In this blog I have focused on helping others in
their study of bible prophecy by sharing what I have learned through my own
personal studies. Having shared the
truth of scripture as I see it over the past nine years, I only feel it necessary
to add to these studies when I learn something new or feel the need to share
encouragement through scripture cards I have made and other items of personal
inspiration.
So much is happening today that testifies to the
truth of the prophecy in scripture that I decided it was time for an
update. If I did not know that God is sovereign
and on the throne and working out His plan for our future, I would certainly be
afraid and depressed about the future.
Instead, though I hate what those who reject Jesus as Savior will have
to experience, I can’t help but get excited about the fact that Jesus is coming
soon to set up His kingdom—and at least seven years before that to take those
who have placed their faith in Him to heaven in an event known as the rapture. My study of scripture declares that truth no
matter how others may choose to deny it—and I have certainly read many
arguments by those who deny that truth.
How do I know it will be soon? Because the daily news headlines declare it. Just as the LORD Jesus expected the religious
leaders of His day to recognize the signs of the times that pointed to Him as
the Messiah, I believe He expects believers today to recognize the signs of the
times that point to His return to set up His kingdom.
Matthew 16:1–3 “The Pharisees also
with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a
sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky
is red. And in the morning, It will be
foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye
not discern the signs of the
times?”
We know from the prophet Ezekiel that Russia will
be a major player in the end times and will lead a coalition including Iran and
Turkey among others that will attack Israel in order to plunder its
wealth. Such a coalition did not exist
until very recently. The gas reserves
that have been discovered in the Mediterranean off the coast of Israel are a
special enticement for Russia. (See my
study on Ezekiel 38-39 at www.momsbiblejournal.com.)
The situation with ISIS has provided a hook in the
jaws that has resulted in Russia being positioned right on Israel’s border as
the de facto ruling authority in Syria. It
has invested too much in the area to risk losing. This situation has also served to position
Russia as the most influential superpower in the region, supplanting the United
States in the eyes of the nations of that area.
In fact, Russia’s influence throughout the world is increasing even as
the influence of the United States is decreasing because of the ineptitude
shown by the actions we have taken and our unwillingness to commit the
resources necessary to stop ISIS. I
believe this conflict will eventually result in the fulfillment of another
prophecy as declared by the prophet Isaiah—the complete destruction of
Damascus. (See my study on Isaiah 17 at www.momsbiblejournal.com.)
The Apostle Paul identified the last days as being
characterized by a complete decay in morality throughout the world. (See my studies on 1Timothy 4 and 2Timothy
3.) I, of course, am completely
astounded at the complete moral corruption that has occurred in my own nation
in just the last few years. Our
government has abandoned the biblical principles upon which our nation was
founded and has passed legislation that rejects morality as definfed in the
word of God.
Jesus declared in his teaching known as the Olivet
Discourse (Matthew 24) that the days in which Jesus would return would be like the
days of Noah before the flood.
Genesis 6:5 “And GOD saw that the
wickedness of man was great in
the earth, and that every imagination
of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually.”
Following
is how the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to define such evil in his
letter to the Romans. (I am going to
quote from the New Living Translation for better clarity.)
Romans 1:24–32 “So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful
things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things
with each other’s bodies. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth
about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the
things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the
women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex
with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships
with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other
men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly
deserved.
When they refused to acknowledge
God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should
never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed,
hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They
are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are
forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.
They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and
unforgiving. They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these
things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they
encourage others to do them, too.”
I think
that is a perfect commentary on the morals as reflected in our culture and, I
am sad to say, in our government in America today. I know there are still a few “good” people in
our government, but they are certainly in the minority and have been unable to
even enforce the protections provided in our constitution to prevent such
corruption. The powers that be have
been given a huge assist by abuse of power in our judiciary that has resulted
in judicial activism that oversteps the bounds set by the constitution.
The
advances in technology have provided the means by which some prophecies of
scripture can now be fulfilled in ways that could never have been accomplished
before. The Revelation contains a
prophecy declaring that the whole world will be able to see the dead bodies of
God’s two tribulation (the last seven years before the return of Jesus)
witnesses for three days. This is now
possible through the use of satellites and worldwide broadcasting on television
and internet.
Revelation 11:9–10 “And they of the
people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three
days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and
shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that
dwelt on the earth.”
The
Revelation also declares that the coming world ruler will be able to control
buying and selling throughout the world by requiring people to have a mark on
their person declaring allegiance to him.
Again, that technology is now possible.
Revelation 13:16–17 “He required
everyone—great and small, rich and poor, slave and free—to be given a mark on
the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything
without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number
representing his name.”
Jesus declared
in His teaching that if God did not limit that time that Satan is allowed to
rule in the person of the Antichrist, no flesh on earth would survive. I think that is a reference to the nuclear
technology that exists today that could accomplish just that. At no other time in history was this true.
Matthew 24:21–22 “For then shall be
great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this
time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there
should no flesh be saved….”
These
are just some of the more obvious examples that I see reflected in the
headlines of our news today. Though I am
not providing the full explanation of these prophecies in this post, you can
use the search tool on this blog and/or go to my website to see the complete
studies that provide more detail on the prophetic scriptures being referenced.
So, why
should I believe that any of these prophecies are true? Because there are so many examples of
fulfilled prophecy. (See blog posts
dated December 7, 2008; July 7, 2010; July 20, 2011; and November 26 & 30,
2012 for more examples.)
The
three that I believe are most important are the birth and resurrection of Jesus
and the rebirth of the state of Israel after almost 2000 years. My heart breaks for those of you who continue
to reject the truth of God’s word in spite of so much evidence for its
trustworthiness—not only regarding prophecy, but also in scientific and
historical accuracy. I know what your
future holds if you continue to reject Jesus as your Savior. Read the book. Look at the facts. Don’t let foolish pride and deception condemn
you to a future in hell! God loves you
and sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, to make the gift of salvation available to
you for the asking.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the
world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 10:9 “For if you confess with
your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved.” (NLT)
