Interview with, Elana Janson, author of How Near Armageddon, by South African journalist Amanda Botha published on 13 January 2000, in the South- African, weekly magazine You and Huisgenoot ( in Afrikaans ).

AHEAD: A THIRD WORLD WAR, PLAGUE AND A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE
SA woman claims apocalyptic predictions have almost all occurred - and she has had a vision of the future.

 Predictions in the Bible book of Revelations have largely come true - only a few more things have to happen in the next four to 16 years to fulfill the prophecies, says Dr Elana Janson of Cape Town. And she is so convinced she's right that she's written a book on the subject…..

At 4 pm on August 22, 1996 historian Dr Elana Janson was preparing supper at her Higgovale home in Cape Town when her knees suddenly buckled and she thought she was going to collapse.

A potent force seemed to fill the kitchen, but Elana found she was unafraid. Then seven words in the Afrikaans language appeared in front of her eyes "Wat jy weet moet jy bekend maak" (meaning 'what you know you must make known').

Without thinking she answered "Ja Here" meaning 'Yes Lord".

The sound of her voice brought her back to reality and the presence disappeared.

Elana had been the leader of a Bible study group for many years and had long been fascinated by the book of Revelation. Just prior to her strange experience she'd started to research possible ties between the Old and New Testaments to make Revelation clearer.

She was keen to see if there was a symbolic tie between the seven Dead Sea scrolls and Revelation, as the number seven featured prominently in Revelation.

She'd already made a number of discoveries when she received the devine instruction in her kitchen.

She immediately started exploring the history of the past 2000 years based on the verses of Revelation. The further she progressed, the more clearly a pattern emerged.

She found how accurately Revelation had predicted events and realised that only three were still to come - within four to 16 years.

The Second Coming is at hand, says Elana, her dark eyes serious. "Its not just guesswork but a straightforward fact."

Outside the heat is unbearable but inside her house on the slopes of Table Mountain the whirring ceiling fans are doing a good job.

For years she was a housewife and mother, but because history was important to her she immersed herself in study and obtained her doctorate with a thesis on a historic perspective of the development of the uranium and nuclear power industry in South Africa.

This focused her attention on the relationship between verses in Revelation and warfare in the 20th century. In her recently published book, How near Armageddon she sxplains how, with detailed historical research, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, she came to her conclusions.
Her key discovery was that Revelation predicts everything in clearly demarcated time periods. Her analysis shows that three and a half days in Revelation indicates a millennium and everything happens within seven days - in other words two millenniums.

But there is a period of grace of eight years at the end of each millennium. "That’s what Christ meant when he said that it would not be long ( "a little while and you will not see me and a little while and you will see me") before his Second Coming," Elana says.

According to Revelation there are three events that must still happen before the Second Coming: a third world war, a final devastating earthquake and a plague of hail ( or some fallout, possibly nuclear.)

The next four to 16 years will see closer ties developing between Russia and China, resulting in increased tension between East and West.

This will continue in World War 3. Elana says Armageddon is the final confrontation between world powers in which nuclear arms will be used.

Between 2000 and 2012 there might be a devastating earthquake. We may experience extreme weather conditions: the four angels in Revelation who were commanded to hold back the winds will release them."

After 2000 the world will be plagued by hurricanes floods and heatwaves.

According to Revelation 16, verse 19, Earth is divided into three sections ( relates to the understanding of Revelation and not necessarily devastation of the earth). Elana predicts islands will disappear and global warming will increase, resulting in a serious meltdown in the Antarctic over the next 12 years.

Children will also increasingly become victims of violence, warfare and Aids.

Elana says that she does not want to cause panic with irresponsible statements.

"The reality, however, is mankind is about to experience the destructive end of his actions. Its written in the Bible and we can't add or take away anything to reassure people."

Elana is married to Dr Peter Janson, a thoracic surgeon, and has four adult sons. How are she and her family preparing themselves for the end?

"I've told my children to be aware of what's going to happen but to continue with their lives and plans for the future. For believers there is nothing to fear. People who have turned their back on God will have to decide for themselves how they want to live.

She belives that she is part of God's plan, the "queen of the south" who would rise toward the end to issue the final warning.

With this kind of instruction she can't afford to soften the blow. Her message must be spread to all the corners of the earth. "As I see it, its my God-given calling to issue a warning."

Could she be wrong? After all many similar predictions have been proved wrong.

"Definitely not," she says. " No one has ever made these kinds of predictions which are scientifically linked to time. No one has measured time according to Revelation or given meaning to Christ's words He'll return soon."

In her book she claims Revelation predicted many things, including;
--- the invention the development of radio telephones (1906);

--- the invention of dynamite in 1866;

--- the American Civil War and the freeing of the slaves (1860);

--- the Great Depression in 1932;

--- world wars 1 and 2, which she equates with the fall of Babylon. The period 1932 to
1956 ( 24 years) relates to " the hour of judgement" ( Revelation 13,verses 7and 8);

--- famine in Russia in 1947;

--- the decision of the Roman Catholic Church in 1966 to cooperate with
the ecumenical movement;

--- Operation Desert Storm (1991-1992) and CNN's broadcasts;

--- the economic crisis in 1998;

--- the devstating effect of drugs in the late twentieth century;

--- earthquakes that plagues the world;

--- changing weather patterns and global warming;

--- Aids, for which no cure may be found;

--- the notion of the global villiage where there are no boundaries;

--- the equalisation of world religions;

--- cloning of animals and humans.

The final judgement will come after this last "arrogant impudance" of mankind to clone himself, says Elana.

"This unacceptable attempt by mankind to invent himself makes the Second Coming unavoidable", she says.

"Through his inventions and ability to enrich and empower himself with worldly goods mankind has become arrogant, elevating himself to a state where he believes that he can live without God. To me this indicative to Second Crucifixion."

Which is why it is time for the final warning: "Whoever is evil, must go on doing evil, and whoever is filthy must go on being filthy; whoever is good must go on doing good , and whoever is holy must go on being holy."( Revelation 22:11) This means that by the time Revelation is known to man, there will be little time for change.

Matthew 12,verses 39 to 42, talks about the sign of Jonah. " The Queen of the South will rise at Judgement with this generation and condemn it"

Elana belives that this is her responsibility and calling. "Because", she says, "the generation of the second half of the 20th century is faithless. This has been revealed to me in Revelation."