END-TIME PROPHECY

About one-third of the Bible is prophecy; history written in advance. Over 80 percent of this future history is yet to be fulfilled. Tragically, most Bible readers are completely unaware of awesome, impending world events, soon to shock all nations.

Many believe the world is hurtling toward terrible trouble, even absolute calamity. Disease, famine, and war are taking place on the planet as never before. New diseases are continually appearing and old ones are reappearing worse than ever. This, and famine, which always follows in the wake of war, are decimating entire segments of local populations.

Only about 200 years ago, the United States of America [Manasseh] and the British Commonwealth of nations [Ephraim] suddenly shot to great prominence and power. Not too long ago, the combined wealth of these two nations was over 70 percent of the total wealth and physical resources of the world. All the rest of the nations combined possessed less than 30 percent. Of Britain, it was said, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” Yet, right on prophetic schedule, Britain has declined to almost a third-rate power.

We are now witnessing the decline of the United States of America.

Note: Too the degree that the majority of the populations of both nations have rejected God and experienced an unprecedented moral decline because of that rejection, they have and are now experiencing a decline in their position and status in the world.

Most students of Bible prophecy remain in near-total ignorance of its meaning, unable to recognize the speed, sequence, seriousness; and the awesome magnitude of onrushing events!

The apostle Peter wrote this about how God intends that prophecy will illuminate the understanding of those who study it: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). God’s purpose regarding His “sure word of prophecy” is that people “take heed.”

You must be willing to take heed to what is written and act upon it.

Now continue: “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (vs. 20). This is crucial to understand. No single verse; or even any two or three passages; is sufficient to bring correct prophetic understanding. God says His Word is written “precept upon precept; line upon line…here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10). One must know how; with God’s indwelling enabling power; to put many related verses together to get a full picture.

Continue again in 2 Peter 1: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (vs. 21). In short, prophecy comes from God, through His servants, as He inspires them to record His words.

God gives this sure word of promise of what will happen in advance of events He intends to fulfill: “Surely, Yehovah Elohim - God will do nothing, but He reveals His secret unto His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). God keeps His promises. He always reveals major events before they occur.

Understand! Almighty God will soon have to intervene and save humanity from itself. But before this occurs, world trouble will greatly increase; intensifying to staggering proportions. This will be followed by unexpected and cataclysmic events that will shake the whole world! Civilization as we know it will change forever.

The book of Revelation opens showing the Revelation of Jesus the Messiah, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servant's things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus the Messiah, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:1-3).

Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are parallel accounts of what is called the Olivet Prophecy. This all-important prophecy works in combination with the prophecy given by Daniel. It puts in sequence events that transcend the entire period from the Messiah’s first coming until his return, almost 2,000 years later.

Matthew uses the most detail, so we will look there, where the prophecy picks up: “As he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). The Messiah then lists a whole series of events, which occur sequentially until just before his return. He concludes by referring to the prophet Daniel. “Whoso reads, let him understand” (Matthew 24:15).

Notice: “The fear - reverence of Yehovah is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments” (Psalm 111:10). All who yield themselves in obedience to Yehovah and His uniquely begotten son Jesus will be able to understand all prophecies to be fulfilled in these last days.

Daniel foretells a time; that is now upon us; when “knowledge shall increase,” including the incredibly compelling; and electrifying; story of what God plans to do in our time.

The book of Daniel spans a period of over 2,500 years of events then all yet to be fulfilled.

An angel instructs Daniel, near the last verses of his book: “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” (12:4). Not grasping what was told him, Daniel sought to understand: “I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” (12:8) The angel repeated: “Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified and made white and tried, but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand” (vs. 9-10)

Let me reiterate that God says that obedience brings understanding. No wonder Daniel said that “none of the wicked shall understand.” Anyone who rebels against Yehovah, regardless of how they see themselves, fall into this category.

No one with eyes to see could possibly doubt we are in the end time. Yehovah’s intention was always to unseal Daniel’s prophecy when the end time arrived. We now live in what is called the “Information Age.” No one doubts that knowledge has been increased in a general way, and this has been extraordinary. But the primary meaning of Daniel’s prophecy must be understood in context with the knowledge of the prophecy’s true meaning being revealed in the end time.

As we look and experience what is taking place in the world today it is obvious to those who believe in the warning words Jesus gave believers that we are in the last days!