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He has risen! screamed many on that third glorious day after Christ was crucified. Christ once walked and taught among us, but the question is could he come again. The Bible clearly states in various places that the Son of God shall return for a second time.
By looking at prophetic scripture from the Bible we can clearly see that Christ will come again. And then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24: 30). This verse from the Bible, written by Matthew, shows Christ intent on returning to Earth. The Second Coming is simply the promise to us from God that Jesus Christ will return to Earth to claim his saved children. People of this day seem to show great apathy toward this subject.
Many think that it is beyond them, and many just think it will not affect them. To be truthful this event will affect everyone. When Christ returns he will take the saved to Heaven, but the rest will remain on Earth for seven years to experience the trials and tribulations. The Bible gives us specific prophecies to show when Christ will return.
These prophecies are coming true as we speak, so the time must be near for the Second Coming. Some prophetic scripture has already come true. One prime example is foretold in the book of Matthew (Jeffrey 261). And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come (Matthew 24: 14). Bible scholars realized that this prophecy is complete. The word of God has reached the far depths of this enormous world.
The Bible also states that the Jewish people must first be allowed back into the Holy Land before Christ can return. In 1844 the Jewish people were allowed to return to the Holy Land for the first time since the Romans banished them in the first century (Second Coming 1). The next three past prophecies were extremely surprising. The first of these is that the Bible explained that as the end of time would draw near, many false Christ would rise and fall. The first false messiah arose approximately one hundred years after Christ. Some may ask why this sign is so significant.
The reason is simply that no historical references make any note of false messiahs appearing until the years following the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. During the following centuries, false messiahs would arise from time to time. Including these false messiahs are Moses Crete of the fifth century and Rabbi Schneerson who died in 1991. The fact of the matter is that no other person in history has ever fulfilled even a fraction of the forty-eight specific biblical prophecies about the coming messiah, except Jesus of Nazareth. Throughout history an erroneous messiah has appeared about once every century since the days of Christ, showing that this Biblical prophecy is nothing but the truth (Jeffrey 229). The next fascinating prophetic scripture is stated in the Gospel of Matthew.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putter forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away (Matthew 24: 32 - 35). Jesus Christ foretold the rebirth of Israel in 1948 in his famous prophecy of the budding of the fig tree. No other nation in the history of this Earth has ever ceased to exist for centuries and then returned as a nation to take its place once again on the stage of world history. At the time these ancient prophecies were given, no one had ever witnessed a nation being created in one day.
Isaiah prophesied this twenty-five hundred years ago and precisely as predicted took place on May 15, 1948 (Jeffrey 267 - 268). The last past related scripture is yet again a remarkable one. It is prophesied in the book of Zephaniah that the Jewish state would restore the ancient dead language of Hebrew to become the spoken language of Israel (Zephaniah 3: 9). This prediction was as unlikely and practically impossible as the rebirth of Israel, but again Gods works amaze us. The Hebrew language ceased to be the common language spoken by the Jews long before the days of Christ. A study of historical records show that no other nation had ever before lost its language and later revived it as the spoken language.
When the Jews began returning to the Holy Land of Israel in 1948 the government used the Hebrew language classes in the army to unify these widely divergent peoples into a united group. This was fulfilled by teaching them the revived Hebrew language as the common language of Israel (Jeffrey 269). The next series of prophecies will be pertaining to this present day. The first of these deal with the great increase of famines and pestilences.
Christ stated that there shall be famines which would be widespread and devastating, and shall lead up to the final conflict (Matthew 24: 7). Millions are at risk of famine in this day in central Africa, India, North Korea, and China. According to the Annual Study of the UN Population Fund, the amount of agricultural land is decreasing rapidly worldwide (Jeffrey 242). Some may say this is just some coincidence, but how could someone predict exactly that the world today would have drastic famines and an increase of population? Jesus warned that worldwide pestilence would be a sign that we were living in the generation when He would return. The World Health Organization issued a report from Geneva stating that at least thirty new infectious diseases with no known treatment, cure, or vaccine have emerged in the past twenty years.
The increase of disease is almost unbelievable, but the truth is that it is all around us. The continued usage of pesticides have caused the development of new strains of germs. Recently, environmental studies show that children living in homes that use garden pesticides have a six hundred percent greater risk of developing leukemia. More people are dying of infectious diseases than ever before in history. Christs return is eminent, and we should all be prepared (Impe The Great Escape 143 - 146).
Another prophecy that is taking place around us is 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. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24: 6 - 7). Throughout our worlds history, mankind has endured thirteen years of war for every single year of peace. Yet, since 1945 the number of wars have increased tremendously.
A military study shows that the world has not known a single day since World War II without some nation debating a war or conflict somewhere on earth. Even though thousands of peace treaties have been put into use, the last one hundred years has truly become the century of war. The standing armies of the world today contain hundreds of millions of soldiers. The major powers could mobilize hundreds of millions of troops if needed for war. Today society's concentration is fixated on wars and weapons. Almost fifty percent of all scientists worldwide are working on weapons research, including chemical and nuclear.
It is a sad day and age we live in where violence is the main concern of peoples minds. With the continued arms buildup in Russia, China, the West, the Middle East, and the Third World is setting the stage for the final Battle of Armageddon that will drench the world in blood (Jeffrey 232 - 241). There shall be earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24: 7). When people read this passage from the Bible they automatically say that we have always had earthquakes, how could this possibly be a sign?
According to the United States Geological Survey, from 1890 to 1930 there were only eight earthquakes measuring 6. 0 or larger. From 1930 to 1960, there were only about eighteen. Continuing on to 1960 - 1979 there was a slight increase to sixty-four killer earthquakes reported. The surprise comes when people observe 1980 until the present time. Comparing the quakes from 1960 - 1979 to 1980 - 2000 the quakes increased to over 200 being recorded (Impe The Great Escape 149).
People should take note that this increase in earthquakes is not simply better reporting. An earthquake of 6. 0 is so destructive that historical records have always recorded these major killer earthquakes (Jeffrey 252). Christ went on to say, And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold (Matthew 24: 12). The United States Justice Department reported that about thirty percent or more of the nations households are victimized by serious crime every year.
The FBI index also gives us the fact that a murder occurs every twenty-four minutes, a forcible rape each seven minutes, a robbery every sixty-eight seconds, and an aggravated assault each fifty-one seconds. People can be their own judge as to whether these problems are getting better or worse, but the answer seems pretty obvious (Impe The Great Escape 150). Twenty-five centuries ago the Book of Daniel predicted that there would be an explosion of knowledge and a huge increase in travel in the last days (Jeffrey 285). 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). All through history the level of general knowledge only increased incrementally. In all actuality, knowledge sometimes decreased, but in the last century and a half there has been an explosion of knowledge beyond anything ever experienced in human history.
The speed of transportation has also shown a drastic improvement. For thousands of years, until 1900, the fastest way to get anywhere was by a galloping horse. Today hundreds of millions of people travel every day at sixty miles per hour or more in their cars, and others can travel in planes at six hundred miles an hour. This astonishing conclusion about the increase in knowledge can also be compared to the computer. Until about twenty-five years ago we didnt have as much as an old Apple computer lying around.
Today we can communicate with foreign nations at the click of a mouse button (Jeffrey 285 - 286). An amazing prophecy, that God spoke through the prophet Daniel and the apostle John is that the Roman Empire would revive. Following the devastation of two world wars, the leaders of Europe created a conference in 1957 to plan the creation of a confederate form of a European superstate, bringing the major nations of western Europe together for the first time since the time of the Roman emperors (Jeffrey 277). Six European countries signed the Treaty of Rome and began the foundation for the future United States of Europe. Since 1957 the Maastricht Treaty has bound fifteen nations of the European Union into the worlds first superstate. If this pulls through to the end then this nation will ultimately dominate in everything.
These are Christs living words coming true and fulfilling the prophecy brought before us by Daniel and John (Jeffrey 276 - 277). The following prophecy is extremely similar to the previous one. This sign is one of the most unusual prophecies that the Bible speaks of. This scripture simply states that the ancient city of Babylon will be rebuilt and will go on to play a significant role in the events of the last days (Jeffrey 277). The book of Isaiah goes on to elaborate that in the last days Babylon shall be destroyed just as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah 13: 6, 19). As impossible and unlikely as it seems, the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein has spent over one billion dollars rebuilding the ancient and forgotten city of Babylon.
Babylon was built over a lake of asphalt and oil. Could this be Gods preparations for the final destruction of the rehabilitated Babylon (Jeffrey 277 - 278)? These last few prophecies described deal with things that should happen in the future. Not only has God shown us prophecy that has happened and is happening, but he has also shown us scripture relating to what will happen in the near future. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it (Isaiah 2: 2). A number of prophecies describe the rebuilding of the Temple in the last days.
The prophet John describes in the book of Revelation that in his vision the angel took him into the future to measure the Third Temple, which will exist during the Tribulation Period. Israel is already making plans to rebuild the great Temple of the Lord, which once stood thousands of years ago. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindred's, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (Daniel 7: 14).
God told Daniel that in the last days the world would unite and form a one-world government (Impe The Great Escape 173). The elite are moving behind the scenes to produce a world government as quickly as possible. The rising power of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, and the World Court are moving us quickly beyond the days of national sovereignty and individual nations (Jeffrey 278). The Book of Revelation talks about the creation of a cash-less society in the last days where the possession of the number 666 will enable you to buy and sell goods. This number will be offered to those left behind, after the rapture occurs, by the Anti-christ.
In todays society we are already seeing the use of less cash and some people are going as far as receiving small microchips implanted under their skin. In Revelations it clearly states that the only place one can receive the Mark of the Beast, 666, is on the right hand or the forehead. This new chip can only be implanted in the right hand or in the forehead. The new chip preparing for the mark of the beast is correctly fulfilling Johns vision (Jeffrey 283).
No one knows a definite date for the return of Christ. Many speculate and try to predict it, but the truth is the Bible says, he will come like a thief in the night. These prophecies, that have been described, are living proof that God means business and fully intends on going through with His plan. Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7: 7). Jesus spoke these words showing that whoever sincerely and humbly prays to Him will receive guidance and mercy.
American culture today is fixated on materialistic things: money, cars, houses, and many other things of wealth. True, it is nice to have these things and God wants us to be happy on this earth. He also intends for us to honor and serve Him as well. Many Christians in America today are preaching these prophecies, but many a time people turn their backs and close their ears.
In all actuality, the end of days is upon us and everyone needs to be fully prepared.
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