I actually sort of regretted posting that last night because I felt that perhaps I had gotten way too off topic. I did try to compare some of today's events to what our people lived through during the WBTS and Reconstruction but I felt that It still may have been "over the top" of your good graces :-)
Jim, you know as well as I that a lot of Christians differ on prophetic interpretations. I stand as silent as possible on issues like premillenialism or amillienialsim etc. because I fail to see where debating the issue edifies either side. I feel it has no bearing on your salvation if you are right or wrong in your understanding. But when Jesus says something I know he means it. He told us two things I try to remember...
The book of John records the words of Jesus Himself in verses 15 and 21...
"20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.'[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also..."
The book of Revelation, chapter 3 verses 10 and 11 (Letter to the church of Philadelphia) Jesus said...
"10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."
In other words you will see hard times and persecution. But, I will protect you from the worst part of it. Jim, to my mind, the worst part is not bad financial times, loss of freedom or even death. It is failing to endure what he ask of us. Better death in this life than death in eternity. How He will fulfill the promise to protect me, I don't know.
Maybe He will do what he did when he judged Egypt. While the Egyptians suffered plague after plague the Isrealites were unaffected. Maybe He will haul us all out of here in the rapture. Maybe he will simply give us the super human strength we will need to endure the hard times coming. But no matter how He does it I believe with %100 of my heart He will do it. Maybe it's time we started telling our friends it's time to put on their life jackets (the Blood of Jesus) before this boat we call America, and the whole world sinks to the bottom for all time.