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-For today’s New Years Day update, I think I would be grossly remiss were I not to talk about what may be in store for the world in the year 2012. -If you’re one who believes the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world on December 21st, then you still have 355 days left to be prepared. -If on the other hand, you believe what the Bible predicts then you may really only have one day to be prepared, because no one knows the day.

-Be that as it may let me hasten to say that I am in no way making predictions for 2012 rather, they are prophecies that we should watch in 2012. -The common denominator in what we’re about to see, is that there’s an acceleration of sorts in how everything starts happening simultaneously. -It really has to happen this fast in and in this way because if you think about it, there’s no way the Anti-Christ could do everything in seven years.

-This suggests certain prophecies that ultimately find their fulfillment in, during and at the end of the tribulation must begin to come to pass, prior. -I believe that we are now witnessing exactly that, namely, specific prophesies in the Bible coming together at break neck speed and in real time. -So, what follows are, in no particular order, what I’ll call the “biggies,” meaning that they are, for the most part, the major prophesies in the Bible.

1. The escalating of unspeakable ungodliness as it waxes worse seemingly by the day

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. (2) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, (4) treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— (5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

2. The looming imminence of allied Islamic nations attacking Israel seemingly any day

Psalms 83:4-5 NIV "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." (5) With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you—

Ezekiel 38:8 NIV After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.

3. The uniting of all world’s religions preparing the way for the Anti-Christ’s rule on that day

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 KJV (3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

4. The increasing of epic natural disasters in frequency and intensity possibly every day

Matthew 24:4-8 KJV And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (6) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.

5. The impending economic collapse and ensuing governmental chaos ushering in a new day

Revelation 6:5-6 NIV When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. (6) Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"

-In the interest of time, I’m forced to stop here with the realization that I’ve painted the canvass of prophecy with a broad brush of current events. -My hope is that at the least, this will encourage us to not give up on the rapture and encourage one another as we see the day fast approaching.

Hebrews 10:25b NIV …but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

-I’ll close this prophecy update by sharing with you a most fascinating true story I heard about through our Calvary Chapel pastor’s list server.

In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. …At 10 minutes a 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent -without exception -forced their children to move on quickly. At 45 minutes the musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.00. After 1 hour he finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music. This was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. This experiment raised several questions. …One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... How many other things are we missing as we rush through life? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myq8upzJDJc

-How many people will stop and listen to the Savior of the world, speaking the only truth ever written, offering the most beautiful gift ever made? -How many people with all of their New Years resolutions will continue to rush through life, missing the music that is being played for eternal life? -One last thought, I wonder if we, like those children, without exception, taking notice wanting to listen, must become like a child in order to listen.