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
The Israel-Iran Conflict and Modern Day Prophecy: A Spiritual Perspective
The future is happening now at the intersection of prophecy and technology. Welcome to a journey through today's headlines that mainstream media won't connect—where biblical patterns and modern developments converge in startling ways.
Ever heard of Palantir? Named after the magical seeing stones in Tolkien's fantasy world, this real-world AI system claims to predict criminal behavior before it happens. By analyzing your reading habits, social connections, travel patterns, and countless other data points, algorithms determine if you're a potential threat. While reminiscent of Minority Report's "precogs," this technology raises profound questions: Who defines what constitutes a threat? What happens when such power falls into the wrong hands? As one security expert notes, "It's not just about what this technology can do today, but what it will become tomorrow."
Meanwhile, as Israel continues its military operations against Iran, a remarkable spiritual awakening unfolds behind the scenes. Despite brutal persecution from the Iranian regime, Christianity is growing faster in Iran than anywhere else on earth. Countless Muslims report encountering Jesus through dreams and visions, joining underground churches at great personal risk. The same nation threatening nuclear destruction harbors the seeds of one of the most significant Christian revivals in modern history—a paradox that challenges our understanding of God's redemptive work in unexpected places.
What do surveillance technology, Middle East conflicts, and spiritual awakening have in common? They're all accelerating simultaneously, suggesting we may be witnessing the converging signs described in ancient prophecies. Rather than standing as passive observers, we're invited to participate meaningfully in these final chapters—whether through prayer, compassionate action, or boldly sharing hope in increasingly turbulent times. The question isn't just what these events mean, but how we'll respond to them. Join us as we explore these critical developments and discover our place in God's unfolding story. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation that connects today's headlines with timeless truths.
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Speaker Names
Speaker 1
00:00
This is Russ Scalzo Chronicles of the End Times. I hope you're doing well today and growing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:30
Today we're going to be talking about a few different things. As the world watches as the war between Israel and Iran rages on, Israel is making significant progress, as many of you who are watching the news and keeping an eye on things know. We also see how France, Britain, and Europe are backing away from open support of Israel, which is absurd. And many in this country carrying flags of other nations and holding tight to their anti-Semitism and rooting for Hamas, Hezbollah, and the IRGC is mind-blowing to me. It just shows you how strong deception is. People say to me sometimes Well, no, you don't understand. I believe this. I know it's true, I believe it, and I remind them you do know what the definition of deception is. Right. Deception is when you think something with all your heart, when your mind and your body, and you're willing to drive planes into buildings and strap bombs to children so they can blow up buildings. As sick as that sounds, people who are devoted and sold out to their cause don't make it right. It doesn't make it godly. It is evidence of indoctrination and deception.
01:48
So today, what are we going to be talking about? We're going to touch on many different things, but one of the things I want to hit on is some of the new technology that is surfacing, a technology called Palantir. Palantir is a technology that can see into the future and can discern what a person is going to do—terrifying stuff. The government is using it in different situations. Other countries are using it to determine what a criminal or person might do to prevent the act before it happens. Does it remind you of a movie? If you're a movie watcher, you might remember the movie Minority Report. The film takes place in Washington in the year 2054. It's a specialized police department that apprehends criminals through the use of foreknowledge provided by psychics called precogs. These precogs are connected to this technology that can foresee a person’s actions. The Palantir software helps organize massive, complex data sets to improve decision-making, particularly in government and large enterprises. It's designed to provide tools for both human and machine-assisted analysis. It can figure out by looking at your patterns, seeing who you are, what you read, what you eat, where you go, who your friends are, everyone you associate with, and then it comes to a conclusion as to whether you are a threat.
03:15
Let's check out what the word Palantir means. You will find it in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It refers to a magical, indestructible crystal ball used for communication, and it can see distant places or events. It can track people. In the movie, there is this globe that the evil wizard Sauron uses to track his enemies, to track the hobbits, and to communicate with Mount Doom. What was once considered science fiction and fantasy is now the real deal. Only, we don't need the globe; we have the computer. And we don't need the precogs, we have the software. Let's listen to what Patrick Bet-David says about this on his PBD podcast. Check it out on YouTube. You should listen to the whole thing, so you have access to this power.
Speaker 2
04:06
Man, I can control the world. Man, I can make sure nothing happens with this. In the movie book of Eli, one guy, Denzel Washington, looks at the bible. Man, I can set people free. Another guy looks at the bible. It's like I need this bible because with this I can control people: same book, two different people, two different purposes.
04:23
Some could say What's wrong with you? Palantir can help find the bad guys and all this other stuff in the hands of who? The good guy? So, you may have voted for Trump. You're like, dude, Trump's in charge. I'm okay with this. Trump's not going to be in charge forever. What if an evil president comes in? What if an evil administration comes in? Then what can they do? Then? Can they just say, hey, this guy is very vocal, is against our judgment, that guy's going to jail for 20 years? We'll say that the software said this guy's about to commit a crime. He killed seven people, put him in prison for 20 years. What? That's the fear of where people are going with this. Make sense. You lose your liberties and your freedom. But you have to think about a bad guy taking over.
Speaker 1
05:00
We have to think about one day a bad guy could take over. Well, we know that scenario. We've talked about that enough. What's the point here? Well, we have been talking about AI and all the advances in AI. We add to that this program, which they've been working on for years, is now beginning to perfect. And you know how this goes, Technology gets better and better and better, not each year, but each month. It seems just another sign along the way.
