Biblical vision of the future ~ has arrived



The Bible has a lot to say, a lot of specific things to say, about the condition of the world immediately prior to the return of Jesus Christ; things which, at the time when the Bible was written, were then still a very long time off in the future.  Today, however, reading those same prophecies is tantamount to reading the daily news.  The Biblical vision of the future has now arrived: we are living it day by day.

So, what?

Exactly.  I mean, that is the attitude of by far the vast majority of Americans: So, what?  Who cares what the Bible has to say about anything?  It is a book of fairy tales at best, and an outdated, bigoted book at worst.  Incredibly, that is the position taken even by many churchgoers, today ~ who mindlessly parrot whatever seems to be trending amongst 'popular culture.'   The fact, that the Bible ~ especially, Bible prophecy ~ is now widely mocked and scorned, is one of those "specific things" mentioned in Bible prophecy as being a sign of the "last days":"

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 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.  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: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 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."  (2 Peter 3:3-7)

When shall men scoff at the Word of God?  "In the last days."  When shall men ridicule the suggestion that the time of Jesus Christ's return is at hand?  "In the last days."  When shall men choose to be "willingly ignorant" of Biblical history (the only accurate, reliable, and unbiased history) as well as of Biblical prophecy?  "In the last days."  When shall men utterly reject the notion of divine judgment and eternal damnation?  "In the last days."
Whenever anyone scorns me for speaking about the soon return of Christ (which happens frequently), I now tell them that by their own unbelieving attitude they are fulfilling Bible prophecy ~ proving that this is in fact the hour of Jesus's coming!  And then I quote to them the passage I just referenced.  Coals of fire....

The 'Biblical vision of the future' describes widespread despair and hopelessness ~ in the midst of unparalleled prosperity!  (Compare Joel ch. 1 and Matthew 24:37-39).  How could such a strange prediction be accidental?  Global prosperity, especially since post-WWII, is unequalled in history.  Yet, depression, suicide, drug addiction and overdose, and many other manifestations of mental illness are virtually pandemic.  Never in human history has there been such vast resources of medical science, technology, specialists, medicines, hospitals, etc.; yet, at the same time, never in history has there been such unprecedented, pervasive sickness.  Despair and hopelessness ~ in the midst of unparalleled prosperity.

The 'Biblical vision of the future' reveals the grossly apostate condition of the professing 'Church,' "in the last days."  I have written about that gut-wrenching phenomenon . . . until I am sick of it.

The 'Biblical vision of the future' identifies a self-centered, self-indulgent generation ((the phenomenon involving so-called "selfies" (excessive picture-taking of oneself) is no mere coincidence)); a generation characterized by lawlessness, infidelity, ingratitude, immorality ~ and, yet, largely religious, self-righteous.  As you read the passage of Scripture, below, keep in mind that approximately 8 out of 10 Americans are self-professed "Christians"!

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof... (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

The 'Biblical vision of the future' foretells that: "pestilences" would plague mankind (AIDS, SARS, Ebola, Coronavirus, etc.); Nature itself would be in upheaval; and demonic activity would be unleashed (Matthew 24; Luke 21; Revelation 6; et al).  Only the blind cannot see the present-day fulfilling of those prophecies.  It infuriates me when I hear so-called Bible prophecy teachers insist that those just-mentioned judgments are reserved for the Tribulation period!  When, in fact, they are clearly given as signs of the approaching end of this present Age.

The 'Biblical vision of the future' provides a detailed description of a certain coalition of nations aligned against the re-gathered and reconstituted State of Israel (itself a profoundly significant sign of "the last days").  That coalition is now solidly formed and openly antagonistic towards Israel, with some of that coalition having publicly avowed their determination to destroy Israel.  Coincidence?

It is statistically impossible to make so many, diverse, flawlessly accurate predictions ~ by chance.  It is high time that the Bible should be taken very seriously.  For, not only does Scripture have a lot to say about many, specific conditions of this End-time generation.  Moreover, the Bible has much to say concerning how Christians can nevertheless live victoriously even in these "perilous times".

There is more to come.  God is not yet done with this generation.  How do I know that?  I have what I believe are some very good reasons, namely:

1. We, the disciples of Jesus Christ, are still here.
2. There is still a burning flame of desire in our hearts to see an End-time harvest of souls ~ which, desire, comes from the heart of God.
3. There are more people alive in this generation than have lived in all the generations since Christ, combined: It is therefore inconceivable that God would not do something extraordinary in his efforts to reach this generation for Christ.
4. There are many hidden treasures of prophecy in Scripture which in various ways allude to an End-time move of God in saving power.
5. Some of the greatest men of God in Modern time (from late 1800s to mid 1900s) prophesied that the greatest outpouring of the Holy Ghost was still yet to come, after their own lifetime.
6. The pattern of God's saving work throughout History strongly suggests that the Redemptive plan of God is progressive, and not regressive; increasing, and not decreasing.
7. The Rapture of the Church ~ though I am persuaded that is going to be an Event hidden from the world's ability to perceive it (in that sense the Rapture will be a 'secret' Event).  Nevertheless, the Rapture is not thus an anti-Climax.  On the contrary: The Rapture shall occur as part of a succession of Events, each of which is of 'cosmic' proportion ~ all together which entail what I have elsewhere called, "The Great Transition"...from the Church Age to the Millennial Kingdom Age.

God is ready to act in historically unprecedented ways ~ in order to fill to the brim the cup of Christ's reward, so to speak.  Souls are God's reward to Christ.  The Kingdom is God's reward.  It has often been said that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."  Well.  As I have elsewhere explained in great detail (see my book, The Seven Seals in Prophecy and in History), this generation has suffered a greater number of Christian martyrs than has any generation before now.  If it is true that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church; then, should we not expect ~ or at least hope ~ that those martyrs' blood was not spilled in vain?!  Do we honor those martyrs ~ nay, do we honor the God of those martyrs ~ if we suppose that the Holy Ghost has not enough power and not enough love and grace to answer their suffering . . . in a manner such as God answered the suffering of Jesus? and of Stephen? and of the apostles?  In every such case, God answered those men's faithfulness unto death, by sending Revival!

I have often been reminded that Noah's life-work failed to save any but his own immediate family.  But there is more to Noah's story.  Noah did not merely "build" an Ark; Noah himself BECAME an Ark whereby God ~ meanwhile as He brought down judgment upon the world, at the same time was able to preserve abundance of life and bring forth a new world, by and through the faithfulness and obedience of one man, Noah.

God is not losing this War.  Nor are we losing it, if we will remain faithful to the calling of God.  To be sure, we are in a very real and deadly War.  Though I reckon that few, in America at least, are giving themselves to be fully engaged to win that War: not the "culture" war, but the War for Truth, for Christ, for souls, for eternity.  My hope and prayer is, that it will not require any great calamity in order for the still-slumbering body of Christians (in America) to rouse themselves from that semi-conscious state of mind.  Though God knows what it will require.

On the authority of God's Word: I say that the best is still to come, far better than we can now imagine.  Will there be increasing trouble in the world.  Doubtless there will be.  But God is still able and willing to protect and glorify His own.  This is not a time to wring our hands and be perplexed.  The so-called "fog of war," albeit spiritually speaking, has assuredly dulled and confused many.  As well there have been many casualties.  This is not a game.

In closing, I feel impressed to caution against leaning too heavily upon President Trump, for a sense of security.  Although I firmly believe God has raised and preserved our President, yet, I more firmly believe that we must look to none other than Jesus Christ to lead and to keep us.  May God bless and preserve Donald Trump, his family, and his Administration: all of whom stand in great need of prayer.  But Jesus is Captain of the LORD's host.  He is the head of the Body.  He is the Savior of the world.

If tomorrow Jesus does not return, we have a choice to make: Either we will choose to believe that God is desiring and willing to work mightily through every one who will believe Him; or, else, we will choose to believe . . . something, anything, else but that.

Which will you choose to believe?  Either way, the fact remains: The Biblical vision of the future has arrived.  You are living it, witnessing it, experiencing it ~ that stupendously important time that the host of Biblical prophets and apostles wrote about.  The only question is: What are you going to do (what am I going to do?) with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live for Christ?  It is possible that there has never been a better time to be a Child of God.....