Why Should We Study Bible Prophecy? To be watchful of the signs of the last days, which is scriptural. Jesus himself told us to keep watch. Consider the following passage; 1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening. ’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Matthew 16: 1 -3
The purpose of Bible Prophecy is to warn the listener that time is getting short, and to make a decision for Christ!
The Apostle Paul wrote about a special crown of righteousness that is reserved for the watchman who is on lookout for His (Jesus) return. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4: 7 -8
What Should Our Attitude Be Concerning The End Times? 1. The Lord intends us as Believers to respond in a positive attitude 2. To encourage each other and indeed exhort us on to live joyous and victorious Christian lives 3. To exhort us for evangelism while we still can 4. To draw peoples' attention to the predictive prophecy and divine self-proving element of a Book that so many dismiss too quickly
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These thingsspeakand exhortand reprove with all authority. Let no disregard. " one you 2: 11 -15) (Titus
Bible Prophecy Sequence of Events Past Events Already Fulfilled Jesus the Messiah is Born in Bethlehem The Finished Work of Christ on the Cross The Destruction of the Temple Jewish Dispersion The Church Age
Topics of Discussion Signs Indicating We Are In The Last Days Our Nations Need to Return to God The End Times According to Jesus Prophecies Concerning Israel The Rebirth of Israel Jesus and the Jewish Feasts The Rapture of the Church A Jewish Wedding The Destruction of Damascus
Topics of Discussion (Con’t) The Gog Magog War in the Final Days – Ezekiel 38 - 39 The Anti-Christ The False Prophet The Tribulation The Seven Year Covenant The Mark of the Beast The Abomination of Desolation The Two Witnesses The Battle of Armageddon
Signs Indicating We Are In The Last Days RETURN OF THE ETHIOPIAN JEWS TO ISRAEL Zephaniah 3: 10 -11 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, will bring My offerings. In that day you will feel no shame because of all your deeds by which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain. " In 1984, Operation Moses saw the airlift of 15, 000 Jews who had already fled to refugee camps in Sudan to escape starvation. In 1991, Operation Solomon flew 20, 000 Jews to Israel from Ethiopia itself. A further airlift began in June of 1999, aimed at transporting the last 3, 000 members of the Quara Jewish community from northeastern Ethiopia to Israel
APPEARANCE OF THE RED HEIFER AFTER 2000 YEARS Numbers 19: 2 -7 2"This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed. 3"You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence. A Red Hiefer is required for the waters of purification. In May 1997 the first Red Heifer was born in 2000 years.
GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS 2 Timothy 3: 1 -5, 7 1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. APOSTASY (FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH) 1 Timothy 4: 1 -3 1 But the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. • The rising popularity of the new age movement, eastern religions, meditation, and belief in past lives and reincarnation. • Christian denominations departing from the original teachings of the Bible.
INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE AND TRAVEL Daniel 12: 4 "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase. “ INCREASES IN NUMBER OF EARTHQUAKES Earthquakes over 6 on the Richter scale 1880 -1890 1 1890 -1900 1 1900 -1910 3 1910 -1920 2 1920 -1930 2 1930 -1940 5 1940 -1950 4 1950 -1960 9 1960 -1970 13 1970 -1980 46 1980 -1990 53 1990 -2000 1, 661 2000 -2011 1782 Matthew 24: 7 -8 “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains (before the 7 years of tribulation for the Jews begins).
Our Nations Need to Return to God “It is rightly impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible. ” President George Washington “If we will not be governed by God, we must be governed by tyrants. ” William Penn “Almost all of the civil liberty now enjoyed in the world owes its origin to the principles of the Christian religion. The religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and his apostles. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we out free constitutions of government. ” Noah Webster “God intends you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupt. ” Daniel Webster “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians. ” Patrick Henry
“Let me live according to those holy rules which Thou hast this day prescribed in Thy holy word. Direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ – the way, the truth, and the life. Bless, O’ Lord, all the people of this land. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National Morality can prevail in the exclusion of religious principle. ” A prayer made by President George Washington during his presidential inauguration
President Thomas Jefferson Whom many have tried to accredit for the separation of Church and State had this to say: “My Views are the result of a lifetime of inquiry and reflection, and very different from the anti. Christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others. ”
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7: 14
Perilous Times and Perilous Men But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3: 1 -7
The End Times According to Jesus Matthew 24: 1 -44 Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple 1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down. ”
The Great Tribulation 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation, ’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
False Messiahs “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
False Messiahs (Con’t) The Raelians An atheist religion led by Claude Vorilhon, who calls himself Rael - the last four letters of "Israel". The group claims a membership of at least 55, 000 followers worldwide. "Raelians" believe that scientists from another planet created the human race, and that monotheism should be totally replaced by science. This group gives "Crazy" a whole new meaning!
