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Wake Up America Lesson 1 (continued)
The list itemizing all that has been
discovered within the past century
could fill many pages; but isn’t
it ironic that even with all our vast
learning and knowledge, that we are
as ignorant as our forefathers about
the future?
Until now
New discoveries in Bible prophecy
have opened up. The mystery of
Revelation is unfolding. There is a
prophetic mechanism that seems to
occur with interesting
regularity: “Prophetic
things are understood on or about the
time of fulfillment.”
As we shall see in subsequent
studies, this mechanism was true in
ancient Israel, true at advent of
Jesus, true at the destruction of
Jerusalem and this mechanism will be
shown for our time!
This Bible study has no
denominational endorsement. It
is quite clear from Scripture that
God is not going to save any one
denomination. Revelation’s
story is not concerned with
denominational affiliation; rather,
Revelation’s comprehensive story
predicts that everyone will fall into
one of two groups: those
worshiping God and those rebelling
against Him.
What does Revelation say about the
future?
·At least 3 gigantic earthquakes
will occur. Even though the
Lisbon, Portugal earthquake in 1755
shook an estimated 4 million square
miles, these predicted earthquakes
have no equal in times past.
· 14 devastating judgments are
coming upon the earth. These
rightly called “Acts of
God” will physically affect our
earth by harming the land, rivers and
oceans. Even the sun, moon and
stars will be affected.
Millions of people will suffer and
die as a result of these
plagues. Sickness and disease
will be everywhere.
·An enormous political and religious
revolution will occur around the
world as a result of falling
calamities. As a result, a
great spiritual awakening will occur,
leading to a global coalition of
religious and political powers.
A great contro-versy will develop
over the definition of sin and
religious intolerance will increase
dramatically. Great anger will
arise between people as to
“who” is responsible for
the plagues and “who” is
responsible for their continuation.
· Economic chaos will result,
causing governments the world over to
enforce strict rationing.
Controls on buying and selling will
be implemented.
· Revelation predicts that 25% of
the earth’s population will die
as a result of the coming
judgments! This means that 1
billion people could perish in coming
events.
· During these desperate
circumstances, a dazzling and miracle
working being will appear on earth to
be Jesus. Actually, he will be
Satan and deceive most of the world
with his miracles.
· Protestants, Catholics, Atheists,
Moslems, Jews and Eastern Religions
will eventually unite and play a
major role in the coming revolution
for a period of approximately 3.5
years.
· Every person on earth will face a
great testing time. Ultimately,
two groups will emerge: those who
love and obey God and those who
collaborate with the glorious person
of Satan (claiming to be Jesus) to
stop the plagues.
· What kind of God could do these
things to earth? Why are the
plagues so awful? “The
days of punishment are coming, the
days of reckoning are at
hand…Because your sins are so
many and your hostility so
great…” Hosea
9:7,8 The ultimate reason
for the coming terrible and awesome
events is God must test and reveal
the loyalty of each human
heart. According to Revelation,
God has chosen to arrest the
attention of earth’s inhabitants
with seven trumpets so that all may
hear the gospel message. Every
person on earth must be given an
opportunity to hear God’s
special warning message during this
time and make an intelligent decision
for or against the King of
Kings. Thus the words of Jesus
will be fulfilled, “And this
gospel of the kingdom will be
preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then
the end will come”
(Matthew 24:14)
· The stage is almost
ready. The angels of
destruction bearing the wrath of God
will shortly begin their work.
A rapid and irreversible countdown of
events leading to the second coming
of Jesus will soon begin.
· Great reward and eternal life
is promised to all that endure to the
end! A land fairer than day, a
place to rest and a home of eternal
joy with Jesus, angels and friends
awaits all who are willing to stand
for God’s truth.
A Parallel
Just before the destruction of
Jerusalem in A.D. 70, a series of
ominous signs occurred. The
Historian Milman, in the History of
the Jews, book 13 says:
- In the middle
of the night, an unnatural
light shone over the temple.
- Priests
ministering at night in the
temple were terrified by
mysterious sounds. The
earth trembled and they heard
voices crying out: “Let
us depart hence.”
- Clouds at
sunset were pictured with
chariots and men of war
gathering for battle.
- The great
eastern gate which was so
heavy that it could hardly be
shut by 20 men, and which was
secured by immense bars of
iron fastened deep in the
pavement of solid stone,
opened at midnight with
invisible agency.
- For seven
years, a man continued to go
up and down the streets of
Jerusalem declaring woes to
come upon the city. He
was caught and imprisoned to
which he only cried,
“Woe – Woe to
Jerusalem.” His cry
continued until he was slain
in the siege that he
foretold.
As in the days of
ancient Jerusalem, do we have signs
pointing to a great time of
tribulation? Is the world
really coming to an end? Is the
second coming of Jesus actually going
to occur on or before the year 2017?
Many men and woman today are
anticipating something awesome is
about to happen. Something
ominous is coming. But what is
it? Is it economic ruin?
Atomic war? Are we living at
the dawn of a new age?
“I’ve got to tell you, I
think the person in office (in the
White House in 2003) is going to be
on the end of a chain
letter…I’m really not a
lonely voice. I am a spiritual
voice saying what many people from
different backgrounds are already
saying now.” Pastor
from Dayton, Ohio 2003
The Bible predicts the world will
come to an end. However, 2000
years have passed since Jesus was
upon earth and the world hasn’t
ended yet. Will it end in our
day? Is it possible to know
when the end will come? What
should we look for? How should
we prepare? The disciples had
the same questions!
They asked, “What will be the
sign of your coming?”
Jesus prophesied a number of
indicators in Matthew 24 and Luke
21. However, these two chapters
do not tell the whole story.
There is one book of the Bible, one
tiny book of 17 pages that fills in
the gaps. It has been around
for centuries, yet its message
remains a big mystery.
Christian people from all backgrounds
believe it is an important book, but
who can tell? For hundreds of
years, this book has intrigued
writers and scholars; yet no one has
stepped forward with an explanation
that makes lasting sense. This
book is the last book in the Bible
called Revelation – written
about 100 A.D. by the apostle John
while exiled on the desolate isle of
Patmos for his loyalty to Jesus.
The value of a
map
Ancient cartographers
(map makers) placed dragons at the
edge of the ocean for they were
convinced that when sailors reached
the edge of the world they fell off
the earth into the mouth of
dragons! They didn’t know
what was beyond the “edge of the
world”, but they were sure that
it wasn’t good! Many
people fear the future and dismiss
any warning about the second coming
of Jesus. But Bible prophecy is
like a road map that explains the how
and why of coming events.
Suppose a long-lost
relative in Australia passed away
leaving you millions of
dollars. An attorney from
“down under” calls saying
that you must come and claim what has
been given you? You decide to
pick up a map after arriving in
Australia to find the right
address. Suppose the map was
faulty. What would be the
consequences? Even more, what
would be the likelihood of finding
the right address without a map?
Coming events
Revelation is a map of
coming events. Without proper
understanding, we can get lost.
The ultimate question
we face is this; “Am I willing
to follow God’s Map?”
Revelation says, “The Spirit and
the bride say ‘Come!’
And let him who hears say
‘Come!’ Whoever is
thirsty, let him come; and whoever
wishes, let him take the free gift of
the water of life.”
Revelation 22:17
Quiz
- Why is the
punishment coming upon the
earth? Hosea 9:7,8
- According to
Matthew 24:14, the end will
come when the gospel:
- List two
predictions from Revelation
about the future:
- Who is invited
to take the free gift of the
water of life?Revelation
22:17
Memory Verse-
Matthew 24:14
“And this gospel
of the kingdom will be preached in
the whole world as a testimony to all
nations, and then the end will
come.”
