Episode 28: Putting Prophecy Into Perspective (Part One)

Episode 28: Putting Prophecy Into Perspective (Part One)

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 28 In this talk given a few years back at a conference in Nashville, Gary introduces the topic of Bible prophecy and why it is important. At first reading, the New Testament seems to teach that the temple would be destroyed (Matt. 23:38; 24:2), Jerusalem would come under siege (Matt. 22:7), and the Old Covenant order would come to an end before the last [...]

Episode 27: Magog is Moscow and Gog is China

Episode 27: Magog is Moscow and Gog is China

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 27 Gary discusses new “research” that has now determined and revealed China’s role in Bible prophecy. Ezekiel was given a revelation that described his world. Consider the following description of the trading that was taking place among the various nations in Ezekiel’s day and note how these same nations are mentioned in Ezekiel 38. Spe [...]

Episode 26: Modern-Day Gaza is Not a Prophetic Fulfillment

Episode 26: Modern-Day Gaza is Not a Prophetic Fulfillment

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 26 No matter what happens in the Middle East—good, bad, or indifferent—it is claimed to be a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The Bible shows that the events described in Matthew 24 were fulfilled in the first century and fell upon the generation of Jews who “did not recognize the time of [their] visitation” (Luke 19:44) and crucified “the Lord of glory” ( [...]

Episode 25: What About Progressive Dispensationalism?

Episode 25: What About Progressive Dispensationalism?

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 25 Gary answers a listener question about progressive dispensationalism. For centuries, theologians declared that the Papacy was the biblical antichrist, the man of lawlessness, and the beast all rolled into one. I have several books in my library that take this view. For example, Richard Hurd’s chapter “Prophecies Concerning Antichrist” in his book An I [...]

Episode 24: Do Your Prophetic Homework

Episode 24: Do Your Prophetic Homework

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 24 Gary responds to several critics on Facebook that disagree with his interpretation of Bible prophecy. The temple, sacrifices, city, nation, land, and feasts found their fulfillment in the New Covenant “in reference to the Spirit”: Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to [...]

Episode 23: The Nephilim, the Antichrist, and the End Times

Episode 23: The Nephilim, the Antichrist, and the End Times

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 23 Gary discusses Genesis 6 and the whole “sons of God” controversy and how it gets tied in with Bible prophecy. Jesus said His coming “will be just like the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37). The people were doing normal things—“eating and drinking” and “marrying and giving in marriage.” Jesus told His audience that life would be going on as us [...]

Episode 22: The Day and the Hour

Episode 22: The Day and the Hour

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 22 Gary discusses a popular interpretation of Matthew 24 that assumes a split in time in what Jesus is explaining to His disciples. It’s significant that if there is no gap in time after Matthew 24:36 where events are yet to be fulfilled, the verses that follow track chronologically and are part of the previous signs of the discourse. This means that res [...]

Episode 21: What Your Pastor May Not Know About Bible Prophecy

Episode 21: What Your Pastor May Not Know About Bible Prophecy

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 21 It can be surprising the lack of understanding most pastors have about Bible prophecy. What we are seeing today is the end of a humanistic worldview that cannot sustain itself. God has placed before us a wonderful opportunity. Will we meet the challenge? Charles H. Spurgeon, the great nineteenth-century Baptist preacher, made these comments in his co [...]

Episode 20: Hal Lindsey's Projection in "The Road to Holocaust"

Episode 20: Hal Lindsey's Projection in "The Road to Holocaust"

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 20 Gary discusses one of Hal Lindsey’s lesser-known books called The Road to Holocaust. Projection is “a defense mechanism in which an individual recognizes their unacceptable traits or impulses in someone else to avoid recognizing those traits or impulses in themselves subconsciously. For example, someone who bullies another for being anxious and [...]

Episode 19: Damascus and Other End-Time Claims

Episode 19: Damascus and Other End-Time Claims

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 19 Gary deals with current end-time claims about the situation in Damascus. “When” a prophecy is said to be fulfilled is very important to know in determining what events fulfill the prophecy. Time indicators can tell us if the prophecy is going to be fulfilled in the distant future or in the near future. Sometimes a prophecy’s fulfillment is open ended [...]

