What Is Coming?
GOD’S PROPHETS
People the world over are fascinated by prediction. Millions listen daily for a weather forecast, or a predicted outcome of a sporting event. We even dare to plan on these forecasts. However, after we have experienced and witnessed the event with our own eyes, we too often realize the forecast was false or inaccurate. An eyewitness account is sure - a predicted outcome is not.
We all use the expression seeing is believing. Can anything be more sure than seeing something for oneself? But God says Bible prophecy is MORE SURE than the eyewitness account. 2 Peter 1:16-19. There is no chance that God's predictions will not take place, and no possibility that His prophets are anything other than 100% accurate.
The 6th President of the U.S.A., John Quincy Adams said, "The first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention is the Bible. I speak as a man of the world to men of the world, and I say to you, search the Scriptures." Christians the world over believe the Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God.
A prediction or prophecy that is mentioned more than any other is the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. There are over 2,000 specific references to it. That's a terrible lot of inspired focus on one prophecy. An unerring, perfect, infallible God in the best selling and most widely distributed Book in the history of mankind is eager that everyone, everywhere understands this event. God invites you to consider His predictions.
WHY DOES CHRIST WANT TO RETURN?
Christ gave everything for the human race. He stepped off the throne of the universe, made Himself of no reputation, took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: then He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death - the death on the cross.
He did this so that sinful humanity could be saved from destruction; destruction which must put an end to this sinful planet with all its misery and woe. He cannot let it go on. But He provided the way out by His atoning blood which forgives and cleanses the repentant believer from sin. But this great gift of grace and righteousness can't be forced upon anyone. It's an offering of love to us. We must make the choice by love also. Put another way:
"Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life that was His. With His stripes we are healed." He has paid the supreme price for us. This is why He wants to return- to take His people home.
THE BIG QUESTION?
The disciples asked... "...and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world?" Matthew 24:3
JESUS GAVE MANY SIGNS
SIGNS IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD:
Matthew 24:5 FALSE CHRISTS
Matthew 24:11 FALSE PROPHETS
Matthew 24:24 FALSE REVIVALS
Matthew 7:21-23 FALSE SIGNS AND WONDERS
Matthew 24:14 GOSPEL PREACHED TO ALL THE WORLD
Throughout history and during our present age there have been many claiming to be Christ or the Messiah. These false prophets have led thousands to ruin. Many false revivals have been and are underway. Miracles of healing are performed but the power to overcome sin isn't present. Christ said "... many shall come in my name, saying I am the Christ; and shall deceive many." "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect."
Luke 18:8 TRUE FAITH SCARCE
Revelation 16:14 OCCULT REVIVALS
2 Peter 3:3 SCOFFERS
1 Timothy 4:1 SPIRITISM
2 Timothy 4:4 FABLES-FALSE DOCTRINES ABOUND
2 Timothy 4:3 SOUND DOCTRINE DESPISED
2 Timothy 3:5 RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY
SIGNS IN THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD:
2 Peter 3:5-7 DENIAL OF CREATION
Daniel 12:4 KNOWLEDGE AND TRAVEL INCREASED
Denial of creation comes in the form oft e theory o evolution as theorized by Charles Darwin in 1859. This was rejected by the scientific world of his day. Many of our most famous scientists of the past supported creation scientifically. These include Sir Isaac Newton, Georges Cuvier, Michael Faraday, Samuel Morse, Robert Boyle, Matthew Maury, James Joule, Louis Pasteur, William Thomson, Sir Joseph Lister, James Maxwell, Sir Ambrose Fleming, Wernher von Braun and many others also.
At the time of Darwin's theory, Louis Pasteur had just proven conclusively that life could proceed only from pre-existent life. There are no transitional forms of life, no missing links in a chain - they simply don't exist.
Darwin was relying on geological records to provide plain evidence of the mutation of species, but they never materialized. He wrote to Quatrefages, "Geology assuredly does not reveal any finely graduated organic chain, and this is perhaps the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against the theory." Also the evolutionary development of the mind from the merely living was even more unthinkable.
The 20th century has been the most technological period in human history. Knowledge and discovery have soared to almost limitless heights it would seem. Over 2,600 years ago the prophet Daniel wrote that this would indeed occur along with unprecedented travel during the time of the end , just before the end of time. People now travel the world daily by air.
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Daniel 12:4. In just one persons lifetime these words have met their literal fulfillment. We are there! THE TIME OF THE END!
SIGNS IN THE POLITICAL WORLD:
Daniel 2:43 DISUNITY OF NATIONS
Matthew 24:7 INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT
Matthew 24:6 WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS
Revelation 7:1 RESTRAINT BY GOD OF WINDS /STRIFE
Revelation 11:18 ABILITY TO DESTROY EARTH
1 Thessalonians 5:3 CRY OF PEACE AND SAFETY THEN DESTRUCTION
Will humanity change? Is there hope for a world in which peace, love, and unity will exist for all mankind? Humanity has always wished for a better world, a better existence but it has eluded him.
Jesus predicted that the "last days" would witness the development of a crisis in human affairs that would be beyond man's power to remedy or control . Luke 21:25, 26 "...and upon the earth distress of nations, with PERPLEXITY; "... men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." The word" PERPLEXITY (Greek APORIA means NO EXIT; NO WAY OUT). This final incurable crisis is now upon us. Man has no permanent solutions for his rapidly - escalating problems, whether they be social, economic, political, environmental, or moral. He has reached the point of "no return" the irreversible extremity. All our dazzling technological achievements have not brought us one millimetre closer to the elimination of war, famine, mass-starvation, crime, greed, terrorism, pollution, drug-abuse, or humanly inflicted epidemics of self-destruction. If anything, we are further from the solution of these mammoth problems than ever before."
In terms of human resources, no adequate salvaging mechanisms are available-or in sight-that can halt humanity's headlong downward plunge, and lift the race back to sanity and peace. Indeed, so desperate has the international crisis now become, that one commentator has described our modem world as "AN ELEPHANT HANGING OVER A CLIFF, WITH ITS TAIL TIED TO A DAISY! THIS IS WHY JESUS CHRIST MUST COME AGAIN!
SIGNS IN THE NATURAL WORLD:
Matthew 24:7 EARTHQUAKES, FAMINES, PESTILENCES.
Revelation 11:18 POLLUTION, ENVIRONMENT, ARMS RACE.
Luke 21:25 SIGNS IN SUN, MOON, STARS.
Jesus went on, ".. . and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in different places." Matthew 24:7.
There is hardly any need to mention the terrible fact that 1,000 million people are starving at this moment. Everyone knows that.
Diseases and pestilences are epidemic. In the last 20 years, 30 new diseases have been scientifically identified: vibrio cholera 0139, Ebola virus 80% fatal, Hanta virus in USA 50% fatal, tuberculosis, once under control is now making a comeback, 2,000 million people are at risk of dengue fever, 333 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases 1995 excluding HIV infections. (World Health Organization Figures). 25 million people have died from HIV so far. (Durban HIV Conference July 2000 Figures).
In 1983, 9842 earthquakes were recorded on planet earth. This activity has gradually increased until in 1998, 20,531 earthquakes were recorded that year, double in just fifteen years. (Figs US Geological Survey National Earthquake Info Center.) During the last two years of the 20t" century major eruptions and explosions were covered on our daily television networks.
The 1991 Bangladesh floods killed over 125,000 people. In 1988 a horror quake killed 100,000 Armenians. Hurricane `Andrew' cost America 20 billion in damages, and the quake in Los Angeles also cost a staggering 15 billion dollars. The world today is afflicted with natural disasters on a devastating scale. 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3 says "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." The closing events will become more rapid and closer together like birth pains. The hour is late but there is a hope for those who want it.
SIGNS OF PERILOUS TIMES:
2 Timothy 3:1-5. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Matthew 24:37-39 "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
What was it like in the days of Noah?
Genesis 6:5-12. "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
While God counts marriage as a holy transaction the figures below show its abuse and misuse as it was in Noah's day. In Australia in 1997, 106,735 marriages were performed and 51,288 divorces. Defacto relationships stood at 756,500. (Australian year Book 1999) These figures stand as a testimony of broken lives, broken homes, shaky relationships and misery for too many men, women and children. But the prophecy is correct and on schedule!
