By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #101 ~
At this time of the year, people make predictions about what they think will happen in 2019. But you know how it goes? Nobody gets it all right, for no man or woman can accurately forecast the future. Only God can perfectly predict what will be taking place, and that’s because He makes the future. He knows exactly what He is going to do, He has it all planned out, and then at the right time, He brings it to pass. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Isaiah 46:9-10
What amazes me is that such a large portion of the Bible is prophetic, precisely predicting events that occur in the future. Maybe you have read some of the Old Testament verses that tell us about Christ’s first coming (Psalm 22:1-21; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9, etc.) But this blog site focuses on the many verses from both the Old and New Testaments that predict and describe Christ’s second coming.
God didn’t have to tell us about the future, and about Christ’s return, but He did, for He wants us to know His plans for planet earth, and for the Jewish people and the church. He doesn’t want us to be surprised or afraid when calamitous events take place. He wants us to be anticipating Christ’s second coming, and to be excited about being with Him. God also knows we need hope, especially in this world of evil and increasing darkness. God’s prophetic word gives us hope, for it helps us see the future that God has planned and prepared for us. “We have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your heart.” 2 Peter 1:19
At this time in history, as we are getting closer to the end of this age, might we realize our vantage point, the incredible view we have of God’s end-time’s working. I am not talking about a physical vantage point, but a geo-prophetical one, a perspective informed by God’s word that helps us to rightly understand events taking place on our earth. By looking at God’s prophetic word and the world around us, we can clearly see that Christ’s return is drawing near. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3
What about this year? What is going to happen? I can’t say for sure, and no person can specifically know what will be happening, but God gives us a general idea of what will be taking place. There will be the preaching of the gospel (Matthew 24:14), the making of disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), and the growth of the church (Matthew 16:18). Wickedness will increase (Matthew 24:12). There will be a growing need for globalism and a world ruler (Revelation 13). There will be more wars, famines, economic problems and earthquakes. (Matthew 24:4-8). Countries will be reshaped and realigned, leading to that final, God-planned configuration of nations. Ezekiel 38:1-6, Daniel 2:36-45
But there are also very specific, identifiable, God-predicted prophecies that will be fulfilled in the years ahead. What are some of these?
1. A treaty between Israel and a number of other nations will be signed or confirmed. This event, whether actually observed by us or not, will occur at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, a prophetically strategic seven-year time frame. Daniel 9:27
2. The Antichrist will be revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
3. A great, global persecution of Jewish people and Christians will take place after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, but will then be cut short. Matthew 24:9, 21-22
4. The rapture of the church will occur at the end of this age, during the second half of Daniel’s 70th week, at an unknown time to us. Matthew 24:31-36, Revelation 7:9-14
5. A remnant of Jewish people will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:24
6. The kingdom of the world will be transferred from the control of Satan to the control of Jesus Christ at the end of this 70th week. Revelation 11:15
7. A new and glorious kingdom, with Jesus Christ ruling and believers reigning with Him, will begin, and continue on for 1000 years. 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, Revelation 20:1-6
All these things are guaranteed to take place, because God has told us so, and because He, Himself, will make sure they are carried out. The Lord God of heaven and earth is on the move, and nothing will stop, thwart or derail His purposes, prophecies, and plans. He is continually and faithfully working out all the steps, all the details, all the events that need to take place to bring this present age to a close.
As for this year, there won’t be a wasted second, a wasted day, or a wasted week, for every single thing that will happen is part of God’s eternal, sovereign, and perfect plan to bring about the return of Christ, the rapture of the church, and the reign of Christ over the world. Be humble and holy, pray and work, and wait and see! “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.” Matthew 24:30-31
P.S. We must understand Bible prophecy in general before we can understand it in specific. These two previous posts, together with this present one, will enable you to have a better grasp on Bible prophecy – Prophecy is Predicting the Future, and What You Need to Know About Prophecy.