Bible Prophecy for Today

By Amir Rauf

The purpose of this book is to bring the reader to an awareness of where we are in God's prophetic time clock. Yes, the Gospel must be preached unto ALL nations as a witness, and then the end shall come. Jesus stated this in Matthew 24:14. That being said, we must also be cognizant of what is happening in this world today and what the Bible clearly states regarding the signs of the times we are living in.

The purpose of this book is to help one to understand this from a Biblical perspective. Hence, the title: Bible Prophecy for Today: Examining Current Events Through the Lenses of Scripture. The book is divided into four sections.

The first section covers some introductory but foundational concepts such as why the devil hates prophecy, the importance of Jerusalem in Bible Prophecy as well as the spirit of Anti-Christ and the Coming world leader, all spoken of in the Bible.

The second section covers some important events that are on the near horizon, such as the Rapture of the Church, the War of Gog & Magog as mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39, The Day of the LORD, the Millennial Reign of Christ and the Battle of Armageddon.

The third section is written in regards to what I strongly believe is a subject that many leaders in the Church are not prepared to answer let alone give a biblical explanation of what it means. This is the controversy of the UFO or UAP phenomenon.

The last section covers some important practical matters that one needs to understand in order to persevere and remain strong and at peace in this world, especially if you are a believer in Jesus Christ.

I invite you to read this book and re-read it and go back and study the Scriptures as well. May you be as a Berean who received the word with gladness but studied the scriptures daily to see if it were so (Acts 17:11).

Published by ARD Book Services, A Christian Publishing Company.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amir Rauf
• Release date: Oct 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215331231

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

T

he reason I am writing this book is to bring the reader to an awareness of where we are on God’s prophetic time clock. Yes, the Gospel much be preached unto ALL nations as a witness and then the end shall come. Jesus stated this in (Matthew 24:14).

That being said, we must also be fully aware of what is happening in this world today and what the Bible clearly states regarding the signs of the times we are living in.

In the Book of Matthew, Chapter 24, Jesus was asked by His disciples what would be the signs of His second coming and the end of the age:

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matthew 24:3)

Jesus went on describe the many signs that would appear prior to His return and the end of the age. I am convinced that we are living in the times of these signs and as we draw closer to the end of the age and the return of the LORD, these signs will continue to come to fruition in an accelerated fashion. Jesus also spoke about discerning the signs of the time:

And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3)

When Christ rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees it was because they were not abiding in the Lord, but they were operating in the midst of unrighteous governmental and religious systems.

They did not yada (know) God, and therefore were without understanding and lacked the ability to discern the signs of the time. 

Again, the purpose of this book is to help one to understand this from a Biblical perspective. Hence, the title Bible Prophecy for Today: Examining Current Events Through the Lenses of Scripture.

Part I: The Importance of Bible Prophecy

CHAPTER 1

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Meat In Due Season

And Jesus went out and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matthew 24:1-3)

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e are incredibly grateful to the disciples for asking the most pivotal, prophetic question, What shall be the sign of Thy coming and the end of the World?

As of the writing of this book, we are in the year 2022 A.D. That being said, from the creation of Adam to Abraham, approximately 2,000 years have elapsed. From Abraham to the birth of Jesus Christ, another 2,000 years have elapsed. From the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, yet another 2,000 years have passed. This gives us a total of over 6,000 years. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us not to be ignorant of this one thing, that a thousand years is like a day to God. This is also mentioned in Psalm 90:4.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4)

Now what is interesting to note, is that in the book of Genesis God rested on the seventh day after the creation. According to the book of Revelation when Jesus returns to this earth, He will rule and reign for one thousand years. We will discuss this in an upcoming chapter. But the point I want to make is that we are transfixed between the end of the sixth day and the dawning of the seventh. This means that the return of the Lord can occur any moment. But we will look at several signs that according to the Bible are manifesting before our very eyes. Jesus Himself told us to be watchful:

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore, be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:42-51)

The world, as we know it, according to 1 John 5:19 is inundated and saturated with evil by the god of this world and it lies in wickedness. It is this world that is coming to an end as we know it.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the entire world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:18-21)

This current world is going out because there is a new world coming in. According to the Bible, the obvious degeneration of this world is only a sharp reminder that it had a beginning, and it will have an ending socially, morally, politically, militarily, economically, and religiously. I want to clearly emphasize that this is not a doomsday tactic to acknowledge this nor is it an escape mentality that declares, for lack of better words that evacuation via Rapture is imminent.

To those who know prophecy and God’s plan for the end of time, we are highly motivated in this hour to declare the blessed hope of the coming of the Lord. 

Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, we will not hearken. (Jeremiah 6:17)

I hope that after having read this book in its entirety, you will hearken. I also admonish you to be as the Bereans in Thessalonica as referred to by the Apostle Paul in the Book of Acts:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)

Many people have negative attitudes towards the study of Bible prophecy. For example, there are those who say, Praise God, I’m only concerned about the present, so don’t bother me with ideas about the future. There are others who express a second attitude towards the study of Bible prophecy: Nobody can understand the prophecies in the Bible, so why bother to study them? Many people for example tend to skip right over the Book of Revelation saying things like, This book is too deep, and it has way too much symbolism.

But those who ignore the very last book of the Bible, which is the book of Revelation, will miss the following special blessing that Jesus Christ proclaimed in conjunction with that book: 

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein. (Revelation 1:3)

A careful study of this book reveals that it is the revelation of Jesus Christ given to John the Apostle. Jesus, who came to this earth as a Prophet:

And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. (Luke 4:23-24)

After His resurrection, He ascended to Heaven and is now our High Priest interceding on our behalf:

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. (Hebrews 7:22-26)

Ultimately, one day He will return to earth to rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords:

And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of kings, And Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11-16)

There are over 400 verses in the Book of Revelation, yet over 800 allusions are made to scriptures in the Old Testament. God would have never written the book if He did not want us to possess the prophecies written in this book and to understand them.

Another negative attitude held by many naysayers is that the prophecies of the Bible had already been fulfilled by the end of the first Century A.D.

For example, the judgment upon the Jewish nation that had rejected the Messiah was fulfilled by the Romans in 70 A.D.

It is written in the Book of Ecclesiastes:

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us. (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)

This is also mentioned two chapters later:

That which has been now; and that which is to be hath already been and God requireth that which is past. (Ecclesiastes 3:15)

This tells me that what is to come, in a sense has happened before. Remember, God declared the end from the beginning, and He does not necessarily keep all things hidden from his children.  

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children. (Deuteronomy 29:29).

YOU SEE ACCORDING TO Jewish tradition the study of prophecy is not necessarily a study of the future. Rather, it is the in-depth study and interpretation of cycles and patterns.

Moving ahead, yet another negative attitude toward the study of Bible prophecy is the result of the mishandling of the prophetic scriptures by some Bible teachers and preachers. 

There are prophetic teachers, and then there are what you call pathetic teachers.

Tragically, over the years some have claimed that the prophetic scriptures gave them information that set a date for the Rapture of the church or to identify the personal name of the coming world leader, otherwise referred to as the Anti-Christ. During WWII, many people thought that Hitler was the Anti-Christ. In 1988, a prominent Christian leader authored a book which allegedly provided 88 Reasons that Jesus was returning in 1988. 

When time proved these men to be wrong, not only did it seriously discredit their personal ministries, but it also gave the unsaved more cause to ridicule Biblical Christianity and had a negative effect on the attitudes of many Christians toward the study and teaching of Bible prophecy.  There are now some who claim that the new leader of Greece and/or the current leader of Turkey is the Anti-Christ.

Yet, many Bible scholars do believe that this person is alive today and has yet to discover his destiny unless he already has! Instead of rejecting the study of Bible prophecy because of erroneous teaching, we must reject the erroneous teaching, but at the same time take heed to the valid study and teaching of the prophetic scriptures.

Why Study Bible Prophecy?

1)  Understanding prophecy is an essential and fundamental issue for every Christian. 

2)  The Bible contains over 8,000 predictive verses about 700+ different matters and yet Bible prophecy is one of the most neglected subjects in the Church today. Over thirty percent of the entire Bible consists of prophecy, which is biblical revelation given to mankind.

3)  It is impossible to understand God’s purpose for history apart from the study of Biblical prophecy.

