Milo

Question: Does what is happening in Israel today mean the end times are quickly approaching?”

Answer:  Every time there is an explosion of conflict in or around Israel, many see it as a sure sign of the quickly approaching end times. The problem with this is that it creates a “boy that cried wolf” syndrome. We may eventually tire of the conflict in Israel, so much so that we will not recognize when true prophetically significant events occur. Conflict in Israel is not necessarily a sign of the end times…allow me to clarify.

Conflict in Israel has been a reality whenever Israel has existed as a nation. Whether it was the Egyptians, Amalekites, Midianites, Moabites, Ammonites, Amorites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, or Romans – the nation of Israel has always been surrounded by and persecuted by its neighbors. Why is this? According to the Bible, it is because God has a special plan for the nation of Israel, and Satan wants to defeat that plan. Satanically influenced hatred of Israel is the reason that Israel’s neighbors have always wanted to see Israel destroyed. Whether it is Sennacherib, king of Assyria, Haman, official of Persia, Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany, or Ahmadinejad, President of Iran – attempts to ultimately destroy Israel will always fail. The persecutors of Israel will come and go…but the persecution will remain. As a result, conflict in Israel cannot be considered a reliable indicator of the soon arrival of the end times.

At the same time, there will be terrible conflict in Israel during the end times. That is why the time period is known as the Tribulation, the Great Tribulation, and the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Here is what the Bible does say about Israel in the end times:

There will be a mass return of Jews to the land of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:3; Isaiah 43:6; Ezekiel 34:11-13; 36:24; 37:1-14).

The antichrist will make a 7-year covenant of “peace” with Israel (Isaiah 28:18; Daniel 9:27).

The Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 11:1).

The antichrist will break his covenant with Israel. Worldwide persecution of Israel will result (Daniel 9:27; 12:1, 11; Zechariah 11:16; Matthew 24:15, 21; Revelation 12:13). Israel will be invaded (Ezekiel chapters 38-39).

Israel will finally recognize Jesus as the Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). Israel will be regenerated, restored, and regathered (Jeremiah 33:8; Ezekiel 11:17; Romans 11:26).

There is much turmoil in Israel today. Israel is persecuted, surrounded by enemies – the Palestinians, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, etc. This hatred and persecution of Israel is only a hint of what will happen in the end times (Matthew 24:15-21). Israel has been persecuted since it was reconstituted as a nation in 1948. Many Bible prophecy scholars believed the six-day Arab-Israeli war in 1973 was the “beginning of the end.” Could what is taking place in Israel today indicate that the end is near? Yes. Does it necessarily mean the end is near? No. Jesus Himself said it best, “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” (Matthew 24:4-6).

During the difficult days of World War II there was a well-known radio news commentator who began each evening’s news using exactly the same introductory words, “Ah, there’s good news tonight!”. Yes, regardless of how many allied ships were sunk, or how many allied planes were shot down, or how many allied tanks were destroyed, or how many allied service men were killed, wounded or missing, this newsman would find something “positive” to say as an encouragement to those concerned family and friends of our service personnel in various parts of the world.

Friends, we are living in very difficult days. I never thought that I’d ever live to see such conditions as we have in the world today. We are definitely living in days just prior to the Lord’s return and there is much to discourage the true child of God but I can say like the newsman, “Ah, there’s good news tonight!” Yes, and the good news is the fact that JESUS IS COMING AGAIN ! Let me repeat, JESUS IS COMING AGAIN !

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST IS, AND SHALL BE:

SURE: Vs.35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” In John 14:3 He promised, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (Read also Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 10:37; and the last recorded words of Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation – 22:20 “Surely, I come quickly” and true Christians can say like John, “Amen, Even so come, Lord Jesus.”)

SUDDEN: Vs.27 “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” Please read I Corinthians 15:52.

STARTLING: Perhaps some evening soon, many millions of people in the United States will be watching their TV sets and suddenly the screen program will be interrupted by an announcement that the President of the United States is about to make a special report of grave importance. He will mention that he has just talked with the Secretary General of the United Nations who confirmed the fact that thousands of people have disappeared throughout the world during the past hour. Some believe that aliens in their U.F.O.’s have kidnapped people in all parts of the world. Both the President and Secretary General plead for calm and seek to assure the populace that they will do everything possible to solve the sudden disappearance of people from off the face of the earth. Every aspect of the worldwide news media will also report cars crashing, planes falling to the ground, and even mothers nursing their babies will be startled when that baby disappears before her eyes. If a married couple are watching the TV one may disappear and the other spouse be left behind. Chaos, confusion and conflict will reign throughout the world. Some who have heard the truth of God relative to the second coming of Christ, and who have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, will know what happened. They’ll be able to tell the others who have been left behind how that they, themselves, had heard the Gospel, and the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ would return someday to take the true Christians home to Heaven, but they thought that they had plenty of time to get saved through faith in Jesus Christ, alone. Now it’s too late! They too have been left behind for divine judgment. The Holy Spirit of God, Who indwells every true believer, will have left the scene and it won’t be safe for a woman to leave her house, unless escorted by a man.

