THE COMING LAST DAYS |
Of all the subjects in the Bible, there is perhaps none of greater interest than the subject of Prophecy. Why such an interest? Well, that's obvious. Everyone wants to know what the future holds, what lies ahead, so we might plan our lives accordingly to make the future, if possible, more secure, stable and of course less threatening. Now prophecy I believe can do just that. Its main purpose of presentation in the Bible, is to bring the inquirer a sure hope. That is, the hope of God intervening in the affairs of men by coming again to the earth to finally rule and reign Himself forever and ever. Now, in Bible terms we call this the "Second Coming of Christ." It is not so much a singular event as it is a period of time when God abruptly stops the autonomous living of His creatures, and intervenes to directly accomplish His sovereign and eternal will. Now if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the authority and call to look forward to this period of time with great anticipation and joy -- for God intends it to be just that. And, to help believers in Christ do that, the Lord has given us the Book of Revelation to especially help us see what lies ahead. Particularly for believers, we see a bright new future that awaits us.
Therefore, it is important that every true believer in Jesus Christ, regardless of their denominational affiliation, understand the fundamentals of Bible prophecy. To do that we must catalog what we find the Bible teaches on this subject. Of course, as one goes through the 66 inspired and inerrant Books that make up our single Bible, one can find a plethora of revelations that reveal the future. However no book in the whole Bible touches the subject of prophecy more than the Book of "the Revelation of Jesus Christ." This is the last book in the New Testament, and is one everybody should be acquainted with. So let's examine the book in a brief but chronological form, to see what God is telling us about our future that lies ahead.
The Book of Revelation is a very old book. It is almost 2000 years old. It was written before the turn of the first century around 100 AD, penned for us by an old man, one of the apostles of the Lord Jesus Himself. Yes, his name is John, a man who literally and physically walked with God, our Lord Jesus Christ. At this point in his life John was under persecution for his faith. He had been banished from the Roman empire's grace and was imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos, to be left alone in his last and final days. However he was far from being alone. As a dynamic believer in the resurrected and living Christ, John was in full communion and fellowship with God. This is where we get the book of Revelation. God gave it to him in a series of "revelations," or visions. Let's quickly but concisely look at this book and see what fresh things it has to say to us as we march towards the fantastic 21st Century.
There are many differing interpretations of this prophetic book, but I, being a fundamentalist, am proud to say I and the historic Christ is behind me, together we believe that God's Word is to be literally interpreted. However, such literal interpretation carries with it the authority to interpret the Bible symbolically where applicable. Such application comes by direct permission from the Biblical writers, or by common and clear grammatical and historical usage of language. It is precisely here that the Book of Revelation gives many people trouble. It is a book of symbolism, more than literalism. You see, God intended it to be so because it is a book that describes the future. If God literally revealed what was to happen and how it would happen, it would disturb and destroy the normal course of progressive advancement of the human race. That was not God's plan, so God gives us this book with rich symbolic parallels that can be understood as one enters the periods of time described therein.
Now the Book of Revelation can be broken down into three sections of time. In fact, we are told to do this for we read in,
Rev 1:19 NIV "Write , therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later."
John was told to organize this book, so the human race might know the past, present and future, concerning spiritual events. This is exactly what we find.
In John's series of visions, we find the first chapter of Revelation covers the background of things that are past. Then in chapters two and three, he reveals to us a series of messages God gave to the churches of Jesus Christ during the period of time John was alive. These churches were spattered all around Asia Minor and were real literal functioning churches. Although these message were specifically given to their needs, they do contain prophetic teachings too. However, I believe that is not their main purpose. These two chapters are God's communication with them during their period of human existence. But then we come to chapters four through twenty-two. It is here we find God's Word presents what will occur in the future. In fact, it was to be so far into the future, that these passage still remain a future prediction of things to come. Nothing in Revelation chapters 4-22 have yet occurred. So when we read, study and exegete them, we must talk in the future tense and realize the symbolism may not be fully understood, since the events and happenings have not yet occurred -- and He still does not want to clearly reveal the future so as to change it as it would normally unfold by human hands and living. Now with that behind us, let's look at what lies ahead.