Also in that year, 130,406 motor vehicles were stolen; 328,869 unlawful entries with intent; 322 murders; 557 kidnappings; 123,940 assaults; 14,138 sexual assaults (it is estimated that only 1 in 6 are reported in Queensland and Victoria). In all 417,845 offences recorded about 50% of the real figure. Yes the earth is filled with violence and corruption.
DOES GOD REALLY EXIST?
For the agnostic this question is impossible answer, and the atheist doesn't think so. For the Christian it's a certainty. But it's a question we must get right. To be wrong over the issue of God's existence means to lose everything forever. To be right is to have a glorious everlasting future!
If what God says about the future is accurate, then this is evidence that people can use to build an intelligent faith upon. It is not blind faith, but faith based upon reliable and solid evidence that will provide a sense of certainty and hope for the future. Jesus explained "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, you might believe." John 14:29. If God can predict the future accurately, then this would be clear and certain evidence for His existence. It would also prove that the Bible is an inspired Book, a Book that can be trusted.
Approximately one third of the Bible is prophecy. Hebrew prophets had an insight into the future of nations and kingdoms of their day, and they wrote down their predictions. Today we can test their statements from subsequent history to see whether they were correct and accurate in what they said. Jesus Christ predicted the conditions of the world just prior to His return. This tract supplies a partial list. How accurate was He 2000 years ago in outlining the signs of the times in our modem world? What do you think?
What will you do with Jesus? Over 70,000 books have been written about Him. There isn't hardly a town which doesn't have a building dedicated to His honor and glory. The courts of the land base their laws upon His teachings. Countless sculptors and artists have painted His image. Wherever we turn He is there. Either He was the greatest hoax in history or He was the Savior of fallen humanity, the God-man, the Creator of all things.
Yes, God and Jesus Christ do exist. They invite you to spend eternity with Them.
It has been said, "we can see the disintegration of society but won't it simply roll over into another civilization as it always has done in the past?" Not so! God through His prophet Daniel tells us this civilization is the last.
In just 8 of the 49 verses of chapter 2 and in 213 words. Daniel foretold the major political changes down to our time. Please note this prophecy mentions only those nations with which the children of Israel had connection. China, USA etc are not included. Lets look at past, present and future as Daniel explains it to us.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM
Nebuchadnezzar II was the greatest king of the 2nd Babylonian Empire. About 600 BC he brought the power of ancient Babylon to the pinnacle of its glory. Daniel was a young Hebrew captive in Babylon, a worshipper of the true God, who had already earned a reputation for great wisdom.
In the night Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of an image. In the morning he felt troubled and the dream had gone from his memory. As was usual in pagan Babylon he called for the magicians and astrologers. He then demanded that they reveal the dream to him. They could not. He then sentenced all the wise men to death. This included Daniel. When Daniel heard of this he asked the king for time. Daniel and his friends prayed and asked the true God for the answer. The dream was revealed to Daniel including its interpretation. The image had a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, feet part iron and clay. Then a stone was cut out without hands and smote the image on the feet and broke it in pieces. We continue with the story in verse 38 of Daniel chapter 2.
"Thou art this head of gold." Babylon was rich with gold; just about everything was covered with it. "And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee (silver, Verse 32) and a third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over the earth." (Verse 39.) The kingdom which followed Babylon was Persia which made things out of silver. Then came the brass kingdom Greek Empire under Alexander the Great which ruled the world Daniel was here writing of empires which would come in long after his death. "And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: for as much as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things and as iron that breaks all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise." (Verse 40) This is the Roman Empire which followed Greece with its superior iron and ruled the world under the Caesars. But Rome would divide. "And whereas thou saw the feet and toes part of potters clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; hut there shall be in it of the strength of iron, forasmuch as thou saw the iron mixed with miry clay. (Verse 41) "And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken." (Verse 42)
As the Roman Empire disintegrated over about 200 years it was left a weakened and ransacked empire, finally splitting into ten kingdoms represented by the toes of the image. Anglo-Saxons (England), Franks (France), Alemanni (Germany), Burgundians (Switzerland), Lombards (Italy), Visigoths (Spain), Suevi (Portugal), Ostrogoths, Vandals and Heruli . These last three vanished from existence.
We have been in this divided kingdom state ever since the Roman Empire. This is Western Europe. But the prophecy continues.
43."And whereas they saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay."
Just as iron and clay won't mix, neither will Western Europe be united. Despite attempts to bring Europe under one rule over hundreds of years by Charlemagne, Charles V. Louis XIV, Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm, Adolf Hitler, the European Union and the Pope, God says it will never take place. This prophecy declares it.
Historian Charles Downer Hazen says: "Europe has always refused to be dominated by a single nation or a single man. It has run the risk several times in its history of passing under such a yoke, but it always, in the end, succeeded in escaping it."(Modern European History p.229)
DIVIDED KINGDOMS OF WESTERN EUROPE THE LAST!
44. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all the kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." The stone which smote the image represents Christ's second coming. For centuries the prayer, "Thy Kingdom Come", has been uttered by the lips of millions. That prayer is about to be answered dramatically. The long dark night of tragedy and sorrow will end forever. Time will melt into eternity. He is about to return for His saved people.
Why do you think God has given you an opportunity to read these things? Is it just by accident or chance? Ah, no. This question was asked a young couple at the close of a Bible study on Daniel 2. After some moments of silence, the young woman replied: "I suppose it is because He wants us!" He does indeed! And it is wonderful to be wanted-especially by God.
The problem God has is that sin exists in His universe on planet Earth. The sin problem has to be fixed, the universe cleansed. That means a remedy for sin had to be found. Only Jesus Christ could pay the price of the death sentence of sin. Because of His unconditional love for His sinful erring children, He went to the cross and He died in our stead. Not only that, He then had to restore His people, heal them of their infirmities and make them fit to live in a sinless universe. This is known as growing in grace.
Christ will supply you with grace and power to live a righteous life. He will change your life if you will let Him. This is your second chance. Jesus hands to you His righteousness as a free gift in place of your sin so that you might live with Him for eternity.
Four hundred years ago the famous Puritan Thomas Adams described Christ's robe of righteousness in these words. "The cloth for this rare and costly robe, made all of silk, was spun in His conception, woven in His birth, purified in His life, dyed scarlet in His blood, cut to requirement and pressed in His death, put together in His resurrection, embroidered in His ascension, and so laid away in the wardrobe of heaven, from whence it is spiritually taken and continually worn of the elect, a robe large enough to cover us all." Christ's righteousness must sanctify those who will be there to meet Christ at His Coming.
Jesus offers us the pure robe of His righteousness, that we may be clothed. Read Revelation 3:18-20 Are you willing to accept His robe of righteousness?
When we see world conditions lining up with the Bible signs we can know time is about to close and Christ will soon return to take His people home. At His second coming the wicked will be destroyed and the righteous taken to heaven.
Why would God destroy this planet if He is a God of love? We can compare this to the love a master has for his faithful dog. He cares for his best friend and feeds and loves it. They walk together, they enjoy each others company, they have been together for many years. One day his beloved companion gets sick. The vet explains the disease is incurable and that if the animal isn't put to rest, it will suffer terribly. The master, with grief and love in his heart, knows that this is best. He would trade places if he could. He makes the decision for it to be done. Is this principle an act of mercy and love or an act of hate on the part of the master? What's your answer?
Now suppose the incurable disease is sin in the life. God has made every provision possible for its cure. He traded places with the sinner and paid the price with His own life, but the sinner does not want His help. And God can not let it go on because of the suffering it brings. He can't wait any longer. He can do nothing else but in mercy and love put to rest those who won't be washed clean and white. He's knocking at the door of your heart. Will you invite Him in?
THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
THE DEAD RESURRECTED! THE LIVING TRANSLATED! INVASION FROM SPACE
At His return there will be noises and thundering and lightning and an earthquake such as the world has never before experienced. Hail the size of a talent, about 50 kilograms, will fall on the wicked. It will be tempestuous round about Him. The Advent will be a visual, powerful, audible, personal and glorious event. Every eye shall see Him.
The return of Jesus to gather His people from this earth is the grand theme of the Bible. It is the ultimate goal of all Bible prophecy and is more conspicuous in the Book of Revelation than in any other. It is called in JOEL 2:31 the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD. Great for those who are ready but terrible for those who have not made the choice.
The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that GOD IS LOVE.