Did you ever think about the end of the world? Every once in a while some one predicts that the world will end on such and such a day, at such and such a time. This is nothing new; for thousands of years mankind has spoken for the Almighty without the Almighty's permission.
Man has nothing to do with God's time table. Mankind will partake of God's overall plan, however, God has not revealed to anyone the exact day, time, and hour when the end will come. God has not revealed to anyone the exact day, time, and hour when the end will come.
Matthew 24:34-36 34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
You see when someone predicts that the end will come on so and so a day you can be assured that it won't. Why? Because only God knows; and according to Jesus no one else knows. However, Ronald Weinlands, a Church of God minister, in his book God's Final Witness said regarding the end of the world, "If it doesn't come to pass... starting in April, 2008 then I'm nothing but a false prophet."
"There have already been six seals opened up …and the world is ignorant of it …The seventh seal they will know though …"
"The destruction of the United States, we are the first to suffer. I wouldn't want to be in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York."
*Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church, Los Angeles caused quite a stir when he announced he had received a vision from God that warned of an apocalyptic event on June 9th, 1994. Hinkle, quoting God, said, "On Thursday, June the 9th, I will rip the evil out of this world." How ironic. According to scripture the first thing God will rip or rapture out of this world is the good, his born again saints.*The Jehovah's Witnesses made sure in 1984 that no one else would be able to top their record of most wrong doomsday predictions. The Witnesses record is currently holding at nine. The years are: 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, and 1984. Lately, the Jehovah Witnesses are claiming they're out of the prediction business.*In Lester Sumrall's book Begin of Jesus' reign from Jerusalem; he said "I predict 2000 AD... I predict the absolute fullness of man's operation on planet Earth by the year 2000 AD. Then Jesus Christ shall reign from Jerusalem for 1000 years."*Centro is a very active religious organization, largely centered in the Philippines. They predict that the world will come to an end in 1998. They recommend that their followers retreat to safe places. I do not know where that would be.*Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan, proclaimed the Gulf War to be "the War of Armageddon" the final War.*Moses David of The Children of God faith group predicted that the Battle of Armageddon would take place in 1986. Russia would defeat Israel and the United States. A worldwide Communist dictatorship would be established and in 1992, Christ would return to earth.*In 1970, the True Light Church of Christ made its claim to fame by incorrectly forecasting the return of Jesus. A number of church members had quit their livelihoods ahead of the promised event.*1000 AD. This year goes down as one of the most pronounced states of hysteria over the return of Christ. All members of society seemed affected by the prediction that Jesus was coming back on January 1, 1000 AD. There really weren't any of the events required by the Bible transpiring at that time. The "magical number" 1000 was primarily the sole reason for the expectation. During December 999 AD, everyone was on their best behavior; worldly goods were sold and given to the poor; swarms of pilgrims headed east to meet the Lord at Jerusalem; buildings went unrepaired; crops were left unplanted; and criminals were set free from jails. The year 999 AD turned into 1000 AD and nothing happened.*A Roman priest and theologian in the second and third centuries predicted Christ would return in 500 AD, based on the dimensions of Noah's ark.*An untold number of people have tried to predict the Lord's return using elaborate time tables. Most date setters do not realize mankind has not kept an unwavering record of time. Anyone wanting to chart, for example, 1000 BC to 2000 AD would have to contend with the facts that 46 BC was 445 days long; that there was no year 0 BC, and that in 1582 we switched from Julian Years (360 days in a year) to Gregorian (365 days). Because most prognosticators are not aware of all these errors, from the get go, their math is already off by several years.
*Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church, Los Angeles caused quite a stir when he announced he had received a vision from God that warned of an apocalyptic event on June 9th, 1994. Hinkle, quoting God, said, "On Thursday, June the 9th, I will rip the evil out of this world." How ironic. According to scripture the first thing God will rip or rapture out of this world is the good, his born again saints.
*The Jehovah's Witnesses made sure in 1984 that no one else would be able to top their record of most wrong doomsday predictions. The Witnesses record is currently holding at nine. The years are: 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, and 1984. Lately, the Jehovah Witnesses are claiming they're out of the prediction business.
*In Lester Sumrall's book Begin of Jesus' reign from Jerusalem; he said "I predict 2000 AD... I predict the absolute fullness of man's operation on planet Earth by the year 2000 AD. Then Jesus Christ shall reign from Jerusalem for 1000 years."
*Centro is a very active religious organization, largely centered in the Philippines. They predict that the world will come to an end in 1998. They recommend that their followers retreat to safe places. I do not know where that would be.
*Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan, proclaimed the Gulf War to be "the War of Armageddon" the final War.
*Moses David of The Children of God faith group predicted that the Battle of Armageddon would take place in 1986. Russia would defeat Israel and the United States. A worldwide Communist dictatorship would be established and in 1992, Christ would return to earth.
*In 1970, the True Light Church of Christ made its claim to fame by incorrectly forecasting the return of Jesus. A number of church members had quit their livelihoods ahead of the promised event.
*1000 AD. This year goes down as one of the most pronounced states of hysteria over the return of Christ. All members of society seemed affected by the prediction that Jesus was coming back on January 1, 1000 AD. There really weren't any of the events required by the Bible transpiring at that time. The "magical number" 1000 was primarily the sole reason for the expectation. During December 999 AD, everyone was on their best behavior; worldly goods were sold and given to the poor; swarms of pilgrims headed east to meet the Lord at Jerusalem; buildings went unrepaired; crops were left unplanted; and criminals were set free from jails. The year 999 AD turned into 1000 AD and nothing happened.
*A Roman priest and theologian in the second and third centuries predicted Christ would return in 500 AD, based on the dimensions of Noah's ark.
*An untold number of people have tried to predict the Lord's return using elaborate time tables. Most date setters do not realize mankind has not kept an unwavering record of time. Anyone wanting to chart, for example, 1000 BC to 2000 AD would have to contend with the facts that 46 BC was 445 days long; that there was no year 0 BC, and that in 1582 we switched from Julian Years (360 days in a year) to Gregorian (365 days). Because most prognosticators are not aware of all these errors, from the get go, their math is already off by several years.
There have been thousands of false prophets throughout the years lying to God's people and many of them on this very subject.
Jeremiah 23:21-22 21I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
The problem now arises that when people hear the word prophecy, they are generally skeptical and doubtful. And with good cause. Man lies and is full of pride. However, prophecy can be trusted and is 100% reliable when God is speaking.
Most Christians know that there will come a time spoken of in the bible as the tribulation or end time. They are aware that great destruction and sorrow will fill the earth and end the world as we know it, culminating in the return of Jesus Christ and the Battle of Armageddon.
My purpose in writing this series is not to speculate in exact dates; of which we already know the Bible states plainly that no one knows but God. No, my purpose is to present exact Biblical prophecy that no man or woman of faith would contest.
Now, remember the Bible, God's Word, can absolutely be trusted. Not everything I say can be trusted, but you can stake your life on God's Word. And it is this Word of God that I am going to present to you now concerning Christ's Millennial reign.
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Daniel 12:1-4 1And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Daniel 12:8-9 8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
In Revelation 5 we begin to see some of what Daniel was ordered to seal. Revelation 5 starts to reveal the end time.
Revelation 5:2-5 2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Revelation 6:1-6 1And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
So we have three horses corresponding to the first three seals: a white horse, red horse, and a black horse.
*The rider on the white horse rode out to conquer many people.*The rider on the red horse rode out to take peace from the earth; and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword.*The rider on the black horse it is said: "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and wine." This indicates great starvation and famine.
*The rider on the white horse rode out to conquer many people.
*The rider on the red horse rode out to take peace from the earth; and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword.
*The rider on the black horse it is said: "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and wine." This indicates great starvation and famine.
We will begin our next issue by revealing the 4th seal and the 4th horse spoken of in Revelation 6.
To be continued …ÿ