False Messiahs (Con’t) Sun Myung Moon is a South Korean citizen and the founder and leader of the Unification Church, a world-wide occult organization that believes Moon to be the "Messiah" sent by God to complete the earthly mission of Jesus. His followers number in the millions.
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? ” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ, ’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The Parable of the Fig Tree 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24: 1 -44
The Destruction of Jerusalem in the Words of Jesus “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21: 20 -24
Jerusalem was so war-torn that its citizens had to climb over dead bodies in the Temple to offer their sacrifices. Thousands of Jews inside the city were dying of famine and plague, while Titus continued to pick away at the city’s walls. Once inside, Titus’ troops burned the temple, taking some Jews captive and slaughtering others. An estimated total of 1, 100, 000 people had died during the course of the war, and the revolt finally ended when the last group of zealots was put down in Masada three years later.
In all, 6 different books of the Bible predict the scattering of Israel amongst all the nations of the earth. History records this being fulfilled in 70 AD when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman Empire and the remaining Jews were scattered amongst the nations.
Topics of Discussion Signs Indicating We Are In The Last Days Our Nations Need to Return to God The End Times According to Jesus Prophecies Concerning Israel The Rebirth of Israel Jesus and the Jewish Feasts The Rapture of the Church A Jewish Wedding The Destruction of Damascus
Topics of Discussion (Con’t) The Gog Magog War in the Final Days – Ezekiel 38 - 39 The Anti-Christ The False Prophet The Tribulation The Seven Year Covenant The Mark of the Beast The Abomination of Desolation The Two Witnesses The Battle of Armageddon
Prophecies Concerning Israel By far, the greatest number of prophecies in the Bible concern the nation of Israel. In fact, many have said that if you want to know what time it is on God's clock, then look at the nation of Israel, for she shall be the center of attention in the fulfillment of Bible prophecies in these last days. Today we live in an age when the entire focus of the world is upon a tiny strip of land in the Middle East called Israel. So lets have a look at what Bible prophecy says about this nation.
1. Disobedience would lead to the nation of Israel being scattered amongst all nations 63 And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.
64 “Then the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone. 65 And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. 66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. 67 In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see. Deut 28: 63 -67
2. The people of Israel would return to “their own land” Ezekiel 34: 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. Amos 9: 14 -15 I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, " says the Lord your God.
3. God Himself Would Restore the Jews to the Land of Israel From All The nations Jer 16: 14 -16 However, the days are coming, " declares the LORD, "when men will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt, ’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them. ’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers.
“Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul. ” Jeremiah 32: 37 -41
4. The Desolate land of Israel Would Again Blossom and be Fruitful in the Last Days History records that while the Jewish people were exiled amongst many nations, the land of Israel was a barren desert. Isa 27: 6 In the days to come, Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill the world with fruit. This is exactly the case today! Not only has God bought the Jewish people back into their land like He said He would in the last days, but He has also blessed the land so that they now export flowers and fruit around the world! Satellite photos show the green pastures of the nation of Israel, in sharp contrast with the surrounding desert lands of the Arab nations.
Mark Twain visited Israel in 1867, and published the following: “…. . A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds… a silent mournful expanse…. a desolation…. we never saw a human being on the whole route…. hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country. ”
5. God would watch over the people of Israel Jeremiah 31: 10 "Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: `He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over His flock like a shepherd. '
6. The Fortunes of the People of Israel Would Be Restored Deuteronomy 30: 3 -5 Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) released a report that the Levant Basin contains 1. 689 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 122. 4 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas. The Levant Basin lies both onshore and offshore and includes most of middle and northern Israel and coastal Lebanon and Syria. The basin includes the exploration areas of Noble Energy offshore and Zion Oil & Gas onshore.
