Tony PearceIn the latter days you will understand it. Jeremiah 30.
באחרית הימ׳ם תתבוננו בה
World events today are taking a terrible turn. People are afraid of what is coming on the earth and looking for answers to the problems now facing the whole world. There is one group of people who have the answer – and it is found in the Bible. But those who are members of faiths that are based on the Bible, Judaism and Christianity, often know nothing about what it says about prophecy. One of the most common things people say after receiving this magazine is ‘We never hear anything about Bible prophecy in our church / synagogue.’ Bible prophecy has become the message they don’t want you to hear.
This is curious because about 25% of the Bible is made up of prophecies. Reasons to Believe website writes: ‘Unique among all books ever written, the Bible accurately foretells specific events in detail, many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur. Approximately 2,500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, about 2,000 of which already have been fulfilled to the letter—no errors. Since the probability for any one of these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance averages less than one in ten (figured very conservatively) and since the prophecies are for the most part independent of one another, the odds for all these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance without error is less than one in 102000 (that is 1 with 2,000 zeros written after it)!’ https://reasons.org.
These prophecies are found in the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) and in the New Testament. The prophecies of the Old Testament deal with the Day of the Lord (Day of Judgement), including passages which focus on the restoration of the land of Israel, the conflict over Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah. The Hebrew prophets give two portraits of the Messiah. Firstly He comes as the Suffering Servant of the Lord, bearing the sins of the world upon Himself in order to save lost humanity (Isaiah 53). Secondly He comes in power and glory to judge the world in righteousness and set up the Messianic kingdom (Isaiah 2.1-4, 11, Zechariah 14).
The New Testament shows how Jesus / Yeshua (Hebrew name for Jesus) came as the Suffering Servant of the Lord, fulfilling prophecies like Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, by dying on the cross as the sacrifice for the sin of the world and rising again from the dead to give forgiveness of sin and eternal life in the kingdom of God for those who repent and believe the Gospel. Jesus also said ‘I will come again’ (John 14.3) and gave the signs that will precede His Second Coming, principally in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). There is also teaching on this subject in the epistles (1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Timothy 3-4, 2 Peter 3) and in the Book of Revelation.
Prophecies of events that have already happened were fulfilled to the letter. The prophecies of future events concerning the end of days will likewise be fulfilled as written, and indeed are beginning to be fulfilled by current events. These prophecies were given by God in order that we might understand the times we live in and be guided into the truth by studying the Word of God and being led by the Holy Spirit.
Of course there are problems with this subject. People have some crazy ideas about the subject which just put people off. Some give specific prophecies of events to come, including the date of the second coming, something Jesus told us not to do. Speaking of His Second Coming, Jesus said: ‘Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only’, Matthew 24.36. The interpretation of prophetic books like Daniel and Revelation can become very complex and academic and beyond the understanding of the average person and so they give up trying to make sense of it all.
Nevertheless God meant prophecy to be understood and to be a guiding light to people living in dark times. Joe Hawkins writes on Prophecy News Watch site:
‘God does not reveal the future to confuse His people. Throughout Scripture, prophecy functions as preparation, warning, and comfort. When God speaks about what is coming, He does so because He wants His people to be ready, not rattled. Prophecy provides a framework for interpreting the times. Amos wrote, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Jesus told His disciples, “See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:25). Later He added, “These things I have told you before they come, that when they do come to pass, you may believe” (John 14:29). Peter described the prophetic word as “a light that shines in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). Prophecy provides a framework for interpreting the times.’
A brief guide to end time events
First of all we need to know that Jesus made a clear promise that He will come again. He also said that because of this His disciples should not be anxious or dismayed at bad things happening on the earth. In His last meeting with the disciples before He went to the cross, He said to them:
‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.’ John 14.1-3.
He told the disciples what to expect in the days before His return. The disciples ask Him, ‘What shall be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?’ Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ / Messiah,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains (or sorrows).’’ Matthew 24.3-4.
The first sign speaks of spiritual deception bringing false christs and prophets. These may claim to be representing God and Jesus but will be deceivers leading people astray. The way to resist the counterfeit will be to know how to recognise the genuine article, by being familiar with the truth of God. This is revealed in the word of God through the Holy Spirit who points us to the true Lord Jesus Christ as the one Saviour and Mediator between God and humanity:
‘God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.’ 1 Timothy 2.5.
Jesus then tells us that a sign of the end times will be an increase in wars, famines and natural disasters. This is happening now, so we are now living in the time Jesus called ‘the beginning of the birth pains’. The word ‘birth pains’ (odin in Greek) refers to the pains of a woman in labour, another phrase often used in connection with prophetic events and the end of days (see Isaiah 21.3, Jeremiah 30.6, 1 Thessalonians 5.3, Revelation 12.2). When a woman is giving birth to a child, labour pains (contractions) become more intense in a process which cannot be reversed once it has begun. Though the process is painful, once the child is born (if it is in good circumstances), the woman rejoices that she has brought new life into the world (John 16.21).
