Introduction:
The Bible is the only book that has accurately foretold the future on hundreds of occasions, without any mistakes.
Many Bible prophesies tell us what the world will be like just before Jesus Christ returns. By matching these prophecies with world events of the late 20th century, we see strong evidence that we are living in the time just before Jesus Christ's return to takeover planet Earth as its King and Judge of all men.
"The Lord shall be King over all the earth." Zechariah 14:9.
Before this happens the earth will go through seven years of very great trouble:
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved." Matthew 24:21, 22.
20th century fulfilled Bible prophecy is important because:
a) We will know the days before Christ's return by matching world events with Bible prophecies of the end times.
b) Since 20th century events do match these prophecies, we conclude that Christ's return is close.
c) We should watch, and be ready by living holy lives, leading people to Christ, and teaching the Bible in the short time that we may have left.
d) We see fulfilled prophecy as proof of God's Word being true and relevant for us today.
e) No other book correctly foretells 20th century events, showing other religions to be false, in error and not from God.
Check these Bible prophecies with current events:
1. JEWS RETURN TO ISRAEL AS A NATION IN THE LATTER DAYS.
"I will gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land." Ezekiel 36:24.
"When the Lord shall build up Zion, (Israel as a nation in Jerusalem), he shall appear in his glory." Psalm 102:16.
Recently many Jews are returning to Israel from Russia in the North, and from Ethiopia in the South as predicted in Isaiah 43:6.
The Old Testament and New Testament are full of predictions that the nation of Israel would be:
a) scattered among the nations for its sins." Ezekiel 36:17, 19.
b) preserve its identity, and finally
c) return to be established in its own land in the last days. Ezekiel 36:24.
d) they will cultivate the land. Ezekiel 36:30, 34.
e) they will become a powerful military force. Isaiah 19:17.
f) they will fight at Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:14.
| a) |
Fulfilled in 70 AD |
.... When the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their own doings. And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries .... I will take you from AMONG THE |
| b) |
Fulfilled in May 14, 1948 |
HEATHEN, AND GATHER YOU OUT OF ALL COUNTRIES AND I WILL BRING YOU INTO YOUR OWN LAND" (Ezekiel 36: 17, 19, 24). |
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| c) |
Fulfilled since 1948 |
The land of Israel will become fruitful: "And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, ... the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by." (Ezekiel 36:30, 34). |
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| d) |
Fulfilled in June 1967,
in the Six day war
when Israel took
Jerusalem |
The nation will be a military force: "And Judah also SHALL FIGHT AT JERUSALEM; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together ... " (Zechariah 14:14) |
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| e) |
Fulfilled after the 1967 war |
"And the land of Judah SHALL BE A TERROR UNTO EGYPT, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself ..." (Isaiah 19:17). |
Other references to Israel's return to the land are:
a) "Budding of the fig tree" represents "Israel becoming a nation."
Matthew 24:32, 33.
b) "I will bring you into the land of Israel." Ezekiel 37:11-14.
c) "Israel ... is gathered out of many people .. in the latter years.."
Ezekiel 8:8, 11, 14, 16.
d) "I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle ..." v.2 Zech 14:1-21.
2. TRAVEL TO INCREASE. Daniel 12:4
"... the time of the end: many shall run to and fro ..."
The time of the end is characterised by an increase in the number of people travelling to and fro around the world. With the invention of aeroplanes, cars, trains and ocean liners, travelling across the world at low cost is possible for many people. These inventions are unique to the 20th century. Before 1900 very few people travelled outside their country.
| 3. KNOWLEDGE TO INCREASE. Daniel 12:4
"...the time of the end:....and knowledge shall be increased."
Inventions of the 20th century show this to be true, for example: electricity, computers, space travel, chemistry, nuclear physics, radio, TV, telescopes, jet propulsion, laser, electronics, medicine, etc. |
4. UNDERGROUND SHELTERS.
"... every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains ... from wrath of Lamb." Revelation 6:15.
"And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, ... when he arises to shake terribly the earth." Isaiah 2:19
Never before the 20th century have nations built so many underground shelters against conventional or nuclear war. For example, the Swiss Air Force parks its planes in the mountainside, the London underground railway protected people during German air raids, nuclear shelters exist in Washington, Moscow, Sweden and Rome.
5. MANY NATIONS COMING TO INDEPENDENT STATUS.
"Behold the FIG TREE (Israel) and ALL THE TREES (many nations gaining independence); when they now shoot forth, ye see and know ... that summer is near at hand. So likewise ye, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near at hand." Luke 21:29-31.
This century has seen many nations gaining independence, for example ex-British Commonwealth countries, ex USSR countries, many African countries and many small Pacific Island countries. As the "Fig Tree" refers to Israel (Joel 1:6, 7), so does "all the trees" refer to many nations springing up this century.
6. EARTHQUAKES TO INCREASE.
"... earthquakes in divers (many) places." Matthew 24:7.
"... there was a great earthquake." Revelation 6:12.
"... there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great" (v.18). " ... the cities of the nations fell ..." (v.19) " ... the mountains were not found." (v.20). Revelation 16: 18-20.
Every earthquake is a warning to the nations of God's power, and that God is soon going to judge the earth because of its rebellion and wickedness.
The year 1991 saw 15 earthquakes over 7.1.
From November 4-10, 1989 saw 8 earthquakes from 3.5-6.0. These sized quakes occur every week somewhere in the world. Isaiah 24:19, 20, 21.
The Australian Seismic Centre in Canberra records 100 earthquakes every day. 75% of these are of magnitude 3-4 on the Richter Scale. 25% are greater than magnitude 4. Yes, earthquakes have always occurred, but never so many daily worldwide, with such great loss of life as in the 20th century.
7. WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS.
"When ye hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled, ... the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom ... these are the beginnings of sorrows." Mark 13:7, 8.
Never have there been so many wars all over the world involving so many nations on so many occasions. eg. World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, China/Vietnam, Falklands, Ireland, Israel-Arab wars of 1948, 1967, 1972, 1980, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Angola, Iran/Iraq, Iraq Gulf War 1991, Croatia 1991, Cold War, terrorist wars etc to name a few. At least 19 major wars occured from 1914 -1991 over 77 years.
8. RUSSIA, IRAN, LIBYA, ETHIOPIA, GOMER (Germany) WILL INVADE ISRAEL.
"I am against thee O Gog. The chief (Rosh) prince of Meshech (Moscow), and Tubal (Tobolsk), Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, ....Gomer, Togarmah 8in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is gathered out of many people ... they shall dwell safely ... 15thou shalt come out of the north parts ... in the latter days." Ezekiel 38:2, 3-23.
These nations have a history of opposing Israel. These verses give a time fix (latter years), and a place fix (north, as Moscow is directly north of Israel). This can only be fulfilled after 1948 because:
a) Israel exists.
b) These nations flourish.
9. JERUSALEM'S EAST GATE IS SHUT.
"This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened." Ezekiel 44:1-3
This gate is bricked shut today.
Christ will enter it when He returns.
10. PEACE AND SAFETY.
"For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... and they shall not escape." 1Thessalonians 5:3.
Just before the seven year tribulation starts, people describe the world situation as "Peace and Safety". With the collapse of USSR and Communism, the world is enjoying the end of the cold war, the arms race and the nuclear threat. The Israelis and Arabs are having peace talks. The world seems to be on the brink of great peace. Yet this is precisely what occurs just before the Tribulation. In Revelation 6:1, 2, the Antichrist comes on a white horse as a man of peace. He gets control of the world by bringing a temporary "peace".
11. NOAH SIGN: INDIFFERENCE TO CHRIST.
"As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:37-39.
As people in Noah's time went about their life totally careless about Noah's message of the worldwide flood, so people are today unaware of Christ's return, not knowing about the troubles soon to come on the world. People today carry on their daily activities of eating/drinking, and marrying, being careless about the Bible's prophecies of imminent destruction.
12. LOT SIGN: MATERIALISM.
People today are consumed in their own materialistic affairs. People are not very interested in Jesus Christ. People instead are consumed with eating and drinking, buying and selling (making money), planting and building (real estate). Luke 17:28-30.
13. SLEEPY CHURCHES.
Very few preachers tell people about Christ's return and the events connected with it, or how to be saved. Most preachers are too scared to warn people about hell, the judgment of God or the tribulation to come on earth, in case they offend people.
"While the bridegroom (Christ) tarried, they all slumbered and slept." Matthew 25:5.
14. LARGE POPULATION.
| Matthew 24:37 "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
Genesis 6:1 "When men began to multiply on the face of the earth."
Revelation 9:16 "The number of the horsemen were 200 million."
This army comes from beyond the Euphrates river, possibly China, and kills one third of mankind. Only in the 20th century has it been possible to raise an army of 200 million, because China has 1.1 billion, and the world has 5.5 billion people. |
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15. MISSILES AND MISSILE LAUNCHERS.
These are described in Revelation 9:17-19 as having "tails like serpents (rocket exhaust) and heads that hurt (warheads)."
This is a 20th century invention. How was it known in 96 AD?
16. TYPICAL SINS OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
These are described in Revelation 9:21 "neither repented they of their murders (abortions and violence), nor of their sorceries (drugs), nor of their fornication (sex outside marriage), nor of their thefts."
17. SATELLITE TELEVISION.
This is described in Revelation 11:8-10 when people all over the world see the dead bodies of the 2 witnesses lying in the streets of Jerusalem for three days.
"They of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three and a half days ......." Revelation 11:9
18. MAN DEVELOPS THE POWER TO DESTROY THE EARTH.
"And should destroy them which destroy the earth." Revelation 11:18.
Christ returns to destroy those who are destroying the earth. Today, man can destroy the earth by nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, pollution, and radiation, as seen in the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear reactors meltdown.
Never before 1945 could man imagine destroying the earth.
"For then shall be great tribulation ... and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved." Matthew 24:21, 22.
19. A GREAT POLITICAL LEADER.
A great political leader will arise in Europe. He will be worshipped by many people. His military power will be unrivalled as people will say: "Who is able to make war with him." Revelation 13:1-4.
He will be known as the Antichrist. Today the European Parliament is functioning as a world power, making his coming possible as President of Europe.
20. UNITED STATES OF EUROPE.
Revived Rome is predicted to become a world power.
Daniel 2:40-44 "... in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed."
When ten kings rule in Europe, Christ's kingdom will be set up.
Daniel 7:7, 8, 19-27 describes the Roman Empire reviving and persecuting the saints.
Daniel 9:26, 27 describes the antichrist making a seven year treaty with Israel. Western European nations today have united under the treaty of Rome. They have ratified a law to appoint a president of the United States of Europe. Western Europe is already the REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE with its own parliament, army (NATO), space program, nuclear weapons, and is a great economic power. Only this 20th century has seen all of Europe unite since 450 AD.
21. MANY FALSE RELIGIONS AND DECEIVERS.
| "Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many." Matthew 24:11. |
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3,000 false cults are estimated to exist in the world today. |
22. FAMINES.
Matthew 24:7. For example, Somalia, African countries.
23. PESTILENCES.
Matthew 24:7 Fatal diseases like AIDS are spreading rapidly. Many viruses have mutated to be immune to some drugs, making some diseases harder to cure.
24. PEOPLE SCOFFING AT THE PROMISE OF CHRIST'S RETURN.
"There shall come in the last days scoffers ... saying, where is the promise of his coming?" 2 Peter 3:3, 4.
25. LUKEWARM CHURCHES, RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY.
Many Churches are departing from sound Bible truth. Revelation 3:14-19. Many wealthy churches are not aware of their spiritual poverty.
26. Many RICH PEOPLE will be in the last days. James 5:1-3.
The USA has over 1 million millionaires.
27. ISRAEL today is MILITARILY SUPERIOR TO EGYPT.
"The land of Judah shall be a terror to Egypt." Isaiah 19:17.
28. JERUSALEM IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR WORLD PEACE.
"In that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people." Zechariah 12:3.
29. ISRAEL.
Israel at this time is called the land of UNWALLED VILLAGES. Ezekiel 38:11. This was unthinkable until lately. Walls today are no defence against tanks, planes, and missiles.
