TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE PROPHECY
Lesson 24: The process of interpreting "time of the end" prophecy.
I Can Bible prophecy be understood before it comes to pass?
A According to one of the sheepherders from Tekoa who
became known as Amos the prophet, prophecy is meant to
be understood before it comes to pass.
7 Surely the LORD God does nothing Unless He reveals His
secret counsel To His servants the prophets
(Amos 3:7, NASB).
B In practical terms Bible prophecy allows the people who
are living close to the time of the fulfillment of a
prophesied calamity the opportunity to prepare for the
event before it takes place.
C In Noah's time the prophetic forewarning of the great
flood made the difference between life and death for him
and his family.
D Joel not only expected his description of the atomic
wars that will be fought in the last days to be
understood, but charged subsequent generations to make
certain his forewarning was passed on to the nuclear
generation that would witness the prophecy's fulfillment.
3 Tell your children of it, and let your children tell
their children, and their children another generation
(Joel 1:3).
II How would the generation to whom the "time of the end"
prophecies were addressed know that they were indeed the
generation spoken of, instead of one yet to come?
A The answer to this question was supplied to Daniel in
his final vision concerning the events leading up to the
second coming of Christ.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the
book, even to the time of the end: [when] many shall run
to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased (Dan. 12:4).
1 This directive decrees that the prophecies addressed
to the nations of the last days could not be opened
to anyone, until "the time of the end."
2 According to this directive, when would "the time of
the end" arrive?
a When "many shall run to and fro,
b And knowledge shall be increased."
c The twentieth century's widespread use of
motorized vehicles and subsequent unprecedented
knowledge explosion, clearly fulfills Daniel's
definition of "the time of the end."
3 What would break the seals?
- Inventions coming out of "increased" knowledge.
B A conversation Daniel recorded at the end of his book
sheds more light on the relationship between today's
inventions and the process of correctly interpreting
Scriptures addressed to the time of the end:
8 My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?
(Dan. 12:8, NASB).
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are
closed up and sealed till the time of the end
(Dan. 12:9).
10 None of the wicked will understand, but those who
have insight will understand (Dan. 12:10, NASB).
1 In practical terms the inventions coming out of
modern man's increasing knowledge base are the
visible items supplying the "insight" needed to
correctly interpret "the outcome of these events."
2 "Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and
sealed till the time of the end" declares that neither
Daniel nor anyone else would be able to understand the
"end times" prophecies until "the time of the end."
3 "None of the wicked will understand," but Christians
will because their study of the prophecies will enable
them to make the connection between the biblical
description of a modern invention and the intended
meaning of the prophetic text.
C The fulfillment of international developments prophesied to
take place during the days when Israel would be re-
established as a nation, also define "the time of the end."
D (The precise biblical definition of the generation that
will witness Christ's Return will be covered in a later
lesson.)
III Prophetic insight into "the time of the end" visions also
requires chronological lists of events leading up to the
Second Coming of Christ.
A Chronological lists of events help answer the question:
How long will "the time of the end" continue before
Christ returns?
B Isaiah chapter 11 provides one list of events leading up
to Christ's return.
1 The Jews' second return to their original homeland and
subsequent re-establishment of the nation of Israel.
2 Israel's conquest of adjacent territory in the 1967
Arab-Israeli Six-Day War that enabled the Jewish
State to establish more defensible borders in the
southern part of the country.
3 The total collapse of Egypt's entire agricultural
system during the days when shifting winds completely
dry up the Nile river.
4 Isaiah 11 teaches that Christ will return and set up
His earthly kingdom of peace directly following the
fulfillment of these events.
C The book of Revelation provides a comprehensive
chronological list of the final milestones
leading up to the Second Coming of Christ.
1 The opened Book of Revelation begins with the
sounding of seven trumpets.
a Collectively, the trumpet prophecies detail the most
significant milestone events leading up to the
establishment of Christ's earthly kingdom of peace.
b The first trumpet event describes the world's First
Atomic War.
c The seventh trumpet time-period ends with the world's
Second Atomic War.
d The majority of biblical prophecy addressed to "the
time of the end" fills in the details of what will
come to pass between these two nuclear wars.
2 In summary, the Revelation was written for the
purpose of tying together all previously given
"latter day" prophecies into a complete picture of
the events leading up to Christ's Second Coming.
IV The Revelation's introduction states that the book contains
a message from Jesus Christ to His servants living at the
time of the end.
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show
to his servants what must soon take place; and he made it
known by sending his angel to his servant John
(Rev. 1:1, RSV).
A The word revelation means to uncover.
1 It applies to the act of removing whatever is covering up
an object hidden from the beholders view.
2 Since previewing future events is beyond the reach of
mortal men, Jesus Christ removed this barrier for those
who believe in Him by personally laying out the important
milestone events of the future in the Book of Revelation.
B "To show his servants," defines the audience receiving
Christ's message as the people who believe in Him; i.e.,
the world's Christian community.
C This same restriction was established for Daniel's
prophecies:
10 "None of the wicked will understand, but those who
have insight will understand" (Dan. 12:10, NASB).
3 "And those who have insight will shine brightly like
the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who
lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever
and ever (Dan. 12:3, NASB).
* Note the promise here that those who share their
insight into the "end-times" prophecies with the
unbelievers around them will lead many to Christ and
His righteousness.
D Does "to show his servants what must soon take place"
mean that the contents of the Book of Revelation would
be revealed to all of Christ's servants?
- No, according to Dan. 12:4--"But thou, O Daniel, shut
up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of
the end"--only Christ's servants living at the time
of the end would be given insight into the prophetic
meaning of the Revelation.
E From the statement "what must soon take place," when
should "the time of the end" Christians expect the
events described in the Revelation to come to pass?
1 Soon after the Revelation prophecies are opened to
their understanding.
2 (The Greek word rendered here as "soon" means "with
speed.")
3 Thus, since most of the contents of the Revelation
can now be understood, Christians can expect these
prophesied events to start suddenly and continue to
occur with speed until the day Christ returns.
F Since the book of Revelation lists the First Trumpet
Atomic War as the first major event to occur at the time
of the end, it can be readily seen that war will
break out suddenly and proceed with speed to its
conclusion.
G Compared to mankind's previous 6,000 years of recorded
history, the succession of post-AWWI events leading up
to Christ's Second Coming will also come to pass in
rapid succession.
7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, AND EVERY EYE WILL
SEE HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM: AND ALL THE TRIBES OF
THE EARTH WILL MOURN OVER HIM. Even so. Amen
(Rev. 1:7, NASB).
A Here, John introduces the Second Coming of Christ as the
primary reason for presenting the book's prophecies to
Christ's servants.
B Christ's return will be a major event which will not be
missed by anyone dwelling on the planet.
V The Revelation teaches that Jesus Christ is God.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is,
and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8).
A Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the
Greek alphabet.
B The phrase is equivalent to saying that He has always
existed and always will exist.
C Isaiah used this same language to identify God:
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his
redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the
last; and beside me there is no God (Isa. 44:6).
D Thus, the language serves to identify Christ as God.
E The expression "who is, and who was, and who is to come"
teaches that Christ is present today; He was present in
the past; and He will be present in the future when He
comes to establish His earthly kingdom of peace.
VI The Revelation's description of Christ's power and authority.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he
laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am
the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am
alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death (Rev. 1:17-18).
A The reference to Christ's resurrection after His death
on the cross immediately identifies the One speaking
here as Jesus Christ.
B The keys Christ holds to hell and death describe the
magnitude of His power and authority.
C How Christ acquired the power to open the Book of Revelation
is explained in Rev. 5:9:
9 And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy art Thou to take
the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and
didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe
and tongue and people and nation (Rev. 5:9, NASB).
A The new song sung by the heavenly host speaks of fallen
man's redemption through Christ's blood and death, with
which He purchased the souls of all those who would
believe in Him.
B Thus, Christ's death and resurrection gave Him the keys
of hell and death, the authority to purchase for God the
souls of all those who would believe in Him, and the
power to open the Revelation and reveal to His servants
those things which would come to pass in the future.
VII In view of Christ's power and victory over death and evil,
which side will God be on in the final battles of the
nations?
A According to Scripture, Russia's confederated forces
will be decisively defeated when they come up against
Israel in the latter days.
B The Bible also shows both the U.S. and Israel not only
surviving the ensuing nuclear conflict, but also
remaining strong and vital societies.
C From these facts one might conclude that God will move
against the Russians because He is on Israel's and
America's side.
D Examination of a similar situation the Israelites faced
before the ancient battle of Jericho, sheds considerable
light on this important subject.
E SETTING:
1 The Israelites had just crossed over the Jordan river
into the promised land after spending forty years
wandering in the wilderness.
2 Joshua was their leader and their objective was to drive
out the Canaanite nations who dwelt in the land.
- God had told them He would dispossess the Canaanites
because of their many evil practices and give the land
to the Israelites.
3 The Israelites first barrier was the well-fortified
and walled city of Jericho.
- The walls of Jericho presented a formidable obstacle
for Joshua and the Israelites to overcome.
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he
lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a
man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and
Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us,
or for our adversaries? (Joshua 5:13).
A The setting shows Joshua in the immediate vicinity of
Jericho, probably surveying the area as a preliminary
task to devising a plan to take the city.
B Suddenly he saw a soldier nearby.
1 The man was not only armed, but had his sword drawn ready
for battle.
2 Undaunted, Joshua advanced and questioned him, "Art thou
for us, or for our adversaries?"
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord
am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth,
and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto
his servant? (Joshua 5:14).
A The man answered Joshua's question without any
equivocation--"neither!"
1 He then identified himself as "Captain of the host of
the Lord."
2 Joshua immediately recognized the Lord and fell down and
worshiped Him.
3 Joshua then asked the Lord what He would have him do.
B This incident teaches an important spiritual lesson.
1 God was not on Israel's side, or the people of Jericho's
side in Joshua's day.
2 The Lord's answer was "nay," or neither side.
3 Likewise, God is not on Israel's side, or America's
side, or Russia's side, or on any other nation's side in
our day.
a God is the side.
b This world is a spiritual battleground.
c The question is, "on which side are we?"
C God, however, did judge Jericho for its commitment to
evil; the walls fell, the city was burned, and all the
inhabitants were slain, except for Rahab the harlot and
all that pertained to her.
D What did the sparing of Rahab prove?
1 God was not against Israel or Jericho in Joshua's day.
a God is the side.
b He is "not willing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9).
2 Sparing Rahab and her father's house proves the point.
E Why was Rahab spared?
1 First, because of her belief: "for the LORD your God
is God in heaven above and on the earth below"
(Joshua 2:11, NIV).
2 Second, because she helped Joshua's two spies escape
from Jericho.
F How do we know that Rahab wanted to be free of the evil
of Jericho and the life of a harlot?
1 After the fall of Jericho, Rahab and her father's
household were placed outside the camp of Israel.
2 At this point she was free to go to some other heathen
nation and continue her lifestyle if she so chose.
3 Instead, she stayed, and when given the opportunity
married Salmon, and raised a family in the midst of
Israel.
G How do we know that God accepted Rahab unequivocally?
1 Rahab's son, Boaz, was the great grandfather of
king David and thus in the line of Christ.
2 "Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse
begat David" (Ruth 4:21-23).
3 God not only did not distance himself from the lowly
harlot Rahab, but made her a permanent member of His
earthly family from which Christ was born.
4 Clearly, God is not against any nation or people.
- He accepts all those who come to Him.