WHO IS THE AL-MAHDI, THE RIGHTLY GUIDED ONE?

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Following on from my recent post “AL MAHDI BEST CANDIDATE FOR ANTICHRIST”

“Forty-two percent of Muslims in a recent survey believe the Islamic Superman will appear in their lifetime (www.mahdi-watch.org). His name is al-Mahdi, the “Rightly Guided One,” who has been discussed since the earliest days of Islam. This Islamic messiah was referred to by Muhammad’s grandson, Ali, who said that Islam would “prevail over all religions when the Messiah of this ummah (Islamic nation) makes his appearance.” (Ed Hotaling, Islam without Illusions: Its Past, Its Present, and Its Challenges for the Future (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2003), 102).

In Daniel 8 we are told that Antichrist will arise when a revived Ottoman Empire is broken up into four and out of one of these four the Little Horn, the Antichrist will arise. I can only surmise about who will break the revived Ottoman Empire into four nations. Candidates, U.N., Russia, USA, or a composite of these three. Certainly, most of the European nations would not want to see a powerful revived Ottoman Empire that wants to dominate the entire world.

“Then the goat (Turkey) became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. Out of one of them came a little horn (Antichrist), which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host.” Daniel 8:8-11

“As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great—but not by his own power, and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints.” Daniel 8:22-24

Old Testament scholar Michael Heiser: “Gog (Numbers 23 and Ezekiel 38) would have been perceived as either a figure empowered by supernatural evil or an evil quasi-divine figure from the supernatural world bent on the destruction of God’s people. For this reason, Gog is regarded by many biblical scholars as a template for the New Testament, Antichrist.”

In both Numbers 24 and Ezekiel 38 Gog leads a coalition of Middle Eastern and North African nations, which confirms a Middle Eastern, not a Roman, Antichrist.

“I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.” Ezekiel 38:3-6

All of the nations Gog (Antichrist) leads are Muslim nations. Which makes the alMahdi the most likely candidate for the Antichrist.

al MAHDI BEST CANDIDATE FOR ANTICHRIST

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I met Joel Richardson at a conference in Dallas where he was one of the speakers on End Times. He was introduced to me by Nelson Walters who I have known for a number of years. Joel spoke on “The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist“.

Since then a number of other books have been written that focus on the long-awaited Muslim Messiah, al Mahdi, and how he fits the Biblical descriptions of the Antichrist. One book that I have used to extract much of the information for this post is Ralph Stice’s book “Arab Spring, Christian Winter – Islam Unleashed on the Church and the World“

Forty-two percent of Muslims in a recent survey believe the Islamic Superman will appear in their lifetime (www.mahdi-watch.org). His name is al-Mahdi, the “Rightly Guided One,” who has been discussed since the earliest days of Islam. This Islamic messiah was referred to by Muhammad’s grandson, Ali, who said that Islam would “prevail over all religions when the Messiah of this ummah (Islamic nation) makes his appearance.” (Ed Hotaling, Islam without Illusions: It’s Past, Its Present, and Its Challenges for the Future (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2003), 102).

The following quote is from what has been called the greatest Islamic history book from the pre-modern era:

“Let it be known that it is a narrated event by ALL Muslims in EVERY era that at the end of time a man from the family of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) will, without fail, make his appearance and will strengthen Islam and spread justice; Muslims will follow him and he will gain domination over the Muslim realm. He will be called al-Mahdi.” Ibn Khaldun, The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1967), 257-58.

Mahdi (also Mehdi or Maadi; the vowels are flexible in Arabic) will appear just as mankind reaches a stage of great suffering, to show the light of Islam when men and women need it most, and to prepare the world for Allah’s judgment just in time, according to accepted Islamic teaching.

One writer predicts: “The Mahdi will establish right and justice in the world and eliminate evil and corruption. He will fight against the enemies of the Muslims who would be victorious.” Sideeque M. A. Veliankode, Doomsday: Portents and Prophecies (Scarborough, Canada: Al-Attique, 1999), 4-5.

Note what these two Ayatullahs say, “He will reappear on the appointed day, and then he will fight against the forces of evil, lead a world revolution and set up a new world order based on justice, righteousness, and virtue … ultimately the righteous will take the world administration in their hands and Islam will be victorious over all the religions.” Ayatullah Baqir al-Sadr and Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari, The Awaited Saviour (Karachi, Pakistan: Islamic Seminary Publications, 2013), 4-5.

He will be assisted by prophet Isa “Jesus,” who will descend from heaven to work miracles and preach Islam. “Isa will testify against those who had called him son of God, the Christians, and those who had belied him, the Jews.”

This Islamic version of Jesus’ end-times role fits the description of the Antichrist’s assistant (False Prophet) in Revelation 13 perfectly. While Mahdi straightens out the ummah by “freeing Islam from the hypocrites who have corrupted it,” this Jesus will handle the evangelization of the Jewish and Christian communities. (http://www.awaitedmahdi.com/mahdi01.html, November 15, 2013).

If this sounds like the Antichrist and the False Prophet, you can see why many of us who have studied Islam for years believe that Mahdi will be that man. One Muslim Background Believer who has done a lot of speaking and writing about al-Mahdi, Walid Shoebat, says that as he read scriptural prophecy for the first time, he was astonished by the description of the Antichrist.

His conclusion? This is the Mehdi that we have long talked about in Islam.

WEF MEETING JAN 16 -20 IN DAVOS SWITZERLAND

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Well-known Jeff Brown of Brownstone Research writes “Every time a World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting takes place, I’m always wondering what shenanigans, or what evil, this group of unelected officials will get up to next.” Jeff’s insights into the world of high-tech investing are unrivaled.

Jeff says I pay close attention because there are very powerful forces behind the WEF that have worked hard over the last couple of decades to reshape our world in their eyes – in ways that will ultimately benefit “them” and come at great costs to “us” and the things that are dear to our preferred way of life. Scanning through the list of presentations, one caught my eye: “Why We Need Battery Passports,” scheduled for January 18. This isn’t a new topic for the WEF, as it’s been discussed and in the works for years.

Plans like these provide cover for the “Great Reset” and the implementation of digital IDs that track everything we do. The battery passport is just one part of that, and an important part, as transportation is naturally a large driver for carbon emissions – both for EVs using electricity from fossil fuels and for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

Yes, the WEF’s plans for a digital ID are very real, and openly discussed. The plan is to monitor our telecommunications, our healthcare, our financial services, our food consumption, our travel, our buying decisions, our transportation, and even what we say on social media. 

This isn’t just a crazy idea. This is a plan that’s been in the works for more than a decade, and it’s nearing implementation in many countries. 

The WEF openly states that it’s inserted its graduates in powerful positions in countries around the world. Looking at the list of individuals who have been through the WEF reeducation program over the last 20 years should make anyone’s jaw drop.

I raise these issues for awareness of what the “master plan” looks like. It’s not magnanimous; it’s nefarious. And it’s a world that would feel claustrophobic to most of us who relish not only our own freedom, but the freedom of others, and who feel strongly that freedom is worth both living and dying for.”

What Jeff does not realize is that God has told us in the Bible exactly what will unfold as we approach Jesus’ return to this earth. What Jeff describes above is preparatory to the Antichrist introducing the Mark of the Beast. We are getting close to the appearance of the Antichrist and his false prophet.

“Also, it (False Prophet for the Antichrist) causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:16-17

You do not want to be one of those that takes the Mark of the Beast as you will be on earth during the time God pours out His wrath on an unrepentant world with the trumpet and bowl judgements for one year and 10 days.

“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.“ Revelation 14:9-10

“So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.” Revelation 16:2

TIMING OF THE RAPTURE

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Sadly, the Left Behind books by Tim Le Haye and Jerry Jenkins and now this film adopt a Pretribulation rapture position which was not what the early church fathers taught nor is it what the Bible teaches.

The foundational text in the New Testament related to the specific timing of the Rapture can be found in Matthew 24:29-31. In this passage, Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms the general timeframe during which believers will be supernaturally gathered to meet Him in the air. It is “immediately after the tribulation of those days and supernatural celestial signs in the sky“.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31

Paul tells us that the rapture does not take place until after the Antichrist is on the scene and claims to be God. This occurs halfway through the tribulation period so the Saints are still on earth at that time.

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God.”  2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

John tells us that at the fifth seal, he sees the souls of the martyrs under the altar crying out to God when will you judge and avenge our blood? At the fifth seal, the rapture has not occurred. This is at the fifth year of the last seven years of Daniel’s 70th week.

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:9-10

At the sixth seal, the supernatural celestial signs that Jesus spoke of appear in the sky and as well as “the great day of His wrath has come”.

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth... Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone…calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12, 15, 16-17

It is at the trumpet blast at the opening of the seventh seal that the rapture occurs and John sees the resurrected Saints clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands praising God the Father and Jesus.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

God promises to protect us from the wrath of God, not the tribulation which He uses to purify His church prior to the Rapture.

