Dear friends:
 
According to official population statistics, the world population is expected to reach 6,666,666,666 sometime between now and May 10, 2008, or within 23 days from now.
 
It is extremely noteworthy that the very verse in the Bible that describes food shortages during the Tribulation is in the 66th book, 6th chapter, and 6th verse (Revelation 6:6).
 
Especially noteworthy: Just today, as we approach 6,666,666,666 people, there is a newspaper article from the Chicago Tribune with a blaring headline saying: “GLOBAL CRISIS GROWS AS FOOD PRICES SOAR,” with the sub-headline saying “What's considered largely an irritation in the U.S. threatens worldwide social upheaval as hunger strains poor nations.”  See http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-food-prices-global-crisis-story,0,3603827.story .
 
“Global crisis… worldwide social upheaval.”  Sounds like Tribulation stuff!
 
The article says:

Worldwide, food prices have soared 45 percent over the past year as surging oil prices make growing and transporting food more expensive and as economic growth in emerging giants such as China and India leads to rising demand for food, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization….

In richer developed nations, where people spend an average of 10 to 15 percent of their disposable income on food, price hikes have been a growing irritation. But in the developing world, where most poor people spend at least half of their income to eat, rising costs threaten to create major social unrest….

All told, 33 countries around the world are at risk of social upheaval as a result of acute increases in food and energy prices, said Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, in a speech this month. In countries where buying food requires half to three-quarters of a poor person's income, "there is no margin for survival," he warned.

The above focus on developing nations is especially interesting in view of the limited and not worldwide scope of the devastation described in verses 6-8.  Commentaries affirm the limited scope of this prophesied crisis.  But while food shortages may be limited in scope, social upheaval in one part of the world can affect the whole world.  It may get so bad as to even squeeze Hannah Montana and Britney Spears from the mainstream media headlines.
 
Scholars believe Revelation 6 describes the beginning of the Tribulation.  Isn’t it interesting that today a worldwide news item describes the growing food crisis (mentioned in 66:6:6) and within days the world population reaches 6,666,666,666!
 
Surely, this is no coincidence.
 
If we are near the beginning of the Tribulation, then Jesus and the catching away (Greek: harpazo -- for you rapture doubters) of His people must literally be at the door. 
 
Look up, for your redemption draws near!
 
Jim