Current Events (October 17th – 31st, 2018)

If you’ve been keeping up with events happening around the world and specifically in the Middle East, you’ll find that many biblically/prophetically significant events are stacking up. If you’re not keeping up then this article is for you as it’s a good resource for articles and videos on events that have been occurring over the month.

Although I believe the events may be significant and relate to the Bible, we should be careful as to how we interpret these events and not be quick to jump to conclusions.  Many of these articles – I believe – relate to prophecies in the sense that they are one of many pieces to the “puzzle” that is setting up the eventual fulfillment of them. We are told to be watchful and awake to the events going around the world but also be able to discern.

At the beginning of each section, I included sections of verses to what I believe the events are relating to. I’d recommend you read the surrounding verses and even the chapter for a clearer picture. At the end of the article are links to my previous current events articles as well as links to recommended articles and videos that go into detail regarding the prophecies in these verses for those that aren’t familiar.I hope this comprehensive collection of articles and videos guides you in your own research and deepens your understanding of the events occurring around the world.

This article is composed of 5 sections:

Government/Politics, Middle East/Israel, Nature/Celestial Events, Society, and Technology. Feel free to navigate to the section that most interests you.

• “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching…Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:37, 40)
• “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 21:34-36)
• “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)
•  ^“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)
• “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15)

Government/Politics

“…For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape…” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…” (Matthew 24:6-7)

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27)

• Macron to unveil peace plan soon if Trump doesn’t, top diplomat said to tell MKs (October 23rd) – France will fill the vacuum if the US doesn’t launch its initiative next month, Foreign Ministry’s Alon Ushpiz reported to brief Knesset panel

• Trump Mideast Envoy Greenblatt to Visit Israel Ahead of Peace Plan Unveiling (October 25th) – After multiple reports during the summer that said that the peace plan was close to being revealed, the White House continues to hold it back, mainly because of the reactions in the Arab world

• US to reveal ‘Deal of the Century’ to Israel next week (October 27th) – Israeli public radio said on Friday that the US administration would reveal the details of its “Deal of the Century” to Israel next week.
• China’s military ordered to ‘concentrate preparations for fighting a war’ as tensions with West grow (October 29th) – CHINA’s President Xi Jinping has told his military commanders to “concentrate preparations for fighting a war” as Beijing ramps up fighting talk with the West.
• Will France try to present a peace plan? (October 31st) – According to reports, amid Israeli concerns over a French peace plan, Macron sent a special envoy for talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah.
• Israeli minister on Dubai visit calls for ‘peace and security’ (October 31st) – Israel’s communications minister Ayoub Kara called for “peace and security” on Tuesday during a visit to the United Arab Emirates, as his country launches an unprecedented diplomatic push into Gulf states.

Middle East/Israel

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:2-3)

“Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap…” (Isaiah 17:1)

“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal…” (Ezekiel 38:1-4)

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…” (Matthew 24:6-7)

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” (Matthew 24:32-34)

• Israel Warns It’s About to ‘Change the Game’ in Gaza (October 22nd) – A tense quiet in the Gaza border region might be the result of serious Israeli threats to “change the game” should terrorists in the coastal enclave continue to threaten the residents of southern Israel.

• ‘No choice but war’: Israel ‘exhausted all options’ in dealing with Hamas, says defense chief (October 23rd) – Israel is left with no choice but to unleash a military action against Hamas militants, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has threatened. The bellicose tirade comes amid reports the IDF are amassing tanks along the Gaza border.

Nature/Celestial Events

“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.” (Luke 21:25-26)

“And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:11)

“…Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.” (Hosea 4:3)

“I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord.” (Zephaniah 1:2-3)

• Mass Animal Deaths for 2018 – A list of worldwide mass animal deaths for 2018

• The Atlantic and Pacific Ocean hurricane season is most powerful on record this year (October 23rd) – The oceans near North America have been angry this year. When all the hurricanes and tropical storms that have formed in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans this year are added together, the 2018 hurricane season is the most active season ever recorded, Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach announced Tuesday.

• Famine in Yemen could become one of worst in living memory, UN says (October 24th) – Yemen is sliding fast toward what could become one of the worst famines in living memory, the UN’s top emergency relief official has warned.

• Super Typhoon Yutu, the most powerful tropical cyclone on Earth in 2018, strikes the Northern Mariana Islands (October 25th) – Super Typhoon Yutu made landfall across Tinian and Saipan on Wednesday, dealing a catastrophic blow of damaging winds and torrential rainfall to both islands.

• Deadly Super Typhoon Yutu strongest storm to ever hit US territory, second strongest to hit US overall (October 25th) – With sustained winds of 178 mph as its eye passed directly over the tiny U.S. island of Tinian early Thursday, Super Typhoon Yutu was the strongest storm on record to ever hit a U.S. territory, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

• 18 volcanoes now pose ‘very high threat,’ U.S. government warns (October 25th) – The U.S. government warned on Thursday there were 18 volcanoes in the country that pose a “very high threat” as it updated its volcano threat assessments, with Hawaii’s Kilauea topping the list and Mt. Shasta in California making the top five.

• China kindergarten stabbing: Woman slashes at least 14 children (October 26th) – A woman wielding a kitchen knife has attacked at least 14 children at a kindergarten in Chongqing in central China, local police said Friday.

• Italy Flooding Inundates 70 Percent of Venice; 6 Killed Countrywide (October 28th) – Nearly three-quarters of Venice, Italy, was flooded Monday because of a storm system that brought strong winds, driving up water levels more than five feet in the lagoon city, officials said.

• Venice streets under water in worst flooding in a decade amid deadly storms throughout Italy (October 30th) – A woman was killed in the northern region of Trentino-Alto Adige after she was buried in mud after a landslide and a firefighter was struck by a tree while responding to the emergency.

Society

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

“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…” (II Timothy 3:1-5)

• Two Middle School Girls Arrested for Plotting to Kill Classmates and Drink Their Blood (October 24th) – Two middle school girls in central Florida brought knives to school in a foiled plot to kill classmates, cut them up and drink their blood before killing themselves, police officials said Wednesday.

• Florida schoolgirls arrested for ‘satanic murder plot’ (October 25th) – Two Florida schoolgirls have been arrested and accused of plotting to kill classmates in a satanic rite.

• ADL: Pittsburgh shooting likely deadliest anti-Semitic attack in US history (October 27th) – Jewish groups condemn shooting that left 11 dead, call for unity, and urge government to deal with threat posed by white supremacists

• Brothers, Husband and Wife Among 11 Victims: The Latest on the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting (October 28th) – Authorities identified the 11 victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting after a gunman armed with an assault rifle and at least three handguns opened fire there on Saturday morning. Six others were injured in what authorities said was a hate crime targeting the city’s Jewish community.

Technology

“…He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:16-17)

• Biohackers Are Implanting Everything From Magnets to Sex Toys (October 18th) – Patrick Kramer sticks a needle into a customer’s hand and injects a microchip the size of a grain of rice under the skin. “You’re now a cyborg,” he says after plastering a Band-Aid on the small wound between Guilherme Geronimo’s thumb and index finger.

• Global Biohackers have made human implantable microchips the fastest-growing industry in the world (October 19th) – “The question isn’t ‘Do you have a microchip?’  ” Kramer says. “It’s more like, ‘How many?’ We’ve entered the mainstream.”

• Why Implanted Microchips in Humans Could Go Mainstream Sooner than Later (October 23rd) – The marketing “tipping point” for implantable chips, writes The Atlantic, will come “when they become so useful they’re hard to refuse; when their benefits outweigh our anxieties about them. It could happen sooner than you think.”

Below are other articles on current events:

• Current Events in September
• Current Events in August
• Current Events in July
• Current Events in June
• Current Events in May
• Current Events in April

Below are videos that help tie the events to what the Bible says and explains their prophetic significance as well:

• Middle East Current Events Update by Behold Israel (October 19th) – Amir’s update on regional developments in Syria, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and much more.

• Bible Prophecy Update (October 28th) – Pastor J.D. answers the question of what may happen after the midterm elections.

Lastly, here are articles that give a better insight into some of these prophecies and events:

• God And His Fig Tree by Unsealed – An in-depth article on Israel as God’s “fig tree” and what that means prophetically.
• BREAKING: Jewish Nation-State Bill Becomes Law, Biggest Prophetic Development In 50 Years by Unsealed – “In my estimation, July 19, 2018 will go down in history as one of the most significant dates in Israel’s prophetic history—right up there with May 14, 1948 and June 7, 1967.  1948 was the restoration of the nation-state itself, 1967 the restoration of the nation’s capital, and 2018 the restoration of the nation’s biblical identity.”

• What’s Happening? by Unsealed – Muslims are predicting the soon return of the Imam Mahdi, Secular Humanists are predicting mass extinction because of global warming and unchecked capitalism, and Christians are predicting the imminent return of their Lord and Savior—Jesus Christ.  Plenty of other “end of the world”-type speculation has completely saturated television and the internet with bizarre mentions of a Mayan calendar, quatrains written by Nostradamus, alien invasions, and an impending (though yet unseen) planet called “Nibiru”.  Hollywood has certainly added fuel to the fire with the recent releases of 2012, The Book of Eli, 9, The Road, Legion, The Day After Tomorrow, and others.  The film and television industry has developed an odd fascination with the apocalyptic genre… very odd, wouldn’t you agree?  Something is definitely going on.

• An Overview Of Things To Come by Unsealed – An overview and explanation of what all these signs are pointing to and what Christians are told to watch for (Recent signs and prophecies, 7 year tribulation, millennium reign of Christ)
• A Prophetic Review by Unsealed – A chronological recap of key articles that will provide readers with a solid overview of properly divided biblical prophecy: