This video explores a future period when all three branches of the US government have fallen under the control of progressives. The Senate and House of Representatives have been combined into the United Congress. This follows the rapture of all Christians around the world, in which many millions of people have vanished in the “twinkling of an eye.”
The loss of key people and the resulting chaos have disrupted all key aspects of modern life. Crime rates are skyrocketing, but there are fewer police to deal with it. Foreign adversaries are growing more aggressive toward the United States. Public health is deteriorating and there are acute shortages of food and energy.
Government tax revenues are plummeting even as the calls for more spending grow in number and urgency. Economists worry about the risk of another great depression and the risk of hyperinflation. The United Congress cannot balance the federal budget. Lenders fear a federal debt default and won’t loan more money to the federal government.
How can the United Congress solve this Existential Crisis?
This video dramatizes a segment from the audiobook edition of the novel “The Great New Deal,” by Mark Tredecim. It is a companion to another video available at YouTube, “Kick the Can- The Coming US Debt Crisis:” Link to Kick the Can (the two videos can be viewed in any order).
This short excerpt blends a dramatic story, humorous parody and sound teaching about the end times prophecies found in the Bible. The story is fictional, but the risks to America from progressive policies are real.
I am pleased to announce the publication this week of a new book. Like my novels, it is meant to provide Biblically-sound teaching and commentary about the end times prophecies in the Bible, but this book doesn’t employ a fictional story to dramatize the events.
The new book, Lifeline, A Guide to Surviving the End Times, was inspired by a reviewer’s comment about my novel, Twilight of the Church Age. That book tells of a team of pastors who work to create a resource for the people who will be left behind after the Rapture. The reviewer said, “I hope this aspect [creation of the resource] is something that is happening in the real world, as it is very needed given where we seem to be on the timeline.” I took her words to heart and wrote Lifeline.
Lifeline is a nonfiction complement to my end times novels. It provides a concise, reader-friendly and Biblically-sound overview of the Bible end times prophecies that seem likely to be fulfilled quite soon. Lifeline focuses on what everyone should know to survive the end times. Lifeline is available for purchase in two formats (links to Amazon): Kindle- ASIN B0C57BKZ6T and Paperback- ASIN BOC5G64C7D
Mark Tredecim has published a new video at YouTube in connection with the federal government’s growing national debt and deficit spending. The new video is almost 17 minutes long and can be accessed through this handy link to YouTube: Kick the Can
For many years, the U.S. federal government has spent more money than it received in taxes and other revenues. It has borrowed to fund these deficits and has amassed over $31 trillion in Treasury debt. The debt balance is bumping up against the limitation set by law, but the current administration wants to spend even more and to borrow even more money. To do this, the national debt ceiling would have to be increased by Congress.
But the growing debt levels are concerning to the debt holders and financial markets. There is growing worry about the government’s ability to meet its obligations and about the other consequences of deficit spending and burgeoning debt (such as hyperinflation and recession, maybe even another depression).
There is great concern about the nation’s future ability to keep the promises that it has made for Social Security, Medicare, and government pensions. The video’s title comes from the ongoing practice of the U.S. Congress to “kick the can down the road.” This refers to spending money today with debt that will need to be paid in the future, and establishing entitlements (like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) without the funding needed to continue them.
This video provides a summary of the current situation and defines key terms used in this political debate.
It then presents a coming day of reckoning, when the government is forced to deal with the debt, or else. This is presented via an excerpt from the audiobook edition of the novel “The Great New Deal,” by Mark Tredecim. This short excerpt blends a dramatic story, humorous parody and sound teaching about the end times prophecies found in the Bible. The story is fictional, but the deficit spending and national debt problems are real.
The novels in my “Tribulation Pilgrims’ Progress” series are written with the assumption that the rapture of all Christian believers could be tomorrow (as it might), so the fictional story describes a world much like we live in today. But even if the rapture should be very, very soon, there is something that could make that future “tomorrow” very different than today: Nuclear War.
In the first novel (Twilight of the Church Age), a group of pastors and scholars decide to create a resource called Lifeline for the Lost Sheep for the benefit of two groups of people: (1) those left behind after the rapture and (2) nonbelievers in the time before the rapture.
The second novel (The Great New Deal) tells “what happened next” for the characters left behind after the rapture. Some of the characters in this novel make use of that resource. The final chapter of The Great New Deal is presented as being a partial selection from that resource, carried around by those fictional post-rapture new believers.
Set forth below is another section from Lifeline for the Lost Sheep, which was not included in the pages of the final chapter of The Great New Deal. In the fictional world of the novel, there had not been a pre-rapture nuclear war, so the novel’s fictional characters didn’t carry this section around. But we don’t live in the fictional world of that novel. For us, the ugly risk of nuclear war, which seemed to have gone away with the demise of the Soviet Union, has returned thanks to the poor leadership of America and Europe and the evil ambitions of Russia and Red China.
The views and conclusions of the fictional Lifeline for the Lost Sheep authors are very applicable to the real here and now (which is somewhere in the left half of the red box #1 on the chart shown here).
From Lifeline for the Lost Sheep: A Nuclear Prologue to the Rapture?
In the “Big Questions” section of the Lifeline resource, we described the decline of Western civilization and how humanity has increasingly turned its back on God in recent decades. It is a certainty that the end times prophecies of the Bible will occur, but the question is when. If there should be a major Christian revival in the near future, the fulfillment of Bible prophecy may be later than we now think. But without a revival, it is likely to be soon.
Lifeline for the Lost Sheep was written from our current perspective. A world populated by about eight billion people, using modern technology to support current standards of living. As previously described, we see the supply of sin climbing and the falling demand for salvation through Jesus Christ. Our presumption is that the world will look very much like this at the tipping point of the Rapture, when Jesus calls all who believe in Him (alive and dead) to join Him in the sky and depart for heaven.
But it is possible that events could rapidly make that long-awaited moment quite different than our current situation. It seems increasingly possible that a nuclear war may occur involving the NATO countries (including America) and the Russia-China axis. It’s possible that might be prior to the Rapture.
For decades, many people worked to reduce the risk of nuclear war. With the fall of the Soviet Union, that risk seemed to be greatly reduced and people in the Western world reduced their focus on it. However, evil forces have continued to work behind the scenes.
In recent years, some of these malefactors have perceived an opportunity to gain power, territory and resources through the use of military force, political intrigue and terrorism. They perceive the leaders of America and other Western nations as being weak, foolish, incompetent, misguided and compromised. Tensions and regional conflicts (like the war in Ukraine) have intensified and the rhetoric (from both sides) has included threats that nuclear weapons might be used.
Once a nation has the nuclear devices and delivery systems, a nuclear attack could be launched with little advance warning and the other side could respond quickly. Other volleys might follow.
In a short period of time, the world population could drop by many millions. Depending on its scope, a nuclear war could decimate the industry, agriculture, infrastructure, public health and governance of the parties to the war and the countries that depend upon them. The global environment would be impacted. The world might be reduced to the level of pre-industrial civilization.
If such a war occurs prior to the Rapture (or soon thereafter), it might explain why there is no reference in Bible prophecy to any nation resembling America. It might also be one reason that the Western nations don’t support Israel in the war of Ezekiel 38 (beyond lip service).
A pre-Rapture nuclear war would be a mild preview of the upcoming horrors of the Tribulation period. Perhaps such a nuclear war would spark a rise in church attendance as happened after the terrorist attack of September 11th, or even a mini-revival. It also would be one more reason why the post-Rapture population will be so receptive to the Antichrist when he first emerges in the disguise of peacemaker.
Bible prophecy often speaks of future weapons using the vocabulary of the era in which the authors wrote (e.g., swords, shields, bows and arrows, horses). Bible scholars explain that the authors would logically use the terms of their era (e.g., the term “automatic rifle” would have been unknown and meaningless at the time of writing), but there is another consideration. A war that involves nuclear weapons and EMP devices might destroy or disable our modern weaponry, pushing the warriors back to ancient weapons.
There is nothing in the Bible that says a regional or global nuclear war cannot occur before the Rapture. It could happen anytime in the near future. If it does, many Christians will die, making them “first” among the believers called in the Rapture. But most of the people killed will be nonbelievers; they will have no post-death opportunity to turn to Christ and will receive eternal punishment for not doing so.
We pray such a war will not occur, that our leaders will see the path to avoid it. But this possibility intensifies our plea to nonbelievers: turn to Christ while you still can. Today is the day of salvation, you may have no “tomorrow.”
It’s likely that you’ve noticed the accelerating decline in morality and behavior in recent times. People doing things that are so foul and evil that it’s hard to believe there isn’t something pushing them along (though human sin nature and the world system are powerful elements in the mix). You may wonder if evil supernatural forces are involved.
The Bible describes the spiritual war waged in the past (from the days of Adam and Eve through the early days of Christianity) when these evil spirits were worshipped as pagan gods. The war continues in the present (e.g., the apostle Paul warns in Ephesians 6 about this battle and how we need to “armor up”). The Bible’s many end times prophesies describe how this battle will reach its pinnacle and conclusion in the future events (see Revelation).
Satan leads a horde of demonic spirits (fallen angels) against God and his army of faithful angels. People are participants (on one side or the other) in the spiritual war and are sought by both sides. As the Western nations are turning their backs on God and the Christian church has withered, the dark forces seek to take advantage and strengthen their position. If you are a faithful “watchman,” you are observing the signs of this. I think we are reaching a critical point of intersection for the “Supply of Sin” and the “Demand for Salvation,” a tipping point when this battle moves from the present phase to the future.
Three books about spiritual warfare “coincidentally” crossed my reading path within a short period, thanks to book-release schedules, friend recommendations and library hold-request fulfillment. These are “Spiritual Warfare in the End Times” by Ron Rhodes, “Return of the Gods” by Jonathan Cahn, and “Daniel’s Final Week” by Donna VanLiere. With a smile, I note the connections between these three authors and the characters in my own end times novel “Twilight of the Church Age,” who lead the effort to produce a resource to help those who will be left behind after the rapture. Pastors and authors and Messianic Rabbis, oh my!
I recommend all three books for your reading. These will help you better understand the enemies we face in this battle, how you may be attacked and how to resist them (key tactics- stay close to Jesus and be faithful in Bible reading and prayer). All three books cover all these subjects, with different levels of emphasis in different aspects. Here’s my summary of their levels of emphasis (1 highest, 3 least) with some close calls required :
Spiritual Warfare in the Past
Spiritual Warfare in our Present
Spiritual Warfare in the Future
Spiritual Warfare in the End Times
3
1
2
Daniel’s Final Week
3
2
1
The Return of the Gods
1
2
3
I would recommend “Spiritual Warfare in the End Times” as the one to read first. If you want to buy just one of the three, I’d pick this one. It’s a general workhorse for the subject, easy to read and provides practical recommendations for taking part in this spiritual war. It is a good reference book on the subject and would be helpful when you read the other two books.
All three books were available from my county public library and available at reasonable prices at Amazon. All are reasonably-sized and clearly written. Here is a quick description of each book:
“Spiritual Warfare in the End Times” by Ron Rhodes (2020). Ron Rhodes is a well-known Christian author and speaker, covering a wide range of topics. I’ve read his books about Bible Prophecy, but the many other titles sound interesting. This book especially focuses on the present phase of this spiritual war and is loaded with scripture references and quotes from other authors and theologians. It goes on to describe how the warfare becomes more intense in the future. It’s both interesting and useful.
