End of this Age is Close at Hand - By pastor Mike Taylor -
19 "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:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 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."( 2nd Peter 1:19-21)
Here's the question...With the end of this age so obviously at hand, why teach Prophecy? This is a very broad subject and there are many reasons why we should pay attention to the signs around us that point to the fulfillment of the Words found in your Bible. But I will focus on a few of them to answer the question. Many of those who think prophecy has been fulfilled and nothing is awaiting out there save the return of Jesus, discount any mention of prophecy, as they are what is known as Preterist. These deceived people believe that all was fulfilled in 70AD with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Roman army and the nation of Israel was no more.
But has all prophecy really been fulfilled? I would question such folks as when the passages in Revelation had actually been fulfilled. Can they show me where the green grass all over the earth was burned up? Can they show me where 1/3 of the trees were destroyed, along with the sea and the rivers turning to blood as that of a dead man? How about the blazing mountain falling into the sea, which sounds like a comet, hitting the earth and destroying million of people who live along the coastlines, just to name a few of the destruction that befalls the earth?
"12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:12-17)
Noting that none of the plagues and environmental disasters spoken of in Revelation have been recorded in history as to when these events have actually happened. Reason being, they have not happened, and the time of their fulfillment is because it speaks of a future time period.
I'm reminded of the Bible verses that Jesus spoke of when men will not have a clue what is coming upon the earth and will be going about their lives, like nothing is going to happen.
37 "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."( Matthew 24:37-42)
What was Jesus referring to? In the days of Noah, God commanded Noah to build an ark, as He was sad that he had ever made man.
6 "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." (Genesis 6:6-7)
But thankfully for all who live today, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord:
8 "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch."( Genesis 6:8-14)
As the Bible story unfolds, Noah built the ark and it took him 120 years. And as he built, Noah preached a warning to the people around him. But the people laughed at him to scorn. "Who had ever heard of it raining from the sky?" is what they must have thought, as the dew watered the earth before this time. So they heeded not the warning of Noah, and only his family and two of every living creature on the earth was taken into the ark. The people of Noah's day thought Noah was mad. So they continued their sinful lives not knowing that the end of all things was close at hand.
AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
We see some of the same things happening today, as it was in the time of the flood that covered the earth and destroyed all mankind, save a remnant. (As I have warned in the past, "Watch Israel because she is the key to the timing of the end of this age".) But God said He would not ever again destroy the earth with a flood, but next time, it would be by fire.
6 " I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." (Zephaniah 3:6-8)
Men today are doing exactly the same thing that the people during Noah's age were doing. They are oblivious to the danger that is lurking right over the horizon.
"in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark"
WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS
Jesus gave us markers to point to the time of His coming for His bride, the people of His "true" church, and people have been trying to figure out for the last 200 years when the Lord Jesus would come. They have made predictions, and they have all been wrong. Why have they been wrong? First Jesus said that "no man knoweth the day or the hour"
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." (Matthew 24:36)
So trying to pinpoint the time of the coming of the Lord for His church is folly on anybodies part. Second to why the people have been unable to predict the coming of the Lord or even the season? It is because Israel was not yet a nation. It all hangs on Israel as the door to end time prophecy and Jerusalem being the key. Jesus told us the season of His coming for His church and it surrounds Israel's becoming a nation again and being back in her own land.
32 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:32-35)
As anyone should know, especially if you follow any of my messages in the past, the fig tree is Israel. She blossomed and put forth her leaves, and became a nation once again in May, 1948. But note that Jesus said that "this generation would not pass away, till all things be fulfilled". What is a generation that Jesus spoke of ? If you search the Bible, God has been shortening the life span of man since the flood, when these people lived centuries of upwards of 900 years and more. Now modern man has an average of 70 years, as the Bible plainly reveals.
10 "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalms 90:10)
A simple bit of math will render the season of the coming of the Lord. If you take the first number of 70 years, which is the time of a generation and add that to the time of the rebirth of Israel, you see that you get 2018, which is almost 2 years ago this coming May when Israel was reborn as a nation.. Or if you take the greater number, you add that also, and you come up with 2028...That means by the words of our Lord, that He will be back on this earth, reigning and ruling for a thousand years. Then will begin the Sabbath rest of the earth, as man has had 6000 years for his rule, now God will rule righteously for a Millennium with a rod of iron. That gives us the season of the Lord's return for His Church at the rapture, but it doesn't point to the narrow window that only God knows.
But note that if Jesus is reigning and He said that ALL things would be fulfilled, and that includes the Tribulation period of 7 years, and being a solid proponent of a Pre-Tribulation removal of the Church of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul called the HARPAZO (interpreted as taken by force, which we call the rapture), you will see that subtracting from 2028 will result in 2021....That gives us a season of when Jesus said that all things would be fulfilled. But God is sovereign and this only gives us a season, as God is very patient until His patience wears out and judgment falls on a rebellious people.
9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (2nd Peter 3:9-10)
WAIT IT GETS MORE INTERESTING
I was reading here lately of an old Jewish Rabbi that made a prophecy prediction in the time of the 1200s..into the 13 century. It all related to the year of the Jubilee. Some of you may know, but a Jubilee is the 50th year of four Sabbatical years which are 49. (7x7=49)...on this 50th year, this Jewish Rabbi, Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel prophesied the coming of the Messiah or more correctly, the Messianic period.
His prophesy predicted that Jerusalem would be conquered by the Ottoman Turks and hold it for 400 years, or 8 Jubilees (8x50=400) and that is exactly what happened, but he didn't see his prophecy come true for another 300 years after his death. It happened in 1517 AD and the Ottoman Turks held onto Jerusalem until 1917, exactly 400 years until they were defeated by the British.
"The Mamluks, who had been reigning in Jerusalem since 1250, were conquered in 1517 by the Ottoman Turks. They remained for eight jubilees (8 x 50 = 400 years), that is to say they were in Jerusalem for 400 years. Exactly 400 years later, in 1917, the Ottoman Turks were conquered by the British. The League of Nations conferred the Mandate for the Holy Land and Jerusalem to the British. Thus, from 1917, under international law, Jerusalem was no-man's land." (Word News Daily, 12th century Rabbi predicts Israel's Future)
You can read the whole story here: http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/12th-century-rabbi-predicted-israels-future/
As was predicted, another 50 years, or another Jubilee, and Israel would recapture Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War. He then predicts that when another Jubilee is finished, the period of the Messianic years would have been fulfilled. But to summarize:
-Ottoman Turks rule Jerusalem for 8 Jubilees, or 400 years from 1517-1917
-the British would put "Palestine" under British rule and Jerusalem would be recaptured by Israel at the end of one Jubilee or 1917-1967.
-according to the Rabbi Samuel, from 1967-2017 is the Messianic "End Times"
My question? How could a 13th century Rabbi be so extraordinarily correct in his prophecy? Note that 2017 has already passed and we are still here. This rabbi made predictions in the past that came true. What he correctly saw was the Messianic period or the coming end of the age, we call the Age of Grace. Now take what this Rabbi predicted that actually came true and coupling that with what Jesus said in Matthew 24, we can see that if this Rabbi is to be believed, then the season of the coming of Christ is close at hand. Do I believe a 13th Century Rabbi? I find it amazing that his prophecy was spot on. But that's not all.
SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS SPEAK OF THE COMING OF THE LORD
I have written many articles about signs that we are seeing right now, and what has already been fulfilled with the blood moons that fell on Jewish Feast Days for two years in a row and how they have only happened when they gave witness to something prophetic happening to Israel. This all happened in 2014-2015. God told us that He put these signs in the heavens for us during creation.
"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:" (Genesis 1:14)
Note the words "and let them be for signs"...? Note that the solar eclipses and blood moons were more than just naturally occurring phenomenon. Also note that there will not be another set of Blood Moons or solar eclipses that fall on another Jewish Feast day for another 500 years according to NASA...there will be blood moons, yes, but not on Feast Days in the order of what we just saw. I believe it is giving us a warning in the heavens that the "end of the age" is upon us.
NO MAN KNOWETH THE DAY OR THE HOUR
I've posted sermons on this very subject and don't want to get too involved in what Jesus was saying, that any Jewish man in the time of our Lord living on this earth would have immediately recognized what Jesus was talking about. But to refresh anyone's memory of that message, go here:
What the message reveals is that God has used the Feast of the Lord to mark prophetic events and fulfilled them on the very day of their observance. Those were :
-Passover: Jesus became our Passover Lamb
-Days of Unleavened Bread-our sins were put outside the camp
-Feast of First Fruits: Jesus was before the Father as the First Born of the dead
-Pentecost: The Holy Spirit came in power and the Church was born.
We are now in the harvest time, between the spring Feast and the Fall Feast, when God is saving mankind through His Son Jesus Christ as in the parable of the wheat and the tares. I would call this the Age of Grace, or the Church Age.