Supporting Prophecies Deuteronomy 33: 18 -19 (Amplified Bible) 18 And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your interests abroad, and you, Issachar, in your tents [at home]. 19 They shall call the people unto Mount [Carmel]; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they shall suck the abundance of the seas and the treasures hid in the sand. Deuteronomy 33: 13 -17 “And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew and for the deep that couches beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of primordial hills, and for the precious things of the earth, and its fullness, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let the blessings come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him who was separated from his brothers. ”
Supporting Prophecies Continued Deuteronomy, chapter 32: 12 -13 “For the LORD’s portion is His people; Jacob (Israel) is the place of His inheritance. ” 12: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. 13: He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;
Deuteronomy 33 : 24 “And of Asher he said, be Asher blessed above sons; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. ” To date, thousands of Christian and Jewish supporters have invested into companies like Nobel Energy and Zion Oil & Gas, to include well know End Times bible teachers such as Tim La. Haye, Hal Lindsey, Pastor John Hagee, and many, many others.
7. God Himself would defend Israel and cause Israel to be mighty in battle Zech 12: 8 On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them. Taken in context, this verse speaks about God defending Israel in a battle to come in the last days. And yet, have we not seen this miraculously occur several times since Israel became a nation again in 1948? They have been greatly outnumbered in key Arab-Israeli wars in 1948, 1967, and 1973. Yet Israel exists! God has seen to that!
8. In the Last Days, Jerusalem Would Be a Burden to the Entire World Zech 12: 2 -3 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about. . . And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces. Turn on your TV and watch the news. What nation and what city would you most likely expect to see? Israel and Jerusalem! Today, Jerusalem is a burden that causes trembling for all the nations just as God foretold. What makes this prophecy even more remarkable is that when the prophet Zechariah spoke these words around 520 BC, Jerusalem lay in ruins. But God said it would become the focus of the world's attention! Today, Israel has 0. 01% of the worlds population, yet 33% of the United Nations resolutions have been passed concerning her!
9. In The End, ALL Nations Shall Come Against Israel Zech 14: 2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Apart from the USA, Israel has few allies. In a recent conference on racism in South Africa, the Israeli and United States delegates were forced to walk out as the other participating nations vented their anger towards Israel and tried to declare it a racist state. One day, the Bible predicts, she will have no allies, and all nations shall be gathered against her. Today’s TV news show that we are already on the road towards that battle.
10. God Himself, Jesus Christ, will return and fight for Israel against the attacking nations Zech 14: 3 -4 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
11. The nation of Israel will finally recognize that Jesus was their Messiah, whom they crucified! Zech 12: 9 -10 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Even though the Bible predicted that the Messiah would die, and have His feet and hands pierced, the nation of Israel has, for the last 2000 years, hardened their heart and not believed that Jesus was their Messiah. At the time of the end, they will again look to the one whom they pierced, and how great the mourning and sadness will be on that day for what they did! Yet Jesus will pour out His grace upon Israel!
12. God will judge the nations depending upon their treatment of the Jewish people Joel 1: 1 -2 In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. Today we live in an age where we hear all the time about a 'Middle-East peace process'. It essentially comes down to 'Israel give up more of your land we won't send as many suicide bombers into your cities. . . ' It seems everyone wants a slice of Jerusalem for themselves. For this, and the world's repeated and continual unfair and unjust treatment of the Jewish people, the judgment of God will come.
13. Jerusalem's Enemies to Be Destroyed 1 This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: 2 "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.
Israel is the Roadmap! The Bible then tells us 'after these things' the little nation of Israel and the children of Israel will rule over all nations on Earth in peace under her King and Messiah Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew). The Bible says all of the covenants, promises, curses, prophecies, and blessings God has made to the children and nation of Israel will be fulfilled…
The Rebirth of Israel would be brought back to life Ezekiel 37: 10 -14 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live? ” I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know. ” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD. ’ ” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live. ’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet —a vast army. Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off. ’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD. ’ “ Ezekiel 37: 10 -14
Israel’s Rejection Not Total Romans 11: 1 -27 (New King James Version) 1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. ” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written: “ God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day. ” 9 And David says: “ Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always. ” Israel’s Rejection Not Final
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit is holy [Abraham and the patriarchs], the lump is also holy [the nation of Israel]; and if the root [Abraham] is holy, so are the branches [the Jewish people]. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. ” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “ The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins. ”
Jesus and the Jewish Feasts The annual feast days of the Bible are festivals, called "moed, " an appointed time and a sacred assembly for the purposes of rehearsing. They are rehearsals because the way in which the feast days are fulfilled is in accordance with the rehearsal, and because the fulfillment will occur on that exact day.
The Passover Jesus is the Passover Lamb of God. “behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” — John 1: 29.
The term "passover" is to be considered in the sense of "hovering over", i. e. to protect or deliver. God's presence overshadowed His people for their protection. The nation of Israel was transferred from physical slavery leading to death in Egypt, to lifelong service to God. Likewise, the believer in Christ is delivered from spiritual slavery (bondage to sin) leading to death, to a life of service to Christ, leading to eternal life. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is our Passover.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread Jesus is the Unleavened Bread of Life. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh. ” — John 6: 51
The Feast of Firstfruits Jesus is the First Fruits. “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. ” 1 Corinthians 15: 20
The Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost / Harvest) (Shavuot) “ 1 When the Day of Pentecost had Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on fully come, they were all with one the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2: 1 -4
The Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, was held at the beginning of wheat harvesting, seven weeks from the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23: 15 -16). In the New Testament it is called Pentecost (Greek 'pente' = fifty). This festival commemorated the giving of the Law which took place 50 days after the Sabbath following the Passover. "After his suffering, Jesus showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. " Acts 1: 3
Because Jesus’ fulfillment of the Spring Feasts is so exact, it seems reasonable that He will also fulfill the remaining Fall Feasts Are Divine Appointments - Shadows of Things to Come! Leviticus 23: 4 “‘These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. ”
Referring to the feasts as shadows of things to come, the Apostle Paul and states in Colossians 2: 16 -17: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. ”
Jesus and the Jewish Feasts
The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) On Rosh Hashanah a series of Trumpet blasts are blown to announce the arrival of God, the King of the Universe, the Judge of all Creation, for judgment of the righteous whose names are written in the Lambs Book lf Life.
Almost four months after the Pentecost, though not at a precise interval, the feast of Trumpets was a day of rest celebrated with trumpet blasts and sacrifices when the nation was presented before God. This prefigured the time when the Lord came down from heaven with the trumpet call of God.
The days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are called “The Days of Awe”
The Days of Awe are devoted to self examination and repentance from one’s sin and preparation for judgment on the Day of Atonement. In Jewish eschatology, “the Days of Awe” are representative of a “day of trouble” that is to come upon the earth before the second coming of the Messiah (Jer. 30: 6). This “day of trouble” is also referred to as the “birthpangs of the Messiah”. That time of trouble is also commonly called “The Tribulation. ”
Jesus and the Jewish Feasts
In Jewish eschatology, Rabbis have taught that after being resurrected on the Feast of Trumpets, the righteous would enter the chupah, or wedding canopy, to spend seven years while the “day of trouble”, the seven years of judgment, occur on the earth. By examining an ancient Jewish wedding, we can more clearly see the picture of the union of the church (the bride) with the Messiah (the Bridegroom).
Feast (Day) of Atonement Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23: 27) Many believe this prophetically points to the day of the Second Coming of Jesus when He will return to earth. That will be the Day of Atonement for the Jewish remnant when they "look upon Him whom they have pierced, " repent of their sins, and receive Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12: 10 and Romans 11: 1 -6, 25 -36).
Messiah’s Return! The Day of Atonement foreshadows two significant events: Jesus’ sacrificial death, and Israel’s repentance at the Messiah’s return. This will be the prophetic fulfillment of the Day of Atonement as Israel comes face to face with its Messiah at the end of Daniel’s “ 70 th week” (Dan. 9: 24 -27), a sevenyear tribulation period that begins with the rise of an evil world ruler known as Antichrist. Throughout the tribulation, many Jews will turn to Christ in the midst of great persecution, acknowledge Him as Lord and receive Him as Savior. At the same time, God will pour out His wrath on a wicked and Godless world. At the end the Jews will receive their Messiah as He comes in power and great glory as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Feast of Tabernacles The Feast of Tabernacles is held with feasting and celebration. The name of the Feast of Tabernacles derives from God's command to ancient Israel to build temporary "tabernacles, " sometimes called "booths, " to live in during the festival. The Israelites left their houses and built temporary dwelling places to live in while rejoicing before God. These reminded them of their release from slavery and their dwelling in booths when God brought them out of Egypt (Leviticus 23: 34, 41 -43). In stark contrast to the hardship of slavery, this festival emphasizes rest, peace and prosperity as it meets the needs of all people, including strangers, widows and the poor.
