THE DANGERS: In studying and teaching prophecy, there is a great danger to go too far with trying to understand events. This has been a common failing by some who begin making predictions and claims; only one of those has to fail, and all credibility is lost. As an example of this, I will post this review from TIME Magazine. In the 1970s and in 1988, I was teaching Revelation in the places where I was living, and we had to debunk these silly ideas which were sweeping the churches at that time.

“Edgar Whisenant published a book in 1988 called 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988, which sold some 4.5 million copies. Whisenant once famously said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong.” When 1989 rolled around, a discredited Whisenant published another book, saying the Rapture would occur that year instead. It did not sell as well, nor did later titles that predicted the world would end in 1993 and again in 1994. The genre’s most popular tales are in the Left Behind series, written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, which, though they do not predict an end date, provide a vivid fictional account of how Earth’s final days could go. The 16 novels have sold more than 63 million copies worldwide.“

As mentioned earlier, this is what happens to those who made predictions in the past, and now again, predictions for 2020 or for some other year, or who try reading events into blood moons or distorting a person’s name to make it read something someone wants it to read (like President Trump = “the last trump” [1 Thess 4, KJV] the trumpet leading to the Rapture).

All biblical prophecy is literal, but making it fit the times is something that needs caution. For example, in Zechariah 14, Jerusalem is surrounded by all the nations’ armies (yes, that is what the verse says), and it is written in terms the writer knew in his own day. With modern warfare, things are different, and Jerusalem could be destroyed with just one bomb. However, taking the Zechariah passage literally, Jerusalem WILL be surrounded and WILL be sieged as Zechariah says. (We must take note that Zechariah 14 is set for the Second Coming [time of Armageddon] and beyond. It ends the Tribulation; and if you study Revelation taking note of the judgments of God through those 7 years, it seems only a small minority of people are left on earth. Mind you, right through the Tribulation, people have the opportunity to repent, but this is typical of their attitude (Rev 9:20-21).

I caution again – anyone calling him or herself a prophet is not one. There are no prophets past the completion of scripture. These are false prophets, and we are warned about many false teachers arising.

Study the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture, and have all that you find meld together as a flawless whole.  If a Bible prophecy does not fit harmoniously with other biblical prophecies, then you are applying it wrongly.

There were commentators who lived a few hundred years ago who really did not understand the position of physical Israel, mainly because back then no one remotely saw the beginning again of the Jewish nation; that happened in 1947 thanks to WW2. These commentators used to take the Old Testament prophecies about Israel and apply them to the Church, which is where they placed their fulfillment. Look at Joel 2 and 3, where these great chapters deal with Israel’s future and restoration in terms that could never be applied to the Church, and it does not fit; but a lot of commentators try making it fit the Church. That is what happens when you force prophecy to fit some wrong theology or wrong event or wrong timescale. That, though, is a different kettle of fish from the modern herd, those who arise and claim for themselves the title “prophet.”

We know from chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel that Gog and Magog and their allies will be part of the world’s armies in Israel at the end of the Tribulation, leading up to Armageddon. This is one small part – Ezek 38:1-6, “The word of the LORD came to me saying, Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him . . . Persia, Ethiopia, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops — many peoples with you.”

There you see Persia (Iran) and the nations of the remote north (of Israel), which has to be Russia and its allies (and possibly current Islamic nations). They will have a hatred for Israel, and assemble for the battle of Armageddon. Today, Iran is building its forces and supplying Israel’s enemies in ‘Palestine’ with weapons. Iran is threatening to exterminate Israel. Also, Russia is developing a military base in Syria where Putin and Assad are in an alliance. Assad is one of the world’s most evil men. This is most significant: Gog and Magog is taking shape. These are the signs of the times.

Jesus said of His Jewish believers in the Tribulation, “You will be hated of all men for My Name’s sake.”  The world will increasingly hate Israel, and has started to legislate against God’s nation.

Here is a report on the United Nations vote on Israel from 30 November 2017:

“The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to disavow (disallow) Israeli ties to Jerusalem as part of six anti-Israel resolutions condemning Israel it approved on Thursday in New York. The vote was 128 in favor and 9 against, with 35 abstentions. The resolution came as the Trump Administration decided to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.

“In New York, only nine countries out of 193 UN member states fully supported Israel’s ties to Jerusalem: Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Togo, Guatemala, Palau, Honduras, the United States and Israel itself, voted against the UN resolution. There were 35 abstentions. The full list of abstaining countries (a bit cowardly of them) was: Antigua-Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Haiti, Hungary, Jamaica, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda and Vanuatu.“

When speaking on “the signs of the times,” one must be careful not to read too much into what is observed, because it is possible that events in coming years or even months might alter or clarify one’s view. We read the signs of the times according to our current estimations.

False prophets and false teachers are definitely on the increase, and because of the social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.), have worldwide exposure. There are two of these at present who have huge YouTube followings, and I am following the errors on both sites. One is an Arian (from the Arianism heresy in the 300s A.D. that taught Jesus was begotten of God in heaven = He was created by God and has existed from that time, and many other falsehoods). The other believes we are in the Tribulation and explains the 4 horses of Revelation 6 as matching world events now. He reads messages into numbers and signs of the moon.

The Pandemic of Lawlessness

There is one important matter emerging as we look at the Signs of the Time. I call this a pandemic because it has gone worldwide. Let us consider these verses:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him [THE RAPTURE], that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. [THE DAY OF THE LORD COMES AFTER THE RAPTURE.] Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.”

The man of lawlessness is the Antichrist/World Leader who arrives on the scene with the opening of the first seal in Rev 6:1. Lawlessness is rebellion, and the one who fits that description is Satan who rebelled against God and was cast from heaven. Those who do not follow God are sons of rebellion. It is Satan and his demonic forces who stir up lawlessness in the world.

Decent people in June of 2020 were horrified and saddened at the unfolding events over the death of a man in the USA. As a result of that, there have been protests worldwide, marches with banners saying “black lives matter,” and emerging from that, an attack on statues and institutions everywhere, but not in totalitarian nations like China and North Korea. Why is this movement of protest and rebellion the way it is?

Nothing will justify the way the black man in the US died, but why is it that we are seeing such violence and retribution and anger being spread throughout because of it? These people are protesting against the violence that killed him, but are themselves far more destructive and horrifying and violent than the initial act. Then to follow that wickedness and to turn against statues of ones like Winston Churchill and Captain James Cook, and even a threat to Abraham Lincoln’s Memorial, is a sinister move. It can only be understood in terms of increasing lawlessness in this world. I believe we must expect that as we near the end of the Church age, because it won’t be long before this world finds itself in the Tribulation where lawlessness will be rampant, because the lawless one will have control.

There is no time to talk about the anarchists and agitators, mainly from the left, who inflame these protests.

Personally, I get really saddened about the unfolding of chaos the nations are entering, but I know lawlessness will increase. Paul says so: 2 Thess 2:7, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.  Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.” (The Restrainer is the Holy Spirit, but that is another topic.)

Our redemption is drawing near (and fast). The Lord is our Hope! The rapture is our blessed hope.

LASTLY, THE VIRUS: There is a lot of discussion about this corona thing from what could be called “Christian websites,” from the utter ridiculous to some sane comments. Can we say anything about its relationship with the signs of the time? No doubt, this is the greatest tragedy to hit the world since the second world war, but can we read anything into it or match it with some Bible prediction?

There is no link whatever to any biblical event or prophecy. This is another health disaster like the Spanish flu was in 1918/19 when one-third (or 500 million) of the world’s population was inflected, and at least 50 million people died. That is over 300 times more than those who have died with corona. The Spanish flu (from bird origins) was a pandemic as corona is.

I have said this before, but what I see in it is God allowing a slight glimpse into what is one small detail of what the soon-coming Tribulation will contain.

The fourth horse at the start of chapter 6 (verse 8) is a pale or dappled horse and represents “pestilences” which include infections, diseases, etc.; following the third horse which is famine; following the second horse which is wars and rumours of war when peace is taken away from the earth. All that follows the first horse in Revelation 6:2 which is the appearing of the Revived Roman Empire, or Antichrist if you like. The Church WILL NOT ENTER THE TRIBULATION, FOR THE RAPTURE TAKES THE CHURCH AWAY BEFORE ANTICHRIST CAN BE REVEALED.

1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Matt 7:15, “Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

2 Timothy 2:15-16, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth, but avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness.”

Look up, for your redemption draws near. The Lord is coming again, and that should be soon.

ronaldf@aapt.net.au

 

 

An Exposition

Luke 7:1-10: A Soldier’s Amazing Faith

“When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. And when he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. When they had come to Jesus, they earnestly entreated Him, saying, ‘He is worthy for You to grant this to him. He loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.’

“Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends saying to Him, ‘Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof. For this reason, I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but say the word, and my servant will be healed.

“I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to this one ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this!’ and he does it.’ Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him and said to the multitude that was following Him, ‘I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!’ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health” (Luke 7:1-10, NASB).

Our LORD has completed His teaching to the crowds and His disciples, where He had emphasized showing affection for one’s foes, and the importance of demonstrating mercy. He also tells us to not judge someone’s words or deeds when you do not have all the evidence. Do not appoint yourself to be the final authority when you are blind as anyone else to your own sin. The point is to examine yourself and make things right before you venture forth to help someone else with their problems. Our lives are not to be built on a foundation of our own making, but upon the firm and solid foundation of Christ Himself.

After this time of instruction, Jesus went to the town of Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where He established what we would refer to as a headquarters or base of operations. He probably stayed with Peter or one of the other apostles in between His journeys to other towns and areas around the region.

As He was coming near Capernaum, He encountered someone who had a request of His service, specifically an individual who would not normally be welcome or tolerated by the citizens of the region and Judea itself. This individual was a foreigner, seen as a hated and brutal occupier of a land in which they had no business or right to be there. The one making the request was an officer in the service of Tiberius Caesar, the Emperor of Rome and its conquered lands, which took up the entirety of Europe, the coasts of Africa, the area referred to as the Balkans, and the Middle East from Egypt to Mesopotamia.

Order was maintained by the appointment of regional governors who held the power of life and death at their disposal and kept the area under control through the presence of soldiers and their officers throughout the lands of the Empire. This form of imperial control was also in the region of Syria and Judea, where the Jews had been a source of rebellion and dissention since they were put under Roman rule by a contemporary of Julius Caesar, the statesman and general Pompey, in 63 B.C. Not only did Rome bring their military power to the conquered territories, but also their religions and pagan behaviors that were revolting in the eyes of the God-fearing Jewish populations.

The hatred for the unruly Jewish territory by the occupying armies and officials was returned by the Jews. Each side treated the other with undisguised contempt.

Patrols and investigations of unrest were carried out by soldiers organized into select divisions usually led by officers known as centurions who were in charge of one hundred men, responsible for carrying out orders to crush any potential opposition from criminals and rebels, to maintain peace, and see to their men’s comfort and well-being. All were to give their loyalty to Caesar, and to disobey or question any order resulted in immediate punishment to include being tortured or put to death. It was a hard life all around, and for many of the soldiers stationed in the province of Judea, it seemed like the last place on earth and something of a dead end for their services.

A choice could be made. Either you bore the assignment with a sense of anger, frustration, and bitterness over the entire situation or counted down the time until you were transferred to a new post or could retire and live a quiet life in another area with one’s family and get the people and land of the Judean province out of your life, mind, and being. One centurion decided to make the best of what others saw as a miserable situation and have it count for something positive and beneficial to himself and the area he patrolled with his men.

Neither Matthew nor Luke give a name for this Roman official, but it is what he did that makes this story more important than trying to identify him. Often God will choose not to give us names of the people in His service in order for us to focus on their contributions and service to God so that He may receive the glory, honor, and credit for using His fallen creation as a means of seeing that the plans He has foreordained and put into action come to pass. What we are reading about is a story of faith from an unexpected source.

This centurion was, no doubt, reared in a home where multiple gods and goddesses were revered and worshipped either at the temple or at a small homemade altar. The father of the home ruled with a firm hand and had the power of life and death over his wife, children, and slaves, even putting infants out in the street to die of exposure if they were not wanted or were taken by slave traders to rear and be placed in a home where their treatment could be bad or good. The depravity of the Romans was legendary and often without moral or ethical bounds.

Prostitution, homosexuality, bestiality, pedophilia, sadism and masochism, criminal behavior, political corruption, and the whim of the Emperor were all a mix of despondency that would bring everything down in a few hundred years. For now, Rome was all the world.

Perhaps the time in Judea opened the eyes of this soldier to see that the life and culture he knew was a life of despair and mere physical gratification that ended with death and an uncertain afterlife should it exist. It could be that while on patrol, he heard the voices of the Jewish faithful in worship at the synagogue in the reading of the Scripture, or the singing of the psalms, or a decision on his part to be civil towards the people that drew him to admire these people and their devotion to God. He probably became over time a convert to the worship of one God and gained the people’s trust and confidence. As a result of this development and as a token of good faith and tolerance, he had a synagogue constructed for the village or town in which he was stationed.

Either he had a family when he was stationed and had them move with him, or he met a Roman girl or one of another nationality, got married and had children, and obtained one slave, perhaps more. One slave had a special relationship with the centurion, possibly an orphan from one of the markets of a nearby Gentile town. He apparently treated this slave as if he were one of the family and had a great affection for him.

Then the day came where the slave became seriously ill to the point where it seemed he might die. He had heard of someone who might be able to help. By now, stories and testimonies had started to spread around the region about Jesus and His ability to heal all who were sick and oppressed by evil spirits and of His dynamic teachings about God’s will for all to come to Him for total pardon and redemption from sins and wrongdoings if they would repent and trust in Him.

This centurion knew instinctively that Jesus had authority, power, and character that no other mystic, priest, or soothsayer claimed to possess or practice apart from homage to the pagan deities. The soldier knew that Jesus was One who possessed the knowledge and wisdom of the Hebrew God to which he had been exposed. He knew that such a Man was due all respect and honor, and felt unworthy to have Jesus be in his house. Normally, the Roman citizen was known for pride and self-distinction and an attitude of superiority due to the power of the Empire. This soldier had been exposed to see that it was God who was of honor, and he was humble enough to realize that; therefore, he sent the elders of the village to inquire for Jesus’ help and to only say the Word for his servant to be healed.

This is faith in action, where the person asking for God’s intercession does not need to see a physical presence or have someone lay hands on the sick to be healed, or someone to repent and come to salvation. This is pure, unashamed, humble trust that God is able to do what is right. Not only does someone get a prayer answered and a life changed, but often this trust comes from a person who may have not had an exposure to the true God until recently. This trust comes from a pagan Gentile, not from the people who should know better, namely the people of Israel who had taken their relationship with God for granted. Jesus is showing His human nature by being genuinely surprised with the centurion’s words and attitude.

Think of someone who has just been delivered from their sins by trusting Christ as Lord and Savior, and then watch the joy and glory that comes from their newly liberated heart and soul. They cannot wait to tell anyone who will listen about what the Lord Jesus has done for them in terms of being delivered from an old life of sin and wickedness to adoption into the family of God where they will be with Him for all time in heaven, free from the sin and suffering of this fallen world.

There are right now people in this country who are from other parts of the world who have never heard of Jesus, like the centurion when he first arrived in Judea. Someone told him about the real God of all creation and redemption, and it was made a fact and the foundation of his new faith by coming to Jesus himself. We have a harvest field right here in America of citizen and immigrant, lost in their sins, looking for answers and peace.

Let’s be the people of God that we should be in these last days and have more people like this Roman soldier declare the authority and power of our Great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, at whose feet we will bow one day, and hear the story firsthand. Perhaps this centurion is already known to us. See Acts 10 and 11 for what might be the rest of the story.

donaldwhitchard@gmail.com

www.donaldwhitchard.com