Rapid, Fragile, and Close :: By Daymond Duck

[Andy C]

On Jan. 23, 2026, I got the following from Messianic World Update:

• This week has been filled with developments that underscore just how rapidly the nations are moving, how fragile the current order truly is, and how closely world events continue to align with the prophetic warnings found in Scripture.
• As believers in Yeshua who take the whole counsel of God seriously, we must watch carefully, pray diligently, and remain grounded in biblical truth rather than media narratives.

It seems to me that Messianic World Update is right on target.

Bible prophecy is being fulfilled like birth pains, and it is happening so fast that it is truly impossible to keep up with all of it.

The global situation is fragile, with the global economy struggling, wars taking place. rumors of wars looming, nations realigning in the Middle East, people protesting in many nations, Israel under constant attack, Islam spreading like wildfire, Christians persecuted in many nations, etc.

And all the things that Jesus said would come to pass when the end of the age is approaching seem to be shaping up.

(FYI: On Jan. 27, 2026, Atomic scientists moved the symbolic “Doomsday Clock” to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest humanity has ever come to theoretical self-destruction.)

Here are some recent current events that seem to validate this:

One, on Jan. 25, 2026, Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu suggested:

• That Israelis and Europeans were allies in a decisive struggle for the future of the world against radical Islam, far-left ideologies, and unchecked immigration.
• The Western Judeo-Christian civilization is under attack.
• This is an effort carried out not by radical Islam alone, but in collaboration with forces which you know well: the deep radical left and the Islamists, who in theory should be rivals, but are united by one thing—the hatred of Israel and the Jews.
• Many countries in Europe were numb; they opened their borders with no supervision whatsoever.
• Not just for a year or two; this has been a long-term struggle.
• In this regard, we are not just allies and comrades-in-arms, we are brothers and sisters in the decisive struggle for the future of the world.
• The gravest danger that the world faces is the link between militant Islam and nuclear weapons.

(My comment: For whatever it is worth, I believe the Scriptures teach that nuclear weapons will be used during the Tribulation Period.)

Rapid, Fragile, and Close :: By Daymond Duck

On Jan. 23, 2026, I got the following from Messianic World Update: This week has been filled with developments that underscore just how rapidly the

www.raptureready.com

 

[dwb]

The gravest danger that the world faces is the link between militant Islam and nuclear weapons.

I couldn't agree more. Great article by Daymond!

 

[Baby Yoda]

 

[Hol]

Bible prophecy is being fulfilled like birth pains, and it is happening so fast that it is truly impossible to keep up with all of it.

For me, @TCC is making me stretch my overly narrow views. What if God redirects all of this (thanks Teren!). When we get into actual birth pains, there’s no stopping or redirecting.

One thing I’m keeping an eye on is a current successful spiritual/factual battle tearing down the satanic religion Islam. So many individual Muslims are disgusted with the lies. There’s serious evidence in coins, artwork, ancient writings, etc., that the Quran & writings were fabricated—including no ancient Mecca, no Muhammad, no ZumZum water, etc.

If the move from Islam keeps growing, God may delay the first birth pang.

 

[Margery]

I don't know if these are birth pains or just the build up towards them, but they are happening faster every year. To the point that it's hard to keep track.

It's like seeing an exponential curve graphed out on a chart.

We have a historical background to look back on, and it seems that the last century and a half things started taking off. Looking backwards in time gives us some perspective, enough to know that the pace of change is following that type of curve.

But we don't know exactly where on the curve we are.

Or the actual end points- the Rapture and or the Start of the Tribulation period.

We just see part of the chart, and it seems like it's an exponential growth curve, sharply moving upwards.

We can track various data points- the Gog Magog coalition, Israel's readiness for Gog Magog, technology that appears to fit what the AC would need to track everyone across the globe and their finances, developments towards a global govt split into 10 groups/kingdoms/technocratic regions. The path towards global financial collapse followed by a rapid replacement of some type of digital currency that is easy to trace by govts. All that and more.

Each of those data points seems to speed up and slow down in unusual ways that don't track with historical data. (The Restrainer at work) For example regardless of the efforts of the WEF to collapse the world economy in order to replace it with Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC's) something always stops the train wreck and things stay in a holding pattern. Several of the events (including Covid) seemed designed to crash the system, if the system were working as expected. But the system keeps going.

Are they birth pains, or the chess board being set up for the end game?

Hard to say.

But Daymond is right about the speed at which change is taking place right now. I think that IS significant even though I don't think we can figure out an end point with that information.

 

[TCC]

In regards to birth pangs, without double checking, I've come to understand it helps (I believe) to consider Israel as an approximator for definitions. Even though Israel is still partially hardened and not walking in the light of God, I believe God uses Israel as the prophetic witness (even in her unbelief). So in doing that sort of "liniing things up" as we say, I, without double checking have come to believe that "birth pangs" would seem to heavily rest upon approximations to Israel in where we might land the first "birth pang" plane.

