Each week we present what we call a Prophecy Update. This is #426 in that series.
Unique among all books ever written, the Bible accurately foretells specific events – in precise detail – sometimes even centuries, before they occur.
Approximately 2500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible. About 2000, or 80%, have already been fulfilled to the letter, with no errors.
We therefore expect the remaining 500 or so prophecies to be literally fulfilled. That being the case, we ought to be able to identify trends in the world, and see news, that aligns with what the Bible says will happen.
We’ve never discussed it before, but most of you are familiar with what is called The Doomsday Clock.
Not the Smashing Pumpkins song. The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock face, representing a countdown to possible global catastrophe. It has been maintained since 1947 by the members of the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, who are in turn advised by the Governing Board and the Board of Sponsors, including 18 Nobel Laureates. The closer they set the Clock to midnight, the closer the scientists believe the world is to global disaster.
Originally, the Clock, which hangs on a wall in the Bulletin’s office in the University of Chicago, represented an analogy for the threat of global nuclear war; however, since 2007 it has also reflected climate change and new developments in the life sciences and technology that could inflict irrevocable harm to humanity.
They moved the clock two minutes closer to Midnight the other day, for the first time in some years. The clock now stands at three minutes to midnight, the “latest” it’s been since 1984, when the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union was a major issue.
After standing at 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 – the furthest it’s ever been from the end of the world – it’s gotten closer each time it’s been changed since, with the exception of 2010, when it was pushed back by one minute to 11:54.
Why am I telling you this? For one thing, it shows that there is great interest in things pertaining to what people would generally call, “the end of the world.” People recognize the world is headed towards disaster, and are worried, and afraid.
What a great time to have all the answers! Your Bible speaks definitively about the End Times. We know, at least in outline form, exactly what is going to happen, and why.
What is going to happen? There is coming upon the whole world a seven-year Tribulation in which God reaches out to save men one last time. It will be terrible and awful, but the human race will survive, and Jesus will return to earth for a second time. He will set-up a kingdom on the earth, and rule over it for one-thousand years. After that, He will create a new heaven, and a new earth, and believers from all ages will go into a blissful eternity.
Nonbelievers have a very different fate awaiting them. They will be raised only to be incarcerated for eternity in a place of conscious torment.
These aren’t the things that might happen; they must happen, because they’ve been prophesied by God. Remember, His Word is 100% accurate.
Should we believe the scientists, who put their trust in man to save himself from Doomsday, while themselves pursuing godless research?
Or should we trust God, who sent His Son to save mankind for eternity, and spells-out how?
Why is all this unfolding? Because man sinned, and God is a Savior. We therefore go forward, not just with this framework for the future, but with the Gospel.
There is one event I haven’t mentioned yet; you know what it is. It is the coming of Jesus, before the Tribulation, and before the kingdom, to resurrect His church and rapture living believers.
That event has no time table; it is imminent.
Are you ready for the rapture? If not, get ready, stay ready, and keep looking up. Ready or not, Jesus is coming!