This week’s posting hinges on what some believe are signs of the End Times in Revelation. Can we conclude that God is warning us of what’s to come? Nevertheless, just look at the world around us and the changes in the United States in just two years. It’s apparent that something is seriously wrong. We are truly a Nation that needs to turn back to God.

 

Which takes us here. If God didn’t want us to be aware of it, why is the End Times in the Book of Revelation, especially if He didn’t want us to study or even ponder it? Just how far into the future is yet to be determined. The question I am asking is: Are the signs starting to come together? Only time will tell. 

I’ll let the slide speak for itself, with Jesus’ message in Matt. 24:21, referring to the Great Tribulation in the Book of Revelation. Will it be upon the world suddenly or will the world, as it turns away from God, gradually build up to it? Only God knows. But, nevertheless, there are sufficient warning for today’s world. 

The first four seals on the scroll in Revelation chapters 6, brings the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. All of whom represent the consequence of war and introduces the appearance of the Antichrist. War is very much a part of the End Times. Some thought WWII was the End Times, but of course it wasn’t. But we can’t overlook the fact that WWII shaped the world we live in today and set the stage for today, including buildup of a militant Communist Soviet Union replaced by a militant Russia, and Communist China. 

The chart gives an overview of the End Times in Revelation. It shows the outpouring of God’s wrath on a sinful, unrepentant world. If you haven’t given a lot of thought to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, now is a good time to do so. After born-again Christians are raptured, the consequences are very real for those left behind. Just being a church member can’t save us. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. 

There are different views of the End Times. After a year of in-depth study of Revelation and searching the web and O.T. prophecies, viewing sermons on Youtube, and other material, plus a couple of books in my library that seem more relevant today than when I purchased them. After reviewing the different views, I’m very comfortable with the view that the born-again Christians will be raptured before the Tribulation OR perhaps mid-tribulation. Join us Sunday mornings in Heritage Lounge as we study Revelation. It’s not too late to join us. 

All of which raises the question, how do we interpret what Revelation is telling us? I’ll let this chart speak for itself. Certain opinions were embraced by the early Church Fathers. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. They concluded that since the Jews were responsible for the crucifixion of Christ, that they were punished and rejected as God’s Chosen People, and that the Church was the new Israel in regard to yet unfulfilled Bible prophesies. 

Different people hold different views for different reasons, including church scholars. A great part of the Revelation is future prophesy in the form of images. Interpreting those images is the key to understanding Revelation. The End Times are also noted in certain O.T. & N.T. verses. 

Was Revelation written to reflect 1st century persecution under Emperor Nero or does it prophesy future persecution under the Antichrist? The 1st century Church did go through persecution under Nero and others. If that is the message of Revelation, would it have any relevance for today? I believe it is future prophecy with a message for every church in every age because we do not know when it will occur. But nevertheless, we need to be ready, especially in today’s world. 

The date Revelation was written is like a fork in the road. The early view takes you in one direction. The late view takes you in another direction. There are Bible scholars on both sides. So, who is right? It makes all the difference in how one interprets Revelation: Is it past history or future prophecy or a mix of both?

All interpretations tell us that Christ will return via His second coming. Some believe that He will then reign for 1,000 years on earth—the Millennium. Yet some do not believe in a literal Millennium; that it is symbolic and not literal. After all my research of both views, I concluded that it’s a literal 1,000-years.

 

Those of the second and third century Church interpreted Revelation as John prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 as punishment for the Jews crucifying Christ. We can conclude that Nero was an antichrist, just as Hitler was an antichrist (1 John 2:18 tells us that there are many antichrist), but not The Antichrist prophesied in Revelation. There are no historical records of the catastrophic events noted in Revelation, especially chapters 6 and 8. In other words, John recorded a future prophecy, not a 1st century event.

Why is Revelation written with images, if it was a record of a first century prophesy? Surely John would have presented it in everyday language. Yet it is in images. Images are the only way John could possibly describe 21st or 22nd events in first century Greek, especially vehicles of war such as tanks or aircraft. 

Throughout its history Israel turned away from God on many occasions, and were punished, even sent into exile, but God never totally abandoned them as His Chosen People. The early Church made an assumption, but history shows otherwise as we see on the next slides. 

For over 2,000 years the Jews have not yet embraced their awaited Messiah. Working through Hitler (an antichrist), the Devil intended the Holocaust for evil—to destroy God’s Chosen People—but God used it to bring them back to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

The N.Y. Times, May 14, 1948 headlines, announcing the rebirth of Israel in their promised homeland. 

God also used the United States to achieve His purpose. Here, President Harry S. Truman recognizing the new State of Israel. Because of the Holocaust, the Jews as a people, left Europe and immigrated to Israel, which resulted in the rebirth of Israel. The U.S.' decision, being respected as a world power at the time, was accepted by the United Nations. Shown is the official White House ceremony of Truman’s recognition of Israel as a legitimate State. Israel’s very existence is divine providence. No, God did not discard His Chosen People. Like the Parodical Son (Luke 15:11-32), He brought them home. But they have yet to embrace their Messiah, but that day will come during the Tribulation. 

Photo shows the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Against much opposition, President Donald Trump authorized the moving of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He did it in record time and at a fraction of the expected cost. It formally opened on May 14, 2018; exactly 70 years after Israel was declared a nation. In doing so, the United States acknowledged Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Are the pieces coming together? I think so. 

All of which raises the question, is the United States a Christian Nation? In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower (who served as commander of the Allied forces in Europe during WWII) urged Congress to add the words “One Nation Under God” to the pledge of allegiance, which was formally done by Congress. For decades, following long-held beliefs and traditions, it defined the United States.  A single evening of TV news tells us how times have changed, as do the statistics on the following slide…

Gallup poll published an even lower percentage of 47% verses 64%, noting that for the first time in American history, less than half the population identified as Christian. So, what is the state of today’s church in America? These statistics are a clear indication that Christianity is being increasingly ignored or rejected, with far fewer people identifying as Christian; with more churches closing than new churches opening.

Decline of Christianity began in 1945 following WWII, as the Nation became more urban, versus farms and small towns. As shown on the chart, there has been a steady decline of Christianity from 1945 to 1996, with a corresponding rise of unaffiliated. 

What’s the message? Not one of those states exceed 50% attendance of church, except Utah. I presume they’re including the Mormon religion. These are somewhat surprising statistics especially in what has been known as the Southern "Bible Belt".

Let’s pause for a moment. For the most part, Revelation is not Church doctrine, although, some parts of Revelation include Church doctrine, such as Second Coming of Christ (Rev. 19:11-21); casting of Satan into lake of fire (Rev. 20:10); Great White Throne Judgment of all unbelievers (Rev. 20:11-15). Other parts are images of future prophesy that have not yet occurred and need to be interpreted. But at just the right time those parts will become increasingly clear. 

The heading is the title of a book. But it certainly provides food for thought. Where will the path we are currently on as a Nation, lead us? Will it be as though America never existed?  

We can only wonder his future intent. The world is changing right before our eyes. 

How is the world changing?  This is a report from Bloomberg news – Turkey (a member of NATO) is seeking membership to the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attempts to forge alliances with friendly countries in the East. Are we moving closer to a one world system of governance? Or perhaps one divided between East and West? If so, it would reflect the world described in the Book of Revelation. 

1st century warning or future prophecy? The sheer scope of the judgments are clearly future prophecies yet to come. Only God knows when. 

Chap. 8 in Revelation opens with a half hour of silence. There are different interpretations regarding the significance of the half hour of silence. I believe we can call it “the calm before the storm”.

The 7th seal is a period of silence before God’s wrath is poured out with the 8th seal, introducing seven angels with trumpets. 

Climate change or God’s wakeup call? When there’s a natural disaster or a war, many people turn to God in prayer, who otherwise, rarely give Him a thought. Nevertheless, pray for the people in Florida devastated by Ian. 

We may not be there yet, but the day will come; only God knows when. But it’s worth thinking about. I believe born-again Christians will be raptured before that day arrives. If you’re still here, this is what you will have to contend with from which there is no escape. But there is an escape now: To repent of sin and turn to Jesus Christ who paid the price for our sins. 

Revelation tells us that during the Tribulation, the world will turn to an Antichrist, a counterfeit Christ. We have the opportunity to turn to the real Jesus Christ now, but after the Tribulation starts it would be too late to escape the Antichrist’s persecution and tyrannical behavior. 

The following Q & A, by respected pastors, as noted, is a message for today’s Church. 

Insight into the Christian faith by respected pastors and theologians. Nichols, Busenitz, Lawson, MacArthur, and Sproul: Questions and Answers that are well worth your time. (56 minutes). Copy the following link and paste it into your web browser. 

https://youtu.be/fjul5GM9HZ0

Our next posting will depend on current events. Hopefully nothing dramatic will occur. Your vote in November can help make a difference. 

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When searching on-line, it's readily apparent that many, including well respected pastors, believe we are at the threshold of the End Times. 

[Message: This posting got corrupted when posting and took a lot of time--hours actually--to finalize it. So, it may not flow as well as I had intended, nor did I want to delete it and start over.] 

Our Sunday morning study of Revelation in Heritage Lounge involves a great deal of research, which prompted this blog topic. Since it's in the Bible, wouldn't God want us to be aware of the End Times and of signs that seem readily apparent? As we are told in Ephesians 6:12, we are engaged in a spiritual battle with satanic forces and powers of this dark world, that intensify in the End Times.

How do we respond? We are told in Eph. 6:13 to put on the full armor of God, including studying His Word, yes, even the Book of Revelation, which provides a window into how Satan intends to rule the world. For a short time (7 years) he will rule through the Antichrist, who he gives satanic powers, and with the dark forces of this world, all of which lead to his rise to power.  

Everything I studied, including reading and listening to the different views, has convinced me that God will rescue His people before the Tribulation, via the rapture. Jesus tells us in Matt 24:40-42 — 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

The chart gives an overview of the End Times. It shows the outpouring of God’s wrath--called the Tribulation--on a sinful, unrepentant and evil world. If you haven’t given a lot of thought to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, now is a good time to do so. Since all born-again Christians are raptured; the consequences are very real for those left behind. Just being a church member can’t save us. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Take comfort in those words. There are other views of the End Times beside this one, but I believe this one aligns best with what I concluded while studying the various views. 

From the 1st until the 20th century, the Church grew worldwide. As shown in subsequent slides, church attendance has been in steady decline for several decades in America, with church attendance hitting historic lows. Throughout the United States' history and very founding, American had turned to God. Will today's America turn back to God?

These words are familiar to most Americans. They constitute the very fabric of America's Christian heritage. It has also upheld us through two world wars, and even civil unrest in our cities. But efforts are mounting to destroy that very fabric that holds us together as one Nation and one people. Pray for America and pray for the people in Florida as they recover from Ian’s devastation. God is our hope in every situation.

The very foundation of these United States rested on prayer, with the resolve of its founders and its people, at a great price. Those benefits were passed on to us, which we should not take for granted or we can lose them—it constituted the very basis of our freedom for over 240 years. 

The Constitution created three branches of government to preserve our Republic and protect the American people from an overpowering and repressive central government. The Supreme Court was empowered to ensure that all federal laws were within the limits set by the Constitution. But they didn’t always get it right.  

One such Supreme Court ruling fundamentally changed the United States, the consequences of which are still with us. In 1963, the Supreme Court declared “unconstitutional” religious practices in the public schools such as readings from the Bible and recitation of the “Lord’s Prayer.” The Court’s decision was by an 8 to 1 vote, with only Justice Stewart dissenting. We are still seeing the negative effects of that decision. 

Which brings us here…. When you eliminate God, the Bible and Ten Commandments from the schools, anything goes as noted on the slide, except God. 

The Bible tells us God created man and women; nothing in between or in transition. When you neglect the Bible, you neglect the truth. And sadly, this is happening in our schools and with our Nation’s children. One lesson for every city and school district, pay attention to whom you elect, even for the School Board. It can make all the difference. 

All of which brings us here. What is the role of the Church in today’s America?

It wasn’t just Paul and the other apostles that brought Christ to the Roman world; it was also individual Christians sharing their faith. In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christianity. Ten years later, Emperor Theodosius made it the official religion of the Roman Empire. 

Mainline denominations are diminishing in attendance and influence. Nondenominational churches have sprung up—but as such, how biblical are their teachings? 

Crime statistics provide evidence of the decline in church attendance and its influence on the culture. An example is that the national murder rate is up 4% since last year; and major cities have seen a significant rise in crime. Covid-19 shut the churches for a while. Church attendance is gradually picking up. Maybe it’s time for everyone to return to church and fellowship. Pray about it. 

This chart covers a 50-year period from 1994 to 2014 showing the decline in church attendance. The next chart is more current and divided into age groups. 

Chart shows church attendance by individual generations, with a declining attendance in every age group. Clearly, the culture is winning versus evangelism. What is our role as Christians? 

Each day, I ask myself: What am I doing? What should I be doing? Which brings us to the next slide….

Statistics were downloaded from the on-line New York Post. 

Do the trends indicate that we are on the cusp of the End Times? Since the end of WWII, a strong America served as a deterrent against yet another world war. Are today’s events taking us closer to the End Times? Is it time to ponder such things? If God didn’t want us to be aware of and even ponder the End Times, why would it be in the Bible? All of which raises the question, “Are you ready?” Search the web and you'll see an abundance of information and sermons on the End Times by respected pastors (Adrian Rogers, John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, and many others). Just how close are we? Is it something we should even be concerned about? There are different views of Revelation. Some believe it’s what the 1st century church went through, with Nero as the Antichrist. Others that it is future prophecy with the Antichrist yet to come. The events in chapters 6 and 8 of Revelation are so catastrophic that the history books would have recorded them if they had already occurred. They are of such magnitude that they are definitely future prophecies. Just how far into the future, only God knows. The question for us is, are the signs starting to come together?  

The first four seals on the scroll in Revelation chapter 6 brings the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. All of whom represent the consequences of war and introduces the Antichrist riding on the white horse. War is very much a part of the End Times, with man against man. Some thought WWII was the End Times, but of course it wasn’t. But we can’t overlook the fact that WWII shaped the world we live in today and set the stage for the following events, just as WWI set the stage for WWII.

Some of the signs noted in Revelation. 

A clue that Revelation is a future prophecy, and not focused on 1st century Rome. Just one of the reasons I believe in a future Tribulation and do not see it as Rome’s persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero, which did happen. We can readily understand why 1st century Christians would see it in regard to themselves, but the numbers just don’t add up. The entire population of the Roman Empire at its height was about 65 million. 

Chairman Mao, boasted that China is capable of a 200 Million Man Army. (Rev. 9:16). When that day comes, and according to Revelation it will, but Jesus Christ will rescue His church before it happens. 

President Biden, speaking of Vladimir Putin by name at the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in N.Y.C., stated that the Russian president has made "overt nuclear threats against Europe and a reckless disregard for the responsibilities of the nonproliferation regime." He went on to say, "Now, Russia is calling more soldiers to join the fight and the Kremlin is organizing a sham referendum to try to annex parts of Ukraine—an extremely significant violation of the U.N. charter.” Urging the world to "see these outrageous acts for what they are". Some disagree, but truthfully, I give Biden credit for his speech as an accurate assessment of the situation. 

Nevertheless, some officials are very concerned in regard to the President’s statements regarding Russia, as stated here on the slide. They see it as provoking Putin instead of calming tensions. Of course, opinions will and do differ. 

As noted on the slide, Russian bombers capable of delivering nuclear weapons have been observed lining up within striking distance of the Ukraine, seen as a potential threat to adjacent NATO countries. American military strength, combined with its political and diplomatic resolve had previously served as a deterrent to such aggression, which has eroded over the last two years. With political discord in Congress and high crime rates in major cities, is the U.S. still being taken seriously on the global stage? Perhaps November 2022 and 2024 will decide. 

Retired General David Petraeus, who served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, predicts the US would destroy Russia's military in Ukraine and sink its naval fleet if it used nuclear weapons. The question it raises is, who would make that decision in today’s White House? Would it trigger WWIII? If yes, what would be the consequences? 

I’ll let the slide speak for itself. Nevertheless, God is in control. Nothing can happen without His permission. And whatever does happen, He will ultimately achieve good vs. evil. 

 

Vladimir Putin’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, sent a clear message to the Russian people that their country is at war not just with Ukraine, but with the entirety of the West. 

Not to overwhelm you, we will pick up on this theme in our next posting. Pray for America and pray for the Church. 

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