THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE ARE ON THE TABLE
Part 1
PURPOSE: To examine the verses predicting each future event in sequence of its fulfillment.
I. INTRODUCTION: AN ANALYSIS OF EVENTS INFLUENCING PROPHECY.
A. WHAT PIECES ARE ON THE TABLE?
1. The Berlin Wall fell on November 15, 1989. There is a strong Germany in the future, (Gomer).
2. The rise of Iraq as a world force. (Babylon, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Chaldeans).
3. The rise of Middle East as a world force (8% of population but 66% of world’s oil or power).
4. Communism in shambles (doesn’t recognize the biblical doctrine of the selfishness of man) caused wrong alliances.
5. Israel is in the land.
6. Peace is transitory, a sense of false security. (While U.S. and Russia disarm, the Arab nations are stockpiling weapons.
B. WHAT PIECES ARE NOT ON THE TABLE?
1. The crisis to the United States capitalism.
a. Capitalistic nations (England, U.S. etc.) used by God to evangelize and civilize the world. Colonization had its positive and negative factors. What happens when they no longer evangelize?
b. U.S. no longer a producing nation but a consuming nation.
c. Will the U.S. have “capital” to be a capitalistic nation? (Stock market, banks, ECM).
d. Can “free trade” compete with the “discipline” of China, Japan and Germany?
e. The existence of capitalism is built on commerce. The challenge of electricity and oil.
f. There will be a collapse of the world economy before Antichrist.
2. The world leader will be an economist and public relations leader, not primarily a military leader (could be terrorist).
a. He will conquer financially, not militarily, Rev. 6:2. Why send in tanks when you can control a nation’s money in another way? (The next Hitler).
b. He will control everyone because all must have the “number of the beast” to buy or sell, (Rev. 13:17).
3. There seems to be five major groups of nations plus Israel mentioned in future prophecy.
a. North African nations (Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia).
b. Middle East nations (Iraq, Iran, Armenia).
c. Nations to the north of Israel (Russia).
d. The revived Roman Empire (nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.)
e. The other nations of the world.
4. An empire like Rome will become powerful and rule the world.
5. Major players who are not incidental. Ethiopia, and Libya (Ezekiel 38:5), Armenia, (Togarmah) (Ezekiel 38:6), Egypt and Arabia.
II. FUTURE EVENTS IN SEQUENCE
Event 1 - Recognition of God’s plan and purpose with Gentiles. “And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled, (Luke 21:24).
Event 2 - Recognition that God set the Jewish nation aside. “For if the casting away of them (Israel) be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be,” (Rom. 11:15).
1. Blinding, (2 Cor. 3:14).
2. The Jewish nation will again be God’s program, (Rom 11:15).
3. Look for signs that God is awakening the Jews.
Event 3 - The march of Christendom toward a climax, (Matt. 13:1-52).
Event 4 - The progress of the church, (Rev. 2:1-3:22).
Event 5 - Messianic movements, false Christ, and date-setters will arise and deceive many. “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ: and shall deceive many,” (Matt. 24:5).
Event 6 - The intensification of wars and their stressful rumors. “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:6).
1. Wars will be greater.
2. News of wars will be spread wider than ever.
Event 7 - The intensification of natural disasters that will influence economic stability. “There shall be famines, and pestilence, and earthquakes in divers’ places” (Matt 24:7).
Event 8 - The New Testament church will grow cold to evangelism, open to compromise and less effective in influencing cultures. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3:15).
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” (2 Tim 3:1-4).
Event 9 - The New Testament church will compromise its doctrinal belief. “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrine of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy,” (1 Tim. 4:1-2).
Event 10 - Culture will become synonymous with Christendom, but will not be New Testament Christianity. “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.’ Another parable He spoke to them, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a women took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened,’” (Matt. 13:31-33).
Event 11 - People will become accustomed to travel on a broader scale than ever before. “But you Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase,” (Daniel 12:4).
Event 12 - There will be a significant explosion of knowledge, (Daniel 12:4).
Event 13 - Jews will return to the land of Palestine in unbelief, (Lev. 26:42, Ez. 36:24).
Event 14 - The Nation of Israel will once again be established as a political entity, (Ez. 37:22).
Event 15 - The city of Jerusalem will again be declared the capital of Israel, (Ex. 36:38).
Event 16 -An obvious acceleration in apostasy (denial of God). “Let no one deceive you by any means; for the Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,” (2 Thess. 2:3).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
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