KNOWING THE FUTURE

As I mentioned yesterday, we are drawing closer and closer to the Rapture, the return of Christ to remove His Church before the Tribulation, the seven-year judgment appointed for Israel, and not for His Church (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:49-53; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Dan. 9:24-27; 1 Thes. 5:9; Rev. 3:10).  The Tribulation is the last seven years of the "seventy-weeks" appointed for Daniel's people, the Jews (Dan. 9:24).  Sixty-nine "weeks" of the seventy were fulfilled at the Crucifixion of Israel's Messiah (Dan. 9:26).  The Church Age, the age in which we now live, is a parenthetical period between Daniel's sixty-ninth and the seventieth "weeks" of years. 

Matthew 24-25, known as the Olivet Discourse, is Jesus' response to His disciple's questions concerning the end of the world (24:3).  The word, "world" should be rendered "age," as it is translated from the Greek αἰών (aiōn), especially since the Scripture says the world will never end (Isa. 45:17; Eph. 3:21).  They asked Him two questions:  1) "when shall these things be?" and 2) "what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the age?"

Their first question had to do with the "woes" of Matthew 23, and the destruction of the Temple He spoke of in Matthew 24:1-2.  Jesus never really answers this question, but we know from History, the Jews were scattered, and the Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70, by Rome.  Based upon Daniel 9:26-27, the same nation that would destroy His "temple" (His body - Jn. 2:18-21), would also destroy Israel's Temple, and, would one day, rule again during the Tribulation. 

Their second question, while it seems to be two questions, is really only one:  the age in which they were living will end with the return of Jesus to establish His earthly Kingdom (Mt. 24:29-31; Rev. 19:11 - 20:6).  The Church Age will end seven years prior, with the Rapture of the Church.  So the order of the events to come, on this present earth, are:  the Rapture of the Church; the Seven-year Tribulation; the Second Coming of Christ; His Millennial Kingdom; and the Great White Throne Judgment.

Bible prophecy of future events is as certain as if they have already occurred.

Today is the day of salvation; today may be your last day!

Put your trust in Jesus, the Crucified, buried, and Resurrected Lord!