The Great Coming Famine / June 2006

It is now the summer of 2006. Our present world has evolved beyond the imagination of all of the previous generations. In fact, the present truth of today would be a shock to all previous generations if they were simply told of it. I have warned people of our day that they better pray that no one is able to make a "time machine" to go back a generation or more. The poor soul that travels back would surely be burned at the stake by noon for the penalty of being the "devil." They would not be able to accept what is common today. Since we have seen the changes occur, we have accepted the technology and resulting changes to our world. Previous generations have not and would consider the only reasonable explanation to be illusion and lies; it would have to be the work of the devil.

The changing world we live in has not slowed down. In fact, the technology of change is accelerating. There are many more changes coming – both good and evil. They will challenge even us despite our present day orientation. In fact, the changes (and trauma) coming in the next 5 years are greater than all the changes of the previous 50 years.

Am I referring to ancient Bible prophecies? Well, yes and no. The Bible does characterize the last generation as being many, traveling to and fro, with knowledge increasing (Daniel 12:4). However, secular scientists and sociologists are actually making dire predictions that sound like end time Bible prophecy types.

Consider the following:

Devaluing the Dollar. Prior to World War II, paper currencies in the world such as the dollar were backed by gold. Gold has been the world’s universal money. A country with much gold had much money, those without had a lot of paper. The price of gold was pretty stable, set at about $32 an ounce. But then World War II came and the world changed in dramatic ways. President Roosevelt gathered all the gold and put it in Ft. Knox. Our money became Federal Reserve Notes controlled by a group of bankers, no longer backed by gold. What is our money based on now? Answer: Oil.

The United States in the aftermath of World War II became the guarantee for energy for western nations. Everyone went along with the idea except the Soviet Union. They had their own oil. For nearly sixty years, on the world market, oil was sold and purchased using U.S. Dollars. The U.S. with their military might guaranteed everyone oil. But recently things have been changing.

Iraq, in its dispute with the World, refused to sell their oil for U.S. Dollars. They wanted to be paid in the new currency of Europe – The Euro Dollar. Despite the best efforts of the United States, including the invasion of Iraq, other nations have suddenly decided to follow Hussein’s idea. Iran has decided and implemented March of this year, the sale of oil for Euros (not U.S. Dollars). The leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has decided to do the same and appears to be taking control (nationalizing) the oil production facilities in his country. Hugo Chavez does not like the United States and vice versa. The United States gets 20% of their oil from Venezuela.

Everyone is scrambling to lock in their source for oil (to meet the energy demanded of their country) and the U.S. Dollar is falling out of favor as the preferred currency of the world. So, what does that mean? The Dollar will fall in value. It will cost more dollars to buy the same thing, especially if it is foreign made. Need I mention that we have been moving most of our production factories to foreign countries because it is "cheaper" than doing it here? Many are buying gold and it is rising in value. But is it the answer? Only in the short term. It won’t solve the long term problem. You will have to sell it to have enough money. Besides, when the Messiah appears, you will throw your gold and silver away.

Peak Oil. You will soon hear this expression replacing Y2K like it was a game. Peak oil is defined as the point when energy consumption exceeds energy production. The United States passed this point in 1970. Remember the gas lines and shortages of 1973 with President Carter? We started buying foreign oil like it was going out of style then. According to experts, the world passed peak oil in 2005.

With China becoming more technologically advanced and the overall increased world population, we are now consuming more oil (energy) than the world can produce. This includes drilling all new resources, increasing Nuclear, Solar, and alternative fuels. So, what does this mean? It means that by 2010, shortages will force conservation and market forces will drive the available product to unbelievable prices. Quoting from those experts they are projecting a gallon of gasoline at $7 to $8. Consider the down stream implications to food production and everything we need. Everything requires energy to be produced. Everything will follow suit when prices increase. Some are saying that this will produce oil wars (rumors of wars). Nations with large militaries will force oil producers to sell or be seized. Iran desperately wants Nuclear weapons to play with the big boys. They see this as their opportunity to emerge as the great Persian Empire again.

Presently, oil companies are merging and new refineries are not being built. They know shortages are coming and only the biggest companies will survive. There is no need for new refineries. With the present consumption levels and production capacity, it will all be gone within 25 years. What is desperately needed is conservation and new types of fuels. So far, hybrid cars are the only thing on the drawing boards and they are expensive.

