WHAT'S NEXT?

"WHAT'S NEXT?"

     The next event on God's Prophetic Program is the beginning of Daniel's 70^th Week. This seven year period will be initiated by the Antichrist confirming "the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate" (Daniel 9:27). This verse defines the seven year period "one week" and also reveals the "abomination of desolation" that Jesus later spoke of in Matthew 24:15 which occurs at the mid-point of Daniel's 70^th  Week.

     However, as a prelude to the 70^th Week, the Antichrist will rise to power. He will have a three nation confederacy   described in Daniel 7:8 as "three first horns". This gathering of nations should be no surprise to the student of Bible prophecy for Daniel pinpoints the activity of the Antichrist early on in his first personal vision.   

     The Antichrist, with his three nation confederacy in place, will then use his political clout to convince the majority of Israelites of the necessity to sign/confirm/reconfirm an agreement/covenant guaranteeing peace to Israel during this time of world trouble and confusion.

     This perfectly agrees with the events surrounding the opening of the First Two Seals of Revelation 6:1-4. The one sitting on the white and red horses is the Antichrist himself! His activity coincides with the Lord's description in Matthew 24 and will indeed be a time of unprecedented world turmoil!

     The opening of the third Seal demonstrates the continuing effects of the Antichrist's influence on world conditions. The black horse and rider holding balances symbolize famine which often follows war. This too agrees with the Lord's account of Matthew 24:7 "there shall be famines". The fourth seal reveals a pale horse and rider with Death and Hell following with the horrifying result of death by the sword, hunger, and beasts of the earth. The authority given to the Antichrist over one quarter of the earth's population will result in the killing of multitudes of innocent people!

     These events are authored by men and Satan and should not be confused with the wrath of God which we as Christians will not experience. This opening of these Seals is only the "beginning of sorrows" referring to the first 3-1/2 years of Daniel's 70^th  Week, and, although our Lord controls the timing of these events, He is certainly not the author of the turmoil, tribulation and persecution that follows and intensifies as each individual Seal is opened. The events described as a result of the opening of the first five Seals portray what has occurred throughout history as the result of ruthless men and the wicked onslaught of Satan.

     The opening of the Fifth Seal, brings about the escalating martyrdom of saints, and is the direct result of the Antichrist's vicious persecution of God's people. This heinous slaughtering of Lord's chosen surely can not be attributed to the wrath of God! This escalating  martyrdom of the saints will occur when the Antichrist exerts his power on a global basis!

     Remember, the wrath of God will not come upon the saints, but, the Antichrist's persecution will, for many will be "slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held"(Revelation 6:9) during the Antichrist's reign, but the Lord will triumph in the end as He later pours out His wrath (Isaiah 13:9, 13) during the Day of the Lord when "the Lord alone shall be exalted"! (Isaiah 2:11, 17)

     This Bible doctrine concerning the saints experiencing the persecution of the Antichrist is not a new teaching, but, in fact was the belief of the early church and the overwhelming majority of the church fathers. Eleven of the thirteen church fathers affirmed their belief within their writings during  the first four centuries of the Church age.

     This Bible doctrine has been faithfully studied and revived during recent years by men of God who are concerned for the saints of today and that future day when the Antichrist will viciously persecute us, the born-again the Bible way Christians! Those who know the truth will be prepared for this most destructive of all persecutions in history the Great Tribulation!

     However, the theory that is relatively new in origin is the pre-tribulation rapture theory which is only about 180 years old. If questions are raised concerning the Biblical validity of this theory, one need only review the book "The Rapture Question Answered" by: Robert Van Kampen. In this very readable volume the author examines the various theories that are held today and gives the Bible's teaching from a thorough and accurate viewpoint. Check it out, decide for yourself, but don't reject what you have not thoroughly evaluated! You just might be one of the unprepared!

     So, "What's Next?" According to Scripture, God's road-map for eternity, the next specific event will be Israel's signing of the "covenant with death" with the Antichrist (Isaiah 28:15; Daniel 9:27).  But, we also must be watching for Elijah the prophet as he will definitely come to “turn hearts” (Malachi 4:5, 6) and “restore all things”(Matthew 17:11) during the same timeframe when the Antichrist forms a three nation confederacy as a prelude to the 70^th Week covenant signing with Israel. So, keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God and the current events as God unfolds His prophetic plan right before your very eyes!  What a great time to be saved and serving the King of kings, and Lord of lords our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Chaplain LEWolfe  www.btmi.org  I-85 Exit 35 SC   McPilot    Stop in, and please pray for our ministry!

