(October 21, 2021) Understanding Bible Prophecy can be a daunting task! The more you study, it seems the more there is to learn! Case in point, the Book of Revelation reveals seven churches, seven lampstands, seven stars, seven angels, all in the first chapter! Going forward we learn of seven seals (Revelation 5:1), seven horns, seven eyes, seven Spirits of God, seven angels with seven trumpets. (Revelation 8:2) Then seven trumpets, (Revelation 8;6) and seven thunders. (Revelation 10:3) There are numbers, symbols, periods of time, plagues, horseman and a host of terminology to study and attempt to master. And we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of one of the major books of Prophecy.
Prophetic Keys
Bible Prophecy can seem like a Rubik’s cube of mystical understanding. If you are new to the study of Prophecy, take your time and allow the Bible to interpret itself. If you like online research tools, here is one of the best: https://www.biblegateway.com/
This is the site World News & Prophecy Review uses for scriptural references that “pop up,” when you hover your cursor over a passage. (For email subscribers, we highly encourage you to view articles online in order to access this helpful feature) Bible Gateway is a free site, but for an additional annual fee you can access many different commentaries, dictionaries, concordances, and every English version of the Holy Bible.
Five Major Areas of Bible Prophecy
If you are reading this article, you are interested in what the Bible has to say about the future. But knowing “where to look” as events unfold in the world can be a challenge. Following are five areas to focus on. Please remember this is a broad and very general outline. As a student of Bible Prophecy, you are, in a sense, a true journalist of future events — exploring the future before it happens! Keep these clues, or areas of world events handy, when peering into the window of the future.
The Middle East
Much of end time prophecy involves the vast swath of land east and south of the Mediterranean Sea. After all, this is the area of the world that is the cradle of civilization. The Middle East figures prominently in Bible Prophecy, especially Jerusalem and the land now inherited by the Jews, which is only a tiny sliver of real estate compared to the nations and populations surrounding the modern nation of Israel. Israel’s population of 9 million is dwarfed by almost a Billion people, mostly Moslems, of various ethnic peoples who surround the tiny nation of Israel. The modern nation of Israel is always on a war time alert — it has to be, and has been attacked repeatedly since its modern founding in 1948. Israel has thwarted attacks and planned invasions repeatedly, in 1956, 1967, 1973, each time repelling aggressive forces and nations wanting to take the most valued prize — Jerusalem. Prophecy shows us that aggression will continue against Israel until the return of Jesus, and though there are many prophecies about Jerusalem in the time of the end, perhaps the most important is found in Zechariah 12:2-4. God declares, through His righteous prophet Zechariah that the nations surrounding Israel will be intoxicated with the idea of conquering Jerusalem — BUT THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED! Just as they have not been successful in their previous conquests, noted above. God says he will defend Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6-9) and destroy all those who come against Jerusalem. No wonder, the focus of the Middle East and events are such an important key to understanding prophecy!
Punishments in Modern Israel
Wait a minute! Didn’t we just cover the nation Israel? Sure, but that isn’t point here. The returning Jews from Europe, Russia, the United States, and from all over the globe, in the late 1940’s, who established a modern nation/state were basically from only one of the original twelve tribes, Judah. If this seems confusing, don’t worry — most Bible scholars and commentators also make this very common mistake.
You can find the names of all the tribes in the Old Testament. Two chapters stand out; Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33. These chapters detail all the tribes of Israel, not just the descendants of one of Jacob’s sons, Judah.
Remember Joseph — the favored son of Jacob? The one whom his father gave a “coat of many colors?” (Genesis 37:3-8) As a young man, Joseph had a prophetic gift — God gave him understanding of the future. But in his youthful zeal, he didn’t understand how to properly utilize this gift, and his brothers — whose descendants would all grow into tribes and nations — hated him and sold him into slavery.
The legendary radio broadcaster, Paul Harvey, could have made an epic “Rest of the Story” broadcast with what happened in the years afterward. Fast forward to Genesis 48, and we find Jacob, at the end of his life, 147 years old, placing the birthright blessings from Abraham, Isaac, to himself, and then the incredible national promise of wealth and prominence to only Joseph’s sons — Ephraim and Manasseh. These two boys carried from that day forward, the name of Israel. You can read of Jacob’s prophecies of all twelve sons in Genesis 49, but the greatest portion of his last will and testament was given to the young sons of Joseph. (Genesis49:22-26) Jacob’s name had been changed to Israel, meaning he was an overcomer and had the ability to deal with challenge and adversity. On his death bed Jacob passed on his attitude and nature to his grandsons. These promises didn’t materialize overnight. In fact, it took thousands of years for them to be fully realized. But before Jacob drew his last breath, he told his sons what would happen to them in the last days. For more background, please see our series on “Jacob’s Trouble.” We identify “Israel” — the direct descendants of Jacob, to the English speaking nations of the world.
These are the most prosperous nations of the world, but they are presently in hard times, with an escalation of public, national debt, overwhelming illegal immigration, loss of national leadership, political corruptness, failing educational initiatives, and the list goes on and on. As Jeremiah 30:7 shows, these nations are on a collision with prophetic destiny, and this future is not pleasant. National examination and repentance is called for, but who will heed this call? If you live in America, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and even South Africa, your nations and peoples are being affected now. Stay alert!
The Rise of Europe
Nature abhors a vacuum, they say, and the same is true with world events. When the dominant, English speaking nations of the world fail, which nations will fill the void? If you weren’t tuned into Bible Prophecy, you could neve guess that a powerful union of 10 major nations will arise, Phoenix like, from the Europe of today.
Revelation 13:3-5 shows a “Beast” rising from the Mediterranean, empowered by the devil, and ruling over world events for the final 3 1/2 years before the return of Christ. The “Beast” has actually been on the world scene before, and history identifies it as “The Holy Roman Empire.” The seven “heads” refer to historical resurrections of the Roman Empire, which had been wounded, with the fall of Rome, but resurrected under various European rulers, from Justinian to Hitler, all of whom claimed the grandeur and might of Rome. The final, and 7th head remains (the previous heads were, Justinian, Charlemagne, Otto the Great, Charles the Great, Napoleon, Mussolini/Hitler)
Today, Europe is an important continent, but it is certainly not united, despite the efforts of European Union. But one day, it will be the most powerful force on earth. A mega super power and colossus, politically, militarily, economically — the likes of which the world has never before seen. In fact, all mankind will worship this powerful union of nations like never before in history. Definitely, keep your focus on events within Europe.
The Rise of a Powerful Church
The previous resurrections of the Holy Roman empire all featured an alliance and close knit relationship of Church and State. Popes crowned Emperors of the Roman Empire! History shows, and Bible Prophecy points to an unholy pact between Church and State that will compel worship, deceive the entire world, and enforce the dreaded “mark of the Beast” — essentially, mandated, forced worship on Sunday. (Revelation 13:11-18) Today the Church is not a prominent force in the lives of Europeans, or other nations, but it will be the dominant force in the future, declaring war on true Christians (Revelation 13:7, Daniel 7:25) by the mystical power of the “man of sin.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-9). You will know this demonic inspired man, portraying himself as God incarnate, appears on the scene, wielding supernatural ability and power. This is a powerful clue to understanding end time events. Remember that in the Olivet prophecy, Jesus warned of the powerful attraction of deception. (Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:23-26) False ideology won’t be the half of the persuasive, satanic deception — it will include some of the elements of our present issues and problems — mandates, orders, directives which will be forced on the entire earth! And the issue of these pronouncements will be accompanied by demonic power and signs. Stay on your knees and pray for God’s divine protection against the evil that is coming upon all of us!
The Proclamation of the Gospel
Concurrent with all the aforementioned prophetic keys, will be the powerful warning message of God’s coming Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) In Revelation 18 and Revelation 19, we see the destruction of the end time system which will not only dominate, but overpower all humankind. Jesus Christ will return and rescue the earth from the tyrannical grip of Satan the Devil, and his human henchmen who will rule the earth with the kind of despotism and authoritarianism that Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Napoleon and other despised dictators only dreamed of.
The “Good News” message is that the above mentioned evil, and all other perils of history will be absolved by Jesus’ imminent return. This is a message that must move those God deals with to take action, first and foremost, a message of personal repentance and change. What about you? Are you ready to not only “watch” these events, but to pray and size up your spiritual condition? Jesus told His disciples this was the only path to salvation (Luke 21:36)
These five keys of Bible Prophecy are “broad strokes.” They are an outline, a guide. Pay attention, and don’t forget that simply “knowing” really isn’t the battle. It is obedience to God and His commandments which are the real keys to understanding. (Psalm 119:33-35)
World News & Prophecy Review