How do we know we’re nearing the Rapture of the Church, the end of the Church Age – and the beginning of the Tribulation?
Well, because of the fulfillment of prophecy all around us. Both the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament), and the Brit Ha’dasha (the Christian New Testament, the New Covenant), contain testimony from Jesus, Inspired writings of Apostles, and the words of the Prophets about the coming times.
At the end of this article, I’m going to include the audio version of a rather lengthy message I gave on the Rapture and the Tribulation – it’s split up into four segments for easy digestion, but it breaks it down into easy-to-understand language, so that even the most lay of layperson can understand it.
Let’s Look At Prophecy
Ezekiel 38 and although the Jews don’t consider Daniel a prophet – Christians do – are the portions of the Hebrew Bible that deals specifically with the Tribulation, and what to expect. In Ezekiel 38, several nations are depicted, which are named here as they are known today:
- Russia (Gog, Magog, Rus)
- China (Kings of the East)
- Turkey (Tegarma)
- Iran (Persia)
- Ethiopia (Put)
- Libya (Libya)
Russia is warming up for Armageddon. They are aligning themselves with China, Iran and Turkey militarily – and economically.
Who is building military bases and naval ports in the middle east today? Russia and China – in cooperation with Iran and Turkey.
Soon a peace program will be contracted for the Middle East nations – see Daniel 11: 21, 24. It will be a peace contract for seven years but broken after 42 months – Daniel 9:27.
In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed. (Daniel 11:21-27)
Russia is the nation that then says: “…I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations…” (Ezekiel 38:11, 12).
What’s being set up before our very eyes today, are the beginnings of the Army that will come against Israel in the battle on the plains of Meggido – The Battle of Armageddon – which occurs at the end of the seven year Tribulation period.
Does one think that they could come up with an army of two-hundred million people overnight?
They also have to lull Israel into a false sense of confidence. Notice how Netanyahu is playing nice with Putin these days? Russia – and soon, China – are lulling Israel into a false sense of confidence. “They would never attack us!” – wait and see what happens (if you haven’t been taken up in the Rapture first).
Where else do we see this prophecy?
China will become a basic partner with Russia for the rapidly approaching battle of Armageddon – Revelation 16:16. Russia will lead invasion number one – Ezekiel 38 & 39.
China will lead invasion number two – Revelation 16:12; Revelation 9:14 – 16.
Then all nations will come against Jerusalem for the final invasion at which point Jesus will return to stop the bloodshed and set up his eternal kingdom upon earth:
For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. (Zechariah 14:2-4)
Then Psalm 2:6 occurs as God the Father says: “…I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion [Jerusalem]”
You see, they will lose this war, and it will be God that wins it – with Israel victorious. God again, watches over – and protects – what’s His.
But what about the United States – aren’t they in there helping Israel?
Unfortunately, there are no references to the United States whatsoever – or for European countries either for that matter. Were they destroyed, or made weak by stronger powers, or taken over from within by those that would seek to destroy the nation from within – as we are seeing today with US politics.
Groups in the United States, are hell-bent on destroying the nation that has been blessed by God for centuries – a nation that could well have been the model of what’s good in this world.
Antifa – the military arm of the Democrat Party in the United States, assisted by the militant, communist BLM (“Black Lives Matter”) have been wreaking havoc all over this nation, insisting on the defunding of police departments, and doing away with all semblance of Law and Order. We see democrat-run cities that have been destroyed from within, with mile upon mile of abandoned or dilapidated buildings, an economy in the tank, and a municipal budget that’s hemorrhaging red ink. Check out San Francisco, Portland (Oregon), Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC – with more to come, I’m sure.
The same goes for state governments – anyone seen California, Oregon and Washington and Illinois lately? Soon to come … New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut – all of these states have a large chunk of our population – and some of the strictest gun control laws.
It’s no wonder that people from these states, are fleeing to states like Florida South Dakota and Texas – where the states are well run fiscally, the gun control laws are much more “user friendly” – and they’re welcome in, as long as they keep their liberal and looney politics back where they came from – they don’t work in Texas, Florida and South Dakota, and other well-run states.
Need more prophecy?
Israel will become a nation:
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
I will plant them on their land,
and they shall never again be uprooted
out of the land that I have given them,”
says the Lord your God.
Amos 9:14-15
Israel became a nation and declared its independence in 1948. We see this also in Ezekiel 37:10-14:
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
… and in verses 21 and 22:
Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms.
Israel is now independent – a requirement for the Lord to establish His Kingdom – and in 1967, Jerusalem was captured and returned to Israeli control.
- There is only one city that has been called “holy” by God – Jerusalem (Isaiah 52:1 and Isaiah 66:20).
- No other city has been named the “city of our God” (Psalm 48:1)
- None other has been chosen by the Lord.
- “But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there…” (2 Chronicles 6:6).
- The Lord is “…jealous for Jerusalem with a great jealousy” (Zechariah 1:14).
- Jesus even wept for Jerusalem, foreseeing her destruction (Luke 19:41).
New Testament scripture is replete with Signs of the Times. Matthew 24 is a complete reference in a small space.
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:4-8)
My gosh, we see this all around us today. We have big television preachers who think they’re the second wonder, doing all sorts of miracles and prophesying – falsely – in the name of Jesus, for which they will answer one day.
I can see a well known prosperity gospel preacher conman, and his “miracle spring water” packets there, a moment after the Rapture wondering, “what just happened, and why am I still here?” – “Lord, did I not prophecy in Your name?”
I never knew you – will be the response.
Earthquakes, famines, wars and rumors of wars – and nation rising up against nation. We’re seeing this more and more, especially since 1948.
Enough has been written about prophecy – and as Christians, we’re not to be afraid – because if we’re truly saved by the blood of the Lamb, we KNOW, where we’ll be spending eternity.
If you know, that you know – then there’s no question. But if you have a question as to whether you’re really saved or not, get on your knees now, and ask God. Repent of your sin – and ask God to forgive you for it. Then turn from it – ask God to help you, if you’re serious – He will, whatever it is.
Ask Jesus to be ruler over your life – and follow Him. For without Jesus, you have nothing.
Below is my teaching on the end times, starting with the Rapture – through the Tribulation period – and ending up with the New Jerusalem – Heaven. It’s broken down into four parts so you can listen at when you can.
The #Heb10 Church 