“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye not be troubled: for all these things must come to pass, BUT THE END IS NOT YET (capitals mine). For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes , in diverse places. ALL THESE ARE THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS (capitals mine).”

Matthew 24:6-8

I recently read an article where the author said, “What if 2020 was not the storm, but maybe the calm before the storm?”

Regardless of how bad 2020 may now seem, we must remember it is only the “…beginning of sorrows.” THE storm has not yet arrived. If you read and understand the prophecies of the Bible, especially what has been told to us in the Books of Matthew and Revelation, then I believe you will wholeheartedly agree there are some really, really bad times coming, much worse than anything we saw in 2020! I know to some this may seem pessimistic, and indeed impossible.

Afterall, we have in just the past 12 months experienced a global pandemic that has already killed almost 2 million people and caused a global economic “depression” not seen since the Great Depression almost 100 years ago. We also saw a hurricane season that has now gone down as the worst in recorded history, and a forest fire season on the west coast of the United States and in Australia that has burned more acreage than anything ever previously recorded. The race riots of last summer all over the country, which point to the Biblically prophesied spread of lawlessness, are the worst I have ever seen and the willingness of elected officials to not only allow it, but vote to enable it by defunding the police, borders on ridiculousness.

“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone FOR ALL PEOPLE (capitals mine): all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”

Zechariah 12:3

In 2020, the United Nations (“…all the people of the earth”) issued 17 condemnations against the Nation of Israel while issuing only 6 TOTAL against all the other countries of the world. These are countries like China, Syria, North Korea, Iran, etc. Do you not see the prophetic nature of 2020? The world is aligned against Israel, a nation of only 8 million Arabs and Jews, yet they were condemned almost 3X more than all other countries totaling 7.5 BILLION people! Yes, we are in the Last Days.

Add to all this the enormous locust plagues in Africa and the Middle East that have some estimating will cause a potential global famine next year that could ultimately kill up to 50 million people. And, with only a few days left to go in this year, the USA has already seen more Americans die from all causes combined than any other year in the entire history of our country, estimated now to reach 3.2 million.  Some reports are saying 40 million Americans may be evicted from their homes because of their inability to pay their rent due to lockdowns and millions and millions of children will be negatively affected for years to come due to the lockdowns imposed on schools. This will definitely and negatively affect this next generation for decades. Put depression and loneliness, aligned with opioid use and alcohol consumption at a time when churches have been mandated to be closed while strip clubs and bars remain open and I believe you can see why so many people believe it can’t get any worse. Lest we forget, 2020 also had the most contentious political election in the USA in many, many decades.  Many believe it will definitely change our nation for the worse for generations to come, and in fact, could set up a socialist (aka globalist) government in line with the Bible prophesied One World government of the anti-christ. Speaking of which, yesterday I read an article that says the pope will be stepping down shortly. Could this possibly set up a scenario where his ultimate replacement could be the False Prophet?

So, you thought 2020 was bad?

“And he (the antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (seven years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation (of worship) to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it  (the Temple) desolate, even until the consummation (the Return of Jesus), and that determined (God’s Wrath) shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Daniel 9:27

This timing is critical to understand the importance of what the Bible tells us about the final seven years prior to Jesus Christ’s Return at Armageddon. These seven years are referred to as the Seventieth week of Daniel discussed in the Book of Daniel, chapter 9. This tells us of two separate past events in the history of the Jews and their two previous Holy Temples. These two events have already occurred and combined add up exactly to 69 weeks of years, or 483 years. But, there is one final week, or seven years, yet to happen! What event specifically starts that final week (7 years), the Tribulation period?

In the Last Days, the anti-christ will confirm THE covenant with the Jews and many others (Not Trump’s Abraham Accord, but God’s Abrahamic Covenant is about to be Confirmed!), setting up the beginning of the final week or seven years. of Daniel’s prophecy. These seven years are referred to as the Tribulation period. At the midpoint or those 7 years with 3 1/2 years still remaining, the anti-christ causes the Abomination of Desolation where he walks into the finally rebuilt 3rd Holy Temple in Jerusalem and desecrates it by proclaiming  he is God and demands to be worshipped as God. These last 3 1/2 years are referred to as the Great Tribulation. During the 7 year Tribulation period there will be many terrible events on the earth (50 Bible Prophecies that prove we are in the Last Days!), but the Great Tribulation, the final 3 1/2 years will be the absolute WORST time period the world has ever or will ever experience. Pain and suffering will never, ever be as bad as it will be at that time. Yes, it will be far worse than 2020!

“Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know, what withholdeth that he (the anti-christ) might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity (sin) doth already work: only he (the Holy Spirit) who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way (at the Rapture with the Believers). AND THEN SHALL THAT WICKED (anti-christ) BE REVEALED (capitals mine), whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (at Jesus’s Second Coming).”

2 Thessalonians 2:5-8

This Scripture is very revealing BECAUSE it clearly states the anti-christ will be revealed only after “…only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” The Holy Spirit allows Satan to get away with bad things but he is always limited by the the Will of God through the Holy Spirit. Man is sinful and God allows man to sin and pay the price for his wickedness. But the Holy Spirit is there to restrict Satan when he usurps more power and authority than has been given to him by God. However, when the Holy Spirit is “…taken out of the way” we know the Believers in Christ will also be taken out of the way so we are not susceptible to God’s Coming Wrath:

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION (capitals mine) which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

Revelation 3:10

That makes it pretty clear! The anti-christ will not be revealed until after the Believers have been Raptured out of this world so we don’t have to endure the Wrath of God that is about to be unleashed with the unveiling of the anti-christ, “…then shall that wicked be revealed.” The absolute beauty and righteousness of God’s Plan is He has told us what to expect as a result of sin in this world BUT He has also told us we can escape it. By accepting that Jesus Christ came to this earth as a sacrifice for our sins and if we simply accept His gift of Salvation, we have been told we WILL escape the worst time period in all of history.

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Matthew 24:21

If you want to read more of what has been prophesied to occur after the Rapture and after anti-christ is revealed, I highly recommend reading my previous post, Did Millions of People Just Disappear? You Better Read This NOW!. Jesus Himself told us the worst time in all of history is YET to come. But by believing in Him and His Sacrifice for our sins, we won’t have to go through it. That is comforting! 2020 was very bad but can you imagine knowing something even far worse is yet to happen but you have a personal choice as to whether you try to endure it or you instead decide to join Jesus Christ in the clouds at the Rapture and go on to live eternally in peace and joy with Him in Heaven? That is our choice! If you agree with me, make sure you tell others suffering in these terrible times and “…comfort one another with these words.” His Word, not mine!

Times right now are very bad but your choice to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior will determine whether the future is far worse or indescribably better. Yep, I agree that is a simple choice to make!

May God Bless you!