End of Age Prophecies Study Guide
Learned Bible scholars tend to agree that there are at least six primary "End of Age Prophecies, and they are all mention in the New Testament. The Old Testament writers validated a number of these prophecies. The signs of the fulfillment of these prophecies are evident, but not to the detractors, their Heart has been hardened, they are like the ancient Pharaoh, they see the signs yet they refused to believe.
In today's age, it is easy to explain away the signs of impending doom because of our science, history, ethnic background and the failure of our religious indoctrination. The setting that humanity has created does not allow us to believe in the wrath of God. That what is known as common sense or the Knowledge of God has been cast aside in favor of the vast Knowledge of the world, therefore we are comfortable with our ideology of why things are happening.
The unbelieving state of humanity is an intricate part of the prophecies. It seems as if false science and false teachings have distracted the masses, religious leaders and the church of God. In an age when we should be concerned about the coming of the Kingdom, we are more concerned about wealth, favor and sowing seeds to receive a financial blessing. Paul's admonition to Timothy was, "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:" (1st Timothy 6:20)
Paul in his writing to Timothy advised him that false science is a distraction. Religion has nothing to fear from history or true science, and the minister of the gospel should not dread the truth. Real science, in all its advances, contributes to the support of religion; and just in proportion as that is promoted will it be found to sustain the Bible, and to confirm the claims of religion to the faith of mankind.
The meaning here is, that Timothy was to avoid everything which falsely laid claim to being "knowledge" or "science." There was much of this in the world at the time the apostle wrote this letter, and more perhaps than anything else has tended to corrupt true religion since.
When Jesus spoke of wars and rumors of wars, the devil and his minions quickly pointed out that this was nothing new. Relying upon false science and history, they inject doubt into the Word of God. Mention wars and rumors of wars today as an End of Age prophecy and if not fully grounded in faith, we would find ourselves doubting the meaning of Jesus words.
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." (Matthew 24:7)
Each one of the above mention events standing alone might not raise an alarm, but when they accrue within the same time-frame maybe, we should take notice. The acceleration of natural disasters and climate shifts around the world could easily signal a warning to the world that the Wrath of God is or it is about to be poured out on earth. Yet, science and humanity have contrived numerous scenarios to explain what is happening. Rather than accept the conclusion that time is winding up, we use a term such as global warming to indicate that man in charge of his destiny while reveling charismatic leaders who cast aside the teaching of the Bible.
"Which sometime were disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (1st Peter 3:20)
Jesus told His disciples that just before the “end of the age,” as we have known it all our lives, it would be as it was in the days of Noah. People going about their daily lives as usual, they were oblivious to the “signs of the times” and the warnings of Noah that they were headed for sudden destruction. Then, the great flood came and killed them all, except those safe in the ark. (Matthew 24:3; 38-39; 2nd Peter 2:5).
These segments of scripture provide the fuel for a number of questions and it also provides the answer. Often overlooked are the implications that when the destruction came upon the earth, those who were saved were safe within the Ark. When the destruction befell Sodom Lot and his wife was safe outside of the city. According to the book of Revelation, it seems that the church will be spared the tribulation that is to befall the world. If there is any truth to these statements then maybe we should question the status of the church.
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" (2nd Thessalonians 2:3)
The degeneration of the Christian Church into a worldly-minded, pleasure/prosperity-seeking, apostate church of the Laodicean type has come of age.
"Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen." (1st Timothy 6:21)
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy from Laodicea. Laodicea is the city where the church in John's day had lost it way. Timothy was advised to voiding profane and vain babblings. "Profane is empty empty words." The reference is to such controversies and doctrines as tended only to produce strife, and was not adapted to promote the edification of the church.
The rise of a beastly "whore" nation - modern, prophetic, Babylon the Great who both seduces and "swallows up" the other nations of the world in her attempt to establish a global empire (Jeremiah 50:23; 51:25, 44; Revelation 17:1-2, 18)
The collapse of the world's economies, resulting in revolutions, wars, rule of the wealthy elite through martial law, and the impoverishment and servitude of the masses (Revelation 6:2-6; 13:16-17)
The amalgamation of nations of the Middle East and North Africa against Israel (Psalm 83:2-8; Ezekiel 38:2-16)
Now Revelation 13 comes into play, first, the takeover by Islamists then annihilation by "fire" (a comet or nuclear explosion?) of the last great superpower nation - modern, prophetic Babylon - opening the door to the invasion of Israel by nations of the Middle East and North Africa. (Jeremiah 51:1-4, 14, 27-28, 37, 43; Revelation 17:16; 18:2, 8) Then Christ returns with his Holy Angels (The church who has already been sequestered) to fight for his brothers. I challenge you to think about these things.
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:7-13)
"Then we which 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." ( 1st Thessalonians 4:17) The church is caught up.
"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." (Revelation 4:1) This is the beginning of the tribulation
However, current events that are rapidly fulfilling Bible prophecy Revelation 13:3, 4, 7, 8; 17:11-17) are making it crystal clear that the kingdom of the "beast" (anti-Messiah) will be a global kingdom - an unstable, brittle merger of Eastern and Western cultures, religions and politics (hence, the mixture of iron and clay).
Some of the events that occurred not long ago were Pope Francis embracing Islam - pronouncing that anti-Messianic religion just as valid as “Christianity” (the Roman Catholic version). Then, when the Pope arrived in Washington D.C., President Barack Hussein Obama, who had declared that America was no longer a Christian nation, greeted him very warmly. After which the U.S. Congress and massive throngs of people with wildly enthusiastic accolades greeted the Pope, as though he is the leader of all the world’s religions, and indeed, that seems to be how he is perceived. There is even a term for the new, unified religion – Chrislam. The Pope is also advocating global cooperation in affecting climate change and humanitarian treatment of "oppressed" people (especially the Palestinians).
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