davidbowerkingwood

We are Living in Unsettled Times

The Wuhan Flu Pandemic has caused disruptions all over the world; it seems as if everyone’s lives have been changed by this event. As an online missionary for Global Media Outreach, I’ve seen a massive increase in the number of people coming to the website for help. There seems to be a lot of recognition that our lives seem to be out of our control and people are searching for answers.

Many are turning to the Lord for salvation and hoping to find answers in the spiritual realm for the problems they are encountering in their lives. I’ve heard it speculated that this pandemic could be God’s wake-up call to a world that was increasingly devoted to materialism; while I have no idea if that is true, it has certainly turned the attention of many to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Prophetic Setting

If the end of this age is approaching, do we have any indications from the Bible on what is going to happen next? There are a number of Bible prophecies that remain unfulfilled and I’m convinced they will be fulfilled with the same accuracy with which the prophecies surrounding the First Advent were fulfilled.

At the time of the First Advent, the third period of 490 years, given to Israel, was temporarily suspended at the time of our Lords entry into Jerusalem on March 30, A.D.33. The time for Israel would resume at some point, yet future, when Israel would sign a treaty with the Antichrist. The Church Age was delayed until May 25, A.D. 33 at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit first indwelt believers.

This was a gap of around 55 days which suggests to me a clear distinction between Israel and the Church. Just as Israel was set aside before the Church Age began, I believe the Church will be removed from the world scene by the Rapture before the Age of Israel resumes at the signing of the treaty with the Antichrist. There are  several other prophetic events that have not been fulfilled yet that must take place before the end; I have written more on that in a three-part series named, “What is Coming Next for the Church and Israel.”

The Profound Impact of the Rapture on the United States

At a time known only to God, all born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will be instantaneously removed from the earth. This event is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 where it is written:

^“13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Prophetically, the Rapture is Next

There are no unfulfilled prophecies that must happen first, the very next thing on God’s prophetic clock will likely be this sudden removal of all born-again Christians. It is generally believed that all children, who have not reached the age of accountability, will also be taken up at the Rapture.

It is impossible to even imagine the impact this event will have on the world, most especially a Christian nation like the United States. The sudden disappearance of millions of adults and children will devastate this country. The impact of the Rapture will be immediate, dramatic and severe; after the Rapture nothing will ever again be the same!

I’m of the opinion, the Rapture will be the trigger that starts the Battle of Psalm 83 and while Israel has a promise of protection from God, the United States has no such promise. The Rapture, plus one well-placed EMP, could immobilize the United States for years to come and explain the absence of this country from the pages of Bible prophecy.

Israel Signs a Treaty with the Antichrist

The Rapture of the true Church, which means all born-again believers, does not signal the beginning of the Tribulation, the last seven years promised to Israel by God; it is the signing of the treaty with the Antichrist that does that! The Rapture and the possible battle of Psalm 83 will have removed the United States from the world stage as a super power and Israel will be looking for a replacement protector and there will be one who offers his services, the Antichrist.

The Timing of all This

The timing of these events is absolutely certain but unrevealed by God. I have always been impressed by the verse in Revelation 9:15 where it is written:

^“15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.”

As we look back to the First Advent, we see how carefully the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled; as we look ahead to the Second Advent, it is reasonable to assume all prophetic events will be fulfilled with equal precision.

I have no idea when these things will take place, but looking at the world situation today makes me think it could be close.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” Revelation 22:20-21