Are You Ready for a Time Such As This?
Who can deny that we are living in chaotic and dangerous times when things are happening that no one could have imagined before? America now seems upside down and backward, where white is black, good is evil, and a biblical worldview is now held by only six percent of American Christians.
I was planning to change the nature of my Brabec Bulletin in January, but I woke up on October 7—the anniversary of the savage attack on Israel—with the realization that I can no longer write only about ordinary life-related matters when we’re living in extraordinary times. Thus the name change to “Brabec Bulletin Real Life Report.” In future issues, I’ll share what I’m learning about living in today’s ever-changing high-tech world and how I’m dealing with new life and work challenges.
An October Surprise
Before this year’s election, we were told to brace for an October surprise. But we got a basketful of surprises, starting with the July assassination attempt on former President Trump that seemed to turn the 2024 election into a battle about whose worldview would define a nation.
“We’re entering into waters we’ve never been in before,” said Pastor Jack Hibbs in a sermon presented in late September that included video remarks from Amir Tsarfati reporting from a bomb shelter in Israel. Both Jack and Amir agreed that October would be one of the roughest Octobers in the history of America and Israel, and now that it’s November, we can see how true this was. But October’s happenings are only getting hotter today.
The Importance of What’s Happening in Israel Today
Unless you’re a student of Bible prophecy, you may not realize that the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel caused a massive shift in prophecy, speeding up everything the Bible has told us will happen in the last days. This attack, the bloodiest in Israel’s history, killed more Jews than on any day since the Holocaust. It took the lives of 1200 citizens and created unrest in America and a global explosion of antisemitic attacks. This was Israel’s 9/11 attack, but unlike Osama bin Laden’s 2001 bombing attack on America, Israel’s enemy didn’t kill them with bombs but by sneaking into the country and savagely attacking individuals one by one—beating, raping, kidnapping, and butchering whole families and leaving a blood trail through every room of their homes.
If I hadn’t seen the video Fox News aired on October 6 by journalist Trey Yingst, who was there when the terrorists broke through, I could not have believed how evil and demonic this attack was. (Yingst’s “Black Saturday” video is now streaming on Fox Nation.) For a better understanding of the historical reasons for this attack, watch this excellent video report by TBN: “October 7th Special: Hysteria, Hatred and History.”
As if the first terrorist attack wasn’t enough, a year later Iran’s two October 2024 bombardments of Israel were the most intense ballistic missile onslaught in history. As Amir Tsarfati reported in his October 17 weekly newsletter, “In the year since the war in Gaza started, 13,400 missiles and drones have been fired at Israel from Lebanon. That’s compared with 13,200 missiles from Gaza, 400 missiles and drones from Iran, 180 missiles and drones from Yemen, and 60 missiles from Syria. Hezbollah in Lebanon fired at Israel first, and they have since continued firing quite often. They grabbed the bull; now they’re getting the horns.”
Yes, I stand with Israel and want others to understand that Israel is doing what any other nation in the world would do after an unprovoked attack. No other nation in history has been so brutally attacked by terrorists and then been told by our government and the UN that they should not retaliate. Unbelievable! When Israel then eliminated all the terrorist leaders in Gaza and also began to rid the world of Hezbollah terrorists—a blessing to America and other countries as well—they became the center of the world’s attention and what the Bible calls “a burdensome stone.” (Would you believe that CBS recently told staffers not to report that Jerusalem was part of Israel?) What we see happening today is Bible prophecy coming true before our eyes.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it.” (Zechariah 12:3 NKJV).
Seeing God’s Hand in Extreme Weather
To make October worse, the trouble in Israel was followed by two once-in-a-century hurricanes that shattered the lives of millions of Americans who got no help from FEMA or our government for days. But God was there, as many residents who lost everything have told us. He prompted many in the area and in other states as well to help their fellow Americans. Books will be written about the miracles people had during and after the hurricanes.
The timing of these storms, their magnitude, and what Bible prophets have said tell us that such extreme weather events will only increase in frequency and intensity like “the beginning of birth pains” (see Matt 24:6-8). This article, “Extreme Weather in Prophecy,” points to other Bible verses that explain how God uses weather to send us messages.
“Of Hurricanes and The Unheeded Calls For National Repentance” by David Regan connects some extreme weather as remedial judgments from God. “I don’t think there is any doubt that our national sins have called down remedial judgments from God,” says Regan. “But what I think we may have failed to realize is that since 1991, many of the judgments we have experienced have been directly related to our mistreatment of Israel.” (See Genesis 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”)
No Real Life Report in December
To give myself some extra time to work on my new book, I won’t publish a Report in December (only the Tidbits issue and my MUSINGS post). Beginning on Labor Day, I wrote 40 hours a week for six weeks on Call of the Heart: A Rescue Dog’s Dream, a book I’ve dreamed about writing for nearly 30 years. I got a start on it before the pandemic, but the book has been sitting in computer folders since 2018. I finally figured out a way to get ahead on my email bulletins and website work so I can devote short blocks of time to my book until it’s finally finished. I’m close to being half done now and excited about publishing it next year.
I hope you will stay with me as I explore new ground in my Real Life Reports. I would like them to include reader feedback, so would you tell me about the challenges you and your family are dealing with and share any lessons you’ve learned? Thanks! Till then, may the LORD bless you and be gracious to you.
First published as a Brabec Bulletin on November 8, 2024.
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