Each week we like to focus for a few minutes on Bible prophecy. For one thing, as Christians we are encouraged to understand the times in which we live, and act accordingly.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11 (NLT)
The subject of prophecy takes-up about 30% of the Bible. It’s almost impossible to talk about it too much.
Scholars estimate there are somewhere around 500 unfulfilled last-days prophecies. Since we know they will be fulfilled, we should be able to look around us, in the news, and see trends in the direction the prophecies predict.
Many of these prophecies relate to the Jewish people and their nation. Some have already been fulfilled, while we see the trend towards the others being fulfilled:
The Bible predicted God would bring Jews back to their land, and that Israel would be born as a nation in one day.
It predicted that God would restore their language.
It predicted that Israel would blossom agriculturally and be a source of food to the world.
It also predicted that the city of Jerusalem would be a source of international political tension.
Tensions are mounting since President Trump announced that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Most nations of the world oppose any such recognition.
Not just nations – even the Pope has come out against it.
One line of argument has been that there is no evidence Jerusalem was ever Israel’s capital.
Now there is.
This week multiple news outlets posted a story titled, GREAT FIND IN ISRAEL: Seal Impression That Validates Biblical Record 2,700 Years Old.
Excerpts:
On Monday, archaeologists announced they had found a 2700-year-old seal impression from the First Temple Period that validates Biblical references from almost 3000 years ago.
The seal was discovered near the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem. Excavator Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah enthused, “The Bible mentions two governors of Jerusalem, and this finding thus reveals that. This is the first time that such a sealing is found in an authorized excavation. It supports the biblical rendering of the existence of a governor of the city in Jerusalem 2700 years ago.”
Hebrew University’s Professor Tallay Ornan and Tel Aviv University’s Professor Benjamin Sass described the seal impression thus:
“Above a double line are two standing men, facing each other in a mirror-like manner. Their heads are depicted as large dots, lacking any details. The hands facing outward are dropped down, and the hands facing inward are raised. Each of the figures is wearing a striped, knee-length garment. In the register beneath the double line is an inscription in ancient Hebrew, with no spacing between the words and no definite article. The inscription denotes… “belonging to the governor of the city.” The title “governor of the city” is known from the Bible and from extra-Biblical documents, and refers to an official appointed by the king. Governors of Jerusalem are mentioned twice in the Bible: in Second Kings, Joshua is the governor of the city in the days of Hezekiah, and in Second Chronicles, Maaseiah is the governor of the city in the days of Josiah.”
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said excitedly:
“It is very overwhelming to receive greetings from First Temple-period Jerusalem. This shows that already 2700 years ago, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a strong and central city. Jerusalem is one of the most ancient capitals of the world, continually populated by the Jewish people for more than 3000 years.”
Israel… Jerusalem… and tension about Jerusalem being Israel’s capital are what you’d expect to be trending in the news from reading your Bible. And that is exactly what you see.
We are not looking for any particular sign, or prophecy to be fulfilled. Jesus promised He’d return to rapture His church – which entails the resurrection of the dead in Christ of the Church Age, then the translation from earth to Heaven of all living believers.
It is presented in the Bible as an imminent event.
Are you ready for the rapture? If not, get ready, stay ready, and keep looking up. Ready or not, Jesus is coming!