The Old Testament contains references to the End Times
Bible End Times Prophecy Series - Week 35
The idea of an “End Times” and Apocalypse did not grow out
of the New Testament church. It did not start with the disciples of Jesus
Christ.
We can see from a few of the references in the Old Testament
that prophets from the past, including Moses, were given glimpses, visions and
messages about the events that the Book of Revelation came later to describes
vividly and in greater detail. We should not be surprised because the Bible
does not contradict itself.
Beginning with Genesis, we can find other passages in the
Old Testament that point to the “End Times,” the “Last Days” and even the Day
of the Lord (judgment).
Genesis 49:1 (NKJV) - “And Jacob
called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall
befall you in the last days:”
Commentary: This is one of the
earliest passages where we find the term “the last days,” when Jacob gathers
his sons (the Jewish nation) to speak prophetically over them. The sons
represent one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Deuteronomy 4:30-31(NKJV)
- When you are in distress*, and all these things come upon you in the
latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice 31 (for
the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor
destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. * Distress or tribulation.
Jeremiah 30:24
(NKJV) - “The fierce anger of the Lord will not return until He has done it, And
until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will
consider it.” **
**Some translations render latter days to phrases such as “in
time” or the “days to come.”
Micah 4:1 (KJV) - “But in the
last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above
the hills; and people shall flow unto it.”
Isaiah 2:1-2 (NIV) – “This is what
Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the
last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the
highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations
will stream to it.”
Joel 2:28-29 (NKJV) - 28 “And
it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your
sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your
young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those
days.”
See this same passage in the Orthodox Jewish Bible: 28 (3:1) And
it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Ruach [Hakodesh]
upon all basar; and your banim and your banot shall prophesy, your zekenim
shall dream chalomot, your bochurim shall see chezyonot (visions): 29 (3:2) And
also upon the avadim and upon the shefachot in those days will I
pour out My Ruach [Hakodesh, see Ac
2:1-42].
See also the passage in the
NKJV translation in Acts 2:17-18 -
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.”
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.”
Commentary: The context of Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:17-18
occur in the “End Times.” We have not yet begun to see the major outpouring of
God’s Spirit across the world, which likely will occur before the restrainer
(the Holy Spirit) is held back – the onset of the Tribulation judgments.
Daniel 12:1-4 (NLT) – “At that
time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation,
will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations
first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose
name is written in the book will be rescued. 2 Many
of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting
life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. 3 Those who
are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to
righteousness will shine like the stars forever. 4 But you,
Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the
end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”
Commentary: The passage in Daniel
is clear reference to the End Times, the tribulation and the resurrection of
believers. Notice the mention of those whose names are written “in the book.”
Heaven is keeping a record of everyone who comes to the Lord in repentance and
accepts His free gift of salvation. Michael is considered the protector angel
of Israel.
If you know Jesus, then you too 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.’”
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Blessings to all of you ...
Shalom!
Faith Today Christian Ministries
Exalting the name of Jesus!
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