These Bible studies are dedicated to the express purpose of spreading the comprehensive gospel of Jesus Christ. Because the apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel and Revelation are about to be fulfilled, the words of the Apostle Paul particularly apply to our generation. He said,"...the hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 13:11,12  

Is it possible to tell if the present generation will be the last generation to live on earth? Can rational people assert that the coming of Jesus is near when people have been repeating this message for almost 2,000 years? What Biblical evidence proves that Jesus will soon return?

 These are fair and reasonable questions. And there are two good answers.  First, the apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel and Revelation and certain historical events combine to provide reasonable evidence that Jesus is about to return. Unlike other types of prophecies, apocalyptic sequences have a beginning point and a ending point. Apocalyptic sequences also contain events that allow us to mark the passage of time as they are fulfilled. By understanding the sequences and identifying those parts that have been fulfilled, we can reasonably determine our chronological position within God's great time clock. Secondly, the very number of people living on planet Earth indicates horrific troubles are ahead. And the current rate of growth, another 6 billion people will swell the human race within 30 years! Will there be enough food, shelter and resources for everyone? Can earth's delicate ecosystem sustain life for 10+ billion people?  

Preparation for the second coming is all important. It is not enough to believe that Jesus is returning to earth for the devil knows this to be true. It is not enough to understand the prophecies too. It is not enough to belong to some church for the devil has infiltrated all the religious systems in the world. Preparation for the second coming is only obtained by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord over your life and by faith as He leads. Study your Bible, pray for understanding, share the things Jesus reveals to you, love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself and you will grow in grace - "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:13 These studies are not sponsored nor endorsed by any religious body or organization. Rather, this is a "grass roots" attempt by ordinary people to bring the "good news" of the soon coming Jesus to every person that will listen.

One last closing thought I remain just as enthusiastic and fully convinced today that the coming of Jesus is imminent! My eager anticipation might be compared to that of Simeon, the prophet who desperately wanted to see baby Jesus before his own death. (Luke 2:25-32)

Even though I have not had a revelation from the Holy Spirit that I would live to see Jesus return as Simeon did, I am convinced that our generation is the final generation. I say this for three reasons:

1.  According to Daniel 12: 4,9, the book of Daniel was sealed up until the appointed time of the end.  I believe the book of Daniel is now unsealed because we have the four rules of interpretation that were hidden from view for the past 26 centuries. The discovery of these four rules enables us to reach the intended meaning of Daniel and Revelation. Furthermore, it is a historical fact that on or about the time of fulfillment, God ensures that people understand the fulfillment of His Word.

2.  In 2004, a friend of mine produced a series of four studies on the Jubilee Calendar. http://www.wake-up.org He showed how seventy Jubilee cycles expired in 1994, which makes this date highly important because God’s patience with Earth came to an end that year. The seven angels in Revelation 8:2 received the seven trumpets in 1994 and as they went out from God’s throne to hurt Earth, they were told to wait until the 144,000 were sealed. Do you remember how God’s patience with Israel ended with the seventy weeks in A.D. 33, but the destruction of Jerusalem occurred in A.D. 70? This is a parallel. Time for Earth has run out, and were it not for the command to wait, the first four angels who have the seven trumpets would have imposed the Great Tribulation on Earth eleven years ago!

3.  The 1,000 years in Revelation 20 will be a sabbatical millennium-God’s saints will rest from the effects of sin and Earth itself will enjoy a Sabbath rest, too. As far as I can tell, the 6,000^th year is somewhere between 2008 and 2017. Of course, time will tell. The point here is that the commencement of the 1,335 days of the Great Tribulation cannot be far from now. If time study frightens you – take a look at the behavior of people! We live in a world that is spiritually, morally and financially bankrupt.

While these three matters are brought together, it seems clear to me that we need to do everything we can while we can. Every farmer knows that you “make hay while the sun shines.” Since the Son of righteousness continues to bless us with relative peace and certain freedoms, we would be wise to do everything possible to proclaim Revelation’s story while we can. We are doing everything we can to accomplish this. Our web site and others is dedicated to bring the light of Jesus Christ and His eternal message to others, so they can decide to accept Jesus and His saving grace and be part of His eternal kingdom.

Bob Stout August, 2003