Which way to turn?

by Michael G. Mickey

(12-3-05)

The BBC is reporting that a pack of squirrels, as bizarre and unbelievable as it sounds, bit to death a stray dog which was barking at them in a Russian park. According to the story, the attack lasted approximately a minute wherein the squirrels "literally gutted" the dog and ran away, "taking pieces of their kill" with them. Remember, we're talking about a pack of squirrels here, creatures who do not normally travel in packs and engage in group attacks for food!

According to the story, a pine cone shortage may be to blame for the squirrel attack, according to a person interviewed in the article. Scientists are, understandably, skeptical of the story, but could it be true? If so, we are getting a glimpse into the prophetic future when food sources will become scarce and desperation high, both for mankind and the beasts of the earth.

A USA Today story, adding to the previous but by no means topping it, states that "deer are charging at people, causing injury and even death from thrusting antlers and pummeling hooves" - undoubtedly a direct result of mankind encroaching on their habitats. The USA Today story tells of a number of incidents of deer attacking, mauling and, occasionally, killing humans!

Is nature beginning to go on the offensive here in the end times? One is left to wonder, huh?

Revelation 6:8: And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The scene described in the passage of Scripture above indicates that the beasts of the earth, in some manner, are going to play a prominent role in the deaths of one-fourth of all mankind in the early Tribulation Period. While I tend to believe this will take place as a result of zoonotic disease (disease which spreads from animals to humans, numerous examples of which can be found in the news of our world today), there is always the possibility that God's creatures may, as a result of hunger, act much as the squirrels in Russia did when they chewed a dog to pieces.

Much as nature doesn't seem to know which way to turn these days, I often feel the same as I try to decide which stories I want to share with my readers to demonstrate how close we are, conditionally at the very least, to the return of Jesus Christ taking place. In the last several days, I've seen stories supportive of the coming Gog-Magog invasion prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel, the roaring seas predicted by Christ Himself to be a sign of His soon-coming return, the international community's obsession with Jerusalem as prophesied by the prophet Zechariah, and much more!

How can anyone, as such, not know we're nearing the return of our Savior? Several ways, actually.

I believe the day is nearing when the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, calling those who have placed their trust in Him and Him alone from a world that has forgotten its God. In the aftermath, many who have either not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ or rejected it aren't going to know which way to turn. Thus, the importance of us leading the ones we can to Christ now, while there is time to do so, while planting seeds in the minds of those we can't reach now, giving them at least a chance to know what has taken place in the aftermath of the Rapture.