Applying this sequence of events to the second coming of Jesus Christ, we find that there will be painful events taking place which will become more and more intense the nearer we get to the second coming. Once this process has begun it will not be reversed until the Lord returns. When He comes those who believe in the Lord and are looking for His return will forget the pain of the previous time for joy that He has returned to save the world.
The passage here speaks of the beginning of sorrows. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus says concerning the events of His return, ‘When you see these things begin to happen look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draws near.’ By telling us the things which are prophesied for the end times before they happen, God is preparing His people for what is to come and showing us that there is a hopeful conclusion to all of this. Yes there will be wars, famines and disasters, along with other signs, persecution of true believers taking place, lawlessness and people losing faith and love for God. We won’t be able to stop these things from happening or reverse the process. Once it has begun it will increase in intensity until the climax which is the return of the Messiah.
At the same time there is good news for those who will receive it. Jesus said, ‘This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations and then the end will come.’ Matthew 24.14. The Gospel message is good news, whatever our circumstances. It tells us that the Messiah Jesus died for our sins, and rose from the dead to give forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation to all who will receive it. The same Jesus who died once for our sins will return a second time to judge the world in righteousness according to how we have responded to the Gospel. Those who understand this have reason to be confidant and hopeful, knowing that ‘our redemption draws near.’ Jesus is coming again and He will save all who put their trust in Him. He is preparing a glorious future for us in His eternal kingdom (John 14.1-3).
The fact that the message will be preached in the last days does not mean that everyone will receive it. One of the delusions of contemporary Christianity is the ‘kingdom and dominion’ teaching that there will be a great end time revival which will convert the world to Christianity before Jesus can return. The prophetic scriptures imply the opposite, that the majority of people in the world will turn to antichrist, suppress the truth and persecute true Christians before Jesus returns.
The Great Tribulation
In Matthew 24 Jesus speaks of a time of unique trouble known as the Great Tribulation at the end of days. At this time the world will face a crisis of such enormous proportions that it will threaten to wipe out all life on earth. Jesus described it like this: ‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.’ Matthew 24.21-22.
Prophecies in Daniel and Revelation indicate that this will be a seven year period, divided into two phases of three and a half years each. This period of intense trouble before the Day of the LORD is also the subject of a number of prophetic passages in the Old Testament (Isaiah 24, Jeremiah 30, Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel 12, Joel 2-3, Zephaniah, Zechariah 12-14)
The world will come under the power of a world leader known as the Beast or Antichrist. To begin with he will offer peace and safety to a world terrified by the events taking place. The peace he offers will turn out to be a deception and lead to more wars. Revelation 6, the famous ‘Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ passage, describes a sequence of events, the rider on the white horse riding out ‘conquering and to conquer’, followed by the red horse bringing war, the black horse bringing famine and the pale horse bringing mass death.
Despite the evil of this time there will be a great number of people who will come to faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. 144,000 Jewish people specially sealed by God will receive the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah and, through their witness,‘a great multitude which no one could number of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues’ will be saved (Revelation 7). Many of these will be martyred for their faith. They will then be resurrected after Jesus returns to the earth. Revelation 20.4.
In the first half of the tribulation period the Beast or the Antichrist will rise to power. He will be possessed and energised by the Devil. Half way through the seven-year tribulation period he will experience a counterfeit death and resurrection which will cause people to worship him as god. The False Prophet will perform supernatural signs and set up an image of the beast which people will be told to worship. He will give those who submit to the Mark of the Beast, a number, which will give them the ability to buy and sell (666). Current developments in technology and finance connected to Digital IDs and Central Bank Digital Currency are preparing the way for this system to come into being. Those who refuse to worship the image will not receive the number and so will not be able to buy and sell. You can read about this in Revelation chapter 13.
Setting up the image of the beast will cause God’s judgements to fall on the earth. Those who receive the mark will be eternally damned. If you are reading this during the tribulation period, know that you must not take the mark. It is better to trust in Jesus and face martyrdom than take the mark of the beast and go to hell.
Finally Satan will gather the nations together to Armageddon, the last battle which will take place in Israel and bring Jesus back to the earth (Revelation 16.12-19). Jesus will then return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will utterly defeat the armies of the beast and the false prophet, who will then be thrown into hell. Satan will be bound in the abyss for 1000 years, during which time he will be unable to deceive the nations (Revelation 20.1-3).
The Rapture Question
One of the reasons why many churches want to avoid the subject of the second coming is that it can create division over different interpretations of scripture, in particular the question of the time of the event known as the rapture.
Jesus said there is a day coming when a large number of people will suddenly be taken out of the world:
‘I tell you on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.’ Luke 17.34-36.
Jesus compares this event to the days of Noah, when the Flood came, and the days of Lot when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Both events happened suddenly when life was going on as normal when people were doing ordinary things like eating and drinking, buying and selling, building and planting. Then God rescued His people Noah and his family and Lot and members of his family. So it will be at this time. Life will be going on as normal and suddenly God will take His people out of the world.
In 1 Thessalonians 4.16-17, Paul describes it like this:
‘For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.’
The people who will be caught up to meet the Lord are those who believe that the Lord Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead. This event is known as the rapture of the church. The word ‘rapture’ is taken from the Latin form of the Greek word ‘harpazo‘ used in 1 Thessalonians 4.17 for ‘caught up’. To be a part of this event you must repent of your sin now and accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
We will then experience the most dramatic life-changing event of all time. We will receive new resurrection bodies which will never again experience sin, sickness and death (1 Corinthians 15.50-58). We will meet the Lord Jesus in the air and He will take us to heaven. From this time onwards, we will be forever in His presence.
We will pass before the judgement seat of Christ where our works done on earth will be judged. ‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.’ 2 Corinthians 5.10. This judgement will be for reward not for heaven or hell.
We will attend the wonderful event known as the ‘Marriage Supper of the Lamb‘ (Revelation 19.6-10) where the Lord and all those who have been saved will be present. For those who have this hope based on a living faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord there is a future which is so wonderful that no words can describe it: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ 1 Corinthians 2.9.
Those taken in the rapture of the church, along with those who died in Christ between the Day of Pentecost and the rapture, will return with Jesus Christin glorified bodies and be part of the glorious time when Jesus reigns on earth in the Millennial kingdom and then live forever in the new heavens and new earth.
When does the rapture happen?
People who believe these scriptures have different views about whether the rapture of the church happens before, in the middle or at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. The pre-tribulation view is that the rapture comes before the tribulation. The tribulation is the time of God’s wrath on the earth and believers will be saved from wrath. Those who believe in Jesus will be delivered from this time. People who hold this view point out that the prophecies teach that this event is imminent and could happen at any time, which would not be the case if it happens at the end of the tribulation. The mid-tribulation view is that the rapture happens half way through the seven-year period, after the Antichrist has risen to power (3½ years before the return of Jesus Christ to the earth). The post-tribulation view is that the rapture happens at the same time as the second coming of Christ to the earth and that the church will be present for the events of the great tribulation as described in the book of Revelation.
I believe there is good reason to take the view that the rapture happens before the tribulation; however, I also understand why people take opposing views. According to the pre-tribulation view, the second coming is indeed the ‘blessed hope’ of the church (Titus 2.13) – when Jesus will come and take all those who believe in Him to Himself and be with us for ever more (1 Thessalonians 4.16-18). The pre-tribulation view means that Jesus could come at any time and therefore we must be ready now to meet Him either in the rapture or the hour of our death. This makes sense of Jesus’ word, ‘Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ Matthew 24.41-44.
Whatever the time of the rapture is, we must be ready for really hard times to come in which we may suffer and die for our faith. We also have a reason to hope for a much better future coming when Jesus returns. It is important that we are ready to meet the Lord by accepting Jesus now as Saviour and Lord. We should also use the time that remains to get the message of the Gospel out to our lost and dying world.
The Millennium and the new heavens and new earth
When Jesus returns to the earth He will fulfil the words of Revelation 11.15:‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (Messiah), and He shall reign for ever and ever!’
Jesus will return in person this time as King of kings with all the power of God. He will rule the world for 1000 years from a restored Jerusalem during a wonderful period known as the Millennium or Messianic Kingdom. Satan will be confined in ‘the abyss’ and be unable to influence the nations (Revelation 20.1-3). This age will be free from war and the negative aspects of modern life and technology. People will live in peaceful communities with the Lord present. Evil will be restrained and there will be plenty for all. This will be the fulfilment of the vision of the Hebrew prophets:
‘For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more.’ Isaiah 2.3-4.
‘The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.’ Isaiah 11.9.
At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be released for a short while. He will gather together those born during the Millennium who reject Jesus and resent having to live under His rule. Jesus will swiftly crush this last act of rebellion by Satan and cast him into hell. Then there will be the final Great White Throne judgement: And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20.15.
This will be the end of the world, when the permanent division between the lost in hell and the saved in heaven will be sealed. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Revelation 21.1.
All those who are saved will then live in the presence of God forever in the New Jerusalem: ‘Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away.’ Revelation 21.2-4.
So be ready now for the Lord’s return and whatever happens in this world, look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draws near.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2.11-14.
