Bible Prophecy 2 

Dan Baxley

www.yahshuaservant.com

What is it that makes it so hard for prophecy teachers to understand what the Messiah told His disciples concerning the things to come, not only for the “end days” but also for their day?  He told them, prophesied, of things to happen to them, individually as well as collectively.  Are we to then take personal messages to individual disciples and apply them to ourselves?

Some prophecy teachers have a bad habit of taking things meant for the disciples the Christ, the Apostles, and applying it to us today -- commmands, instructions, delivered to the 12 Apostles as commands for us.  While this seems a good thing on the surface it can lead to a misapplication of Scripture.  Certainly all Scripture is for our encouragement and edification and guidance, but we should remember the context of what is said, things written, and ask -- ‘does this apply to me, to us, or is it for then, for the disciples of then”?  Yes, a lesson for us and an application for us, as believers, but is the base meaning really for us, and for our application?  The teachers and preachers of the Christian Community have no problem separating messages to the people of Israel from being applied to Christians? 

When the disciples asked a question the Messiah usually gave a direct answer and many times in private He gave instructions and explanations for them to remember or at least to recall later, which they did, as the record of their individual ministries prove.  Several things occurred after the Messiah had risen and at every turn the Apostles of the Christ had their minds rewound, recalling the word’s of the Messiah, the real lessons coming to light.  They thought they knew what He spoke of at the time only to find they were seeing but a shadow of His real meaning. The Apostles and the new converts heard the message of the Kingdom -- the words of the Messiah -- now in a new light.  They heard the warnings given by the Messiah, prior to His crucifixion, but it did not register then, but now, in the new light of understanding, understanding given them by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, they began to see His words as never before and took them seriously. 

The Messiah’s Words in the New Light

One example of this would be Luke 21:20-21 where the Messiah warned of a time when Jerusalem would be “surrounded by armies”.  When they observed this taking place they remembered His words were able to flee Jerusalem. This happened and is part of the historical record of that time.  The armies of Rome encircled Jerusalem, determined to bring these rowdy Jews to heel,  just as the Messiah had warned, intent on its destruction.  For some reason, reasons historians still argue over today, the army withdrew and the believers of the Messiah, remembering His words, took that occasion to escape.  History shows that many of these disciples escaped to Antioch.  The Roman army returned and by 70 AD had pretty much put the city into ruin and taken nearly every Jew into some type of slavery.  This time is history is known as the “dispersion”.  The speculation as to the Roman Armies actions centers around the political atmosphere in Rome at this time.  Also, of note, Jerusalem ceases to be the center of the Jewish Christan out reach.  In fact, as the Jewish nation is decimated by the Roman Legions under Titus, the Christians seem to almost disappear. 

This assault, of course, did not take place overnight -- three years of anguish and torment, cutting off supplies, driving inhabitants of Jerusalem into every depravity imaginable.  The horror of Jerusalem’s fall is described by the Jewish Historian, Josephus. But, this fall of Jerusalem, did not put a complete end to the problem for the Romans.  Some of the Jewish people managed to migrate back to Jerusalem.  While the temple had been destroyed parts of the city remained and it began to rebuild.  A minor rebellion broke out around 130 AD and this time the Roman's came back and leveled everything, taking all of the people into captivity.  The project of total destruction of the city and the removal of the remnant would be finished around 134 AD.  Some prophecy students, wanting to deal with numbers and such, like to use 70 AD as a prophetic time, but it is really the 3-4 year period beginning 130 AD that should receive some consideration as that is the time of the finish of the prophetic the Messiah had made against the city, "...They will not leave one stone on another" (Luke 19:44) -- this finished it, this is when they literally tore every stone down to the ground.  The Old Covenant was literally stopped, 68 - 70 AD, the sacrificial system of Israel ceases.  No animal sacrifice meant no more forgiveness of sin for anyone still living under that system. 

Some mistakenly think the Messiah spoke of the destruction only of the Temple, but looking back into the context of the matter and you see it was the city, Jerusalem, which, of course contained the Temple, but it was the city He directed His first prophetic words. 

Luke 19:41-44 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.  (NIV)

By the time the city gave up to the Roman army they were so enraged they went against their commander’s order to preserve the Temple and destroyed it.  The Temple burned, the people, for the most part, led away in chains to be sold off as slaves -- still a small remnant escaped, the city had not been completely destroyed.  The rage against this city and this people continued for years.  Remember, a good number of the Roman soldiers gave up their lives in the battle with the religious fanatics of Jerusalem and they were not about to forget it.  At the first sign of more trouble from these unruly people the Roman Empire decided to solve the problem once and for all, and this time would not be satisfied until the whole place was leveled, flattened as a field that could be plowed – the destruction so complete – the people taken away, again – dispersed throughout the world.  This second visit to Jerusalem would be the destruction of the city itself.  How perfect the prophetic words of our Savior.  You would have thought that was the end but as we know today, this would only be the beginning. 

The sign of the End Time?

Luke 21:5-6 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on   another; every one of them will be thrown down 

Don't forget Luke 19:41-44, quoted above, and we see the destruction of the "city" and the Temple all conclusive.  They have the same future, but not the same time.  Now we see the disciples are interested, they want to know more, where as before, there is no mention of the disciples raising questions about His earlier statement concerning the city.  Now, however, they wanted to know, and I'm guessing they never dreamed what they were about to hear.  And after the Messiah's lecture,  that followed, concerning the end of the city, the end of the Temple, and the end of man's rule.

Luke 21:7-8 Teacher, they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?" 

 He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them.

When is the "time near", when "many" come in HIS NAME.  How remarkable this is, this small point, so easily over looked.  Certainly the disciples would be watching for this, and certainly they did witness the apparent falling away during the dispersion but we know that the statement, "The time is near" could not have been for them, not unless you count over 2000 years as near.  No, our Savior, YaHshua, knew that another Messiah would be taught, He knew His true identity and that of His Father would be hidden except for in the end, when the "time would be near" -- not far away -- then "many will come in my Name".  Do you see?  Today, in our time, in this generation, we are seeing a revival in the true identities of the Living God and His Son, YaHshua.  We are seeing this prophetic statement of YaHshua unfolding.  Soon it will be the "many" and not the "few" that will be teaching in His Birth Name, "... claiming "I am He".  He warns them, His disciples, and us, not to be deceived by these. 

What would you imagine the deception to be?   That YaHshua is the Messiah of the Bible?  Hardly, He states this is knowledge these deceivers have already and it is undeniable they are declaring Him (I am He), so what would be the deception?  If we look around the United States and parts of the world, we see the many groups using the birth name of the Messiah and they have the message about Him, and they have the right Identity, although, I see many that do not have the Father's name, but they do have HIS NAME.  What is it outside of that that they teach?  They, in almost every case, teach some form of the Old Covenant, the Old Testament, the Covenant made with Israel as binding on us today. They do not grasp the concept of the freedom YaHshua has granted the follower until His return to "restore the rule of order" under His leadership, not theirs.  When YaHshua comes He will establish the Kingdom of God on this earth -- no one else will do this, no group, no man, no one, the Messiah only is to accomplish the "restorations of Israel" and the rule of Heavenly Law upon the Earth. 

There is a bundle of problems with attempting to uphold a teaching that we are still bound by the Old Covenant.  First it is applied to the Israelites as a people, as a nation.  Some get around this by teaching that we, the United States and Britain, are Israel -- thus -- the Covenant of Israel and all its laws apply to us.  There is absolutely nothing wrong in honoring the God of Heaven and Earth by remembering His Holy Days but this is not what these various groups do.  Most, if not all, however, make it a point of salvation, and that is total error.  They approach the Old Covenant from a view point that keeps crucifying the Savior over and over. 

