The Gospel spread like wildfire in the early church. For example, a single speech from Peter converted 3,000 people (Acts 2:41), and after he gave a second speech, the number of believers totaled 5,000 (Acts 4:4). In only a few decades, the Good News of Jesus Christ spread from Jerusalem to the entire Mediterranean, including Rome itself. But why? And how can we make it spread like that again?

Entire books have been written on this subject, and the early church did a lot of things today’s church should copy. But one thing the early church did supercharged the spread of the Gospel. What was it?

It had to do with the method of preaching. The first century church preached God’s Word in a way you rarely hear today. And the Bible says God’s Word will never come back empty (Isaiah 55:11). It always produces. What did the early church do so differently? They preached this special message – “The Messiah you’re looking for is Jesus” (Acts 5:42). At first glance, this doesn’t seem unique. After all, many people today preach “Jesus is the Messiah.” But that’s not all the early church preached. The Gospel they preached included a critical element we often overlook today.

The Messiah You Are Looking For

Go back and read Acts 5:42 one more time. To the early church, Jesus was more than just the Messiah. He was the Messiah “you’re looking for.” In the first century, everyone in Israel was looking for the Messiah. The Jewish leaders asked John the Baptist was he the Messiah (John 1:19-21). The wise men traveled from distant lands to find the Messiah (Matthew 2:2), and King Herod tried to kill the Messiah (Matthew 2:16). This begs the question – why was everyone “looking” for the Messiah?

One simple reason. Messianic fever ran rampant in that generation because the scriptures said the Messiah would come. The Jewish scriptures pointed to the coming of a Messiah, a Savior for both the Jewish people and the entire world. A number of passages known as the Messianic prophecies detailed the Messiah’s birth, life, death, and victory over the grave. They told how His sacrifice would save a multitude from “death in a waterless dungeon” (Zechariah 9:11). And those prophecies said the Messiah would appear at that exact moment in history. So it’s no wonder people were looking for the Messiah.

For the early church, preaching the Gospel meant more than simply proclaiming “Jesus is your Savior.” It meant teaching “Jesus is the Messiah, the one the scriptures point to.” Jesus said Himself, “The scriptures point to me” (John 5:39). In other words, the early church taught fulfilled Bible prophecy. They pointed to Jesus and His fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies as proof Jesus is the Messiah. For unbelievers, this is a powerful message. It provides rock solid evidence of the identity of Jesus. Fulfilled prophecy proves Jesus is who He said He is – the Messiah.

The Early Church

Think this is a minor difference? Think again. When I say this message was the Gospel of the early church, you don’t have to take my word for it. Simply check your Bible. From beginning to end, the Book of Acts shows how the early church used fulfilled prophecy as the primary tool of evangelism. This wasn’t just part of the message. It was the message. In example after example, the Book of Acts shows the apostles spreading the Good News about Jesus. And they did it with Bible prophecy. Let’s look at some examples:

1) Peter – Peter pointed to the fulfilled Messianic prophecies as clear proof Jesus was the long awaited Messiah (Acts 2:14-40). His speech on Pentecost led three thousand people to give their lives to Jesus (Acts 2:41). Preaching in the Temple, he said the life of Jesus fulfilled what the prophets had written about the Messiah (Acts 3:18-24). Many of the people who heard Peter’s message believed it (Acts 4:4). Later, when sharing the Gospel with Cornelius and his household, Peter said Jesus is the One “all the prophets testified about” (Acts 10:43). Again and again, Peter pointed to fulfilled prophecy as the foundation for belief in Jesus.

2) Philip – Philip also used fulfilled prophecy to share the Gospel (Acts 8:26-39). While traveling from Jerusalem to Gaza, Philip met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority. Seated in his carriage, the eunuch read aloud from the Book of Isaiah. The passage he read (Isaiah 53:7-8) was a prophecy describing the trial and execution of Jesus. Beginning with this same scripture, Philip explained the Good News about Jesus, and the eunuch believed.

3) Paul – The Bible says Paul’s primary method of sharing the Gospel was to reason from the scriptures (Acts 17:2-3). When asked to speak in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia, Paul spoke about the history of Israel and the promise of a coming Messiah. He then explained that Jesus fulfilled all the Messianic prophecies (Acts 13:16-42). And he explained all that the prophets had said about Him. As a result, many believed (Acts 13:43). When Paul went to Berea, the Bible says the Bereans “searched the scriptures day and night to see if what Paul and Silas taught them was true” (Acts 17:11).

This begs the question. Why would they search the scriptures unless Paul and Silas were teaching from the scriptures? At this time, the only scriptures were what we today call the Old Testament. Paul and Silas taught from the scriptures by pointing to the Messianic prophecies and how Jesus fulfilled them. The Book of Acts is filled with more examples of this method of preaching:

• In the synagogue in Corinth, Paul testified that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 18:5).
• In Caesarea, Paul said, “I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen” (Acts 26:22).
• Paul asked King Agrippa, “Do you believe the prophets?” (Acts 26:27).
• In Rome, Paul preached, “the hope of Israel – the Messiah – has already come” (Acts 28:20).
• Paul used “the law of Moses and the books of the prophets” to persuade the Romans about Jesus (Acts 28:23).

The Bible shows this was a common technique in the early church. It says Apollos also used the scriptures to explain that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 18:28). The truth is clear. If you don’t study Bible prophecy, you’re missing one of the greatest evangelistic tools of all time. What better way to respond to those who demand evidence? What better way to demonstrate Jesus is the Messiah than to tell people about the many prophecies He fulfilled?

The Messiah the World Is Still Looking For

Today, millions of people are still looking for a Messiah. Not because the prophets said to look for one, but because their lives are filled with emptiness. People are sad, lonely, and depressed. They live unfulfilling and unsatisfying lives in a constant search for peace and rest. You can show them where to find peace and rest. You can give them a great gift. Share the Gospel today. Ask your friends if they’ve ever heard of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled. Ask them these questions:

• Did you know the Bible foretold the birthplace of the Messiah 700 years before it happened (Micah 5:2)
• Did you know the Bible declared the exact year the Messiah would appear (Daniel 9:25)?
• Did you know the Bible said a friend would betray the Messiah for the exact sum of 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12)?

Most of all, ask them, “Did you know one person fulfilled all these prophecies and more?” His name is Jesus. That’s right. Jesus and Jesus alone fulfilled these prophecies. He’s the fulfillment of everything the prophets wrote (Matthew 5:17). Hundreds of years before the Romans invented crucifixion, the Bible described the Messiah as suffering from just such a punishment. The scriptures said His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16). They were. The scriptures said they would give Him bitter wine to drink (Psalm 69:21) and pierce His side (Zechariah 12:10). They did. The scriptures said they would gamble for His clothes (Psalm 22:18). They did.

Most of all, the scriptures said He would conquer the grave (Psalm 49:15). He did. They said, because of Him, you are counted as righteous in the eyes of God (Romans 4:24). And guess what? You are. May the whole world praise the name of Jesus!

Britt Gillette is author of the free ebook Coming to Jesus as well as the books Signs of the Second Coming and Racing Toward Armageddon. Receive his book 7 Signs of the End Times for free when you sign up for his monthly newsletter.

In early September, Russia, Turkey, and Iran met in Tehran to discuss the future of Syria. It was just one of many meetings in the past several years between three of the most powerful nations in Middle Eastern politics.

In a mid-September meeting, Russia and Turkey agreed to carry out coordinated military patrols on the borders of a “demilitarized” buffer zone between Syrian troops and rebel forces in Syria’s Idlib province. Idlib is the last major stronghold of rebel and jihadist groups trying to overthrow Assad in a civil war that has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced millions. For Russia and Iran, retaking Idlib is crucial to complete the military victory they crave in Syria’s civil war after almost 8 years of fighting. As the war winds down, these three powers will decide the future of Syria.

At first glance, Russia, Turkey, and Iran make unlikely allies. For instance, Turkey is a Sunni Muslim nation, while Iran is a Shiite Muslim nation. Also, Turkey is a member of NATO, an alliance formed specifically to counter Russian military aggression. These three nations have many differences and a number of competing interests. Yet, with each passing day, they become closer and closer. Why? Syria.

The ongoing Syrian civil war highlights a number of overlapping interests for these nations. Understanding those interests is the key to understanding why these nations are coming together. So let’s look at what each nation seeks to gain.