Solar Max. In 2012, the sun will again hit its 11 year cycle for Sun spot activity. However, this time ii will coincide with another more ominous 50 year cycle of activity. The sun has a series of conveyor belts just like our ocean currents. These belts are what produce the sun’s magnetic storms just like our ocean currents with the jet stream produce weather for us on earth. In effect, the normal jet stream works with the ocean currents to produce increased storms. On the sun this is called Solar Max. The last time we had this (1859), an article in the New York newspapers said that it caused the sky to turn red, beams of light were shooting from the horizon to the zenith and telegraph lines were fried to a sizzle.

When solar storms strike the earth, the magnetic field surrounding us directs the energy to the poles. This can produce the famous "northern lights." The energy is so great that it scintillates gas molecules in the atmosphere to glow (neon bulb effect). When a big solar storm hits and they have in recent years, the railroads lines and power transmission lines dissipate the energy. However, an excessive charge can also take out a power transmission grid causing a loss of electrical power for several regions. Remember, the 1859 report about telegraph lines sizzling?

While this cycle is not to occur until 2012, some scientists say that the ramp-up of activity will begin in 2010 and last until 2014. Given that our world has dramatically moved to the "wireless" mode, we should reasonably be expecting some satellites to be severely damaged or their life to be shortened. There will be disruptions in service. How did we ever live before cell phones? How will we live suddenly without them and with them severely disrupted?

Whether you are talking to a sociologist, a physical scientist, or a solar scientist, each of them are saying the world you live in today will not be the world that is coming. It appears to be an approaching disaster. By the way, no one has put it all together explaining the synergism of all of these things at the same time. However, what is about to happen to the earth already has happened once before.

The Famine in Egypt. Long ago in the days of Pharaoh and Joseph, a time of plenty was followed by a devastating shortage. Joseph counseled Pharaoh to store up for the time of shortage. He warned the following:

So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe.

Genesis 41:31

Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the storage and later disbursement. As a result, the people spent all their money for the shortage. The next year, they had no money, so they paid for the food by selling all of their livestock.

Then Joseph said, "Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is gone."

Genesis 47:16

The next year, they had no money nor livestock. They were forced to sell their land and themselves to serve on it.

And when that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, "We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent, and the cattle are my lord's. There is nothing left for my lord except our bodies and our lands. So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every Egyptian sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. Thus the land became Pharaoh's. So they said, "You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's slaves."

Genesis 47:18,20,25

This is what happens when there is a great shortage of something essential. The same is coming to the world. The shortage will be oil and energy. First, it will take everyone’s money. Then all of the equipment and companies will be sold. Then national sovereignties will be sold along with the citizens of that country. A new Pharaoh will emerge.

I believe he will be the antimessiah and fulfill the words of the prophets Zechariah in the role as the shepherd of the "doomed flock for slaughter." I believe there is going to be another famine, a shortage of needed things. I believe the world will then follow the pattern of the Egyptians with Joseph. They will spend all their money (it will be severely devalued). They will sell their assets and other things of value (they won’t be worth much more than their money – remember everyone is selling). And finally, they will find that they are subject to their governments and rulers of their governments will be forced to give themselves and their nations over to the final ruler.

Thus says the Lord my God, "Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter. Those who buy them slay them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell them says, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for I have become rich!’ And their own shepherds have no pity on them. For I shall no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the land," declares the Lord; "but behold, I shall cause the men to fall, each into another's power and into the power of his king; and they will strike the land, and I shall not deliver them from their power." Then I said, "I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to be annihilated, let it be annihilated; and let those who are left eat one another's flesh."

Zechariah 11:4-6,9

This is how Pharaoh owned Egypt and this is how the antimessiah will gain power over the world. Some have suggested that the antimessiah will be a very charismatic leader with great ideas. I don’t think he will accomplish all that he does because of his charisma or ideas. I think the world be in such need that they will sell themselves to him.

This generation has been around since Israel was formed in 1948. How long can this generation of baby boomers last? It appears that ominous things are coming our way. The days of abundance are about to end. The famine will be very severe. The world as we know it will change dramatically. Just as Joseph stood in his day and warned of what was coming, God used him to preserve the House of Jacob. God has promised us that we too will be saved in the tribulation of the days coming. Like our ancestors, we will leave Egypt, endure the Great Tribulation, and ultimately go to the promised land (the Messianic Kingdom).

When do we leave? When does the Great Tribulation begin? Answer: When the altar is shut down on the temple mount and the image of the antimessiah is set-up.

Brethren, do not sweat the small stuff (the world collapsing into need). Be more concerned with the Creator of Universe coming to see who you believe in.

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