Col 2:15-18 Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it. Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths. For these are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ (in other words, no longer of Israel). Let no one defraud you, delighting in humility and worship of the angels, intruding into things which he has not seen, without a cause being vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Rom 14:5-6 One indeed esteems a day above another day; and another esteems every day alike. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind.  He who regards the day regards it to the Lord; and he not regarding the day, does not regard it to the Lord. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God (the Father) thanks; and he who does not eat, does not eat to the Lord, and gives God (the Father) thanks.

Heb 7:27 who does not need, as those high priests, to offer up sacrific daily, first for his own sins and then for the people's sins. For He did this once for all, when He offered up Himself.

His sacrifice is the ultimate payment for sin and is complete.  The Old Covenant requires a continuing sacrifice.  Each High day, or Holy Day or Festival must be accompanied by prescribed sacrifice as outlined in the Book of Laws.  These days cannot be properly observed without these sacrifices.  Also, the instruction, from the Messiah Himself would be to follow the instructions of the High Priest in keeping with the Laws of Moses -- none of the teachers of these groups, to my knowledge, do this.  First they would have a problem finding the High Priest serving in Moses' seat, and this would further present a problem if they could find the High Priest, concerning tithes and offerings, to whom they should make payment.  There is also a Holy Day that is to be observed at Jerusalem, the Feast of Tabernacles, yet they come up with excuses for not doing this.  Reading the following verse one could deduce that we are to obey the Priests of Israel?  I think most see the truth here -- that insturction was for then but after His personal sacrifice, "once and for all", there is a change -- at least until the "restoration" by Him at His return. 

Mat 23:1-3Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to His disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do. But do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. MKJV

Please don't misunderstand, I am in no way diminishing the "law" of our Savior.  He summed the "law" up in two commands:

Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?

Mat 22:37- 40 Yahshua said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

It is worth noting the "Two Commandments" our Savior gave can be clearly seen in the form of what we know as the Ten Commandments -- literally written by the hand of YHWH.  The first four of the Ten express a way to show our love for our Creator and the last six of the Ten give a good guide as to how to act toward our fellow man -- first, love for our God -- second, love for our fellow man. 

For those brothers and sisters in the faith caught up in the Old Covenant way of life, please do not think I am against you in any way.  It is not your method of worship, or the attempts at restoring the laws of Moses "as ever lasting" that I would object to -- it is the teaching that all other believers must do as you do in order to find salvation.  It is not the LAW that will save us.  Read Romans 2:12-29 and Romans 3:19-28; 4:1-25 carefully.  Ask yourself, as you read, what Law is being spoken of -- a Law that even a Gentile, or nation can unknowingly keep?  It certainly is not the 613 Laws of Israel, but would easily be understaood as "Moral Law", the Law of conduct, toward the Creator God first, then toward our fellow man.  A Moral Law had been delivered to the Israelites, in writing, but not to the nations (the Gentiles), yet it is these Laws that even Abraham observed and still, even then, it was not enough -- it was ultimatley by "faith" that Abraham became the Father of the Fathiful and it is by faith we believe in the promise of the Holy Spirit unto salvation.  Our struggle is not with Holy days, or scarifice but with personal conduct -- our love for our Heavenly Father and our demonstartion of our love and concern for fellow man, our neighbor, made in the image of our Creator.  This "Moral Law" of conduct is that inner voice that tells you when you know you are doing wrong or are thinking thoughts that may lead you down a path even "nature" says is wrong, and we can see this law of nature, as originally brought into being, expressed in what we have come to call the Ten Commandments -- Still, these laws do not save but are a measure of "conduct". 

When we read of punishment handed out - Sodom and Gomorrah, as example -- on a scale of mass destruction it is not because these people where not keeping the Holy days, or ignoring the civil laws of Israel.  No, it was because they had degenerated to the point of treating the less fortunate as nothing and having an attitude of violence toward others and practicing a sexuality even animals don't do.  Those destroyed by the Flood were destroyed because they had passed the point of no return morally.  They had become so corrupted that only Noah could be found "righteous" in the eyes of the Creator and this is the same thing fate Sodom and Gomorrah faced when they crossed that same line of no return.

 Giving up on set of Laws for Another

The Gentile Christians that dominate the teaching of the Bible and the delivering of the Gospel of the Christ have the same problem as the Jews in understanding the "freedom" issue and the Law.  Same problem, different approach.  The Christians understand the freedom we have in the Messiah, sort of.  They teach to abolishment of the Old Covenant laws to their own hurt as the old Covenant Laws can still teach us things and should be treasured. They do understand that it is through and by the Messiah we have life.  But, like the teachers of the Law for salvation, they make up their own laws and rules and such. Do this, do that, observe this holiday and that, go to Mass, confess sins, do hail Mary's etc, etc, etc.  Here is a verse that makes this point pretty well.  It is aimed at the Israelite but remember the Old Testament writings are also for our instruction and as lessons for us, this verse does apply. 

Isa 28:9-10 Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there."

You see, my friends, it is those barely off the breast that are placed in the chains of doctrine as some kind of salvation solution.  You must do this, or do that, rule upon rule, upon rule.  But that is not all of it.  As Paul Harvey might say, "And here is the rest of the story".

Isa 28:13-14 So then, the word of the LORD (YHWH) to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there-- so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured. Therefore hear the word of the LORD(YHWH), you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.

Isa 28:15 You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place."

A false refuge is thinking you can make the rules and by the rules of all the do, and do, and rule upon rule and by your prefection in keeping these rules of death, the scourge will pass you by, you are protected by these rules, these laws.  This is a false salvation, a deceptive teaching concerning not only the Laws of Moses but of those created by the Christians for themselves.  Of course much of the traditions honored by the Christians have their beginnings in pagan religions, merely renamed and bless, as though that somehow makes it all good. 

I know, I have spent a lot of time on this one subject, but I think it important, and it is when you see it happening right now, just as He said it would.  He has warned us not to follow these deceivers and this would apply to those attempting to bind you with chains of doctrine, of traditions and customs even if they come in His Name -- as He fore-told us they would come.

Moving on through the book of Luke we see that the disciples of YaHshua are warned, "Do not follow them" (Luke 21:8).  He then tells them, and us, not to be disturbed when we hear of wars and revolutions.  He says "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom".  But that is not all.

Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

  But before this, the great earthquakes, etc, something else was to happen to the disciples.  This next thing to happen many have taught applies to end-time saints, I, however, have a different take on this.  Remember, as you read the verses to follow, He told them that before the events of verse 11 they, meaning the disciples standing in front of Him, will have to endure some things "on account of His name".

Luke 21:12-15 But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them.  But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

These verses applied to the twelve disciples.  Certainly it is good advice and even a warning for us today.  If they were to be treated in this way by the world, and they were, then we might expect the same kind of treatment, and many do, especially when you read the next verses.

Luke 21:16-19 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.

The next thing He warned them of -- a time when Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies.  This prophetic statement is an historical fact, as is the record of the Apostles treatment after YaHshua's crucification.  This is also a verse that can apply in todays world as we see, even today, Jerusalem surrounded by its enemies once again.  But, the application of this verse is truly founded around the city of Jerusalem being taken by the Romans in the 3 1/2 year siege.  Remember Luke 19:43, "...you enemies will build an embankment against you."  The KJV has "trench" instead of "embankment", but checking with Strong's Greek Dictionary it is more accurately, "rampart", as in a military method of breaching walls, and that is just what the Roman legions did.  We can see this in the following verses as a prophetic statement that became history.

Luke 21:24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Now, here we are, we know from history that Jerusalem did fall by the sword and the people of that area, those that survived, were taken "prisoners to all the nations".  Then we see the reference to the "until times of the Gentiles are fulfilled".  Jerusalem trampled on by the Gentiles?  And what do we see today?  If Modern Israel is in the hands of the Jews, wouldn't that mean the "trampling on by the Gentiles" is finished?  If that is so, and we only speculate on this, then we are in store for some real happenings, and all before our Savior returns.