Episode 18: 1 Thessalonians 4 Under the Microscope

Episode 18: 1 Thessalonians 4 Under the Microscope

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 18 Gary interviews Kim Burgess about 1 Thessalonians 4 and the cryptic language that Paul uses. The people who first read the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 had a biblical background as to what Paul was saying. These compressed verses assume some of that background information to be able to understand it. In Acts, Luke recorded that Paul preached fo [...]

Episode 17: The Great Rapture Disappointment

Episode 17: The Great Rapture Disappointment

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 17 With the recent death of Hal Lindsey, Gary discusses his popular books and the rapture and end times that they promised yet never arrived. Jesus used the parable of the fig tree as an analogy. His point was that when leaves begin to appear on the fig tree—or, for that matter, on “all the trees” (Luke 21:29)—it is a sign that summer is near. [...]

Episode 16: Double Fulfillment Under the Microscope

Episode 16: Double Fulfillment Under the Microscope

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 16 In this conclusion to his interview with author Brian Godawa, Gary answers a question about so-called double fulfillment. Some claim that there will be another fulfillment, a future fulfillment. This is pure guesswork, reading into a section of Scripture what’s not there. We know this because Jesus states there will be a great tribulation before that [...]

Episode 15: Biblical Context Under the Microscope

Episode 15: Biblical Context Under the Microscope

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 15 Gary discusses biblical context and its importance to interpreting all Bible passages, but especially prophetic ones. When we study Matthew 24 in its biblical context and allow other passages to shape our understanding, we will have no other choice than to embrace a preterist interpretation. Preterism teaches that most prophetic passages in the New T [...]

Episode 14: A Comedy of Prophetic Errors

Episode 14: A Comedy of Prophetic Errors

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 14 Gary discusses the history of failed “end times” and “last days” predictions. When we study the history of prophetic speculation, we soon realize that we’ve heard all of this before. For nearly 2000 years uninformed but assured Christians have predicted, in words similar to those of Hal Lindsey, that “they were the [...]

Episode 13: Israel as the Fig Tree Under the Microscope

Episode 13: Israel as the Fig Tree Under the Microscope

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 13 Gary discusses a popular interpretation by modern prophecy writers and pastors about Israel being the “fig tree” spoken of by Jesus in the NT. If Israel is the fig tree in Matthew 24:32, then Israel is the fig tree in 21:18–20 where Jesus says, “‘No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.’ And at once the fig tree withered.” The fi [...]

Episode 12: Discussing Bible Prophecy With My 11-Year-Old Granddaughter

Episode 12: Discussing Bible Prophecy With My 11-Year-Old Granddaughter

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 12 Gary does a short Bible study with his granddaughter, who had a few questions about Mark 13 and Jesus’ coming. In terms of audience relevance related to a study of the Olivet Discourse, students of Scripture need to begin with Matthew 21:1 where we read that Jesus and some of His disciples had come “to the Mount of Olives.” By the time we get t [...]

Episode 11: Putting It All Together

Episode 11: Putting It All Together

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 11 Gary gives a quick lesson on how to do biblical hermeneutics, which simply means how to interpret the text. Many people grow up thinking the Bible says one thing when it actually says something else. For example, when asked who cut off Samson’s hair, a high percentage of people will say “Delilah!” By reading Judges 16:19, we quickly learn that she “c [...]

Episode 10: Prophetic Schizophrenia Under the Microscope

Episode 10: Prophetic Schizophrenia Under the Microscope

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 10 Many modern preachers and authors are schizophrenic. They don’t seem to understand that their messages are contradictory and often cause their hearers to become paralyzed with indecision. Thousands of tracts, magazine articles, sermons and radio messages tell the people, “Jesus is coming soon!” “These are the last days of this dispensation” and [...]

Episode 9: Dividing Matthew 24 Under the Microscope

Episode 9: Dividing Matthew 24 Under the Microscope

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 9 Gary puts the popular claim of dividing Matthew 24 into past and future events under the exegetical microscope to see if it stands up under scrutiny. Matthew 24:33 tells us what audience Jesus had in view: “so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” It’s obvious, and without any need for debate, that the [...]