God's Covenant with
Israel God made promises to Abraham about 4,000 years ago that He would give to him and to his descendants after him, all the land from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt for an everlasting possession. Gen 15:18-21, 17:1-8. About 3,500 years ago, God told Moses that Jerusalem would be the place where His name would be worshipped, and confirmed the promises previously made to Abraham. Deut 12:5,11,14,18,26, Dent 28, 29. About 3,000 years ago God promised King David that his house and kingdom would be "established for ever," and the line of David can be traced to both Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, and to Joseph the husband of Mary. 2Sam 7:12-16, Matt 1:1-16, Luke 3:23-38. When Jesus Christ came in fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies, the nation of Israel rejected its Messiah, and in fulfillment of Jesus' own words Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD after which the nation was scattered around the world. The Rapture of the Church Following Christ's resurrection and ascension God turned to the Gentiles and through the Church, (the Body of Christ), He has made His Truth known for nearly 2,000 years. Eph 3:1-11, Col 1:25-27, Rom 16:25, 26. Sadly, official Christendom has apostacised, as Jesus said it would, and the Bible clearly teaches that this "Church Age" will conclude with the Rapture of all saved individuals. The Rapture will be sudden and unexpected. Those Christians who have died will be raised first, then those still living will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord "in the air." lThess 4:13-18, lCor 15:51. The Coming Great Tribulation After the Rapture there will be 7 years of Great Tribulation during which Israel will turn to the Lord and again become God's witness on earth. The reestablishment of the nation of Israel in 1948 and its subsequent growth to 4.65mill population in the land by 1997, indicates that this time is drawing near. Ezek 36:16-38. - The Great Tribulation period is referred to as "The DAY of the LORD", "The Time of Jacob's (Israel's) Trouble", and the "70th week" (the last 7 yrs) of Israel's prophetic history before Messiah returns. During this time there will be 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel who will preach the Gospel of the coming Kingdom throughout the world and many Gentiles will be saved through their testimony. 1 Thess5:1-9, Dan 9:24-27, Jer 30:7, Rev 7:1-14. Invasion of Israel During this time Egypt will invade Israel but will be repulsed. Russia will then lead the Muslim nations of Iran, Turkey, Libya and Sudan (Ethiopia of ancient times), in a massive attack to effect the "final solution" on Israel - its liquidation! However, God will intervene and destroy these armies and "So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward." Ezek 38 and 39. Appearance of Antichrist Immediately after the Rapture, at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, Antichrist will be revealed. He will be the leader of the Revived Roman Empire which we see today forming up in the European Union (EU), and will "confirm a covenant with many for one week (7 yrs),but in the midst of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease..."Dan9:27. The Jewish Temple will be rebuilt next to the Mosque of Omar and half way through the 7 yrs of Tribulation, following the destruction of Russia and the Muslim nations, Antichrist, will turn against Israel, take over the Temple Mount at Jerusalem, and proclaim his own deity. Matt ~:15, 2Thess 2:4, Dan 9:27, Rev 11:1-12. Armageddon With the Russian/Muslim Alliance destroyed and Antichrist in firm control of the Middle East oil, a signal will be sent to the millions of Asia. An army of 200 million will be raised by the 'Kings of the East" which will cross the Euphrates for the Battle of Armageddon. God says, "I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and THEN shall the LORD go forth and fight against those nations ....and His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the East." Zech 14:1-4. Rev 9:13-21, Rev 16:12-16. The Second Coming of Christ Immediately after the Great Tribulation, Christ will come with His saints, in the clouds of heaven with power and great Glory and, " every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him:(Israel),and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him." Rev 1:7. All surviving nations will be gathered before the throne of His Glory and the living nations will be divided, the sheep from the goats, depending on their attitude toward God's now repentant people, Israel . The Sheep, (the saved nations), go alive into Christ's Millennial Kingdom and the Goats into "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" Matt 25:31-46, Matt 24:29,30. The Millennial Kingdom The Millennial Kingdom will last for 1,000 yrs and during this time the world that survives the Great Tribulation and the Judgement of the Nations, will experience incredible blessing. The Lord Jesus Christ will reign on the Throne of David in Jerusalem, and Israel will minister the Law of the Lord from a glorious Temple where the light of God's presence will continually shine. Isa 60: 19-22, Isa 66: 18, Ezek 43: 7. The Gentile Nations will go up to Jerusalem to ear God's Word and to worship the LORD of Hosts. Rev 20 :1-7, Zech 14: 16-21. New Heavens and New Earth After the Millennium, Satan will be released from the Bottomless Pit to test the nations. He will stir up a revolt against Christ, and Jerusalem will again be surrounded. Those nations will be judged, and Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire. The 2nd Resurrection will follow when all the unsaved of all time, will be finally banished from God's presence at the Great White Throne. "and whosoever was not found written in the book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire. " Rev 20 :15. Finally, there will be a New Heaven and New Earth. The Church will be with Christ in the New Jerusalem, Israel around its walls, and the Gentile Nations of them that are saved, will dwell in the New Earth. Rev 21: 9,10,12, and 24. Two Stages The 2nd Coming of Christ is therefore in two phases. PHASE I. Christ will come "to the air" to Rapture His Church and thus conclude this present Age of Gentile testimony. PHASE II. After 7 yrs of Great Tribulation, Christ will return "to the earth" to establish His Millennial Kingdom. He will then sit upon the throne of David and reign as King of Kings. Christ's 2nd Coming is imminent, personal, Pre-tribulation (for His Church), and Pre-Millennial. Be Prepared There is no doubt we are living in the Last Days. Israel is back in the land, Russia is aligning with the Muslim nations, Europe is coming together to provide a kingdom for Antichrist and Asia has awakened .Other signs such as earthquakes, disease, wars, famine, a world population explosion, men "running to and fro", increased knowledge, apostacy in the churches and spiritism abounding all over the world all of these signs are predicted in the Word of God! The question remains, "Are you ready to meet God?" If you are willing right now to turn from your sin and put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ who bore the full punishment for sin on the cross, you can know , the blessedness of forgiveness, and you will receive God's gift of Eternal Life. If Christ came today you would be caught up with all the saved to meet the Lord in the air. "As many as received Him to them gave He the power to become the children of God" John 1:12. Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10:13. Nor by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph 2 8,9 for regular information on world events relating to Bible Prophecy and for sound biblical exposition subscribe to the HERALD OF HOPE Write to : Herald of Hope Inc. PO Box 216 Marayong NSW 2148 Australia |
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Copyright. Last revised: January 25, 1998.