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End-Times Prophecies Are Coming to Pass Right before Our Eyes
Introduction
This article describes a number of very specific signs of the times which indicate that end-times prophecies are coming to pass at an unprecedented rate, right in front of our eyes. Bit by bit, step by step, the world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described throughout the Bible. This means that Jesus is returning a lot sooner than we might realize. What Will Be the Sign of the End of the Age?
In Matthew 24:3-8 (below), the disciples asked Jesus what will be the one specific sign of His return and of the end of history as we know it. Jesus' reply essentially takes up all of Matthew 24 and 25 (all of which is described in my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Eight), and it provides a lot of information concerning things to come. He began His answer by saying that there will be wars and rumors of wars, but He said that these have no bearing on the end of the age: "As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."" (Matthew 24:3-8)In the above passage, Jesus gave us the one single event that will mark the beginning of the end of history as we know it, and He said that the end of the age will be like when a woman is in labor because when her labor pains begin then she knows that the baby is on its way, about to be born. First He said that there will be false messiahs and wars, but He said that these things will continue to happen throughout history because they are not signs of the end of the age. Then He gave us the one significant event that will mark the beginning of the birth pains: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom," and He added that there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All of these together are the beginning of the "birth pains," the beginning of the end of history as we know it. This is how Jesus' reply is recorded in Luke's Gospel: ""When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven."" (Luke 21:9-11)In the above passage, notice how the statement, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom," is set apart from Jesus' previous statement about wars and revolutions. Luke has inserted the phrase, "Then he said to them," as a break between these two statements, indicating a separation between two thoughts. The statement, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom," is not merely a continuation of Jesus' comment about wars and revolutions, but instead it's a separate thought with a separate meaning. In order to understand an idiom or an expression, it's important to take into account not only the context, but also the culture and the time period in which that idiom is being used. Jesus and the first disciples were Jews who lived in the Middle East in the first century, and Jesus used the Jewish idiom, "Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom." In those days, that was a form of expression that described a total conflict in the area being described: "The key factor then is to find out the meaning of the idiom, "nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." This idiom, taken in the Jewish context of the day when it was spoken, points to a total conflict of the area in view." (The Footsteps of the Messiah, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, p.63)For example, this same form of expression is used in Isaiah 19:2 to describe a total conflict all over Egypt: "I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian - brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom." (Isaiah 19:2)This doesn't mean that every Egyptian or every city or every kingdom in that area was involved in the conflict, but it tells us the scope of the conflict. The same form of expression is used in 2 Chronicles 15:5-6 to describe a total conflict all over "the lands" (the Middle East): "And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in; but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the lands. And they were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city" (2 Chronicles 15:5-6 ASV)Again, this doesn't mean that every person or every city or every nation in that area was involved in the conflict, but it tells us the scope of the conflict. This was a Jewish form of expression that described a total conflict in the area being discussed, whether it was a city or a nation or a region. Jesus used that same idiom, and then He put it into context for us, giving us the scope of the conflict. Notice that as Jesus replied to the disciples' questions in Matthew 24 and 25, He made repeated references to "the whole world" and to "all nations," as in Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)Recall that in Matthew 24:3-8, the disciples had asked Jesus what will be the one specific sign that the end of the age has begun. Jesus said that there will always be wars and revolutions, but they are not the sign of the end. Then He said that there will be a specific type of war, and this war will be the one sign to watch for to know that the end of the age has begun. Based on the first-century Jewish idiom that Jesus used, and based on the context that He gave us for this idiom, that specific type of war is a world war, which will be accompanied by earthquakes, pestilence, and famine (Matthew 24:3-8, Luke 21:9-11). Again, this doesn't mean that every person or every country in the world will be involved in the conflict, but it tells us the scope of the conflict. So Jesus said that when a world war takes place, accompanied by earthquakes, pestilence, and famine, this will be the specific sign which tells us that the end of history has begun. In 1914-1918, the first-ever world war took place, and it was accompanied by major earthquakes, pestilence, and famine, just as Jesus had prophesied. Many historians agree that World War II was essentially a continuation of World War I (see for example The Second World War 
and
World War II 1939-1945 ).
Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia describes a number of treaty disputes and territorial wars that broke out after WWI as various countries tried to benefit from the unstable world situation. This continued until Hitler came into power and began aggressive acts that led up to the invasion of Poland and the beginning of WWII. So WWII was really a continuation of the disputes that were left unsettled by WWI, according to historians.
After WWI, a U.S. Senator gave a speech in which he said: "The late war cost seven million lives...It has destroyed hundreds of towns...it has brought in its train...pestilence and famine." (from the American Library of CongressIn between these world wars there was a pestilence that killed between 20 and 40 million people worldwide in 1918-1919 (see The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 ),
and there were almost two dozen famines throughout the world during the period of WWI and WWII (see
List of famines - 20th Century ),
and there were 293 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher worldwide between 1914 and 1946 (see
National Geophysical Data Center - Search Earthquake Events ),
and so on.
What this all boils down to is that beginning in 1914 we had the first-ever world war, which was accompanied by famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, just as Jesus had prophesied. Jesus said that this will be the one specific sign to watch for that will signal the end of history as we know it. When a woman goes into labor, it might last a few minutes, or several hours, or even longer. That's the human time frame for labor. In God's time frame, we really don't know how long the "birth pains" (as Jesus called them) will last. But the "birth pains" have begun. We're in "labor" right now. We're in the season of Jesus' return, and we've been in this season since about 1914. History as we know it is drawing to a close. Jesus will return for us at the end of the age (see my series called The Rapture of the Church), and therefore He is returning soon, possibly before you finish reading this article. Are you ready? More Signs of the Times
Jesus said that even though we don't know when He will return to the earth, we can recognize the season of His return: "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near."" (Luke 21:27-31)In the above passage, Jesus said that it will be possible to recognize the season of the Second Coming. In addition, He rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees because they couldn't interpret the signs of their times: "The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."" (Matthew 16:1-3)It's important for us to interpret the signs of our times because many of the events described in the book of Revelation and in other prophetic passages have already happened in the last half of the twentieth century or else they are well underway. Here are some examples: Sign #1 of 23
Around 930 BC the nation of Israel split into two. The ten northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel, and the two southern tribes formed the kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel was invaded around 722 BC by the Assyrians, who destroyed the nation and carried the 10 tribes into captivity. In 586 BC, the Babylonians conquered the southern kingdom of Judah, and they destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the First Temple, and they carried most of the remaining Jews into exile. Later, many Jews returned and rebuilt the temple, but multitudes of Jews remained scattered throughout the nations of the world. In AD 70, the Roman army attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple, and those Jews were scattered among the nations. For example, the book of James was specifically written to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations" (James 1:1), and Acts 2:5-11 says that Jews from every nation under heaven were in Jerusalem for Pentecost. For a timeline of these events, see Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs - History: Biblical Times
and
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs - History: Second Temple Period - Return to Zion .
So the Jews have been dispersed throughout the world for thousands of years. After the New Testament was written, for almost 2 millennia there was never again a united Jewish nation of Israel nor a Jewish temple in Jerusalem. According to Bible prophecy, however, Israel must be re-established as a nation because God said that He will gather the Jews from around the world back to the nation of Israel: "Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.'" (Ezekiel 37:20-22)For the past several hundred years (according to prophecy teachers), people who studied Bible prophecy were saying that the absolute surest sign of the soon return of Jesus will be when Israel is re-established as a nation. For hundreds of years, other people scoffed at the idea of Israel ever being re-established as a nation. They said that it will never happen. In 1948, the nation of Israel was re-established in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy (see Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The War of Independence (1948) ).
The birth pains are continuing. The pieces are falling into place. The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described in Bible prophecy. Sign #2 of 23
A number of passages clearly describe a regathering of Jews from among all of the nations back to Israel in the end-times: "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered - with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they [those who revolt and rebel against God] will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 20:33-38)Notice that the above passages describe a regathering of Jews back to the land of Israel in an unrepentant condition, which will take place before the day of the Lord's wrath begins. That phrase, "the day of the Lord's wrath," is one of several specific terms that are used throughout the Old and New Testaments to describe a future seven-year period of time during which God will pour out His wrath onto the earth. That's the time period when the prophecies about the Antichrist, the mark of the beast, and so on, will be fulfilled, and we usually refer to this future seven-year period as "the Tribulation." Sometimes the Old and New Testaments refer to this time period as the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7), the "Tribulation" (Deuteronomy 4:30), the "day of vengeance" (Isaiah 34:8), the "time of distress" (Daniel 12:1), the "day of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 5:2), the "day of the Lord's wrath" (Zephaniah 1:18), the "day of God's wrath" (Romans 2:5), or simply the "day of wrath" (Zephaniah 1:5). These are terms that are often used in the Bible to describe the future seven-year Tribulation period. So the Jews will be regathered back to Israel before the seven-year Tribulation begins. For numerous details about the Tribulation period, see my series called The Rapture of the Church. This end-times regathering of Jews back to Israel began during the twentieth century. With the fall of Communism, for example, Russian Jews were finally free to leave the Soviet Union, and multitudes flocked to Israel (as you might recall from the airlifts on the nightly news some years ago). In the area where Israel now exists there were roughly 94,000 Jews in 1914 when WWI began. When Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948 there were roughly 630,000 Jews. In 2022 there are over 7,000,000 Jews in Israel (see Jewish Virtual Library - Population of Israel/Palestine by Religion ,
using data from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics).
Some Christians don't believe that the modern country of Israel is a fulfillment of end-times prophecy because they believe that the Jews must be repentant before they can be restored back to their land (which will happen after the Second Coming - see my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Four). However, the above passages clearly describe a regathering of Jews back to Israel in an unrepentant condition before God's wrath is poured out onto them. This exactly describes the modern country of Israel because it has not yet turned to Jesus as the Messiah, and God's wrath being poured out onto them is an exact description of what will happen during the seven-year Tribulation as God tries to turn their hearts to His Son. Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians alike should "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). So the Bible says that before the seven-year Tribulation period begins ("the day of the Lord's wrath"), the Jews from all of the countries where they were scattered will be gathered back to Israel. This doesn't mean that every single Jew will return to Israel, but this end-times regathering is currently in progress, right in front of our eyes, in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy. The pieces of prophecy are falling into place. Jesus is returning soon. Sign #3 of 23
For thousands of years, the land of Israel has been a burning wasteland, just as Moses prophesied: "Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it. The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur - nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it." (Deuteronomy 29:22-23)Centuries after Moses wrote the above passage (according to Bible commentaries), Isaiah prophesied that the desert will bloom again and be fruitful in the end-times: "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." (Isaiah 35:1-10)In the above passages, the context describes things that will happen in the end-times and beyond, and these prophecies tell us that the desert around Israel will rejoice and blossom and burst into bloom in the end-times, and that Israel will fill the world with fruit. In fulfillment of these end-times prophecies, the parched and burning wastelands of Israel are now blooming, and Israel actually exports hundreds of thousands of tons of fruits and vegetables each year to other countries. For example, here are some quotes from The Jewish Virtual Library (see Agriculture in Israel: Coping with Population Growth ):
"Today, just under a quarter of the income of Israel's farmers derives from the export of fresh produce, including items such as flowers, avocados, out-of-season vegetables and certain exotic fruits grown for export. In 1996 some 140,000 tons of fruit and vegetables - 14 percent of the entire crop - were sold to factories for processing and export."The parched and burning wastelands of Israel are now budding and blossoming and filling all the world with fruit in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy. The pieces are falling into place. The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described throughout the Bible. Jesus is returning soon. Sign #4 of 23
The Lord told Zephaniah that in the end-times, the time when He will pour out His wrath onto the whole world, He will purify the lips of the people: ""Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them - all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder."" (Zephaniah 3:8-9)According to Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary, the word "lips" means "language, lip, speech, talk, words," and the word "peoples" means "a people (as a congregated unit); spec. a tribe (as those of Israel)." So this prophecy is often taken to mean that the speech (the language) of the people of Israel will be "purified" in the end-times. This is brought out more clearly in the Revised Standard Version: "Yea, at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him with one accord." (Zephaniah 3:9 RSV)When the Jews were scattered throughout the nations after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, Hebrew as a language for daily communication essentially died out by AD 200 (see Revival of the Hebrew Language
at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website). Hebrew was still used for religious purposes, but it became virtually extinct as a daily spoken language.
Around 1877-1878, a man named Eliezer Ben-Yehuda became convinced that the Jews must return to their land and begin to speak their own language. He decided to dedicate his life to reviving the Hebrew language for daily communication, and he coined hundreds of new Hebrew words. His household became the first Hebrew-speaking home established in the area of modern Israel, and his first son became the first modern child to grow up speaking Hebrew (see Eliezer Ben-Yehuda
at the Jewish Virtual Library).
Consider that Old English was spoken from the 5th century to the 11th century (see the Wikipedia entry for Old English ).
For example, here's part of the Old English poem "Beowulf" from that Wikipedia article:
Hpaet! pe Gar-Dena in gear-dagum,It would be incredibly difficult to revive Old English and to make new words for new technology, and then to convince everyone in America or England to speak Old English as their primary language. Yet Hebrew (which had been extinct as a daily language since around AD 200) became the official language of the Jews around 1921 and of Israel when it was re-established in 1948, and now they're able to read the Old Testament Scriptures in the original language. The lips (the speech) of the people of Israel have now been purified in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy. The pieces are all falling into place. We're in the season of Jesus' return, and we're seeing that a number of different end-times prophecies are being fulfilled in the same time frame (beginning in the twentieth century). Jesus is returning soon. Sign #5 of 23
According to prophecy, the Jewish temple (which was destroyed in AD 70) will be rebuilt because a number of passages indicate that the Antichrist will desecrate this temple and put an end to the temple sacrifices: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand - then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (Matthew 24:14-16)According to the above passages, a ruler or a king will someday rise to power, and he will exalt and magnify himself above all other gods until "the time of wrath" is completed. When pastors and Bible teachers talk about this man, they refer to him as "the Antichrist." The above passages tell us that the Antichrist will desecrate the Jewish temple by setting up "an abomination that causes desolation," and that he will exalt himself as a god during "the time of wrath." As we saw in sign #2, "the time of wrath" is the period of time in the future that we usually refer to as the seven-year Tribulation, or "the day of the Lord's wrath." The above passages tell us that the Antichrist will desecrate the Jewish temple and put an end to the temple sacrifices during the seven-year Tribulation. But the Jewish temple was destroyed almost 2,000 years ago, and it has never been rebuilt. So according to Bible prophecy, the Jewish temple will need to be rebuilt in order for these prophetic end-times events to take place. Right now, several groups of Jews in Jerusalem are in the process of recreating, to precise scriptural specifications, the temple implements and priestly clothing that will be needed for a fully-functioning, consecrated Third Temple. For example, The Temple Institute has a Photo Gallery
that contains pictures of many of these recreated temple implements and priestly garments.
For the first time since the Second Temple was destroyed almost 2,000 years ago, plans for the Third Temple have been made, and the required ritual implements and priest's clothing have been recreated. Practically all that's left is the actual building of the temple itself. The fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy is underway, right in front of our eyes. Sign #6 of 23
The Third Temple will need to be built on the holy ground in Jerusalem, where the previous temple stood. But after Israel's War of Independence in 1948, the nation of Jordan gained control of the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Western Wall (which is the last remains of the Second Temple). Israel would need to have control of Jerusalem in order to have any capability of building the Third Temple on holy ground. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel took complete control of Jerusalem (see United Jerusalem after the Six Day War
at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website).
The fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the building of the Third Temple is underway, right now. All of these different prophecies are being fulfilled in the same time frame (beginning in the twentieth century). The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described in the Bible. Jesus is returning soon. Sign #7 of 23
In order to consecrate the Third Temple and the priests, an unblemished red heifer will be required: "The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: "This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. While he watches, the heifer is to be burned - its hide, flesh, blood and offal. The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening. A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They shall be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the aliens living among them."" (Numbers 19:1-10)In the above passage, God commanded that a red heifer without defect or blemish must be used as part of the purification rites for anyone entering the temple, and from the time of Moses until the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70, nine red heifers had been used for these purification rites (see The Tenth Red Heifer ).
So even when the Third Temple is built, the purification rites cannot be accomplished without a red heifer. According to rabbinical teaching, no flawless red heifer has ever been born within the land of Israel since the Second Temple was destroyed in AD 70 (see
Jews hail birth of red cow as sign to start third temple ).
In August, 1996, a red heifer was born on a farm in Israel. A rabbi said on Israel Radio that "It is written that it is the tenth red heifer that the Messiah will discover, and here we have the tenth heifer" (see Why do a Pentecostal cattle breeder from Mississippi and an Orthodox rabbi from Jerusalem believe that a red heifer can change the world? ).
This red heifer was so significant that it was hailed by religious Jews as a sign from God that they should soon begin building the Third Temple and preparing the way for Messiah's entry into Jerusalem. Jewish activists said that they regard it as their divine mission to build a new temple, and they said, "We have been waiting 2,000 years for a sign from God, and now he has provided us with a red heifer" (see Jews hail birth of red cow as sign to start third temple ).
That's how
significant
this red heifer was to them.
So non-Christian devout Jews have said that God has been providing signs that it's time to build the Third Temple and prepare the way for Messiah. For example, consider this quote: "In recounting this historical record in his commentary to the Mishna, the great Maimonides ends with the enigmatic statement: "...and the tenth red heifer will be accomplished by the king, the Messiah; may he be revealed speedily, Amen, May it be God's will."It's fascinating that not only are Christian prophecy scholars anticipating the soon return of the Messiah, but orthodox Jewish scholars are also anticipating the soon arrival of Messiah. We're living in a very unique period of time. In January, 1998, when the red heifer was less than two years old, some white hairs were found on her tail and therefore the rabbis declared her to be unfit for the sanctification of the Priesthood (see Red Heifer Declared Impure After White Hairs Found on Tail ).
However, a Mississippi cattle breeder named Clyde Lott (who is also an ordained pastor) has been working with rabbis in Israel to ship five hundred pregnant Red Angus cows, bred in Nebraska, to the Jordan Valley in Israel. They believe that a descendant of one of these Red Angus cows might be fit to be used for the sanctification rites (see Why do a Pentecostal cattle breeder from Mississippi and an Orthodox rabbi from Jerusalem believe that a red heifer can change the world? ).
Update on 05/19/2022: In March, 2022, the Temple Institute posted a Red Heifer Update
which says that it has "greatly expanded its efforts to raise a red heifer in Israel whose ashes can be used to achieve the highest level of biblical purity...More details cannot currently be disclosed for operational reasons. Suffice it to say that the current efforts are international in scope. We hope to be able to share more information in the near future as progress is made."
Update on 11/15/2022: The Temple Institute has posted another Red Heifer Update
which says: "Red Heifers Arrive In Israel! On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality."
Update on 07/19/2023: It appears that Israel might now have an unblemished red heifer for the purification rites for the Third Temple: "Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria's Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer. A red heifer is a vital part of a consecrated Jewish temple, and therefore a red heifer will be in the news again. Keep an eye on the news with a discerning spirit and you'll be able to watch this unfold in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy. Update on 09/12/2023: I originally wrote the above paragraph in 2001, and lately news articles have been popping up online about the red heifer. Here are some from the past few months:
Sign #8 of 23
Someday there will be a one-world government: "He [an angel] gave me [Daniel] this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time." (Daniel 7:23-25)In Daniel 7, the prophet Daniel had a dream in which there were four strange beasts. An angel (possibly the angel Gabriel as in Daniel 8:16 and 9:21) explained to Daniel that a kingdom will one day arise that will be different from all other kingdoms and it will devour the whole earth (Daniel 7:23-25, above). In other words, it will be a kingdom that covers the whole world. It will be a one-world government. So someday we will have a single government that spans the globe, a "New World Order" or "Global Village" (as people are already calling it). In addition, the angel told Daniel that a "king" will arise who will speak against the Most High God, and oppress His saints, and attempt to setup his own times and laws. The name that we usually use for this man is "the Antichrist." My article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One shows that the Antichrist will rule most of the world for the final three and a half years of the seven-year Tribulation period, persecuting Jews and Christians, until he is killed at the Second Coming. Less than 150 years ago (from the time when this article was written) we had the Pony Express mail-delivery system here in America (see Pony Express Home Station ),
as well as the transcontinental telegraph line (see
The History of the Telegraph and Telegraphy ).
Now, imagine one of those Wild West Pony Express riders. He made it through, he delivered the mail, he didn't get into any gunfights. It was a good day. He gets his Bible out of his saddlebags, and he sits down to drink a cup of coffee, and he sees these prophecies of a one-world government. He's got to be thinking to himself,
"If the Pony Express and the telegraph and steamships are the
fastest
way that we can deliver the mail, then this one-world government must be in the
far distant
future."
We can understand why he would feel that way because you can't run a global government with such limited and slow communications tools as the Pony Express and the telegraph. That Pony Express rider didn't know about global telecommunications satellites or GPS. He didn't know about the Internet. He didn't know about online banking and e-commerce. He didn't know about email and instant messaging. He didn't know about webcams and video teleconferencing with people across the world. He didn't know about cell phones. He didn't know about supersonic air travel. He didn't know about virtual reality and virtual conferencing. He didn't know that in just 150 years in his future a one-world government would be feasible, and prominent leaders would be actively planning and shaping what they call the "New World Order" or the "Global Village." Hillary Clinton and many others talk about the "Global Village," and they are actively pursuing it (search online for "New World Order" and "Global Village").
A little over 70 years ago (from the time when this article was written), commercial long distance telephone service was introduced between America and England (see History of the Telephone ).
So 70 years ago they could not have had a one-world government because they didn't have the communications technology yet (they were driving Model T cars back then - see
Ford's Model T: A Car for the Great Multitude ).
30 years ago there was no Internet, no email, no instant messaging, no online banking, and so on (see
A Brief History of the Internet ).
20 years ago the FCC authorized commercial cell phone service for the USA (see
History Of Cellular Phones ).
20 years ago IBM introduced the first IBM PC (see
IBM Personal Computer ).
That's just 20 years ago!
Technologies such as these will make it possible for a single leader (or group) to govern the entire world, so a one-world government was just not feasible even 20 years ago. In this article we've seen that we're in the season of Jesus' return. It's no coincidence that we're now living in the very first time in history in which these one-world prophecies could technologically be fulfilled. It's no coincidence that influential leaders are actively working behind the scenes to shape this "global village" and make it a reality. Notice that we already have a World Health Organization, a World Trade Organization, an International Monetary Fund, a World Bank, a United Nations, and so on. Notice that we're seeing global communications technologies developing and maturing, all of which are making this one-world government more and more possible. Keep an eye on the news with a discerning spirit and you'll be able to watch this one-world government or "New World Order" or "Global Village" coming together right before your eyes in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy. Sign #9 of 23
In addition to the Antichrist, there will also be a False Prophet who will be the leader of a one-world religious system: "Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed." (Revelation 13:11-12)Revelation 13:11-12 (above) says that there will be a second "beast" who looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. In other words, he'll be a wolf in sheep's clothing. He will appear to be a legitimate religious leader (because the "lamb" is a picture of Jesus as in Revelation 5:12), but in reality he'll be speaking for the devil (because the "dragon" is a picture of the devil as in Revelation 12:9). Revelation 20:10 (above) calls him "the false prophet." According to Revelation 13:11-12 (above), the False Prophet will try to force everyone in the world to worship the Antichrist (the "first beast"), which means that the False Prophet will be the leader of a one-world religious system. So there will be a worldwide state religion in opposition to Christianity because people will be expected to worship the Antichrist. However, before the Antichrist comes to power there will be a different one-world religion: "One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries. Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished." (Revelation 17:1-6)The meanings of some of the above symbols are described a few verses later: "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings - and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages."" (Revelation 17:9-15)A prostitute takes something that has a proper use and perverts it, turning it into adultery or fornication. That's the normal, physical sense of what a prostitute does. In a spiritual sense, the "prostitute" described in Revelation causes people to commit spiritual adultery or spiritual fornication with her. This "prostitute" is a one-world false religion that will be responsible for killing multitudes of Christians. This "prostitute" is riding on the "beast," indicating that this false religion has government support (because the heads and horns of the "beast" are explained as being kings in the above passage). This is also indicated by the fact that the kings of the earth commit spiritual adultery with this "prostitute" of false religion, according to Revelation 17:1-6 (above). Since this "prostitute" sits on "the waters" (which are explained as being peoples, multitudes, nations and languages), it indicates that this false religion is a one-world religion. In the news we can occasionally see that different religious groups are trying to find common ground with one another and trying to put aside past differences. God says that there will be a one-world religion someday, and we're seeing people of faith trying to unite with people of other faiths. There's already a coming-together of religious faiths as a stepping-stone to the ultimate fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy. Update on 06/21/2021: In 2016, Pope Francis stated his desire to create a global religion combining Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. He believes that we are all children of God no matter what our religious views are, and his new interfaith religion goes by several names, such as the Abraham Accord, the Abrahamic Family Initiative, and the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative (although some people refer to it as Chrislam). This is his video that calls for collaboration between faiths: Pope Francis' prayer intentions for January 2016 .
Many people will applaud this type of interfaith religion, but it completely contradicts what the apostle Paul taught: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." Therefore, "Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." And, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)In the above passage, Paul was very clear that Christians must not be "yoked" with non-Christians (which echoes passages such as Deuteronomy 22:9-11, according to Bible commentaries). This command applies to marriages between Christians and non-Christians, but it also applies to other forms of being "yoked" which would include trying to combine Christianity with other faiths and spiritual beliefs. In February, 2019, the Vatican released a "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together," signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, which says: "In conclusion, our aspiration is that:In September, 2019, the Vatican announced what they're calling "the Abrahamic Family House," to be located in the United Arab Emirates and scheduled to open in 2022. A church, a synagogue, and a mosque will all share the same foundation as "the first initiative to embody the ideals of the Document on Human Fraternity," which will "mark a significant transformation in human history" (Vatican News ).
In January, 2020, U.S. Ambassador Gingrich released a statement in which she said: "On January 14, I was honored to host the opening session of the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative (AFI) at my residence, facilitating discussions among faith leaders to advance peace and mutual respect around the world.This certainly could be the one-world religion that will precede the Antichrist's one-world religion. In fact, the above quote shows that the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative has government support, exactly as the "prostitute" of false religion does in Revelation 17:1-6 (see my comments on that passage above). With all of that in mind, keep an eye on the news with a discerning spirit and you'll be able to watch this one-world religious system coming together right before your eyes. The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described throughout the Bible. Jesus is returning soon. Sign #10 of 23
The False Prophet will set up some kind of an image of the Antichrist so that it seems to be alive and so that it can speak: "Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon...Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed." (Revelation 13:11, 14-15)It's no coincidence that we're now living in the very first time in history in which the end-times prophecy of a "living" image of the Antichrist can be fulfilled, whether it's through robotics or holograms or virtual reality or some other modern technology. Update on 02/13/2023: The above passage says that the image of the Antichrist will be able to speak, and we now have artificial intelligence (AI) software that can replicate anyone's face and voice, as well as AI software that can have real-time natural-language conversations: "Deep learning systems that can replicate faces and voices (known as deepfakes) have advanced to the point where they can be used in real-time. There are services like Podcastle's Revoice and Voicebot AI where you can submit samples of your own voice and then have text-to-speech that sounds just like you. In principle, technology like this could be used to clone anyone's voice. Then all you'd have to do is phone or video call someone impersonating whomever you like, with public figures being the easiest target of all...AI technologies can now generate images, video, text, and audio seemingly out of thin air. These technologies have reached the point where experts cannot tell they're fake (at least not at a glance). This means you can expect a flood of fake data on the internet in future..."People" with unique faces with generated photos of their entire fake lives, unique coherent profile information, and entire friend and family networks consisting of other fake people. All having conversations with each other just like real people. With networks of fake online agents such as these, malicious actors could pull off various scams and disinformation campaigns." (5 AI Technologies Hackers Can Use in Terrible New WaysWe're living in a very unique time period in which many different end-times prophecies are being fulfilled step-by-step in the same time frame (beginning in the twentieth century) so that they can be brought to completion during the seven-year Tribulation. Sign #11 of 23
The False Prophet will force everyone to receive a "mark" on his or her right hand or forehead in order to be able to buy or sell anything: "He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666. Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads." (Revelation 13:16-14:1)Here we have the infamous "mark of the beast." Everyone in the world will need to have some kind of a mark, perhaps on their right hand or on their forehead, in order to be able to buy or sell anything. Somehow the number 666 will be associated with the name of the Antichrist because it's "the number of his name," and the apostle John expected that his readers would be able to "calculate the number of the beast" (Revelation 13:16-14:1, above). However, it's not clear whether John meant that his first-century readers could figure out who the beast is or whether he meant that the future readers during the time of the "mark of the beast" could figure out who it is. As numerous online articles such as the Wikipedia page on the Number of the beast
describe, calculating the number of the beast's name is probably a reference to the ancient practice of isopsephy (Greek) or gematria (Hebrew) in which every letter has a corresponding numeric value, and adding up these numbers gives a total value (such as 666) for a word or a name. Therefore, it's possible, even likely, that when the identity of the Antichrist becomes known sometime in the future, then adding up the letters in his name (e.g., the Greek or Hebrew transliteration of his name) will total 666.
In the above passage, the "mark of the beast" is immediately contrasted with 144,000 servants of God (first mentioned in Revelation 7:1-8) who had the name of Jesus and the name of the Father written on their foreheads. As a number of Bible commentaries
point out, having a mark or seal or name written on one's forehead indicates ownership or loyalty, so those who have Jesus' and the Father's names on their foreheads have given their loyalty to God, and those who have the beast's number or name on their foreheads have given their loyalty to the Antichrist. The beast's followers might have a mark on their hand, and "no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark," which indicates that the "mark of the beast" is also an economic system.
This "mark of the beast" system, which only allows financial transactions between those who have the mark, would probably be impossible without today's technology. For example, it would be a simple matter to give people a barcode tattoo on their skin, which could then be read by a scanner like most stores use. This would allow people's bank accounts to be adjusted automatically whenever they make financial transactions (such as buying or selling anything). In addition, the technology to implant tiny computer chips under the skin exists today, and it's already in use. Many people have RFID chip implants and are experimenting with the possibilities, such as opening electronic door locks, using copy machines, and paying for food (see Microchip implant (human) ).
Notice in Revelation 13:18 (above) that the number 666 is called "man's number" (or "a man's number" in some Bible translations). This is because numbers had important meanings in biblical times. For example, the NIV Study Bible (p.2426) says that in Revelation there are 7 beatitudes, 7 stars, 7 seals, 7 horns and 7 eyes, 7 trumpets, 7 thunders, 7 signs, 7 crowns, 7 plagues, 7 golden bowls, 7 hills, 7 kings, and so on, and it says that symbolically, 7 is the number of completeness. 7 is the number of perfection, and it was considered to be God's number. In contrast, 6 is the number of humankind because it falls short of the perfect number 7. That's how these numbers were symbolically used in biblical times, as most Bible commentaries point out. These prophecies about receiving the "mark of the beast" have caused some people to be concerned about all kinds of things in our modern society. There are websites devoted to finding the meaning of 666 (search online for "666 meaning"), and they talk about such things as Social Security numbers, or the metallic strips that you can see when you hold American $20 bills up to the light, or UPC barcodes on the packages that you buy (because many of these barcodes seem to have "666" embedded in them), or certain identification methods for military personnel, or debit cards, or "smart cards," and so on. But if you read Revelation 13:11-18 closely then you'll see that the "mark of the beast" is not simply an economic system, it's also a worship system. Those who take the mark will be declaring that they're willing to worship the Antichrist as God, and this will seal their punishment: "A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."" (Revelation 14:9-11)The Antichrist has not yet come to power, and we don't need to be frightened that "they" will somehow sneak this mark onto us and doom us to hell without our knowledge. When this "mark of the beast" system gets underway during the Tribulation, people will know that they must make a decision, and true believers will make their stand for Jesus. Update on 12/14/2023: A recent article describes the apparent growing popularity of microchip implants in Sweden, and another article goes into more detail about their plans: "Sweden is known for being an early adapter to technology, and this certainly solidifies that idea. Since 2017, over 4,000 Swedes have implanted a microchip into their hand, just above their thumb. These tiny chips - no bigger than a grain of rice - allows them to unlock their homes, offices, and gyms, make payments and even purchase train tickets. Things such as social media profiles and emergency contact details are also stored inside them." (Thousands Of Swedes Are Inserting Microchips Under Their SkinFor now, technologies such as barcode tattoos and implantable chips are not the "mark of the beast" because the Antichrist is not yet in power, but they are paving the way for the fulfillment of Revelation 13:16-14:1 (above). Step by step, end-times prophecies are coming together, right in front of our eyes. Sign #12 of 23
The only way for this type of "mark of the beast" system to be implemented is if we're a totally cashless society because this would allow for complete control over who can buy or sell anything. There's a movement already underway to create this cashless society, as you can see once in awhile in the news (see A Cashless Society Is Imminent ,
or
The benefits of a cashless society ,
or
The move to a cashless society isn't just a possibility, it's well underway ,
for example).
This cashless "global village" will make it easy to force everyone on earth to use one specific mechanism for buying or selling, which will be the "mark of the beast." This global cashless society would be impossible without today's technology of computers, global telecommunications, the Internet, online banking, e-commerce, and so on. It's no coincidence that we're now living in the very first time in history in which the end-times "mark of the beast" prophecies could technologically be fulfilled. Update on 09/24/2021: According to numerous articles online, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are heading toward becoming the primary (or at some point perhaps the only) means of payment in a cashless society. We're seeing the global cashless society coming together right in front of our eyes in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy, paving the way for the "mark of the beast." For example, see Crypto Ushers in the Adoption of a Cashless Society
or
A Look at a Cashless Society with Cryptocurrency
or
Cryptocurrency Appears To Be The Next Step Toward Cashless Societies
or
Cashless Payments In 2020: Worldwide With Bitcoin, Paypal & Co. .
On a related note, many articles online claim that Bill Gates has received a patent with the number "666." Actually, Microsoft has a patent application with Publication Number WO/2020/060606
for a "Cryptocurrency System Using Body Activity Data." This patent application does not mention anything about implantable technology or a system of cashless buying and selling, but Bill Gates is working on some things that have many people concerned. Search online for "quantum dot tattoo" to learn about a tattoo he's promoting that (currently) would record your vaccination information invisibly under your skin, which can be read by a customized smartphone. Bill Gates and/or Microsoft are also involved with developing a digital ID system that many people are concerned about (search online for "ID2020").
Many websites express all kinds of concerns about these things that we see happening. My personal view is that there's no point in being fearful or worried or even concerned that a global cashless society and a "mark of the beast" system are coming together. The Bible clearly says that these things will happen, so it's fascinating to be able to watch them come together but they are not a cause for alarm. We can't stop or prevent these things from happening, and as Christians it's important for us to have the proper perspective (God's perspective) concerning the things of this world. My article called Cheat Sheet discusses in detail the proper perspectives that we need to maintain (see section #04). The only concern we should have is helping the people we care about understand that when they are required to have some kind of implant or tattoo or other technology for buying or selling anything and worship someone as a god, then they need to refuse it (see Revelation 14:9-11, above). Update on 12/14/2023: As of March 24, 2023, Sweden is now "the first cashless nation in the world, with an economy that goes 100 percent digital," according to this article: Sweden: How to Live in the World's First Cashless Society .
After Sweden, these countries are closest to going cashless: Finland, China, South Korea, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, and Canada
(Cashless Societies: Which Countries Are Making The Switch? ).
Update on 02/01/2024: According to this article from a year ago, cashless businesses are on the rise in America, often with signs out front that say "Cash Not Accepted" (although so far there has been significant push-back from customers): What To Do when Cash Isn't Accepted .
Keep an eye on the news with a discerning spirit and you'll be able to watch this worldwide cashless society coming together, step by step, right before your eyes. The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described in Bible prophecy. Jesus is returning soon. Sign #13 of 23
The Bible tells us that the city of Babylon will be destroyed during the seven-year Tribulation: "With a mighty voice he [an angel] shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!...The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."" (Revelation 18:2-3)So the book of Revelation tells us that Babylon will be destroyed in some way during the seven-year Tribulation. But the ancient city of Babylon died out long ago. According to this and other passages, the ancient city of Babylon will become a center of commerce during the Tribulation, and possibly it will be the headquarters of the Antichrist, so it will need to be rebuilt somehow. Some people try to interpret this Babylon in a spiritual sense, saying that America is the new Babylon, or that capitalism is the spiritual Babylon, and so on. However, Saddam Hussein spent millions or billions of dollars rebuilding and reconstructing ancient Babylon, and you can see pictures of the rebuilt Babylon at Why the Confusion? .
He followed in the footsteps of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of ancient Babylon, by embossing his own inscription into bricks throughout the many walls and buildings. Some of these inscriptions say:
"In the era of President Saddam Hussein all Babylon was constructed in three stages. From Nebuchadnezzar to Saddam Hussein, Babylon is rising again."We've examined a number of signs which indicate that we're in the season of Jesus' return. The Bible says that Babylon will be a center of commerce during the seven-year Tribulation, and possibly it will be the headquarters of the Antichrist, so perhaps it's no coincidence that the ancient city of Babylon has now been rebuilt in preparation for its destruction during the seven-year Tribulation. We can't really say for sure whether Saddam's Babylon is the same as the "Babylon" described in Revelation, but we shouldn't lightly dismiss the possibility. Remember, these different end-times prophecies are all being fulfilled in the same time frame (beginning in the twentieth century), right in front of our eyes. We're living in a very unique time period because there is no other time in history when so many end-times prophecies were being fulfilled. Sign #14 of 23
At some point during the seven-year Tribulation, God will raise up "two witnesses" to prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth: "I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth." If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city - which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt - where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on." (Revelation 11:1-12)As Bible commentaries point out, the Two Witnesses will be able to do things similar to Old Testament prophets such as Moses and Elijah, and they're described as being "the two olive trees" and "the two lampstands," and "they stand before the Lord of the earth." These were things that the Old Testament prophet Zechariah saw in a vision (Zechariah 4) concerning Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. The Two Witnesses will be clothed in sackcloth, which is frequently found in the Old Testament as a sign of mourning (e.g., Genesis 37:34 and 2 Samuel 3:31). There's a definite Old Testament flavor to the Two Witnesses. When Jesus was transfigured in front of some of the apostles, Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke to Jesus for a few minutes (Matthew 17:1-8), then they were gone (we're never told that they were resurrected back into their bodies for this appearance). Since Moses and Elijah have already appeared together on earth once, and since the Two Witnesses will be able to do what some of the Old Testament prophets such as Moses and Elijah were able to do, some people speculate that the Two Witnesses might actually be Moses and Elijah. The problem is that the Two Witnesses will be killed (Revelation 11:1-12, above), and Hebrews 9:27 says that people are destined to die once. Some people in the New Testament were resurrected from the dead, but there's no evidence that any of them were dead longer than a few days. Moses had his "one death" thousands of years ago, so it's extremely unlikely that he will be resurrected and then die again as one of the Two Witnesses. The Two Witnesses are described as if they are Old Testament men of faith, but all of the Old Testament men of faith had their "one death" thousands of years ago. Or did they? There are two men in the Old Testament who never actually died: "As they [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." (2 Kings 2:11)Since the Two Witnesses are described as if they are Old Testament men of faith who are killed by the Antichrist and then resurrected, and since Elijah and Enoch are Old Testament men of faith who never died, it's plausible that Elijah and Enoch will be the Two Witnesses. Or perhaps the Two Witnesses will be two people who are alive during the seven-year Tribulation period. Another reason why Elijah is plausible as one of the Two Witnesses is that during his ministry he called down fire from heaven that consumed his enemies (2 Kings 1:9-12), and the heavens were shut for three and a half years with no rain (Luke 4:25), just as we see in Revelation 11:1-12 (above). A further reason is that Malachi had prophesied that Elijah will be sent to Israel before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes (Malachi 4:5-6), which is the seven-year Tribulation period (see my series in the next paragraph). John the Baptist ministered in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), but he said that he was not Elijah (John 1:19-21). Jesus said that John was "the Elijah who was to come" (Matthew 11:12-14), but He added a qualification ("if you are willing to accept it"). After John's death (Matthew 14:1-12), Jesus told the disciples that John was the Elijah who was to come but that Israel was not willing to accept it, so Elijah was still to come (Matthew 17:10-13), apparently because his ministry was not fulfilled in John (notice the "or else" in Malachi 4:5-6). Therefore, either Elijah himself or someone else ministering in the spirit and power of Elijah will be one of the Two Witnesses. Revelation 11:1-12 (above) says that the Gentiles will trample on the holy city for 42 months, and that the Two Witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days. My series called The Rapture of the Church shows that these time periods both refer to three and a half years (which is half of the seven-year Tribulation period), and that the Antichrist will be a Gentile (non-Jew) who will desecrate the Jewish temple at the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation period and carry out a terrible persecution of the nation of Israel during the last half of the Tribulation (which pastors and Bible teachers sometimes refer to as "the Great Tribulation"). So when Revelation 11:1-12 (above) says that the Gentiles will trample on the holy city for 42 months, this is a reference to the Great Tribulation, the last half of the Tribulation. When it says that the Two Witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, this is most likely a reference to the first half of the Tribulation. As my series on the Rapture (above) describes, the Antichrist cannot be set loose on the world until the restraining influence (the Church, the body of Christ) is taken out of the way in the Rapture. That series also explains that there will be a huge number of people who will receive salvation after the Rapture, which is interesting since there will be no Christians on earth to do evangelism or teach people about Jesus. When the Two Witnesses begin prophesying (speaking out God's truths but not necessarily foretelling the future - The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, propheteuo), imagine what would happen if they begin prophesying immediately after the Rapture, and if the Antichrist makes a treaty or contract agreement with Israel three and a half days later (which will be the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period as my series above shows). Their prophesying would be a significant reason for multitudes to be able to hear the Gospel and receive salvation, and they would prophesy for 1,260 days and then be killed and lie dead for three and a half days, and then be resurrected and raptured (Revelation 11:1-12, above). At that point (at the mid-point of the Tribulation), their restraining influence would now be removed (e.g., "fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies" - Revelation 11:1-12, above, and see 2 Kings 1:9-12) and the Antichrist would then be free to desecrate the Jewish temple, initiating the Great Tribulation (the last half of the Tribulation). This scenario very closely echoes the restraining influence of the present-day Church, which will be removed by means of a Rapture, enabling the Antichrist to further his plans. This would mean that the Two Witnesses will essentially be a mini Church during the first half of the seven-year Tribulation period, and it explains how Elijah will come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5-6), which is the seven-year Tribulation period (see my series above). In Revelation 11:1-12 (above), notice that people all over the world will gaze on the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses. This is another example of the many end-times Bible prophecies that could not have been understood in any other time period but ours. For example, the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses will probably be shown around the world on CNN and Fox News and other news shows, and the images will no doubt be broadcast across the Internet. It's no coincidence that we're now living in the very first time in history in which the end-times prophecy of the entire world gazing on the bodies of the Two Witnesses could possibly be fulfilled. Before 1935, when the first television broadcasting service began (see Television History - The First 75 Years ),
nobody could have
understood
how this prophecy can be fulfilled. But
we
can understand how.
We're living in a very unique period in history. We've already seen that the "birth pains" have begun, as Jesus called them. We're in "labor." We're in the season of Jesus' return. These different end-times prophecies are all being fulfilled in the same time frame, right in front of our eyes, unlike ever before. History as we know it is coming to an end. Jesus is returning soon. Sign #15 of 23
Another major end-times prophecy yet to be fulfilled is a Russian invasion of Israel: "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say:...I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army - your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops - the many nations with you...In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety...You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people - all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land." (Ezekiel 38:1-12)According to the above passage there will be a massive invasion of Israel sometime in the future. This passage tells us that the people being invaded will be the regathered Jews, and it says that the land in Israel used to be desolate but now is rich in livestock and goods to be plundered. From some of the signs of the times that we've already examined we know that the regathering and the replanting are currently in progress, so this invasion is still in the future; it's not a past invasion. The leader of the invasion is "Gog, of the land of Magog" (Ezekiel 38:1-12, above). Many Bible scholars identify Magog as being Russia, as in the following quote: "The identification of Magog, Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal is to be determined from the fact that these tribes of the ancient world occupied the areas of modern day Russia. Magog, Meshech and Tubal were between the Black and Caspian Seas which today is southern Russia...These names, then, cover the modern territories of northern and southern Russia in Europe and Siberia to the east in Asia. The modern nation of the Soviet Union encompasses all these areas of Ezekiel.Other nations involved in this massive invasion of Israel are "Persia, Cush and Put" (Ezekiel 38:5) as well as "Gomer...and Beth Togarmah" (Ezekiel 38:6). The names and borders of nations have changed over the centuries, but prophecy teachers tend to agree that the invasion force will probably include Russia, Iran, Ethiopia, and Germany, and it will also probably include Somalia, Armenia, Iraq, Lybia, Jordan, and the Persian Gulf states including Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Bahrain, and Yemen. This massive invasion force will advance against Israel "like a cloud that covers the land" (Ezekiel 38:16), and God gives us the purpose of this invasion: "I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you" (Ezekiel 38:16). God will show Himself holy through this invasion by supernaturally defeating it: "This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man's sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'" (Ezekiel 38:18-23)Some people see the possibility of nuclear war in the above passage. It also appears that God will supernaturally create confusion or anger among the armies, causing them to turn on each other, because the above passage says that "Every man's sword will be against his brother." After the massive destruction of the invading armies, the Jews will burn the weapons of war for fuel for seven years. There will be people who are employed to bury the dead and cleanse the land, and workers who find a human bone will set a marker beside it so that the specialists can bury it. This is sometimes taken as an indication that there will be radioactive contamination: "'Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up - the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel. They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel...For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land...Men will be regularly employed to cleanse the land. Some will go throughout the land and, in addition to them, others will bury those that remain on the ground. At the end of the seven months they will begin their search. As they go through the land and one of them sees a human bone, he will set up a marker beside it until the gravediggers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. (Also a town called Hamonah will be there.) And so they will cleanse the land.'" (Ezekiel 39:9-16)Scripture is not specific concerning the timing of the Russian invasion, so we don't know when it will happen. Keep an eye on international news, especially where it concerns the former Soviet Union and Israel. Prophecy teachers point out that in times when Russia has had internal chaos, they have attacked somewhere in order to get more resources. With Israel trading land for peace and with the republics of the former Soviet Union struggling economically and fighting among themselves, it's not too hard to imagine that the time is almost ripe for the prophesied invasion. Iran will probably be part of the invading force as we saw above, and in 1985 when Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum wrote his end-times prophecy book, The Footsteps of the Messiah, he said: "Though Iran has generally been pro-western and pro-Israel, this must eventually change." (p.70, emphasis added).In the 1995 re-printing of The Footsteps of the Messiah, the above statement has a footnote: "Written before the Khomeini Islamic revolution. As of now Iran is anti-western and anti-Israel but not as yet within the Russian sphere of influence." (p.70, emphasis added).Update on 04/29/2021: Iran and Russia now have ties and cooperation agreements in a number of areas, according to Al Jazeera
and
The Times of Israel .
Update on 12/14/2023: Iran and Russia have been conducting joint naval drills together (along with China) for several years now, as this article describes: China, Russia, Iran hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman .
Step by step, end-times prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of our eyes. Sign #16 of 23
To provide some background for this next sign, let's look at the history of the church. In the first century there were the original apostles, and the New Testament was in the process of being written. That's one period in church history. There was brief, localized persecution of Christians under Nero, but it was near the end of the first century when a long period of persecution against Christians began (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.82-84). That's the second period in church history, and it lasted under a number of Roman emperors until Constantine converted to Christianity around AD 312 (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.139). This began the third period of church history, in which the church and the state were generally "married," so to speak, under a number of Christian emperors (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.139-151). Then in AD 590, Gregory the Great became pope. The History of Christianity says that: "Gregory's period as pope, by its extension of the pope's authority, marks the transition from the ancient world of imperial Rome to medieval Christendom united by the Roman Catholic church." (p.203, emphasis added)So that was the fourth period of church history, the period of the Middle Ages, which brings us all the way up to 1517, when the period of the Reformation began (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.366), which is the fifth period in church history. Then in 1648, with the Peace of Westphalia, an era of wars of religion came to an end, according to The History of Christianity (p.466). This opened the door for the Great Missionary Movement (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.466-484), which is often considered to be the sixth period in the history of the church, and this brings us up to the modern era, which is the seventh period of church history. That's a general outline of how Christian scholars tend to break down the history of the Church Age. Church history just naturally falls into these 7 distinct periods. Notice that in Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus dictated letters to 7 churches: "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:1-7)The 7 churches mentioned in the above passages were 7 actual churches that existed in the first century, but some Bible scholars say that these 7 churches were also meant to be representative of the entire Church Age. For example, take a look at Revelation 1:10-11: "On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."" (Revelation 1:10-11)So Jesus told the apostle John to write letters to "the 7 churches," and then He named 7 specific churches. But think about it. How can those be the 7 churches? What about the Corinthian church? What about the Philippian church? What about the Thessalonian church? They're not mentioned in these letters, so the churches in these letters were not the only 7 churches back then. There's more here than meets the eye. Now let's look at Revelation 1:4: "John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia" (Revelation 1:4)So the apostle John addressed the book of Revelation to "the 7 churches," just like Jesus told him to do, and he added the phrase, "in the province of Asia" (because those 7 churches were all in Asia in the first century). But the church of the Colossians, for example, was also in Asia, as were other first-century churches. So again, why were these specific churches called "the" 7 churches? Well, recall that earlier we saw that the number 7 is the number of perfection, the number of completeness. So "the" 7 churches are perhaps intended to be representative of the complete Church body. After all, these were not the only 7 churches back then, nor were they the largest churches back then, according to Bible scholars (see The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Revelation 2:1). To make the point even further, let's look at Revelation 1:4 again: "John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne" (Revelation 1:4)In the above passage, the apostle John was not saying, "Grace and peace to you...from the 7 angels before his throne," because grace and peace only come from God and because the Bible describes more than 7 angels (as in Revelation 5:11). So Bible commentaries often say that the 7 spirits in the above verse really represent the seven-fold Spirit of God. For example, notice that Isaiah 11:1-2 describes the Holy Spirit by saying that He is the Spirit "of" 7 different things: "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" (Isaiah 11:1-2)Again, the number 7 is the number of completeness or perfection, so the "seven-fold Spirit of God" represents the completeness or the perfection of the Holy Spirit of God. In a similar way, the 7 churches are often considered to be representative of the complete Church body throughout the Church Age. In fact, notice that in each of the 7 letters, Jesus specifically said that He was speaking to all of the churches (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22, above), not just 7 specific churches. When we take all of these things into consideration, the weight of evidence leads many pastors and Bible teachers to the conclusion that the letters to the 7 churches had a local application to those 7 specific churches back then, but that these letters are also "types" or "foreshadowings," in sequence, corresponding to the 7 distinct periods in the history of the church. Among those who look at it from that perspective, there seems to be unanimous agreement that we're now living in the last period of church history. This last period of church history is described in the 7th letter, in Revelation 3:14-22, and it's a period of apostasy, meaning that churches will call themselves Christian but they have actually fallen away from scriptural doctrine in different areas. For example, a recent movement that has caused much concern and criticism among evangelical scholars is called the "Emerging church" movement (or "Emergent church" movement). Here are some quotes from the Wikipedia article on this movement: "Some Evangelicals such as D. A. Carson have characterized the emerging church movement as primarily a movement of protest in which participants are reacting against their more conservative heritage...This and other forms of apostasies (such as the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative that we saw in sign #9) are becoming more widespread in churches today in fulfillment of the final stage of church history, which is described in the letter to the church at Laodicea. In 2 Thessalonians, when the apostle Paul mentioned the Rapture and the Day of the Lord (which are examined in detail in my series called The Rapture of the Church), he said that first will come "the rebellion" (NIV), which is translated in other versions of the Bible as "the falling away" (e.g., ASV, KJV, NKJV, YLT): "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion ["the falling away"] occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)As my series on the Rapture (above) shows, "the Day of the Lord" is the seven-year Tribulation period and beyond, and "the man of lawlessness" is the Antichrist. In the above passage, the Greek word translated as "rebellion" or "falling away" is where we get the English word "apostasy" (see these Bible commentaries ).
So Paul said that in the end-times, before the seven-year Tribulation begins, first there will come "the apostasy." As some of those Bible commentaries point out, Paul was not referring to apostasy in general, but instead he was referring to "the" apostasy. Pastors and Bible teachers and Bible commentaries sometimes call this "the great apostasy" or "the great departure from the faith" or "the great falling away," which will take place in the end-times before the Rapture and the seven-year Tribulation according to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (above). We'll come back to this in sign #19. After Jesus told the disciples about the one specific sign that marks the beginning of the end of history as we know it (as we saw earlier), He then said: "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand" (Matthew 24:10-15)The context in the above passage relates to the end-times (notice "the abomination that causes desolation," which we saw earlier), and in that context Jesus described false prophets as well as people turning away from the faith and their love growing cold. Again, this is a graphic picture of apostasy in the end-times, which we're seeing more and more in recent years, such as prominent Christian leaders renouncing their faith (search online for "Christian leaders renouncing faith"). Update on 11/15/2022: Many Christians believe that all spiritual gifts are still available today (including healings, miracles, prophecies, and speaking in tongues), and they're usually referred to as "charismatics." They're also sometimes referred to as "continuationists" based on their view that all gifts of the Spirit continue to be available today. All other Christians are usually referred to as "cessationists" because they believe that some spiritual gifts ceased or died out during or shortly after the first century. I recently wrote an article called All Gifts of the Spirit Are Available Today which shows that cessationism is a form of last-days apostasy, and we'll see more about this in sign #19. Update on 02/13/2023: As you can see online, a number of Christians are adamant that the church should stop referring to God as "He" or "Father," and should use gender-neutral or female alternatives instead. For example, in early 2023 the Church of England had a meeting between bishops, clergy, and laypeople to discuss changing church doctrine in this and other areas: "The Church of England convened a synod this past week, a gathering of bishops, clergy and laypeople for the purpose of reviewing and possibly changing church doctrine...Throughout the New Testament, God is never referred to as "Mother" (meter in the Greek) or "Parent" (goneus in the Greek). Instead, He's always referred to as "Father" (Pater in the Greek). In three places (Mark 14:36, Romans 8:14-15, Galatians 4:6) He's also referred to as "Abba" (always using the expression "Abba, Father"), which means "Daddy" as a number of Bible commentaries point out: "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, which is the Hebrew word for daddy. That beautiful, close, intimate relationship that God wants you to experience with Him, to look to Him as your Daddy, as your Father." (Chuck Smith's Through the Bible Commentary, Galatians 4:1-31)We're free to use and invent gender-neutral pronouns for each other, and to redefine "they" so it can be used as a gender-inclusive singular pronoun, but God chose to reveal Himself in Scripture using only masculine pronouns. Since Jesus called God "Abba" and "Father," and since the rest of the New Testament refers to God as "Father," we have no scriptural support for using female pronouns or female alternatives when referring to God. We also have no scriptural support for replacing masculine pronouns for God such as "He" and "Him" with gender-neutral or gender-inclusive pronouns such as "they" (for example, see Why Do We Use Masculine Pronouns for God? ).
A similar issue is that some people try to argue that the Holy Spirit is God the Mother, but Scripture does not support this idea (see section #26 in my article called
Cheat Sheet).
Wanting to use female pronouns or female alternatives when referring to God is another form of last-days apostasy, trying to re-write Scripture based on modern ideas and preferences.
Update on 04/11/2023: As this quote points out, the recent "He Gets Us" advertising campaign is trying to market a false Jesus onto the world (see the article for the problems with this campaign): "In case you haven't seen it yet, there's a $100 million advertising campaign that launched this year [2022] across the United States and is aimed at helping rescue Jesus's reputation from the "damage" done by His followers. It features a website, billboards in major cities, and ads that have been viewed 300 million times. "He Gets Us," as the campaign is known, is funded by anonymous donors. If you haven't seen the ads yet, you likely will soon...Yes, Jesus was fully human, but He was also fully God. When you remove half the picture of His identity (as this campaign does), you give people the understanding they want but not the fuller understanding they need. Because of this, He Gets Us has the potential to actually harm the public understanding of Jesus. People need to know that Jesus is our Savior, not a compassionate buddy." (7 Problems with the He Gets Us CampaignUpdate on 04/12/2023: When the disciples asked Jesus what will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, in His reply He said that many will turn away from the faith and the love of most will grow cold (Matthew 24:10-15). We've seen some ways that this prophecy is being fulfilled in our time, and another way that the fulfillment of this prophecy can be seen is in the blogs and forums that were specifically created for people to express the reasons why they turned their backs on Christianity, such as: ExCommunications: Stories from ex-believers, doubters, and those recovering from religion ,
or the recent books and studies on deconversion such as:
The Anatomy of Deconversion: A Book Review .
Update on 02/08/2024: A recent video posted by Donald Trump for his presidential campaign describes him in messianic terms: Iowa Evangelical pastors condemn 'sickening' video portraying Trump as messianic figure .
We've seen that there will be false messiahs, and this video comes very close to portraying him in that way. He has endorsed this vision of himself by posting the video online, so keep a discerning eye on the news about him. He's already taken the step of wanting to be seen as messiah-like, and the next step would be to declare himself as an actual messiah. Maybe he'll take that step, maybe not, but it's not difficult to imagine that a number of his supporters will see him in that way. As these authors point out, some Christian supporters of Trump are already showing signs of committing (or being close to committing) idolatry, which is another example of apostasy in our times:
Sign #17 of 23
Notice how the apostle Paul described "the last days": "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people" (2 Timothy 3:1-5)The above passage certainly describes our society. Paul said that people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure, ungrateful, abusive, without self-control, and so on. It's no coincidence that people today tend to be so focused on themselves and so inconsiderate of others that we have terms in our vocabulary such as "road rage," "air rage," "the Me Generation" (Baby Boomers), "the Me Me Me Generation" (Millennials), "Generation Me" (Gen-Y), and so on. It's also interesting that Paul said in the above passage that people will be "without love" in the last days. In the Greek language there are different words for different types of love, such as agape (which is explained in detail in chapter 7 of my book called "Divine Healing Absolutely Is for Today"), phileo, philadelphia ("brotherly love"), and so on. When Paul said that in the last days there will be people "without love," the Greek word that he used was astorgos, which describes a specific type of love. According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments (Dr. Spiros Zodhiates), this Greek word specifically means "Without family love." In other words, without the natural family bond of affection and love. So Paul said that in the end-times there will be people who do not have that natural family bond and natural family love. How many times in the last few years have we seen in the news where parents have actually murdered their own children in cold blood, where teenagers have murdered their parents, and where children have "divorced" their own parents (see 9 Child Stars Who Divorced Their Parents )?
At times it seems like a never-ending parade of family destruction in the news. Not too long ago, a daytime TV talk show was dedicated to this recent type of phenomenon, and it was entitled, "I'm Afraid of My Children."
With divorce rates and abortion rates skyrocketing, and with parents killing their own children or throwing their unwanted newborns out of car windows or into trash dumpsters, we're seeing the fulfillment of Paul's end-times prophecy. In fact, we now have a name for infants who are tossed into trash cans. They're called "trash babies." This is now so prevalent that it has become a part of modern-day vocabulary. Newsweek had an article entitled "Cradles to Coffins" that highlighted the tragic increase of "neonaticides," the killing of our infants (see Neonaticide ).
So we even have a scientific name for this phenomenon because it has become such a problem. In ancient cultures they sometimes sacrificed infants, but they felt that they
needed
to do it in order to appease the "gods." In
our
culture, people simply discard their newborns just like another piece of trash because that natural family bond of love and affection has broken down, exactly like Paul said would happen in the last days. The L.A. Times published an article called "We All Must Answer for Why Teenagers Kill Their Babies" (see
Neonaticide ).
The accompanying cartoon had a sign that said, "Please separate your trash," and the picture showed three trash cans that were labeled, "paper," "plastic," and "babies." That's a sad commentary on our society.
We've reached a point in America where there are billboards begging people not to throw away their unwanted babies. For example, in December, 1999, 75 billboards went up in Houston, TX, that said, "Don't abandon your baby!" We have to beg people not to do that. There are centers that were specifically established so that people can bring their unwanted newborn babies and turn them over to these centers rather than tossing newborn babies into trash dumpsters or leaving them on doorsteps or in the streets. There are cemeteries that were specifically created for abandoned babies who were left to die anonymous deaths. There are programs such as the AMT Children of Hope Foundation, the National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center, Project Cuddle, Baby Rescue Program, the Safe Place for Newborns, the Harris County Baby Abandonment Task Force, etc., to deal with this growing problem. There's a Safe Place for Newborns Act in Georgia Law, there's a program in Alabama called the Secret Safe Place for Newborns, in Texas there's the Baby Moses Project, which is a nonprofit group set up to publicize safe legal abandonment as an alternative to baby-dumping, and so on. Laws are pending or have been passed in at least 34 states that would decriminalize baby abandonment so that mothers will not be afraid to bring their babies to an abandonment center rather than throwing the babies out of car windows or leaving them floating in airport toilets. To learn more, see the U.S. Infant Abandonment Resources
page or search the Internet for the above facts.
Paul specifically said that in the last days the natural family bond of love will break down. We've seen that the "birth pains" have begun, as Jesus called them. We're in the last days before Jesus comes back, and it's no coincidence that Paul's prophecy is now coming true. Jesus is returning soon. Sign #18 of 23
Imagine that you're the apostle John. Imagine that you live in the first century, and that God is giving you a vision of nuclear war in the twenty-first century. How would you describe what you're seeing? After all, you're living centuries before gunpowder was invented (see Formation of the Chinese Civilization ),
and you've never seen
anything
like what's in your vision.
So how would you describe nuclear detonations using first-century words and images? A nuclear blast is accompanied by incredible noise, so maybe it reminds you of thunder. Nuclear blasts are also accompanied by blinding flashes of light, so maybe it makes you think of lightning. A nuclear explosion would shake the ground with incredible intensity, so maybe it reminds you of an earthquake. During nuclear blast testing in the U.S. in the 1950s, people reported pink radioactive hail falling on their ranches. So not only do you have a fireball from the explosion, but there can be radioactive hail as well. Also, footage of actual nuclear detonations shows that the fireball burns up many things in its path as it rolls out from the epicenter of the blast, so you might describe this type of devastation by saying that trees and grass are burned up. These are natural ways that a first-century person might describe nuclear blasts. Now compare these descriptions with what John wrote in Revelation 8:5-7: "Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up." (Revelation 8:5-7)We don't know if John had a vision of nuclear war, but notice that he accurately described some of the effects of nuclear blasts, even though he didn't have our modern technological vocabulary to help him describe these things. If the above passage describes nuclear detonations, then John has described the effects that a nuclear war will have on the land. Now imagine the carnage that will result in the oceans when these weapons of destruction are targeted at ships, submarines, naval bases, and so on. If you were living in the first century, how would you describe a massive Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a long trail of fire propelling it? Would you say that it's something like a huge mountain, all on fire? Would you say that it's a star falling from the sky? Would you say that it blazes like a torch? Here's how John described what he was seeing: "The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water - the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter." (Revelation 8:8-11)If the above passage describes nuclear war, then notice that John has described some of the effects that nuclear blasts will have on the world's oceans and water supplies. In verse 10 in the above passage, John described a great "star," blazing like a torch, that fell from the sky and poisoned the waters. Imagine a modern rocket that's delivering a nuclear payload. As it reaches the top of its arc and begins coming back down toward its target, the flames coming out of the rocket look like they're now above the rocket. Doesn't that make it look like a blazing torch, falling from the sky, just like John described? And if that rocket is nuclear-tipped then the residual radiation would begin poisoning the water, and people would die from radiation poisoning after drinking that "bitter" water just as John described. In verse 11 (above), notice that this "blazing torch" was given a name, "Wormwood." Why was that object given a name? God does not do things without reason, so what's the significance of this name? That object is called "Wormwood," which is the name of a bitter plant with the scientific name of Artemisia vulgaris (also known as mugwort). In Russia, the wormwood plant is called "chernobyl ,"
and here's a quote from Wikipedia about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster:
"The Chernobyl nuclear power plant is located next to the Pripyat River, which feeds into the Dnieper reservoir system, one of the largest surface water systems in Europe, which at the time supplied water to Kiev's 2.4 million residents, and was still in spring flood when the accident occurred. The radioactive contamination of aquatic systems therefore became a major problem in the immediate aftermath of the accident.Although the prophecy in Revelation 8:8-11 (above) has not yet been fulfilled, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster perhaps gives us clues about how this prophecy will come to pass (people dying from radiation poisoning after drinking the "bitter" water just as the apostle John described). Another effect of nuclear blasts will be massive amounts of dust and debris hurled into the atmosphere, creating what scientists call "nuclear winter" because much of the light from the sun and stars will be obscured (see Nuclear winter ).
Notice what John wrote:
"I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place." (Revelation 6:12-14)In his vision, John saw "stars" fall to earth, which are associated with earthquakes, and the sun being darkened from smoke, and mountains and islands being "moved," and so on. Perhaps he was witnessing a nuclear exchange. For example, he specifically described the sky receding like a scroll being rolled up, which is a good description of a mushroom cloud from a nuclear detonation. If the above passages are related to nuclear war, then notice that John has described the effects that nuclear detonations will have in the air. Maybe the above passages are describing nuclear war, maybe not. We can't be certain. But if so, then John did a good job of describing the effects that nuclear war will have on the ground, in the water, and in the air. If you continue to imagine that you're the apostle John, living in the first century, and God gives you a vision of twenty-first-century helicopter gunships that are carrying biological or chemical weapons that for some reason don't kill people, but rather they cause long-lasting agony, how would you describe all of that? Perhaps the helicopters remind you of a swarm of locusts that look like horses prepared for battle. Perhaps the weaponry makes you think of the sting of a scorpion. The sun reflecting off of the canopies of the helicopters might look to you like crowns of gold. Perhaps you can actually see the human faces of the pilots. And what about those spinning rotor blades, don't they kind of look like long hair? The rocket pods might remind you of lion's teeth. Perhaps the metal frames of the helicopters remind you of breastplates of iron, and maybe the helicopter gunships are so noisy that they remind you of the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. When the helicopters fire their rockets, the smoke makes the helicopters look like they have tails. Those might be appropriate ways for a first-century person to describe modern-day helicopter gunships. Here's what John said in Revelation 9:3-10: "And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months." (Revelation 9:3-10)John said that these "locusts" came "down" upon the earth, and he described the loud sound of their "wings," which is a description of flying objects (possibly helicopters). Notice that the above passage says that the "locusts" will not kill people, but instead these "locusts" will inflict suffering of some kind for a limited duration. This sounds rather odd, because normally we think of weapons of war as being used for killing people. So if John was experiencing a vision of warfare in the twenty-first century or beyond, then it seems strange that he would see non-lethal weapons being used. It turns out that various forms of non-lethal weapons of war are being developed at this very moment. For example, here's an excerpt from a recent Associated Press article (emphasis added): "Aside from paralyzing potential attackers or noncombatants like a long-range stun gun, directed-energy weapons could fry the electronics of missiles and roadside bombs, developers say, or even disable a vehicle in a high-speed chase...So there are non-lethal weapons of war under development at this very moment, and perhaps one such weapon will be the fulfillment of the non-lethal "sting" of the "locusts" in John's prophecy. We don't really know how the above prophecies will actually be fulfilled, but it certainly appears that John did an amazing job of describing modern warfare in the nuclear age, using images that he and his readers were familiar with. Would we have done any better in describing these things if we lived in the first century, before gunpowder was invented? Another weapon in the nuclear age is the neutron bomb, which is intended to be "a weapon that killed by irradiation while sparing property" and is described as being "extremely destructive to living tissue" (see neutron bomb ).
The prophet Zechariah described the Second Coming and some events that will happen just before the Second Coming, and notice what he described in Zechariah 14:12:
"This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths." (Zechariah 14:12)Zechariah saw people's flesh being destroyed while they were still standing on their feet, which is essentially the purpose of neutron bombs (destroying flesh but leaving buildings and infrastructure intact). Perhaps the Lord will supernaturally destroy the nations in the above verse, or perhaps He will destroy them through human weapons of war (as we see Him doing in the Old Testament). Time will tell. We're living in the first time in history in which such descriptions of warfare could possibly be fulfilled. Considering all of the nuclear weapons in the world today, and considering the lawlessness and immorality that will be rampant during the seven-year Tribulation, can there be any doubt that nuclear war is inevitable? Of course, it's possible that not all of these passages describe modern warfare in the nuclear age. Bible scholars have different opinions, and some of them believe that the above passages describe supernatural activity (by demons or by God) rather than human warfare. Still, most of these scholars seem to agree that a nuclear war during the Tribulation is a strong likelihood. Sign #19 of 23
In sign #16 we saw that there will be great apostasy (a falling away from proper beliefs) in the end-times. The other side of that coin is that if you search online for "last days revival," you'll find numerous websites and conferences and ministries devoted to preparing the Church (the body of Christ) for a future great revival in the end-times (the final years of the Church Age). In this article we've seen that we're in the end-times now, so if there will be a great last-days revival then it's likely to happen soon. These websites and ministries typically point out that the Bible sometimes refers to "former rain" and "latter rain" (or similar concepts), as in these examples: "Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign." (Exodus 4:8 NKJV)In the above passages, sometimes we see indications that the latter thing will be even greater than the former thing. We also see that rain and water are often equated with God's blessings and His Spirit, and here are some more examples of that: "The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." (Deuteronomy 11:10-12)As we can see, rain and water are often equated with God's blessings, and in particular with His Spirit. Notice that Hosea 6:3 NKJV (above) and James 5:7 NKJV (above) specifically say that the Lord comes to us as the former and latter rains. When Jesus came to earth as a baby, nothing happened ministry-wise for the first 30 years of His life (Luke 3:23), so His birth as a human baby (the First Coming) was not the Lord coming to us as the former rain. This implies that His return to the earth (the Second Coming) will not be the Lord coming to us as the latter rain. His coming to us as the former and latter rains in Hosea 6:3 NKJV and James 5:7 NKJV refers to something else. On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the Holy Spirit was "poured out" (Acts 2:17-18) onto the disciples because He is the "living water" (John 4:9-14, 7:37-39), and about 3,000 people received salvation that very day (Acts 2:41). This was the Lord coming to us as the former rain because rain and water are often equated with God's Spirit. There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4, John 17:3, Romans 3:30, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Timothy 2:5, James 2:19), and He exists in three divine Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 2:11-18, 1 John 5:6-9), so where the Holy Spirit is, Jesus and the Father are there as well. The day of Pentecost was the birth of the church and the beginning of the Church Age, which is explained in detail in my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One. Since Pentecost was the former rain, when the Lord sent His Spirit onto the first Christians of the Church Age in a powerful way, then the implication is that the Lord will send His Spirit onto the last Christians of the Church Age in a powerful way in a latter rain, even greater than the former rain. Recall that Jesus said, "whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these" (John 14:12). So what will a latter rain look like? On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues (Acts 2:1-4), which was followed by powerful evangelism that resulted in roughly 3,000 people being saved that day (Acts 2:1-41), plus signs, wonders, miracles, healings, and many more people being saved after that (e.g., Acts 2:43, 47, and the rest of the book of Acts). That was the former rain. Therefore, a latter rain at the end of the Church Age will have these same characteristics, even greater than in the first century. Throughout the book of Acts after the day of Pentecost, notice that the former rain was not characterized by emotions or believers flocking to the house where the original disciples received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues. Yet when Christians think of revival today, they tend to think of people spending hours in a particular church or location, overcome with emotions, and multitudes of Christians flocking to that location to take part in the experience. In contrast, the former rain in the book of Acts was characterized by Christians going out into their communities and into the world, preaching the Gospel message with signs, wonders, miracles, and healings to confirm their teaching. This is what the latter rain will look like as well. The latter rain revival will not be what many Christians seem to be expecting and praying for. Notice that shortly before the cross, Jesus prayed that all Christians would be brought to complete unity, and the apostle Paul spoke of the body of Christ growing and maturing until we reach unity in the faith: "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:11)The above passages say that Jesus prayed for us to be brought to complete unity so that we may be one just as the Father and the Son are one, and the apostle Paul expected us to work toward complete unity. Therefore, all Christians being in unity is very important to God, so we need to take the idea of being in unity very seriously. For example, shortly after the Holy Spirit was poured out onto the disciples on the day of Pentecost, we see that the disciples were in unity ("with one accord") and that many people were being saved: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47 NKJV)Therefore, since Pentecost was the former rain, producing Christian unity, then we can expect that the latter rain will involve the Church growing into unity ("one accord" as in Acts 2:42-47, above), which is exactly what Jesus prayed for and Paul expected in the above passages. This unity from the latter rain will enable the Church to produce a great crop of people being saved at the end of the Church Age, shortly before the Rapture. But if you think about it, Christian unity is a huge task that will have a huge world-wide impact. This is because the body of Christ is fractured into numerous divisions such as denominations, all of which disagree with each other in various areas of biblical doctrines, views, or practices. If you search online for "how many Christian denominations," you'll find that there are hundreds or thousands of self-described Christian denominations. It's not always clear which person or group founded each denomination, but here are some examples that I found online:
Again, I found this information online, and perhaps not everyone will agree with everything in the above list. The purpose of the above list is simply to make the point that every denomination was founded by a person or group, and each denomination's members are followers of most or all of the views and practices of the person or group that established those denominations. For example, the denominational website for The United Methodist Church
refers to Methodists as
"followers of John Wesley,"
and you can find similar statements at other denominational websites.
So what is God's perspective on denominations? When the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he began his letter with greetings and thanksgiving, as he frequently did in his letters. Immediately after that, he launched into an urgent appeal for them to be perfectly united in mind and thought and to have no divisions among them: "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions [schisma] among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." (1 Corinthians 1:10)Paul then made it clear what he meant by "divisions": "My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."" (1 Corinthians 1:11-12)Sound familiar? The situation that we have today with denominations ("I follow John Smythe's views," or "I follow Martin Luther's views," or "I follow John Wesley's views," etc.) is exactly the situation that Paul denounced in the above passage, referring to those divisions as "quarrels." Paul went on to say: "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:13)The above questions are clearly intended to be answered with "no." Paul's point was that we're not meant to be followers of a person or group (such as being a follower of Paul), and that Christ is not divided in any way (so the body of Christ should not be divided in any way). Paul went on to say: "I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name." (1 Corinthians 1:14-15)Again, Paul didn't want anyone to have any reason to feel that they should be followers of Paul. Later he wrote this to the Corinthian church: "Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other." (1 Corinthians 4:6)Again, Paul didn't want anyone to be followers of Paul or Apollos or anyone else (such as John Smythe, Martin Luther, John Wesley, or any other denominational founders). He also wrote this to the Corinthian church: "Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly - mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task." (1 Corinthians 3:1-5)In the above passage, Paul said that if we follow this person's or that person's Christian views (such as the leaders of any denomination) then we are not living by the Spirit (i.e., we are not obeying God), but instead we are still worldly and we are mere infants in Christ. Clearly, separating ourselves into divisions (e.g., by being followers and members of any denomination) is not what God wants. Later in 1 Corinthians Paul said: "But God has put the body [of Christ] together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division [schisma] in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:24-27)Once again, we see that God wants no division in the body of Christ. Elsewhere in 1 Corinthians Paul said: "In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions [schisma] among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences [hairesis] among you to show which of you have God's approval." (1 Corinthians 11:17-19)In 1 Corinthians 12:24-27 (above) and 11:17-19 (above), the Greek word schisma ("division") is the same word that Paul used earlier when he appealed to them to have no divisions among them (1 Corinthians 1:10, above). Here he said that he could barely believe that they were separating themselves, and that they were doing more harm than good. In the above passage, the Greek word hairesis means: "Heresy, a form of religious worship, discipline, or opinion...hairesis may represent a divergent opinion but still be part of a whole. One can hold different views than the majority and remain in the same body, but he is a heretic (hairetikos [G141]). However, when he tears himself away (schizo [G4977]), then he is schismatic. Heresy may lead to schism which is when actual tearing off and separation occur." (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, hairesis)So in 1 Corinthians 12:24-27 (above) and 11:17-19 (above), Paul was once again denouncing the fact that some of them were separating themselves into divisions based on their different views. He essentially said that those who were not separating themselves showed that they had God's approval. We've seen that he made this same point over and over throughout the book of 1 Corinthians (denouncing them for separating themselves into divisions), so this is clearly a very important point. It's such an important point, in fact, that Jesus and Paul and other New Testament authors repeatedly emphasized the dangers of divisions and factions, and the need for unity and oneness in the body of Christ: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:14-16)So Jesus and Paul and other New Testament authors repeatedly emphasized the dangers of divisions and factions, and the need for unity and oneness in the body of Christ. To further confirm this point, notice that the New Testament repeatedly tells us that there is one church, called "the body of Christ" and "the church" (not a collection of different denominations with conflicting or mutually exclusive views): Matthew 16:18, Acts 5:11, 20:28, 1 Corinthians 10:32, 11:22, 12:28, 15:9, Ephesians 1:22-23, 3:10, 5:23-32, Philippians 3:6, Colossians 1:18, 24, 1 Timothy 3:15. Notice that the New Testament repeatedly refers to Christianity as "the faith" (not as a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive beliefs in different denominations): Matthew 24:10, Acts 6:7, 13:8, 14:22, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Galatians 1:23, 3:23, Ephesians 4:13, Philippians 1:25, 27, Colossians 2:7, 1 Timothy 1:2, 19, 3:9, 4:1, 6, 5:8, 6:10, 12, 21, 2 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:13, Philemon 1:6, 1 Peter 5:9, Jude 1:3. Notice that the New Testament repeatedly refers to Christianity as "the light" (not as a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive versions of "the light" in different denominations): Luke 16:8, John 1:4, 5, 3:20, 8:12, 9:5, 12:35, 36, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6, Ephesians 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:5, Hebrews 10:32, 1 John 1:7, 2:9, 10. Notice that the New Testament repeatedly refers to Christianity as "the way" (not as a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive versions of "the way" in different denominations): Matthew 22:16, Mark 12:14, Luke 20:21, John 14:6, Acts 9:2, 18:25, 26, 19:9, 23, 24:14, 22, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Ephesians 5:2, 2 Peter 2:2, 21. Notice that the New Testament repeatedly says that Christianity contains "the truth" (not a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive versions of "the truth" in different denominations): Matthew 22:16, Mark 12:14, Luke 20:21, John 3:21, 5:33, 8:32, 14:6, 17:17, Acts 20:30, 2 Corinthians 13:8, Galatians 2:5, 14, 5:7, Ephesians 4:21, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 12, 13, 1 Timothy 2:4, 3:15, 4:3, 2 Timothy 2:18, 25, 3:7, 8, 4:4, Titus 1:1, 14, Hebrews 10:26, James 3:14, 5:19, 1 Peter 1:22, 2 Peter 1:12, 1 John 2:21, 5:6, 2 John 1:1, 2, 4, 3 John 1:3, 4, 8, 12. Notice that the New Testament repeatedly says that Christianity contains "the traditions" and "the teaching" (not a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive traditions and teachings in different denominations): Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6, 2 Timothy 1:13-14. Notice that the New Testament repeatedly commands us to avoid quarrels and controversies (which can lead to Christians separating into different denominations): Romans 14:1, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 3:3-4, 1 Timothy 1:3-7, 3:2-3, 6:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:14, 23-26, Titus 3:9-11, James 4:1-2. As we can clearly see throughout the entire New Testament, Christianity has always been intended to consist of believers in unity with each other, never as a collection of divisions such as denominations. To confirm even further how important this point is, notice what Jesus said: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." (Mark 3:24-25)The implications from these passages are huge. The New Testament clearly says that all Christians need to be in unity with each other, and it clearly denounces all divisions within Christianity such as denominations because a house divided against itself cannot stand. As we saw in the bullet points earlier, all denominations are human inventions. God is not Baptist, God is not Lutheran, God is not Methodist, God is not Presbyterian, God is not Seventh-day Adventist, and so on. We can't say that God is all denominations because some denominations' views are mutually exclusive with other denominations' views. God is no denomination, as the above passages clearly show, and we are told to be non-denominational as well ("no divisions"). There will always be differences of opinion among Christians (e.g., different views on end-times prophecies), but if we label ourselves as being a member of one group or another then we're identifying with a division in violation of all of the above passages. For example, in my articles you can see that I agree with certain charismatic views (e.g., that all gifts of the Spirit are available today), but I don't label myself as a charismatic because that's a division within Christianity. We can hold various views without labeling ourselves as members of divisions or denominations that have those views. If you consider yourself as a member of a denomination or other type of division within Christianity, then you're disobeying God. Instead, we all need to consider ourselves as non-denominational Christians rather than as Protestants, Baptists, Catholics, charismatics, cessationists, evangelicals, and so on. God wants us to go to a specific church, and if we're paying attention then He will lead us to it (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance). In a latter rain, when we reach the unity that Jesus prayed for and Paul appealed to us to achieve (a unity that they had just after the former rain), then we will see one of two possibilities take place:
Either way, a last-days revival will bring huge upheaval to Christianity around the world. There's nothing in the Bible that gives any indication that the first possibility is likely to happen. Instead, the entire Bible is filled with examples of our natural human tendency to separate and divide and clash with each other (as in the above passages in 1 Corinthians). Therefore, the second possibility is far more likely than the first possibility. Either way, rocky times are ahead. We've seen that a last-days revival (the Lord coming to us as the latter rain) will involve signs, wonders, miracles, healings, and powerful evangelism, even greater than what happened after the day of Pentecost (when the Lord came to us as the former rain). Again, these events do not involve the Lord physically coming to the earth, these events are special outpourings of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a huge harvest of people being saved. However, already there are Christian ministries and websites denouncing the idea of a last-days revival, and we're likely to see many more Christian leaders denouncing such a revival. Their view is based on these passages (and any similar passages): "As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."" (Matthew 24:3-14)The above passages describe false messiahs, false prophets, false teachers, Christians being deceived and falling away from sound doctrine, and demonic signs and wonders. By lumping all of these passages together (and any similar passages), a number of Christians believe that any claims of a last-days revival with signs and wonders occurring will actually be the fulfillment of the above prophecies. This is why we're seeing Christian websites and Christian leaders denouncing the idea of a great last-days revival. The problem with their view is that there are numerous prophecies throughout the Bible concerning the end-times, and in order to understand them correctly it's important to place them in the proper time frames. For example, some prophecies only apply during the time when the future Antichrist will be in power, and some prophecies only apply after the Second Coming (when Jesus returns to the earth), and other prophecies only apply in other time periods. Therefore, lumping all of the above passages together and assuming that they all apply to the same time period (shortly before the Rapture) is not the way to properly understand and apply end-times prophecies. Matthew 24:3-14 (above) refers to false messiahs and false prophets and apostasy, which can happen at any time during the Church Age and has happened in our times (sign #16 specifically addresses apostasy in our times). In context, Matthew 24:21-24 (above) is specifically referring to the final 3.5 years before the Second Coming, which is covered in detail in my series called The Rapture of the Church. Therefore, it doesn't apply to a last-days revival during the Church Age because the Church (the body of Christ) will be removed from the earth before Matthew 24:21-24 (above) takes place (see the above series). In this article we've seen some things concerning the future seven-year Tribulation period (see the above series for more details), and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 (above) is referring to the Tribulation period and the Antichrist. That passage specifically says that the Antichrist and his demonic signs and wonders are being restrained until the one holding him back is taken out of the way. As the above series explains, every member of the Church has the indwelling Holy Spirit, meaning that God lives inside of each and every Christian. After the Church has been taken out of the way in the Rapture, only non-Christians will be left on the earth and evil will no longer be restrained. Then it will be time for the Antichrist to be revealed, along with his displays of demonic signs and wonders. This has no bearing on a last-days revival during the Church Age because the Church is still on the earth as a restraining force against the devil. The remaining two passages above (1 and 2 Timothy) are referring to Christians abandoning sound doctrine as we saw in sign #16 concerning the end-times apostasies that are now taking place. What this means is that when people use the above passages (or any similar passages) to denounce a last-days revival, saying that it will be characterized by false prophets and demonic miracles, their view is based on a misunderstanding of end-times prophecies and where those prophecies fit into the overall scheme of God's plan. End-times prophecies tell us that there will be great apostasy and great revival in the future. The former rain (on the day of Pentecost) was initiated by Jesus to begin the Church Age, and it involved signs, wonders, and miracles from God and multitudes receiving salvation. The full latter rain revival will likewise be initiated by Jesus to bring the Church Age to a close, and it will likewise involve signs, wonders, and miracles from God and multitudes receiving salvation. We're either with Jesus or against Jesus, and therefore the Christians who are on board with the last-days revival are the ones who have sound doctrine (because they are with Jesus). Notice what He said: "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matthew 12:30-32)In the above passage, Jesus made it very clear that we need to be with Him and not against Him, and He made it very clear that when a miracle is done through the Holy Spirit, it is very dangerous for us to claim that it was a demonic miracle. As my article called The Second Coming describes, the Jewish leaders' "unpardonable sin" was a national sin and therefore many modern Bible scholars believe that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not an individual sin that people can make today. It was a national sin which only applied to that generation of Jews who rejected Jesus as a nation. But Bible commentaries point out that by saying that a miracle of God was done by the devil or a demon, this is a direct insult against the Holy Spirit who did the miracle (e.g., Hebrews 10:29), and is a sin against the Spirit because "anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven" (Matthew 12:30-32). Therefore, when God does a miracle then Christians who accuse the miracle of being demonic are speaking against the Holy Spirit and will not be forgiven (Matthew 12:30-32, above). This doesn't mean that they will lose their salvation; it means that they will be disciplined (perhaps severely) both in this life and in heaven (see section #11, #12, and #13 in my article called Cheat Sheet). In fact, those who denounce the idea of a great future revival have overlooked or misunderstood a prophecy that will take place during the seven-year Tribulation period: "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes - who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."" (Revelation 7:1-14)The above passage says that during the Tribulation period (shortly before the Second Coming) there will be "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language" who will receive salvation. The above passage will take place after the Church Age is over, so it's not describing the latter rain revival, but it shows that there absolutely will be a great revival in the future. Therefore, those who denounce the idea of a great revival in the future, saying that the end-times will be characterized by apostasy with no revival, are clearly and fundamentally mistaken. End-times prophecies tell us that there will be great apostasy and great revival in the future. These two opposing forces will cause great upheaval within Christianity around the world, revealing who is actually with Jesus (with revival) and who is against Jesus (against revival). Rocky times are ahead for the church. Since the former rain on the day of Pentecost initiated the Church Age, it seems likely that the latter rain (the great last-days revival) will close out the Church Age, ending with the Rapture (see my series called The Rapture of the Church). The following passage is thoroughly examined in my series on the Rapture, and essentially it says that the Rapture and the Day of the Lord (beginning with the seven-year Tribulation period when God will pour out His wrath on the earth) will not take place until "the rebellion" occurs and the Antichrist is revealed: "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)My series on the Rapture (above) shows that the Antichrist will be revealed at the very beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period (the beginning of the Day of the Lord), and the above passage says that "the rebellion" (NIV) or "the falling away" (NKJV) will occur before the Tribulation period begins. Bible dictionaries and Bible commentaries point out that the Greek word for "rebellion" in this passage is where we get the English word "apostasy." As we saw in sign #16, there will be a great apostasy, a great rebellion or falling away from proper beliefs, before the Rapture and the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period (the period when the Antichrist will be in power). This means it will happen during the last part of the Church Age and will overlap the latter rain revival because the Church Age and the revival will end at the Rapture, when Jesus will snatch up all Christians (alive or dead) and take us into heaven. What we've seen is that the last-days revival will reveal who is actually with Jesus (with revival) and who is against Jesus (against revival). This great rebellion or falling away from proper beliefs (prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:10-13 and by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, above) is currently being fulfilled in large part by the multitudes of Christians who are already denouncing the idea of a great last-days revival. Many (perhaps most) of those Christians believe that miracles, healings, and the so-called miraculous gifts of the Spirit ceased or died out during or shortly after the first century, but this form of last-days apostasy (known as cessationism) is thoroughly refuted in my article called All Gifts of the Spirit Are Available Today. The great rebellion or falling away from proper beliefs that was prophesied in the above passage began when pastors started teaching cessationism, which has its roots in Calvin and the Protestant Reformation (see Cessationism ).
In Israel, the yoreh rains (the early or former rains) signal the beginning of the rainy season, and the malkosh rains (the late or latter rains) come at the end of the rainy season just before the harvest is reaped: "The word yoreh (or moreh) literally means "shoots", as well as "teacher", while the word malkosh is related to the Hebrew word mekoshesh (reaper). What do these literal translations teach about these time-bound rains? The Talmud (Ta'anit 6a) explains that yoreh falls at the beginning of the rainy season, thus it is called a "teacher" because it "teaches" people when to reinforce their roofs and bring their produce indoors to avoid possibly being destroyed by subsequent rains. Malkosh is the name given to rain which falls at the onset of spring (Pesach-time). Its name is related to the Hebrew word for reaping because malkosh falls near the harvest season, right before the produce is reaped." (Rain, Rain Come AgainSo the former rain in Israel initiates the rainy season to soften the ground for the first round of planting, and the Hebrew word for it means "teacher." In exactly the same way, the former rain on the day of Pentecost initiated the Church Age, which involved the initial planting of the church and the beginning of Christian teaching. The latter rain in Israel closes out the rainy season, just before the harvest. In exactly the same way, the latter rain (the great last-days revival) will close out the Church Age (ending with the Rapture as we saw), and it will involve a huge harvest of new Christians. According to websites such as Revival Timelines ,
pockets of revival have been breaking out in various parts of the world for approximately the past 300 years. The raindrops of the latter rain have begun to fall, which indicates that the great last-days revival and the Rapture and the end of the Church Age are
very
near.
Update on 07/19/2023: Many churches are voluntarily leaving their denominations or being forced to leave their denominations due to disagreements concerning women as pastors or LGBTQIA+ issues such as gays as pastors. For example: "One fifth of the United Methodist congregations in the United States have left the denomination over the Church's growing openness toward LGBTQ members. Conservative congregations have launched a new denomination called the Global Methodist Church." (Methodist exodus: 6,000 members leave over LGBTQ issuesWe've seen that the end-times will be characterized by both apostasy (falling away from proper beliefs) and revival, and we've seen that we're in the end-times right now. It would be easy to assume that since a number of churches and denominations are now allowing women and gays as pastors, this must be a clear sign of end-times apostasy. However, that assumption would only be true if the Bible forbids women and gays from being pastors. My series called New Testament Passages Concerning Women shows that the New Testament does not forbid women from being pastors or holding any positions of leadership in a church or ministry, and my article called Homosexuality Is Not Always a Sin shows that the New Testament does not forbid people in the LGBTQIA+ community from being pastors or holding any positions of leadership in a church or ministry. Therefore, churches and denominations that are allowing women and people in the LGBTQIA+ community to be pastors and leaders are restoring proper biblical beliefs to the church, so they are examples of the raindrops that have begun to fall in the latter rain, the great last-days revival. Update on 08/13/2023: In this article we've seen that 7 is a very important number throughout the Bible, and my article called Who Wrote the New Testament? shows that it's reasonable to conclude that Jesus' earthly ministry lasted for 7 years, ending with His death and resurrection. In addition, my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One shows that the Antichrist will be revealed almost immediately after the Rapture and that his activities will last for 7 years, ending with the Second Coming. If we imagine the great last-days revival lasting for a year or two, this just doesn't feel like enough time for it to have its full world-wide impact. If we imagine it lasting a decade or two, this feels like far more time than is needed. If we imagine it lasting for 7 years, ending with the resurrection of the dead at the Rapture (just as Jesus' earthly ministry appears to have lasted for 7 years, ending with His death and resurrection), this feels like the right amount of time for a revival to have its full world-wide impact and it fits nicely with other patterns of 7 days, 7 years, or 7,000 years throughout the Bible (for example, see sign #21). Time will tell. Sign #20 of 23
After the books of Malachi and Nehemiah were written (the last Old Testament Scripture), the Jews had to wait approximately 430 years before the Messiah was born (as we'll see). Why was there such a long delay between the last Old Testament books and the birth of Jesus? Some authors suggest that after the Romans came to power they created much safer and more convenient traveling, which enabled the spread of the Gospel message, and this might be one reason for the delay until Jesus was born. God also needed a betrothed couple who would accept an out-of-wedlock pregnancy in order for the virgin birth to be possible, and perhaps such couples were few and far between because under certain circumstances the Law of Moses commanded that she must be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:13-21). We really don't know for certain why it took so long between the last Old Testament books and the birth of Jesus because the Bible doesn't clearly explain this long delay. However, the length of this delay is part of an interesting pattern along with other periods of time recorded in the Bible:
It's difficult to believe that these similar periods of time are just random coincidences. But if God deliberately created this pattern in order to catch our eyes, then what would be the significance of these time periods? God had planned everything out before the creation of the world (1 Peter 1:18-20, Revelation 13:8), so He knew how long it would take for each step of His plan to be carried out. In addition, He has hidden all kinds of information in the Bible using patterns and symbolism and parables and other figurative language (see my article called Understanding Jesus - Part Two). Therefore, it seems likely that there's something hidden for us to discover concerning this pattern of similar time periods. By drawing our attention to these similar time periods, we see that from the Flood until God's covenant with Abraham (which was the basis for the coming of the Messiah) was about 430 years. From there until God's covenant with the Jews through Moses (which we call the Old Covenant) was 430 years. From the last two Old Testament books until Jesus was born (and then initiated the New Covenant at the cross) was approximately 430 years. As explained in detail in my article called Covenants, Dispensations, and the Ten Commandments - Part One, the Abrahamic Covenant is primarily for the Jews (the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), and the Old Covenant was specifically for the Jews, and the New Covenant is specifically for the Jews (although non-Jews are able to share in some of the promises that God made to the Jews). That article also shows that Abraham's grandson Jacob (who was renamed to "Israel" in Genesis 35:10) was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel (later to be known as "Israelites" and "Jews"). In Genesis 46:1-4, God gave the final confirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant to Jacob/Israel, the father of the Jews. This took place while Jacob/Israel and his sons and their families were journeying to Egypt, which was around 1876 BC (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Genesis 47:28-31). This turns out to have a very interesting connection with end-times Bible prophecy. At the top of this article we saw that WWI (1914-1918) was the sign that the end of the age has begun. We also saw that before this sign happened, there was an earlier end-times prophecy that began to be fulfilled around AD 1877 (see sign #4). God knew that our modern Gregorian calendar would run from ancient times up to 1 BC, then from AD 1 up to modern times (there is no year 0), based on the assumed date of Jesus' birth (the actual time of His birth is described in my article called Who Wrote the New Testament?). God does not do things randomly or haphazardly, so the above time periods of 430+ years were not an accidental coincidence; they were meant to draw our attention. God intentionally put in the Bible that the period from the final confirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant up to 1 BC was the same length as the period from AD 1 up to the time when end-times prophecies would begin to be fulfilled, according to our modern calendar. This symmetry is a form of prophecy or foreshadowing that helps to explain why there was a delay of approximately 430 years between the end of Old Testament Scripture and Jesus' birth, because the division between BC and AD (creating the symmetry) is based on the assumed date of Jesus' birth. This is one reason why Jesus' birth needed to be around 430 years after the Old Testament was completed, and the symmetry created by the assumed date of His birth (which our modern calendar is based on) confirms that we're in the end-times. In other words, the period from the final confirmation of the Abrahamic covenant (which was the basis for the coming of the Messiah) until the First Coming of the Messiah matches the period from His First Coming until the signs began that will lead up to His Second Coming. As we saw at the top of this article, the "birth pains" have begun. We're in "labor" right now. We're in the season of Jesus' return, and we've been in this season since about 1914. History as we know it is drawing to a close. Jesus will return for us at the end of the age, and therefore He is returning soon, possibly before you finish reading this article. Are you ready? Sign #21 of 23
If you search online for "God's 7000 year plan" or "6000 year biblical timeline," you'll find numerous websites which show that:
If all of these websites are correct, then humans have been on the earth for approximately 6,000 years since Adam. This becomes interesting when we notice that both the Old and New Testaments relate a day with a thousand years: "A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4)Ancient Christian authors, dating back to around the first century AD, used the above passages to support their belief that human history will last for 6,000 years, followed by the Second Coming, followed by 1,000 years of peace and harmony. For example, see these Wikipedia articles: Millennial Day Theory
and
Six Ages of the World .
In addition, ancient Jewish scholars also used Psalm 90:4 (above) to support their belief that human history will last for 6,000 years, followed by 1,000 years of rest after Messiah comes. For example: "The Talmud comments: R. Katina said, "Six thousand years the world will exist and one [thousand, the seventh], it shall be desolate (haruv), as it is written, 'And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day' (Isa. 2:11)"...R. Katina also taught, "Just as the seventh year is the Shmita year, so too does the world have one thousand years out of seven that are fallow (mushmat), as it is written, 'And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day' (Isa. 2:11); and further it is written, 'A psalm and song for the Shabbat day' (Ps. 92:1) - meaning the day that is altogether Shabbat - and also it is said, 'For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past' (Ps.90:4) (Sanhedrin 97a)."As we can see, ancient Christian authors as well as traditional Judaism believed that human history will last for 6,000 years after Adam, followed by 1,000 years of rest after Messiah comes. The book of Genesis describes God creating the earth and all life on earth in 6 days and then resting on the 7th day. In this way, God was establishing a pattern that can be seen in other places in the Bible: "When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites - the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey - you are to observe this ceremony in this month: For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD. Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders." (Exodus 13:5-7)We can see that by describing 6 days for creating the heavens and the earth and then resting on the 7th day, God was establishing a pattern that He felt was extremely important. Bear in mind that the Bible is filled with patterns such as these and that God does not do things without a reason. In sign #11 we saw that in the Bible, 7 is the number of perfection, and it was considered to be God's number. In contrast, 6 is the number of humankind because it falls short of the perfect number 7. That's how these numbers were symbolically used in biblical times, as most Bible commentaries point out. Putting all of this information together reveals some other interesting patterns or foreshadowings. We saw that when God described working for 6 days of creation and then resting on the 7th day, ancient Christian authors as well as ancient Jewish scholars equated this with 6,000 years of human activity after Adam followed by 1,000 years of rest in the Messianic kingdom. This correlates with 6 being the human number, and 7 being Messiah's number (the perfect number of God). So it was believed that 6 days can be equated with 6,000 years. In that sense, from Adam to Jesus was 4 days, meaning 4,000 years as we saw above. With that in mind, notice that Jesus is referred to as our Passover lamb, without blemish or defect, that was chosen before the creation of the world: "Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch - as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7)This means that for the entire 4,000 years (4 days) of human existence from Adam up to the cross, Jesus was always the chosen lamb to be sacrificed. Notice how this is precisely foreshadowed by the Passover lambs that the Israelites were commanded to slaughter: "The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs."" (Exodus 12:1-7)The above passages say that the Israelite families were commanded to choose a Passover lamb, a male without defect, on the 10th day of the month, and then slaughter it at twilight on the 14th day of the month (4 days later) without breaking any of its bones. It's interesting that God specifically commanded that the Passover lambs be chosen 4 days before they were sacrificed (Exodus 12:1-7, above). There's nothing in the context of that passage, nor anywhere else in the Bible, nor in Bible commentaries ,
that gives any reason for this 4-day waiting period. As far as anyone can tell, the
only
purpose for the 4-day period before sacrificing the original Passover lambs was that it prophetically foreshadowed Jesus because Jesus was the chosen Passover lamb for the 4-day period (4,000 years of human existence since Adam) before He was sacrificed on the cross.
Concerning "twilight" in Exodus 12:1-7 (above), this is what some Bible commentaries say: "keep it up until the fourteenth day, etc. - Being selected from the rest of the flock, it was to be separated four days before sacrifice; and for the same length of time was Christ under examination and His spotless innocence declared before the world.Based on the Hebrew meaning of twilight (above), notice even further how Jesus' death is precisely foreshadowed by the Passover lambs that the Israelites were commanded to slaughter: "At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah." Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last." (Mark 15:33-37)In human terms, Jesus was a male without defect (because He had no sin), and the above passages say that He was sacrificed at twilight, dying at 3pm, and that none of His bones were broken. This is exactly what we saw in the above passages concerning the original Passover lambs (Exodus 12:1-7 and 12:43-46). What we've seen is that Jesus is our Passover lamb, and His death was perfectly foreshadowed by the original Passover lambs. Jesus was the chosen Passover lamb for the 4 days (4,000 years) of human existence since Adam before He was sacrificed, just as the original Passover lambs were chosen 4 days before they were sacrificed. This gives us a direct correlation between 4,000 years and 4 days. Not only were the 6 days of creation intended to establish a pattern as we saw earlier, but in addition there are passages in which we're told that the Lord revealed Himself and His glory after 6 days: "When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud." (Exodus 24:15-16)We've seen that God established a pattern in which He described working for 6 days and resting on the 7th day, and He told the Israelites to work for 6 days and rest on the 7th day, and He decreed that the 7th day was "a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD" (Exodus 16:21-30, 20:8-11, 31:12-17, above). Following this same pattern, the above passages describe God deliberately revealing Himself and His glory after 6 days. In all of these passages, God is making it clear that there is something significant for us to know about 6 days followed by a special and holy 7th day. The correlation of 1 day with 1,000 years implies that there will be 6,000 years of human work (since Adam) on the earth, followed by a special and holy 1,000 years. My article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One explains that after the Second Coming (when the entire world will see Jesus returning "on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory" - Matthew 24:30), Jesus will reign on earth in a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and prosperity for 1,000 years. My article called What Will Happen after the Second Coming? describes what life will be like during Jesus' 1,000-year reign on earth, based on prophecies throughout the Bible. So the Lord absolutely will reveal His glory and initiate a special and holy 1,000 years sometime in the future, which gives us further reason for understanding the above pattern of 6 days as prophetically foreshadowing 6,000 years of human work since Adam, followed by the Lord revealing His glory after the 6,000 years. This pattern of 6 days of work followed by resting in the 7th day is also used in terms of 6 years of work followed by resting in the 7th year, as in these examples: "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything." (Exodus 21:2)In addition, we also find a pattern in which 2 days are followed by something special in the 3rd day, as in these examples: "And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people."" (Exodus 19:10-11)In Exodus 19:10-11 (above), we see that the Lord will come down on the 3rd day. In Hosea 6:1-2 (above), we see that on the 3rd day the Lord "will restore us, that we may live in his presence." In Matthew 16:21 (above), Jesus said that He would be resurrected on the 3rd day after being killed. In Luke 13:31-32 (above), Jesus said that He will keep healing people for 2 days, and on the 3rd day He will "reach my goal," which might have a local application as a prophecy of His resurrection on the 3rd day, but as we'll see in the next paragraph, it might also have a larger prophetic application. In John 11:5-7 (above), Jesus deliberately delayed for 2 days before leaving on the 3rd day to resurrect Lazarus. These are some examples that God has given us in which something special or significant happened on the 3rd day. Consider that the church has now been on the earth for almost 2,000 years after the cross, which equates to the last 2 days on the 6-day timeline. After these 2 days, on the 3rd day the Lord will return at the Second Coming and we will then live in His presence. Since the Church (the body of Christ) is made up of the consecrated people of God, and since Jesus is still healing people through Christians who will step out in faith (see the free PDF of my book called "Divine Healing Absolutely Is for Today"), and since we will be raised up and resurrected and live with Jesus after He leaves heaven and returns at the end of the Church Age (see my series called The Rapture of the Church), the above passages correlate perfectly with the 2,000 years of the Church Age. This gives us even further confirmation that the pattern of 6 days of work followed by 1 day of rest is a prophetic foreshadowing of 6,000 years of human work (since Adam) followed by 1,000 years of peace and harmony on the earth after the Second Coming. If you search online for "God's 7000 year plan" or "6000 year biblical timeline," you'll find a number of other passages that fit the above patterns. These passages all demonstrate that God has placed very definite patterns throughout the Bible to catch our eye, which indicate that humans will be on the earth for 6,000 years from Adam until the time when the Lord returns to initiate the final 1,000 years of God's plan. As we saw, the first 4,000 years took us from Adam to Jesus. It has now been almost 2,000 years since the cross and the beginning of the Church Age, so the 6,000 years of human activity from Adam to the Second Coming are close to being completed. Jesus had said that He will be "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40), and He said that after His death "three days later he will rise" (Mark 10:33-34). He died on the cross at about 3pm (Mark 15:34-37) on a Friday (most likely April 3, AD 33 - see my article called Who Wrote the New Testament?), and at least two women saw the resurrected Jesus around dawn on the following Sunday (Matthew 28:1-10). Since Jesus was not literally in the tomb for 3 full days and nights (see my article above), this indicates that time periods in the Bible are not always meant to be interpreted as precise lengths of time. As a number of Bible commentaries
point out (search for "part of" at that link), a part of a day is sometimes counted as a full day in the Bible.
Therefore, we can't pinpoint a specific date when the 2,000 years of the Church Age will be completed, partly because there's no reason to assume that it will be precisely 2,000 years (a portion of a day can count as a full day), and partly because we don't know if the 2,000 years of the Church Age should be based on the Gregorian calendar
or the
Jewish calendar .
But it's clear that the 6,000 years are close to being completed. Jesus is returning very soon for the final 1,000 years. Sign #22 of 23
My article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Three describes the 21 judgments of God's wrath (the Seal Judgments, Trumpet Judgments, and Bowl Judgments) that will take place during the seven-year Tribulation period. Notice what will happen at the fourth Bowl Judgment: "The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him." (Revelation 16:8-9)In this judgment of God's wrath, the heat from the sun is intensified somehow so that it scorches people. One possibility for this intensified heat is that a number of "climate tipping points" are currently in danger of being triggered, such as the loss of much of the Amazon rainforest, the thawing of permafrost peatlands in northern Europe and Siberia, and the collapsing of ice sheets around the world. When these tipping points are reached then these systems will collapse and will not be able to bounce back. Huge amounts of carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere, dramatically increasing global temperatures (and likely triggering the tipping points in other systems). For example:
The climate change described in the above articles as well as human consumption are contributing to a mass extinction of plants and animals: "In 1970, the planet's 3 and a half billion people were sustainable. But on this New Year's Day [2023], the population is 8 billion. Today, wild plants and animals are running out of places to live...the Earth is suffering a crisis of mass extinction on a scale unseen since the dinosaurs...A World Wildlife Fund study says that in the past 50 years, the abundance of global wildlife has collapsed 69%...Too many people, too much consumption and growth mania...humanity is not sustainable. To maintain our lifestyle (yours and mine, basically) for the entire planet, you'd need five more Earths...The rate of extinction is extraordinarily high now and getting higher all the time...Barnosky's research suggests today's rate of extinction is up to 100 times faster than is typical in the nearly 4 billion year history of life...What we will have to do is to really understand that the climate change and the species extinction is a threat to humanity...I [Paul Ehrlich] and the vast majority of my colleagues think we've had it; that the next few decades will be the end of the kind of civilization we're used to...We're already consuming 175% of what the Earth can regenerate" (Scientists say planet in midst of sixth mass extinction, Earth's wildlife running out of places to liveAccording to the above article (from 1/1/2023), a number of researchers believe that climate change, human consumption, and the extinction of numerous plant and animal species are a threat to humanity within the next few decades. As one of the above articles (from 9/9/2022) points out, global warming is currently at ~1.1 degrees C above the pre-industrial temperature and is expected to reach ~2.6 degrees C of warming. According to that article, when we reach 1.5 degrees C of global warming then this could trigger multiple climate tipping points, causing systems to collapse with no ability to bounce back. Huge amounts of carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere, dramatically increasing global temperatures and killing off more species of plants and animals. Update on 08/27/2023: The above paragraph says that reaching 1.5 degrees C above the pre-industrial temperature could trigger multiple climate tipping points, causing systems to collapse with no ability to bounce back. We have now hit 1.68 degrees C at least once: "in June [2023], the surface temperature in the North Atlantic reached the maximum increase of 1.3 degrees Celsius with respect to preindustrial values...On Thursday, July 6 [2023], the global air temperature (measured at two meters above the ground) reached 17.23 degrees Celsius for the first time in the history of the last centuries, 1.68 degrees Celsius higher than preindustrial values...the annual report of the World Meteorological Organization...released in May 2023 warned that it is very likely (66 percent probability) that the annual average global temperature will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius in at least one year of the next five years (2023-2027), it is possible (32 percent probability) that the average temperature will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius, and it is almost certain (98 percent probability) that at least one of the next five years, as well as the five-year period as a whole, will be the warmest on record; The IPCC has estimated serious consequences if this temperature is exceeded permanently." (The Eco Collapse We Were Warned About Has BegunUpdate on 11/01/2023: An article dated 10/24/2023 says that we went over 1.5 degrees C above the pre-industrial temperature on 38 days so far this year, and two more recent articles say that an alarming and unprecedented series of escalating global temperatures and climate records being broken this year has shocked even the scientists who were warning of it for years: "so far in 2023, there have been 38 days with global average temperatures more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels." (Climate scientists warn Earth systems heading for 'dangerous instability'Update on 04/17/2024: Here are quotes from a couple of articles in April, 2024: "Global surface temperatures in March were 0.1 degrees Celsius higher than the previous record for the month, set in 2016, and 1.68C higher than the pre-industrial average, according to data released on Tuesday by the Copernicus Climate Change Service.We appear to be very close to triggering those climate tipping points (and some might have already been triggered according to some of the above quotes), which could easily be the fulfillment of the prophecy in Revelation 16:8-9 (above) concerning the heat from the sun being intensified. It might not be that the sun itself is somehow intensified, but rather that its effect on earth is intensified. On the other hand, something appears to be happening to the sun itself. An article in August, 2023, entitled "Three Terrifying Signs Our Sun Is In Big Trouble," describes three concerning anomalies in the sun: "The Sun Is Strangely Heating UpUpdate on 04/11/2023: A moment ago we saw what will happen at the fourth Bowl Judgment, and notice what will happen at the sixth Bowl Judgment: "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East." (Revelation 16:12)So the Euphrates river will dry up, which is already happening (in part due to climate change): "Together with the Tigris, the Euphrates carves through present-day Syria and Iraq before emptying into the Persian Gulf. For thousands of years, the twin rivers have allowed farming communities and grand cities to flourish in Mesopotamia, which is considered the cradle of some of the world's earliest civilizations.Update on 11/03/2023: We've seen what will happen during two of the 21 judgments of God's wrath (the fourth Bowl Judgment and the sixth Bowl Judgment) during the seven-year Tribulation period, which are described in my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Three. Notice what will happen during several more of these 21 judgments of God's wrath: "I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place." (Revelation 6:12-14)In each of the above judgments of God's wrath, we see thick smoke or darkness, sometimes accompanied by a great earthquake. We don't know yet what will cause these events (nuclear war and electrical blackouts are possibilities), but recent articles online say that two super-volcanoes are starting to show signs that they might erupt soon (with a great earthquake and thick plumes of smoke), as in this example: "The Italian government is planning for a possible evacuation of more than 300,000 people due to a nearby dormant super volcano showing signs of an eruption - one month after American researchers found one rumbling in the US.Another one of the 21 judgments of God's wrath is that during the seven-year Tribulation period, one-fourth of the earth will be killed, partly by plagues: "When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth." (Revelation 6:7-8)The Greek word for "plague" in Revelation 6:8 (above) is frequently used for death throughout the New Testament, but it also means "plague or pestilence": "Plague or pestilence (Sept.: Exodus 5:3; Exodus 9:3, Exodus 9:15; see Matthew 24:7). Thanatos is joined with limos (G3042), famine (Revelation 6:8 [cf. Ezekiel 14:21])." (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, thanatos, emphasis added)With that in mind, another consequence of climate change is that the Arctic and Siberian permafrost (permanently frozen ground) is thawing. This is not only releasing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, further enhancing the greenhouse effect, but it's also releasing viruses (plagues or pestilences as in Revelation 6:8, above): "The thawing of the permafrost also threatens to unlock disease-causing bacteria and viruses long trapped in the ice.All of these judgments of God's wrath will take place during the seven-year Tribulation period after the Antichrist comes onto the scene, but we're already possibly seeing a build-up to the ultimate fulfillment of those prophecies. This build-up indicates that those prophecies could easily be fulfilled in the very near future. Sign #23 of 23
In sign #22 we saw what will happen at the fourth and sixth Bowl Judgments during the seven-year Tribulation period. Notice what will happen at the sixth Seal Judgment during the seven-year Tribulation period: "I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"" (Revelation 6:12-17)The above passage says that during the Tribulation period, at some point the heavens will recede like a scroll being rolled up, and in sign #18 we saw that this is a good description of a mushroom cloud from a nuclear detonation (from a first-century person's point of view). The passage then says that the rich (and others) will hide in places such as caves. Recently there have been numerous articles describing the doomsday bunkers that rich people are building, such as these examples:
Throughout this article we've seen that the Rapture and the seven-year Tribulation period are very near, and that there will likely be nuclear attacks during the Tribulation period. When things get really bad during the Tribulation, these rich people will have ready-made "caves" to hide in, just as the above passage describes. To summarize, all of the above signs of the times demonstrate that end-times prophecies are being fulfilled at an unprecedented rate, right in front of our eyes. Prophecies of the Last Days Were Closed up and Sealed until the Time of the End
Because of our supercomputers and televisions and global telecommunications satellites and the Internet and implantable computer chips and nuclear warheads and other modern technologies, we are the very first people in the entire history of the world who are able to comprehend and fulfill many of the above end-times prophecies. When we consider what the prophet Daniel was told, we can see how significant this is. Daniel was given a number of visions concerning the Antichrist and the seven-year Tribulation period, but take a close look at what Daniel recorded at the end of his book: "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:4 NKJV)Daniel was told that the words of prophecy were "closed up and sealed" until the time of the end. Obviously it was not the actual book of Daniel that was sealed up because the book of Daniel has been a part of Scripture since around 530 BC (according to a number of Bible commentaries). Rather, it's the understanding of the prophecies that was closed off until the time of the end. Daniel was told that at the time of the end, knowledge shall increase. Consider that knowledge has now exploded to such an extent that people refer to our times as "the Information Age." This great increase in knowledge has led to all sorts of new technologies that suddenly make many end-times prophecies technologically feasible and able to come to pass at any time. Looking out my living room window I can see a highway off in the distance, and at all hours of the day and night there's a steady stream of traffic in both directions. Throughout the day and night there are airplanes flying by in the distance, and similar streams of auto and air traffic are taking place around the world. Many people all over the planet are running to and fro, exactly as Daniel was told would happen at the time of the end (Daniel 12:4 NKJV, above). For the very first time in history, our knowledge has increased to the point where we can understand end-times prophecies in ways that people in earlier ages could not have fathomed. For example, because of the Internet we can easily understand Revelation 11:9, which says that "some from every people, tribe, language and nation" will look upon the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses as we saw earlier. For almost two millennia, nobody understood how this prophecy can possibly be fulfilled. So when we consider this prophecy and Daniel's prophecies and other end-times prophecies, the understanding of these prophecies is no longer sealed up. Think about that for a moment. Remember, Daniel was told that the words of prophecy were closed to people's understanding until the time of the end. We now have an understanding of how Daniel's prophecies can be fulfilled. They don't sound magical or mysterious to us like they did to people even a few decades ago. We are now in the time of the end that the angel told Daniel about. History as we know it is coming to a close. Conclusion
Step by step, the world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described throughout the Bible. We're living in the very first time in history when most of the end-times prophecies listed above could possibly be fulfilled, and those different prophecies are all being fulfilled in the same time frame, right in front of our eyes. The first "birth pain" that Jesus specifically said will mark the end of the age occurred in the 20th century, and we've seen many more signs of the times which demonstrate that end-times prophecies are being fulfilled at an unprecedented rate, right in front of our eyes. In fact, more end-times prophecies have been fulfilled in the last 80 years or so than in the previous 1900 years all put together. These signs of the times indicate that the Tribulation and the Second Coming might be just around the corner, which means that we should live our lives expecting to see Jesus face to face at any moment because the Bible says that He will "snatch" all Christians off of the earth before the seven-year Tribulation begins. As I described in my series called The Rapture of the Church, our heavenly bridegroom will return at any moment to fetch us. Are we ready? Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20). For the glory of the Lord Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, who came in the flesh, was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised to life for our justification. Dave Root home page and email: https://www.vividchristianity.com "Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3) "Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist - denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (1 John 2:22-23) "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God." (1 John 4:15) "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." (1 John 4:1-3) "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John 1:6-7) "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25) |
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| All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (R). NIV (R). Copyright (C) 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. (Emphasis added.) |