“When you hear of wars and the turmoil of destruction; do not let your hearts fill with fear: for these things must first come to pass; the end is not yet. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Fearful sights and great signs will appear in the heavens. There will be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars. On the earth will be great adversity between the nations, and perplexity, roaring like the sea’s mighty waves. Famines, plagues, and earthquakes will increase. All these are the beginnings of sorrow. Because evil will abound, the love of many will turn cold…people’s hearts will fail them for fear, anticipating the calamities that are destined for this world….” –Jesus

Bible scholars for centuries have tried to make sense of these prophetic words of Jesus. During the time interval from when he uttered them to the present, the world has endured countless wars, earthquakes, fearful sights and perplexity. Most societies, like the individuals that inhabit them, are capable of adapting and finding solutions to regather and rebuild after a catastrophe.

So what did he mean? It is the business of life to figure out what Jesus meant.

Since mankind has had to deal with catastrophe nearly all the days of our existence on this planet, does that discount Jesus’ words? Does our ability to instantly and visually observe events around the globe create an illusion of increased prophetic activity for those who try to read signs in tea leaves? Or was Jesus pointing to a confluence of events that would overwhelm the entire global community?

The movie, The Perfect Storm, graphically illustrates the idea of a situation in which all the resources of experience, intelligence, manpower, training, equipment and courage are overwhelmed by the intensity of nature.

Some are suggesting that is exactly what is happening in the world today. As the US Federal Reserve prints “funny” money out of thin air it is putting inflationary pressure on other global currencies giving rise to higher food prices. Much of the protests we are seeing began as a reaction to food price increases. Riots are breaking out over bankrupt government’s inability to pay for promised entitlements. Religious fanaticism, pirating, political turmoil adds to the uncertainty, fear and chaos. Political Correctness paralyzes; cultural norms are in upheaval. Earthquakes, tsunami’s, shifting weather patterns, and other “signs” wreak havoc on more than just property. Shifting alliances, shifting financial and military power structures, shifting global economies and currencies. Nuclear proliferation by rogue nations. Unparalleled changes are happening in our generation – simultaneously! It’s very nearly overwhelming!

The clamor for a New World Order, interestingly, is also on the rise. The revolutionaries of the 60’s have quietly bid their time working with union, academic, political, religious and corporate leaders to build a world-wide structure to bring about their utopian vision!

Dick Morris recently predicted an “October Surprise” reminiscent of previous presidential candidate’s attempts at last minute chicanery to sway public opinion. There is a palpable feeling that the USA is in for difficult times, not unlike the eeriness of awaiting the impact of Y2K.

Fortunately that catastrophe never occurred, whether it was a made-up apocalypse or not, it held our imaginations in its power for a significant time. In a similar fashion, imaginations are on high alert in the run-up to this election!

But whether we believe in October surprises, voter fraud, electoral fiddling, or conspiracies of one kind or another there is an event that, were it to occur, would trigger monumental change in the world as we know it.

That event would be some type of accord in the Mid-East that would allow Israel to rebuild its temple near the Temple Mount, one of the most violently contested pieces of real estate in the world today! Most likely it will occur quietly, but make no mistake, its significance will change the world!