Responding to Prophecy Nearing Fulfillment

“So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes”(Daniel 9:3). There are three things I believe with all my heart. These are things for which I will never apologize. First of all, I believe Jesus is God’s final word to the world on how to be saved. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son” (1:1-2). Luke wrote in Acts 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Put those two statements together and we must conclude Jesus is it. He is the final message and the only way to be forgiven of sin and given the gift of eternal life. And this gift must be received through an informed and deliberate decision. Everyone is not headed for heaven. All religions do not lead to God but to eternal separation from Him and everything that is good. It is only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we enter into right standing with God. This is what the Bible teaches. This is what I believe. It may not be politically correct. But I do not care. I believe Jesus is God’s final word to the world on how to be saved.

Another thing I believe with all my heart is Jesus is coming again. The Bible is crystal clear on this point. It leaves no room for negotiation. He is coming again. He is coming in the air, at the Rapture, for His Bride – the Church. At least seven years later (probably longer), He is coming physically to this earth to rescue Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation and judge her enemies, after which He will set up His Millennial Kingdom where He will reign for one thousand years. The Bible is absolutely unwavering on this. The Church has not replaced Israel. God has not concluded His program for Israel. One day the Church will be removed and His program for Israel will be fulfilled, followed by His literal return to this earth. Good, solid and strong hermeneutics (how we study, interpret and understand the Bible) allows for no other position. This is what I believe. A literal reading and understanding of Scripture leaves room for no other interpretation. I believe Jesus is coming again!

Since I believe Jesus is the only way to salvation and because I’m able to observe current events in our world in light of Bible prophecy, I realize that the Rapture of the Church is very near. Furthermore, I realize some very earth shaking events are on the horizon. For example, as things heat up in the Middle East, it is clear that the Burden of Damascus (Isaiah 17) and the War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39) are closer than ever before to being fulfilled. As we see these events unfolding and the nearness of their fulfillment, how ought we to respond? I believe the only proper response is that of Daniel the Prophet. As he observed the nearness of the fulfillment of prophecy in his day, he did not get haughty or overly optimistic. He turned to the Lord in prayer, confessing the sins of his people and seeking His forgiveness. We should certainly do the same. But I also believe we should pray for people the world over to be saved. It is amazing to me that right now, more Jews are coming to faith in Jesus as the Messiah than at any other time in history. Furthermore, more Muslims are coming to faith in Christ in these days than at any other time in history. I mention Jews and Muslims only because the prophecies of the last days deal so much with that part of the world which includes Israel and the surrounding Muslim nations. As we see prophecy unfolding, the only proper response is to pray – that many would be saved and escape the things that are coming upon this world. This is what I believe. Jesus is coming again. He is our only hope for salvation. Therefore we must pray that many would be saved!