The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched upon all nations. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27)

These scriptures reveal that there is one true God, and He has a sovereign plan for the earth. In the past, God planned and purposed what would happen on earth throughout history. Based upon what He had planned, through His prophets, God declared to mankind what would happen in the future, even to the end of this age. Then, during the course of history, He sovereignly allowed to happen all that He planned and purposed and declared through His prophets. 

And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk-in pride He is able to abase. (Daniel 4:34-37)

No one can prevent God from fulfilling His sovereign purpose for history. The prophetic scriptures are the written record of what God through the prophets declared to mankind would happen even to the end of this earth’s history. Since these divine declarations were based upon what God had planned and purposed for history, no one can utterly understand God’s purpose for history apart from the study of Bible prophecy. It is no coincidence that the Book of Revelation, for example, is the last book of the Bible. God intended it to be the capstone of His divine declaration to mankind because it tells how He will complete his purpose for history.

The study of Bible prophecy is an effective evangelistic tool. God put forth His declarations of future events recorded in the scriptures not to satisfy the curiosity of people wondering what will happen, but rather to be an effective life-changing tool for people of every generation. God uses the study of Bible prophecy to serve as a warning to unsaved people. To warn them in advance that there is a coming wrathful judgment in the future that God has purposed for this rebellious world. Our God is a loving God, a merciful God. But he is also a Just God. The very dispensation of time that we are living in right now is referred to as the Dispensation of Grace. It too had a beginning, and it also has an end. There is a way to avoid this forthcoming judgment and it is through receiving the free gift of salvation through faith in His crucified, buried, resurrected, (and might I add soon to return) Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit uses Bible prophecy to impress unsaved people with the urgency of their trusting in Jesus Christ as their Savior before it may be too late for them.

We now live in a time and age where people are desperately searching for answers. The testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of prophecy.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelations 19:10)

Any Christian who avoids the study and teaching of prophecy thereby limits himself from possibly utilizing an effective evangelistic tool that God has purposefully given to us.

God intends the study of Bible prophecy to purify the believer’s life and to change his or her priorities. For example, all signs clearly indicate that the return of the Lord is imminent. You may have heard of the phrase, The signs of the times. How many have heard of that phrase? Let me inform you today that we are living in the times of those signs!

The English word imminent means "hanging over one’s head, ready to befall or overtake one, close at hand in its incidence.  Thus, an imminent event is one that is always hanging overhead, is constantly ready to befall or overtake a person, is always close at hand in the sense that it could happen at any moment. Now other things may happen before the imminent event, but nothing else must take place before it happens.

The fact that Jesus Christ’s next coming is imminent should be effective in the way Christians live. We should be striving to live holy, godly lives every moment of every day, because in the very next moment Christ could step through the door of Heaven and confront us face-to-face. The Apostle John (Yohannan), emphasized the same truth when he wrote the following to Christians: 

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him. (I John 2:28-29)

And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his works shall be. (Revelation 22:12)

We are running the last lap in this race. We must also be mindful to conform our values and priorities to those of the future eternal state, laying up eternal rewards in Heaven, through effectively living, Godly Christian lifestyles, reading our Word, maintaining our relationship with the Father, praying and worshipping the Father in spirit and truth, staying in communion with the Holy Spirit, winning lost souls to Christ, supporting ministries for the sake of the Gospel, having a repentant heart, and loving our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

Filet Mignon, anyone?

Part I: The Importance of Bible Prophecy

CHAPTER 2

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Why Satan Hates Bible Prophecy

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)

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here has to be a legitimate reason as to why there has been so little interest within the Body of Christ in regarding the study of Bible prophecy. The reason is very straightforward: Satan hates Bible prophecy.

In no means do I want to give credit or acknowledge our adversary for his tactics. The Bible clearly instructs us not to be ignorant of the enemy’s devices:

For to this end also did I write that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:9-11)

He has been steadfastly active in making it a surety to keep God’s people out of it. The common lie often whispered in the ears of Christians is they will either be confused or lack understanding. The Bible tells us otherwise:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Our adversary also minimizes the importance of the prophetic Scriptures to daily living. Consequently, many are attempting to live without the benefit of the prophetic Word of God. My friends, this ought not be.

I want to ask you an amazingly simple question? Who was the first person to receive a prophecy from God? Let us find out:

And the Lord God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity