The following Epilogue is from the Hal Lindsey book Vanished Into Thin Air. Following the Epilogue are Hal's comments from chapter one where he talks about our Blessed Hope. These two sections together are the gist of the entire book. What is happening in the world today to make things look like they are spinning out of control BUT, we know that Jesus is in total control of it all and that prophesy is being played out at break neck speeds. I love Hal's comment to the talk show host presented here at the very bottom, the last two sentences. It is very comforting as we watch the world going to hell in a hand basket.
"EPILOGUE
On A Personal Note
I have never been more thankful to God for the personal hope of the Lord’s return for the believer before the coming world holocaust. I had unwittingly begun to take this wonderful truth for granted. It breaks my heart as I pour over world events, day by day, and see how rapidly the world as we know it is moving toward a catastrophic end.
• Experts say that we are headed for a global economic collapse. Third world countries keep piling up massive debts. They can’t even pay interest, much less principal on their loans.
• Many jobs lost in the latest recession will never be restored- experts speak of a whole generation being unemployable because of the painful change from the industrial age to a new technical age of uncertain destiny.
• The Arab- Israeli conflict continues to smolder with the constant threat of igniting the fuse of Armageddon.
• Russia, already the mightiest military power in history, continues to be a menace to the world will its political/economic instability couple with a vast arsenal of weapons of mass destruction just waiting for dictator to use them.
• Nuclear weapons capable of destroying all life on earth continue to be produced at the rate of approximately six warheads per week.
• “Star Wars” type technology rapidly moves toward lasers and death rays of unimaginable lethality.
• China, with more than one fourth of the world’s population, continues to prepare for war.
• Super strains of diseases thought vanquished by antibiotics are rapidly appearing
• Deadly new viruses are emerging from various places
• Aids continues to spread across the planet
• Global weather patterns continue to change storms of unprecedented force are striking in new places around the globe.
• Lawlessness is rampant;
• Bizarre killing rampages are multiplying among our teenagers;
• Schools have become among the most dangerous of places for our children;
• Rapes are epidemic
• Gang rapes occur while average citizens look on and do nothing;
• Jails are filled to over capacity with hardened criminals of all kinds;
• Drugs are virtually a staple of the modern society;
• Traditional families are almost nonexistent;
• Murders with no real motive are commonplace;
• Serial killers are appearing everywhere;
• Famines continue to expand over large sections of the world’s population.
• Volcanoes, long dormant, are exploding into life;
• Earthquakes continue to increase in frequency and severity.
To the untrained ear, this may sound like unrelated bad news. But to the student of prophecy, it all fits into a precise pattern that was predicted long ago. This pattern clearly shows us that the Lord’s coming for His Church is very near.
In times like these, the hope of the Rapture should be a very practical force in our lives. It should motivate us to gain a combat knowledge of the Bible in order to be able to face the perilous times that precede the Tribulation. It motivates me to win as many to Christ as possible before it’s too late. I want to take as many with me as I can. Although I grieve over the lost world that is headed toward catastrophe, the hope of the Rapture keeps me from despair in the midst of ever-worsening world conditions.
The one who knows that Jesus Christ is in his heart and has the sure hope of the Lord’s coming for him before the Tribulation is the only one who can face today’s news and honestly be optimistic.
My prayer is that this book will help you to have a certain and sure hope of the Lord’s any moment return. Maranatha!"
----------------------------------------------------------- "Impending Doom, or Blessed Hope?
The good news is, nothing is spinning out of control. Instead, all the signs are; pointing in exactly the opposite direction. The Bible predicted moral collapse in the last days. It predicted the rise of Muslim fundamentalism, the collapse of Russia, signs in the sun, moon and stars, and even the sense of impending doom we are discussing. The Bible predicted the collapse of the Israeli peace process, the controversy over Jerusalem, and even the development of the European community. The Bible said all these things would begin at approximately the same point in history, and would develop along parallel lines.
Because that is exactly what is happening, it proves things aren’t out of control, but carefully under control. Jesus told us this would happen, because He is in charge of it all. And He promised us that, when we see all these things begin to come to pass, to look up, and lift up our heads, for our redemption draws near. The feeling of impending doom is for everyone else. We have the assurance of knowing that the only way to predict an event is to be in control of it. Bible prophecy proves everything is under control, and on schedule. We have nothing to fear. And we have a great hope in our immediate future.
Summary
Flooding and drought, both consequences of shifting weather patterns, are responsible for the famines that give rise to new epidemic diseases, which in turn exacerbate regional ethnic conflicts and civil war as nations fight over shrinking supplies of food, medicines, arable land and fresh water. You see, they are all related and accelerating each other.
Like birth pangs, each of the signs of the times are increasing in frequency. They are growing more intense. As I write these words, I am again staggered by the events I have been privileged to eyewitness over my lifetime. And I am reminded of my own words from a talk show I did some months ago. The host, Warren Duffy, asked me how long until the Rapture. I told him then, "It could come even sooner than I think."
"Since 1994, rape/sexual assault has fallen by over 64%."
Yeah, well I can just as authoritatively predict that you're going to give birth to the anti-Christ. Hey, everyone, Frwy's the dad (or mom) of the anti-Christ! Head's up.
Now, back to trying to parse this God-awful, long-winded never-ending piece.