After salvation in the Lord Jesus, the rapture of the church and the 2nd coming of Christ are the most important topics in the bible. These events mark the end of the church age, the redemption of Israel, and the beginning of the millennial rein of Christ as King on earth in the literal Kingdom of Heaven.
Today arguably, the church has the greatest witnessing tool and greatest opportunity in its history to reach the lost through the teaching of bible prophecy. Bible prophecy will bring people to the feet of Jesus for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy itself.
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10
For every prophecy of Jesus’ 1st coming, there are about 8 concerning His second coming. Prophecy helps us to understand the bible’s storyline as a whole with the Cross standing in the middle of it.
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they bethings in earth, or things in heaven. Col. 1:17-20
The rapture of the church and Christ’ second coming is so important that God’s very first prophet Enoch (7th generation from Adam), predicted Christ’s return and was a living testimony to the rapture of the church.
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Genesis 5:22-24
By faithEnoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrew 11:15
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.Jude 1:14
God has declared the end before the beginning of time and He is in complete control of all. He even knew the plans he had for you before you were born. Take a moment to realize that God has placed you on earth now, in the last days, in perhaps the most exciting time a person could be alive, when it could have been any of the other 6000 years of human history……
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Isaiah 46:9-10
Do you know someone that is troubled by the world events of today? Are they uncertain of their future in this ever changing, chaotic world? Point them to the bible and prophecy. Show them the events of today have been prophesied in the Old and New Testament. Tell them Jesus is their only savior from their sins and the eternal security from the calamity of this world.
Remember the words of Paul, in that if any man does not love the Lord, let him be accursed; the Lord is coming.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 1Co. 16:22
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:3
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:4-8
In the verses above, Jesus is telling the disciples what will take place before the Tribulation. Notice He says “all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” and “All these are the beginning of sorrows“.
In Marks account he adds “troubles”.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. Mar 13:8
Luke adds “fearful sights” and “great signs from heaven”.
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Luk 21:11
One can argue that these events have been taking place since the time Jesus mentioned them. So is there really any difference today? There is a fundamental difference today, and that is for the first time, all of these events are now happening simultaneously. Unlike in the past, we now have the ability to track these events and pictures thanks to social media sites, the Internet, and global satellite systems making it possible for us to follow God’s commandment to “watch”. Prior to this technology, it was not possible for the average person to know what was happening around the world. The country of Israel is now 66 years old since it’s prophetic birth in 1948. Jesus said that generation (of 1948) will not pass away until all things be fulfilled. Think about that.
Let’s look at each of these events. These are just a minimal amount of evidence. One can simply do a Google search to find many, many more.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many
the number of big earthquakes during the first three months of 2014 was more than double the yearly average of what we have experienced since 1979? And did you know that the number of earthquakes in the central and eastern U.S. has quintupled in recent years?
Most Americans don’t realize that the greatest earthquakes in U.S. history happened along the New Madrid fault zone. Back during the early part of the 19th century, a series of immensely powerful earthquakes rattled the entire eastern half of the nation. Documents that we have from that era say that those earthquakes were so powerful that they were felt more than 1,000 miles away.
As Christians, we are not to fear, but find comfort:
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so will God bring with Him those also who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord: that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself shall 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;
17 then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the Day approaching.
Looking for that Blessed Hope! 