Russia

Why does Russia care so much about Syria? Several reasons.

First, Russia maintains an important naval facility in Tartus, Syria. It’s the Russian Navy’s only overseas base, vital for repair and refueling of the Russian Navy. As we’ve seen, Russia will fight to keep its naval installation in Tartus.

Second, Syria has long been an ally of Russia and the Soviet Union. Dating back to the Cold War, Syria’s ruling Assad family has been aligned with Russia against western influence in the region. Russia wants to keep Assad in power and maintain its regional presence. Syria has also been a lucrative market for the sale of Russian weapons and commodities, and Russia doesn’t want to lose that market.

Third, Russia wants to do more than maintain its presence in the Middle East. It wants to expand it. Russia’s military entry into the Syrian civil war in 2015 turned the tide of the war. It clinched eventual victory for Assad. This means Russia will maintain enormous influence over Assad and Syria.

Finally, Russia’s alliance with Turkey and Iran serves to strengthen its influence in the Middle East, but it also serves another purpose. The warming relationship between Turkey and Russia (and Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan) divides NATO. It strains the relationship between Turkey and its western NATO allies. So it’s easy to see why Russia has such a vested interest in Turkey as well as Syria.

Turkey

What does Syria mean to Turkey? A lot. A massive attack on rebels in Idlib (home to around 3 million people) could spark a humanitarian crisis on its border. It could unleash a nightmare scenario where hundreds of thousands of refugees, including militants, flee toward Turkey’s border, destabilizing towns and cities under its control. Turkey already hosts 3 million Syrian refugees, and it’s sealed its borders to new entrants. Turkey wants a stable border. It wants to take advantage of Syria’s civil war and gain influence and control over Syrian territory (by backing Sunni rebel groups).

Most of all, Turkey wants to suppress Kurdish militants on its border. Turkey already has Kurdish-controlled areas on its border in northern Iraq. It wants to avoid the rise of new ones. This puts it in direct conflict with the United States, which is backing Kurdish rebels in Syria. This has driven Turkey closer to Russia and led it to play Russia and the NATO powers against each other to its own benefit.

Iran

Why is Syria so important to Iran? Iran has decades of close ties to Syria going back to the 1979 Islamic revolution, and both champion the Shiite Muslim branch of Islam. Iran already has regional footholds in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, and it wants to keep and expand its influence in a nation neighboring Israel and Lebanon.

A presence in Syria gives Iran land access to the Mediterranean Sea, a staging ground for Hezbollah and other proxies to attack Israel, and access to Israel’s border for Iranian armed forces to launch a future invasion of Israel. Iran wants to keep Syria allied against Israel, and since Hezbollah and advisors from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard have helped Assad throughout the civil war, they’re well positioned to take advantage if he retains power.

What the Future Holds

After almost 8 years of conflict, the Syrian civil war is coming to a close. The aftermath will see Syria carved into spheres of influence. Russia, Turkey, and Iran will dominate those spheres, and all three countries will remain in Syria. This makes it likely they’ll continue to work together to avoid conflict and pursue their shared interests. So why should you care? Because the new Syria might be foreshadowing the soon fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The shared interests of Russia, Turkey, and Iran could lead them to launch an invasion prophesied 2,600 years ago.

The Ezekiel 38-39 War

Six centuries before the crucifixion of Jesus, the prophet Ezekiel foretold a future invasion of Israel. He said it will occur in the last days (Ezekiel 38:16). He said it will come from north of Israel (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2), and he said it will involve a coalition of nations led by Russia (Ezekiel 38:2) that includes Iran and Turkey (Ezekiel 38:5-6). Never before have these three nations been in alliance. But today, all three sit on Israel’s northern border.

Coincidence? I don’t think so. Who knows why they’ll ultimately attack, but rest assured, they will. The stage is now set for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will win the battle (Ezekiel 39:3-6), and the whole world will know He is the One behind the victory (Ezekiel 39:21).

Britt Gillette is author of the free ebook Coming to Jesus as well as the books Signs of the Second Coming and Racing Toward Armageddon. Receive his book 7 Signs of the End Times for free when you sign up for his monthly newsletter.