30. NEW WORLD MONEY SYSTEM.
This European leader will introduce a new world money system based on everyone receiving a mark IN their right hand or IN their foreheads, so that no man might buy or sell without his mark, name or number 666. Revelation 13:16-18
A system has already been devised whereby electronic fund transfer can take place, accessed by a smart electronic chip placed IN the right hand. Everybody in the world can be specified by an 18 digit number (666). This is known as Implantable Biochip Technology. It is currently being used on animals.
No need for cash means more control over tax evasion and drug money.
"In the quest for the ultimate means of identification, there is talk of branding everyone with a number. Any such action would surely cause an uproar, but as card fraud increases and customers get tired of paying for it in increased costs, it is seen as the only possible solution.
With the world's banks depending on one monolithic organisation for the transborder flow of monetary information, there is the possibility that an outside group could take control and start pulling strings. The average citizen in turn, would be connected to the system by way of the plastic card.
The vision of the future is the cashless, paperless society where money will move instantaneously and invisibly through a central joint operational centre, and consumers will possess one card that will access all financial services."
Taken from the Sydney Morning Herald Newspaper
31. A JEWISH TEMPLE WILL BE REBUILT IN JERUSALEM.
"(Antichrist) as God sits in the Temple of God." 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
"Rise and measure the Temple of God, the altar, and them that worship therein ." Revelation 11:1, 2.
A Jewish ambition is to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This is possible because Israel today controls Jerusalem.
32. WICKEDNESS OF MANKIND IN THE LAST DAYS.
"I will punish the world for their evil." Isaiah 13:11.
"The Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity." Isaiah 27:21.
"The inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isaiah 24:6.
Moral conditions today match those predicted in the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Notice these signs that are present today.
"This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be:
a) Lovers of their own selves
b) Covetous (advertising industry)
c) Boasters, proud
d) Blasphemers - speaking evil of God
e) Disobedient to parents
f) Unthankful - to God for blessings
g) Unholy - people love sin, and care little about God.
h) Without natural affection - abortion is against natural mother love
i) Trucebreakers, false accusers eg in politics.
j) Incontinent - lacking sex control
k) Fierce - dictators, terrorists
l) Despisers of those that are good - anti-morals crusaders
m) Traitors - little loyalty to God, church, family, or country
n) Heady - apt to intoxicate
o) Highminded - immoral people acting morally superior over certain issues. For example, fornicators protesting over chopping down trees, while they abort their babies. Vegetarians refusing to eat a fish because it has been killed, but they abort their babies.
p) Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God - people prefer TV, sport and holidays to God, church and the Bible.
q) Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Churches where people look religious but where few people ever get saved. From such TURN AWAY.
33. WE ARE IN THE 7TH CHURCH AGE NOW.
Revelation chapters two and three describe seven periods that the church age will pass through between Christ's first and second comings. These correspond perfectly to the historical events that occurred in each period. For example:
1. Ephesus - the only period where Apostles are mentioned. 33-100 AD.
2. Smyrna - the holy, suffering church from 100 - 316 AD.
3. Pergamos - means "married", and shows how in 316 AD under Constantine, the church became married to the world.
4. Thyatira - means "continual sacrifice". This was when the Roman Catholic church began and "the Mass" daily sacrifice of Christ was started.
5. Sardis - means "escaping few" and well describes the protestant Reformation under Luther and others in 1500 -1700 AD.
6. Philadelphia - means "brotherly love" and well describes the revivals and missionary movement under Wesley, Carey and others, from 1700-1900.
7. Laodicea - means "rule of the people" and well describes the lukewarm, rich, apostate, contented, blind 20th century church from 1900 onwards.
This scheme shows that we are now in this seventh Laodicean church period as we see the modernist, dead, Bible rejecting, non-soul winning, cold, formal churches with false doctrines of the 20th century.
This is reinforced by the parable of the 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom (Christ) to come in Matthew 25:5. "While the bridegroom tarried, they ALL slumbered and slept." This sleep of the virgins well describes how most churches today are asleep spiritually, unaware of the closeness of the Lord's return, unaware of their task to win and teach people for Christ. Most churches NEVER teach or talk about Christ's return, even though so many signs are pointing to it all around us. So many people are blind to the nearness of Christ's return.