CONFIRMING THE COVENANT

"CONFIRMING THE COVENANT"

     Daniel 9:27 states: "And he ('the prince that shall come' [Daniel 9:26] the Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with (the) many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease".  This short but meaningful sentence comes at the end of one of the most significant prophetic passages in all of Scripture, for Daniel 9:24-27 gives the precise unfolding of Hebrew history as given to the prophet Daniel by the angel Gabriel.

     This statement speaks of a future covenant that the Antichrist will make with the 'many' or the majority of Daniel's people the nation of Israel.  Isaiah prophetically reveals the true nature of this agreement in Isaiah 28:14-19 and calls it "a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement" (Isaiah 28:15).  Even though it will be seen as a protective measure for the Jews at that point in time, it will bring about the exact opposite at the midst of Daniel's Seventieth Week when the Antichrist reveals his true identity and purpose!

     In the interim, during the first 3-1/2 years of Daniel's 70^th  Week, this covenant will bring a false sense of security to the Jews as they trust in the promises of man rather than the promises of God.  Amos 9:10 reveals the attitude of the people of Israel in the last days when God says: "All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us." Here the Jews proudly proclaim that no wicked thing will catch up to them, or face them in these last days. 

     Ezekiel 38:11, also in an end-times passage, shows just the opposite as the army from the north approaches the Jews who are living in false security, peacefully, without protection against dangerous intruders:

"I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, an having neither bars nor gates."

     The promise of peace, along with the humanistic religious fervor of that day, will be the final push necessary to bring about the "falling away" of Israel recorded in Daniel 11:30 and II Thessalonians 2:3 as they place their full loyalty in the Antichrist.  This total abandonment of the God of their fathers by the majority of the Jews will open up the opportunity for the Antichrist to gain political/religious influence and make his way up to 'the top rung'  of the political/religious ladder of the world, giving him full and complete access to the temple in Jerusalem! (II Thessalonians 2:4)

     And, it all starts with the unprecedented confirming of the covenant.  This act on the part of the physical people of God, the nation of Israel, will set in motion God's prophetic time-clock, initiating the 70^th  Week of Daniel, the last seven years of the times of the Gentiles when God again begins to deal with the Jews corporately as a nation, causing them to atone for their sin, as prophesied by Daniel almost 2600 years ago:

"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make and end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity"(Daniel 9:24). What an exciting time to be alive!

     It is marvelous to witness the events unfolding in Israel and around the world as God brings together His people and unseals His end times truths from the book of Daniel! He is preparing His people for His return when He will remove the saints by Rapture and bring His Day of the Lord judgment to planet earth and its unbelieving and unrepentant inhabitants. 

Chaplain LEWolfe  www.btmi.org  I-85 Exit 35 SC   McPilot    Stop in, and please pray for our ministry!

THE SENDING OF ELIJAH

"THE SENDING OF ELIJAH"

     The Sending of Elijah is recorded in Malachi 4:5,6: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."  

     Just as John the Baptist was the first Elijah-like person heralding the Lord's first coming,  Jesus said 'Elijah truly shall first come' (Matthew 17:11) indicating there will be a second Elijah-like person sent by God to herald His second coming at the end of the age. The appearance of this Elijah-like prophet will be one of the early signals to the discerning child of God that the Day of  the Lord and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is on the doorstep of God’s plan for the end of the age.

     His identity might not be openly evident in the beginning of his ministry, for then, he will likely minister in a manner similar to John the Baptist not unlike a revivalist/evangelist.  This portion of his ministry could well occur before and during the first 3-1/2 years of Daniel's Seventieth Week,  for we believe this same man will later be recognized as one of the 'two witnesses' of  Revelation 11. Their ministry of judgment will be 3-1/2 years long, beginning at the mid-point of Daniel's 70^th Week (Revelation 11:3-13). 

     During this time period, this Elijah-like prophet's ministry will be one of powerful, judgment like, miracle working and warfare 'with the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit' as described in Revelation 11:5,6 as he ministers judgment with his partner as one of the two witnesses, two prophets who are also designated “two olive trees” in Zechariah 4:3. 

     These 'two witnesses' are characterized as an inseparable pair, a two man team if you will, during this time of  fierce and intensive Spiritual warfare with the Satanically energized beast, there again indicating that this Elijah-like individual's revivalist/evangelist ministry to the believers will most likely take place during the first half of Daniel's 70^th  Week.

     Although the specific time frame for his ministry as described in Malachi 4:5,6 is not mentioned, it is likely this type of ministry to God's people would not fit into the surroundings of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) when believers are scattered,  being warned by the Lord Jesus to "flee into the mountains"(Matthew 24:16) during the escalating persecution of the Antichrist when “Satan’s great wrath” (Revelation 12:12) is poured out against God’s people. 

     Elijah’s ministry to 'restore all things' (Matthew 17:11; Mark 9:12) fits into Malachi's more specific description of turning hearts in the same manner that John the Baptist called Israel to repentance.  John the Baptist's ministry recorded in Matthew 3:1-12 is one we should familiarize ourselves with as it will be the model for the second Elijah and is definitely  the perfect example for  aspiring preachers of righteousness.  There are twelve significant characteristics of his ministry:

                                                                  1. He stood in a difficult place and time (v.1)

                                                                  2. He preached an unpopular message (v.2)

                                                                  3. He stood alone (v.3)

                                                                  4. He was a Biblical separatist/non-conformist (v.4)

                                                                  5. He had God-given magnetism (v.5)

                                                                  6. He got results in his ministry (v.6)

                                                                  7. He spoke out against God's enemies (v.7)

                                                                  8. He was confident in his life changing message (v.8)

                                                                  9. He denounced religious tradition (v.9)

                                                                10. He proclaimed God's judgment (v.10)

                                                                11. He announced the coming of Christ (v.11)

                                                                12. He described the ministry of Christ (v.12)   

     It could well be that this next Elijah-like person will come to again perform a similar ministry, turning the hearts of God's people to the Lord, restoring all things, during the first half of Daniel's Seventieth Week.  At this time the church will still be gathered, providing opportunity for him to proclaim his much needed, reviving, prophetic message.

     Although, the timing of his arrival is not clearly spelled out, nor is it really essential or crucial to know at this time, but, God will send him (and he will be recognized at the mid-point of Daniel's Seventieth Week) 'before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord' which is the wrath of God. Praise the Lord the born-again Bible believers will be miraculously delivered from this time of horrendous judgment  by the Rapture (I Thessalonians 5:9)!!

     There will also be many other events before the coming of the great and terrible Day of the Lord. The Awareness of the Believer as described by Paul: 'But ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (I Thessalonians 5:4, 5). The Lord Jesus underscores this truth in Matthew 24:33 "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near (His Coming & Day of the Lord) even at the doors."

     Another event that will occur before the Day of the Lord is the Falling Away of Israel according to Paul in II Thessalonians 2:2 "Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first" which is also recorded by Daniel when the Jews turn their allegiance to the Antichrist and “have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant“ (Daniel 11:30) The nation of Israel will abandon the God of their fathers and instead follow the leadership of the Antichrist.  

     Paul also in the same passage of Scripture gives still another event that will occur before the Day of the Lord: "Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" (I Thessalonians 2:2). 

     Here Paul underlines the truth that Daniel and Jesus earlier prophesied. The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet and later the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:15 when the Antichrist reveals his true identity and purpose.  This event which occurs in the middle of Daniel's 70^th Week will occur before the Day of the Lord begins!

     The Heavenly Wonders spoken of in earlier chapters are the most significant event that will happen before the Day of the Lord. God mentions them numerous times in both the Old and New Testament showing their importance as the major signal/sign indicating the closeness of the Lord's Coming and the beginning of the Day of the Lord!! Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Zephaniah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts and Revelation all mention this most significant event which will be seen worldwide just prior to the Rapture of the Church.

     The last event just before the Lord's Coming to Rapture the church will be the Last Trump. 'Behold I show you a mystery, We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.' (I Corinthians 15:51, 52). This sounding of the trump of God is also mentioned in I Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:31; Joel 2:1 and Zephaniah 1:14-18. This will be the last trumpet heard by the born again believers as it will be almost simultaneous with the delivering Rapture of the Church!!

Chaplain LEWolfe  www.btmi.org  I-85 Exit 35 SC   McPilot    Stop in, and please pray for our ministry!