Q: What do you see happening prophetically in this season we are in?

A: I believe we are seeing the influence of the Church extending into the political arena and influencing society in America. There is no question that this is the Great Harvest at the end of the age. Every Christian should be invested in it.

Q: Besides the obvious reason, the rebirth of the nation of Israel, why do you think that?

A: Consider the Biblical "Law of First Mention." The first time any subject is introduced in the Bible usually signifies its most important role. Celestial lights are first introduced in Gen 1:14. "...and let them be for signs and seasons and for days and years." In other words, it is Biblical to look toward the sky for "signs." The history of signs in the skies is compelling. The probable year of Jesus birth, 3 BC is a case in point.

1) August 12, 3 BC Jupiter and Venus united as a "morning star", then Jupiter (the king planet) continued on its phenomenal progression through the heavens.

2) Jesus was born September 11, 3 BC the Day of Trumpets.

3) On September 14, 3 BC Jupiter came into union with Regulus (star of the Jewish Messiah) and began a circling "crown" effect.

4) Fifteen months later, December 25, 2 BC the King Planet Jupiter came into its stationary point in mid-Virgo, the virgin. It would be seen by the Magi from Jerusalem as "stopped" or standing over Bethlehem.

Source: Dr Carl Baugh www.creationevidence.org

Q: So there were signs in the sky at Jesus’ first coming?

We can also expect signs in the sky at His second coming. "An eclipse of the sun is a bad omen for the world" Talmud (Sukkah 29a). An eclipse of the moon, a "blood moon", is a bad sign for Israel.

In 66 AD, 4 years before Jerusalem’s destruction, a comet appeared in the sky for one year.

In 1910, there were 7 major eclipses before World War I began in 1914.

In 1973 there were 7 major eclipses, and Israel was attacked on Yom Kippur.

In 1811 the Great Comet was discovered in June. (Next to the Hale-Bopp Comet, it was viewed longer than any other comet.)

In 1812, America entered into war with Great Britain.

In 1995 the Hale-Bopp comet was discovered. It was seen intermittently for 18 months. The last time it crossed the earth’s path was during the lifetime of Noah. "As it was in the days of Noah, it will be also in the days of the Son of Man" (Luke 17:26).

Q:What signs are coming in the near future?

A: Next summer, Wednesday July 22, 2009 will be the most extensive solar eclipse in the 21st century. Additionally, Pastor Mak Blitz has done some research and revealed the following:

Coming lunar eclipses:

Passover, April 15, 2014

Feast of Tabernacles, October 8, 2014

Passover, April 4, 2015

Feast of Tabernacles, September 28, 2015

Notice that those dates do not seem especially relevant using the Gregorian calendar, but when superimposed on a Jewish calendar, this could not be by chance. This is a sign, as spoken of in Genesis 1:14.

Q: Are there any other significant eclipses coming?

A: Yes, both the Jewish religious New Year, March 20, 2015 and the Jewish civil New Year, September 13, 2015 will be characterized by solar eclipses.

Q: Are signs in the skies specific to only Jews?

A: No, Islam also has beliefs related to signs in the heavens. According to the Hadith, "Of our Mahdi there are two signs which have never taken place ever since the earth and the heaven came into existence. One is that in the month of Ramadan the moon shall be eclipsed on the first of its nights and the sun in the middle of its days; and such a sign has never occurred ever since the creation of the earth and the heavens" Dar al-Qutni, vol.8, p. 188.

Q: When will solar and lunar eclipses happen during Ramadan?

A: Such a combination occurred in 1894, during the life of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib. Some thought him to be al Mahdi. That proved to be incorrect. The most recent such lunar/solar eclipse combination during Ramadan was in 2005, and it won’t occur again until 2024.

Q: What exactly does that mean?

A. In my opinion, if this Islamic prophecy proves to be accurate, then al Mahdi made a public appearance to at least someone as far back as 2005.

Q: That doesn’t seem possible, does it?

A: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, is on record as having told Iranian journalists in 2005 that he had spoken with al Mahdi. Furthermore, we see a great schism developing in Islam, between the Sunni Al Qaeda and the Shia fundamentalists, led by Mr. Ahmadinejad. It is a power struggle, over who will be the Mahdi, who will ride out of the desert on a white horse to unite the Umma (Islamic Community). All Islamic leaders allegedly have a white horse at the ready, in case they get the call. In fact, Saddam Hussein had a mural of himself riding a white horse into Jerusalem painted in one of his palaces.

Q: What is meant by the term al Mahdi?

A: It means the "promised one", that Allah promised to send at the end of the age. Islamic theology is the converse of Christianity. Al Mahdi is the world leader, who rules with Isa (Jesus) at his side. Isa will "break the cross and kill the swine." That is, he will say he didn’t die on the cross, and order the murder of the Jews.

Q: So the Mahdi is actually the antichrist?

A: Exactly, and Isa is the false prophet. Jesus had forewarned us not to follow the one who rides out of the desert. "See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the desert! Do not go out..." (Matthew 24:25-26).

Q: Will the Mahdi be Sunni or Shiite?

A: I believe he will be a Shiite, for many reasons. He will be called the "King of Babylon," a Shiite stronghold. As I write, huge fiberoptic cables are being laid to connect Babylon with Europe and Asia, no doubt to facilitate trade with the future economic capitol of the world (see Zechariah 5:5-11, Revelation 18).

Q: Will al Mahdi be Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran?

A: Absolutely not. He must be an Arab, of the bloodline of Mohammad and Ali. Mr. Ahmadinejad is a Persian, not an Arab. In fact, he has publicly said he will step aside in favor of al Mahdi, when he comes on the scene.

Q: What can we do to prepare?

A: First and foremost, prepare your own heart. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, click over to "Eternal Destination" right away. Secondly, stand fast with the Jews during this difficult hour, in prayer, and politically. Defend their right to their land.

Q: What should our attitude be toward the Moslems?

A: I believe the Church has been derelict in her duty toward the Moslems. Many have been taught from infancy to hate the Jews. Pray that God would soften their hearts. Then we must appeal to their logic. Would Isa (Jesus) really say to "kill the swine" (Jews). Of course not! Jesus is Jewish, He wouldn’t call Himself swine or order the murder of His own blood relatives. Furthermore, we need to point out to Moslems that there is much bloodshed in their own future. They can escape the wrath to come by believing in Jesus, that is the only way.

Q: Why is the future of Moslems filled with bloodshed?

A: The Bible is quite clear. There will be a war between Muslim factions, and Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia will be defeated by Mahdi (Daniel 11:43). Egypt will be especially decimated, probably with nuclear bombs. No one will live there for 40 years after the tribulation, probably due to radiation toxicity (Ezekiel 29:11). Furthermore, al Mahdi will send Moslems to war against Russia and China, (Daniel 11:44) and many will surely lose their lives.

Q: When will all this begin?

A: I believe it is unbiblical to call dates. Even if I had an educated guess, I wouldn’t give it publicly. So many have done that and been wrong. My only message is prepare your heart. That’s the sense we get from the Word of God. Prepare your heart.