End Times Bible Prophecy – Countdown Week 38
Bible prophecy is reliable
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(Thank you for making this an internationally popular blog! We also pray and fast every Thursday for your prayer requests.)
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| Jeremiah depicted by Rembrant/1630 |
The fact that about one third of the Bible deals with
prophecy ought to be reason enough to motivate us to learn more about prophetic
events and messages contained in the written word of God. Bible studies, whether
personal, group or churchwide, can incorporate this aspect of the Bible as part
of an overall plan to better understand and obey the Lord’s instruction to
humans.
Although the Bible is best understood as the moral history
of humanity, in great part through the history of Jewish nation; however, the
Bible also contains facts that are based on historical events. These are past
events, although some are recent, such as the restoration of Israel as a nation
and the more recent proclamation of Jerusalem as its capital [Note]. Prophetic
events of the End Times period are yet to be fulfilled, most of them can be
found in the Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse).
Some Bible scholars that specialize in eschatology (end
times theology) believe that the end times stage of God’s history began with
the 1948 restoration of Israel. Before we move on to the central role that
Israel plays in the End Times, let us review several historical events that
were predicted by prophets, who received God’s messages, before they occurred:
Jesus prophesied (in
approximately 30-33 AD) the fall and destruction of Jerusalem. The Romans under
Titus carried out the destruction in AD 70, about 40 years after the prophecy
of Jesus. Matthew 24:1-2 and Luke 21:20.
The fall of Tyre, a
once powerful kingdom, on the coast of the Mediterranean coast, which boasted
of an extraordinary defense and escape system. Around 587 BC, the prophet
Ezekiel saw in a vision the fall and destruction of Tyre. This occurred by the Babylonians
under Nebuchadnezzar II (586-573 BC) and later by the Greeks under Alexander
the Great (330/332 BC). The prophet said several nations also would come
against Tyre, and that’s what history recorded. Ezekiel 26:7-11.
The fall of Jerusalem to Babylon under
Nebuchadnezzar II prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah in Chapter 6 of the
Book of Jeremiah. The capture by Babylon, which occurred in two phases, began
in 605 BC. Jeremiah lived to see it happen. His prophecies were intended to
motivate the Jewish nation to repent, which generally did not happen. The
Jewish people and its leaders ignored repeated warnings by the prophet.
The fall of Babylon to the Persian Empire and the
reign of Cyrus. The prophet Isaiah, whose ministry took place
740-701 BC, BC) prophesied that a future king named Cyrus would conquer the Babylonian
empire. Isaiah prophesied this 150 years before it happened and before Cyrus
was born. He even gave the name of the Persian king in Isaiah 45:1. Cyrus
attached the Babylonians in 539 BC. He also allowed the Jewish nation captives
to return voluntarily to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem.
Other prophecies related to Israel that were fulfilled in
modern times:
The return of the Jews to Israel and restoration of
the Jewish nation in 1948: Ezekiel 20:34; Isaiah 11:11-12; Isaiah 66:8;
Isaiah 43:5-6, 21.
Revival of the Hebrew language. Zephaniah 3:8-10.
Revival of the language, previously considered an ancient language used mainly
in religious services and for academic research, was adopted by Israel as its
official language in 2018. The revival of the language for common use began in
1881.
Restoration of the shekel as Israel’s monetary unit.
Ezekiel 45: 12-16. Adopted the New Shekel in 1985.
[Note] King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel in
about 1003 BC.
If you know Jesus, then you can lead a
victorious life
John 15:4 “Remain in me, and I
will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the
vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
1 John 2:16 (NIV) –
“For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.
1 John 2:16 (NLT) –
“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for
everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not
from the Father, but are from this world.”
If you do not know Jesus Christ, the Savior,
then you must be born again
The sinless Jesus Christ took on the sins of the world AND
the punishment for those sins so that we could be saved.
Today, if you do not know Jesus, receive His free offer of
salvation and put all your trust in Him.
John 1:29 (NLT) – “The next day
he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb
of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
2 Corinthians 6:2
– “
For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of
salvation.”
Acts 2:38 (NLT) – “Peter
replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Shalom!
Faith Today Christian Ministries
Exalting the name of Jesus!
