Examiner 03-13-2012: Peyton Manning and his Titan decision

Peyton Manning to become a Titan?

File this one under big money and high hopes.

On March 7, 2012, Peyton Manning’s much anticipated departure from the Indianapolis Colts was announced and now the media frenzy has been kicked into high gear following what could be the biggest NFL story of the year - where will Peyton Manning restart his NFL career?

For Arizona fans, this weekend, March 11, was filled with high hopes as he met with the Arizona Cardinal coaching staff and Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt. At the time Arizona and the Denver Broncos were the only teams in contention to sign this NFL Superstar. However, as of March 13, there are now four other teams with high hopes of landing Manning: the Miami Dolphins, the Tennessee Titans, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Houston Texans.

There is no doubt the sports world is rife with speculation as to which team will sign Manning and much, if not all, of this speculation is based on NFL stats and/or insider knowledge. But is it possible that the team he chooses could have a Biblically prophetic connection? Perhaps, here's why.

Throughout the Bible God using allegorical imagery and situations to declare His Word to His people and let them know what the future holds or what the status of affairs are, so to speak. We see many of the Old Testament prophets, such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea, who were given these allegorical images and situations to help the people understand. Even Jesus Himself, used parables and pictures (e.g. the fig tree) to warn the people of the future. And thus, if God never changes, it stands to reason that these allegorical images and situations can still be given to us today.

In Matthew 24:36-41, Jesus states:

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

What was it like in the days of Noah? Well we know from Genesis 6 and other supplemental sources such as the Book of Enoch that the land before the flood was inhabited by the Nephilim. These giants were progeny of the Fallen Angels and human women. There is little doubt that we are living in the End Times and right before the coming of the Son of Man, thus one could say we are living right now in the Days of Noah.

Now, connect this Days of Noah prophecy with the image of Peyton Manning if he chooses to sign with the Tennessee Titans.

We know Peyton's brother Eli Manning plays for the New York Giants (who happened to win the Superbowl in Indiana this year, Peyton's old stomping grounds). Giants = Nephilim. Moreover, in mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities who lived long ago and who of which some Bible teachers believe were actually Fallen Angels. Titans = Fallen Angels. So wouldn't it be an interesting prophetic image to have the two Manning brothers playing for the Giants and the Titans - two words that hearken back to the days of Noah before the flood?

Is God showing us that we are living in the Days of Noah? One thing is for sure though, no matter what team Peyton Manning chooses, the media frenzy has proven that football is a very important matter in our country. But Bible prophecy tells us there is something even more important than football - that is eternal life. It's time to WAKE UP and realize that time is short and we must make a decision as to what team we will play on for eternity.

UPDATE: On March 20, Peyton Manning was introduced as a Denver Bronco. Interestingly enough, the choice to play for Denver also holds Biblically prophetic imagery. Last season, "God's Quarterback", Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos, was the hot topic in the media. Anyone and everyone knew who Tebow was and what he stood (i.e. Christianity). Now with Manning headed to Denver the days of Tebow are numbered. In a similar way, the Bible prophesies that in the near future when the Anti-Christ takes control of the world (Revelation 13), the days of being an open confessing Christian will be numbered.