What does the Bible tell us about the future? - Essay for Christians

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A very high percentage of the Bible is about the future. Some people reckon that over a quarter of the Bible deals with future events. When studying this topic We need to bear in mind that the truth of the church was hidden in the Old Testament and not revealed until New Testament days. Therefore, we should not expect to find predictions about the conditions in the world during the last days of the church on earth in the Old Testament. On this basis this post will be based on New Testament references.

 

Before I continue, I need to clarify two things:

 

1.  What I mean by the word ‘church’, and

2. That I believe that the church will not always remain on earth as there will be a day when it is taken from earth to heaven.

 

These two issues will provide a framework for us to work within when considering our question - What does the Bible tell us about the future - the last days of the church on earth!

 

What the word ‘church’ means?

 

In some ways, the word ‘church’ is an unfortunate translation of the Greek word ‘ekklesia’. Most dictionaries explain the word as meaning ‘the called people’. William Tyndale is famous for translating the word as ‘congregation’, reminding us that the word describes people who meet together for a specific reason. It has been used mainly in a religious context, but it is also used for civic/public meetings as in Acts chapter 19 verse 39 & 41.  

 

The first two references to the church in the New Testament are found in Matthew chapters 16 and 18. These passages explain the two aspects of the church that are taught in the New Testament. That is the church made up of all Christians (the dispensational church or the church which is the body of Christ) and the local church.

 

The church described in Matthew chapter 16 is made up of every believer from the commencement of the church on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2, to its completion at the coming of Christ, 1 Thess. 4. It is called the ‘the body of Christ’ in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 23. In the same chapter, verse 22, we learn that the Lord Jesus Christ is 'head over all things to the church’.

 

In summary, based on Matthew 16. 18,19, the Dispensational Church (and therefore all local churches):

 

1. Is built on Christ who is the foundation,

2. Is owned by the Lord Jesus – ‘my church’,

3. Is growing and will grow until the Lord Jesus returns,

4. Is the focus of the devil’s destructive activity,

5. Will never be destroyed by Satan’s power,

6. Represents the authority of Christ on earth.

 

When used in Matthew chapter 18 verses 15 – 20, the word clearly refers to a situation where a person, while trying to sort out a personal dispute, comes to the ‘church’ to request a decision. In this section, there is a reference made to decisions made on earth being corroborated in heaven. This is similar to what is said in Matthew 16, but the point seems to be that of the authority vested in a local church instead of the authority that was vested in Peter as is seen fulfilled in the Book of Acts, Acts 2, 8, 10, 11.    

 

One day, the church will be taken from earth to heaven.

 

The Church will one day be taken from earth to heaven. Not all of the church is on earth as many of the saints have already died, Eph. 3. 15, 1 Thess. 4. 15, 17. The Lord Jesus promised that He would come again for His own in John chapter 14 verse 3, and many other passages either hint at or teach this truth. For example, John chapter 17, verse 24 and 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 

 

So, what will the world look like in the last days of the church on earth?

 

The key passages to look at for this are 2^nd Thessalonians 2, 2^nd Timothy 3, 2^nd Peter 2 and Revelation chapter 2 and 3. 

 

The expression ‘last days’ is a significant one when we are looking at this subject. While we cannot be dogmatic when the last days are, we can see from these passages the characteristics and moral features of ‘last days’.

 

2^nd Thessalonians 2

 

In this passage, the Apostle Paul explains the conditions that will be in place when the ‘man of sin’ will be revealed. By comparing numerous passages, we conclude that this will not happen until the church has been translated to heaven. However, the characteristics of this period are clearly seen in this passage.

 

Verse 3 – there will be a major rebellion against God; the KJV calls it ‘a falling away’.

 

Verse 10 – there will have been a refusal to love the truth, that is, the truth of God as revealed in scripture. This refusal reflects the aggressive denial of the need for salvation by human beings.

