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Nobody thought they would live to see it. Surely it wouldn’t happen until after the Lord had returned. But on May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, declared the establishment of the state of Israel. After 2,500 years, the Jewish people once again had a homeland in the Middle East.
However, almost immediately, enemies turned up on Israel’s doorstep. A coalition of Arab armies invaded the new nation the day after it was founded, and 10 months of fighting ensued.
Since then, Israel has hardly enjoyed a day of peace. Its never-ending wars with the surrounding Arab countries have been well-documented, as has its ongoing conflict with the Palestinians, who believe Israel’s land belongs to them. The Jewish state has faced a variety of rocket attacks and bombings, including two Palestinian intifadas.
Could all of this be a sign that we are nearing the biblical end times?
Carl Gallups, a Baptist pastor and talk radio host, certainly thinks so.
In “Final Warning: Understanding the Trumpet Days of Revelation,” published by WND Books, he argues that certain historical events of the past century fulfill biblical prophecies concerning the return of Jesus Christ at the end of history.
“It cannot be denied that we are living in very specific, biblically prophetic times, starting with the return of Israel, and then of course, with the alignment of nations coming against Israel, then with the rise of Islam and the falling of certain nations and the rising of other nations in the Middle East,” Gallups told WND in a recent interview.
The author pointed to several recent examples of prophetically significant events. The Islamic world is rising in militancy, he said, starting with the Arab Spring. Egypt has been destabilized by internal strife, as has Libya. ISIS is gaining territory and influence, and Islamic terror attacks have spread into Europe and the United States.
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“Many Bible experts and prophecy students believe that these things are happening in accordance with prophecies from God’s Word, and we’re watching them unfold before our eyes,” Gallups said.
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His book deals mainly with the seven trumpet “visions” given to the apostle John while he was exiled on the island of Patmos in the 90s A.D. John wrote about those visions in the book of Revelation. In “Final Warning,” Gallups delves into the trumpet prophecies, looking for key words that might relate to more recent historical events.
The author understands that some people may be skeptical of his views about the end times, but he wrote the book for skeptics, too. He firmly believes that signs of the end times are all around us, especially the return of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland and the rise of Islamic nations against Israel.
“We see all of this happening, and all of this convergence, and it just puts more of a passion in my heart than ever to reach out to people who might not be that familiar with the intricacies of eschatology, with the intricacies of biblical interpretation and biblical prophecy, just to help them to see that something very real is happening, something very profound, something very spiritual, something very biblical is happening,” Gallups said.
He gave two examples from the book. Gallups believes the Bible makes several definitive allusions to Russia and Iran playing critical end-time roles. Russia and Iran now enjoy a close relationship at a time when Iran is the nation most belligerent toward Israel.
Also, Gallups said the third trumpet in the book of Revelation describes a fiery star called Wormwood that fell from heaven and polluted a large water supply. “Wormwood” translated into the Ukrainian language is “Chernobyl,” the name of the nuclear power plant that erupted in a fiery explosion in Ukraine back in 1986.
“These are either some of the biggest coincidences known to mankind, or it’s exacting prophecy being fulfilled in our lifetime, and I want to awaken the soul and awaken the spirit of people who might not otherwise know these things,” Gallups said.
“Final Warning” has received acclaim, if not complete agreement, from some of Gallups’ fellow prophecy-minded writers.
“If you have a passion to study the subject of the end times, then you will love this book! Carl Gallups is an engaging writer who presents a truly unique perspective. Prepare to be challenged,” said Joel Richardson, New York Times bestselling author of “The Islamic Antichrist” and director of the documentary “End Times Eyewitness.”
Pastor Mark Biltz, author of “Blood Moons,” said he believes the end times are near, but not the literal end of the world.
“I definitely agree that we are living in the biblical end times,” Biltz told WND. “By end times I am not saying the end of the world, but the end of an age, as I believe we have another 1,000 years when the Messiah reigns here on earth. We are in epic times when the biblical Messiah comes and rules and reigns on His throne in Jerusalem.”
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Biltz said signs of the end times include blood moons, which he details in his book, and solar eclipses on the biblical feast days. Earthly signs include ISIS and ethnic conflict, as Gallups says, but also earthquakes, plagues, and economic collapse.
Gallups said that regardless of what one believes about the specifics of eschatology, everyone should be aware that they are living in the Biblical end times. He recommends that people begin to consider where they stand with God.
“It’s time for people to be right with their creator through Jesus Christ,” he said. “It’s time for people to understand, and for the church to wake up. We need to be prepared to meet the return of our Lord.”