But we are fast approaching the end of this Harvest Time, and the next marker for the plan for the redemption of mankind is the Feast of Trumpets, or blowing of trumpets to signal the return of the King. And the thing that made me stand up and take notice and found in the above article, what is the term used for the Feast of Trumpets. "NO MAN KNOWETH THE DAY OF THE HOUR"...Why? Because it is the only Feast day where they must wait for a sliver of a new moon for the time to begin, and since there is a discrepancy on counting days via their calendar, they keep two days, just to be sure. This year, that Feast of Trumpets fall on October 2-9, 2020.
SO AGAIN, WHY TEACH PROPHECY?
With all the quickly enumerated signs, predictions, the words of Jesus and the return of Israel as a nation being a generation will see all things fulfilled, I think it most important to warn those who have grown tired and slumber, or so enamored with their unrighteous living, that they are as in the days of Noah. They are eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage and have not a clue what is happening all around them. People in this world think they have their lives to live and not worrying about what is coming right over the horizon.
That is why we teach prophecy. To warn those who are not aware of the signs of the times, and will be taken totally by surprise when millions of people suddenly disappear. Now some will say, that this precedes the second coming of our Lord, but will men be living their lives in the usual manner leading up to this time? No, I think everyone that is still alive, will be totally focused on their very survival, and know that God in His Divine judgment has caused what has come upon the earth, but still they will not repent.
Some ask why can't we just live our lives, and love one another, and let everyone be whatever makes them happy and judge not anyone on their lifestyle...True to a point...we are not anyone's judge, as that is God's role and I will not judge anything but what is inside the church. We are commanded to judge righteously what goes on inside the Church, as instructed by Paul.
2 "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church." (1st Corinthians 6:2-4)
But to the rest of the world, we warn that the time is growing short to get on the "ark of salvation" much like the Ark in Noah's age, the ark today, is Jesus Christ. Only He can save those who are approaching the worst time in all of history of this world, as Jesus said:
21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22)
Note that unless He shortens those days, "NO FLESH WILL BE SAVED". Let those words sink into your mind for a moment. No flesh, nobody would be saved, as the carnage will cover this earth. Environmental disasters, Divine judgment that only be attributed to a Holy God in righteous indignation, and the earth convulsing in earthquakes that will level every mountain and move every island out of it's place. Men will not have confidence even in the earth they stand on. A conservative estimate is 6 billion people dying in 7 short years with the majority in the last 3.5 years. Can you imagine the carnage? The inability to bury that many dead in so short of a time space? The wild animals coming out of the forest and the wilderness to eat dead bodies lying all over the ground, in the streets, and looking for food, as they are starving too. Can you imagine the smell of death filling the air around you?
"24 "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." (Luke 21:24-26)
IN CONCLUSION..
Why Teach Prophecy? Because God commanded that we warn those who in peril of their life, and their very souls to what is coming...a sword is coming upon the land.
7 "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 33:7-9)
But all we can do is warn, but as in the days of Noah, many...no, most will not hear, but will scoff at such a warning..
3 "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 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.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (2nd Peter 3:3-7)
But that is why we teach prophecy, as a warning to those who are asleep, or scoffing, or acting as it was in the days of Noah. I hope as you read this, that the evidence found in your bible points to this end of days. We may not have much time longer to preach the Word of God and warn those who are too busy to give God a second thought, but have rejected the plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ. Our King Jesus is coming soon so don't make that mistake of ignoring the signs.. The signs say so, the Bible says so, and the evidence I've presented, hopefully, gives you an idea of what I speak of. Jesus could...I SAY COULD, as I don't know for sure, as God has not revealed it to me personally, but with the evidence, Jesus COULD come even this fall or any fall thereafter. I know I will be watching and listening for that Trumpet call and the Lord Jesus coming in the air to bring those who have been sealed with His Holy Spirit and obtain VICTORY IN JESUS.
I want every one to be right there with me and others who have accepted Jesus as personal Savior standing before our Lord in worship and praise...How?
8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."( Romans 10:8-10)
16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 God sent not His Son into the world, to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
Prophecy is being fulfilled right now in front of our eyes, and the next moment of your life, Jesus could come and those who are found in Him will be taken out of this world. Those who are not found in Jesus will be thrown headlong into this coming horror known as the Tribulation and most likely, die a horrible death, one way or another. ..I beg you, don't let that happen...Accept Jesus today as your personal Savior and be ready for when He breaks through the clouds and as with a sound of a trumpet, yells "Come up here"...And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
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