Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 74
Gary discusses recent claims about current events being some of the “signs” from the book of Revelation.
In terms of what the Bible teaches, the future of Israel is wrapped up in the future of the nations that has nothing to do with the physical land of Israel. We see this truth emphasized at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry:
Thus, it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:46–47).
Note its starting point: “beginning from Jerusalem,” not leading back to Jerusalem. Matthew’s gospel ends in a comparable way:
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18–20).
In both examples, Israel is not singled out for some distant earthly prophetic mission. The nations are in view with Israel, one of the nations mentioned as the natural starting point. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’” (Mark 16:15). Again, the witnessing begins in Jerusalem and extends to the remotest part of the earth, “to all creation under heaven” (Col. 1:23), “in the world [kosmos]” (1 Tim. 3:16), and “to all the nations” (Rom. 16:26; 1 Tim. 3:16).
Jesus answered a question about the kingdom in His response to the Pharisees: “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20–21).
The Rapture and the Fig Tree Generation
For decades Christians have been enticed with the belief that they would be taken to heaven before a coming tribulation period in an event called the “rapture.” Since the national reestablishment of Israel in 1948, countless books and pamphlets have been written defending the doctrine assuring readers that it could happen at any moment. Some prophecy writers claimed the “rapture” would take place before 1988. We are far removed from that date. Where are we in God’s prophetic timetable?
Buy NowGary discusses recent claims about current events being some of the “signs” from the book of Revelation. These events cannot be what modern pastors and speculators are claiming, without making complete nonsense of what the book of Revelation itself says about how it is to be understood.
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