In chapters 2-3, God talks to seven of the major churches of Asia Minor. In these chapters we can learn some very important truths. I believe the most important is that mankind hasn't changed in 2000 years! How Christians lived in the first century is very similar to how we live out our lives today. The messages to these seven churches therefore can be practically applied to us today. Here Jesus Christ begins by personally speaking to His flock at the Church of EPHESUS. The Lord summarizes them as the "Backslidden Church" (2:1-7). He warned them to return to their first love. The love of the Bible, witnessing, and living Christ before others.
Next the Lord speaks to the Church of SMYRNA (2:8-11) for there, believers were experiencing great persecution that brought poverty and shame. Jesus encourages them to remain faithful for He would not forget their labors and sacrifices and He revealed a great reward was coming for those who were faithful.
Third, we see a message to the Church of PERGAMUM (2:12-17). These believers were faithful, but they had also become worldly. They began to mimic the world, wanting to be like them. Soon they even began to adopt secular thinking and actions. The church had been infiltrated by "politically correct dogma" and the Lord rebuked them for it.
Fourth in Revelation chapters 2-3, God speaks to the Church of THYATIRA (2:18-29) as the "Idolatrous Church," for this church had theologically defected! It actually begin denying God's Word and teachings. It began by ordaining women preachers who became leaders and teachers in their midst -- and one in particular had lead many into New Age teachings that directly denied the Lord who "bought them with His blood." Jesus warned and rebuked them to turn away from this sin, or swift judgment would come.
Now to the fifth church the Church of SARDIS (3:1-6), God identifies this church as the "Dying Church." They had literally just about forgotten to uphold and practice the life giving witness of their faith. They were no longer evangelistic, and saw little use for it. In turn it brought about their impending death. Jesus had no words of comfort or praise for them only warnings and rebuke.
Then we find the sixth church the Church of PHILADELPHIA (3:7-13). "Oh" what a wonderful vibrant group of believers these were! Jesus had nothing but praise for them for they were a strong and "Healthy Church." They kept the faith, held fast the Word, and faithfully labored to win souls to Christ. Would to God every church today would be like this church.
But then lastly, the seventh church is the Church of LAODICEA (3:14-22). Jesus called this the "Lukewarm Church." They tried desperately to have a foot in both worlds. Not to hot for Christ, it would look bad for them in their communities in which hey lived. They didn't want to offend their godless neighbors or public school officials. Yet they didn't want to offend God either, so they gave God the "minimum," that they thought would keep them known as believers. Yet God said to them He would "cast them out of his mouth," as for all who are compromised, half-hearted followers! Now that is God's Word in Revelation to the churches of John's day. And, since human history often repeats itself, we can apply the unique actions and emphasis of these churches to ours today.
But now we come to the fourth chapter of Revelation. It is here controversy begins. For this chapter exclusively takes us into the far future, to a time when multitudes and millions of human beings are "in heaven," praising God. Now, when can such a time as this exist? The answer is, when God calls the entire Church home! From other Scripture we can easily and clearly conclude this fourth chapter is a prediction that the Church of Jesus Christ one day, in all fullness will be "caught away" from the earth, to be with the Lord (1 Thess 4:13-18). This is called the doctrine of "the Rapture." Now, here is the controversy. Everyone does not agree when and how the rapture occurs, if at all! However, being a fundamentalist and a believer in historic Christianity, we find the book of Revelation naturally and literally tells us that Chapter 4 precedes chapters 5-22, the final events of human history. Therefore, if one naturally believes the whole Bible's record, the Book of Revelation gives us a perfect scenario of when the Rapture of the Church occurs. As the last portion of Revelation beginning in chapter five reveals a time when God intervenes in the godless affairs of men, the church must be raptured before this happens! This in eschatology is called the Pre-millennial, Pre-Tribulational Rapture view of the Church. That means before the Tribulation Period formally begins, God will literally "snatch away" His Church in a "twinkling of an eye." That my friend is a future prediction and of all future prophecy, is the next step on the events God has planed for this world. Literally, one day, perhaps even today, at any moment, the trumpet of God will call His Church home and the world will be left to its godless, selfish, sinful ways.
But then, following this glorious event that begins the Period known as the Second Coming of Christ, God promises our world that we will for a short time, be left to our own sinful ways. For Chapters 5-20 tells us of the almost unbelievable and tragic events that are coming on our world. In rich symbolic form we are told God is going to pour out judgments on this Christ rejecting world, during a period of seven years. Judgments so terrible and horrible, it will be the worst time of human history! A time that begins with the promise of human peace, but ends in the wicked subjugation of the world to a demon possessed world leader known in the Bible as the antichrist, who destroys all hope for humanity's future.