“Daniel’s Final Week” by NY Times bestselling author Donna VanLiere (2022) is the final novel in a trilogy that dramatizes the future rapture and tribulation, using fiction to demonstrate the prophecies of the Bible. If you’ve already read the first two novels in that series, you’ll probably want to read this one after the Rhodes book, so you can see “how the story ends.” The book is a two-fer. The first 222 pages are the novel and the last 52 pages are called “Where in the Word,” where the author explains the Bible passages that underly the novel and provides encouragement for believers. The three novels describe the horrors of the tribulation, so they fictionally depict horrific events. Because this novel covers the last part of the tribulation, demonic forces are very prominent. I think both parts of the book are well-done and the novel shows that you would not want to be left behind after the rapture.
“The Return of the Gods” by Jonathan Cahn (2022). If you read Cahn’s two “Harbinger” books, you’ll likely want to read this one next (after the Rhodes book). It’s separate from his earlier series and does use a fictional storyline to deliver the message. This book goes deepest into the attributes of the demonic spirits that were worshipped as “gods” during the past. It describes how they were pushed aside during the rise of Christianity (but still lurked around the world) and how they are returning with a vengeance in the present period. The book incorporates scholarly research and passages from scripture. The last 20 pages of the book describe the future battle between evil and God, from the Bible’s end times prophecies. In the last pages of his book, Cahn describes the path to enlist in the right side for this war- through a life-giving relationship with Jesus.
God will win the war. Jesus will completely vanquish these pagan “gods” and those who follow them. Unfortunately, most of the people living on earth in the future period choose the wrong side in the war (as do most in the present and past eras). They are burdened by sin, tempted by the world system, and tricked or coerced by these evil spirits to join the forces of Satan. I encourage you to read these books to understand this battle and so you will enlist on the winning side with Jesus as your Savior, King and Commander-in-Chief.
“Return of the Gods” is a 240-page book from Jonathan Cahn. He is the author of the two best-seller “Harbinger” books and a well-known speaker about Bible prophecy. Cahn reminds me of the (fictional) Messianic Rabbi Levi Katz in my “Tribulation Pilgrims’ Progress” novel series.
The Harbinger books used a fictional narrative to present information drawn from the Bible, other texts and from historical research. “The Return of Gods” presents the non-fictional information without any fictional thread. If you are wondering why things are so bad and seem to be getting worse in American and the world, this book will provide you some helpful explanations.
This new book cites passages from the Bible about the pagan gods of the Old Testament era. Though they are depicted as “gods” they are actually demons (fallen angels). Cahn describes the sins of the ancient Jewish nation as they wandered from the one true God and embraced these evil spirits. He also has researched and describes how these pagan gods were (and are) worshipped under various names around the world (outside the Holy Land).
The book takes three primary pagan gods and describes their goals and interaction with people. Evil and destruction were rampant, but almost the whole world was following them in one name or another. The people pursued wealth and power, sacrificed their children to these gods and engaged in violent and licentious acts.
The central point for this book is the parable told by Jesus in Matthew 12:43-45, about the evil spirit who is forced out of a man. Later, the spirit returns to the man, bringing seven spirits even worse. The spirits find the “house” clean and unoccupied and the man ends up even worse than before.
The book applies this parable to our current era- through the incarnation of Christ and the rise of the Christian church, these pagan gods were largely swept aside (but not eliminated) in the Western world for around 1900 years.. But the Western world has increasingly turned its back on God (especially in the last several decades) and the post-Christian world is like that empty house of the parable. Fewer and fewer people are Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit. So the evil spirits have returned and things are increasingly even worse than during the pre-Christian era. Cahn describes the growing evils of our era and the decline in the Christian church to show the prophecy of that Matthew passage (and other Bible passages) in our time.
I think these evils and trends are self-evident, so I hit the speed-reading turbo-boost to get through these middle chapters. This is the same situation depicted in the “Supply of Sin and Demand for Salvation” chart from the “Tribulation Pilgrims’ Progress” novels.
The last 20 pages of the Cahn book describe the coming battle between evil and God, described in the Bible’s end times prophecies. God will that war and will completely vanquish these pagan “gods” and those who follow them. Unfortunately, most of the people living on earth in that final period choose the wrong side in the war. They are tempted and coerced by these evil spirits to join the forces of Satan. In the last pages of his book, Cahn describes the path to enlist in the right side for this war- through a life-giving relationship with Jesus.
The Bible is clear: (1) Great evil was done by and for these pagan “gods” in the pre-Christian era, (2) God is holy and we are not to worship these false gods or idols (Exodus 20:3-6), (3) our battle is not limited to flesh and blood, but against the devil and spiritual forces and we cannot do that without God (Ephesians 6:10-12) and (4) the final battles of Revelation pit Satan and his demonic forces against God. The book is worth reading for more detailed background information about the evil forces described in the Bible and to remind us that the second coming of Jesus is eminent. God wins this war and all evil will be eradicated.
Big announcements this week from the US Energy Department, a major breakthrough in research on nuclear fusion at a federal research facility. The Energy Secretary said, “This is what it looks like for America to lead, and we’re just getting started.” [The taxpayer funded breakthrough] “will go down in the history books.”
After thirteen years of research, the lab was able to use super lasers to project into a capsule of hydrogen isotopes and cause a fusion reaction for less than a second. The fusion reaction produced more energy than the lasers provided. Whoopee! Green power that doesn’t emit hydrocarbons.
Nuclear fusion is the energy-releasing process that occurs about 93 million miles away in the sun and in hydrogen bombs.
There are a few problems that may slow the practical application of these scientific advances. It took a lot of energy to run the many super lasers for that fraction of a second. Hundreds of times as much energy than was produced by the super lasers to trigger the fusion process.
To put it in perspective, I took a recent electricity bill for my home. In that month, we used about 50 kilowatt hours (kWh) per day for the heat pump, appliances, lighting and other household devices. That cost about $6.00 per day.
If only we could buy the Hindenburg D2023 Magic Power Box to produce this green energy. We could connect it to our power meter and feed that same 50 kWh per day for our household needs. But we would need (at least) a 5,000 kWh per day power source to run the Hindenburg D2023 box. If power rates stayed the same, that would cost us at least $600 per day and would stretch our budget a bit too far.
There are some other problems. Could the energy grid produce and deliver those 5,000-plus kWh to us each day? And the Hindenburg D2023 Magic Power Box doesn’t exist. It will take years and billions of research dollars to develop, manufacture and implement the Magic Power Box.
We might want to consider the potential safety risks of having ongoing large-scale nuclear fusion devices operating around the world and the potential consequences from accidents, system malfunction, wars, natural disasters and terrorist attack.
Of course, it will also require energy to manufacture and maintain the Magic Power Box and to produce and deliver the hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) that are required for the fusion process that releases energy.
On the bright side, this fusion process will exhaust helium, so you would be able to fill your own party balloons at home. Imagine the fun you could have inhaling helium and making your voice sound weird (warning: inhaling helium can be deadly).
You may want to hold off on your order for the Hindenburg D2023 Magic Power Box. In the meantime, we might want to meet our energy needs through existing more-efficient means (hydroelectric, hydrocarbons and nuclear power sources, for example).
FREE Audiobook offer: The author has a limited quantity of the new audiobook edition of “Twilight of the Church Age” available for promotional purposes (while supplies last). If you are interested in a copy, please follow the instructions contained in this video.
The Tribulation Pilgrims’ Progress series of novels dramatizes the End Times events set forth in Bible prophecy. The novels blend a dramatic story line, humorous parody and sound Bible teaching with the objectives of entertaining and educating readers and to encourage them to trust in Jesus for these perilous times.
This 7 ½ minute video sets forth some key aspects of these Bible prophecies (it focuses on the teaching objective). For a peek at the dramatic story and humorous parody from the novels, please view other videos at the author’s YouTube channel and the author’s website (markctredecim.com).
Book one in the series is “Twilight of the Church Age.” The world is turning away from God. Some Christians see the end times are drawing near. Political elites grab for more power and wealth. None of these people realize that the Tribulation period is much closer than they think. Who will be taken to heaven in the Great Surprise? Is there hope for the people who are left behind?
The second book in the series is “The Great New Deal.” It continues into the brief interlude between the rapture and the tribulation It’s a second chance for the people who were left behind. Who will accept this gift? Who will reject it? The interlude is a very dangerous time on earth. This novel uses parody to reveal the social and political threats to America and dramatizes the coming events in Bible prophecy.
Which side will you choose in this great spiritual war? This future period may not be as soon as tomorrow, this week or even this month. Then again, maybe it will be.
The novels are available for purchase from Amazon in audiobook, Kindle, paperback and Large Print hardcover editions and in audiobook editions. For more information, follow this link: Shop for books and audiobooks.
Trump and the Babylon Bee back on Twitter! How can Stalinist progressives deal with it? Desperate times require desperate measures: Omnibus Impeachment. But things may not go as they expect- God is still in control. Enjoy this new 10-minute video from the audiobook edition of the novel, “Twilight of the Church Age.”
American is the leading nation of the current era (from the perspective of economic and military strength). So why does it seem to be missing in the end times prophecies of the Bible?
The Bible warns that God expects much from those to whom much God has given much. Sometimes, America has risen to the occasion; other times it has not. In recent decades, the nation has increasingly turned away from God- will that end well for America?
What will bring about its downfall? Will it be war, plague, natural disaster or some other external force? Or will internal decay cause it to crumble and fall?
God may use any or all of these as He brings judgment upon the nation and as Bible end times prophecies are fulfilled. The video provides selected passages from the audiobook edition of the novel “Twilight of the Church Age,” adding illustrations by the author. The complete audiobook plays for just over six hours.
This novel is the first book in the “Tribulation Pilgrims’ Progress” series, written by Mark C. Tredecim. The story continues in the second novel, “The Great New Deal.” Both novels employ parody and humor to expose dark political and cultural forces that threaten America. The novels connect the events of today to prophecy in the Bible. Which side will you choose in this great spiritual war? This future period may not be as soon as tomorrow, this week or even this month. Then again, maybe it will be.
The novels are available for purchase from Amazon in audiobook, Kindle, paperback and Large Print hardcover editions and in audiobook editions. For more information, follow this link: Shop for books and audiobooks.
In an instant, all of the world’s Christians will vanish (taken by Jesus to heaven). This is the Rapture of the church, described in Bible prophecy. Those left behind refer to it as the “Great Surprise.” Who will be called by Jesus? Who will be left behind and is there any hope for them?
To access the video at YouTube, follow this link: New Video
This video highlights about ten minutes from the audiobook edition of the novel “Twilight of the Church Age,” adding illustrations by the author and excerpts of great music for dramatic effect. The complete audiobook plays for just over six hours and is available for purchase from Amazon, iTunes and Audible.
This novel is the first book in the “Tribulation Pilgrims’ Progress” series, written by Mark C. Tredecim. The story continues in the second novel, “The Great New Deal.” Both novels employ parody and humor to expose dark political and cultural forces that threaten America. The novels connect the events of today to prophecy in the Bible. Which side will you choose in this great spiritual war? This future period may not be as soon as tomorrow, this week or even this month. Then again, maybe it will be.
Both novels are available for purchase from Amazon in audiobook, Kindle, paperback and Large Print hardcover editions.
There are some other problems. Could the energy grid produce and deliver those 5,000-plus kWh to us each day? And the Hindenburg D2023 Magic Power Box doesn’t exist. It will take years and billions of research dollars to develop, manufacture and implement the Magic Power Box.
Official Site for Mark C. Tredecim, author 