There are many prophecies relating to the triumphant return of Jesus Christ, His millennial reign, and His eternal Kingdom. We can be sure that if all the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ at His first coming were fulfilled to the letter, that all the prophecies relating to His second coming will be fulfilled to the letter.
o Increase of wars and rumors of wars (Joel 3:9-10; Matt. 24:6-7)
o Extreme materialism (2 Tim. 3:1-2; Rev. 3:14-19)
o Lawlessness (Prov. 30:11-14; 2 Tim. 3:1-3)
o Population explosion (Gen. 6:1; Luke 17:26)
o Increasing speed and knowledge (Dan. 12:4)
o Departure from the Christian faith (2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1, 3-4; 2 Tim. 3:5; 4:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:3-4)
o Unification of the world’s religious, political, and economic systems (Rev. 13:4-8, 16-17; 17:1-18; 18:1-24)
o The absence of gifted leadership among the nations, thus making it easy for the Antichrist to take over
o Universal drug usage (“sorceries” here can also refer to drugs) (Rev. 9:21)
o Abnormal sexual activity (Rom. 1:17-32; 2 Pet. 2:10, 14; 3:3; Jude 18)o Intense demonic activity (Gen. 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 4:1-3)
o Mass slaughter of innocents by unconcerned mothers (abortion) (Rom. 1:31; 2 Tim. 3:3)
o Widespread violence (Gen. 6:11, 13; 2 Tim. 3:1; Rev. 9:21)
o Rejection of God’s Word (2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:3-4, 16)
o Rejection of God Himself (Ps. 2:1-3)
o Blasphemy (2 Tim. 3:2; 2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 18)
o Self-seeking and pleasure-seeking (2 Tim. 3:2, 4)
o Men minus a conscience (1 Tim. 4:2)
o Religious hucksters (2 Pet. 2:3)
o Outright devil worshippers (Rev. 9:20; 13:11-14)
o Rise of false prophets and antichrists (Matt. 24:5, 11; 2 Pet. 2:1-2)
o False claims of peace (1 Thess. 5:1-3)
o Rapid advances in technology (Gen. 4:22; Luke 17:26)
o Great political and religious upheavals in the Holy Land (Matt. 24:32-34)
To these we would add the development of weapons of mass destruction; space travel; star wars; increase of deceivers and lying wonders; depreciation of nationalism; and a back-to-Babel world government movement.
As we consider that over 90 percent of all the prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled exactly as foretold, the less than 10 percent that apply to the future will also be fulfilled exactly as foretold. In our 2001 Prophecy Calendar, a roster of thirteen of the most important unfulfilled prophecies are considered. In this brief article these prophecies are presented in much less detail due to space.
Middle East Peace Treaty
We are instructed by Zechariah and other prophets that Jerusalem will be a matter of controversy to all nations in the last days. The only peace that Israel has ever known was in the days of Solomon, and since it became a nation in 1948 there has been no peace, even though there have been more than fifty peace treaties or agreements negotiated and signed, the latest being the Wye River Memorandum and the Sharem El-Sheik Agreement of October 2000. According to Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist will confirm or guarantee a peace agreement or treaty between Israel and its enemies. However, there will be no peace. In fact, this false peace treaty initiates the Great Tribulation period. From current news reports, this treaty could be signed by Antichrist at any time.
The Tribulation
In the chronological order of eschatology, the Tribulation is a seven-year period of war, pandemic plagues, earthquakes, astral catastrophes, and other judgments that will kill approximately three-fourths of the population of the world. Daniel said of this period, “. . . and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time . . .” (Dan. 12:1). Jesus said, “For there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:22). The Tribulation period will end with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at Armageddon.
The Rapture
Unfulfilled prophecy No. 3 is the Rapture. Rapture is an inclusive word used to describe the resurrection of Christians who have died in the past, along with the changing of Christians who are alive from mortal bodies to immortal bodies, all rising to meet Jesus Christ in the air, or the heavens (outerspace). This event occurs immediately after the Antichrist confirms the peace treaty and the Tribulation begins (Dan. 9:27; 1 Thess. 4-5). We believe there is prophetic evidence that the church will not go through the Tribulation.
Antichrist’s Appearance
Unfulfilled prophecy No. 4 is the revealing of Antichrist’s identity. For the first half of the Tribulation, the Antichrist solidifies his leadership and advantage. He will be a great orator (Dan. 11:36); a political and commercial genius (Dan. 11:41; Rev. 13:16-17); he may be a homosexual (Dan. 11:37); and a clever liar and deceiver (2 Thess. 2:9-10). At the middle of the Tribulation (after three and a half years), he gains political and economic control over all the world (Rev. 13:7, 16-17), and then demands on penalty of death that everyone worship him as God (Rev. 13:8; 2 Thess. 2:3-4). The last half of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will be the most cruel dictator the world has ever known. Although Christians may never know who the Antichrist is, he may be in the world today.Abomination of DesolationUnfulfilled prophecy No. 5 is the Abomination of Desolation. The Abomination of Desolation is referenced many places in scripture, four times in the book of Daniel alone. The “abomination” is when the Antichrist stands in the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on worldwide television and declares himself to be God. This will be ultimate abomination committed in the Temple (Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:3-4). The “desolation” will be atomic wars which follow in which all grass will be burned up; one-third of the trees will be burned up; oceans and rivers will be contaminated; cities will be burned; and nations like Egypt will be so wasted and poisoned that no one can live in the country for forty years (Ezek. 29:9-11; Matt. 24; Luke 21; Rev. 5-19).
Mark of the Beast
Unfulfilled prophecy No. 6 is the mark of the beast. After the Antichrist becomes the dictator of the world and is worshipped as God, he will demand that every person be assigned a number and a (code) mark. Only those who are assigned a number will be able to work, buy, or sell. Only those who acknowledge Antichrist as God will get the mark, and an attempt will be made to kill everyone who does not have the mark (Rev. 13:16-17). Only in our day does the technology exist to employ and enforce the mark of the beast.
Coming of Elijah and the Two Witnesses
Unfulfilled prophecy No. 7 is the coming of Elijah. Elijah and Enoch are the only two men who escaped physical death by being taken up to Heaven alive. According to the prophet Malachi, Elijah must come back to precede the Messiah when He comes in power and glory to bring in the Kingdom (Mal. 4:4-6). Malachi mentioned Moses also in conjunction with the coming of Elijah, and both Moses and Elijah were with Jesus onThe Mount of Transfiguration when He revealed to James, John, and Peter His glory when He would come again. According to Revelation 11, God will send two witnesses to bring judgments against the Antichrist. It appears that the two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah.
Israel’s Hiding Place
Unfulfilled prophecy No. 8 is the flight of Israel at the middle of the Tribulation to a place of safety. Jesus foretold that after the Antichrist commits the Abomination of Desolation, he will make a final attempt to kill every Jew. To escape, the Jews in Jerusalem must immediately run for the mountains. As we bring out in my book, Petra in History and Prophecy, this large cave city (Mt. Seir; Mt. Hor) is the only place that fits the biblical description of Israel’s hiding place in the last half of the Tribulation. Petra
is in ancient Edom, the city of Esau, the ancient home of modern Palestinians. “Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? Wilt not thou, 0 God …” (Ps.60:l,9-12;Ezek.35).
Battle of Armageddon
The ninth unfulfilled prophecy is the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). The Battle of Armageddon will terminate the Tribulation period. This last battle will include armies from all nations. Millions of men will be involved, as we read in Revelation 9:13-21 that the nations of the East will send an army of 200 million men. There are scores of prophecies in both the Old and New Testaments that describe the coming conflict (Zech. 14:2-3; Zeph. 3:8; Isa. 65; Rev. 19, etc.). This battle will continue from Megiddo near modern Haifa to Bozrah (modern Beseira) in Jordan, a distance of 1,600 furlongs, or 176 miles. The evident purpose of this battle is to destroy Jerusalem and prevent the return of Jesus Christ. However, the entire army is destroyed by Jesus Christ and the armies from heaven. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast alive, without being judged, into the Lake of Fire.
The Second Coming
The tenth unfulfilled prophecy is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “If I go away, I will come again.” Angels on the Mt. of Olives at His ascension to Heaven said that He would come back to the Mt. of Olives (Acts 1:9-12). Zechariah said at that time the mountian would split (Zech. 14:1-5; Ez. 44:1-3), and the Eastern Gate that had been shut would open. At the Rapture, Jesus will not come to the Earth. At the Second Coming at the Battle of Armageddon, He will come down to Earth, and every eye of every person who survives the Tribulation, including the Jews, will see Him (Rev. 1:7; Mt. 24:27). During the Tribulation two thirds of the Jews in Israel will have been killed, but after the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus will go to Bozrah north of Petra, and lead the remnant back to Israel (Isa. 65). Then Jesus will establish His Throne upon Mt. Zion in Jerusalem and Judge (rule) the nations with a “rod of iron” (Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15; Mt. 25:31,32).
The Millennium
The eleventh unfulfilled prophecy is the Millennium. Six times in Revelation 20 the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on Earth over the nations is mentioned. This will be the seventh millennium since Adam. During this thousand year reign, all nation will destroy their armaments and there will be no war (Isa. 2:4). Leaders of the nations will be required to go to Jerusalem and worship the Lord and leam of His laws. If any go not up as commanded, that nation will be judged (Zech. 15:16-21); Matt. 25:31-32; Rev. 12:5). Solar changes in the Tribulation will revert Earth’s ecology back to pre-flood and people during the Millennium will live to be hundreds of years old (Isa. 65:25). The Devil will be bound and God’s curse upon the Earth for sin will be removed, and the ground will again yield everything that man will need {Ezek. 34:27; Isa. 65:25; Rom. 8:18-23). The law will be enforced and criminals swiftly executed (Isa. 65:20). The Millennium ends with another rebellion of the nations, the Earth and everything in it will be burned up (II Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:9,11).
The Great White Throne Judgment
The twelveth unfulfilled prophecy, the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11). The chronology of resurrection for those who inherit eternal life is given in 1 Corinthians 15:23: “. . . Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” However, Paul preceded this revelation with a qualifying phrase: “BUT EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER.” The resurrection of the “saved” is: Jesus Christ… all members of the church of the dispensation of grace . . . Old Testament saints … martyrs of the Tribulation period. “This is the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5). The saved of the Millennium will live to be almost 1,000 years old (no man has yet to live 1,000 years in the flesh), then they will go into the New Heaven and New Earth without experiencing death. All the unsaved dead of all ages will be raised to be judged according to their works. All of those raised at the Great White Throne Judgement without Jesus will go into the eternal Lake of Fire because their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 20:12-15; Mt. 25:41).
New Heaven and New Earth
The final, unfulfilled major prophecy of the Bible is a New Heaven and a New Earth (Rev. 21:1). Neither the heavens nor the Earth are clean in God’s sight (Isa. 34:4; Job 15:15,16; Rev. 6:14). At the beginning of the eighth millennium, God who created the first heavens and the first Earth with the Words of His mouth will create new heavens and a new Earth where the redeemed, who had chosen Him because they wanted to, not because they had to, will love and worship Him forever.
John, in Revelation 21-22, describes in earthly language the New Heavens and the New Earth where the redeemed will live forever (see also Eph. 1:1-14). But no language is sufficient to describe, or our minds visualize, the unfathomable beauty and glory of God’s new creation.
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. And let him that is athirst come .. .” (Rev. 22:17). Every reader can come to the New Heaven and New Earth by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus said, “… I go to prepare a place for you . . . that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).
Author: Dr N.W.Hutchenson www.swrc.com
April 26, 2012
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