Common Sense Biblical Answers To End Times Questions

By Glenn Davis

There is much confusion about End Times topics. Scripture is twisted to fit with popular sensational theories. The return of Jesus and the end of the world, as taught in the Bible, are simple. In Common Sense Biblical Answers To End Times Questions, we examine what the Bible teaches in context. We will look at the Truth and expose serious errors that insult the work of the Holy Spirit and the work of Christ on the Cross. I challenge you to test everything in this book by the Word of God.  Don't accept it or reject it automatically.  Please take it to the Scriptures and discover the Truth for yourself.  What you believe matters.

 

I have designed this book in a question-and-answer format.  You can either read the book cover to cover [which I recommend, of course], or you can pick out the questions that interest you and only read those chapters.  Because each chapter can stand alone, you will find some things repeated in different chapters.  This is necessary background if you are only reading specific chapters and sound reinforcement of foundational ideas if you read it cover to cover.  There is a "Quick Answer" under the title, and then the rest of the chapter explains why I believe the quick answer is correct.

 

In this book, I will answer some basic End Times questions and clear up the fog that swirls around this topic.  I will let you know upfront that these chapters are also listed on my website.  You may wonder why you should buy this book instead of going to the website and reading it for free.  There are several reasons why it is preferable to have this book in your hands - either in print or digitally.

 

First, we have all experienced going to a website, enjoying its content, bookmarking it with the intention of returning and then forgetting all about it.  With a book in hand, you are more likely to finish these chapters and enrich your knowledge on this vital subject.

 

Second, my website has over 800 articles and Bible courses. This book collects all the ones related to this topic in an easy-to-find and read format.

Third, with a print edition, you can easily underline and make notes for your own reference.  This is a book with which to launch your study.

 

At the end of each chapter, I have listed the webpage URL and the YouTube video [if there is one].  I have done this so that when you come across a chapter that you think would interest your friends, you can quickly share it with them while you continue to read the book.  This way, you can share and discuss the knowledge you are gaining with others.

 

Also included is a detailed review of The Book Of Signs by Dr. David Jeremiah.  I look at each chapter or section and compare it to Scripture in context.  The Book Of Signs claims to have 31 Undeniable Signs Of The Apocalypse.  This claim is exposed as false.

 

Common Sense Biblical Answers To End Times Questions has approximately 285 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glenn Davis
• Release date: Mar 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224238385

Glenn Davis

Glenn Davis currently lives in beautiful British Columbia, Canada with his wife, Diane.  They have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. Glenn began writing his first El Empire story [Star Action: New Beginnings] when he was sixteen.  His dreams of becoming a full-time writer never materalized; however, he has kept writing.  The stories of the El Empire continue to grow. Glenn continues to work full-time in the grocery business and maintains two websites: www.free-bible-study-lessons.com and www.learn-to-read-vernon.com.  He looks forward to the time he can retire and spend more time writing both fiction and non-fiction.   There is a special section on one of his websites for El Empire news until it justify it's own site.

Book preview

Introduction

Welcome to Common Sense Biblical Answers To End Times Questions.  There is a lot of confusion surrounding the events of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  There shouldn’t be, as it is simple when we examine the Scriptures with an open mind.  [Below, we will briefly look at the four End Times belief systems Christians hold.]

I have designed this book in a question-and-answer format.  You can either read the book cover to cover [which I recommend, of course], or you can pick out the questions that interest you and only read those chapters.  Because each chapter can stand alone, you will find some things repeated in different chapters.  This is necessary background if you are only reading specific chapters and sound reinforcement of foundational ideas if you are reading it cover to cover.  There is Quick Answer under the title, and then the rest of the chapter explains why I believe the quick answer is correct.

In this book, I will answer some basic End Times questions and clear up the fog that swirls around this topic.  I will let you know upfront that these chapters are also listed on my website [www.Free-Bible-Study-Lessons.com].  You may wonder why you should buy this book instead of going to the website and reading it for free.

There are several reasons why it is preferable to have this book in your hands - either in print or digitally. 

First, we have all experienced going to a website, enjoying its content, bookmarking it with the intention of returning and then forgetting all about it.  With a book in hand, you are more likely to finish these chapters and enrich your knowledge on this vital subject.

Second, my website has over 800 articles and Bible courses. This book collects all the ones related to this topic in an easy-to-find and read format. 

At the end of each chapter, I have listed the webpage URL and the YouTube video [if there is one].  I have done this so that when you come across a chapter that you think would interest your friends, you can quickly share it with them while you continue to read the book.  This way, you can share and talk about the knowledge you are gaining without everyone having to buy a book.

I have divided this book into different sections.  Even if you only read select chapters, I suggest you read each introduction. 

Section One:  Israel’s Place In Bible Prophecy

This section is important because one of the most popular Bible Prophecy interpretation methods puts Israel front and centre in their view of the End Times. In this section, we answer questions about Israel’s actual role in Bible Prophecy and what role, if any, modern Israel has to play in the events before the return of Christ. If we are unclear on this, we will be confused on many points of the Second Coming.

Section Two:  End Times Prophecies

This section answers many questions about prophecies and concepts frequently connected to the End Times.  We examine Scripture to see if what we are being taught is correct.

Section Three: The Glorious Conclusion

Here, we examine the Scriptural teaching on how the world will end and the events surrounding Jesus Christ's Second Coming.

Section Four:  Consequences

Ideas and beliefs have real-world consequences. This section examines some consequences of wrong beliefs about the End Times.

Section Five:  A Review Of The Book Of Signs

The Book Of Signs, written by Dr. David Jeremiah, presents the popular dispensational view of the End Times.  There are thousands of books promoting this view.  I chose this book to review because it covers the topic well and kept popping up on my Facebook page.  Honestly, I was slightly offended by its proud claim of 31 Undeniable Prophecies Of The Apocalypse.  This is a topic that sincere Christians have disagreed about for almost 2,000 years.  So, I decided to accept the challenge and put his claim to the test.  After reading my detailed review, you can decide for yourself if Dr. Jeremiah has presented any undeniable prophecies of the apocalypse.  [When I first read the subtitle, I thought maybe someone in marketing just got a little overexcited, but Dr. Jeremiah actually mentions it inside the book].  While I don’t recommend The Book Of Signs, if you want to check whether I am accurately quoting him, go ahead and get it.

What True Christians Believe

All true Christians believe that Jesus will return.  They agree that this return will be visible, physical and at the end of the world as we know it.  At the time of the return of Jesus, there will be a judgment.  Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour may be rewarded but will definitely enter eternity in the glorious presence of God.  Those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour will be sentenced to some degree of eternal punishment.  At death, a person is locked into one destiny or the other forever, depending on their relationship with Jesus Christ.

The how and when of the return of Jesus has been controversial from the beginning of church history.  Sincere, Jesus-loving, Bible-believing Christians have often disagreed on these details.  While I feel strongly about my position and expect others to feel just as strongly about their position, I believe we should all be willing to change if convinced by Scripture of error.  Scripture alone is our guide.  Please check everything in this book with the Scripture in context.  If I fail to persuade you from the Bible that what I say is true, reject it.  Different End Times views are not a reason to break fellowship with other Christians.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  Eph. 4:2-6, NIV

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  Phil. 2:1-4, NIV

Historical Views On The Coming Of Christ

Let’s take a quick look at the three main views Christians have held over the last 2,000 years on the return of Jesus.  This is just a broad stroke, and, of course, each view has multiple variations.  Interestingly, the views are all defined by their interpretation of the millennium - which is only explicitly mentioned in one section of Scripture: Revelation 20.

Historical Premillennialism

The Historical Premillennial view believes that Jesus will return before [pre-] the millennium begins.  They looked for a literal reign of Jesus on the earth for 1,000 years.  It is generally believed that the Tribulation is at the end of this period.  Historical Premillennialism also sees the church and Israel united in New Testament times and believes that the church and the Age of Grace were featured in Old Testament prophecies.

Amillennialism

The Amillennial view believes that there is no [a-] literal millennium but that the millennium is the spiritual reign of Jesus in the hearts of believers during the Church Age.  In other words, they equate the Kingdom of God established at the resurrection of Jesus with the millennium.  They believe that Jesus returns at the end of this period to reign in the New Heavens and New Earth.  They do believe that things will grow darker before the return of Christ.  They also see the Old Covenant blessings as being fulfilled in the Church.

Postmillennialism

The Postmillennial view believes that Jesus will return after [post-] the millennium.  They believe the millennium is a long period [symbolically represented by 1,000 years] after which Jesus will return.  Postmillennialists are the end-times optimists.  They do not necessarily believe that the entire world will be Christian before the return of Christ, but they think that the majority of the world will be under the positive influence of Christianity as the tiny original seed grows to be a great tree.  They tend to believe that the Church was the goal and Israel was the method, with both believing Jews and believing Gentiles being united with Christ forever.

The New Boy On The Block:

Dispensationalism

The Dispensational view is premillennial, although, in other respects, it is very different from Historical Premillennialism.  Dispensationalists consider the millennium a literal 1,000-year period in which Christ will reign on the earth.  They also believe that things will get worse before the return of Christ.  They are focused on Israel as the people of God, and the Church is only an interim measure.  Their system breaks the Bible up into different ‘dispensations’ where God dealt differently with people in the various dispensations.  Therefore, it denies the unity of Scripture.

Dispensationalism, which is very popular in many Christian circles today, has only existed since the 1800’s.  Its newness does not mean it is wrong, but it does mean it should be scrutinized.  John Darby developed this theory.  One of the significant influences he had was a book written in the 1500s by Francisco Ribera.  Francisco Ribera was a Catholic Jesuit priest who wrote his book to defend the Pope against the charges of the Reformers that the Pope was the Antichrist.  In defending the Pope, Ribera put the prophecies of Revelation, Matthew and other sections of Scripture into the future.  How ironic is it that one of the most popular Protestant end-times theories today was originated by a Catholic priest defending the Pope against the Protestant Reformers!

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Introduction For Israel’s Place In Bible Prophecy

Why do we have a section on Israel in Bible Prophecy when three of the four

End Times views see the Church as the people of God in the New Covenant Era?  There is a saying that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  Dispensationalism is the End Times squeaky wheel.  In North America, at least, it dominates popular Christian imagination, books and movies.  It is a tragic sensationalizing of Scripture. 

In the Dispensational scheme of things, natural, physical Israel plays a central role in God's purpose and in the events leading up to the Second Coming [Rapture plus Second Coming...or does that make it the Third Coming?]. 

Everything in God’s mind centers upon one place, one city, one word and that is JERUSALEM. Dr. John Barnett on YouTube

Most Christians throughout Church history have thought Jesus was the centre of God’s plan.  But let’s not let Scripture stand in the way of a good story!

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Col. 1:15-20, NIV

Because of this squeaky wheel on Israel in Bible Prophecy - which even impacts governmental foreign policy - we need to take a look at what the Bible teaches about the purpose of Israel.

What Is Israel’s Purpose

In The Bible?

Quick Answer:  Israel’s purpose in the Bible was to be the instrument through which God would bring the Messiah into the world.

*****

Popular End Times teachings of today make the purpose of Israel to be God's special people for time and eternity.  Although it may be unintentional, Jesus Christ is often placed behind the Jews in the purposes of God.  Israel becomes the center of all God's work. Is that what God intended? Bible students know that Jesus Christ comes behind no one, and any doctrine attempting to steal His glory is highly suspect.

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. Col. 1:18, ESV

What, then, was the purpose of Israel? Why did God choose them? How does what God did in the Old Testament impact today's Jews? If they were God's special people, then are they still God's special people today?

Let's put things into perspective for a moment. The earth has been around for about 6,000 years. It was about 2,000 years from the world's creation until Abraham was born. During that time, God made three universal covenants [i.e. made with all of mankind]. With Abraham, God first limited His covenant scope. It was approximately 500 years later that Israel became a nation at Sinai. About 1600 years after that, the Romans ended the nation of Israel in AD 70. It is safe to say that the majority of human history has been without the nation of Israel. Is the purpose of Israel really to be the center of history, or were they simply given an essential role in the plan for Someone else? Who is the Center of all things?

Before we look at Israel’s purpose and why they were chosen, let's look at three things that did not influence God to choose Israel.

First, God did not select the nation of Israel because they were a great nation or civilization. The Egyptians, the Chinese, and others had great civilizations. The Hebrews were hardly noticeable. They were nomads who became slaves before God called them.

The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; Deut. 7:7

Second, God did not select the Israelites because they were better than anyone else. It wasn't that they sought after God. Even Abraham was an idol worshiper before God introduced Himself. Throughout their history, they engaged in every kind of evil, including, at times, child sacrifice. [Much like parents today who take their unborn children to hired killers to be murdered.]

Do not think in your heart, after the LORD your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out from before you. It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. Deut. 9:4-6

Third, God did not select them because He knew they would be an obedient and submissive people. Anyone who reads the Old Testament knows that is not the case!

You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.   Acts 7:51-53

We can learn from the above that no man - or nation - can ever earn anything from God because of who they are or what they do. To relate to God based on works is to court judgment and death. Everything we have comes by the grace of God alone, without any glory going to man. The purpose of Israel was not to bring glory to themselves.

Back To The Garden

So, what was Israel’s purpose?

To answer that, we have to travel all the way back to the Garden of Eden. God created mankind to have fellowship with Him. It was to be a beautiful relationship. When Adam chose to rebel against God, that relationship was broken. God did not need man and could have ended things right there. But, in love and grace, God had planned a way to restore that relationship. As man's perfect representative, Adam had chosen the path of rebellion. For relationship to be restored, a perfect, genuine human representative would have to choose the path of submission and obedience. In addition, for anyone to accept this new representative, the guilt of their past rebellion would have to be paid for. Wow, what a tall order! [In The Love Covenants course, we trace God working out His plan step-by-step.]

What does this have to do with Israel’s purpose in the Bible?

God chose Abraham and made a covenant with him as part of this unfolding plan. God promised Abraham:

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Gen. 12:3

Notice very carefully that God did not intend to create only one nation that He would choose to love. No, God wanted all the nations to be blessed. Abraham and his descendants would be the channel through which God could pour out His blessing on all people groups. God never intended to limit his attention or blessing to one group. As the plan of salvation was being worked out, this limitation was necessary for a period of time.

Israel’s purpose in the Old Testament was two-fold.

Intercessors

First, they were to represent God to the nations and to intercede on behalf of the nations.

...they [Israel] were also commanded to sacrifice 70 bullocks during the feast [Num. 29:12-38]. Why? Because the number of the original nations of the earth was 70 [they are listed in Gen. 10], and the feast celebrated the ingathering of all nations into God's Kingdom; thus atonement was made for all. David Chilton, Paradise Restored, pg. 45

They were designed in the Old Testament period to be a nation of priests to represent the other nations and make intercession for them until the Messiah would come and open the way for all. One can only wonder how world history would have been impacted if the Jews of that time had had a true vision of their purpose.  Instead, they, like many Christians of today, thought it was all about them.

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. Ex. 19:5-6

Primary Purpose Of Israel:

The Womb

Israel's second, and far more critical, purpose related to the Messiah. The Messiah was to be God as a real human being. He had to have traceable and verifiable roots. He could not just magically appear. There had to be real history, real people. To look at it this way, the purpose of Israel was to be the womb through which the Messiah was to be born. They were never to be the center; the center was always Jesus! The land and all the other promises/blessings were tools to accomplish this mission. They were never intended to be an end in themselves.

If this is true, why did God promise them the land and other things forever or say they would be everlasting? Christians who ask this haven't stopped to think about the question. All Christians believe that the world will end or, at least, be dramatically changed at the Second Coming of Christ; therefore, nothing physical can be forever or everlasting. God is Spirit. The physical is temporary; the spiritual is forever. The forever part of these promises is their spiritual application. Even Abraham recognized this.

By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Heb. 11:9-10, NIV

Yes, Israel was promised the physical land [conditionally]. They fully possessed it two or three times before Christ came. If, after Christ's death, they had repented as a nation, they would have been able to continue to enjoy the land and other benefits until the Second Coming. We know that, as a nation, they rejected Jesus and refused to repent during the forty-year probation period [AD 30 to AD 70]. Therefore, they forfeited their rights to any of the physical promises.

Are there then two different people of God as some End Times teachers imply? No. That is an insult to the cross of Christ. If there is any way in any era to God other than Jesus Christ, then Jesus did not have to die. The Church has not replaced Israel; instead, it was the plan all the time. The purpose of Israel was to be a glorious introduction to the Church, with Israel being given the privilege of being first into the Church. Many Jews did accept this honour and joined the church; unfortunately, as a nation, they continued to reject Christ and were destroyed in AD 70.

So where does this place the Jews of today? They are as much in need of a Saviour as everybody else. The Biblical purpose of Israel as a physical nation ended when the Church was born as the true spiritual nation. Any attempt to manipulate Scripture to apply to the Israel of today is nonsense at best and dangerous heresy at worst. We don't hold the Egyptians [or anyone else] of today responsible for their Biblical ancestors' actions; why should we think the Jews are any different? Israel today is a nation among nations. The Jews are a people among people. God is not a racist. All, regardless of nationality, are welcome to enter the Church through Jesus Christ, and all, regardless of nationality, who remain outside of Christ will be judged.

For a greater understanding of God’s Love Covenants, take our free course, The Love Covenants - https://www.free-bible-study-lessons.com/covenants.html

https://www.free-bible-study-lessons.com/purpose-of-israel.html

Did God Make An

Unconditional Everlasting Covenant

With Abraham?

Quick Answer:  No, as many Bible verses show, the Abrahamic Covenant was conditional.

*****

Whether God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham may seem like ancient history, which is unimportant today. Nothing could be further from the truth. The answer to this question can change a Christian's current focus on the world. An entire area of theology, called Dispensationalism, centers around the modern Jews and Israel. Even current political policy in the Middle East is influenced by this idea.

Let us look at some of the key verses:

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites." Gen. 15:18-21

Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." Gen. 17:3-8

This seems plain and straightforward. God gave what is now known as the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants in an everlasting covenant as an everlasting possession. What more is there to say?

As any Bible student knows, we must always examine context before arriving at a conclusion. Verses not only fit into immediate context but also fit into their place in the context of the entire Bible. [We study the Abrahamic Covenant and the other covenants in The Love Covenants course. This study is an excellent way to get the big picture of God's plan throughout the ages.]

Before we continue, we need to be aware of three traps which are easy to fall into when studying Scripture, especially controversial passages:

1. It is easy to approach the Scripture with preconceived ideas. We all do this to some degree, but we must keep an open mind to search for what the Scripture says, even if it contradicts our ideas. The danger is that our commitment to our ideas of what the Scripture says overrides what the Scripture is actually saying, and we only see what we want or expect to see. We read our ideas into Scripture, often unintentionally. We must have humble and teachable spirits.

2. We can often assume a Western or modern understanding of the Scripture. In other words, misunderstandings can occur because we are not striving to look at it from the perspective from which it was written. We need to understand the Scripture from the point