What if you knew that Jesus Christ would come in less than 14 years—and that the three-and-a-half year Great Tribulation would begin just nine years from now? And what if you also knew that the coming Roman ruler or "Beast" would already be "in charge" and would make a treaty with the state of Israel in less than six years? That would be getting pretty close to our time— now!
Think carefully!
If all of the above were the case, then you would realize that enormous prophetic events would have to take place even before this final dictator could take office and make such a treaty. For this would clearly indicate that the United States would no longer be the dominant power in world affairs—calling the tune in the Middle East and other parts of the world. And all of this would clearly indicate that traumatic events would begin to affect the American, the Canadian and British-descended peoples in even the next two to five years! For these prophesied punishments would greatly weaken our Anglo-American alliance and the prosperity and power we have together exercised for so many generations. The prophesied drought, famine, disease epidemics and the "great earthquakes" Jesus directly predicted (Luke 21:11) would probably have already started affecting our peoples. Also, a number of scholars indicate that the term "fearful sights" mentioned in the above verse may also be translated "terrors"— probably indicating the increased terrorism we are now beginning to experience!
Amos' dual prophecy of alternating drought and flooding—possibly induced by heavy storms or hurricanes— would also have served to greatly weaken our nations. And the "fire" of God's wrath on the "House of Joseph" predicted in Amos 5:6 and elsewhere may turn out to be more literal than figurative—indicating the forest fires and wildfires that are even now devouring thousands of acres in the American west, parts of Australia and other Israelitish nations.
By the time you read this, most of you will have already heard one or both of my prophecy sermons indicating that the end of mankind's first 6,000 years could possibly occur at—or very close to—the year 2017. Counting back seven years from the Feast of Trumpets 2017 brings us to Feast time in the year 2010—less than six years from now. If there is to be a seven-year treaty between the coming Beast and the state of Israel, allowing the Jews to once again offer sacrifices on the Temple Mount, that treaty could come very soon—indicating the scenario I have outlined above.
Jesus warns us to watch for, and to understand the meaning of, the coming "abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet" (Matthew 24:15). Jesus said that this "abomination" will stand "in the holy place." Next? "For then will be Great Tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (v. 21).
God's servant Daniel describes a similar "abomination of desolation" set up by Antiochus Epiphanes in about 170BC (Daniel 11:31). This was undoubtedly a type or "forerunner" of the final "abomination" that Jesus Christ clearly predicted to occur in our time—at the very end of this age. Antiochus Epiphanes stopped the "daily sacrifice," as the coming Roman prince will also do. Daniel 12:11 also states that the "daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up" about three-and-a-half years before the end of the age!
Then, the specific prophecy of the Messiah and the final "prince who is to come" is given in Daniel 9:26–27. The prince mentioned in verse 26 undoubtedly refers to Titus—the Roman general who conquered and destroyed Jerusalem in 70AD. According to normal grammatical structure, Titus would be the antecedent of the "he" noted in verse 27. So, if our understanding is correct, this final "prince" will confirm or "cut a covenant" with the Jewish people for a prophetic week—seven literal years. Then, he will apparently break that covenant in the middle of the seven-year prophetic week— after three-and-a-half years. According to the other two references I have cited in Daniel, he will "take away the daily sacrifice" at that time and place there an "abomination"— probably some pagan idol, as Antiochus Epiphanes did.
Brethren, I am very aware that these exact dates and events are not fully provable! But there is no question that we are now, finally, extremely close to the very end of the 6,000 years of human rule allotted to mankind before God's intervention. We are told to "watch" and to "understand." Remember, the Apostle Paul was inspired to tell us: "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:4–6).
So I now urge all of you dear brethren to fully realize how very close we are to the glorious appearing of our Savior and King! Certainly God can speed up events (Romans 9:28) or slow the pace (2 Peter 3:9). Yet we will need deep understanding, faith and courage to go through the intervening years without turning aside or giving up! We must prepare for the Second Coming now, and endure to "the end" (Matthew 24:13), or to the end of our own personal lives! For the most horrifying tribulation in human history lies just ahead! And the preliminary manifestations of drought, famine, disease epidemics, fires, hurricanes, floods and "great earthquakes" will be upon us before the full-scale Great Tribulation.
As these events unfold, we should all pray fervently—not only for our brethren, but for our friends, our loved ones and our neighbors all over this world. When these events begin to occur, we should take the opportunity to humbly and lovingly reach out to our neighbors and say, "Look, we are not perfect and we don't have all the answers! But the Church I attend really does understand why these terrible events are now happening, and what is going to happen next! If you'd truly like to understand, please get in touch!"
Perhaps at that point, you might offer them our booklet, Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return, or some other pertinent material. But do sincerely, humbly and lovingly reach out to them in a way that will make them know you love them and sincerely care! Then pray that God will open their eyes and use you as an instrument to help them.
Let us all remember, brethren, that most of these people are truly sincere. They have been blinded by Satan the Devil (Revelation 12:9). Without God's intervention, they cannot understand! As Jesus Himself stated: "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day… Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father" (John 6:44, 65).
But God's Word also shows us that in the apostolic Church, at a time of upset and "havoc" after the martyrdom of Stephen, "Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). And Paul wrote the Christians of his day that God "called you by our gospel" (2 Thessalonians 2:14). So God "calls" people through the agency of human beings preaching the Truth to them—though He must open their minds.
There are many indications that God wants us to reach out to the whole world—especially at this time of the end. After describing the Great Tribulation—the "time of trouble" at the end of this age, Daniel was inspired to write to us, "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).
Dear brethren, let us draw closer to our God than we have ever been! And let us use these coming traumatic events as an opportunity to powerfully serve our fellow man with the precious Truth we have been given.