The presentation of numerous ideologies concerning the End of Days by inept and self-proclaimed ministers leave many of us in a discombobulated state as the vast number of churches and denominations vie for the covenant position as the bride of Christ. Since the early days of the beginning, everything regarding Christianity and the church has undergone changes. Many of these changes have to do with the interpretation and re-interpretation of the basic word of God. While making these changes we are quick to proclaim that God never changes.
There are those who wish to amass a following or make an impression will resort to using a radical interpretation that appeases a class or ethnic group. Many of us go to church looking for a supernatural blessing from God in the form of an earthly reward. Therefore, much of what goes on in churches or in the name of Christianity is unrelated to salvation, it is about getting stuff from God. Jesus said, "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5) Church members are compelled to support a hierarchy steeped in financial, emotional and entertainment values but lacking in spiritual significance. The deception is based on shaped and twisted scriptures.
Clearly seen in Revelation is the progression of the church into an apostate state, it is detailed in letters sent to seven representative churches. If we are living in the seventh church age or if the seventh letter is applicable to us today, then the end of days is surely upon us.
Growing up in the Pentecostal church, testimony service was an important part of worship. The testimony of the saints usually ended with a reference to, "living in the last and evil days". As a child, this message was driven home through Bible study and sermons. As time past we began to discount the last day's scenario because it seems as if Jesus had forgotten about coming back. The time element caused the faith of many to grow cold. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2nd Peter 3:8)
In the "End of Days", both Jesus and Paul stressed that a charismatic leader will come in the name of peace, love, and prosperity. Even before he mounts the world stage, many will revere him. He will sway the fringe elements of society with his eloquent speech and his following will be astronomical. He will form an alliance with religious leaders and stand in the most sacred of places of the nations, the Holy lands, and churches and declare himself to be above the word of God. This will be done by advocating laws that are contrary to the word of God.
Paul wrote, "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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4)
The world populace and many Christians will be deceived and many will speak in defiance of God. Jesus wrote:, "When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand :)" (Matthew 24:15) The gate of Hell is open, hate, darkness and confusion follow.
Acts of violence to others or to oneself has become widespread and much of the world populace is reacting with righteous indignation. When these acts such as bombings, school shootings, suicides or even wars happen, darkness and confusion overshadow us causing us to overlook the root cause which is hate. Hate is the common denominator. Whether self-hate or hatred of others we delude our selves into thinking that a law can protect us from this malady. The effectiveness of laws can be attested through the control of gambling, drugs, prostitution and other vices. "For what the law could not do, in that, it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (Romans 8:3)
There are numerous markers in the scripture to indicate the End of Days. Humanity, with its access to such a vast amount of knowledge, can remove God from the equation and find a way to explain the accruing events. The most profound indicator is God's chosen people and the Holy Land, but numerous groups and churches are making false claims to the blessing of Abraham.
Some of the signs of the time offered by Jesus can be found in the New Testament and validated by Old Testament prophecies. "And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death." (Matthew 10:21)
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in diver's places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." (Mark 13:8) Earthquakes are taking place in such place that was not known for earthquakes. The earth is groaning.
In Matthew 24:2, Jesus told the disciples after they commented about the beauty of the Temple, that not one stone would be left upon another. The Romans under Titus fulfilled this in A.D. 70. Later Jesus refers to the end of days, when the Third Temple would be defiled, causing the abomination of desolation. 14“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the entire world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)." (Matthew 24:14-15)
The abomination of desolation is referred to three times in the book of Daniel, (Daniel 9:27, 11; 31, 12:11). Each mention refers to the defiling of the Temple. Paul also notes the need for a Third Temple and the role the Temple will play. The man of sin will enter the Temple and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. This is also consistent with the words of Jesus and Daniel about the role this Temple will play.
Chastisement usually follows when I mention the rebuilding of the Temple. The pious prelates are quick to explain why we do not need another Jewish Temple, but the Temple, Jerusalem, the Jews, the Gentiles and the church all pay an important role in the end of days.
Hosea also foretells the long absence of a Temple and Israel’s gathering. The many days refers to our own day. The only other time, since Hosea day there was no Temple was for the 70-year period, between 586 B.C. and 516 B.C. Seventy years does not qualify as a long absence when the only other time is over 1900 years.
When the charismatic leader of the United States and the Pope turned their backs on Isreal and supported its enemies, the same as The British Empire did on November 2, 1917, it signaled the corruption and downfall of a World Superpower. The British Empire, the superpower of its epoch, made promises that could have given Isreal permanent legitimacy. Instead, England betrayed the Zionist movement and reneged on its recognition of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. We can learn many lessons today from this perfidy. It is doubtful whether America's leaders of today can rectify this perfidy, Revelation 13:1 seems to be unfolding. A new nation, a sinful nation (The Beast) is being born out of the Sea (confusion).
There are those that believe the End of Days started sometime this century, most likely around the year 1947 AD when Israel became a nation. During that time three end-time prophecies were said to be fulfilled. The first is found in Jeremiah 16. It is mind-boggling. Read it carefully:
14) “Therefore behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’
15) but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.”
This same prophecy is repeated verbatim in Jeremiah 16, Jeremiah 23:7-8.
The second prophecy I want to bring to your attention is found in Isaiah 11:
10) Then in that day, the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a signal for the peoples…
11) Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the `Valley of Jehoshaphat,' and will plead with them there for MY PEOPLE and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land." Joel 3:1-2.
This prophecy clearly states that there is to be a "Judgment of Nations" on the earth in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" at the time of the final and complete restoration of the Jews to their own land, and that the basis of judgment is the treatment by the nations of Christ's brethren-- The Jews.
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