Stage Setting In High Gear

“Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9-10). When it comes to the Bible, one of the most amazing things to me is the fact it has proven itself over and over again to be the Word of God. It is clearly of Divine origin. The primary evidence of this is seen in its fulfilled prophecies. The Hebrew prophets had to be 100 percent accurate, 100 percent of the time. History has proven once and for all that the Biblical prophecies are true. Furthermore, because God’s Word has “[declared] the end from the beginning,” we know its remaining prophecies will be fulfilled as literally as they were given. Perhaps this is why I am so amazed at the number of people, particularly professing Christians, who cannot seem to connect the dots when it comes to world events today. The things we see taking place in the world today, especially those things occurring in Europe and the Middle East, should come as no surprise. It was all spelled out more than 2500 years ago in the pages of Holy Scripture. What amazes me is the speed at which these things are occurring. I call it stage setting in high gear. It is clear to me that God is setting the stage for the final act – the Glorious Appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ!

First of all, consider the nation of Israel and the whole peace process. Then consider the words of the prophets Zechariah and Daniel, “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it” (Zech. 12:3), “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week” (Dan. 9:27). One could almost conclude Zechariah and Daniel are modern-day reporters covering the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Now combine all that with the rise of the European Union. It is Daniel who foretold the rise of a revived Roman Empire like kingdom that would exist in the last days. Daniel chapters 2 and 7 describe this confederacy as ten toes and ten horns. This is obviously referring to either ten nations or ten leaders, probably the latter. Although we do not see Europe in its final prophesied form today, it could quickly move in that direction, especially if some worldwide catastrophic event occurred where millions of people disappeared suddenly and without warning or explanation. Daniel says it will be out of this 10 nation or leader group that another king will arise who will, to the world’s amazement, finally cause peace to prevail in the Middle East between Israel and her neighbors. So it will be Europe and its coming ‘prince’ who will finally do what no one has been able to do – solve the Israeli-Palestinian problem. Somehow, Europe will be able to guarantee Israel’s security and solve the problem over Jerusalem. I guess this is one reason I’m amazed (and then again I’m not), that in recent months in a move that could only be described as prophetic, Israel’s foreign ministry has been working hard to cement ties to the European Union, the peace process has come to a fevered pitch, and the city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount complex has come to the forefront of the whole sordid mess. Only a shrewd and cunning ‘strong-man’ will be able to straighten all this out. And I can promise you it won’t be anyone from the United States, Russia or the United Nations.

Secondly, consider what Isaiah 17 describes as the Burden of Damascus. Isaiah 17 is a prophecy that foretells the utter destruction of Damascus – something that has never before happened in history. However, with the war drums beating louder and louder in the Middle East, Damascus threatening to take the Golan Heights back no matter what and with the recent Israeli incursion into Syria to blow up what officials are hinting to be a nuclear complex, and with Syria’s threat to retaliate at ‘a time and place of our choosing,’ one can only wonder if the Burden of Damascus is imminent. I would not want to reside in Damascus right now or plan a visit there anytime soon.

Finally, consider Ezekiel’s prophecy in chapters 38 and 39 about an unusual alliance never before seen in history – one between Russia and Iran. With Russian President Putin’s recent trip to Tehran, he has forged what I believe to be a prophetic alliance with Iran and other Central Asian States. It is Iran and these other states, all armed to the teeth by Russia, that form the bulk of a coalition of nations that attack Israel in the last days. Furthermore, the wildcard Turkey is included in that coalition and it now appears they are moving rapidly in the direction of their Muslim neighbors. For one thing, their application for membership in the European Union is being rebuffed, and if that wasn’t bad enough, our very own congress is making every effort (it seems) to alienate them as an ally. One can only wonder just how close we are to seeing the final pieces of the puzzle come together. But the truth is, those of us who are true followers of Jesus Christ won’t see the final pieces come together. Sometime before Europe reaches its final prophesied form, sometime before pseudo-peace in the Middle East becomes a reality and perhaps sometime before this coalition of nations comes down against Israel, the Lord Himself is going to return for His bride—the Church. Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? If not, your time is rapidly running out!