Discussion on the End Times

Recently I talked with two pastors, both graduates of American seminaries. They are both dedicated men, who have come out of their own culture to work overseas with the local and expatriate people.

Question: We see some of your writings on Bible prophecy and end times events. Explain to us what you think is going to happen.

Keraz: There are five prophecies that specify the Negev desert as the focus of a terrible event that will cause destruction over virtually the entire Middle East (1)

Nothing to match it has occurred in the past, and seeing the current political situation, we can now see how this may take place.

Iran will attempt to deliver a nuclear weapon to destroy Israel’s nuclear plant at Dimona, in the Negev. (2) Also they will target Israel’s cities, excepting for Jerusalem.

This action will bring forth the wrath of the Lord. (3) The Jewish State of Israel, too will be destroyed and its current inhabitants killed or displaced. (4)

The Lord will use this event to carry out His judgement against the nations, including Judah. (5) It will be the Day, mentioned many times in the Bible, as the Lord’s Day of vengeance and wrath, (6) and will be the Sixth Seal judgement/punishment of the nations. (7)

After a period of time, perhaps only a few months, the Lord will call His people, all the righteous Christians from every tribe, race, nation and language, to gather and enter all of the holy Land. As the new nation of Beulah , where He will bless them with prosperity and peace. (8) They will rebuild the Temple, as described in Ezekiel 40-36, and send out 144,000 missionaries to preach the coming Kingdom of God. (9)

Later, a Northern confederation of nations will be motivated to attack Beulah; But the Lord will totally destroy them. (10)

Also, after the worldwide devastation of the Lord’s terrible Day of fiery wrath, the surviving world leaders will decide to form a one world government, which will soon be taken over by a powerful and charismatic dictator. Later, he will sign a seven year peace and security agreement with God’s people , but after 3½ years, he will break that treaty and invade Beulah. This will begin the Tribulation (11) and after another 3½ years, the Lord Jesus will return and commence His Millennium reign. (12)


Pastors reply: Yes, we live in a dark and fallen world. Jesus came because of this sin. He believed in a Day of judgement for this evil world. When Jesus went to the Cross, He said ‘Now is the judgement for this world”. John 12:31 He understood the Cross to be the Day of Judgement. Note that the sky was darkened and the earth shaken then.

This is the basis for the substitutionary death of Christ and this is how the Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled by Him. The whole point of Jesus coming to the earth was to take God’s wrath upon the Cross. The Cross and the hope of our resurrection is what the Christian faith is all about.

Keraz: I think that it’s sad that you don’t consider prophecy as worthy of study.

In 2 Peter 1:19, he says that we do well to attend to the prophets, and in Revelation 1:3 a blessing is given to those who ‘take to heart’ what is written there.

Final fulfilment of God’s judgement must still wait for the end times, as Paul says in Hebrews 10:27 and Peter in 2 Peter 3:10.

References;

(1) Ezekiel 20:46, Ezekiel 21:4, Isaiah 9:18-19, Jeremiah 13:19-21, Jeremiah 21:14.

(2) Isaiah 21:2, Isaiah 22:6.

(3) Ezekiel 7:14, Psalms 7:12-16, Ezekiel 30:1-5, Judah- Zechariah 13:8-9, Iran- Jeremiah 49:34-39, Syria- Isaiah 17:1-4, Palestinians- Ezekiel 25:15-17, Arabia- Jeremiah 49:28-39, Jordan- Ezekiel 25:1-11, Egypt- Isaiah 19:1-15.

(4) Jeremiah 12:14, Obadiah 12-16, Zephaniah 1:1-18, Jeremiah 8:5-12.

(5) Amos 1:1-18 & 2:1-5, Zephaniah 3:8, 2 Peter 3:7

(6) Isaiah 63:1-6, Isaiah 33:10-12, Jeremiah 30:23-24, Malachi 4:1-3, Zechariah 9:13-15.

(7) Habakkuk 3:12, Revelation 6: 12-17, Revelation 14:18-20

(8) Isaiah 62:1-5. Ezekiel 34:11-16, Jeremiah 32:37-43, Isaiah 14:1, Psalms 69:36

(9) Revelation 7:3-8, Revelation 14:1-7, Isaiah 66:19.

(10) Ezekiel chapters 38 &39, Joel 2:20.

(11) Daniel 12:1, Matthew 24:21-22, Revelation 8 to 19:11

(12) Revelation 20:4-6, Hosea 6:2, Luke 13:32

It is amazing to think that we are now, at the very edge of the end of this age. Soon we will experience the fulfilment of many prophesies. The ancient prophets spoke of how all the Lord’s people; Israelites of God, faithful Christians from every race, nation and language, will go to live in their heritage. Ezekiel 37:21 ...I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they now live. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own Land.

This Second Exodus began in 1948, with the return of part of the Southern Kingdom of Judah into part of the Land. Now we are seeing the world turning against the State of Israel and the emergence of an Islamic confederation, that is busily preparing for an attack to: “erase all remembrance of them”. Then the Lord will act once again in His creation, to fulfil the rest of Psalm 83, Habakkuk 3:12-14, Revelation 6:12-17 and many other Bible passages. This clearance of the “evil neighbours” as described in Jeremiah 12:14-17, will allow every faithful Christian Israelite of God, Galatians 3:26-29 to join the remnant of their brethren in all of the holy Land. Jeremiah 50:4-5


When will this happen? Just this question causes some Christians to quickly say; But of that Day and hour no man knows.” Those who seek clues from the Word are often criticized and told to focus on evangelism, and not to be concerned when the Lord will Return. This shows their lack of Bible knowledge, as the actual Return will be known to the day, when certain events take place preceding it. It is the Great Day of the Lord’s vengeance and wrath, that will take the world unawares. The doubters may mention the verses that say this event will come “as a thief” . Again, those people do not read scripture carefully, as Paul says; “But you, my friends, are not in the dark, that this Day should surprise you”.

Jesus exhorted; Revelation 3:3b If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief... The Return will not be unexpected. This verse and all the ones about the Lord coming; refer to the Lord’s Day of fiery wrath, some time before the Return in glory.

Jesus rebuked: Matthew 16:3 You hypocrites, you can interpret the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of your times.

Jesus will judge: Luke 3:16-17....He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork in His hand, to clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat, but the chaff, He will burn up.

Jesus promised: Luke 21:28 When all these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. John 15:15-17 I no longer call you servants, now I call you My friends, I have made known all that I have learned from My Father. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, that you would bear fruit. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name. This is My command; love one another.