As with all of the Holy Days of The Bible, the Feast of Tabernacles has great and joyous significance to Christianity. It symbolizes the first 1, 000 year period, often called the "Millennium, " that will follow immediately after the Return Of Jesus Christ.
Jesus and the Jewish Feasts
Obama's Islam Promotion Reaches New Heights Last night in a televised news article, President Obama supported the construction of the 9 -11 Mosque and made support for it synonymous with defending religious liberty. To make his point, the President ignored that there are hundreds of mosques in the United States and no one has stopped a Muslim who wishes to pray in them. Instead he attempted to brush aside opponents of the 9 -11 mosque as undermining the United States Constitution. Debra Burlingame, on behalf of 9 -11 families, responded with shock and sadness at the President's strongly worded message. Her statement begins: Barack Obama has abandoned America at the place where America's heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see. Since that dark day, Americans have been asked to bear the burden of defending those values, again and again. Now this president declares that the victims of 9/11 and their families must bear another burden. We must stand silent at the last place in America where 9/11 is still remembered with reverence or risk being called religious bigots. It is irresponsible for the President of the United States to defend this project when its spiritual director has openly sided with America's enemies: The Imam who refuses to call Hamas a terrorist organization, the Imam who says America brought 9 -11 on itself and who said that the founder of Al-Qaeda "Was made in America. " Instead of questioning a project headed by this man, Obama's State Department is using our tax dollars to send him throughout the Middle East. Obama's position on the Mosque is diametrically opposed to the feelings of the American people. We must redouble our efforts to stop this mosque. Sign the petition. To add insult to injury, Obama's State Department is spending our tax dollars to rehabilitate mosques overseas.
The Rapture (Supporting Scriptures) The catching away of those who believe in Jesus, commonly referred to as “the rapture”, is clearly associated with the sound of the trumpet, as can be seen by reading the following Scriptures: “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. ” — Matthew 24: 31 • “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ” — I Corinthians 15: 51 -52
The Rapture (Supporting Scriptures Continued) Luke 21: 34 -36 34"Be on guard, that your heart may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon the face of the earth. 36 But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. “ Revelation 3: 10 -11 10 Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. . . ” — I Thessalonians 4: 16 -17
A Jewish Wedding During that time of trouble on earth, the Lord will protect His bride “For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock” — Psalm 27: 5
The ancient Jewish wedding is a picture of Jesus the Bridegroom and His bride, the church. The contract (covenant) was sealed at the last supper when Jesus shared the covenant cup with His disciples. Jesus, in speaking to the Disciples after the last supper said the same words that any Jewish man would tell his betrothed. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ” — John 14: 2, 3.
When will the Bridegroom Come for His Bride? 36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come”.
43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. ” Matthew 24: 36 -44
Will the Church (the Bride) go through the Tribulation?
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5: 9 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1: 8 -10 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5: 9 -11
The Destruction of Damascus Isaiah 17 "An oracle concerning Damascus: 'See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no-one to make them afraid. " (Isaiah 17: 1 -2 NIV) * Aroer is in south central Jordan. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites, " declares the LORD Almighty. “ (Isaiah 17: 3 NIV) * The land of Ephraim is the central West Bank. * Aram refers to the Syrians.
In that day men will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation. (Isaiah 17: 7 -9 NIV) * The highlighted statement indicates that the Israelites are combatants in this prophecy.
"Oh, the raging of many nations— they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples— they roar like the roaring of great waters! Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale. In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us. " (Isaiah 17: 12 -14 NIV) * The above verses describe an ensuing uproar of many nations, God's judgment on those nations, and a prophecy of a multinational alliance that rises against Israel to "loot and plunder. "
Judgment on Mount Seir (Ezekiel 35) 1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it, 3 and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “ Behold, O Mount Seir, I am against you; I will stretch out My hand against you, And make you most desolate; 4 I shall lay your cities waste, And you shall be desolate. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.
