"And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke."
Joel 2:30
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
Matthew 16:1-3
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:24
"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here [is] the Christ!' or, 'Look, [He is] there!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
Mark 13:21-23
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with [them] and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Mark 16:17-20
And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute [you], delivering [you] up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle [it] in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put [some] of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.
For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Luke 21:11-36
I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass [That] whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.'
Acts 2:19-21
And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:28-32
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will do so] until He [fn] is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the [lawless one] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned [them], and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3
U.S. to turn blind eye on Christian genocide?
worldnetdaily.com | 02 June 2003
U.S. to forgive Sudan for 2 million deaths?
Washington to overlook genocide, atrocities for new strategic relationship
State Department officials say they are on the verge of removing Sudan from its list of "terror countries," where it was placed in 1997 by the Clinton administration.
A glance at the map clarifies Sudan's strategic importance. The country is close to the new headquarters of the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force relocated from the Gulf to Djibouti at the entrance to the Red Sea. Another element of importance is the short distance, of some 250 miles, between Sudan and Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea. Other advantages are Sudan's borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Congo, Central African Republic, Libya and Egypt. Sudan is also the largest African country with some 2.5 million square kilometers, a nation that controls the flow of the Blue and White Niles, Egypt's lifelines. The confluence of the two rivers runs through Omdurman, just north of Khartoum.
An Egyptian official who was asked about the surprising change in American policy said: "In the post-Iraq War reality, it is important for the U.S. to improve relationships with Sudan and to assist Egypt in her campaign against militants operating from Sudan and to counter the danger of Wahabi activities from that country."
A case in point is the May 27 Sudanese raid on a terror training camp in Kardafan. Four Saudis were killed and other extremists were captured. The official also stressed that his country is trying, with the help of the U.S., to arrange a peace accord between the Khartoum government and rebels in the south and the Nuba mountains. This would enable Sudan to direct more resources to development and to improve her position in the new American strategic global deployment.
In this context, Secretary of State Colin Powell met last week with anti-government leader John Garang and assured him the U.S. would do the utmost to assist Sudan in the search for a peace accord. However, a new guerrilla group, Sudan Liberation Movement, said on the same day its units had destroyed an army battalion near Darfour. Meanwhile, the government, which had pledged peace, arrested in Khartoum a high-ranking opposition Umma Party official. Adam Mussa Madibbu was picked up by the Internal Security Service and is now held "for questioning."
The same day the C-130 landed in Khartoum, Powell and his Sudanese counterpart, Osman Ismail, met in Washington. The two were talking about a new era in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Powell promised his guest the administration would work to remove Sudan from the list of terrorist countries. This, in turn, would lead to end U.S. sanctions. Powell was quoted by Sudanese sources as saying the U.S. would do its utmost to end the 10-year-long civil war that has killed more than 2 million people and created major humanitarian disasters.
The civil war has its roots in religious rivalries between Muslims and Christians. The population in Sudan is comprised of 50-60 percent Muslims, about 15 percent Christians and the rest animistic pagans. There are also inter-tribal rivalries between Arab and pure African tribes. Fifty percent of the Sudanese perceive themselves as Arabs and the others are Africans of various origins. The overall population of the Sudan is estimated at close to 20 million, with at least 115 different languages, 26 of them regarded as major languages. In the non-Arabic south, English is the common language.
It seems that at this stage the administration is willing to forgive Sudan for what international relief organizations describe simply as "atrocities" - a term which includes a variety of problems ranging from civil rights issues, Islamic religious coercion against non-Muslims and moderates, child soldiers and slavery.
"At this moment it is suitable for Sudan to agree to anything the U.S. wants," said a Sudanese journalist.
The new military relationship with the U.S. is regarded as highly important. The same view is being voiced in Khartoum about the Egyptian-sponsored peace talks between the government of Sudan and the country's opposition groups. These are mainly the Sudan's People Liberation Movement, headed by John Garang and others under the umbrella of the National Democratic Alliance opposition groups.
Powell heard from his guest that the Khartoum government is determined to reach a peace agreement no later than at the end of June 2003. He also pledged that the Muslim government, with the support of the U.S. and Egypt, will work relentlessly to achieve regional stability. Another important issue brought up by the Sudanese Foreign Minister was his government's assurance they would put every effort into abolishing any al-Qaida activities in the Sudan.
The forceful actions taken by the Sudanese government became evident May 1, when Egypt's Hosni Mubarak paid a surprise visit to Khartoum. The visit, which was conducted under strict security measures, was the first by an Egyptian president following 14 years of tense relationships between the countries and signals a new era. Sources in Cairo agreed Mubarak's visit was meant to apply more pressure on Khartoum regarding concessions the Sudanese opposition had demanded. Egypt presented the Sudanese government with requests for more compromise on legal issues, the sharing of revenues accrued through mineral and oil resources, the demand for autonomy in some regions and for terminating Sudanese-Ugandan military cooperation. This cooperation is described by the opposition as a direct threat to peace and stability.
The government in Khartoum re-affirmed its July 2002 declaration that "Egypt's relationship with Sudan is a question of life and death." By making this statement, the Sudanese hinted at their historic concern about Egypt's intentions towards their country. There exists a historic fear of Egypt and her ambition to control the Sudan to gain larger portions of the Nile water allocations and the access to fertile lands in and around the Nile basin. An Israeli intelligence evaluation paper outlines an estimate that Egypt's need for water until 2010 will increase from the present allocation of 48 million cubic meters to about 60 million, and that there are four major issues at stake.
Egypt's total dependence on the Nile and her concern of losing control over its sources, as well as her influence over Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan.
Lack of fertile land capable of fulfilling the desperate need for agricultural resources.
Rapid population growth at a rate of 2.5 percent annually, which could reach 60 million in just a few years.
Lack of suitable areas for housing the growing population. This issue has been closely monitored by Sudan since her independence in January 1956, aware that the rapid population growth in her northern neighbor Egypt and its lack of land suitable for farming is the main issue in any future Egyptian socio-economic and geo-political plans.
Now, as the U.S. is apparently returning to Sudan, the government in Khartoum can begin to rely on Washington for securing the country against any Egyptian threats. Egypt is traditionally the main backgammon player on the Sudanese board, and at this stage with American "encouragement" looming in the background, she declared her commitment to respect Sudan's integrity.
The consequences of the Sudanese-U.S. cooperation in the war against terror increases the importance of U.S. strategies. According to some sources, the U.S. is eyeing the use of Sudanese air bases and naval facilities, such as Port Sudan on the Red Sea, as part of her improved relationship with Sudan.
Meanwhile, Sudanese opposition groups continue to meet in Cairo and some of them declared their readiness to cooperate with the government and to re-establish a new relationship with Khartoum. On May 28, the Sudanese opposition said it supports the 2002 Machakos agreement brokered in Kenya. Those officials said the leader of the Umma Party and the chairman of the Democratic Federation, Mohammed Othman al-Meighani, and the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Army, John Garang, endorsed the agreement and promised to work toward a peaceful solution. This does not include rebels in the Darfour region of the Sudan Liberation Movement, who still refuse to accept any agreement with the Sudanese government.
A major obstacle on the road to peace is the government's refusal to change the status of Khartoum to a secular administration and its insistence that Islamic Shari'a remain the law of the capital.