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"The Beginning of Sorrows": Conclusion© Copyright T. Tillin, Banner Ministries - November 2001 CONCLUSION
Comet Shoemaker-Levy Now that we have looked at the first four seals in detail, it's time to consider a few more general points. You may have noticed that each seal rider, when aligned with the specific evil power (or 'god') associated with its judgement, becomes linked also to the name of a planet. This is one of those "coincidences" that are in fact mysterious truths that add to our overall understanding. God "giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." (Dan 2:21-22)
Now, this not being extraordinary enough by itself, but God has placed a few more pointers along the way to show those who are able to discern the signs of the times not only the particular type of judgement we are to watch for, as part of the run-up to His Coming, but approximately when it is to occur! Signs in the PlanetsAs you may realise by now, I see the outpouring of a false Christ-spirit in these last days, and the move towards unity so cherished by those in this apostate 'revival', as the loosing of the spirit of antichrist, characterised by the opening of the first seal. It is an interesting observation, then, that at the same time a false peace and a false revival were being announced on the earth, on Jupiter - the characterisation of the first seal - a dramatic event was also taking place. (See the image above). On the night of March 24, 1993, Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy discovered a strange looking comet from a photograph taken from the 0.4 meter Schmidt telescope in Palomar Observatory in California. The comet was named Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 after the discoverers, the ninth comet discovered by this team. The comet was very elongated, and it turned out that comet had been pulled apart due to tidal forces from an extremely close flyby of Jupiter on July 8, 1992. Twenty-one separate fragments were eventually identified. By April 5, 1993, enough observations of the comet have been made to better define the comet's orbit, and it was surprisingly found to be in orbit around Jupiter. By May 25, additional observations helped refined the orbit further, and a exciting new development came forth: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 could possibly impact Jupiter in July 1994! By June 1993, the comet's orbit was well determined and the impacts into Jupiter would definitely occur. The 21 fragments would hit Jupiter over a one week period starting on July 16, 1994, This would mark the first time that a collision between two solar system bodies would be observed. The comet collision was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and perhaps a once-in-a-millennium event. It was all over by July 22, 1994 The show put on by Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was truly spectacular and beyond everyone's expectations. From http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/science/sl9.html Seal Two Announced on MarsSeven years later, when the first rider had run its course and was established as the dominant force in the emerging antichrist religion of the last days, a second event took place that heralded the breaking of the second seal, the loosing of a spirit of violence to take peace from men's hearts and from the earth.
It "just happens" to be the case that this year, from June onwards, the planet Mars has been swallowed by a gigantic dust storm half the size of the planet, with fierce winds blowing up to 500 miles per hour. The ferocity of this storm has caught the attention of astronomers who describe it is extraordinary. Scientists first noticed the onset of the storm June 15, 2001 when a region of dust began to appear in the Hellas Basin in the southern hemisphere. A week and a half later, on June 26, the storm began to intensify and expand. Since then, the storm has dramatically grown in size and severity. The dust storm has expanded well into the northern hemisphere and has wrapped more than halfway around the planet. This storm is the largest that has been seen during the Mars mission. No storm of this intensity or size has been witnessed so closely before. As the dust has expanded the atmosphere has warmed dramatically, reaching temperatures more than 20C higher than pre-storm levels. Reports from http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2001/duststorm_010709.html and http://tes.la.asu.edu/webdata/dust_mov/dust_mov_sm.html At the time of the ferocious storm, Mars was the closest it has ever been to Earth since 1988. The biennial close approaches of Mars and Earth are not all the same. Mars' orbit around the Sun is markedly elliptical; the close approaches to Earth can range from 35 million to 63 million miles. In June it was 43 million miles. The Mars 'opposition' of 2001 serves as a prelude for 2003 when Mars and Earth will come within 35 million miles of each other, the closest since 1924 and not to be matched until 2287. ConclusionWhen Jesus is ready to loose the third seal, look for signs in the planet Mercury; and when pestilence is about to arrive in its fullness, we might expect a sign in Saturn or Pluto. God does not leave us without clues to his plans, and "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7). There are many things that "speak" to us today, all of them together telling the story that confirms the written word: a climax is coming that will launch the world into "perilous times" and test the faith of every person. The hour of trial is at hand. In this series I have concentrated on the first four seals. Of course there are seven seals that must be opened before the book is fully readable allowing Jesus to take the Throne and become the legal owner of his inheritance. After the first four seals, Jesus and the book of Revelation agree: a time of intense persecution is coming:
Here, the promise of a worldwide preaching of "this gospel of the kingdom" seems to be intimately connected to the persecution and taking place at the same time. It seems to be a particular and specific gospel, relating to the endtimes. I feel we should start getting excited about this. Not only will the power of the Holy Spirit keep and save us from all that is coming (if we remain faithful) but a special anointing for service and ministry will be given to evangelists! We will begin to have opportunities for witness and service like never before! As people panic, and shake with fear about everything that is happening in the world; as they ask questions and wonder about their destiny, we will be ready with the answers! The professing Church will try to get in the way - preaching unity, tolerance, "love" and peace - but this empty message will not do. Normal people know these are only platitudes, without the power to save them. Those who truly seek God will find Him in these last days - and we are being prepared as God's witnesses for that very task. Those who made the decision to withstand the deceptions of the past ten years; those who made a stand on God's truth (and paid the price!) those who withdrew from churches preaching error and remained "separate" as God commanded - they are God's hidden ministers being readied for the task. It will perhaps be an outstanding testimony, by itself, that true believers have come through the first four seals unscathed! While others fell into deception, gave in to violence and hatred, suffered want and loss or succumbed to epidemics, true believers seemed to lead a "charmed life" in the world's eyes - and we need to tell the world that there is no magic charm involved, but the Lord God Almighty is a great and terrible God, both strong in judgement and mighty to save. (Deut 7:21/Ps 68:35) It is because we fear the Lord, and put our trust entirely in Him, that He preserves us through it all. The majority of the world will deny this fact and persecute us for our boldness in faith, but there will be those who need our help and come looking for advice. That will be an opportunity to witness to them. The bible even suggests some may have an opportunity to testify before the courts, or before world leaders (and perhaps this will be televised, giving an even greater opportunity to spread the gospel worldwide)
But for now, we watch unfolding events with one eye on the bible, knowing that we are seeing prophecy unfold in a remarkable way. And in all things, we trust God for his provision, protection and mercy.© 2003 Tricia Tillin of Banner Ministries. All rights reserved. Cross+Word Website: http://www.banner.org.uk/ This document is the property of its author and is not to be displayed on other websites, redistributed, sold, reprinted, or reproduced in printed in any other format without permission. Websites may link to this article, if they provide proper title and author information. One copy may be downloaded, stored and/or printed for personal research. All spelling and phraseology is UK English. |
The defining moment, as we now know, that shook the world and changed it for all time, came during the morning hours of September 11th 2001. And was the planet Mars affected? YES.