Mount Seir The origin of the name Mount Seir is not recorded in the Bible. Seir was the mountainous region allotted to the descendants of Esau, the Edomites. Mount Seir is specifically noted as the place that Esau made his home (Genesis 36: 8; Joshua 24: 4). The Edomites had their origin in 2000 BC at the birth of Esau. The Edomites were descended from Esau who is the brother of Jacob and son of Isaac. "Now these are the records of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). " Genesis 36: 1; "So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir; Esau is Edom. " Genesis 36: 8
Judgment on Mount Seir (Ezekiel 35 Con’t) 1 5 “Because you have had an ancient hatred, and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, when their iniquity came to an end, 6 therefore, as I live, ” says the Lord GOD, “I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; since you have not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue you. 7 Thus I will make Mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it the one who leaves and the one who returns. 8 And I will fill its mountains with the slain; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those who are slain by the sword shall fall. 9 I will make you perpetually desolate, and your cities shall be uninhabited; then you shall know that I am the LORD. 10 “Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess them, ’ although the LORD was there, 11 therefore, as I live, ” says the Lord GOD, “I will do according to your anger and according to the envy which you showed in your hatred against them; and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you. 12 Then you shall know that I am the LORD. I have heard all your blasphemies which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are desolate; they are given to us to consume. ’ 13 Thus with your mouth you have boasted against Me and multiplied your words against Me; I have heard them. ” 14 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “The whole earth will rejoice when I make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom—all of it! Then they shall know that I am the LORD. ”’
The Gog Magog War in the Final Days Ezekiel 38 - 39 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of [a]Magog, the prince of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince (ruler) of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal. 4 And I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords-- Ezekiel 38: 1 -4 (Amplified)
The Sons of Noah After the great flood, Noah and his three sons repopulated the entire earth. We all descended from Noah's three sons: Ham, Shem and Japheth. So in a sense, we are all related. In Genesis, chapter 10, the Bible list the 70 original tribal groups, this is often referred to by Biblical scholars, as The Table of Nations. To properly understand Ezekiel 38 and 39, we need to identify Gog, Magog and it's allies. The Bible, is always the best source to understanding and prophecy. So it's from this Table of Nations that we first begin to learn the identity of Gog and Magog.
So, who then is Gog? The word Gog means “ruler” or “leader. ” Therefore he is obviously the leader of Magog, he is the "Prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. " So Gog will be the leader of this Russian led military alliance.
The names of Noah's three sons were Ham, Shem and Japheth. These are the sons of Japheth: Gomer, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, Tiras and Magog. “ Ancient historian, Joseph Flavius, clearly identifies Magog as the founded the Magogians, thus named after him, but who were by the Greeks called Scythians. "
The Wall of Al Magog Arab writers confirm that in the Arabic language their name for the Great Wall of China is called "the wall of Al Magog" because the Great Wall was built to keep out the invading armies from Magog. All together an area of about 2, 000 square miles. So clearly this was the former Soviet Union, modern day Russia.
Gog is obviously the leader of Magog, he is the "Prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. " So Gog will be the leader of this Russian led military horde.
The Gog Magog War in the Final Days – Ezekiel 38 - 39 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince (ruler) of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal. 4 And I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords-- Ezekiel 38: 1 -4 (Amplified)
5 Persia, Cush, and Put or Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet, 6 Gomer and all his hordes, the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north and all his hordes--many people are with you… Ezekiel 38: 5 -6 (Amplified)
Russian Alliance with Iran
Russian Alliance with Turkey
Russian Alliance with Libya
7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you. ” Ezekiel 38: 7 -9
10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’— 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. Ezekiel 38: 10 -12
13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder? ’”’ Ezekiel 38: 13
The response to the invasion of Magog into Israel from Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and its young lions will be one of nonintervention. They will simply say, “Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder? ”
So, who is Tarshish and the Young Lions? It is argued that the merchants of Tarshish, with all its young lions, refers to the colonies of Western Europe (Spain, Holland, and Britain) and the nations that have subsequently arisen from them. This would include North America and the United States.
The Fortunes of the People of Israel Would Be Restored Deuteronomy 30: 3 -5 Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.
Скачать презентацию Why Should We Study Bible Prophecy To be
585ac63ae5102eca5335df3b81133e49.ppt