Article: 3-12-2008 "The Rising Price of Oil and Bible Prophecy"
All of us are feeling the effects of rising gas prices. As of this article, yesterday's market saw a barrel of oil go above $109 for the first time during these last few year's market rise.
One of the questions that many Christians are asking is "Does this fit into Bible Prophecy?" The answer in short is "Yes." You may wonder how this could possibly have anything to do with prophecy, but it certainly does.
For the Bible student, you understand that we are in the "last days." For the Christian who holds to Biblical truth, there is an expectation that comes with each passing day. The next event on the calendar is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in what we call the "Rapture." This is where Christ comes back in the clouds (I Thes. 4) to receive the Church unto himself. The dead in Christ will rise first, and then the saved living will be "caught up" to meet Him in the clouds. The Church will go to Heaven to face Christ at the "Bema" Seat of judgment, to receive or lose rewards based on their stewardship and service. Those not saved and ready, will be left behind to live through what the Bible describes as the worst time in the history of man.
For seven years, God will pour out his wrath on a world that has rejected His Son, Jesus. Famines, pestilences, and signs in all creation will reveal a God who is righteous in judment and will not let sin go unpunished. This is particularily a time wherein He deals with His people Israel, and the Bible even refers to this as the "Time of Jacob's Trouble."
All of this is preceded by signs that lead up to this period of "tribulation." In Bible prophecy, the Middle East becomes the focal point. Israel is the center of all of Bible prophecy. God reveals in the Scripture how the events that lead to the end of time, will center in that piece of ground that nations have fought over for centuries. Even in the Old Testament, nations will merge on the Middle East and even the one who takes charge of this New World order will make his office and throne in Jerusalem. Old Babylon will once again become the seat of economic activity as Anti-Christ dictates from his seat of authority.
What is the one thing that will bring the forces of Anti-Christ to the Middle East and cause the great Bear of the north to descend on this area and basically attract the attention of the entire world? It is the wealth and power that rests in the economic stronghold of oil, the liquid gold that flows though the veins of nations everywhere. They who control the oil, will turn the world.
What better way could the forces of Anti-Christ take over the economic control of nations everywhere than through the oil? It will be oil that drives the new world order and it will be oil that causes blood to flow on the ground as men everywhere seek to gain access to the control of the world's pipe lines.
What are we to do as Christians while we wait for the coming of Christ? It is obvious that we cannot change Bible prophecy nor can we take control of the future. So what should we expect? It is possible that we may face some serious days ahead. Oil may become more precious than water. But there are a few things that we should consider. 1. We must as Christians not allow Satan to give us a "spirit" of fear. God is in control. No matter what happens, we must maintain faith in God. 2. We have to accept by faith the fact that God will provide all our "need" according to his promises in His Word. We may not have everything we want, but we will have what we need. 3. We cannot stop giving to the work of the Lord, in spite of what happens to our economy. The tithe belongs to the Lord and as long as we give our tithes and offerings, God has promised to "open up the windows of heaven." 4. We can use good common sense to try to conserve fuel by practicing techniques that will save fuel, combining our trips instead of making multiple, unnecessary trips, etc. 5. We can keep our eyes focused on heaven, and looking with expectation toward the skies for the coming of Christ. 6. We can use these opportunities to witness to our friends and neighbors about the end of time and being ready to meet God. What a good time it is to witness for the Lord. 7. Last, we can participate in our election process and make good choices for men and women in office that will work to make us as independent from Middle East oil as possible. Although we cannot sever that tie completely, we can make better use of the technolgy and resouces that God has blessed us with here.
This is an exciting time to be alive, especially for us who are saved and ready to meet God. Stay strong in faith, and keep praying for our nation. In spite of what is going on in the markets and at the pump, the greatest need is for a Spiritual Awakening. God grant us a "space of grace" and give us a little "reviving" in these days of uncertainty. He is able and I am willing. Hope that you are too!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison