Getting Close – By Daymond Duck –https://www.raptureready.com/2018/12/09/getting-close-daymond-duck/ Sadly, most of the world is in darkness, but many students of Bible prophecy believe we are getting close to the return of Jesus to Rapture His Church. Here are some interesting things that have happened recently: First, many believe there will be a global economic collapse during the Tribulation Period. On Nov. 29, 2018, it was reported that the interest on America’s national debt is 1.5 billion dollars a day; it is expected to keep increasing, and experts keep warning that this is unsustainable. Second, according to the Bible, Israel will come back into being and possess great wealth (silver & gold, cattle & goods) in the latter days and latter years; and Russia, Iran and others will seek to steal it (Ezek. 38:8, 13, 16). It has just been announced that Israel has signed an agreement with Italy, Greece and Cyprus to lay 1,242 miles of pipeline to pump up to 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe per year. This will improve Israel’s economy and hurt the economies of Russia and Iran. Third, according to the Bible, no weapon formed against Israel will prosper. Starting at the end of March and continuing until early November, the terrorists in Gaza were launching kites and balloons with firebombs into Israel that burned thousands of acres of crops and trees. The ground was left covered with ashes. But now the rain has started to fall, the pastures are turning green, and the farmers are planting crops again. God is quickly restoring all that was destroyed. Fourth, on Nov. 29, 2018, a Jewish Rabbi named Mendel Kessin, a recognized expert on the end times, was interviewed on the radio. Some of the things this Jewish rabbi said are: “We are very close to the end;” “God seems to be rushing up the end;” “we are witnessing a process that will bring the Messiah;” the Messiah will arrive “within ten years, maybe sooner;” “When holiness is about to enter, then evil and corruption energize and try to stop the entry of righteousness;” there is “an incredible rise in the stature of Israel among the nations;” Israel’s rise is the “beginning of the Messianic era;” Satan is trying to destroy Israel because “evil is threatened by its end, and the entry of good.” As I understand what this Jewish prophecy expert said, the return and incredible growth of Israel plus the great opposition to Israel mean the end of the age is near. Messiah’s return to deal with evil and establish good is a threat to Satan. Satan is ramping up the evil on earth because he hopes to destroy Israel and prevent the return of Israel’s Messiah. When the rabbi talks about God rushing up the end to bring the Messiah and establish the Messianic era, he is talking about the event that Christians call the Second Coming and Millennium (not the Rapture), but the idea of this happening within ten years or less is intriguing. That is obviously his opinion, not something that the Bible says. But think about this: Israel is 70 years old and will be 80 years old in ten years. The prayer of Moses says, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten (70 years); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years (80 years), yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psa. 90:10). Some prophecy teachers think a generation is 70-80 years and this present generation could be the terminal generation (Matt. 24:32-34). Fifth, the identity of the Antichrist won’t be revealed before the Rapture, but my friend Sally Plemons sent me some information that I decided to pass on for whatever it is worth. It concerns a man named Emmanuel Macron and the fact that it has been 70 years since Israel became a nation. Immanuel is one of the names of Jesus (Isa. 7:14). It means “God with us.” Macron’s first name is Emmanuel. Also, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a macron is a mark (and all prophecy teachers know about the Mark of the Beast). Jesus is the Saviour of the world. The Economist Magazine put a picture of Emmanuel Macron on the cover of its June 17, 2017, issue asking if he is the savior of Europe? Jesus walked on water. The Economist Magazine picture has Emmanuel Macron walking on water. The Antichrist will rise to power in Europe, and Emmanuel Macron is the president of a European nation (France). The Antichrist will head up a world government, and Emmanuel Macron is calling for a world government (France is currently having violent protests because he puts the wishes of the globalist elites above the wishes of the French citizens). The number of the Antichrist’s name is 666, and Emmanuel Macron celebrated his election with a speech at the Louvre Museum which features a pyramid constructed with 666 panels of glass. The Tribulation Period will begin when the Antichrist confirms a covenant of peace in the Middle East, and Emmanuel Macron recently said if Pres. Trump doesn’t release his peace plan for the Middle East in the next few weeks, he will present his own peace plan for the Middle East. The Antichrist will have an army to go forth conquering and to conquer, and Emmanuel Macron has called for the creation of a EU army. The Antichrist will head up 10 kings (10 toes or 10 horns; Dan. 7:23-24), and Emmanuel Macron is urging 10 nations to merge their armed forces. The Antichrist will claim to be the Christ, but he will show no regard for the god of his fathers (Dan. 11:37). Emmanuel Macron claims to be a Catholic, but he refuses to let religion influence morality or the laws of France. Pre-Trib prophecy believers are looking for the coming of the Christ to Rapture his Church, not the rise of the Antichrist. But many evangelical Christians don’t believe in coincidences, and I am wondering if God is trying to tell us something, or what? Is Emmanuel Macron the Antichrist, or is God simply spreading the Word about the Antichrist? Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.Daymond & Rachel Duckduck_daymond@yahoo.com