Luke 21:25-26 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars. And on the earth will be anxiety of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men fainting from fear, and expecting those things which have come on the earth. For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. MKJV

Those two verses cover a lot of events.  The sequence of these coming events can be followed in the Book of Revelation.  I will cover those events in more detail later, but for now we will finish with Luke's account of what our Savior, YaHshua is telling His Disciples.

When the "times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled, when they are no longer trampling Jerusalem under foot, and it appears as if that may be in our generation, either that or the people in Israel today are not Jews but Gentiles -- granted, the Arabs have control of the Temple mount, but aren't the Arabs half brothers to the Jews?  Certainly, they are children of Ishmael and as such cannot be classified as Gentiles.  Who are the Gentiles then?  Europeans, you know, Italians, Germans, Christians, etc. 

There is always the possibility that the Gentiles will overrun Jerusalem again, and this would then be a second fulfillment.  What matters right now is that we see how close the "second coming" may be.  When you look into the book of Revelation, however, it is plain to see that things are not so simple.  It seems the Messiah, YaHshua, is giving a very abbreviated run down of the events leading up to His return.  Many things, outside of man's control are going to happen.

Luke 21:26 men fainting from fear, and expecting those things which have come on the earth. For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Luke 21:27-30 And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to happen, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near. And He spoke a parable to them: Behold the fig-tree and all the trees. Now when they sprout leaves, seeing it you will know that summer is now near.

Luke 21:31 So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Let's see, there will be "signs in the sun, moon and stars", the nations will be in distress, to say the least, and will not have the answers, being confused by the events that may seem to some as the end of the world, literally.  He, YaHshua, tells us they, the nations, are "perplexed at the roaring and tossing of the sea", and who wouldn't be.  The oceans of this Earth are going to be in upheaval, something beyond Global Warming, for men will faint in terror.  It will appear as the end of the world not the coming of the Savior but the END of all Earth. 

Rev 6:12-17 And when He had opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.  And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind. And the heaven departed like a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from theface of Him sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of His wrath has come, and who will be able to stand?

Notice how nicely this account fits with our Saivor's account, even the fig tree is used in both accounts.  The heavenly signs of coming destruction, the Earth being shaken, and from the Messiah's account, the "sea and waves roaring".  Certainly with the "powers of the heavens" being shaken the response of the Earth would be dramatic, islands and mountains being moved -- men falling dead in fear -- hiding in underground bunkers, even caves in order to escape certain death.

It is not my belief that men will really know this is a prelude to the coming of our Savior.  It does say they are calling on the rocks to fall on them to hide them form His face and to escape the "wrath of the Lamb", but what kind of excape would that be?  To be crushed by rocks is the choice of death so as not to face the Lamb?  Certainly if they knew that much they would at least pretend to be believers.  No, I think that they have no idea what is happening.  They are hidding from His face by accident in an effort not to face, what appears as the end of the Earth.  If they know it to be the coming of the Christ wouldn't they celebrate, knowing the Earth is not coming to an end but will survive these horrible events? 

One thing is certain, reading the rest of the Book of Revelation we can see the great shaking and the "roaring sea and waves", and the mountians being moved out of place that that is not the end and we see something else -- the restructuring of World politics.  It is my belief that these Earth shaking events will virtually change the bounderies of the Earth as we see them today.  When the Beast government rises out of the ashes and destruction, the aftermath of the great earth-quake, it may be a welcome sight to those having survived the near end of Earth.  It may also be why certain countries seen as powers today do not appear in the prophetic account leading up to the Messiah's return.  And that is not all -- this is but the 6th Seal, there is a 7th Seal that ushers in the 7 Trumpets found in Revelation 8 --

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Also see "Our Future"