Bible Prophecy and Modern Prophecy Explored

By Chris Francis

It is widely accepted that we are now living in Apocalyptic times – which means that both good and bad things will happen. Chris Francis shows how eleven out of thirteen accepted signs of the approaching Second Coming of Jesus have been fulfilled. However, events will still unfold over a number of years.
Through examining modern prophecy and Bible prophecy, the author reveals the sequence of events that we can expect (they are on the cover!) The modern prophecy comes from catholic sources, therefore the first chapters aim at explaining the basics of Catholic Christianity for those who are new, or who need to remind themselves.
The picture builds up gradually, and by the middle chapters the discussion should be sufficiently in-depth to interest Clergy and Religious.
This book is unique in scope, and in the aim of bringing together the two sources of prophecy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chris Francis
• Release date: Feb 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311045973

Book preview

BIBLE PROPHECY AND

MODERN PROPHECY EXPLORED

by

CHRIS FRANCIS

'DEDICATED TO THE MERCIFUL HEART OF GOD'

ACKNOWLEGEMENT

Grateful thanks to John O’Connor

Copyright: Chris Francis 2015

Distributed by Smashwords

FOREWORD

When I started reading prophecies in the 1990’s, I felt quite annoyed that no one had brought them to my attention before. I also noticed that the books were aimed at catholic readers – with no explanation for non-Catholics. This book is written with the aim of helping people to catch up - to read in one volume the vital array of modern prophecies, and the various predicted events. Some effort is made to explain unusual concepts for non-Catholics. Modern prophecy and Bible prophecy are placed together, so it can be seen that they complement each other. (It is important to know the correct sequence of events – beware of false prophets who create confusion.) This book takes you from the Tribulation – which is imminent, to the end of Revelation.

CHAPTERS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE AND PROPHECY

3. JESUS PREDICTS HIS SECOND COMING

4. SOME PROPHECY & DISCUSSION

5. WHAT IS GOD LIKE?

6. ANGELS, DEVILS, AND EARLY MANKIND

7. PACTS MADE BETWEEN GOD AND MANKIND

8. THE MISSION OF JESUS

9. PASSOVER - LAST SUPPER - NEW COVENANT

10. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

11. THE CHURCH OF JESUS

12. THE BOOK OF REVELATION (THE APOCALYPSE)

13. SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE

14. MESSAGES OF LOVE, MERCY, AND JUDGEMENT

15. PROPHECY AND THE GLORIOUS CROSS - FRANCE

16. THE APOSTASY - PROPHECY BEING FULFILLED

17. INTRODUCTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

18. THE VIRGIN MARY VERSUS SATAN

19. BEFORE THE SECOND COMING - A DOGMA

20. PROPHETIC SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

21. WHAT ELSE HAS THE VIRGIN MARY TOLD US?

22. GARABANDAL & MEDJUGORJE - SECRETS TO BE REVEALED

23. TRIBULATION & GOD'S RESCUE PLAN (THE WARNING)

24. THE ANTICHRIST

25. POLITICAL & SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR ANTICHRIST

26. ORDER OF EVENTS/GREAT MONARCH & POPE

27. FALSE PROPHET, FALSE CHURCH,CHASTISEMENT

28. THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

29. THE NEW ERA

30. THE LAST JUDGEMENT

EPILOGUE:

HEAVENLY REQUESTS DURING PERIOD OF PEACE

THE TRUE FACE OF JESUS & THE TURIN SHROUD

PRAYERS

NUMBERED NOTES

SUGGESTED READING

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Millions of people in the world today, believe that we are living in the times that precede the Second Coming of Jesus. It is clear that we have been experiencing events that were prophesied in the Bible. Other people point out that the end of the world has been predicted many times in the past. That is true, but the end of the world is not being predicted here, and that will be explained further. The current situation, is that only now in our times, nearly all the relevant Bible prophecies have been fulfilled.

Furthermore, during the past 200 years there has been an impressive build-up of modern prophecy, which should be taken into account. These messages are calls from a loving God, which warn, encourage, and point out what is going on. They have become ever more urgent, telling us that time is short.

Evidently Jesus wanted people all down the centuries to be in a state of readiness for his return. He wanted us to 'stay awake' and not become lax in following his teachings. The disciples of Jesus spoke of the end times, and were hopeful that he might return in their day. The end time that they did in fact witness - which was prophesied, was the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. This meant the end of a thousand years of Jewish religious practice, which had been centred on the Temple.

Jesus prophesied that the Jews would one day return to Palestine. That was fulfilled in 1948 with the creation of the State of Israel. It is one of the signs that had to take place before the Second Coming. Out of thirteen recognised signs, eleven have been or are being fulfilled. The two that are still awaited are: the realisation by the Jews that Jesus really was the Messiah; and the rise of Antichrist. These topics will be explained in later chapters.

Another well known sign, is that the teachings of Jesus will be proclaimed to the whole world. Knowledge of Jesus has now been achieved world-wide through missionary effort, and modern communication – including the radio.

Did Jesus expect the world to be fully Christian before he returned? That was the ideal, however in a sad moment he commented: When the Son of Man comes will he find any faith on earth? (Gospel of St. Luke chapter 18 verse 8).

The Bible tells us in fact that there will be widespread apostasy preceding the return of Jesus. 'Apostasy' means in this case, a rejection and desertion of Christianity by Christians. In the West this has been escalating for over a century. It is the widespread lack of faith that will make the rise of Antichrist possible...

The prophecy concerning Antichrist catches some people's imaginations. This is a man who will take over religious and political control in the world. He will require a religious power base and a political power base. Both of these have been in preparation for many years, and will be ready for the appropriate time.

We should be aware that modern technology provides the means for a huge hoax to take place. The Bible tells us that Jesus will appear in the sky: ...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire... (2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 7). It is apparently possible to bounce laser beams off a satellite, and form holographic images in the sky. The image of a figure surrounded by flames, could be made visible to a large part of the earth's population. This would be so impressive that most people would be convinced that it was Jesus. In the book The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, Constance Cumbey explains how the wrong people are organised for just such an event.

However the time for Antichrist is not imminent. What is going on, is the hidden preparation for a World Government, of which he will be the World Leader. This preparation will include turbulent events which are imminent, but they will be followed by a time of peace. It will be the period of peace that was prophesied at Fatima in 1917. Later on, things will go wrong as people forget Christianity again, and this will allow Antichrist to come to power. His reign will last for 31/2 years. It will be terminated through extraordinary intervention from Heaven. The point to remember - is that he comes before the return of Jesus.

Meanwhile, something unusual has been going on around the world in the past 50 years. In nearly all denominations a ‘Pentecostal’ experience has taken place – meaning unusual spiritual gifts and blessings. This experience became known as Charismatic Renewal, and it is supposed to prepare the world. Countries that have been very receptive to this, include India and China – surprisingly! And therefore China has the fastest growing Church in the world.

Also, for 200 years within Catholic Christianity, an enormous number of apparitions, prophecies, and phenomena, have been part of this unusual experience.

These signs are for everyone, and that is why they are published in this book. They are not widely known, due to indifference on the part of the media. Moreover an attitude of scepticism in Western society, has prevented the wider spread of God's blessing.

So why aren’t our Church leaders preparing us for these times? Well that depends.. some denominations are in a great state of anticipation. Others approach these matters on a wait and see basis. Some ministers have become worldly and dislike the whole idea of prophecy; they are usually not aware of all the evidence.

In the Catholic Church, the warnings and expectancy of Church leaders have been mainly ignored. During the past 150 years, various Popes have made their concerns clear. In 1976 at a Eucharistic Congress in the USA, two years before he became Pope, John Paul II said the following:

We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation that humanity has ever experienced. I do not think the wide circle of American society, or the wide circles of the Christian community realise this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, between the Gospel and the anti-Gospel, between Christ and the anti-Christ. This confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence. It is therefore in God's plan and it must be a trial which the Church must take up and face courageously.

(This is from the book Antichrist by Fr. Vincent Miceli S.J.)

In 1950 Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (USA) a well known speaker and author, expressed the following: We are living in the days of the Apocalypse, the last days of our era. The two great forces of the Mystical Body of Christ, and the mystical body of the Antichrist, are beginning to draw up their battle lines for the catastrophic contest. (From The Thunder of Justice by T. & M. Flynn.)

Catholic prophecies that support the above opinions, are being carefully examined by the Vatican. That is the role of the Church - to be open and attentive to the Holy Spirit. It is understood that God will draw our attention, and throw light on Bible prophecy, as it becomes necessary. Jesus told his apostles that it was the Holy Spirit who would have the task of enlightening the Church: I still have many things to say to you, but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth... and he will tell you of the things to come.

(John chapter 16 verses 12 - 13)

The ideas expressed so far, and in the next paragraph, may sound very strange to some people, but they will be explained gradually in this book. The way that God deals with us, is not meant to be difficult, or only for a few people who understand. God is kind and loving, and he helps us at every step, as we learn to respond to him.

If you had previously thought that the Second Coming of Jesus would bring the end of the world, could you suspend your beliefs for a while? There was a widely held opinion that Jesus would return, that the Final Judgement would take place, and the world would end. Bible symbolism was seen as fitting in with this view. However that is not the only school of thought, and the Church remains open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Theologians – experts, have been assessing valuable prophecies which point to: the return of Jesus in power; a period of extraordinary blessing and peace (with Jesus in Eucharistic glory) prior to the Final Judgement.

There is a theological theory that the Church (the Mystical Body of Christ) will live out its own 'passion and resurrection'. In other words the Church will suffer and appear to die, but with the return of Jesus it will rise to a new life.

In modern prophecy, the period of new life is called the New Era of peace. (It corresponds to Revelation chapter 20 verses 3-6)

This is how the early Church saw it: Now you must repent and turn to God.. so that the Lord may send the time of comfort. Then he will send you the Christ he has predestined, that is Jesus, whom heaven must keep till the universal restoration comes which God proclaimed, speaking through his holy prophets. (Acts of the Apostles, chapter 3 verses 19-21)

For beginners, this book is best read chapter by chapter – because it gives explanations, and builds up the whole picture. When you reach the later chapters it should all make sense. Let’s hope!

CHAPTER 2

Introduction to the Bible & Prophecy

Why should we listen to what the Bible has to say? For those who are not familiar with it - the Bible is extraordinary, and powerful, and inspired by God, putting us in touch with him in a unique way. This is particularly the case with the writings about Jesus Christ. It has been tried and tested for over 2,000 years, and continues to have a profound effect upon people of every nationality. The Bible's earliest stories reach back into the dawn of history. We are told that all mankind descended from two original parents (known as Adam and Eve) and the science of this is mentioned in a later chapter.

The Bible was written almost entirely by Jews (Hebrews or Israelites as they were also known). The authors were all kinds of people, with all sorts of occupations. We say that God inspired their writing. That is why their work was selected and preserved. The individuality of the writer is there, but that ordinary person managed to reveal God’s message. Should we take every word literally – for example was the world created in six days? No it wasn’t, and that is why we need guidance, because there are different styles of writing. Did Jesus cure the sick, cast out demons, walk on water, and rise from the dead? Yes he did – that was literally true.

How did things get going? God took one man - Abraham - who was a descendant of Noah. He lived around 1,800 B.C. back in the Bronze Age. From Abraham there grew a family, then a tribe, then a nation. The Bible is not intended to be a history book, yet it gives a vivid record of those early times. Abraham came originally from Ur, which was in present day Iraq… The epic stories were passed down faithfully from one generation to the next. The Hebrews began as a small insignificant tribe, they were originally nomads in the area of Palestine. Throughout their history the Jews were surrounded by great empires, yet most of those empires are forgotten. None of them, not even the Greeks and Romans, left a book that has influenced and shaped the world in the way that the Bible has done. This cannot be explained in human terms.

Instead of the word Bible, people sometimes use the term Scripture or the Scriptures. The actual book is divided into two parts, and the larger part is the Old Testament, which covers the time before Jesus Christ. These writings are the basis of the Jewish faith. People are surprised that they contain a lot of fighting and violence, but it is because they record the turbulent early history – when tribes constantly fought over territory.

At the back of the Bible is the New Testament; this covers the life of Jesus, his teaching, and the writings of the early Christian leaders. (This is where a newcomer should start to read.) Jesus was a Jew, and so were his followers, for it was the Jewish nation that God had chosen for an especially close relationship. God told them about himself, and how he wanted them to live. The plan was, that after the time of Jesus, the Jews would take his message to the whole world. Unfortunately many Jews did not understand their mission, they carried on in the old ways, and have done so to the present day.

During the times of the Old Testament the Jews were regularly spoken to by God, through his prophets. After the time of Jesus however, all that stopped. Instead, the inspirations and prophecies were given to the followers of Jesus, and that is how it has remained. God did not discard the Jews, but the long-standing invitation was for them to recognise Jesus as the Messiah. Their faith however, remained the source of their national identity, in spite of being exiled from their country for 1,800 years.

So why doesn't everybody turn to the Bible? Probably because it has different levels of understanding. If you read it with no awareness of God, then it will read like a text book. However as a person's faith grows - so they can see more in it - especially the New Testament. As they progress further, it speaks to the inner spiritual life of the person, and puts them more in touch with God. Finally it becomes positively exciting, as a person’s spirit opens up to a revelation of God that was previously hidden. The best way for us to read the Bible, is to ask the Holy Spirit each time to open our mind and heart, so that we can see the deeper meaning.

A word of explanation for anybody new to the Bible, is that it contains a number of sections or ‘books’. Each section has a title or an author, and there is a guide at the front of the Bible telling you where to find it. The ‘books’ are divided into chapters and then into verses. When we quote from the Bible, we put the title or author, the number of the chapter and the number of the verse, and then it can easily be found. The quotation that will now follow is from the New Testament, one of the letters of St. Paul (the letters used to be called epistles).

First Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 19 - 21. A short way of putting that is 1 Thessalonians ch. 5 v. 19 – 21.

In this book it would be written 1 Thessalonians 5: 19-21.

(People familiar with the Bible reduce Thessalonians to Thes. At the back of a Bible there will be a list of these abbreviations.)

So here St. Paul gives some advice concerning prophecy: Do not extinguish the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.But test all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes. 5:19-21)

How much trust can we put in Bible prophecy? Well there are different styles of prophecy, and it is a wide topic. However, we can see quite clearly in the Old Testament, that many prophecies were given by God, and they did come true. Some were plain and obvious, others were hidden and only understood after the event. This was the case with Jesus Christ, whose birth and death had been predicted hundreds of years earlier. It was not until his virgin-birth, and his crucifixion and resurrection, that older prophetic passages became clear. In the New Testament, the accounts of the life of Jesus are called the gospels, and they were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These writers draw our attention to the various prophecies that were being fulfilled during the life-time of Jesus.

When it comes to our own period of time, we must look carefully at Bible prophecy. One cannot take just one section and draw a conclusion (e.g. Matthew chapters 24 - 25). No – the Bible must be considered as a whole. Prophecies from the Old Testament and New Testament must all be assessed together, when trying to predict our situation. Similarly with ‘modern’ prophecies: we should look at past and present, and prophecy from around the world. It is like a jig-saw puzzle; God gives a piece of information here, and a piece there. He wants to hold our attention.. Of course modern prophecy must coincide with Bible prophecy, if it does not – then it is false.

You may be surprised at how far in advance some ‘modern’ prophecy is given – sometimes 200 years. We cannot complain that we had no warning!

For our purpose, we need to know that some Bible prophecies can apply to more than one situation. This is because history repeats itself, and similar situations arise. It also occurs, because the Bible is inspired by God, and in his wisdom he can foresee all things. An example of this is a passage from Isaiah: it was written around 540 B.C. and prophesied the release of the Jews from captivity in Babylon (present day Iraq). It also applied to the first coming of Jesus. Now it applies to the Second Coming of Jesus, but with a difference.. Part of it says:

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

Here 'Jerusalem' originally referred to the Jewish nation.

After the time of Jesus however, ‘Jerusalem’ was taken to refer to the new Jerusalem, which is the Church - all Christian people.

It is the Church which has to prepare the way for the Second Coming of Jesus:

A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low.. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.' ...See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:1-11)

The most difficult prophecy to interpret, is found in the apocalyptic literature. This is a style of writing used by some Old Testament prophets. It is in parts of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, and especially in the Book of Daniel. The style was also used by St. John, in the Book of Revelation (called the Apocalypse) which is in the New Testament. A code of symbolic language was used, which can appear confusing or frightening to us, until the spiritual meaning is understood.

When people use the term Apocalyptic or the Apocalypse, they are usually referring to the period before the Second Coming of Jesus. St. John’s description of this period is very dramatic.

Do events take place because they were prophesied? That would vary, the good things – like the birth of Jesus, were pre-planned, and prophesied. Plus he had a particular mission to fulfil. Usually however, things are prophesied because God knows they are going to happen. God exists outside of ‘time’, he knows the past, present and future. Since he can see the future, he is able to tell us beforehand. But we mustn’t be fatalistic and think that life is pre-ordained.

For example God did not plan for Judas to betray Jesus, no - that was his own choice. Jesus was going to die at that time anyway. However God knew what Judas would do, and therefore it was prophesied.

God did not plan the coming of Antichrist: if we look around we can see how we invite the situation… the empty churches, the decline in morals, the fascination with the occult. God has warned us in the Bible, and he has been warning us for very many years through Christian prophets. The point is, that bad people plan bad things, and if the others don’t bother with God, then his protection is not available.

The word prophecy does not always mean 'telling the future'. It can also be a forth telling by God; which is to say - words of love, direction, warning, which are intended for every generation. A lot of modern prophecy also takes this form of communication from God. He wants to communicate in our times, in our language, about things that concern us.

In conclusion, Bible prophecy can be trusted as long as we interpret it in accord with established Church teaching. St. Peter wrote the following:

At the same time, we must be most careful to remember that the interpretation of scriptural prophecy, is never a matter for the individual. Why? Because no prophecy ever came from man's initiative. When men spoke for God, it was the Holy Spirit that moved them. (2 Peter 1:20 - 21)

CHAPTER 3

Jesus predicts His Second Coming

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say: 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'

(Matthew 23: 37-39)

These were the words of Jesus as he became increasingly upset, because the Jewish leaders would not listen to him. The expression 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord' was the greeting reserved for the Messiah. Jesus uses it here to predict his own Second Coming in glory. (The word Messiah means Saviour-King.)

An important teaching from St. Matthew's gospel now follows. Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, plus the events surrounding his Second Coming. He combined the descriptions of these two situations, because there were to be similarities between them. Some of the prophecies apply both to the Jews and to our own times. Back in those days there was the threat of the Roman Empire; in our time there will be the empire of the Antichrist.

For us the Coming of Jesus will put a stop to Antichrist.

"Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. ‘Do you see all these things?’ He asked. ‘I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us’ they said ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming 'I am the Christ' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth-pains.

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 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.

So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation', spoken of through the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equalled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

At that time if anyone says to you: 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christ's and false prophets will appear, and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you 'There he is, out in the desert' do not go out, or: 'Here he is, in the inner rooms' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:1 - 42)

There is a similar description in the gospel of St. Luke (17: 22 – 37 and 21: 5 - 36) and in the gospel of St. Mark (13 : 1 - 27).

St. Luke also includes the following: When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. (Luke 21: 20- 21)

The Temple in Jerusalem was a magnificent building, and each day sacrifices were offered to God. At three holy times in the year, Jews would come from all over the Roman Empire, in order to celebrate and give honour to God. Most Jews hated the fact that Israel had been conquered and made part of the Roman Empire. They considered the Jewish nation to be a theocracy - meaning that it should be living by God's rules alone, and not the rule of Rome. Eventually the freedom fighters caused so much trouble to the Romans, that the Empire organised an invasion in 66 A.D. The followers of Jesus remembered the above prophecy, and so the Christians moved out of Jerusalem to the town of Pella.

The siege of Jerusalem commenced in 70 A.D. during the Feast of Passover, and it ended in a terrible blood-bath. The Temple was desecrated and destroyed, and from that time onwards the Jews were no longer able to offer sacrifice to God. Their religious practice was limited to the synagogues, where they prayed and read the Scriptures (Old Testament). The significance of this will be explained later, because just as prophecy passed to the followers of Jesus, so did the offering of sacrifice pass to them. The sacrificial feast of Passover was not lost; rather it took on a new and dynamic Christian form.

When Jesus said: This generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. He was referring to the events surrounding the destruction of the Temple, and he was proved correct. A 'generation' was 40 years, and Jerusalem was destroyed 37 years later in 70 A.D.

As for the comment of Jesus: So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation...' it is one of those prophecies that applies more than once. The abomination referred to the desecration of the Holy of Holies in the Temple, by the Romans. It also refers at the 'end of the age' to the desecration of Christian worship, which will be caused by the Antichrist.

Notice that the expression ‘the end of the age' was used by the disciples when they asked ‘what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?’ They had expected Jesus’ Second Coming and the end of the age – to be in their own life-time. They had not understood that the particular ‘end’ they would experience, would be the dramatic end of the Temple era.

Jesus gave us plenty of signs to look out for at the end of the age -prior to his Second Coming. There will be dramatic effects within nature, which will be a powerful warning. He described them as follows: There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. (Luke 21: 25)

The times will be marked by wars, famine and earthquakes; plagues are also mentioned in St. Luke's gospel. Christians will be persecuted for their beliefs. We can say for our own period of history that these signs have been evident. Jesus reassured us with the following words:

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21: 28)

Jesus said that he would return to earth, after his teachings had been spread throughout the world. This is expressed in St. Matthew's gospel as: 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: 4) It may not be apparent just how far Christianity has reached. Over the past 2,000 years it has been preached in every country of the world; whether people choose to convert is another matter. Some countries that were Christian, later converted to Islam, which was founded by Mohammed in the 7th century. In Japan people hide their Christian faith for social reasons. In China Christianity is hidden for political reasons. There will be further world-wide evangelisation in due course.

A prophecy concerning the return of the Jewish people to Israel, is in St. Luke's gospel: Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21: 24)

Jesus also makes it clear that there will be false Christs, and false prophets. The ultimate false Christ will be the Antichrist, and the ultimate false prophet will be