After spending much time in prayer, fasting, and biblical research, I believe 2012 is going to be a crucial year in the history of the United States, Israel, and the world. So what’s ahead for 2012 and beyond?
The world will become more violent and immoral. Wars and rumors of wars and extreme weather conditions will intensify. There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Thefts, lies, and deception will be rampant. Many powerful people will be taken down for allegations of corruption.
Birth Pains by Karen Lee Falconi
Economic distress will motivate an urgent movement toward a world currency and government. There will be increased surveillance and monitoring of virtually every detail of everyone’s lives.
Anti-God movements will target virtually every semblance of Christianity. In contrast, occult and New Age beliefs and practices will be embraced by growing multitudes as virtually every aspect of society –– even the Church –– will be infiltrated with sorcery.
As a result of the increase in wickedness, the love of many will grow cold. Apostasy will accelerate. Unbiblical teachings and practices, and even more bizarre forms of entertainment, will proliferate and be accepted in many churches. False prophets will mislead many with false signs and wonders.
Persecution of committed believers who maintain a testimony for Jesus and the Word of God will be widespread –– manifesting in virtually every area of society from science and education to medicine and psychology. Nevertheless, the message of the Gospel will advance, as millions of people worldwide come to faith in Jesus Christ –– even many in Islamic countries and regions where the Gospel is suppressed and believers are oppressed.
Israel will face mounting pressure to sign a peace treaty to resolve the Palestinian problem. Aspirations to rebuild the Temple will come to the forefront. (Ultimately, a seven-year peace treaty will be signed with the one the Bible foretold as the Antichrist, who will break the peace agreement midway and unleash the worst holocaust in history.)
The global dream of unity, prosperity, and peace will one day become a temporary reality. However, it will end a few years later as a worldwide nightmare of hostility, chaos, and devastation.
This generation appears to be racing toward God’s judgment and the literal fulfillment of Revelation. God’s patience for America and the world will finally be exhausted as His fury mounts up in anger and judgment. In its culmination at Armageddon, Christ will conquer the Antichrist, False Prophet, and all the ungodly forces aligned against Him before establishing lasting peace and restoring the Earth to Garden of Eden-like conditions.
All these increasing signs and trends are birth pains which will ultimately lead to the birth of Messiah’s millennial kingdom. While I am not saying Jesus is coming back in 2012, I am convinced we are the generation of Christ’s second coming. We are living at a time when all believers in Jesus Christ must be faithful to Him and His Word, have discernment, stand strong, and persevere to the very end.
Jesus said in Luke 21:28 – 36 ––
But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Although the day and age in which we are living is confusing and challenging, wisdom and strength are available to all who seek and trust the Lord. In the midst of seeming darkness, the light and love of true believers will shine all the brighter.
My prayer for you in 2012 is that you daily seek His face and diligently study His Word. Remaining faithful, being led by His Spirit, and “discerning the signs of the times” is crucial at this time in the history of America and the world.
