Sign of the Times

A friend of mine from Berlin recently posted on Facebook about the rapid inflation of food costs and pointed out that this is exactly what the Bible predicted at the end time just before the appearance of the Anti-Christ.  He quoted form the U.S. Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and showed how in their most recent report the BLS shows that in the past 12 months the prices for meat, poultry, fish and eggs have risen by 7.7%. Ironically, the Obama administration claims that the inflation rate is only 2.1 percent.  Noting how that not only food costs have soared, but so has the price of gasoline and pretty well anything else you can think of, is it possible the government is lying to us? Oh no... they would never do that; would they?

The fact is that over the last 50 years, food prices have risen by 664%. That's pretty amazing, but it is even more amazing when you dig a little deeper and discover that the overwhelming bulk of that increase has come in the past 8 years alone. Even worse news is that Congress is even now working to add another 12 cents per gallon tax on gasoline, which will only further drive up the cost of everything else we purchase.  There is no end in sight... or is there? This is exactly what the Bible predicted.  "When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”  (Revelation  6:5-6 NIV)

Consider further that the value of the American dollar continues to drop around the world. One article I recently read made this dire prediction for food prices in America, " Within a decade, a loaf of wheat bread may cost $23 in a grocery store in the United States, and a 32-oz package of sugar might run $62. A 64-oz container of Minute Maid Orange Juice, meanwhile, could set you back $45.71. This is all according to a new report released Friday by the National Inflation Association which warns consumers about the coming wave of food price inflation that's about to strike the western world."

These things and other news stories could cause fear to rise up within your heart (which is another sign Jesus told us to look for! Matthew 24) but in reality it should be a time to rejoice as we know the time is short. If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, there is no need for fear. If you don't know him... What in the world are you waiting for!