The Bible Prophecy Channel

Saturday 16 September 2023

Jesus … will come in the same way as you saw him go

These words should be familiar to all Bible readers: they are the words of the “two men … in white robes” (a common way of describing angels) – it is what they said to the disciples as their astonished eyes watched their Lord ascend upwards “and a cloud received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9-11). We suspect it was no ordinary cloud, but like the cloud that Moses climbed up into on the mountain (Exodus 24:16).

Countless generations of Bible believers have looked for their Lord to descend from heaven in their lifetime. The disciples had asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (verse 6) and were told by their Lord they were to be “my witnesses in Jerusalem” – but ultimately that the witnessing was to be “to the end of the earth” (verse 8). He had said this earlier, also on the mount of Olives, “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

The other sign which Jesus gave, which Luke also recorded, was that “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (21:24). Today, Jerusalem is constantly a centre of world attention – and the returned Jews have made it the capital of their resurrected country. The evidence is plain that the climax of the ages is near. But we know, and must emphasize that it was not for his disciples, then or now, to know exactly when. Notice again the answer of Jesus when the disciples asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (verse 6). They were commissioned to be “my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria” (verse 8). It is for true believers today tocomplete that commission “… and to the end of the earth”.

Are you his disciple? Are you helping this commission to be carried out? If you are, you will be really looking for his return “in the same way (as the disciples) saw him go into heaven”.

As his disciple you will be following the examples given in the book of Acts, which we have now started reading. Notice the way in which the Old Testament is often quoted as an essential part of that message. It tells us many details of the Kingdom Jesus will set up, also giving us examples of faithful service (and failures) as we are reading in the book of Deuteronomy.

When Russia Moves

Russia is flexing her Imperial muscles. The Russians (known as the Rus) came from the Ukraine, thus the Ukraine is historical Russia, established in the ninth century. The Duke of Kiev in AD988 adopted the Orthodox form of Christianity from the influence of the Byzantine Empire based in Constantinople. When the Tartar-Mongols invaded in the mid 13th century, many Rus (Russians) fled to the north.

Russia needs the Ukraine and Crimea – warm water ports, her navy is based in Crimea, the bulk of her oil/gas lines go through, and so on. Without the Ukraine, Russia cannot be an empire, and this is precisely what she has in mind. How do we know? Bible prophecy speaks of a time when “the prince of Rosh (Russia), Meshech and Tubal”, along with her allies, will invade the land of Israel – “into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel which had long been desolate” (Ezekiel 38). This is the time when God will take action (v18-23).

Russia, by virtue of links with the emperors of Constantinople (the last princess married the rising tribal leader of Muscovy, thus her blood-line is in the Tsars) and the Orthodox Church, will fulfil the role of the inheritor of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium). When she occupies ancient Constantinople, the prophecy of Daniel 2 will ensure its final fulfilment. The two legs, Western Rome (the modern EU) and Eastern Rome (Russia occupying Constantinople) will then unite to invade Israel. “The King of the North … shall enter the countries, overwhelm them and pass through. He shall also enter the glorious land and many countries shall be overthrown… and he shall plant the tents of his power between the seas and the glorious holy mountain (Jerusalem)” (Daniel 11:40-45).

The invasion of Israel will have a religious as well as a political intent. “All nations will be gathered against Jerusalem to battle” (Zechariah 14:2; Joel 3:2) as they attempt to wrest Jerusalem from Jewish control.

This will result in a dreadful time for Israel, and result in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to take control of his city, his land, and ultimately “the Lord shall be King over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:8).

Are you ready when the Lord comes to judge the living and the dead?

Pope Francis and Atheists

A few weeks ago, Pope Francis said that atheists can do good and go to heaven too! Catholic Online 25-May-13

He explained that atheists can be led to God by doing good. He said, “We are judged by a just God who will welcome us based on what we have done with what we knew. Those who do not know God will be judged on the good they have done and the values lived by.”

But the Bible teaches: “He that comes to God must believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6).

The issue is faith and works. Ordained a Catholic priest in 1507, Martin Luther found from his Bible studies that good works do NOT make a man good, but a good man does good works. The essential difference is FAITH. We learn and slowly develop faith, an absolutely acceptance of what God has promised. Faith only comes by ONE process – “hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

We have to make the mental change FIRST. “Let this MIND be in your which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5), and then good works will be the natural outcome of the conscience.

Start reading your Bible. “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5). Christ is the mediator, the High priest, we need no priest of the Church to bring us to God.

Heaven? God never promised heaven! He promised “dominion over the earth” (Genesis 1:26) for “the heavens are the Lords, but the earth has he given to the children of men.” (Psalm 115:16) We wait for the day with the “Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9).

Istanbul in Bible Prophecy

Istanbul occupies one of the beautiful positions in the world. Straddling the Bosphorus, the narrow strait leads into the Black Sea and gives Russia access to warm water ports.

Byzantium was selected by Constantinople as Nova Roma, the New Rome. In Bible terms it was the eastern leg of Nebuchadnezzar’s image (Daniel 2:40-45). Perhaps its most illustrious ruler was Emperor Justinian, mid 6^th century. He codified Roman Law which is the basis of European law. He rebuild Constantinople after fires destroyed much of the old city. His greatest achievement was the Hagia Sophia (the Church of Holy Wisdom) with a high central dome. It was the largest church in the world for years.

Istanbul has been under the Turks since a dramatic siege in 1453. The Emperor, Constantine XI, died fighting on the walls with his men. His only heir and niece, Sophia, was offered two marriages, and she chose the rising leader, Ivan, in Muscovy. Among her luggage, Sophia took the royal regalia, crowns and beautiful carved ivory throne depicting the double-headed eagle on the back. This throne was ordered by Justinian who patterned some of his royal customs on King Solomon of the defunct Kingdom of Israel.

Of all the beast empires (outlined in Daniel 7), the fourth beast (Roman) was the most dominant and rapacious. It not only conquered, but tore in pieces and trampled every last vestige of those it conquered (Daniel 7:7). This is clearly demonstrated in its subjugation of Judea in AD66-70. Marching through the land from north to south, they took each town, while those who could escape, fled to the fortress of Jerusalem, the worst siege in history. The city was levelled according to the words of Jesus (Matthew 24:2-28).

The Romans regard the one who possesses the royal regalia as having the authority to rule. So from Ivan of Moscow and his wife Sophie, came the first Tzar of Russia. All the Tzars were crowned on the beautiful ivory throne of Justinian. Thus, say the historians, Russia became the legal heir of the Eastern Roman Empire. When the Muslims took over Constantinople, they closed the churches. The Greek priests left, taking their precious manuscripts with them. Within 5 years, Greek was being taught in the University of Paris, and the manuscripts were available for students. The Greek New Testament helped Martin Luther to see that the Church had changed Bible teaching. Latin had distorted the doctrine of God.

Islam however, absorbed the wisdom and sciences of the world of the East (the old empires such as the Babylonian and Persia) when the wisdom and culture flowed from the East to the West. It was not until after the Renaissance that the flow changed, from West to East. Recently a documentary has been produced which portrays two different worlds, different points of view, different perspectives. …between works inspired by revelation and the works that are the product of the human mind – the Prophet Abraham, the former, and Alexander the Great, the latter.”

Standing in the Hagia Sophia today (the Church of Holy Wisdom), the Muslims have plastered over many mosaics and erected huge circular plaques to honour Allah and his prophet Mohammed. When Russia occupies the city, she will do so as the Roman Eastern “leg” of Daniel 2:35, the eastern section of the revived Roman Empire (the modern EU). The Orthodox Church will be restored to its ancient pre-eminent religious position and then the Muslim plaques will be removed. But Russia’s occupation of Constantinople will be short lived. It is possible that Istanbul will share the fate of Rome (Revelation 18) when the Lord arrives to elevate Zion as the pre-eminent city of the world.

Who is the “antichrist

Who is the “antichrist”

The word “antichrist” is found only 5 times in the Bible, all in the Letters of John. In the Greek, “antichrist” means either against Christ or instead of Christ. (Vine’s Expository Dictionary), “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ” (Westcott).

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18).

“Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:1-3).

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7).

According to the inspired words of John, everyone who does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came “in the flesh” is a member of antichrist! John wrote these words because there were people in his day claiming that Jesus was a spirit who only used a body for 33 years and then discarded the body when he died. Tragically, there are still people today who believe and teach that Jesus was a pre-existing spirit who took on a body for his life on earth and then left the body when it was killed. The apostle says that this is antichrist teaching because it separates Jesus from his body and teaches that Jesus did not really come “in the flesh” since, according to these people, he could exist without the body.

The truth of the matter is that Jesus was born of a human mother, with God as his father (Luke 1: 34.35; 2 John 1:3). Because his mother was human, Jesus inherited a nature like ours which can be tempted to sin (Matthew 4:4; Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:15), and like everyone since the days of Adam he inherited mortality (Romans 5:12-14). The body of Jesus was exactly like ours and he could no more leave his body than we can leave our own. When the body of Jesus died, Jesus himself died and remained dead for three days (Acts 2:23-32; Matthew 16:21). After that, Jesus (including his body) was resurrected and his body changed to flesh and spirit instead of flesh and blood (Luke 24: 36-43; Acts 2:24,32). Jesus himself said after his resurrection:

“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39).

In this way, the Bible explains to us that Jesus Christ did actually come “in the flesh”. God warns us in His Word that to separate Jesus from his flesh is deadly wrong, for this is the teaching of antichrist.

Notice how the Bible uses “antichrist” to describe anyone who does not teach that Jesus really came “in the flesh”. There actually is no such thing in the Bible as one “future Antichrist”, because antichrists were already in existence during John’s day and many more arose during the following centuries. Antichrists are also in existence NOW since there are many false prophets today who do not teach that Jesus Christ came “in the flesh”. Therefore, it is completely unbiblical to speak of one “future Antichrist” and this alone should teach us to beware of the “future

Israel of God or of Men?

This key Bible teaching shows that the modern revival of Israel is central to God’s purpose with the nations of the world. The following selection of Bible verses, to which many more can be added, is based on the six aspects of Israel’s National Restoration noted in the book “The Rebirth of the State of Israel – Is it of God or of Men?” by Arthur W Kac. His book was published in 1958 – just 10 years after Israel became independent. The return of Jews to Israel has continued; so that now, at more than 6 million, the Jewish population is about ten times its size in 1948.

If you want to know that God is behind Israel’s restoration, see how many times God says, “I will”, in Ezekiel chapters 36 to 39.

“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12).

“Thus says the Lord GOD, When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob” (Ezekiel 28:25).

“And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them” (Amos 9:14).

“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).

“And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD” (Isaiah 62:12).

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:33-34: Hebrews 8: 10-12).

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:26:27).

“ Thus says the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness” (Zechariah 8:7-8).

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:26-27).

“Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified” (Isaiah 60:21).

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me” (Jeremiah 32:40).

“Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there” (Ezekiel 39:28).

“And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, says the LORD thy God” (Amos 9:15).

“ The LORD has taken away your judgments, he has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of you: you shall not see evil any more” (Zephaniah 3:15).

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7).

“Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

“And, behold, you shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31-33).

“For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8).

“And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them” (Ezekiel 39:21).

“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land” (Joel 3:1-2).

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zechariah 12:2-3).

“And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18).

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:23).

“Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:22-23).

“ After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, says the Lord, who does all these things” (Acts 15:16-17).

What are the aims of Bible Prophecy?

To provide convincing evidence – fulfilled Bible prophecy is evidence for the authenticity and reliability of Scripture.
To warn the wayward – the message is a ‘wakeup call’ to get right again with God before time runs out.
To encourage the faithful – the message shows that God is in control and is working out His purpose for good.
To give glory to God – God is pleased when His prophecy is proclaimed, and vindicated when it comes to pass.

What do the terms mean?

Prophesy (verb) – to speak forth the word of God, being “moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21); when future events are predicted, foretelling is involved.
Prophet/ess (noun) – the man or woman who prophesies; Scripture warns about false prophets (e.g. 2 Peter 2:1-3).
Prophecy (noun) – the spoken and/or written set of words by the prophet; sometimes introduced with “thus says the LORD”; can be a whole chapter (e.g. Jeremiah 51) or even a whole book (e.g. Joel, Revelation).
Fulfilment – when the spoken or written word of God comes to pass, the event takes place, the predicted circumstance occurs (e.g. Matthew 1:22-23 cites fulfilment of Isaiah 7:14).
Initial Fulfilment – God’s word is seen to be fulfilled immediately or in the near time, by the initial audience (e.g. the child is born and predicted events occur, Isaiah 7:15-17, 8:3-8)
Later Fulfilment – the prophetic word is experienced or seen to be fulfilled many years later by a different set of people (e.g. Jesus is born of the virgin Mary, Matthew 1:18-21)