Wednesday, October 19, 2016

BIBLICAL PROPHECY AND TODAY’S NEWS HEADLINES

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)