SATISFYING: For those who have been left behind when the Lord comes, because they refused to accept Him as their personal Saviour, they will be satisfied because no one will ever speak to them about their soul’s salvation. No one will give them another Gospel tract. No one will invite them to another Gospel meeting. No one will ever bear them up before the throne of God’s grace again. No saved loved one will ever shed another tear for them. They will then be able to indulge themselves in the muck and mire of gross sin and immorality. In the last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22:11, we read concerning the unsaved, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still.” Friend, if you’re left behind when Jesus Christ comes again you’ll wish that you had never been born. It is better never to have heard the truth than to hear it and then forsake it.

The people who will really be satisfied when the Lord comes will be the true Christians who will not only be delivered from the penalty and power of sin, but will also be delivered from the very presence of sin. In Revelation Chapter 21 we read of the place where there will be no more sin, nor tears, nor sorrow, nor pain, nor sickness, nor separation, nor death, nor night, nor curse nor need of a temple. We’ll be in the presence of the One, Whom having not seen, we love. We’ll be satisfied not only to be with Him but also to be like Him. In Psalms 17:15 we read, “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” Please read Philippians 3:20,21; I John 3:2,3

The satisfaction and joy we have as true Christians is somewhat tempered here on earth by the knowledge that many of us have loved ones who are still unsaved, and therefore, would be left behind if the Lord Jesus Christ were to come back now to take us up to our home in Heaven. The language of our hearts would be like Judah back in Genesis 44:34 .. “how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me?”

Question: How can God allow nice people to go to hell and bad people to go to heaven?

Answer: We all know people whom we value, who seem like genuinely good, kind people. But the Bible makes it clear that even these people have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standards.

“There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

God sees a person’s whole heart, sees all of their actions, and knows all of their words and thoughts. So God has a lot more information to use when judging someone. It is with this complete knowledge that God can judge us righteously. The Bible says that “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1Samuel 16:7).

So how does this affect the whole heaven and hell question? It puts everyone on an equal playing field. People we think are good are in the same position as people we think are bad, because, from God’s perspective, no one perfectly follows his commands. There is, in every one of us, that inner drive that says, “I don’t care. I’m going to do it anyway.”

In fact, the Bible says that “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). In big and small ways, all of us have forsaken God and gone away from Him.

The antidote is to return to God. The Bible calls this “repentance.” When a person truly turns back to God, there is no sin that is too big for God to forgive. God provided the means to forgive sin through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. And God offers His forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who will believe in Jesus. Heaven is a free gift offered to anyone who will ask for God’s forgiveness and ask Jesus to come into their life. Here is how the Bible describes someone who turns to God in this way: 

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world …All of us also lived …gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of [God’s] wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. …in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:1-9)

All through the Bible God makes it clear that we gain heaven, not by our “good works” or “good life,” but that God offers it to all as a gift. Rather than pretend that we are good people, He asks us to admit that we sin against Him.

We can focus on life after death, but what about our life right now? We can interact with God and be guided by Him right now, and experience the life He created us to have. There is no relationship on earth as fulfilling and important as knowing God. If you want that after death, you have to start it now.

The rapture and the second coming of Christ are often confused. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture verse is referring to the rapture or the second coming. However, in studying end-times Bible prophecy, it is very important to differentiate between the two.

The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. The second coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom. The second coming is described in Revelation 19:11-16.

The important differences between the rapture and second coming are as follows:

1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).

2) The second coming occurs after the great and terrible tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

3) The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).

4) The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).

5) The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is imminent; it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Why is it important to keep the rapture and the second coming distinct?

1) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, believers will have to go through the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

2) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, the return of Christ is not imminent—there are many things which must occur before He can return (Matthew 24:4-30).

3) In describing the tribulation period, Revelation chapters 6–19 nowhere mentions the church. During the tribulation—also called “the time of trouble for Jacob” (Jeremiah 30:7)—God will again turn His primary attention to Israel (Romans 11:17-31).

The rapture and second coming are similar but separate events. Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events. However, it is crucially important to recognize the differences. In summary, the rapture is the return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth before the time of God’s wrath. The second coming is the return of Christ to the earth to bring the tribulation to an end and to defeat the Antichrist and his evil world empire.

The idea of a loving God sending people to hell for eternity is not easy to accept.  Why would God, who is full of mercy and grace, send people to a place of torment for ever and ever for not trusting in Jesus even though they are nice people, or never heard of Jesus, or were sincerely trying to find God?  Is that fair?  Is that right?

When people ask these questions, they are appealing to what they perceive as fairness.  They are looking at the issue from their human perspective.  But this perspective is not necessarily the right one.  If God exists, and He does, then it is He who is the One who says what is right and fair, not us.  So, we need to see what the Bible says about what is right regarding sin and salvation and make a decision afterwards.

The Bible tells us that God is holy, “You shall be holy, for I am holy,” (1 Pet. 1:16).  Holiness is incorruptibility, perfection, purity, and the inability to sin, all of which are possessed by God alone.  Holiness is the very nature of God’s character.  His character is perfect, without flaw, and He is the standard of all that is right and good. 