Each of the seven churches in Revelation represents the church in each of the seven years. It is the church in the sixth year, the church of Philadelphia that is raptured

“Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name… Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:8, 10-11

The people in the church in the seventh year, the church of Laodicea thought they were saved but were not. Note, Jesus still stands at the door and knocks so they had not taken the Mark of the Beast and still have the opportunity to repent and be saved.

“Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” Revelation 3:15-18

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

CONTROLLING BUYING AND SELLING LEADING TO MARK OF THE BEAST

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Last Week a clandestine test of the USA Digital Dollar began. In 12 weeks more they will have their results and be ready to roll it out. Will it be voluntary? Will they stop printing money? Will it be able to control what you buy and sell? Will it eventually be 666 and part of the Mark of the Beast? Watch this Nelson Walters video for all the details on this VERY SIGNIFICANT end times sign.

“Also, it (Second Beast of Revelation) causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” Revelation 13:16-18

“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9-10

“So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.” Revelation 16:2

ARE THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES FULFILLED?

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Multiple times in Scripture we run across this phrase “the times of the Gentiles.” It’s odd, but it reveals one of the most measurable signs of the last days. One of these is in Luke 21:24,

“They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:24

This Scripture refers to the midpoint of the last seven years when the Antichrist declares himself to be God (Abomination of desolation) and kills many Jews.

We see an even more descriptive mention of this “times of the Gentiles” in Paul’s epistle to Rome,

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25

God provides through Paul that there is a “times of the Gentiles,” and that time will come to an end. You can also see how it is closely related to the central role of Israel. The previous signs go hand in hand with this one.

Like nearly every prophetic statement in the New Testament, there is an Old Testament precedence. God gives us a timeline of the “times of the Gentiles”. In Daniel 2, we find the vision of a statue. It’s revealed that each section of the statue represents an empire that would rule over the land of Babylon from that moment until the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom or as we know now the Second Coming of Jesus. Daniel 2 closes by saying that these are the “times of those kings”. Which kings? The ones ruling in the times of the Gentiles. In Daniel 7, there is a parallel vision of Daniel 2, which concludes with,

“These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.” Daniel 7:17-18

We are given the first three kingdoms that would rule the land of Babylon in this time of the Gentiles. The first is Babylon, the second the Medes and Persians, and the third is the Grecian empire of Alexander. In the Book of Daniel, we are not given the fourth which disappears and comes back. Regardless of which final empire will rule the land of Babylon, we see that the first three came to pass in a 450-year period which ended over 2,200 years ago. That alone points to the fact that we are way down the timeline. When it comes to that last empire, there are two prevailing theories—the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire (Islamic Caliphate). Regardless, of which one you hold to, both have already passed. The Roman Empire passed 1,400 years ago in the west and nearly 600 years ago in the east. The Ottoman Empire ended 100 years ago. According to the timeline in Daniel 2, only a revival of this past empire keeps the “times of the Gentiles” from ending.

We believe the final empire will be a revived Ottoman Empire ( Muslim Caliphate) and evidence of this rising can be seen in the Arab Spring of 2011. Two instances to show the fulfillment of this sign are ISIS and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s goal to revive the previous Turkey-led Ottoman Empire.

Turkish President Erdogan poses with Ottoman era soldiers in front of a monument dedicated to a revived Ottoman Empire

Between 1299-1923 the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire conquered territory from western Europe to India. The revival of the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire marks the end time, and Turkish President Erdogan is ambitiously rebuilding it. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the failed military coup in Turkey, Erdogan has erected a giant statue commemorating the rise again of the Ottoman Empire. He also hinted at the reunification of all Islamic nations under Turkish rule. Tek Devlet “One State” the image read. Sounds like the tower of Babylon all over again. Please notice that this statue does not honor the god of Islam but it does honor the god of Turkish military conquest (the god of forces). Daniel talks of the Antichrist honouring the God of forces.

“But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.” Daniel 11:38

Could Erdogan be the Antichrist? It is a possibility but only time will tell. Watch as Jesus told us to watch, as the prophesied end times signs unfold.

IS A NEW INTIFADA ON THE HORIZON?

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Arabic intifāḍah (“shaking off”), there have been two 1987-1993 and 2000 to about 2005 uprisings of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip aimed at ending Israel’s occupation of those territories and creating an independent Palestinian state. Moreover, Biblical prophecy tells us that the violence will not end until Jesus returns and establishes His Millennial Kingdom. In fact, the Jews will initially embrace the Antichrist who promises peace and it is easy to see how current events are leading up to his entrance on the scene.

Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad seek to set the West Bank ablaze and view Jenin as the ideal ignition point.

The figures released recently by the Israel Defense Forces left little room for doubt—2022 was one of the most challenging periods for the Israeli military in Judea and Samaria, commonly known as the West Bank, in 15 years.

Gunmen attend the funeral in Jenin of Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist Matin Dabaya, who was killed during clashes with Israeli forces, Oct. 14, 2022. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)

Since the IDF launched “Operation Break the Wave” on March 31 this year in response to a burst of deadly terror attacks in Israeli cities that emanated from the northern parts of Samaria, a combined effort by the military, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the Border Police and its Yamam Counter-Terrorism Unit, and the Israel Police resulted in a powerful, intensive response, in the form of nightly raids targeting terrorist plots, guided by precise intelligence.

The Israeli operations focus on (though certainly not limited to) the geographical hub of the current terrorism spike, Samaria, and specifically the sectors of Jenin and Nablus, which spawned local terror outfits such as Lions’ Den. Meanwhile, established terror factions such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad offer large sums of cash to any Palestinian in the area willing to attack Israelis.

The new figures show that 281 terrorist incidents were recorded in January-October 2022, compared with 91 recorded in all of 2021. Shooting attacks on Israeli military forces in Judea and Samaria have also risen sharply, with 110 recorded since January 2022, up from 25 in 2021. Thirty-one Israelis—both civilians and security personnel—have been killed in Palestinian attacks this year. More than 130 Palestinians, most of them assailants, were killed in clashes and security incidents this year.

Jesus tells us the good news:

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28

GOG IS THE ANTICHRIST

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We are fast approaching the time when the Antichrist will appear on the scene so it is important we search the scriptures to find out what God wants us to know about this entity who dominates the last three and a half years of world history prior to Jesus’ return to destroy him, the false prophet, and their army at the Battle of Armageddon.

We read a lot about Gog an “end times” despotic leader in Ezekiel and it is obvious that he is the Antichrist of Revelation. However, there is an earlier Gog prophecy that is in an extremely unlikely place, the Balaam Oracles in Numbers 22-24. It is important to know therefore that AGAG in the Balaam Oracles is GOG. The manuscript evidence is clear in both the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch the translation is Gog, not Agag. Listen to Travis and Nelson explain why it is Agag in most of the English Bible translations and yet no Agag in history fits with the prophesied events in the Balaam Oracles.

MARK OF THE BEAST – UNFORGIVABLE SIN

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Why is the mark of the Beast the unforgivable sin? Rev. 14:9-10 is clear about the eternal fate of those that take the mark of the Beast.

“And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Revelation 14:9-11

Sadly, well-respected Bible teachers such as John McArthur have come out and contradicted the Biblical account and said that people who take the mark of the Beast will be able to repent and receive the redemption offered by Jesus Christ. This questions the inerrancy of the Bible and what if the mark of the Beast is not just a microchip but transforms the person and makes them a hybrid like the Nephilim. Jesus said that the last days will be like the days of Noah when the Nephilim were on the earth. In Rev. 9 what does it mean that death will flee from them? Also, Rev 16:2 when those with the mark have loathsome sores but cannot die. Could the mark of the Beast produce a genetic transformation? Perhaps the recipients are promised eternal life by receiving the Beast’s demonic “DNA”? Listen to what Nelson and Doug have to say about this possibility.

ANOTHER END TIMES SIGN: JEWS EXPECTING THEIR MESSIAH

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Israel Rabbis are telling us they have spoken to their Jewish Messiah and he is ready to be revealed. Will this person be the Antichrist, will he sacrifice the Red Heifer, and will he build the 3rd Temple? Watch this Nelson Walters video to discover the answers.

Jesus said all these things, antichrists, false prophets, wars, and rumours of wars, famines, and pestilences happening together are the beginning of “birth pangs” prior to the end times and His second coming. I would suggest that we are seeing all of these things happening together perhaps as never before. With regard to false Messiahs, the Jews expect their Messiah to appear at the start of a Sabbatical cycle and as 2022-2023 is the start of a new Sabbatical cycle (Shemitah) it is understandable that Israeli Rabbis are on high alert to pronouncements about their Messiah, particularly as the recently deceased prominent ultra-orthodox Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky had said that he had met with him. In other words, he claimed their Messiah was already here.