings of the East, the Kings of South, and the coming Revised Roman Empire headed by the Anti-Christ. But there is one glaring absence of one global powerhouse of influence that is not mentioned in this coming Middle East war that causes fears of the world bodies that it will spread world wide. That absent influence currently held by the lone superpower on earth, that fifth sphere mentioned found in the United States which the Bible's passage are completely silent on.
There are possible reasons why she is not mentioned, at least by name and I believe this will happen in the coming tribulation:

1. the American continent is devastated with an EMP attack that sends her back into the dark ages, and 90% of her people have died of starvation.
   
2. The Yellowstone cauldron has exploded and the nation is enveloped in a ash cloud that blocks out the sun, and she is unable to produce anything to feed herself and all plant life dies.
   
3. The outside chance that the USA is itself the Beast power is the one directing the invasion and supplying troops for that end. (and unlikely scenario) but possible as I have explored in the past.
   
4. The another possible reason for her inability to respond to the invasion of Israel is the “rapture of the church” that has decimated her economically with millions suddenly disappearing and her inability to respond to an invasion that the atheist and Muslim world takes advantage of. This would cause the nations economy to virtually implode and eliminate her from being a world power because of the chaos that will ensue, and spreads to the rest of the world. As we know America was the center of Judeo-Christian beliefs in the past, but has been declining in moral character since the 1960s and has become the leader in sins of the flesh that produces porn, destroys life in the womb, and gives special favors to the homosexual crowds in this country, but to name a few.
   
   Whichever event comes to pass remains to be seen. But as we view the political landscape within the lens of Bible prophecy, we as Christians must be anticipating the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the world landscape is shaping up for these two wars to be fought soon. Mankind in our modern age, has attempted to eliminate all aspects of God from public life. This all started in this country, in theory, when the Supreme Court outlawed prayer in our schools and saying Bible verses to memory, and our nation has been going down a slippery slope since that time. Our children in a couple of generations have not been taught the principles of Godly living, from one generation who grew up without God in their lives, now they have passed it on to their kids, and those grown kids have passed along their ungodly nature to their kids as we see our culture virtually imploding with violence in the streets, immigration gone wild bringing diseases and lawlessness into this country, and this violence spreading to our schools where it originated, and children being shot in massacres that we can only be in total shock how this could even happen in this country.

Even lately, the sleepy towns in the Midwest have had threats of violence of “shooting up the school” by teens and pre-teens who have hit the news lately. This even happened at my old high school that I graduated from and my grandsons attend. The world truly has gone mad and not even our kids are safe in what used to be a safe environment, our local schools. We are still a country, by a majority that believes in Judeo-Christian beliefs, but that is dwindling by the day as they are being ostracized and shouted down from public debate by those who hate anything to do with God. But Christianity has no nationality, as Jesus said that we are in the world, but not of it. That is for Christians who have put their faith and trust in Jesus, and it covers the whole world. Jesus said those who have put their trust in Him alone, are but strangers and pilgrims in this God-forsaken world. The apostle Peter and our Lord Jesus spoke of that very fact of our end times.

10 “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”(1^st Peter 2:10-12)

12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

That would describe our world pretty well those who love others,and those who do not, with lawlessness abounding all across Europe, the Middle East, and now growing unabated in the land I grew up in, we called, “the good ol' USA”...but it she still good?

I have noticed a decline in our national character and it has been coming on for years, but has grown exponentially in the last 15 years or so, and got really bad, back when this past “so called POTUS” was elected twice and was determined to “Change America” and he sure did and not for the better.

NO TIME FOR FEAR

This is a time for Christians in this nation to band together, to pray earnestly for this country, to band together and redouble our effect to inform the world just what is taking place.

7” For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2^nd Timothy 1:7-10)

SIGNS OF THE RETURN OF JESUS ARE EVERYWHERE

The Lord is preparing us for His return. The signs are all around us. Anyone who is diligently watching for the growing pains and the symptoms of our departure from this earth, need not debate the signs, as the debate is pointless over signs, season, and the times of the Lord's return, because we know it is close, right at the door.

50, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

51, Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed'

52, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1^st Corinthians 15:50-52)

We are the Church, those who believe in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and follow His footsteps, of where He walked, we walk likewise, and have promises that cannot be revoked from His Church, His bride who shall see Him, possibly soon. 

19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

The Church of the Living God, those who in the Word of God, know what is coming. There is not a debate. Everyone feels that something is on the horizon. The Christian believer knows it, those who are luke warm sitting in a church, or not sitting at all, and even those who don't believe in anything but themselves, feel that something big is about to happen. You can literally feel it in the air, or in the tensions that are being displayed all over this earth. We see the earth being in convulsions that have never been displayed like it has the last 20 years in every part of the globe. The prophesies that God told us would be the end of the Age of Grace is coming faster and faster, where many are left breathless. We are not fearful, but excited to be living in this time of history. We will see with our own eyes the coming of our Lord Jesus and I look for Him every fall around the Feast of Trumpets, as that is the next marker on God's Plan for Mankind, the departure of His church before the tribulation falls on this world in God wrath and fury.

25” And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:25-28)

The heavens are screaming His soon return. We have seen eclipses, blood moons, total eclipses that passed over the whole center section of the USA, and alignment of stars and planets. We have heard of predictions of outerspace asteroids, and Planet X supposedly coming close to this planet. This planet and our heavens are due to be shaken. Revelation tells us that every island will be moved out of its place and mountains will fall flat during the awful coming “Day of the Lord”.

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.” (Joel 2:1-3)

11 “Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.

12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lordis near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”(Joel 3:11-16)

The above verses speak of the coming Tribulation on the wrath of God falling upon this earth.

The prophet Joel describes in easy to understand language what is to come upon the earth, and people we are bumping right up the days he speaks of. Why do I say that? Because the political drama unfolding in the Middle East will lead to war, and that war will lead to the prophesied Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog war, and friend, my belief is that we won't see that war played out. We won't see the Arab nations led by Iran and Russia destroyed in an “Arab Holocaust” on the mountains of Israel, because right after that, the Son of Peridition, the Anti-Christ will sign a 7 year treaty with Israel and the Tribulation starts in earnest, as this is what reveals the Anti-Christ to the world. Wrath will begin almost immediately, as the world is engulfed in wars, and supernatural events. We are promised that the wrath of God will not be applied to His Church.

10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:10-11)

The church will be KEPT OUT of the Tribulation, not through it, as I have revealed in past messages, that the wording in Greek says we will be removed from one location to another completely away from the time and space of the coming event, known as the Tribulation.

Besides all these events that signal war coming to the Middle East and the fulfilling of prophecy of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39, the kicker is the prophecy that our Lord Jesus gave of who will see these events happen..

32 “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:32-36)

As I have warned many times in the past, Israel is the fig tree that has bloomed in 1948, and Jesus said a generation who see this happen will be alive to see His return for His Church and His Second Coming to reign and rule for a 1000 years.

What is a generation? According to Psalms 90, a generation is 70 year, and 80 years by strength, then we fly away. Guess how many years Israel has been a nation that bloomed? This year it is 70 years....the outside of a generation is that 80 years, but subtract the 7 year tribulation, and you can do simple math to know that we are on the cusp of the Lord's return..Not to make date predictions, but the day and hour we don't know, but we are definitely in the season of the end of that generation. So the political landscape as it heats up, gives us more reason to believe that Jesus is coming, right at the door.

9” For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” (2^nd Thesslonians 5:9-11)

And again Paul emphasizes this fact......

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9)

It is true, my reader, Jesus is coming soon....possibly even this year. I can't be for sure, as He has not told me directly, but His Word is screaming “I AM COMING”.

The fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few. That is why I am sharing this truth with you now. Don't be afraid of the future, as everybody you meet will be afraid. But I have the answer to where you don't have to be afraid either. It is found in two simple passages that I share at the end of every message.

16 “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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:16-18)

Then confess to others your new found belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior...

8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That 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.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:9-11)

Believe that the tribulation is right around the corner in our world, and no one who hears to Word of Truth should have to endure what is coming that will destroy 80% of all mankind in various forms of torture, death and destruction.

Make that decision for Jesus Christ today, then share the Gospel of what Jesus did for you with those around you. We must be prepared and "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"(1 Peter 3:15) ". . .for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Revelation 12:12) And friends, you don't want to be here to see that happen. Accept my Jesus today, make Him your Hero in your life, as He will save you from this world and give you eternal life.

This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying for your deliverance from the sin of this world. If you should need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net,. God bless you all.

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET