Undeniably, the last-days birth pains — or sorrows — that Jesus talked about in the Olivet Discourse, found in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13, are definitely getting incredibly intense and more frequent. Russia is flexing its muscles and doubling down on Ukraine as the 1-year anniversary approaches. Then we have the tragic mega-quakes that hit Turkey and Syria. Undoubtedly, this is panning out to have the largest death toll in decades, if not centuries. Let’s dig into this weeks prophetic news items…
Wars and Threats of Wars
At the Mount of Olives, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” He replied…
6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Matthew 24:6-7 NLT
The Birth Pangs…
Amir Tsafati: Middle East Update
Ukraine
- The Black Sea Fleet of the Russian navy bombed the Zatoka bridge in the Odessa district with a suicide unmanned marine vehicle. The bridge is an important traffic route from Ukraine to Romania and Moldova.
- Russia launched more than 60 cruise missiles at strategic facilities in Kiev, Odessa, and other major cities in Ukraine. Furthermore, some of them flew over Romania, a member of NATO, and over Moldova. If NATO does not respond to this violation, the Russians will realize that NATO is a paper tiger. In other words, all bark and no bite.
- The Ukrainian parliament is drafting a law that would allow NATO troops to enter Ukraine.
- A former commander of the Polish Land Forces states, “The Ukrainians predicted the Russian offensive and its directions. They will defend themselves until they inflict maximum damage. Some say they should counterattack. However, the Ukrainians do not have the strength and means to carry out a counter-offensive”. The General added that he believes Ukraine is close to total defeat.
- The Institute for the Study of War (ISW): Russia has regained the initiative in Ukraine and launched a new major offensive in Lugansk Oblast.
Russia, North Korea & China
- Russia emphasized that they would like to bring together Turkey, Syria, and Iran in some kind of historic meeting in the near future
- Related: Who are the Major Players in the prophetic, Ezekiel 38 War?
- A top ally of Putin is warning that he will no longer hide his intention to invade Poland anymore.
- China and Russia have the weapons to target America’s most valuable assets: satellites.
- The US launched an unarmed ICBM into the Pacific Ocean amid China and North Korea tensions.
- A new report is indicating that China is gearing up to shoot down US drones.
- Suspected Chinese “environment monitoring satellite” beams green laser from space over Hawaii.
- The US military has informed Congress that China now has more intercontinental ballistic missile launchers than the US.
- Tensions rise as China claims they have the right to ‘respond further’ after the US shoots down their spy balloon.
Elsewhere
- Germany: Political and military figures in Germany have suggested a return to “compulsory military service” stoking fears of what many see as WW3 being imminent.
- America: The US Pentagon is planning a new ‘weapon of mass destruction’ that involves thousands of drones that strike by air, land, and water to destroy enemy defenses.

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All Eyes on Israel in the Last Days
God told Abraham…
“I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:3 NLT
- Spain: Barcelona mayor accused of antisemitism after decision to boycott Israel. Ada Colau says she made the decision “at the request of more than 100 entities and thousands of Barcelona neighbors.” (Israel HaYom) Amir Tsarfati states, “In return – Barcelona will not see me again!”
- Are the Muslim structures on the Temple Mount falling down? Arab media reported on Tuesday that pieces of mosaics containing anti-Christian verses from the Koran began falling off the facade of the Dome of the Rock. While many attribute this to heavy seasonal rains and a recent earthquake, one mystic rabbi declared it as the divinely initiated development preparing for the Third Temple.
- 7 Palestinian terrorists were killed in a special IDF operation in Jericho.
- Friday, Feb 10, 3 people were killed in a car-ramming in Jerusalem. Two brothers, 6 and 8 years-old were killed when a Palestinian terrorist drove a vehicle into a crowd of Jews. The father was badly wounded. Also killed was a 20-years-old newlywed ultra-Orthodox Jew .

“Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”
Joshua 21:45 NLT
Earthquakes and “Seismic” Events
Jesus told us that in the last days…
11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
Luke 21:11 NLT
Turkey/Syria Earthquakes
- Death toll in Turkey & Syria surpass 28,000.
- Erdogan stated that ther are over 80,000 people injured.
- The UN announces: the death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria will probably exceed 50,000.
- German rescuers and the Austrian army paused search operations on Saturday, citing clashes between unnamed groups.
- Security is expected to worsen as food supplies dwindle, one rescuer said.
- And nearly 50 people have been arrested for looting, with several guns seized, local media reported. (source)
Dutchsinse explains the seismic events in Turkey and Syria
By the way, Turkey is #41 in the World Watch List of Christian persecutors. Of Turkey’s population of 85.6 million, only a tiny number are Christian: 171,000, which is about 0.2%. Almost the entire country is Muslim.
In case you missed it, I did a special report on the earthquakes on Tuesday.
Other Seismic Weather Events…
- Thousands of buildings in Auckland, New Zealand are unsafe for living after worst rains in 170 years
- Raging wildfires claimed 13 lives, destroyed more than 100 homes in Chile
- Lightning hit the statue of Christ the redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. Reports that many locals are worried that it’s a bad sign…🤔 God hates paganism.



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by Jeff Kinley
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Economic Woes, Pestilence, and Plagues
The World Economy
America
- The Latest Signs of an Economy on the Brink: The number of people unable to make their car payments and having their cars repossessed is now greater than it was after the 2008 financial crash. (Thank you, Lord, that my car is paid off!)
- The month of January saw the most bankruptcies involving $50 million or more in liabilities since 2010. (I keep telling myself, “I will NOT go into debt again and I won’t sacrifice my paid-off car!” God will provide!)
- When the current US president took office, the US government’s interest payments on the federal debt were $549 billion a year. Two years later, they’ve escalated to $853 billion a year. That’s just the interest payments.
- The CEO of America’s second-largest bank — Bank of Amierca — is preparing for a possible US debt default.
Elsewhere
- South Africa declares nationwide state of disaster over power crisis.
- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that starting in March, Russia will cut oil production by half a million barrels per day – in response to the West’s decision to impose a maximum price ceiling on Russian oil. After the announcement – the price of a barrel of Brent oil rose to $85.
- Reuters reports that Russia did not consult the partners in the OPEC+ organization before publishing the decision.
- The latest major food supplier to go up in flames is New Zealand’s largest egg producer – when a blaze broke out on Monday, killing around 75,000 hens.
More Plagues
- The Ministry of Health in Equatorial Guinea announced this week that it had quarantined more than 200 people in two villages – following an outbreak of an unknown disease described as “flu with bleeding”. So far, at least 8 people linked to the mysterious disease have died, and what they have in common is that they all participated in a recent funeral ceremony. The Ministry of Health in neighboring Cameroon has temporarily banned land transit between the countries.
- Dead seals test positive for bird flu in Scotland. Experts warn virus is rapidly spreading, Humans could be next.
- Deadliest cholera outbreak in Malawi’s history kills 1,210 people and is spilling over into neighboring regions.
- The WHO’s Tedros says “we must prepare” for a potential H5N1 human bird flu pandemic. The WHO is engaging manufacturers “to make sure that if needed supplies of vaccines and antivirals will be available for global use,” Tedros added.
As in the Days of Lot
Jesus said…
28 And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Luke 17:28-29 NLT (The First Sin City)
- With the growing pervasiveness of pornography comes a greater comfort with nudity at increasingly younger ages — a concerning issue for parents trying to protect their children.
- The presumably “devout” Catholic President Biden demands Congress codify Roe, pass LGBT ‘Equality’ Act in his State of the Union speech
- Transgender Teacher at a Maine Middle School Shared Salacious TikTok Videos With 6th Graders
Increased Evil , Satanic Lawlessness, Apostasy, and Deception
America
- Irony? At the exact same time when in Turkey an apocalyptic earthquake took place, the Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena hosted a purely satanic performance during the 64th Grammy Awards ceremony. It was proudly introduced by the host as “incredibly unholy!” ‘Literally a tribute to Satan’: Viewers slam Sam Smith over ‘demonic’ Grammy’s performance
- Catholic school suspends teen for the remainder of the year for believing God created 2 genders and protesting transgender students using girls’ bathrooms.
- Satanic Temple Opens Abortion Clinic in New Mexico
- More retail stores are now requiring customers to share their phone numbers before unlocking cases for their products due to the rise of thefts.
- Cyberattacks: Experts are warning that critical U.S. infrastructure security breaches and shutdowns may soon be coming.
- New Jersey council member Russell Heller was shot dead in his car, exactly one week after the slaying of a Councilwoman
- A 14-year-old girl that has been missing for more than a year was just found pregnant, in a closet.
- Denver, Colorado’s capitol,is Now America’s Crime Capital. The Mile High City is at the very bottom of the safest cities ranking by Neighborhood Scout. Crime in Denver is now worse than in New York City or Chicago.
Elsewhere
- Only 6% of adults living in the UK now identify as “Practicing Christians”.
- Church of England embraces a “Gender Neutral God” Will stop using male pronouns and referring to God in prayer. They will drop the phrase ‘our Father’ from the Lord’s Prayer.
- Following the earthquakes – dozens of inmates escaped from a prison that houses many ISIS prisoners in the city of Rajo in Syria, not far from the border with Turkey.

by Eric Metaxas
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by Mark Hitchcock & Jeff Kinley
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Jesus said…
“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
“I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!”
Matthew 10:26, 35-36 NLT
New World Order, Great Reset, Big Brother, Global Insanity, & Government Overreach in the Last Days
The Real State of the Union
Last Tuesday, President Biden delivered his State of the Union speech. No matter which party is in office, these speeches are always meant to make the President’s party look good and to appeal to his party’s followers.
I spared myself from watching it, however, many of the podcasters I listen to said Biden came across as an “angry old man”. He yelled at the people at times incoherently.
“The real state of any nation, however, comes down to its spiritual condition in relation to God. That alone reveals where it truly stands. Imagine what God would say if He wrote the speech.”
Steve Miller, Foreshadows Report
Elsewhere

by Jeff Kinley
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Increased Christian Persecution
Jesus warned us…
9 Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers (on account of my name).
Matthew 24:9 NLT
Open Doors 2023 World Watch List on Christian Persecution
America
Former FBI special agent and federal whistleblower Kyle Seraphin reportedly obtained a leaked FBI document that outlines a plan to spy on a segment of one of America’s biggest religious denominations.
“The FBI’s Richmond Division would like to protect Virginians from the threat of ‘white supremacy,’ which it believes has found a home within Catholics who prefer the Latin Mass,” Seraphin reported. “An intelligence analyst within the Richmond Field Office of the FBI released in a new finished intelligence product dated January 23, 2023, on Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists (RMVE) and their interests in ‘Radical-Traditionalist Catholics’ or RTCs.”
He added that the document “assesses with ‘high confidence’ the FBI can mitigate the threat of Radical-Traditionalist Catholics by recruiting sources within the Catholic Church.”
Washington D.C.: Students from South Carolina were kicked out of museum for wearing pro-life hats
Yemen #3
Yemen operates under strict Islamic laws, which can make life difficult for Christians. Lift up the brave Christians who still choose to follow Christ in secret, despite the danger they face if their faith is discovered. Pray that God will strengthen the secret church.
The situation is particularly dangerous for Muslims who convert to Christianity. Radical Islamic groups threaten people they label as ‘apostates’ with death if they do not re-convert. This creates an atmosphere of scrutiny and mistrust, even between families. Pray that Christians will be safe, and that all people in Yemen can live in openness and freedom.
Algeria #19
Most Algerian Christians are converts from Islam. They can face discrimination, harassment and pressure to follow Islamic customs from family members and the wider community. More recently, Christians have increasingly experienced restrictions and pressure from state officials to renounce their faith; many of these officials come under the influence of radical Islamic teachers.
Algeria jumped three places to number 19 in the World Watch List. Persecution has significantly worsened in the past year, with Christians becoming very vulnerable to state pressure alongside the ongoing societal pressures that can come from families and communities.
Last year, at least ten Christians were sentenced for charges including ‘practicing worship without prior approval’, ‘shaking the faith of a Muslim’ and ‘poisoning the minds of youths’. Additionally, the government has continued to structurally undermine the church in several ways, including ordering churches to close and cease activities.
Vietnam #25
The persecution of Christians in Vietnam frequently occurs in the highlands and remote rural areas. The most common reasons for harassment, mistreatment, discrimination and even imprisonment, include preaching the gospel illegally and gathering without permission.
India #11
Iraq #18
Believers from Muslim backgrounds experience intense pressure from their families, clan leaders and communities, which can lead to being expelled from the family, losing the means to get married, or being forcibly divorced and losing their inheritance and access to their children. They may be arrested and prosecuted under blasphemy laws, if they are accused of trying to convert Muslims. It’s not surprising that some choose to keep their new faith a secret.
“When people used to tell me about God’s existence, I would be like: but what about the suffering, the torture, the displacement?” Vian* recalls. “It is only through actively working through my trauma that I have been able to see the presence of God in all this.”
In northern Iraq, church services have not been able to take place for over a year due to Turkish bombings.
Elsewhere
- Burkina Faso #23: From the Field – a Desperate Plea for Prayer (VOM)
- Pakistan #7: Muslim Throws Acid on Young Christian Woman in Pakistan
- Eritrea #4: There are thought to be 1,000 Christians indefinitely detained in Eritrean prisons, not officially charged with anything. Pray for God to bring hope to these Christians and pray for their swift release.
- Afghanistan #9: Pray for God’s continued protection for secret believers hiding in Afghanistan. Hana* is an Open Doors partner in the Gulf region. She says, “Afghanistan’s Christians are on the move, trying their best to avoid detection… now there is no safety anywhere, for anyone.”
- The Taliban refuses to acknowledge the existence of believers in the country. According to a Taliban spokesperson, “There are no Christians in Afghanistan. A Christian minority has never been known or registered here.” Praise God that even the Taliban cannot stamp out Jesus’ presence. Pray that God’s love will permeate the Afghan government.

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Paul wrote…
“And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.”
2 Thessalonians 1:5, 7-8 NLT
*Name changed for security reasons
More on Christian Persecution
Good News! The Gospel Around the World!
In the middle of the Olivet Discourse, Mark notes something important that Jesus said regarding the last days…
10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations (peoples).
Mark 13:10
Each week after reporting the bad news, I showcase some of the great news — the signs of hope — around the world that Christians are doing what Jesus told us to do in the Great Commission and before He left us. Check these out and pray for them…
- Africa – Al Massira: Pray for Africa following Al Massira’s recent face to face gathering in Sierra Leone where 15 African nations were present. The Gospel is being shared through the AM resources in several languages. Two fruitful trainings have just taken place in Tanzania, and others in Uganda, Mozambique and another coming up in Kenya early in 2023. Pray for Holy Spirit power, courage, and wisdom for the Persecuted Church, particularly in Nigeria. May the faithful team there and across Africa know the presence, power, and peace of the King as He loves and leads them forward to advance His Kingdom across Africa!
- Revival rocked Asbury college in Kentucky in 1970 and many are saying it’s happening again.
- Central African Republic – SIL: Thank God for so many open doors for Bible translation in the local languages of the Central African Republic! The Banda-Linda New Testament went to print at the end of 2022, and now the Bhogoto team are typesetting their New Testament and Psalms. Two more projects are not far behind. Pray for persistence and precision for the translators in each language, and the consultants who support them mainly via the internet. Pray that these will all be top quality products that will be accessible to many in written or oral format, bringing about transformation and renewal across the country.
- Eritrea: Thank God, that despite the dangers, “the church is growing fast in Eritrea. The persecution inspires Christians to be close to God and know Him well.” As Yael* reports, the Christian community is bubbling with hope and strength. Praise God for these resilient Christians who witness to the power of Christ in their homeland.
- Ecuador – Reach Beyond: Radio HCJB in Quito, Ecuador is launching a new app for mobile phones so that their audience can listen to the radio station and to their podcasts. Pray that many will download the app to access this creative and inspiring material that will lead them closer to Jesus. One listener called José wrote, “I always listen to you when I’m driving. I think about you every day when I pass by the small HCJB sign.” Pray for listeners to HCJB Radio in Ecuador who don’t know Jesus.
- North Korea: Lady Da Hyeon* has been receiving extensive Bible training at an Open Doors safe-house in China. It’s equipping her to return to North Korea to share the gospel with family and friends. Pray for her protection and ask the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of those she will minister to.
- Praise God that the radio ministry run by Open Doors local partners continues to encourage secret believers. Pray that the broadcasts will continue to reach believers and even nonbelievers without reprisal. OpenDoors
- Mongolia: Ask God to stir the hearts of a group of students who are currently training in preparation to serve the Mongolian church and reach others with the gospel. Pray that students and staff will be gripped by a deep burden to share the Word and draw closer to the Lord. AsiaLink
*Name changed for security reasons
Help Spread the Good News of Jesus Christ all over the World!
The Signs of the Last Days are Obvious!
Jesus said regarding the Last Days…
“But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”
Matthew 24:8 NLT
Dig Deeper into Last Days Prophecies…
- More Bible Prophecy News
- Bible Prophecy Links
- What is the Rapture?
- Listen to the Watchmen on the Wall
- The Wonderful Promises in the Book of Revelation
Jesus is coming soon whether you’re ready or not!
Why not begin a relationship with Him?

Isn’t it about time you let Him in?