End Times Prophecies…

 

End Times Prophecies…

I was involved in a discussion at work the other day which was largely about the Iran - Israel Conflict and in which a colleague noted that I believed in a certain bible prophecy relating to the current events which include Trump's America. I wasn't really prepared to get into that discussion at the time but it has caused me to reflect on my perspective of bible prophecy in general.

 

Many years ago as a young person my family were very interested in bible prophecy and to an extent we still keep a watching brief on world current events through that lens. I learned back then that it is not healthy to get too engaged in micro analysis of the detail of bible prophecy because it becomes much like shadow boxing and can consume your world view. Much better to just maintain a relaxed watching brief and get on with the important things in life like friends and family and serving God in more productive ways.

 

Of course things have changed somewhat and we live in a most interesting times when compared to prophecy. With regard to the Ezekiel prophecy about a huge invading army attacking Israel in the End Times, we have Israel doing her best to enrage the entire Muslim world by conducting genocide in Gaza. Hence the fulfillment of that prophecy is looking quite possible in our time.

 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that the beginning of the End Times there will be famines and earthquakes in various places and goes on to describe the events that occur in the tribulation time. He comments that was that time not cut short no flesh would survive. Bible prophecy describes the time in some detail in the books of Daniel and Revelation and there are many other details in the books of the minor prophets, and Isaiah and Ezekiel.

 

However, today we have arrived at a time when we don't need bible prophecy to inform us that the manure is about to hit the ventilator. It is fair to say that many Christians don't believe in climate change or that the planet is in real trouble because of the activities of mankind. I also realize that conspiracy theorists are seeing government meddling everywhere. According to them, airplane contrails, laser tornadoes and the seeding of hurricanes are at the center of all man driven climate change.

 

To use a common metaphor, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck. It's a duck! Applying this to climate change, we are cutting down the Amazon Rain-forest, the oceans are full of our plastic, the fishing fleets are dragging nets across the ocean floor and turning it into a desert. We are seeing atmospheric rivers causing record weather events across the globe and firestorms are becoming a regular feature of summer in California. Man-made climate change, could be?

 

My point, the population of mankind stands at eight billion souls and the unmitigated ruination of the Earth is in full swing. Mankind is consuming resources and those resources are either under or are a part of the infrastructure that sustains the biosphere. This also happens to be where we all live. Many species are under habitat pressure and facing extinction and only species that can live with man can survive him. In the end the planet may be so damaged that even man can't survive. Bear in mind what Jesus said "If those days were not shortened, no flesh would survive. It is not prophecy, it is reality! We've done this to ourselves and God is allowing the custodians of creation to reap the consequences of their own wicked short shortsightedness.

 

So, my question is if we exclude bible prophecy from the picture and just look at the likelihood of an extinction level event in the current era. Then what is the probability of mankind surviving the next century? What I mean by this is that if the population continues to rise and the forests disappear, the atmosphere becomes ever warmer and more polluted. The oceans get even more degraded and polluted and oxygen producers decline and planetary resources begin to run out. Things will begin to fall apart.

 

Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The battle for survival will be on and probably only the super powers could win such battle although if nuclear war comes into the scenario then winning could be a moot point. The Earth will then be a quiet area for the next few thousand years.

 

Actually, I think I prefer the biblical perspective because Jesus said "And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." So, with God there is hope for the future and those who believe on Jesus Christ shall not perish but will inherit eternal life (John 3:16).

 

Keep in mind that the bible has passages and even entire books that describe the events of history ahead of time and this period of the Tribulation and the coming Kingdom of God happening at the end of the Church Age. It describes a time of great upheaval but points to a time of great hope for all who trust Jesus Christ the Nazarene. There will be a cataclysmic time of judgement for the sins of mankind but once that is over the Kingdom of God will be established and will last forever.

