What is time? We are all subject to it, but nobody can see it or touch it. We see the effect that time has on everything – seasons change from Spring to Summer; over time, babies mature into adults; and we see events of Biblical prophecy being fulfilled. Scripture contains many prophecies that have been fulfilled, but many are in the process of being fulfilled, and some will be fulfilled in the near future.

How can God be so accurate when speaking to the prophets of old? As humans, we see the past, live in the present, and look forward to the future, but God is outside of time. He clearly sees the future because, from His vantage point, the future has happened.

Think of a movie that you’ve seen. You might watch it more than once and know every plot twist and character involved. If you watch it with someone who hasn’t seen it, you can tell them everything that will happen. Unlike the movie, God doesn’t have a scripted storyline to follow, but since He knows the end from the beginning, He’s able to trust men with some hints about our future. We call that prophecy.

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10).

Prophecy is a very neglected study by most Christians. When it is studied, it’s often twisted in order to be understood by human minds. God tells us future things, so it can be difficult to interpret Biblical prophecy with our limited human knowledge. It’s hard for someone who only knows a bow and arrow as the most advanced weapon to understand how Damascus can be destroyed in a day.

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1).

As time passes, it becomes clearer. We can be certain that God’s prophecies will always come about just as He says.

The most amazing prophecies center upon Jesus. God gave many prophecies to Israel regarding their Messiah, and it’s hard to understand how they missed Him. Micah was one of the prophets of God who spoke of the Messiah.

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

This ruler in Israel was Jesus. He was born in the small town of Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, and will reign eternally when other prophecies are fulfilled regarding the end times. When the Magi went to see Herod before they visited Jesus, they asked where He had been born. Matthew records this visit. Herod called a meeting of the chief priests and scribes.

“And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” (Matthew 2:4-6).

Matthew showed many ways in which Jesus had fulfilled prophecy. Matthew made the connection between Isaiah 7:14 and Jesus’ birth.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Matthew records the struggle that Joseph had when he realized his betrothed, Mary, was pregnant. He knew that he hadn’t had relations with her, but she was going to have a baby. An angel reassured him that she hadn’t been unfaithful.

“But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:20-23).

There are many, many more prophecies regarding the life of Jesus, but there are just too many to cite them all here. Study prophecy, and you’ll be amazed at how God wants us to know the future.

Prophecy is a great witnessing tool. Study it and see that time is running out. The news today is filled with stories about wars and earthquakes and unrest within nations. Jesus said these would be signs of the times. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus’ disciples wanted to know about the end times.

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3).

The King James translation translates the Greek word “aion” as “world,” and most modern translations translate it as “age.” They weren’t asking about the Rapture. Jesus went into detail about signs to look for, but each “sign” He gave was a sign of time moving toward the end. He said not to be deceived. There would be people who pose as Christ but who aren’t, and there would be much unrest in the world.

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6).

This is certainly being fulfilled. Israel just experienced the most heinous attack by Hamas, which was nothing less than Satan-inspired evil. Babies were beheaded, elderly people were kidnapped, and many innocent lives were taken by a very brutal and inhumane group. This attack caused Israel to fight back, and many prophecy teachers believe that Psalm 83 may be fulfilled by this war, and some are watching to see if Isaiah 17 (the destruction of Damascus) will be fulfilled. God said these things will happen, so you can be sure that it will all be fulfilled.

For the student of Bible prophecy, this is a very good witnessing tool. Peter understood the importance of prophecy. He told us about the attitude of many people.

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

There are many scoffers today. People don’t hold God’s truth as authority, and pastors are okay with that. Evolution has replaced the truth that God created all things. Too many people scoff at the truth that God created male and female, and gender is not your choice. God clearly told us that there is coming a time of tribulation such as never seen before. The horrors of what took place in Jerusalem on October 7, 2023, are just a shadow of what the Great Tribulation will be like.

Peter was an eyewitness to many miracles of Jesus, but he felt prophecy was more certain.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:19-21).

Study prophecy and see what God tells us about the future.

Prophecy is being fulfilled rapidly. Will the Rapture occur tomorrow, or will it happen a few years from now? We cannot be sure as to the timing, but we can see that the pieces of the end times puzzle are falling into place. Christians won’t be here for the final seven years of world history. Jesus will call us Home prior to the end of the age. There is only one way you can avoid the time of Jacob’s trouble, and that is for you to give your life to Jesus. Recognize that you are a sinner. We all are. Jesus Christ entered His creation in order to offer all of us the only way for our sins to be forgiven. Only faith in His death, burial, and resurrection will bring forgiveness of your sins.

Remember that God knows the difference between someone who just repeats words and someone with a changed heart. If you were baptized as a baby, you didn’t make the choice. Make that choice today, and turn away from your sins. Nothing is more important than drawing closer to God. Your relationship with Him will affect your eternity.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). He never changes, and He loves His creation. He came into this world in order to bring salvation to a dead and dying population.

Prophecy is a good witnessing tool, but if you don’t study Scripture, you won’t be able to use it to talk to people and calm their fears and your own. Use it to bring a lost soul to the saving grace found only through faith in Jesus. The Rapture is drawing near, and time is running out. When Jesus was arrested and crucified, Israel was blind and didn’t recognize their Messiah. The Apostle Paul tells us that there will come a time when the blindness will be lifted from that wonderful nation.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25).

Share your faith with others and open the eyes of the lost. The decision to follow Jesus has to be made individually; nobody can make that choice for you.

Time is running out, so give your life to Jesus now.

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.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

 

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).

Daniel had been given an amazing prophecy regarding events that were future to Daniel, but we can understand because we can look back in history. Daniel couldn’t possibly understand what he was shown but faithfully recorded the prophecy. The angel told him to seal the book without understanding it because it was for the time of the end. Knowledge would increase, so the words of the prophecy would become clear.

Brothers and sisters, we are at the time when we can understand the end times prophecies. Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, Amos, Zechariah, and more have confused “scholars” for years, but today, prophecy is coming together. A few days ago, Hamas staged a satanic attack on Israel, and Israel has declared war. This attack was beyond belief. Israel has a defense system called Iron Dome, and it failed to stop a number of the reported 5,000 rockets fired into Israel. Hamas couldn’t have done this without outside help. Did Russia tell them how to get around the Iron Dome? China? How this happened will eventually come to light, but prophecy is definitely coming together.

God gave the Promised Land to Abraham, and through his son Isaac, it belongs to the Jewish people. It is their land. On occasion, they have been disobedient to God and have been taken captive, but the land will always be theirs.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:11-12).

God also told the prophet Amos about this second gathering. “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).

After World War 2, when the Jewish people returned to their land, it was desolate. Under the loving care of God’s chosen people, the land flourished and has prospered. Oddly enough, the world hates them, especially the Muslim people around them. This hatred is Satanic.

The attacks of a few days ago are evil. The attackers have kidnapped civilians, including elderly people and children, and murdered people in cold blood. Why? Will the world stand by and, as usually happens, condemn Israel? Brothers and sisters, we need to pray for Israel. God’s word tells us to.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace shall be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces” (Psalm 122:6-7).

This reflects another promise God made to Abraham. “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3).

God doesn’t go back on His promises. Peace will come, but prophecy is also clear that there will be much unrest and tribulation before true peace comes to Jerusalem. Biblical prophecy is coming together as we watch. Every person who claims to love the Lord must turn to God and pray for Jerusalem.

“[[A Song or Psalm of Asaph.]] Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (Psalm 83:1-4).

Israel will never be erased. Many enemies have tried to destroy Israel, but God has never allowed Israel to be totally destroyed. The book of Judges is filled with accounts of nations that tried to destroy Israel, but God called men to stand against the enemy and win battles that seemed impossible to win. In Psalm 83, Asaph makes reference to many of these defeated enemies and reminds us of these battles. Battles are won when men turn to God for help. I pray that Israel will turn to God for His help and guidance in the war that is raging today.

As Asaph continued with his plea to God in Psalm 83, he asked God to make the enemy ashamed, but he also had a surprising request. “Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD” (Psalm 83:16).

He wanted them to be ashamed of their attack, but he wanted them to seek the Lord. That should be our desire for any enemy we face. Our prayer should be that everyone comes to salvation. I’ve seen many testimonies of Muslims who have had miraculous encounters with Jesus, and it would be wonderful if many more meet our Lord.

“That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18).

I know that I look at the enemies of Israel as pagans who worship a false god who is of Satan, but I also know that many of the Jewish people follow the traditions of their faith without believing in God. I pray that the Jewish people will come to a saving faith in God and recognize that Jesus is their Messiah. They will do that one day, but there will be more wars and tribulation before they ultimately call upon the name of Jesus. Only then will Jesus, the Messiah, return for the final battle and defeat the true enemy. That enemy is Satan.

It can be frightening watching prophecy being fulfilled. Sadly, most people don’t study prophecy, so they aren’t prepared to see it being fulfilled. Christian preachers seldom teach line upon line through Scripture and skip “tough” topics like prophecy. Quite often, prophecy is easier to interpret by hindsight, but when studying prophecy, always assume God means exactly what He says. When God says something will happen, you can be certain it will happen just as God said.

The knowledge of people living in the 1800s couldn’t possibly allow understanding of how the mark of the beast could be implemented. Today, it’s very easy to understand because knowledge has increased. We have microchips in everything, and with all the talk about chips being implanted and shots that affect RNA, it becomes understandable.

Old suppositions have to be dismissed if we are to understand prophecy. A heresy that is often taught is “replacement theology.” If you’ve been taught that the church has replaced Israel, then you will never understand prophecy. This fable started because people didn’t believe God’s word. Prophecy that talks of God dealing with Israel can only happen if Israel is back in the land, which they are. God loves Israel and will never turn away from them. Like a human parent allows their child to make mistakes and learn from them, so is God’s love for Israel. They’ve rebelled many times, but He is always there for them when they call on Him for help.

“[[A song of degrees.]] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:1-4). God never sleeps.

Don’t be afraid of what’s happening in Israel today. Many amazing things are happening that fulfill other prophecies. One of the most amazing happenings is the birth of five red heifers. This is a requirement of purification before the Temple can be built.

“This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke” (Numbers 19:2).

This is for purification of the Temple and the nation, but in Hebrews, we know that only the blood of Jesus brings true purification. “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:13-14).

Jewish priests today still trust the blood of animals. There hasn’t been a qualifying red heifer found for many years, but today, there are five in Israel that are soon to be sacrificed. If, for some reason, they are disqualified, there are 16 others that are possible replacements. Everything comes together in God’s perfect timing. These heifers may be sacrificed this month (October 2023), and Israel is also talking with Saudi Arabia about permission to build the temple. It’s interesting that Hamas chose this time to launch an attack on Israel. Satan is trying to stop Israel from returning to God.

What does all this mean for Christians? Brothers and sisters, are you prepared for the Rapture? Prophecy is happening quickly, and there really are no events that have to happen before the Rapture. How do you prepare? The Rapture is a promise to Christians that we will be taken out of the world prior to the time of Jacob’s trouble, also known as Daniel’s 70th Week. The world will go through the horrendous events described in Revelation chapter 6 and following chapters, but Christians will be called Home before that, just as Enoch was taken by God prior to the judgment of the Flood.

In Revelation, Jesus dictated seven letters to John, and he recorded them in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Each letter describes a specific time in church history. As we read through these letters, we come to our modern age as described in the final letter to Laodicea. This church is described as lukewarm.

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Revelation 3:17-18).

So many congregations today go through motions. The pastor preaches easy-listening sermons that don’t confront sin or teach prophecy. As long as the people fill the collection plates, everything is fine. Ears are tickled, and the congregation sleeps. It doesn’t matter that demonic forces are attacking our schools and our entertainment, destroying families, and perverting God’s truth. As long as everyone feels good, there’s no problem. Jesus is excluded from the hallowed halls of little country churches as well as the megachurches.

“Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

It’s up to you to hear Jesus knocking and invite Him in.

Scripture wasn’t originally written with chapters and verses. After we read about the lukewarm church age, we’re shown the next event. 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).

The first words in this verse (After this) and the last word (hereafter) are the same Greek words: meta tauta. They indicate a sequence: first something happens, then the next thing happens. So, after the Laodicean age, a door opens, and a voice says, “Come up hither,” then the next events happen.

What John saw was amazing. He was at the Bema Seat in Heaven. Yet, on earth, he sees the horrendous events of the Great Tribulation.

The only way to prepare for the Rapture is to accept Christ for salvation right now. It is our faith in Him that allows us to be with Him eternally. If you think you’re a Christian because you were baptized as a baby, that won’t save you. A baby cannot understand about sin and the need for Jesus.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Don’t wait; tomorrow may be too late.

Prophecy is coming together, and it’s happening rapidly. God has told us in Scripture the things to look for, and these things are happening. If you’re holding tightly to sin and think God is happy with that, you need to study Scripture. Let God change your heart and serve Him. Do it now, before you’re left behind.

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.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.