As long as I can remember, I’ve read Scripture. Much of it was confusing, especially the parts that were prophetic. So much couldn’t really be understood because the time wasn’t right.
I would read commentaries by people who meant well, but tried to say prophecy was mostly allegory and symbolism. The reason for this misinformation was not that the teachers were trying to deceive people, but that it was impossible to understand because much couldn’t be understood until various things were in place. For instance, many Bible teachers taught that Christians had replaced Israel in God’s eyes. How could they be so deceived?
When studying prophecy, it’s important to remember that God lives outside of time, and He knows what will happen before it happens. Many, many prophecies stated clearly that Israel would be back in the land. One of these is found in the Book of Amos.
“And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God” (Amos 9:14-15).
That seems very clear to me, but before May 14, 1948, it didn’t seem possible. When studying prophecy, be sure to believe God. Israel is now planted in their land. I think of people like Daniel who had been taken captive to Babylon. Daniel knew Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed, but he believed prophecy found in Jeremiah.
“For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10).
Daniel believed God’s word, and all the while he was captive in Babylon, he never stopped praying towards Jerusalem, because he knew it would be rebuilt. When the seventy years were over, Jerusalem and the Temple were rebuilt. The point is that Daniel believed prophecy. What about today? Do we believe God, or do we allegorize prophecy? If you read it as an allegory, you’ll be very confused.
Today, many prophecies are being fulfilled, and things are getting serious. It’s time to eliminate symbolism and allegory, and see just how serious things are. We are very close to the Rapture, and if you miss that because you have rejected God, you’ll face the Great Tribulation. Examine yourself and see if you truly believe, or are a Christian in name only.
Daniel was a very faithful man. Even in a pagan city like Babylon, he never became a part of the culture. Could that be why God was able to give him prophecy? Daniel didn’t understand what he was told, but was faithful to write the words given to him. In Daniel chapter 9, Daniel records a prophecy regarding a 70-week period of time, which is understood as 70 weeks of years, making it a 490-year period.
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24).
Who are Daniel’s people, and what is Daniel’s holy city? Daniel was Jewish, so his people are Jewish, and the Jewish holy city is Jerusalem. “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and three score and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined” (Daniel 9:25-26).
Jesus came exactly as prophecy said, but the Scribes and Pharisees hadn’t taken prophecy seriously and didn’t recognize their Messiah. They “cut off” their Messiah (crucified Him), and now we are living in a gap of time between weeks 69 and 70. The 70th week will be the most horrendous time of judgment and wrath that has ever happened in history. That’s when the Anti-Christ will come to power, and the evil things he does will be straight from Satan.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).
This makes it clear that the Jewish Temple must be rebuilt in order for the evil world leader to cause sacrifice and oblation to cease. You don’t need a degree in prophecy to see that all things are falling into place. The war in the Middle East, the Abraham Accords, the Board of Peace, etc., God is allowing all of this. I encourage you to read the remaining chapters of Daniel; pray for discernment and understanding. Daniel couldn’t possibly understand all he was told, but was faithful to write what was dictated to him.
“And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:8-9).
Today, things are getting serious. The prophecies he was given are becoming clear. The book is being opened to our understanding.
When Jesus walked this earth, His disciples asked Him about the time of the end. They wanted to know the sign of His coming and of the end of the world. Remember, they were Jewish men who had no idea that they were soon to establish a new faith – Christianity. When Jesus answered their questions, He spoke of His second coming, since the Rapture hadn’t been openly revealed yet. The Apostle Paul would reveal that truth. The Rapture will take Christians Home before the second coming. So, Jesus answered their question and told them about the time of the end. Everything is falling into place just as Jesus said it would.
“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).
As we get closer to the end of time, the deception has already started. For many years, there have been men preaching from pulpits and twisting God’s truth. Evolution? A lie. Gay marriage? A lie. Many paths to Heaven. A lie. Christian yoga? A lie. Make sure you study Scripture and have it seared into your mind and heart.
Many modern translations of Scripture change God’s true word into lies to appease modern society. God never changes, so be sure you have a concordance and a Bible dictionary to define what God truly said. Don’t be deceived. Don’t trust a politically correct translation; it’s straight from Satan.
Today, there are more ways to deceive people than ever. Social media can be a menace to God’s truth. Anybody can have a YouTube channel and say anything they want. Remember to run all things through Scripture. There are some very, very good Bible teachers, but there are also some very questionable ones.
Another means of deception today is AI. This one truly bothers me. Like anything, it can be used for good, but I’m certain it will be a tool of the Anti-Christ. AI is infiltrating banking, businesses, and more. It’s a very deceptive tool. Vehicles will soon have AI watching you. If you squint from the sun shining in your eyes, it will assume you’re too tired or impaired to drive. If you’re in an emergency situation, such as a tornado headed your way, and need to hurry to get away, it will see you as too impaired to drive.
Things are getting serious. The Anti-Christ will require everybody to take a mark. For centuries, this was thought to be symbolic. Today, you’re tracked by AI on your phone, your appliances, your television, and soon your car.
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:15-17).
Knowledge is increasing, and we can understand more. The book is being unsealed. Don’t be blind to the truth.
Another deception that seems to be coming our way is aliens. If our government discloses that aliens do exist and that UFOs are real, what will that do to your faith? Anything that contradicts Scripture is a lie, so don’t be deceived. Study God’s word. He created us, not evolution and not aliens. Some say that there was a government meeting with some pastors to warn them that what is soon to be disclosed may shake Christian faith. If you’re grounded in Scripture, your faith won’t be shaken. This disclosure will cause many to be deceived.
“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” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
You can take comfort in the fact that before the Anti-Christ exalts himself above God, Christians will be taken Home in the Rapture. That blessed event is drawing very close. Jesus also told of wars and rumors of wars, and what we see happening in the Middle East is major war as prophesied by many Old Testament prophets, such as Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Jesus also said that it would be like in the days of Noah and the days of Lot. Noah lived during a time of genetic tampering, and Lot lived in Sodom where homosexuality was prevalent. In both cases, God had to send judgment.
Things are getting very serious, and if you have any doubts about whether or not you’re saved, you need to settle that question now. Every sin can be forgiven, but you must repent and ask Jesus to forgive you. Then you need to turn away from that sin.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
The Rapture is coming fast, and only Christians have the blessed hope of being taken out of the way before all Hell breaks loose on Earth. Revelation chapter 4 begins with John seeing a door open in Heaven and a voice telling Him to “Come up hither.” Chapters 2 and 3 describe the Church from beginning to end, then the Rapture.
“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).
First, we see Heaven, and it’s a place I long to be. After that, we’re given a graphic look at life on Earth during Daniel’s 70th week. Since Christians have been Raptured, we aren’t mentioned during the Tribulation. Don’t be deceived by any news headline or false prophet. Put your faith in Jesus Christ. Repent of your sin and ask Him to forgive you. Do it today. If you wait for a more convenient time, you may wait too long. Once you leave this life, either by death or by the Rapture, your choice has been made. Choose to follow Jesus today.
Your only shield against deception is God’s word. Put on the full armor of God, as described in Ephesians chapter 6. God doesn’t want anyone to spend eternity separated from Him, but He won’t force you to choose a Christian life. But if you reject Christ, you will have made the choice. Study Scripture so you aren’t deceived.
Things are getting serious, and prophecy is being fulfilled quickly.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original Scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).