Without double checking, I would have said WWI and WW2. Because those are what orchestrated (out of the oyster warfare upon the world, cometh out the Israeli state pearl). With checking, I believe God tells us WW1 and WW2 are the first birth pangs. And ironically, they have plenty to do with Israel. Prior to them it would have seemed there would never be a physical return of Israel. For me birth pangs relate to Israel because after double checking I believe we find this:

Matt 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

This is why I don't agree with theologians who believe that 1 Thes 5 is talking about the world more than a keen focus here toward Israel: 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

As far as like theology goes, it is understandable why some theologians (likely most) would see this above verse generic to the world being trapped in the tribulation. Respectfully to the church, I would see that as secondarily true (as an outer ring rippled effect...yes). But it is of my painstaking view (for I have only recently in the past several years come to wrestle with something like this) that seeing 1 Thes 5 as referring to the world system is a symptom of taking ourselves kind of overly serious. Not that the bride of Christ is not serious. Just that some of the pastors in the watcher movement (whom I actually like) won't make room for 1 Thes 5 to be Israel. To me, that is totally uncanny.

, , , , ,

In regards to this thread's focus, I would say yeah it could totally be possible that nuclear weapons play a role in the tribulation. I tend though to see it as an age to compare with what we might have thought the prehistoric age to have been like (in the mere sense of contrasting it to the age we now live in). I am young earth perspective. So I don't think the dinosaur age was millions of years ago. But borrowing the sentiment that if that were to have been true, I would compare the tribulation as an age that different than ours. Because the things and themes in that short span of time have a lot of supernatural going on. In that sense I don't think the nuclear equation would need to have as a much of a presence. But because of the evil in men's hearts being exposed and taxed to the hilt, yeah, I certaintly would not keep it past us.

I agree with @Andy C about having an eye on the doomsday clock. Since its inception some things though have changed to also include climate change disaster (and not pure and unadulterated atomic war concerns this bulletin had been comprised of at its inception). Even so though I believe the meter it runs so close to midnight is not just far leftist propaganda. This is a real world concern today FOR SURE!. And in respect to that, the Atomic Bulletin being first published in 1945 to me suggests a tandem run-along effect. Tbe Dooms Day Clock was published in 1947. One year prior to the state of Israel official formation. lol. Almost as if Israel (the other run-along dooms day tandumn indicator) becoming a nation might imply we take a doomsday clock as seriously as its intended nuclear holecaust threat vibes offer up as well. Amen. Blessings

...oh yeah...BTW @Hol thanks for the kind words dear sister. As the above mentioned suggests, my thoughts would kind of lean toward: the birth pangs have already started. And the shape they are taking would seem to flower into a very powerful Israel to come of age in our brief season here is how I would see that sort of thing. If that makes sense? In any event, thanks for letting me know some of where I might be coming from (even though I do come from another planet ) makes sense on some levels. Mega blessings.

 

[Hol]

Blessings

...oh yeah...BTW @Hol thanks for the kind words dear sister. As the above mentioned suggests, my thoughts would kind of lean toward: the birth pangs have already started. And the shape they are taking would seem to flower into a very powerful Israel to come of age in our brief season here is how I would see that sort of thing. If that makes sense? In any event, thanks for letting me know some of where I might be coming from (even though I do come from another planet ) makes sense on some levels. Mega blessings.

Just when I thought I was singing your tune…

I’ll defer to this insightful sister and agree that while things are adding up that do indicate that we’ve entered the birth pangs, my guess is probably not:

We can track various data points- the Gog Magog coalition, Israel's readiness for Gog Magog, technology that appears to fit what the AC would need to track everyone across the globe and their finances, developments towards a global govt split into 10 groups/kingdoms/technocratic regions. The path towards global financial collapse followed by a rapid replacement of some type of digital currency that is easy to trace by govts. All that and more.

Each of those data points seems to speed up and slow down in unusual ways that don't track with historical data. (The Restrainer at work) For example regardless of the efforts of the WEF to collapse the world economy in order to replace it with Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC's) something always stops the train wreck and things stay in a holding pattern. Several of the events (including Covid) seemed designed to crash the system, if the system were working as expected. But the system keeps going.

 

[Tall Timbers]

I’ll defer to this insightful sister and agree that while things are adding up that do indicate that we’ve entered the birth pangs, my guess is probably not:

Fruchtenbaum deliniates specific things as the birth pangs. I don't think I've ever pulled those all out of the book and put them into a document, but will think about doing that sometime for discussion purposes.

 

[mattfivefour]

I hope you do so and post it here, brother.

 

[TCC]

Just when I thought I was singing your tune…

I’ll defer to this insightful sister and agree that while things are adding up that do indicate that we’ve entered the birth pangs, my guess is probably not:

Understood. Well thanks for giving it a go . And, your model could still stand--a redirect perhaps. For the most part, I would have been thinking the same way, that the birth pangs are yet future. Something helpful to consider along the way, for me, is: What is being birthed? The 7 year tribulation? The 3.5 year span of Jacob's Trouble (the second half of the tribulation)? The ultimate judgement of the AC and God's strong delusion? The reaper angles and the supper of God? The return of Christ in the Sign of the son of man (where the world mourns and seems to consider a potential future for their allegiances)? The literal physical return of Christ? The millennial kingdom?

The best I have been able to consider is that perhaps it is all of the above in ways (maybe differing birth pangs for differing stages). But as the scripture tends to be written usually in senses of utter simplicity (perhaps more than complex layers--although those do exist in places as well), perhaps they are unnecessary birth pangs that did not really have to be there. Isaiah 66...

7 “Before she travailed, she brought forth;
Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.
8 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?
Can a land be [d]born in one day?
Can a nation be brought forth all at once?
As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.
9 “Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

From the sound from the above, it would seem the birth would be Israel? So in that sense, the birth would likely utterly be Israel's realization of their true Messiah. And in that sense, birth pangs would not exist before Israel became a nation. And WW1 and WW2 would not be birth pangs. Because they seem to come after the 1 day birth of the nation. In that respect, maybe they all are yet future.

. . . . .

I would like to make one observation though here as it relates to a discussion on a different thread with Margery. We see differently to a degree likely how relevant a globalist shift toward conservatism (the right) to accomplish their goals (since we know they have infiltrated both liberal and conservative parties in the USA). In my thinking I believe what Margery sees as the restrainer is where I believe the pulse is likely better taken. In that sense the restrainer has kept things from actually getting to a point as a result of globalist influence. I would suggest that is a good watch point. However, I would add something to that though. Something not associated typically with "the restrainer." Now this may likely not be a function of the restrainer but something else. But I believe important in pointing out distinction points of where we might differ in our views.

In that sense I would say what Margery would see as the work of the restrainer I would suggest in an evolving conservative shift. But in the way i would be looking at things, that shift is not just a preservative. But an evolving, expanding, enlarging theme. I understand to look at it as she does as the restrainer may be the more sober and sound place to just leave it there and let it be. Amen. That may be the case here, amen. But my reference point here is just that the conservative shift I believe that is likely occurring is of the similar species of activity (or the stopping of some activity) Margery would see as that which the restrainer is doing. In my parlance though i would see that what is keeping globalism at bay (which by the way is no small awareness...for there are many that would never let themselves to even consider that is a potential reality starring back at us) is of the breed of influence upon our world that would not just hold globalism back...but trample it...before the world's eyes.

That is not to say that I do not see a role of a restrainer keeping back the entrance unto this world of the AC. My technical take on that is the two witnesses who hold back AC from the point of demanding worship. I would see the church certainly as a preservative. But not the restrainer. I would say after the rapture there will be a preservation that has left this world for sure. But entering in stage right, the two witnesses, would seem to function as a preservative as well. Differently. But it just seems that once the two witnesses leave, there is no longer anything standing in the way of the AC. Where as after the rapture, the AC has to wait for the beast to come up from the abyss to empower him to then finally after 3.5 years kill the two witnesses. Not until then. The AC is retrained from killing the two witnesses and demanding worship for 3.5 years. And since that buffer zone exists even after the church leaves, there is a still a very real sense of AC being restrained on earth even after the church leaves. So those would be my thoughts on that sort of thing. I mention that in the event it might seem like I would not see an activity of a restrainer on earth. I do. I would just assign the work we might see it do this side of the tribulation is also the reason why the shift to the right in the USA and into the world. Not as a restraint I reckon as much as an override. If that makes sense.

Blessings.

 

[mattfivefour]

Isaiah 66...

7 “Before she travailed, she brought forth;
Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.
8 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?
Can a land be [d]born in one day?
Can a nation be brought forth all at once?
As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.
9 “Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

From the sound from the above, it would seem the birth would be Israel? So in that sense, the birth would likely utterly be Israel's realization of their true Messiah. And in that sense, birth pangs would not exist before Israel became a nation

I agree with your comment following the Isaiah 66 passage above. I believe the birth is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and to Israel, leading to the thousand years in which Christ rules this world with justice and peace.

That said, I believe we are now in the birth pangs and have been since 1948. The pangs will continue and, in the process, continually intensify ... right up until Christ returns in triumph to sit on his earthly throne.