 

Verse 12 – the refusal to believe the truth is a result of and also how that generation will delight and have pleasure in unrighteousness. Like Noah’s generation and Lot’s generation, the people get their thrills from wicked pursuits. 

 

2^nd Timothy 3

 

This passage specifically claims to be describing the last days.

 

In verse 1, Paul says that these are terrible days of difficulty. Unpleasant, evil days. The following list makes for very unpleasant reading. The people of that day (which sounds very like ours) are selfish, egotistical, materialistic, super assertive, arrogant and proud, abusive, ungrateful, unforgiving and focused on pleasure. 

 

I have not gone down the list and quoted each description, you can do that on your own, but you can see for yourself that the conditions described as ‘last days’ are indeed ‘terrible times’, verse 1.

 

We must be careful in case we see this list as just describing the lower end of a selfish and violent society. This is a list that covers all of society. The rich and the poor, the powerful and the downtrodden; every strata of society is included. The key is found in verse 5 – ‘having a form of godliness but denying its power’. In a society where ‘evil is called good, and good is called evil’, morals are severely messed up, and what might appear moral is actually done in denial of all that pleases God.

 

2^nd Peter 2

 

Peter adds his voice to the description of conditions in the last days. 

 

In verse 1, we learn that there will be those who teach error. The false teaching is so bad that it is described as ‘destructive heresies’. It is off the wall error that destroys the truth of God and destroys those who fall under its evil spell. The main error relates to the person of Christ and the work of salvation, verse 2. These false teachers will attract a great following, verse 3. This is similar to the warning that Paul gave to the Ephesian elders in Acts chapter 20. 

 

The false teachers of last days will exploit the people of God, verse 3, with ‘made-up stories’. In other words, they are fully aware that they are deceiving people and doing it for personal profit. The judgement that is pronounced reflects the severity of the sin of false teaching and false teachers.

 

Revelation 2 & 3

 

These chapters can be used as a template to describe conditions in the church and the world before the Lord Jesus returns to the air. The seven churches of Asia Minor can be looked at prophetically - as a timeline from Pentecost to the Rapture or morally - conditions that could exist at any one point in church history.

 

Prophetically – from this standpoint, the church in Laodicea describes the church in the period of time just before the Lord comes. Look at the low moral and spiritual of this local church. Sadly, the moral/spiritual state of the world is often reflected in the state of the church.

This is a church that is lukewarm. There is little reality or conviction. The Lord finds it spurious and distasteful. This church sees itself as rich and in need of nothing, but the Lord describes their real condition as ‘wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind and naked’. It would appear that recovery in these days will be on an individual basis as the Lord appeals for individuals to ‘open the door’ for Him to come in. 

 

Morally – this view of the seven churches reminds us to be aware of the low spiritual condition that could exist in any local church. Every generation, potentially, faces the same problems and can demonstrate last day characteristics in their behaviour. 

Here are some key examples: the increase of satanic activity in some locations, Rev. 2. 13, will have a devastating effect on church testimony. The changing role of women, Rev. 2. 20, and the seduction of false religion will bring divine judgement. 

 

The constant theme of overcoming, Rev. 2. 7 – Rev. 3. 21, and the rewards that relate to the future reign of Christ on earth, Rev. 2. 26, 27, 3. 12, 3. 21, would remind us that these conditions will exist right up until the coming of the Lord.

 

As I conclude, this post may I add this comment. Many passages of scripture describe conditions that will exist in the world after the church has been taken to be with the Lord. While I cannot be dogmatic about this suggestion, I do not think that these evil conditions will suddenly commence when the church goes. From 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, we know that lawlessness is already working in the world but that there will come the point when it’s progress will no longer be impeded. I judge that in verse 7, the Spirit of God is hindering the full advancement of evil while the church is still in the world. On the point of the church’s removal, the Spirit of God will also go. Just as the Spirit came at the commencement of the church in Acts 2 so the removal of the Spirit will coincide with its removal. At that point, the actors and the actions of unrestricted evil will be revealed.

 

This being the case, the descriptions of society post the rapture, which are given in Matthew 24, Luke 21, Revelation 13, 17, 18, are relevant for us to consider. They describe a world where there will be:

 

1.     Increased levels of evil activity

2.     Aggression and persecution

3.     False prophets and teachers

4.     Claims to Political unity

5.     A united form of world                       religion

6.     Streamlined Economic and Financial world systems

7.     Increased wars producing apparent peace

 

Last day conditions may be upon us, or at least we can see signs that the world is fast moving towards the way things are described in scripture.

Are you saved and are you ready for the coming of Christ? Are you living in disobedience to God’s word? It is time to repent and live a life of obedience to the Lord. 

Time for a change

Time for a Change

Fuelled by unfulfilled promises, unrealised hopes and mounting difficulties, "It’s time for a change" is frequently heard from both politicians and the general public.

THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THE PAST

Within the recent past, changes have occurred with surprising suddenness. Governments once thought to be stable have been toppled. Financial institutions have failed. Once-successful businesses have collapsed. More serious than all, the moral fabric of society has been shattered by turning away from God and the principles of His Word, the Bible. The "Do what feels good" philosophy - casting off restraint and the rejection of authority which is really lawlessness, the essence of sin - has broken up families, ruined lives and brought the disillusion, disease, death and destruction we see all around us.

THERE WILL BE MORE CHANGES

When Jesus Christ was asked what the signs of His second coming in glory would be, He replied, "Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars … and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" Matthew 24.6-8.

Also, the Holy Spirit through Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 3 reveals the coming apostasy, the "falling away," which is the result of professed Christians deliberately rejecting revealed truth concerning the Person of Christ and His work on Calvary’s cross. This has already set in, and in v.13 we read, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." This rapidly increasing apostasy will soon bring a swift change. Instead of God’s grace being still offered to all men whereby they may be saved, His judgment will fall upon this godless world of unbelievers to their eternal destruction.

THERE MUST BE A PERSONAL CHANGE

To escape the judgment of God upon sin you need to be changed. The Lord Jesus desires to change you from death to life, from darkness to light, from sin to salvation, from judgment to glory. To enable this change He died on the Cross for you. There He "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" 1Peter 3.18. That work is finished and sin’s penalty has been paid. The proof of God’s acceptance of that payment with Jesus’ shed blood on your behalf is seen in that He rose from the dead. The Lord Jesus lives, and now from heaven, through His Word, declares the way by which you may be changed.

WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BE CHANGED?

The Lord Jesus declares, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" Luke 13.3,5. To repent means to change your mind as to the wrong course you are following without God. It means you accept His verdict that you have sinned and come short of His glory, and you can do nothing to save yourself. You must repent!

Secondly, He says, "Ye must be born again" John 3.7. New birth is spiritual birth from above, from God. It is brought about by receiving Christ as your Lord and Saviour. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power [authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" John 1.12. To receive Him is to believe on Him. To believe He died for you makes you a child of God. You receive everlasting life, and thus become a completely new creature in Christ Jesus, 2 Corinthians 5.17. This is the change you must have, or else perish in eternal separation from God.

THE TIME FOR A CHANGE IS NOW

"Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" 2 Corinthians. 6. 2. Trust Christ and be changed in this day of His grace. "Flee from the wrath to come" Luke 3.7.

To access podcasts and videos explaining the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

This site will give you access to Bible Teaching Audio's and Video's as well.

Written by a guest blogger (Assembly Testimony) for Seek the Truth Bible Media

#HolocaustMemorialDay

Holocaust Memorial Day

As we soberly reflect on the sufferings of the Jewish people let me draw your attention to the words of Jesus Christ, the most famous Jew who ever lived. I know some will disagree with the statement and point to Abraham, Moses or some famous Jew of modern times but please bear with me for a moment or two!

In this passage of scripture today (see below) the Lord Jesus is answering and replying to his disciples. They were passing what we now call Temple Mount and were awe struck by the majesty and splendour of the architecture and the quality of stone masonry.

Jesus moves their thinking from the wonder of the present to consider the future. Initially he is saying the temple will not last, it is doomed for a day of destruction. Sadly it was to be destroyed in AD70 when Titus ransacked and destroyed the temple leaving very little standing.

Peter, James, John and Andrew are inquisitive and keen to know more. As they sit on the temple side of the mount of Olives, no doubting continuing to gaze at the Temple structure, they ask Jesus - when will it happen and will there be any warning signs that it is about to happen? A good question! Before I summarise Jesus' answer it would be worth reading the reply recorded in verses 5 - 37! I've added it at the end of this blog for your convenience.

If you have just read these verses you will hopefully notice that the Lord Jesus bridges the times in which he lived with end times. He starts with the temple as it was in his day but infers that the biggest issue they need to think about will not be the destruction of the temple in AD70 but the desolation and defiling of a future temple (v14). 

This is a big topic and we would need to refer to many passages in the Bible to get a real grasp of it. However Jesus points us to one passage indicating that Daniel the prophet also spoke about the same event (see Daniel 9). When you read Daniel and other relevant scriptures, 2 Thess 2, Matt 24, Luke 21, you could only come to one conclusion: A new Temple will be built in Jerusalem before Jesus comes again (v36) and the long stopped practice of animal sacrifice will be reintroduced. Then a non-Jewish world leader will rise on the world stage (Rev 13). He will stop the animal sacrifices and break a seven year deal that he has negotiated with Israel. At this stage he will place some form of image of himself (2 Thess 2, Rev 13) in the 'holiest of all', the most holy place of Jewish worship, and sacrilegiously defile their temple once again. This has already happened once in their history in the period following Alexander the Great but this future event will usher in another period of 'holocaust' treatment of God's chosen people! 

There are many predictions made in Mark 13. As with all bible prophecy they usually have two points of fulfilment (see one example above). The predictions about wars, earthquakes, famines and troubled times have happened to some extent but will also reoccur as we approach end times. The predictions about persecution and the spread of the gospel equally have an application to the start of Christianity, as was very relevant to the disciples, and will see fulfilment as Jewish evangelists (see Revelation 7, Matthew 24. 14) preach about the coming Messiah and His coming kingdom after the church has been raptured to heaven. The heart of man never changes. What drives man to hate has always been the the same. Whether in the holocaust of WW2 or the current day! The hatred of the world for the Jews has always been the same. The origin of the hated comes from another source, the arch enemy of God, the Devil.

God chose the nation of Israel to be the means by which he will bless the world and despite the horrific treatment of this nation by most civilisations God will see to it that this comes true in His own time. The future return of Jesus to rescue the nation of Israel from future anti-semitism is assured in the bible, Zechariah 14, Matthew 24. 29,30, Luke 21. 25-28. He will also come to judge the nations of the world in respect of their treatment of Israel at that stage, Matthew 25. This is a separate issue from the day when God will judge all of mankind, Revelation 20. 11-15.

Today, God is blessing people in the world today through a Jew - his name is Jesus. He is the Son of God and the scripture states 'when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a women, made under the law,' Gal. 4. 4. Jesus was born when the time was exactly right, he was born in a human family by the miracle of the virgin conception, a Jewish family to be precise. All this being the fulfilment of the ancient predictions of scripture.

As we reflect today on National Holocaust Day and mourn the wicked treatment of a race do not suppose for a moment that it couldn't happen again. Indeed it will happen again! Your choice should be to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Psalm 122. 6, and to trust their greatest Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Saviour, Acts 16.31. 

For more information and further explanations of the message of the bible via videos, blogs and podcasts please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Mark 13King James Version (KJV)

13 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

For more information and further explanations of the message of the bible via videos, blogs and podcasts please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Bible Predictions always come true - STT Bible Media Blogs

Mark 11King James Version (KJV)

11 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

More information and an explanation of the message of the Bible can be found at www.seekthetruth.org.uk