A year ago, I thought the Rapture would happen during 2024. Although we remain earthbound, the signs of the approaching Tribulation period continue to reach new heights in both frequency and intensity. We live in the season of Jesus’ appearing to take us home to glory; He could come for us at any moment. We are ever so close to the midnight hour for us, the Rapture, and the world, the Day of the Lord.
Below, I have selected seven key news stories from the past year that continue to shout with the message that we live in the last days leading up to the start of the Tribulation period.
1. Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Peace Initiative
Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, spearheaded a gathering of nations during closing months of 2024. His purpose was to begin the process of establishing a Palestinian state by means of a seven to ten-year peace agreement with Israel. The next meeting is scheduled for June 2-4, 2025, at the UN.
The interest of so many nations in the fate of Jerusalem tells us that the fulfillment of Zechariah 12:1-3 is happening before our eyes. It’s more than a little stunning that the result of this ongoing initiative might eventually lead to the prophesied seven-year peace accord with Israel. How close might we be to the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27 and the start of Daniel’s seventieth week and the Tribulation period?
Even if next year’s meeting doesn’t result in the antichrist’s seven-year deal with Israel, is it not significant that we already see the planning for this future covenant with the many?
2. Donald Trump’s Reelection as President
Donald Trump’s election victory is good news for Israel as well as for the American people. Once he takes office, the congress-approved weapons will flow freely to Israel.
With respect to the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27, his win might enhance the peace negotiations already taking place. Once in office, Trump will likely revitalize his “Deal of the Century” plan from 2020 whereby he sought to resolve the Palestinian issue.
How might Trump’s reelection factor into the antichrist’s future peace initiative?
First, Israel will feel more secure with him as the U.S. President and as a result have a greater willingness to accept a seven-year peace accord.
Second, many in Israel view Trump as sympathetic with their desire for a third temple. I believe his election increases the probability that the third temple will be a part any future peace covenant.
3. The Continuing Attacks Against Israel
If Israel is to accept the peace deal offered by the antichrist in fulfillment of Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15, we would expect to see the nation besieged by warfare and continual threats of deadly attacks. If they were at peace with their neighbors, they would have no reason to enter into such a covenant. In other words, their current experience is exactly what we would expect to see in the months or years leading to their acceptance of the peace covenant that the beast will offer.
Despite delivering crushing blows to both Hamas and Hezbollah in 2024, these terrorist organizations remain active and capable of deadly attacks. There’s also the threat of another Iranian missile attack on Israel and perhaps the future invasion of Israel described in Ezekiel 38-39. The continuing threats will eventually lead to a war-weary Israel agreeing to the terms of the antichrist. I believe the new regime in Syria will also pose a new threat to Israel in the future.
4. The Fall of Syria
The rapid fall of Syria to the rebel coalition surprised many. Although the surrender of Damascus in recent days is not the fulfillment of Isaiah 17:1, we are now a giant step closer to seeing its fulfillment. The concern over the weapons left behind by the deposed government under Bashar al-Assad led to 300 Israeli airstrikes within a twenty-four hour period against the leftover armaments of Assad’s military. There’s an ongoing concern about the chemical weapons that the former regime possessed and used.
Amir Tsarfati noted on Telegram that while new leaders of Syria seek to portray themselves as moderate, they are “ISIS and Al Qaeda in a new face – that’s all.” Although many in Syria rejoice at the removal of the wicked and brutal Bashar al-Assad, dark and chaotic days lie ahead for the nation. The future and total destruction of Damascus is now more likely to happen in the near term than it was a few weeks ago.
5. UN 2.0
In September, the UN member nations voted to significantly strengthen the power of the UN. The summary of the approved proposed used the phrase “UN 2.0” to refer to its enhanced authority over the nations. Although we have yet to see the impact of this, it signifies the growing acceptance of most nations of the necessity of a powerful central government. The strengthened UN provides the structure needed for the establishment of the new world order that will rapidly materialize after the Rapture, if not before.
At the September 2024 UN summit, the nations also strengthened their resolve to implement Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in their respective countries. The development of these systems has huge prophetic implications. At some point, the elite will combine all the individual CBDCs into one, which will enable the beast to control all the buying and selling by the midpoint of the Tribulation.
What took place at the UN in September 2024 is preparing the world’s stage for the antichrist’s rapid rise to world dominance after the Rapture. It’s exactly what we would expect to see in the last days and it’s happening before our eyes.
6. America’s National Debt
America’s gigantic national debt is a ticking time bomb that will someday explode and bring economic devastation to the U.S. as well as to much of the world. The future U.S. debt explosion will be a key factor that leads to dire conditions of Revelation 6:5-6.
Recently, America’s debt level reached thirty-six trillion dollars with 1.4 trillion needed each year just to cover the interest. It’s only the Lord’s restraining hand that keeps this from bringing financial ruin to the US and many other nations.
Despite the dedication of President-elect Trump and his team to bring the runaway government spending under control, it’s likely too late to avoid the economic Armageddon that lies ahead for the US.
7. NATO’s Permission for Ukraine to Fire Missiles into Russia
In November, President Biden led the way in approving Ukraine’s use of America’s missiles to strike within the territory of Russia. Once NATO missiles began to cause death and destruction with his nation, I anticipated Vladimir Putin to quickly retaliate by attacking the U.S. and its allies. Although such a large-scale response has not yet happened, many claim that WWIII has already begun.
Is this not another sign that the second rider of the apocalypse will soon ride across the planet (Revelation 6:2-3, 7-8)? Although the Lord continues to restrain this future catastrophic eruption of violence, we now have a clearer picture of what lies ahead for the world after the Rapture. At the moment, the US government is doing all it can to spark a deadly conflict with Russia.
As we await our departure from earth to the place that Jesus is preparing for us in Heaven, the above sampling of headlines from 2024 tells us that we are ever so close to meeting Him in the air. The stories from the past year paint a picture of a world on the edge of the Day of the Lord, which will quickly follow the Rapture.
Note: In Hereafter, It’s Far Better Than You Can Imagine, Terry James and I describe the future glory that awaits us as believers beginning with Jesus’ appearing to take us home. From beginning to end, we emphasize the jubilant joy that awaits us in Heaven. The last chapter contains twenty-seven frequently asked questions and answers pertaining to Heaven and our experience there.
Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on the home page of my website at https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/. Thanks!