The Bible also says that God is infinite , “Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite,” (Psalm 147:5).  If God’s understanding is infinite, then God is infinite in nature. 

The Bible tells us that God is love.  “And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him,” (1 John 4:16).  God cares about us and seeks our well-being and security.  His thoughts about us are infinite and His love is too.  This is why God does not desire that anyone go to hell, but that all come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).

The Bible tells us that God is righteous.  “God is a righteous judge,” (Psalm 7:9).  His righteousness is part of His character just as are mercy and love.  Righteousness deals with justice and justice deals with the Law.  This means that God will always do that which is right, and He does so according to the righteous Law that He has set forth.  God cannot do anything wrong.  God must do that which is right, otherwise He would not be righteous.

 Jesus said that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” (Matt. 12:34).  So too with God.  He speaks out of the abundance of His heart.  God spoke the universe into existence, “Let there be light,” (Gen. 1:3) and He also spoke forth the Law (Exodus 20 – the Ten Commandments, etc.).  Therefore, the Law of God, is a reflection of God’s character, because it comes out of what He is, holy, perfect, righteous, and good.  Therefore, the Law is a standard of perfection.  It is perfect and if we do not keep it perfectly, then we have offended the God who gave it; after all, it is a reflection of His character.  To break God’s Law is to offend (sin against) God. Since it is law, there is punishment because there is no Law that is a law without a punishment.  This means that when we break the Law of God, we fall under the judgment of the Law of God.  Since He is infinite, our offence against Him is takes on an infinite quality because we have offended an infinitely holy and righteous God.

Must God punish?

 Yes, God must punish those who break His law because it is the right thing to do.  Just as a parent should punish a child for doing something wrong (intentionally), so God must punish those who do wrong.  You see, if God did not punish the person who does wrong, then He would be unjust and unrighteous.  He would be breaking His own law — which He cannot do.  But, someone might say that the punishment of a parent on a child is temporary whereas God’s punishment is eternal.  Why the difference?  The answer is twofold.  First, God is infinite, and a parent is not.  Second, God is the standard of all righteousness, and the parent is not. 

Because God is infinite, when we sin, we are offending an infinite God.  This is incredibly significant.  The reason sin is so bad is not so much because of the one committing the sin, but because of the One who is offended.  In other words, sin is so incredibly bad because it takes on a horrible quality by the very fact of who it is against: an infinitely pure, holy, and righteous God.

A parent is not the standard of righteousness.  God is.  A parent is (or should be) using the righteous standard of God in raising children.  Therefore, though a parent’s punishment is temporary because it is instruction and correction, the punishment of God is eternal because our sin is against an eternal God.  There is a big difference.

Can we please God on our own?

Is it possible to earn one’s place before God by what we do (being good, etc.)?  Is it possible for a finite being to please an infinite one?  If so, then that means a sinner who has offended an infinite God, is able please God by his efforts.  But, if he is a sinner, then aren’t those “good” things he does also touched by sin since they are motivated out of the heart of a sinner?  Yes.  This is what the Bible declares since it says that our hearts are deceitful and not to be trusted (Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23).

But then someone might say that if the person is sincere when he does the good works, then that should be acceptable to God.  But, saying it should be acceptable doesn’t mean it is.  Remember, according to the Bible we cannot trust our own hearts (Jer. 17:9).  This means that we cannot even trust our own sincerity.

God is the judge, not us.  If we could please God by our efforts or sincerity, then it would mean that a finite person can appease an infinite God by doing good works.  It further means that sincerity becomes a meritorious condition of the heart.  It would be like saying, “God, I am worthy to be with you because of the good works I have done and the good and sincere condition of my heart.”  Can any mortal who has fallen into sin ever do anything good enough to please an infinite God? The answer is no.  Gal. 2:21 says, “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  In other words, if we could get to heaven by what we do, then Jesus didn’t need to die on the cross.  Therefore, God has established that our works and sincerity cannot be good enough.

Finally, for those who still maintain that we can please God by our efforts, we must ask how many good works must he perform in order to undo an offence against an infinitely holy God?  Is there a standard by which we can judge which sin requires how many goods works to cancel out?  There is none.  Therefore, he is left in a predicament.  Since God must punish the sinner for offending Him (breaking His holy and righteous law), and our works cannot undo the offence against God, then how are we going to escape so great a righteous judgment?

The way of escape

The only way to escape the righteous judgment of God is to trust in the provision He has made.  This provision is found in Jesus.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).  Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6).  Jesus is also God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9).  Therefore, Jesus’ life is of infinite value.  This means that His sacrifice is sufficient to cleanse you of your sins.  It is capable of satisfying the infinitely righteous standard of God that is required to match His infinite holiness.

Jesus’ sacrifice is the only provision acceptable to God the Father.  If you want to escape the eternal judgment of God, you must put your trust in Jesus and what He did on the cross and in nothing else.  Without Him, there is no hope of escape on the Day of Judgment.  How do you do this?  You receive Jesus (John 1:12).  You trust in Him alone.  You can ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins (John 14:14).  Trust Him alone.