Chronicles of the End Times
Occasionally, people say, are we really in the last days? How do we know? Does it matter one way or another? We will try to answer these questions and many others in this study. But the most important question may be, how can we reach others with hope in these changing times? One part of prophecy is often emphasized over another, causing us to lose perspective and miss the blessing and beauty of prophecy in scripture. I have taken the information in this study from many authors and teachers who have their lives studying God's word. I have added some insight that the Holy Spirit taught me. With God's help, I have endeavored to keep the whole counsel of the word of God in full view to give us an accurate picture of Christ and His great love for a lost world. I pray that this will challenge you and cause you to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it has me preparing it. Let's begin!
Chronicles of the End Times
Why Iran's Nuclear Ambitions and Turkey's Hostility Matters More Than You Think
The world is rapidly changing, but most of us have become dangerously "news numb" - scrolling past headlines about Iran's nuclear ambitions, Turkey's threats against Israel, and Europe's economic decline without recognizing their prophetic significance. In this eye-opening episode, we explore how current events in the Middle East and Europe align with biblical prophecy in ways that should capture our attention.
Europe stands at a crossroads, with Germany showing negative growth and energy costs tripling compared to the United States. This economic vulnerability, coupled with weak leadership across the European Union, creates the perfect conditions for the rise of a charismatic figure who could unite the continent - a scenario many Bible scholars have long anticipated. Meanwhile, Turkey's President Erdogan speaks openly about reclaiming Ottoman territories and destroying "Zionist Israel," signaling a dramatic shift for a NATO nation with rich biblical history.
Perhaps most concerning is Iran's accelerating nuclear program, which intelligence sources suggest is days away from weapons capability. The threat isn't limited to Israel - the possibilities for global disruption are immense, especially considering the porous borders many nations have experienced in recent years. These developments aren't isolated political issues; they're signposts on the prophetic timeline that Jesus provided to keep believers alert and engaged.
Yet amid these troubling signs, powerful revivals are breaking out in universities across America, with young people turning to authentic faith. This simultaneous occurrence of apostasy and revival perfectly matches biblical descriptions of the end times. Rather than responding with fear or apathy, we're called to heightened prayer, awareness, and evangelism. The purpose of prophecy has always been to wake us up to the urgency of sharing God's love while there's still time. Will you recognize the signs and respond to them with purpose?
16906176-untitled-episode
Done
Speaker Names
Speaker 1
00:00
Live our lives the way we want. We don't sing or understand, and all this time, we were dreaming, sad in the face of Superman.
Speaker 2
00:11
Welcome everyone. This is Russ Scalzo. Chronicles of the End Times. Thank you for being with me today. Today, we will look into Europe and the Middle East, and how quickly things are moving In this time, we're living. Things are moving so fast that most people are ignoring them. We're shut off. Ah, so that's happened. Another war, another thing over here, the possibility of Iran having nuclear bombs. We've been hearing that forever, oh hum. We go to sleep and think about our own needs. You know, think about what we need and what will make us happy here in America, and we dangerously disregard the news because we are news numb. There's so much coming in, and there's so much about the political scene that's drowning out the real issues. Iran's Kalmeni made this statement. This is a short blurb. I'll read the translation after the statement, but I thought it'd be more meaningful to hear it in his native language.
01:36
So here is what he's saying in English: it's a religious, moral, and human duty for everyone to work towards removing this wicked criminal entity, Israel, from the region. It is evident that with him in control, there will never be any peace between Iran and Israel. So why should we be so concerned about a country like Iran, with such a wonderful leader, having at his disposal a weapon of mass destruction that could destroy an entire city and beyond in a moment? Those of us who are Bible watchers, who love Bible prophecy, who look forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who look forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the end of death and the grave, and the end of cancer and all the other deadly diseases that have killed and maimed so many who we care about and love, and those of you who have been listening to me for quite a while, you know that I am not one to raise the flag and beat on the drum and scream it's the end of the world. Many people are doing that, but I will say we cannot look the other way when we see things happening that are reshaping the world right in front of our eyes, and one of those is Europe.
02:55
Europe has been devastated, especially over the last 20 years and over the last decade. Recent reports suggest that Europe's economic growth has been weak and that the eurozone is struggling due to factors like high energy costs and the loss of competitiveness. One of the reasons for that is Germany, which has kept the euro going since its conception. It has the strongest economy and the backbone of the euro. Now it's showing negative growth. European economies, mainly those heavily reliant on Russian gas, had a tremendous decline. For businesses to thrive, especially industries like manufacturing. Germany pays over three times what we pay for energy. Europe faces a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape due to the significant increase in illegal immigrants. Europe is not the same as it was even 25 years ago.
03:53
What will happen with the war in Ukraine? The United States seems to be pulling out, looking for peace, looking to end it, which, by some, is a mistake and, by others, is the only way. Can Europe continue to supply the Ukraine without help from the United States? Many believe they cannot. It is a war that could go on for years and, in the end, may end up where it is right now, only with Ukraine losing more territory and, more importantly, more lives. War is not a new thing, but it is an ugly thing and it does reshape the landscape. So, what implications come from the weakening of Europe? Many believe the Antichrist will rise out of Europe. Unfortunately, the leadership in the European Union is very weak at present, and a strong leader, a charismatic leader, could quickly come in and grab the attention of the people and the nations.
