Events in the Middle East seem to be getting more and more apocalyptic, and people want to know: Is the book of Revelation unfolding before our eyes? So many are speculating about whether or not we’re seeing biblical prophecy in action.
But what you might not have heard is that many of the people asking questions are non-believers.
On the most popular podcast in the world, the host recently read an entire chapter of Revelation on his show. Joe Rogan may have mocked the Scriptures in the past but not anymore. He is genuinely asking whether we’re seeing these events coming to pass right now. Rogan is a man of the world who often smokes weed while talking to his guests, but just enthusiastically shared a song about Jesus he’d found and loved. The shakings are bringing all sorts of interesting things to the surface.
We have had a lot of messages from Israelis who don’t yet know Jesus, asking about biblical prophecy. Is this Psalm 83? Is Jesus going to appear soon? For some it’s a matter of fear and dread, for others it’s an extraordinary discovery that maybe life isn’t so meaningless after all.
What should we make of it all, and how can we best support those around us, whether they’re believers or non-believers, as the world continues to shake? Can anyone really know for sure? One thing is certain: these events all point to the most wonderful future anyone could ever imagine.
GOD’S END TIME PEACE PLAN IN BIBLICAL PROPHECY
Rather than being a scary subject, biblical prophecy should be a powerful antidote to fear. God, Master of the Universe, has told us it’s all going to be ok. More than that, it’s going to be absolutely amazing. Jesus likened end-time events to labor pains, but people often forget that birth pangs result in… a birth! An expectant family won’t focus constantly on the contractions and the agony of childbirth (though smart to be forewarned and forearmed) but rather they get busy painting the room, collecting clothes, and getting excited to meet the new member of the family. They are getting ready for something wonderful, something to look forward to and celebrate.
When Jesus lays out the plan of what will happen during the birth pangs, it’s in the context of looking forward to the coming Kingdom.
With all the talk of end times, most people forget to actually look at the END! Instead of looking at the painful birth pangs, let’s look at the picture painted in biblical prophecy of what will happen when Jesus comes again. The Messianic Age is going to be incredible! Ironically, this is something Jewish people seem to have grasped better than Christians. Part of the reason that Jewish people are more conversant with biblical prophecy about the coming Kingdom is that it’s mostly found in the Jewish Scriptures. The vast majority of the book of Isaiah, for example, deals with the themes of the redemption of Israel, the Day of the Lord, and the glorious return of our Messiah. There are hundreds of prophecies scattered throughout the 66 books of the Bible, and there are about 150 chapters that deal directly with the return of Jesus. There’s far too much to cover in one article, but here are a few aspects of His coming Kingdom in biblical prophecy that we can look forward to:
THE COMING KINGDOM
* Jesus will rule and reign from Jerusalem, and no one will be able to oppose Him (Psalm 2:6, 110:2, Zechariah 2:12, 9:10, Revelation 2:27, 19:15)
* There will be world peace – weapons of war will be changed into tools for agriculture(Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3, Psalm 46:8-10)
* Middle Eastern nations will join together in worship of the God of Israel, and freely travel throughout the area (Isaiah 19:23-25, 60:6,14)
* Lifespans will change, along with other changes in nature, as illness, death, decay and evil are limited (Isaiah 11:6-9, 65:17-25)
* The enemy will be bound for 1000 years so he can no longer deceive people (Revelation 20:3-10)
* The nations will come to Jerusalem to pay homage to Jesus and learn from the Jewish people about their God (Isaiah 2:2-3, Isaiah 60, Micah 4:1-2, Zech 8:22,23)
* Each nation is obliged to come to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot in Jerusalem, and will be punished if they don’t (Zechariah 14:16-19)
* The earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14, Isaiah 11:9)
* There will be a river flowing from the Temple in Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, which will become alive again (Ezekiel 47, Zechariah 14:8, Isaiah 35:6-7, Psalm 46:4)
* Israel will be vindicated in the eyes of the world (Ezekiel 36:16, Ezekiel 37:24-28, Isaiah 19:24, 60, 62, Zechariah 8:3,8, Zephaniah 3:20)
* Jesus will finally be embraced as the Messiah by all His people. (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:25, Ezekiel 20:40-44)
Source: One for Israel