Now, three series of judgments are predicted in Revelation that are known as: (1) THE SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS (5-8) - a time when the fullness of today's anti-god ideology blossoms, followed by a massive world war, planet-wide famine, terrible disease and plagues and massive global anarchy, persecution and martyrdom.
Then God promises to unleash on this Christ rejecting world, what the Bible calls (2) THE SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (8-12). Here the whole creation will "vomit up" its distaste for the godless and demonically inspired rulership. We are told in these chapters, that the seas will be polluted and turned to blood, the sun will become dimmed, celestial bodies will fall and invade the earth, the fresh water systems of the planet will be polluted, and literally demons previously chained in Hell, will be unleashed and allowed to pour out their wicked hatred upon on all the godless who rejected Christ and His people. Friend, it will be time not to be alive, but ironically, no one will be able to die for a short period of time -- all will suffer terribly for their open rebellion and sins. But then, the last series of judgments are called by John
(3)) THE SEVEN VIAL JUDGMENTS found in chapters (13-18), but specifically revealed to us in chapter 16. Here we are told God begins His plan of rescuing the human race from its sin fevered demon infection. Seven plagues that repeat what has happened before, but with more intensity, are unleashed upon the world! All these judgments pave the way for the final world battle called Armageddon. Here wicked unsaved mankind under the demon possessed leadership of the antichrist, will attempt to attack God as the final moment occurs. At the close of the seven years of tribulation, the skies break open and reveal the coming Revelation of the Lord, at what is called the Battle of Armageddon. This battle is actually never fought, for Revelation 20 tells us upon Christ's return, in an instant by the word of His mouth, He slays all sinners who have stood against Him. Then the victory is won, the battle is over the godless, the humanists, the homosexuals, the immoral, the false religionists, and the irreligious - all will have lost the battle to take over this world. And they will be at that time, judged and cast into Hell to suffer forever and ever.
Now, following this judgment of the nations, and of course the miraculous saving of Israel, that is not the emphasis of my thoughts today - God opens a new era of human history called the 1000 year reign of Christ, literally on the earth. Now my moments with you are almost gone, so what can we say to wrap this up? Only one thing. The time for us to consider these things is now at hand. I believe we are so close. Will mankind survive and enter the 21st century? Many believe God will wind things up when this Millennium comes. However, I'm not a date setter, but I am a believer in God's Word, for the startling realization that all this coming true is ever more my conviction. Therefore, I want to be ready for the coming of the Lord. I want my life to count for Christ in '96 as never before. I want to be on the vanguard of faithful, and sacrificial service for the King! Oh that when He comes, He will find me faithful. Say friend how about you? Will you commit by faith to join me? Will you become ever more committed to the Lord's church and His work? If so, bow with me in a moment of prayer.
"Father God, I confess as I look over my life, there is much more I can do for you and much more I can be like you in this new year. Come into my heart in a fresh and dynamic way Lord, and begin a real revival in me, that I might be on "fire" for Christ. May my home, my family my job and my witness been seen in a new light that will reveal a dynamic change from things in the past. Oh God, use me to be a vibrant witness for your Word and call, and anoint me afresh with the power of the Spirit to be ready when You call. This I pray and ask in the authority and Name of my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen."
If you can say amen to that with me - then be ready for a dynamic new beginning! And, may God grant this to you for Jesus sake. Amen.
As we close I do not want to leave out those who have yet to enter God's fold. If you cannot remember a time when you dedicated your life to Christ, you surely don't want to be here should the Rapture come tomorrow. All these terrible things that lie ahead will be your portion for life, before you are cast into an everlasting Hell. No friend, God wants better for you, and He now offers you pardon, if you'll come to Jesus Christ confessing your sins, and calling upon Him to save you. That's exactly what I did more than 20 years ago as I listened to a radio preacher in my car while traveling. I paused and prayed for salvation and forgiveness, I dedicated my life to Christ, and right there God changed me and accepted me, and since then I've had the joy and deep peace that has been my guide and stay. I pray you too will ask Christ into your life before its too late. God grant this to you here and now - for it is God's accepted time.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan at