End Times Prophecy Update August 16, 20026 – Let Us ALL Finish Strong (KJV)

August 16, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde

I would like to begin today by making a statement, rather than just reporting on End-Times Prophecy news.

To many of you reading this, you KNOW what is about to happen, and you know this through the spirit of God that reside inside of you. To me, this is far more important that any “proof” that I can share with you today.

More than anything else, I hope that you are relying on that same spirit to guide you through these final days. You might find that there are still some things that are on your “wrap-up” list, that need your attention. I PROMISE you that God will tell you, if you humbly ask Him.

Life continues on with the events of this world, just as prophesied:

Matthew 24:37–39 — KJV

37 “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

When someone feels that the rapture is coming, and they look around as see the majority of people just living their life as “normal,” we shouldn’t expect the world to stop what they are doing and focus like we are, in preparing for this moment.

It is difficult, I know, because something this important should be dominating all social interactions, yet that too has been foretold in scripture:

2 Peter 3:3–4  

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

Remember, TRUTH is not based upon popularity, or what the majority of people are talking about. Many times, it’s the complete opposite, as is the case with us.

There are some interesting end times prophecy event’s happing that I would like to share with you today.

1. Israel remains at the center of an extraordinary push for regional peace

This is the one I would watch most closely.

There is an active Gaza peace framework, and today U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner met directly with Hamas leaders in Egypt concerning Gaza’s demilitarization and implementation of the peace arrangement.

At the same time, efforts continue to broaden normalization between Israel and Arab nations. In July, President Trump tied a U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement to Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Israel called Saudi normalization a potentially historic advance for Middle East peace.

That makes Daniel 9:27 especially worth watching:

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week…”

This is not yet Daniel 9:27 based on what we can establish. There is presently no identifiable seven-year covenant matching the prophecy, nor can we biblically identify today’s negotiators as Daniel’s coming “prince.” But the continuing movement toward a broad multinational arrangement involving Israel is certainly relevant to the prophetic framework we have been studying.

2. The Russia–Ukraine war has taken another serious turn today

Today Ukraine launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the war, involving hundreds of drones across Russia. Russia simultaneously carried out major missile and drone attacks against Ukraine. A NATO-operated Spanish F-18 also shot down a drone that entered Romanian airspace.

That does not mean Ezekiel 38 is being fulfilled today. But Russia’s continuing military prominence, combined with the importance of Iran and the broader region, keeps Ezekiel 38–39 interesting.

Jesus also said:

Matthew 24:6–7 — KJV

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars… For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…”

Importantly, Jesus immediately cautions:

“see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

That last sentence is important. We KNOW that the earth still has SEVEN years to go before the END comes.

3. Iran and Israel remain a major prophetic area to watch

The Middle East remains highly unstable following the Israel-Iran conflict. U.S.-Iran negotiations are currently stalled, while U.S. naval forces remain heavily involved in the region.

For our previous studies, this keeps Iran/Persia particularly interesting because Persia is specifically named among the nations in Ezekiel’s future coalition:

Ezekiel 38:5 — KJV

“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them…”

Modern Iran occupies the heartland of ancient Persia. But again, today’s Iran conflict should not automatically be labeled Ezekiel 38. The complete coalition and circumstances Ezekiel describes aren’t clearly present.

4. The Euphrates prophecy has NOT happened

This one is important, and has been VERY interesting to me and other prophecy watchers. I have written several articles about the Euphrates River drying up, in fulfillment to the sixth bowl of wrath that God will pour out:

Revelation 16:12 — KJV

“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”

Let me give you some historical data about the Euphrates River and is water volume decline.

For the past 50-55 years, the river has been in water flow DECLINE, with the decline becoming especially serious over the last 20–25 years, and dangerously urgent for the past five-years, due to a severe drought beginning around 2020–21.

Interestingly, the Euphrates actually experienced significant flooding in Syria this year, affecting more than 27,000 people.

So, although long-term water problems in the Euphrates basin are worth observing, I would not claim Revelation 16:12 is occurring now.

One key detail regarding this prophecy is the timing of this “Bowl” being poured out. It is the sixth of seven bowls that will happen, all in numerical order. We also know that the Bowls of wrath will not begin until 3.5 years into the Tribulation period. SO, this places the prophecy near the latter part of the 7-year period. So, even with this year’s increase in water volume, the Euphrates River will indeed dry up? How do we know this for certain? Because it’s GOD’S PLAN, that’s how we know.

There are some “scoffers” that are using this change of increased water to try to discount prophecy happening at all. It is important to note, that these same people will be experiencing the exact details of prophecy just as God has warned us about, regardless of their own personal beliefs.

5. Persecution of Christians remains enormous

I would ask all of you to humbly consider this category with a prayerful intent to help others. In protection, as well as emotional support for those who have family members experience this. It is with respect that I write this prophetic detail!!

Jesus warned:

Matthew 24:9 — KJV

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”

Let me share some statistics from ChatGPT:

“According to the 2026 World Watch List, 4,849 Christians were recorded as killed worldwide because of their Christian identity during the reporting period.

That breaks down importantly:

• 388+ million — Christians experiencing high levels of persecution or discrimination.
• 4,849 — Christians documented as killed for their faith.
• 3,490 of those deaths were in Nigeria alone — about 72% of the worldwide documented total.
• That works out to approximately 13 Christians killed per day for their faith.
• Open Doors also recorded 67,843 Christians physically or psychologically abused, including beatings and death threats.
• 224,129 Christians were forced from their homes, forced into hiding, or forced to leave their countries.

Even within Israel, AP reported this week that Christians have experienced increasing harassment, particularly around Jerusalem’s Old City.

That certainly resembles the broader condition Jesus described, although persecution of Christians has existed throughout Church history.”

I’m again humbled, and wish to express my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of these people. I also want to publicly declare my deep admiration to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice because of who they Believe in and Praise. Thank you for setting an example of such devotion, faith, courage, and love for our God.

I am promptly reassured, as I know where these people who have died are right now. Their mortal journey is over, and they have secured a place with the “Lord” and will “forever be with Him.”  I look forward to the time that I will have to listen to their story, and to learn from them.

What stands out most right now

For the prophetic timeline we’ve been examining, I think the most significant current development is still the continuing attempt to construct a broader peace/security architecture around Israel.

That brings three passages together in an interesting way:

Daniel 9:27 — a coming covenant involving Israel.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 — KJV

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them…”

And eventually:

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 — KJV

The man of sin is revealed and ultimately places himself in “the temple of God.”

But there are still enormous prophetic pieces not visibly fulfilled: no identifiable Daniel 9:27 seven-year covenant, no biblically identifiable Antichrist, no Third Temple functioning as described in the relevant passages, and no Revelation 13-mark system.

The geopolitical stage increasingly contains some of the pieces that would be necessary for the end-times scenario described in Scripture—Israel at the center of international diplomacy, intense pressure for regional peace and security, Iran/Persia deeply involved in regional conflict, expanding warfare, and widespread Christian persecution.

And for a pre-Tribulation understanding of the Rapture, that’s particularly interesting because the Rapture itself does not require Daniel’s seven-year covenant to happen first.

I hope that this information is helpful in knowing the LATEST end-times prophecy “News” that is happening in our world today.

I’d like to something else with you today, in detailing another profound thought that continues to be with me, that I should share. I’ll chose to be careful in the wording of my thoughts.

Amos 3:7 — KJV

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

What does “secret” mean in this scripture?

I don’t believe that God is saying that He reveals mysterious information that nobody else is ever allowed to know.

The Hebrew word translated “secret” is sôd. It can carry the idea of confidential counsel, consultation, intimate counsel, or something disclosed to those brought into one’s confidence.

To present my interpretation of this, I’d like you to at least consider the following thought:

End Times Prophecy is available to all of the world through the Prophets. They are “secret” in a sense that they are really there for those who BELIEVE that they are the words of God. God is communicating to “His Children” through His prophets.

We share “secrets” only to those we trust. In this case God trusts His prophets. But the “secrets” continue to US, the Believers; God’s Children: Those who TRUST GOD.

GOD is warning the WORLD through His secrets of End-Times prophecy. He is doing this before He judges the world, just as He has promised.

But there is a second meaning, to me, of how the word “secret” is used here. God wants us to know something that the “world” doesn’t believe… sort of like…a “secret.”

I stand in utter disbelief that, God has revealed all of this end times information, through His prophets, and the world could care less!!!

I’m certain that you can agree, that we have been so blessed by knowing what God’s plans for the end times are. They have brought me incredible peace. FEAR has been replaced by FAITH, as I BELIEVE the events are going to happen as promised.

And to KNOW, that I will be among those who are rescued from the Seven-Year Tribulation Period, is something far more than I could have ever imagined.

To know what is coming in the Tribulation Period, the word rescue has significant meaning to me. Our God is sending His son to literally rescue us from the worst period of time in all of the history of mankind. Can you see the significance here? Can you see the comforting that comes from Believing in God’s “secrets?”

My prayers are with all of you as we prepare to be rescued. There are many of us who are “in the ark” in knowing that the “storm will start in one week,” as it was in the days of Noah.

Our week is not seven days, but I think it is symbolic of what we should be doing during these next few weeks. This might be a time of increasing our faith, as it was for Noah’s family. This might be the time to make final preparations, as it was for Noah.  And…. It might be time to prepare spiritually, for we are about to meet our Savior. I’m working towards being at the highest spiritual level of my life when I meet Him.

I’ve joked about wanting to know what I will wear, for I want to present myself in the best possible way, as I embrace the Savior. This “joke” has actually turned out to mean something to me. Since we will be in perfect bodies, it is my spirit that I need to be at its peak when I meet Him.

I am trying to do this by planting BOTH feet into my spiritual future, and to leave the world behind. It’s no longer about watching the game on TV, or even seeking the adventures that I have enjoyed in life. It is about drawing close to Him in all that I do. Serving others, continued study and prayer, and anything else that I can do to draw close to Him.

(I know that I am rambling, but one last thought)

Each morning, I pray that I can find someone who needs my help, and God continues to answer these prayers. To cheer up the lonely, love a friend or family member, help someone who had broken down on the road side, or chat with some kids who were in the process of shoplifting.

If you don’t know what you can do to reach your spiritual peak, just ASK GOD, and be listening to His ideas and promptings.

Let’s FINISH STRONG!!! Listen to the spirit that resides inside you!

2 Timothy 4:7–8 — KJV

7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”