 

[TCC]

I agree with your comment following the Isaiah 66 passage above. I believe the birth is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and to Israel, leading to the thousand years in which Christ rules this world with justice and peace.

That said, I believe we are now in the birth pangs and have been since 1948. The pangs will continue and, in the process, continually intensify ... right up until Christ returns in triumph to sit on his earthly throne.

So see ya'll...that WW1 & 2 thing may not actually be from another planet Thanks Pastor Adrien

 

[Andy C]

Understood. Well thanks for giving it a go . And, your model could still stand--a redirect perhaps. For the most part, I would have been thinking the same way, that the birth pangs are yet future. Something helpful to consider along the way, for me, is: What is being birthed? The 7 year tribulation? The 3.5 year span of Jacob's Trouble (the second half of the tribulation)? The ultimate judgement of the AC and God's strong delusion? The reaper angles and the supper of God? The return of Christ in the Sign of the son of man (where the world mourns and seems to consider a potential future for their allegiances)? The literal physical return of Christ? The millennial kingdom?

The best I have been able to consider is that perhaps it is all of the above in ways (maybe differing birth pangs for differing stages). But as the scripture tends to be written usually in senses of utter simplicity (perhaps more than complex layers--although those do exist in places as well), perhaps they are unnecessary birth pangs that did not really have to be there. Isaiah 66...

7 “Before she travailed, she brought forth;
Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.
8 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?
Can a land be [d]born in one day?
Can a nation be brought forth all at once?
As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.
9 “Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

From the sound from the above, it would seem the birth would be Israel? So in that sense, the birth would likely utterly be Israel's realization of their true Messiah. And in that sense, birth pangs would not exist before Israel became a nation. And WW1 and WW2 would not be birth pangs. Because they seem to come after the 1 day birth of the nation. In that respect, maybe they all are yet future.

. . . . .

I would like to make one observation though here as it relates to a discussion on a different thread with Margery. We see differently to a degree likely how relevant a globalist shift toward conservatism (the right) to accomplish their goals (since we know they have infiltrated both liberal and conservative parties in the USA). In my thinking I believe what Margery sees as the restrainer is where I believe the pulse is likely better taken. In that sense the restrainer has kept things from actually getting to a point as a result of globalist influence. I would suggest that is a good watch point. However, I would add something to that though. Something not associated typically with "the restrainer." Now this may likely not be a function of the restrainer but something else. But I believe important in pointing out distinction points of where we might differ in our views.

In that sense I would say what Margery would see as the work of the restrainer I would suggest in an evolving conservative shift. But in the way i would be looking at things, that shift is not just a preservative. But an evolving, expanding, enlarging theme. I understand to look at it as she does as the restrainer may be the more sober and sound place to just leave it there and let it be. Amen. That may be the case here, amen. But my reference point here is just that the conservative shift I believe that is likely occurring is of the similar species of activity (or the stopping of some activity) Margery would see as that which the restrainer is doing. In my parlance though i would see that what is keeping globalism at bay (which by the way is no small awareness...for there are many that would never let themselves to even consider that is a potential reality starring back at us) is of the breed of influence upon our world that would not just hold globalism back...but trample it...before the world's eyes.

That is not to say that I do not see a role of a restrainer keeping back the entrance unto this world of the AC. My technical take on that is the two witnesses who hold back AC from the point of demanding worship. I would see the church certainly as a preservative. But not the restrainer. I would say after the rapture there will be a preservation that has left this world for sure. But entering in stage right, the two witnesses, would seem to function as a preservative as well. Differently. But it just seems that once the two witnesses leave, there is no longer anything standing in the way of the AC. Where as after the rapture, the AC has to wait for the beast to come up from the abyss to empower him to then finally after 3.5 years kill the two witnesses. Not until then. The AC is retrained from killing the two witnesses and demanding worship for 3.5 years. And since that buffer zone exists even after the church leaves, there is a still a very real sense of AC being restrained on earth even after the church leaves. So those would be my thoughts on that sort of thing. I mention that in the event it might seem like I would not see an activity of a restrainer on earth. I do. I would just assign the work we might see it do this side of the tribulation is also the reason why the shift to the right in the USA and into the world. Not as a restraint I reckon as much as an override. If that makes sense.

Blessings.

The Holy Spirit will still there throughout the 7 years, but is restraining His mission, or convicting as many as possible of their sin of unbelief thus more and more will become saved. There will also be the divine protected 144,000 witnesses which continue to preach the Word throughout the world, and the AC cant stop them.

The AC will strive to kill as many new Christians, and Jews as he can. The 3 Angels flying for all to see and preaching the Word will be a hindrance to the AC, telling all who take the MOB will be eternally damned.

Will the AC be restrained? I think he will have a long leash, but God will be in control, so there will no doubt be some limits.