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WE ARE LIVING IN THE VERY END TIMES
INTRODUCTION
Most people at some time have asked themselves “What is going to happen in the future?” In 2011 as the threat of war in the Middle East and global instability looms large this question is foremost in men’s minds.
In the past people have sought guidance from mystics such as Nostradamus and others. Our magazines and many of our newspapers have major sections on your stars and predicting what is going to happen to you. Is there however a reliable source of information on future events? Does anyone know?
As Christians we know that the only one who really knows what is going to happen is God. He has outlined the future in detail so that we can know what it holds for us both individually and as the human race. The information has been given to us in the Bible in the form of prophecy.
How well does God know the future? God is outside time and so He knows it perfectly for He is All Knowing. How likely is it that the prophecy in the Bible will be fulfilled literally? Because God is not only All Knowing but also All Powerful the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy is absolutely sure!
In order to test the accuracy of Biblical prophecy we can see how well the prophecies of the Bible have been fulfilled so far in history. From this we will find that we can have confidence in what the Bible says will happen in the future and therefore predict what is going to happen in the future.
History has been rightly called His Story, the story outlined by the Plan of God. Let us remember that tomorrow the events of today will be history. We have through the Bible the privilege of seeing His Story unfold before our eyes and understanding the divine plan for humanity.
THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE BIBLE IN PROPHECY AND ITS FULFILLMENT
The Bible is full of prophecy. The first prophecies are in the Book of Genesis and repeatedly predictions of what is going to happen in the future is given through the Bible to perhaps the greatest of all of the prophetic books, the last book in the Bible, the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A review of the Bible shows about 1 verse in 25 deals with prophecy thus God thinks that this subject is very important for man to know about.
FULFILLED AND UNFULFILLED PROPHECIES
The prophecies are divided into two categories, those that have been fulfilled and those which are still to be fulfilled. There are several categories of prophecy that have already been fulfilled. They include prophecies regarding the Lord Jesus Christ, some prophecies about Israel and others dealing with the future of cities such as Babylon, Petra, Tyre and Sidon.
At least 83 prophecies were fulfilled literally by the Lord Jesus Christ at His first coming, 15 prophecies involving the Jews and 11 relating to cities of the ancient world. These 100 or so prophecies are but a part of those which have been literally fulfilled to date. There is therefore very sound evidence on which to base our review and our confidence.
In this review we will take a sample of 16 of the 83 prophecies fulfilled in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ at his first advent. This therefore represents but 20% of those stated in my book.
SOME PROPHECIES FULFILLED AT CHRIST’S FIRST ADVENT
Many prophecies were fulfilled during the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us see from statistics what is the statistical chance of one person fulfilling these prophecies so totally?
Leaving aside Isaiah 7:14 and his prophecy of the Virgin Birth and the prophecy of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Psalms, which would have almost infinite odds I have selected the prophecies fulfilled by the Lord during His ministry together with the proposed odds of this occurring by chance.
As an example in the table below the chances of the prophet Micah in 710 BC guessing Bethlehem of Judea by chance to be the village in which the Lord Jesus Christ was to be born was one in 2400 as there were that some 2400 villages in Judea at that time.
THE STATISTICAL CHANCES OF 16 PROPHECIES BEING FULFILLED BY ONE PERSON
Born in Bethlehem – 1 in 2400 Gambling for his garments – 1 in 100
No bones broken – 1 in 20 Darkness over the earth at midday – 1 in 1000
Crucified with thieves – 1 in 50 His side pierced – 1 in 100
Hands and Feet Pierced – 1 in 50 Entering Jerusalem on a colt – 1 in 50
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver - 1 in 50 Betrayed by a friend – 1 in 10
Betrayal money to buy a potters field - 1 in 200 Silent before his accusers – 1 in 100
Buried in a rich man’s tomb – 1 in 100 Body would not decay – 1 in 10,000
Wounded by his enemies – 1 in 10 Preceded by a messenger – 1 in 20
WHAT IS THE STATISTICAL CHANCE
From a statistical viewpoint that the chances of a single person fulfilling all of the above 16 prophecies fulfilled by our Lord at His first coming would be literally astronomical being 10 to the 28th power. To show the huge size of the numbers involved there are only 10 to the 15th seconds in the history of the universe if you assume the universe is 15 billon years old.
It would be equivalent of the chance of a blindfolded person finding by chance a grain of sand that had been painted blue which had been placed at random somewhere in the Milky Way. The fulfilment of these Biblical prophecies is therefore clearly seen to be statistically certain. Bearing in mind the other 80% of prophecies that the Lord fulfilled literally at His First Advent the odds are infinite.
ACCURACY OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY
Looking at this from a Biblical viewpoint, with God being All Knowing, obviously the blue grain of sand does not exist. This shows conclusively that Biblical Prophecy can be relied on entirely.
We can therefore be absolutely confident that what God predicts will come to pass. Now let us see what God says through the Bible what the future History has in store for us.
THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN RACE
God tells us that the history of the human race has over 1007 years to run. The Bible tells us that the earth is not going to end in a nuclear winter in the near future. At the end of time the final destiny of our world is a fiery inferno which will herald in the commencement of eternity. 2 Peter 3:10-12
The Bible divides the remaining period of human history into four steps. These steps are the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ and His 1000 year reign or Millennium.
STEP 1. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
At the Last Supper the Lord Jesus Christ in John 14:1-3 told His disciples not to worry, that He would in the future come back for them so that where He was there they would also be. Here He was talking to believers.
The Apostle Paul amplified this promise to all true believers in Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In these passages Paul made it clear that there would be a generation of believers who would not see death but would go to be with the Lord at a future point in history.
This is called the Rapture or taking away of the Church. [It should be noted that the term Church means the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and not a building]. In the Rapture of the Church incident the Lord Jesus Christ does not set foot on the earth but believers meet Him in the air. In order to do so they will have a resurrection body exactly like that of the Lord Jesus Christ – Philippians 3:21
STEP 2. THE TRIBULATION
This is a period of seven years which commences with the signing of a treaty between Israel and a world dictator and ends at the physical return to the earth by the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a time of great turmoil on the earth which is controlled by a one world government comprising ten regions overseen by a Dictator whose number is 666. He will enforce his rule by a financial cashless society based on a mark and sworn allegiance to his regime. [Revelation 13:16-18]
The fact that this time of great peril is after the removal of the believers from the earth at the Rapture is shown by the fact that the World Dictator or Antichrist is not revealed until the Holy Spirit which is restraining evil is removed 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10. As all believers are eternally indwelt by the Holy Spirit [John 14:16,17], all believers are therefore removed when the Holy Spirit is removed., thus the removal of the Church to be with the Lord predates the Tribulation.
STEP 3. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
By the end of the seven year Tribulation the situation is desperate. Just before total destruction of the world is accomplished the Lord Jesus Christ returns with the Church, He overthrows and destroys the Antichrist and his ally the False Prophet, the Dictator of Israel.
STEP 4 THE MILLENNIUM
After a period of examination and judgment of mankind the Lord Jesus Christ commences a literal 1000 year reign on a refurbished earth. This is called the Millennium. Believers from the post Rapture period who have survived the Tribulation form the basis of repopulating the earth by entering the Millennium in their physical bodies. However unbelievers will not be allowed to enter into this golden age where the Lord Jesus Christ reigns as King from Jerusalem The main passage in the Bible for this period in Revelation 20. The conditions during this time is also outlined in the book of Isaiah
At the end of the 1000 year period eternity commences with the Believers from all time spending eternity with God and the elect angels while all unbelievers share the Lake of Fire with Satan and the fallen angels.
PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE
While there are many prophecies relating to Steps 2-4 there are no prophecies required to be fulfilled before the Rapture of the Church. This means that the removal of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent. It could happen at any time. It is also true that no one other than God knows the specific time when this will occur.
There are however many prophecies regarding the Tribulation period which follows the Rapture. Therefore if we are near that time we should be seeing certain prophecies either fulfilled or able to be fulfilled from a political or technological viewpoint.
It is therefore the prophecies of Step 2 we will examine bearing in mind that if God has predicted something will happen, it will happen, even if we do not know when.
PROPHECIES RELATED TO THE TRIBULATION
There are prophecies related to the time of Tribulation but there are also a number of events prophesied to take place prior to that time such as a significant number of Jews in Israel. Some of these prophecies we have already seen. Others, we as believers may see, others we will not see. Let us now consider these prophecies.
FULFILLED EVENTS OF THE COMING TRIBULATION
EVENT 1. WORLD WARS – Matthew 24:1-8 [Prophecy 32 AD]
In verses 7-8 Christ revealed the single event that will indicate the end of the age has begun “ Nation shall rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom" coupled with famines and earthquakes. This is said to be the beginning of travail or birth pangs.
This idiom, taken in a Jewish context, means World War or a total conflict in the area in view. The idiom is found in two O T passages Isaiah 19:1-4 which speaks of conflict all over the land of Egypt and 2 Chronicles 15:1-7 which speaks of conflict over all the Middle East. In the case of the Olivet Discourse the whole world is in view hence World War is prophesied as the birth pangs of the Tribulation. We have seen World War!
EVENT 2 - THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL [Prophecy 570 BC]
This happens in two stages, the return in unbelief in preparation for judgment which occurs in the form of the Tribulation. This is followed by a spiritual awakening and at the Second Advent a world wide regathering in faith in preparation for blessing in the Millennium The fact that the unbelief stage is followed by the believing stage and the return to the land is given in Ezekiel 37:1-8 in the picture of the dry bones which rise up as a body but initially without spiritual life which occurs as a second stage Ezekiel 37:9-10]. Israel is back in the land [stage 1] but the spiritual life at this time is limited. The dry bones have been clad in flesh but the full action is yet to be completed.
It is noted that those returning are from all the tribes of Israel and not just the two in captivity in Babylon with Assyria having taken the 10 tribes into captivity some 150 years before Ezekiel’s ministry. Ezekiel 37:15-20. After this the Lord will bring them home from the nations from where they have gone and Christ will reign as King of the Jews Ezekiel 37:21-25.
It is of note that the Tribulation period of seven years starts with the signing of a covenant between the World Dictator and the Leader of Israel. This shows that there must be a nation Israel in place at that time for that to occur. Israel came into existence in 1948.
EVENT 3 JERUSALEM UNDER JEWISH CONTROL [Prophecy 570 BC]
Part of the treaty requirements between the Antichrist and Israel is for the recommencement of animal sacrifices. This item requires the building of the third temple. There are 4 passages showing the relation between the Temple and the Tribulation. They are:-Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Revelation 11:1-2.
The control of Jerusalem by Israel is therefore seen as a major prerequisite for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple on Temple Mount. This occurred in 1967 and is currently under major conflict with the proposed formation of a Palestinian state in September.
EVENT 4. INCREASE IN EARTHQUAKES [Prophecy AD 32]
There has been a great increase in earthquakes. It has been stated that between 63 and 1896 there were only 26 major recorded earthquakes. There have been a huge number of deadly earthquakes since then In addition famines have increased especially since the mid 1970’s
EVENT 5. INCREASE IN FAMINES [Prophecy AD 32]
The world population has increased from 1 billon in 1830 through 3 billion in 1960 to over 6 billion now. Famines and food shortages are now seen in many countries and with increasing population this is increasing. The Ethiopian famine of 2003 is said to be worse that that of the 1970’s which caused such suffering. Currently there is a famine in the Horn of Africa.
EVENT 6. INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE [Prophecy 534 BC]
Daniel 12:4 But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
There is no doubt that in the last six decades there has been a unique knowledge boom. Knowledge is doubling in the scientific area every ten years. Discoveries in the areas of electronics, genetics, computers, communications and physics have been so phenomenal that no one can keep up with them all. We now have smartphones that are more powerful than computers were only 15/20 years ago.
It is said that a man in the 18th Century boasted that he knew everything there was to know about the mathematics and science of his day. A statement like that today would be unthinkable even when related to a very specialised field. Such a knowledge boom is a definite sign of the end times.
The boom in knowledge is also illustrated by the fact that 75% of all scientists and technologists in the whole of human history are alive at this time.
EVENT 7. INCREASE IN TRAVEL [Prophecy 534 BC]
Daniel 12:4 But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
The period since the late 1950s has been the age of the travelling common man. Prior to this period it was only the rich who could afford to travel or had sufficient leisure time to travel. The frequency of travel and the speed of travel illustrate the prophecy “many shall run to and fro” With the advent of the package tour, travel by the common man has boomed.
EVENT 8 ECONOMY AND IDENTIFICATION [Prophecy AD 96]
The world is now compatible from a technology viewpoint for a One World Government controlling mankind using a monetary system based on markings on a person’s body as outlined in Revelation 13:16-18. Since the rise of the first plastic credit card some 25 years ago the proportion of the use of cards for electronic fund transfer rather than cash has accelerated enormously. In addition the need for the citizen to produce ID for the opening of bank accounts and access to driver’s licences has proliferated.
EVENT 9 COMMUNICATION [Prophecy AD 96]
In Revelation chapter 11 two witnesses in Jerusalem during the first half of the Tribulation who are divinely protected and broadcast the truth are eventually murdered by the World Dictator and their bodies will lie in Jerusalem for three and a half days for the whole world to see. How does the whole world see this? They see it by satellite and television, a technology which has only been available for the last 20 years or so.
EVENT 10 THE THIRD TEMPLE [Prophecy 550 BC]
That a third Temple will be operating in the Tribulation is clear. Whether it will be built before the Tribulation or during the first few months of the Tribulation is not clear.
It is clear however that the Jews are ready to build this Temple. In addition they have already trained priests from the tribes of Levi to function once the Temple is a reality.
FUTURE EVENTS OF THE COMING TRIBULATION WHICH WE MAY SEE
EVENT 11 THE ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT [Prophecy 550 BC]
In Daniel 7:23-24 we see the fourth beast devouring the whole world to form a One World Government. Out of this will eventually come the Antichrist. We see many trends towards one world systems nowadays especially after the events of 11 September 2001 where we are told we must unite against terrorism. Even as far back as the Gulf War in 1991 world leaders were saying that this was the start of a New World Order.
EVENT 12. THE TEN KINGDOMS [Prophecy 550 BC and AD 96]
Daniel 7:24a says” And out of the kingdom shall ten kings arise” This shows that from the one world government 10 regions covering the world will be formed. It is of interest that the Club of Rome divided the world into ten regions in the early 1970’s with North America being region 1, Western Europe region 2 and Japan region 3, Australia part of region 4 etc. It is interesting that the division was ten not six or twelve.
FUTURE EVENTS WE WILL NOT SEE
EVENT 13 – THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST [Prophecy 550 BC]
Daniel 7:24b says ‘and another shall arise after them and he shall be diverse from the former and shall put down three kings”
This is the Antichrist rising to power. His identity and status must be known prior to the Tribulation as the start of the Tribulation is the signing of the covenant with the Jews for the seven year period. We will not know his identity as outlined above as the Church is taken out of the world before he is revealed.
EVENT 14 – SEVEN YEAR COVENANT [Prophecy 550 BC]
The signing of this covenant between the Antichrist and the Jews will start the Tribulation period. As the Antichrist will not be revealed prior to the removal of the Church, the signing of this treaty will not be seen by us.
SUMMARY OF THE ABOVE
PROPHECIES ALREADY FULFILLED OR SEEN TO BE POSSIBLE
1. World Wars
2. The Rebirth of Israel
3. Jewish control of Jerusalem
4. Increase in Earthquakes
5. Increase in Famines
6. Increase in Knowledge
7. Increase in Travel
8. Economy and Identification
9. Communication
PROPHECIES WHICH WE MAY SEE FULFILLED PRIOR TO THE RAPTURE
10. One World Government
11. The World Divided into Ten Regions
12. A New Temple in Jerusalem
EVENTS WE WILL NOT SEE FULFILLED PRIOR TO THE RAPTURE
13. The Identity of the Antichrist
14. Signing of the Seven Year Covenant of the Antichrist with Israel
A FINAL PROPHECY
Let us look at a final prophecy to see how these prophetic events affect our generation.
THE FIG TREE AND THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Luke 21:29-33 (32 AD): And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
The fig tree is a symbol of the nation Israel. The fig tree had long been barren. In fact, Israel had not existed as a country since 70 AD. The fig tree started shooting forth its leaves on 14 May 1948 when modern Israel was founded.
Likewise, the growth of the list of nations has exploded since that time with the independence of many former colonies. The number of independent nations has almost quadrupled in the last fifty years. This shows the shooting forth of the other trees pictured in this parable.
The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that when we see all these nations come into being, the Kingdom of God, or the Millennium, is very near. Indeed, He states that the generation that sees this happen will be the generation which will see the Kingdom come. As the Rapture of the Church precedes the Millennium, our present generation appears to be the Rapture generation.
2000 YEARS OF THE CHURCH
It is of interest that from old the Jewish Rabbis held the view that there would be a period of six thousand years of history for man followed by a golden age of 1000 years. This last 1000 year period we know as the Millennium.
Biblical time has always been on the Jewish year of 360 days rather than the modern year of 365.25 days. In his book, The Coming Prince” the great Christian Sir Robert Anderson dated Pentecost, which is accepted as the start of the Church, as occurring in June 32 AD.
I think it is of interest that in 2011 we have had over 2000 Biblical years since the commencement of the Church according to Jewish years. We do not know when the Rapture of the Church may be but time appears to be running out.
CONCLUSION
In 2011 we live in what is called a global village, we are heading more and more towards a one world government. The current fight against terrorism strengthens globalisation. We know that too much power corrupts and a global government will provide ultimate power to the person in charge.
Yet the world is yearning for such a person to solve the obvious problems that this world has be it political, economic, or environmental, The person who is destined to become the World Dictator [The Antichrist] is almost certainly alive on this earth at the moment waiting in the wings to be called onto the centre stage. He is to take his part in History just prior to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to set up Christ’s promised kingdom on earth.
As one studies the book of the Revelation and other prophecies in the Old and New Testaments the following years will be ones of unmitigated catastrophe with untold suffering. Billions will not survive this period.
We therefore need to think about those things we see around us and understand the outline that God has so clearly given to us in the Bible. Remember Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” The Word of God is more durable than the universe!
THE CULMINATION OF HISTORY
On the past performance of the Bible these things will certainly come to pass, The questions we need to address include - What is our response going to be to this evidence? Are you ready for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you related to Him? Have you personally trusted in Him? Will you go to be with the Lord when He comes for His church or will you be left behind?
THE PROBLEM FOR MAN
From the Bible it is clear that God is perfect. It is also clear that man is imperfect. Even the most noble of mankind is fatally flawed. Therefore God and man can have no relationship together as nothing flawed mankind can do can satisfy the Holiness of God. The Bible tells us that even our best deeds are dirty rags in His sight. We cannot please God with our works. Man is helpless.
GOD’S SOLUTION – SALVATION BY FAITH
What hope is therefore for flawed mankind? Man cannot do the work so God provided a solution to man’s problem. He provided His perfect only Son the Lord Jesus Christ to come to this earth and pay the penalty for all our shortcomings or sins. He died on the Cross in Jerusalem and rose physically from the dead having conquered the ultimate enemy, death. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God, the hand of honour, waiting for the time of His return for His Church and ultimately the establishment of His Kingdom on earth.
What is the Lord Jesus Christ to you? He is either your Saviour of your Judge. Which will it be? The decision is yours. Are you going to do it your way or God’s way?. This is the most important decision that you will ever make.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Acts 16:31
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16
THE BELIEVER AND THE FUTURE
For those of us who are in the Body of Christ, those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, let us encourage one another as we expectantly await His promised return and share the good news with the lost.
We are said to be ambassadors for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20
We are in this world but not of the world. Our task is to represent the Lord Jesus Christ up to the time when we are withdrawn from the earth either by physical death or the Rapture of the Church
Let us be encouraged and challenged by these prophecies because they will be fulfilled literally in the future.
Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
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