05:32
Now, getting back to Israel and the war in Iran. Why is it so important? Is it just a regional conflict between two religions? No, we know that the Islamic regime in Iran has one objective, and that's to wipe out the West, to bring about Armageddon, because they believe that that's their doctrine, that death is the greatest thing. Life, they do not consider valuable. So, here Israel is doing the work for the whole world. That's it.
06:01
And I find it very interesting because in World War II, when Hitler and the Nazis were wiping out the Jews to the tune of six plus million, the United States was in a neutral mode. If you know your history, you know that's true. No one wanted to go to war. I understand that they had just been through World War I, not that long ago, but there was a horrific slaughter going on. What's my point? The point is the same Jewish people, the same nation that the world had turned its back on while they were being slaughtered, is now the nation that could be saving the world from a nuclear holocaust. Israel must wipe out Iran's ability to make a nuclear weapon. Even enough enriched uranium to create one bomb would be a nightmare, especially if it were in your city.
06:49
How does this relate to the coming of the Lord? What biblical prophecies have been fulfilled? I've been studying this for nearly 50 years, and though some claim they know, only God himself knows for sure. Let's listen to what's going on spiritually in Iran. Here's George Thomas from CBN. Let's listen to this short clip.
Speaker 3
07:11
Iran is seeing the fastest growth of Christianity today compared to any other country. And they are on fire. The church is on fire. The Iranian regime is scared to death of the rising evangelical movement inside the country. Not so much about a threat, you know, they that they want to depose the regime politically, but they want to. They want to bring a new spirit to the country, and there's a tremendous prayer movement that has been unleashed across Iran for many years. So many people are seeing dreams and visions, seeing Jesus Christ in dreams and visions. So, pray for continued boldness and the strength and the courage in the days ahead, because, you know, the regime, when they're cornered, when they're under the spotlight and under the gun, so to speak, they tend to take their frustration and their anger out on their own people.
Speaker 4
08:07
You know, as George Thomas said, what's happening spiritually in Iran is one of the phenomena occurring in the world today, and especially here in the Middle East, as he said, one of the fastest-growing churches in the world. Many of these people are just fervent believers. They suffer under great persecution, and they have to worship and exercise their faith under great peril because of what the police would do, because of what the Iranian Revolutionary Guard would do. So, it's one of the bright spots, and as George said, it's important to pray for them, pray for their protection, and pray that God would use them for such a time as this. It's an important time for the church there in Iran that can play a key role spiritually in what's happening. Many people are hoping and praying if this regime does fall and believe we could be on the verge of seeing that fall that the church would be an explosion of evangelism, an explosion in the church’s growth.
Speaker 1
09:09
This is what your standard news will not tell you, but it's also why it's happening. I know we think about the geopolitical atmosphere, the world, the economics, all these things, but the bottom line is, what is God doing? He's seeing the spiritual world that we cannot see, and he's maneuvering and putting things in place so his kingdom will grow and people can hear the good news of Jesus Christ. And, like they said, let's pray for these folks and let's thank God for those, through the years, through the decades of this demonic oppression, who have gone against the flow, put their lives on the line, many who've lost their lives, others who've been locked away in darkness for years because they mentioned the name of Jesus and spread the good news. God has a special reward for them. Are we closing down at the end? Is the clock running out? When you add it all up, the technology, the falling away, the supernatural move of God giving those who are captive visions and dreams, the great delusion that's taking place, it's all happening at the same time. That's why I say don't look for one or two signs to see where we're at. Everything is on the move, and we need to be on the move as well. Let's keep our eyes on the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and be a part of what God is doing in these last days. Let's make our mark and be part of the history that will be told in heaven, of how the saints rose up in the last days, saving and healing people amid great persecution. What a testimony, what a legacy that would be. And we can all do our part, whether we're unable to get out of our homes, maybe because of sickness or age, or we're young, strong, fast, and ready to go. There's a job for each one of us. It could be doing outreach. It could be doing something in our church that inspires others. It could be intercessory prayer that no one sees but you and God. Then God moves because of your prayers.
11:24
Powerful stuff, the Word of God. Jesus knows what's coming. The Father has already seen it, and he gives us His Word, the Bible. I like to call it the Book of God. It's all about God. We want to know about God, what he's like, thinks, and what he wants us to do. Pick up the book. It's all inside, and the interesting part about it is that the Holy Spirit lives in that book, because the Word is alive. Who is the Word? The Word is Jesus, Psalm 2.
11:56
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in heaven laughs. The Lord holds them in derision that he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury, saying as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. The Lord will have his way.
12:29
And those who do not know the Lord, as I didn't many years ago, I thought the same thing. These are all bondages, this religion, this talk of God. He's trying to hold me back from being everything I could be, having a good time, and being really free. These are all the lies of the enemy, but that's what this psalm is talking about. Let's just break the bonds, let's get set free, but we know that there's no getting set free without Jesus, and the freedom that the devil supplies ends in disaster. We must reach the lost.
13:07
Be filled with faith today. Know that there's nothing the enemy can do to stop you from doing God's will. Only you can prevent it once we decide to follow him. He is pleased with us, blesses us, and will open doors for us. I thank God for each of you and everyone who's listening worldwide, and I pray that you be encouraged in Jesus Christ today. Know that no matter where you are, no matter what you're going through, I pray for you right now, in Jesus' name, that you will feel the strength of the Holy Spirit and the presence of Almighty God around you, and he will lift you up and you will feel his presence and his strength, and he will give you knew vision. Cast away the old. The Lord says Behold, I create everything new. Don't you perceive it? Let's take him up on that. Every day is a new day with Jesus Christ. This is Russ Scalzo for Chronicles of the End Times. Keep looking up. The King is coming.
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