Echoes and Origins

Sometimes, It Really Pays To Stop and Remember

It’s currently just after 1 am; I’m sitting up late doing laundry. As my family does much too often, they wait until 9 or 10 at night to announce they need clean clothes for tomorrow. So at least twice a month, I’m up to all hours of the night cleaning clothes so they can go to work tomorrow. Since I’m retired, I have no place to go, or no set time to get up. By default, I have become the late night laundryman.

On my TV screen is a screensaver, of some of my favorite photos. The photo above was on my screen moments ago, and that got me thinking back to the year 2020. You see on Christmas eve, there was fresh snow falling. And since the vast majority of 2020 was an absolute nightmare, when I looked out my window and saw snow on the ground on Christmas Eve, I wanted a good memory to keep. So I walked out to the end of my driveway, and took this photo.

That got my mind to thinking about all the changes that has happened over the last 6 years. The tree that was in the yard died, when I tried to cut it back a few years later. It had grown to the point where some branches were sticking out on the road, and I guess that was the wrong time of the year to cut that particular tree. Within a year, it died. But there has been much, much more changes than a dying tree.

2020: A Year That Changed The World

Its so hard to think of a single year bringing about so many changes on earth, and so few of them good. A new President changed the meaning of good and evil forever.

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight. – Isaiah 5:20-21 NIV

Men began demanding they be referred to as women, and women demanded to be men, and some demanded to be none of the above. Now don’t misunderstand, what you want to be, call yourself, or pretend to be is your business, not mine. It’s only when you start to demand I participate in your fantasy that I have a problem.

When you tell me that I have to use ‘proper pronouns’, or call you ‘she’ when I know you’re a he, that’s when I have to object. But as long as you leave me alone, I’ll leave you alone.

Then came 2024: The Summer Olympics in Paris where the depraved and the wicked were put in charge of the opening ceremony. Suddenly people demanded that we accept the evil in this world. It’s when people who have “Be Kind” stickers on the backs of their electric cars became some of the angriest, hateful, violent and obnoxious people in the world. It’s where Christianity became hated among all the world, fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus to the very letter:

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” – John 15:18-20 NKJV

The Bible Verses the Qur’an

Now the Qur’an is good for getting a good argument started with your favorite Ai. Qur’an 5:51 says, “O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.”

However these words have been sanitized in the name of political correctness. Where it now says “as allies”, it once said, “as friends.” The modern Muslims of the USA are constantly trying to sanitize many passages of the Qur’an that are offensive to people. But in the Middle East, they still hold to the traditional teachings of the Qur’an.

The Qur’an calls Christians “People of the Book”. But what they say as an insult, we take as a compliment. Because we believe in the Bible, and just as the Bible predicted all those years ago, these things are coming true right in front of our eyes. In effect, we have no need to defend the Bible, because as the days tick on by us, the Bible proves itself true, to the exclusion of any other book on earth, including the Qur’an. Only the Bible has predicted the last days right down to the very word.

I’m not an expert in the Qur’an and I have no intention of trying to convince anyone I am. I did read the Qur’an years ago, because I thought it would be good to have a solid foundation for what I believe as a Christian. I can’t hardly denounce Islam unless I know something about it.

But the Qur’an has no predictions that have come true with such accuracy as the Bible. The Bible predicted the history of the Jewish people in advance: from the time they were exiled from Judea in 135 A.D., to the present time we live in. The Bible predicts a time when Jerusalem will be under siege from all nations and every nation will turn against her.

² “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. ³ On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. – Zechariah 12:2-3 ESV

This verse literally came to pass in September of 2025. The United Nations gathered together to take up this issue of Palestine. Out of 193 current member states of the United Nations, 157 of them decided to side against Israel and declare statehood for Palestine. It was at that time Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, from the nation’s capital in Jerusalem, refused the world and became the immovable stone.

I find this very interesting, but I don’t exactly know what to make of it: Netanyahu is Hebrew for “Gift of Jehovah”.

Britain and France, longtime allies of Israel, both made a foolish decision to betray their allegiance to Israel and both declared their support for Palestine. Within days, both nations were in turmoil. In Britain, former Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered a severe political crisis when rumors began circulating of his disdain for King Charles and the Monarchy. There were riots in the streets as Illegal Muslim Immigrants clashed with citizens of Britain.

This continued into this year. Suddenly, the Labour Party’s ‘Golden Boy’ who was said to have the Midas touch politically, became the man who could do no right. Earlier this year, Keir Starmer resigned as Prime Minister of Britain.

President Emmanuel Macron of France has suffered political turmoil as well. Shortly after his decision to betray Israel, he was caught in the most embarrassing of predicaments: As a plane door was opening, and press cameras were all rolling, some of them live, the President’s wife gave him a slap on the face. Some claimed this was more a push than a slap, but whatever it was, signaled a time of constant trouble that is still plaguing France to this very day. It is unknown about Macron’s political future at this time, but what is well known is the constant criticism he receives from all sides.

Quite literally as the Bible predicted, Israel is right now in the midst of a political siege. Pressured from all nations to give up land to the Palestinians and give them the right to form their own nation. They are under various embargoes from most of Europe. Despite that, they are prospering like never before. They have more water than they can drink, more food than they can eat, and more money than they can spend.

Meanwhile their enemies are suffering droughts, food shortages, and lack of funding. Even with their hoards of oil, thanks to Iran, that oil is tied up in the Persian Gulf. Every single part of the Bible is coming true in just that exact fashion.

That Brings Us To Today

And this what my late-night reminiscing has made me realize. Jesus himself told us we will not know the hour nor the day of his return. But you know something? We don’t need to know, because Jesus gave us something just as good:

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.” – Matthew 24:32-33 NIV

See what Jesus says? We will know when it is near, even at the door. No, we may not have a date to set on the calendar, but we will know when the time is here. And we will know that by what is going on in the world around us. So, let’s take a straight-forward look at four of the most popular signs known about the Bible. The Four Horsemen of the book of Revelation.

I really don’t feel there is a need to quote actual scripture, I think the four horsemen are so well known, that it doesn’t need reiterating. The first 2 horses, one a white horse and a red horse. Those are easy enough: They represent a false peace and war. Just like what is going on right now in the Middle East. They are constantly talking about peace, while at the same time preparing for war. President Trump is constantly pushing for peace over there, but just like every President before him, he has failed.

But the world is waiting: Who can bring peace in the middle east? Whoever can come along and get everyone to agree on peace will become the most popular man in history. This person will immediately be hailed as someone who literally did the impossible. When that rider on the White Horse comes along, he will be the most popular man in the world.

But this will be a false peace. 1 Thessalonians warns us:

³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. – 1 Thessalonians 5:3 NIV

Then the third horse, A rider on a black horse. A horse that we can already see preparing to ride. That horse has been called famine for centuries. But as we get closer to the end times, we see a different meaning to the third horseman. Runaway inflation.

That’s right: Inflation. Because in truth, there is no famine. Food is plentiful; merchants are shouting in the marketplace, “A measure of wheat for a penny, three measures of barley for a penny.” But the problem isn’t the food, the problem is money. The word Penny actually stands for a Denarius, an ancient coin that represented a day’s pay. This is already happening in Iran. In Iran the money has become so worthless, that a single day’s pay is needed for a single meal.

The horsemen is saying this: A measure of wheat was enough to prepare one loaf of bread. Not the huge loaves we get at the store; a loaf of bread was considered enough bread to feed one person, for one meal. Now if you had a family to feed, you would buy barley. Barley is an inferior grain: even today we use wheat to make bread, and barley for flavoring. But you can make bread from barley. So you could buy barley for a Denarius and feed yourself, your spouse and have food for your children as well.

The rider also shouts, “see you don’t hurt the oil or the wine.” He might as well have said, “I know you can’t afford it, so don’t spill the oil or wine.”

Now the fourth horse is entirely different. The wars, the violence, the crime. The plagues, the starvation, all these things lead to one thing: Death. That’s the rider on the fourth horse and that is what he brings to this earth.

We have these things all coming our way, right now. The world is waiting for someone who can do what no one else has been able to do since the days of President Jimmy Carter in the 1970’s; bring peace to the Middle East. While at the very same time the world talks about war, the world prepares for war. Spending for ‘defense’ has increased in most every country in the world. While we hope for peace, we all have a very different attitude. We feel the need to prepare to defend ourselves.

Oil prices have hit America hard, and neither the Republicans nor the Democrats want to bring attention to it. But diesel fuel prices are over $6 a gallon. And that is the very fuel that runs America. Trucks and trains all run on diesel fuel, bringing food to every corner of this country. And as transportation costs rise, those costs are passed along to the consumer.

And what happens when these things actually come to pass? The result will be death on a large scale. The Bible says that in those opening events of the Tribulation alone, a quarter of the earth’s population will die. The fifth seal will bring about mass persecution and martyrdom of the Christians. something that also is already beginning to happen worldwide. Then the sixth seal, often referred to as “The Wrath of the Lamb.” Once these 6 seals have been broken, 25% of the earth’s population will be dead.

Earlier in this article I gave the scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:3. When people are saying ‘peace and safety’ then sudden destruction comes and they shall not escape. But let’s read the next passage right after that:

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. – 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 NIV

That is exactly right. We are not in darkness like those who belong to this world. For all their arrogance, their pretentiousness, they are actually the ones who know the least. The Bible tells us the true state of mind of those people who look down on Christians as being simple minded and dumb:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 NIV

Is that not exactly what we see in today’s world? Doctors who believe themselves to be so intelligent, refuse to state that a man can’t get pregnant. Or politicians who destroy the meaning of Title IX by letting biological males participate in women’s sports. What kind of fool believes that a biological male doesn’t have a physical advantage over a real woman?

Title IX was created to protect the rights of women: Many schools all over the country had to begin women’s sports programs in order to give girls the same opportunity to participate in sports as boys. Since males are biologically stronger and have more stamina than girls, it was necessary to create programs to give women their own category.

Then, this foolishness called Transgender came along, and the very people who once fought to protect Title IX did their level best to destroy it. And they call us the foolish ones. God has done exactly what the Bible predicted. He has confounded their intelligence, exposing their foolishness. Remember the story “The Emperor’s New Clothes”?

That’s what we have today in real life. A group of people who support the most foolish of notions, pretending to be enlightened. But in truth, it is us, the Christians who hold the truth. The wisdom of the so-called wise has been destroyed.

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools – Romans 1:22 NIV

Every single aspect of Bible prophecy is coming true, just like it was predicted nearly 2,000 years ago. And the truth of the matter is this: In two separate places, the Bible has told us that we will not be in darkness like the world. We are the ones who will see things clearly, while the world remains in darkness. And we will know when the return of Christ is near, even at the doors.

Folks, we are at the doors. There are things happening in the world that have an expiration date. We can’t continue in this conflict with Iran for another year. While politicians like to pretend everything is sunshine are roses, all it takes is a trip to the grocery store to see that is not the case. The President of Turkey, Tayyip Erdoğan has said he wants to take over Jerusalem. Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu said in reply:

“This is our city, Mr. Erdoğan. It’s not your city. It will always be our city.”

– Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel

These things cannot go on indefinitely. Just as Ezekiel 38 predicts, there is a time soon coming when a coalition of countries, including Turkey and Iran, will attempt an invasion of Israel. Both countries have been threatening the very thing Ezekiel predicted.

I could write a book on everything that is going on in the world according to Bible prophecy. I won’t, because I don’t think there is enough time left to write a book. If you’re already a Christian, your focus should be more than ever trying to get members of your family and friends to Christ.

If you’re not a Christian and you’ve read this far, I’m impressed. Truly. This shows you’re looking for truth, not just some sort of confirmation for whatever you currently believe. I think there can be no doubt as to the truth of Jesus Christ, and the truth of the Bible. This no longer is a matter of faith, this is a matter of logic. There is simply no other explanation for the fact that the Bible has accurately predicted the future so exactly true.

Only a Being outside of the dimension of time could write a book like the Bible. Someone who is able to view the past, present and future at the same time. That is the only reasonable explanation for the Bible. And make no mistake about it, you are running out of time. I have no faith in tomorrow. If you are ready to believe in Jesus, now is the time to get ready for his return.

Getting saved is the easiest thing to do. All it takes is a willingness to make a quality decision, something you refuse to go back on. Add some faith, which the Bible says you were given on the day you were created, and make a confession. All that faith is, is a willingness to take God’s word for something you cannot see. If you can do that, you can be saved. If you’re ready, say this out loud:

Heavenly Father, I believe Jesus is Lord. I believe that you raised him from the dead on the third day, according to scripture. Come into my heart. In Jesus’ name I pray.

That is all you need to do in order to be saved. You don’t need a church, an altar, or even a long winded, “repeat after me” prayer. I’m going to give you a scripture in a moment. Do whatever you need to do in order to remember it and be able to read it. This is your proof of purchase, your receipt that Jesus has paid the price for your sins.

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. – Romans 10:9-10 NIV

The next time this thought comes to your mind that you are not saved, or that you have pretended to believe, read this scripture. Remind yourself that you don’t have to ‘do’ anything to be saved other than believe and confess.

Hopefully, now you have reasons to be congratulated. And more importantly, now you are prepared for the soon return of Jesus.