04:49
If you couple that with what's going on in Iran right now and Turkey, Erdogan, the president of Turkey, has fueled concerns about his intentions in Syria. Speaking at the 8th Conference of his Justice and Development Party, Erdogan remarked if the region had not been divided after World War I, cities like Aleppo, Sham, Hama, and Homs would still be a part of Turkey. Turkish opposition sources suggest Erdogan's policies aim to revive the Ottoman Caliphate through strategic control over Syria. What does that all mean? Just a bunch of blah, blah, blah? Or is something going on of substance? And I think those of us who are keeping an eye on the situation realize that Turkey is an enemy of Israel, and they are the ones behind this revolution. And it's also pretty clear that the president of Turkey has grandiose ideas of how he can become the king of this new caliphate, and if that transpires, Israel's going to be in a worse position than they were when Assad was there and that wasn’t good. Take a listen to this little clip from the Watchman newscast on TVN.
Speaker 3
06:03
Here's the headline from Fox News, Echoing Hamas. That about says it all. Erdogan reportedly calls for Israel's destruction. Amid a push to rekindle ties with Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan allegedly called for the destruction of Israel during Eid prayers at the Kamlika Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. On Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reported that Erdogan said, quote may Allah, for the sake of his name, destroy and devastate Zionist Israel.
Speaker 2
06:35
Why is this important? Turkey has been a NATO nation until now. It still is, but things are changing, and that's the whole point. Turkey is now an enemy of Israel. Did you notice his comment about the United States and Israel becoming closer because of Trump? Maybe he feels now is a better time to move than later, before their relationship with the United States gets closer. This is a significant event in Bible prophecy.
07:07
Turkey has such a rich history. It holds significant biblical importance as the birthplace of the Apostle Paul, the location of the seven churches of Revelation, and where early Christianity flourished after the fall of Jerusalem. Even in the Old Testament, the city of Haran, where Abraham and his family lived for a time after leaving Ur of the Chaldees, was located in the area now known as Turkey and, of course, mount Ararat, a place where Noah's Ark landed. It's a shame that an area with such a rich history is now going to be a part of the League of Nations to invade Israel and attempt to destroy God's people here in the last days. Let's turn to Iran. And they are boasting all these things that they're going to do if the United States or Israel comes against their nuclear program. If you look at some of these chats that are going on online, when the news comes out that, yes, this is a terrible thing, Iran is indeed days away, according to the latest intelligence, of having a bomb.
08:13
One comment was, “Oh, these jokers have been saying that for 20 years. I couldn't resist. I had a comment on that. You know, we get so selfish in our own lives, especially here in the West. It's all about us. We want every advantage we can get, more of everything. It almost sounds like a comedy skit. It's so pathetic. We have our heads in the sand or somewhere else, and we don't realize what is happening and what it means. What does it mean to our family? What does it mean to our friends? Do we have any idea? Or will we be sound asleep like we were before 9-11? Suddenly, you wake up, and it's an absolute disaster. God doesn't want us walking around in fear. That's not what this is all about. But we should be informed, and we should be praying. There's a difference between fear and awareness and using that for our prayer life. We don't have to have geopolitical awareness to pray for the world. Our world is around us, and that's what it's about. God's using all these events to keep us in a place where we know where we're at on the timeline so we can pray for our families, friends, neighbors, and the people we work with and stay in touch with the mission.
09:28
If we think this is Israel's problem and the Middle East's problem and not our problem, we are truly foolish people. Do you think they can’t sneak a device into the United States, even with the increased security that we have now? Do we not believe that there aren't thousands that have entered this country over the last four or five years that have evil intent, and all they need is the tools to make it happen? This should keep us on our knees. What will happen in Iran over the next few days, the next few weeks? Will the United States team up with Israel and drop bombs on every location they can find that has a nuclear reactor?
10:06
The whole world is shaping up for the end times battle, and in the midst of this, the Church of Jesus Christ is being rebuilt. Some are going to go their way. They will continue to go to church now and then and do whatever they do, and whole churches and denominations are moving away from the Word of God because it just doesn't fit in today's society. But there's the other side. Right now, we are seeing moves of God, renewals, revivals, extraordinary awakenings, whatever you want to call them, where God is intervening. And who's he using? He's using the young people. It's happening in colleges all over America. It starts with a handful of kids finally realizing that this is all garbage we're being fed. I want to hear from God. They begin to seek God and pour their heart out, and God answers. We have that going on in one of our local universities right now. Kids are coming in on Sunday service, enjoying the worship and the Word of God and growing. I always say this, but it's a truth that must be heard.
11:06
The most significant sign of the end times is Israel and the great falling away of the church and, in the midst of that, also a great move of God. It all happens at the same time. There can be a great falling away we are witnessing it, and there also can be a great awakening of those who want to serve God, those who are being visited by the Lord, by miracles and visions. The Holy Spirit is intervening. He knows whose hearts are ready. He knows whose hearts are hungry, broken, and crying out for help in the innermost parts of their being. God is hearing them, and God will listen to you today. If you're going through something really tough, tell God about it, talk to Him about it, shout about it, and yell about it. Whatever it is, get alone with God. Get alone with God and pour it out. Let him hear it all. It's not that he doesn't know it. He wants to hear from you, and it does our soul good to talk to God, hear from him, and see him move. He is alive; he cares. He's just waiting for us to respond.
12:10
The whole idea of bible prophecy is to keep us aware, to get us ready, and to wake us up. That's the entire reason for it. Jesus could have omitted it all, not spoken about the end times, and had no visions or prophecies in the Old Testament. He could have just concerned himself with the moment in time, but he didn't because he wanted us to see the signs on the road. He wants us to be ready. Why? So that we can be saved. No, he's trying to light a fire under us so we will reach other people. So, we would feel the urgency of his coming and the urgency to tell people what God's done for us so they might have it in their own lives. They might become children of the Most High. This is Russ Scalzo for Chronicles of the End Times. Keep looking up. The King is coming.
00:00 / 13:15