 

The world is in trouble friends and it is not only the bible that says so. You only have to look at the facts and really open your eyes to see what is going on around you. Whether it is described as the End Times in bible prophecy or you are reading about it in the daily news. The End Times are near and the future is looking doubtful. As I mentioned before I personally believe that God is in control and that if you will  believe on His Son, Jesus Christ, then there is reason for hope. You may pass away in this life but Yahweh will resurrect you to eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Current Deception

 

 

I recently heard someone say that they don't like all this these Christians who believe on Jesus and get saved. They don't last as disciples. If you know me you would know that I would be shocked to the core by this kind of false teaching. That it came from the mouth of a Pastor was a surprise but that it happened in a Calvinist setting was possibly a little more understandable.

 

I felt strongly that I needed to do some research into this type of thinking. Is it wide spread in the Church and where did it come from. Coincidentally,  I happened to watch J. John interview a fellow called Phil Moore. Mr Moore majors on making robust disciples. He shared about his relationship with the suffering church in Iran and how the Christians there had after the persecution of 2014 begun using the pattern of disciple instruction that Jesus used as outlined in Matthew chapter ten verses five through to twenty.

 

"When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere."

 

This was when Jesus sent the disciples out to evangelise Israel. There is a corresponding passage from Luke ten verses two through twelve relating to the sending out of an additional seventy disciples, two by two into the towns and cities of Israel was also mentioned on the J John interview. Here also, they were to heal the sick and preach that the Kingdom of God was at hand.

 

"2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town."

 

The Iranians shared with Phil Moore that prior to the persecution of 2014 that there had been a relaxed time where the Church in Iran was not persecuted and disciples had been made by simply preaching the gospel. Simply believing on Jesus. However, when the persecution came many disciples fell away. They believed their error to be in not using Jesus approach from the gospels. They began to win disciples by following the method Jesus used with His disciples and preaching that the Kingdom of God was at hand. Their approach also involved getting alongside individuals in the community and equipping them to become disciples in their own right. From developing house churches to discipling others in their faith community.

 

Apparently, Phil Moore uses this model himself in discipling new converts into the Church. So! I hear you say, what is wrong with that. Well, nothing at all really. The Church in Iran has endured heavy and brutal persecution in recent years. If they feel the converts made before the persecution weren't well enough prepared then fair enough.

 

However, I would point out that Islam has been persecuting Christians with the intention of destroying the Church for 1400 years and they don't mess about. In their more militaristic form, they chop off limbs, they beat people to a pulp and kill families routinely to achieve that end. Their campaign has been very successful in this regard and is without doubt one of the opposition's finest tools. It has been said that the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity but if you look at the number of Christians that were in Turkey and the Middle East prior to the invasion of Islam and the number subsequent to that event. There aren't many that stand against the tide.

 

I don't think you can blame people for hiding their faith against that type of persecution and it is understandable for believers to go underground with their faith in the face of certain violent opposition or the prospect of arrest and probable death. I don't think that keeping a low profile to ensure the future of the Church necessarily equates to poor discipleship either. You do what you must in obedience to the Savior and as with the disciples of Jesus the purposes of Jesus Christ will be served and at times we will pay for our faith with our lives but that will be in God's Grace and His good time.

 

Now to the deception. The deception here is to say that a person who is brought to faith by believing that Jesus of Nazareth bore their sins on the cross and paid their sin debt with His broken body and shed blood, will not make a good disciple. In fact the very opposite is the case and such a person will eventually make a very effective disciple.

 

In fact as Acts chapter four and verses ten through twelve says: "…10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 

That there is much to discipleship and a lot to learn as a Christian about becoming a successful evangelist. Of this there is no doubt. I would counsel against listening to anyone who attempts to denigrate the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It is the only name by which we can be saved and as the scripture says "There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

 

Finally, it takes a significant period of time to learn the basics of being a Christian and to gain a knowledge of the word, doctrine and evangelistic prowess. It someone was converted last week and persecuted this week then they will literally be doing what Jesus instructed His disciples to do. In the face of little knowledge and a dearth of experience they would receive their guidance from the Holy Spirit Himself. Jesus said don't worry what you will say when you stand before them for the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say.

 

Mark chapter thirteen verse eleven "And when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time; for you are not the ones speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit."