This is the Endtime.

 

Chapter I

The near Future

“And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed through out the world, as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Mt. 24:14)

 

Introduction:

Just before Jesus ascended into Heaven his disciples came together and gathered around him. Jesus was speaking to them about the kingdom of God and about baptism by Holy Spirit that was yet to be happened soon. In this context, Acts 1:6-7 say , “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel ?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.” While the disciples asked him about the time when he is going to restore the kingdom to Israel, Jesus did not deny that he will restore the kingdom to Israel but only said that it is not for them to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. His answer to his disciples gives us a clue that Jesus will restore the kingdom to Israel but we do not know the times and periods that are set by God Almighty the Father.

Israel Expected the Kingdom & Messiah:

From the ancient days, the Israel expected Messiah and they believed that he will restore the kingdom to them. Their belief was based on some verses of the Old Testament. Prophet Daniel had a vision that he saw a person like a human being in heaven who receives authority and powers over all nations from the Ancient One the God Almighty. His dominion is an everlasting one and all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. Let us read Daniel 7:13-14 : “I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.” According to the Israelites these descriptions are about the Messiah.  

The Messiah who received powers, authority and dominion over all nations from God Almighty Father in heaven takes birth as human being that Isaiah 9:6-7 has prophesied thus: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God ,  Everlasting Father , Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom . He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Let us read these verses of Isaiah 9:6-7 in Good News Bible : “A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counsellor,” “ Mighty God ,” “ Eternal Father ,” “Prince of Peace.” His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always at peace. He will rule as King David's successor , basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time.” On the basis of the above verses the Israelites believed that the Messiah will be the descendant of David who will establish the Kingdom of Peace and he will rule the Israelites and all nations for ever and ever; and his kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom that will be given to the descendant of David and thereby to the Israelites.  

Messiah is Mighty God:

So, Messiah is Mighty God and Eternal Father Himself. He is one and the same with the God Almighty who takes birth as Son that Isaiah 9:6 prophesied. Messiah means Christ the Saviour.

Jesus is Messiah:

Messiah who is the descendant of David & King is Jesus. Before the birth of Jesus, Arc Angel Gabriel indicated this prophecy to Mary the mother of Jesus when he greets her in Luke 1:31-33, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David . He will reign over the house of Jacob forever , and of his kingdom there will be no end.” The house of Jacob is Israelites.

Zechariah 9:9 says about this king – Messiah, “ 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion ! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem ! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey , on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

This prophecy comes true in Jesus in Matthew 21:1-9 that say, “ 1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.' 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey , and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!'”

However, majority of Israelites even now do not recognize Jesus the Messiah who took birth as a human being as per the prophecy of the Old and New Testaments.  

Kingship shall be given to Israelites:

However, this kingship and dominion of the whole world shall be given to Israelites as it is promised by God Almighty. Daniel 7:27 says, “The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.” The holy ones indicate the Israelites as they were specially chosen by God Almighty to be His own people. (Of course, there is difference of opinion in this point that some commentators say that the holy ones are Christians. But we will be clarified on reading this book continuously.) Daniel 7:18 also says, “The holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and posses the kingdom for ever – forever and ever.” This is the kingdom of God in earth, the wonderful world of Era of Peace.

Even now, even though the majority of Israelites do not recognize Jesus as Messiah, at the last days , they will accept him as Messiah. Let us read Romans 11:25-29, “ So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in . 26 And so all Israel will be saved ; as it is written, ‘Out of Zion will come the Deliverer;   he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.' 27 ‘And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.' 28 As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable .” After the full numbers of gentiles come to Jesus, the eyes of the Israelites will be opened and they will accept Jesus as Messiah.  

Wonderful Kingdom:

When Jesus started his ministry, he proclaimed about this Kingdom in Matthew 4:17 that says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near .” This Kingdom of God / heaven is a strange and wonderful kingdom.  

The wolf shall live with the lamb:

Isaiah 11:6-9 describe this kingdom as follows: “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the L ORD as the waters cover the sea.”

Only God - No idol:

The world in kingdom of God will be an unthinkable one. Zechariah 14:6-8 say, “When that time comes, there will no longer be cold or frost, or any darkness. There will always be daylight, even at night-time .” (Good News Bible) Zachariah 13:2 says, “On that day, says the L ORD of Hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more; and also I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit.” Tobit 14:6 says, “Then all the nations in the world will come back to God. They will worship him as the only true God and give up the idols that led them into false worship.” Zechariah 14:-9 says, “Then the L ord will be King over all the earth; everyone will worship him as God and know him by the same name .”

Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord:

At that time, referring to Israelites the people of Jerusalem , the Lord says in Ezekiel 37:26-28, “I will establish them and increase their population, and put my Temple in their land, where it will stay for ever. I will live there with them I will be their God, and they will be my people. When I place my temple there to be among them for ever , then the nations will know that I the L ORD , have chosen Israel to be my own people” Regarding the Temple of Jerusalem Lord says in Ezekiel 43:7, “Mortal Man here is my throne ; I will live here among the people of Israel and rule over them for ever”. The Lord says in Joel 3:17, “Then, Israel , you will know that I am the L ord your God I live on Zion , my sacred hill. Jerusalem will be a sacred city, foreigners will never conquer it.” Micah 4:7 says, “I will make a new beginning with those who are left, and they will become a great nation. I will rule over them on Mount Zion from that time on and for ever. Jeremiah 3:17 says, “When that time comes, Jerusalem will be called, ‘The throne of the Lord' and all the nations will gather there to worship me.”

The Time we do not know:

According to Daniel 7:22 it is said when the time arrives the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom. But Jesus says in Acts 1:7 , that the time is set by the Father God Almighty that we don't know .  

Day of the Lord:

However, prior to this kingdom of God in Earth, the present Age is to be ended and then only Era of peace the new Age will be beginning. Just before the end of the present Age there will be a ‘Day of the Lord' with agony and suffering such as has never been before and never will be again. The Day of the Lord is like a purifying furnace that banishes the evil and evil ones from the world and prepares the world and humanity fit for the New Era the Kingdom of God . The Lord allows it to be taken place for the total purification of the whole world that removes the false gods, wicked people and even Satan and his comrades from the world. The Day of the Lord will fall upon the world all of a sudden in the unexpected time like a thief in the night .

Some clue regarding the Time:

Jesus is the light of the world and so his followers are in light. They are not in darkness to get shocked and astonished by the fall of the Day of the Lord upon them all of a sudden. Jesus gave some clue and symptoms for his children to find out the time of the Day of the Lord. Let us read 1 Thessalonians 5:2-5: “For you yourselves know very well that the day of the lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you , beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief ; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of the darkness.”

The Exact clue regarding Time:

Matthew 24:3 says, “When he (Jesus) was sitting on the Mount Olives , the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and end of the age ?” Jesus answered in Matthew 24:14 that says, “And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come .” Jesus continued in Matthew 24:15-16 & 21-22 , “So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place , as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand) then those in Judea must flee to the Mountains;…” “For at that time there will be great suffering , such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” Mark 13:19 also says about the very same message.

Let us read Luke 21:29-31: “then he (Jesus) told them a parable: “Look at the fig tee and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” So, when we see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place , as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel, the great Chastisement time the Day of the Lord will come upon the world all of a sudden. But before it takes place, there will be a false trend of peace and security in the political and social affairs of the world (Refer 1 Thessalonians 5:3). And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come . When we see these, we have to get ready to safeguard ourselves.

The Day of the Lord will be ended with the end of this age the end of this present Era. Then only the new Era the Kingdom of God will emerge in full sense . Let us see what is meant by ‘desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place'.  

Desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place :

Daniel 11:29-32 say, “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but this time it shall not be as it was before. For ships of Kit'tim shall come against him, and he shall lose heart and withdraw. He shall be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay heed to those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces sent by him shall occupy and profane the temple and fortress. They shall abolish the regular burnt offering and set up the abomination that makes desolate . He shall seduce with intrigue those who violate the covenant; but the people who are loyal to their God shall stand firm and take action.”  

Antichrist:

The above holy verses of Daniel 11:29-32 speak about a person and his actions. This is the person who is Antichrist . The holy verses describe about his wars: When the Time arrives that is set by God Almighty the Father, he comes to the south but he gets failure due to the interruptions of some forces that is described as the ships of Kit'tim and he will loose heart and withdraw. These forces are the forces of the allies/associates of Israel who will be also associated with the holy covenant. These allies may be United States of America and European countries where most of them are Christian. Enraged with anger, in order to wreak vengeance on them, he will take action against their associate the Israel the people of holy covenant and thereby he takes action indirectly against the holy covenant itself. Antichrist will make partnership with the nations which fore shake the holy covenant of the true God and will send his forces on Israel . These forces of Antichrist will come to Israel and occupy and profane the Jerusalem temple and fortress. They will abolish the regular burnt offerings of the Jerusalem temple and will set up the abomination / sacrilege that desolates. He shall seduce with intrigue those who violate the covenant but the real children of God will stand firm and take action against him.  

Symptom of day of the Lord:

When the desolate sacrilege standing in the holy place, we must understand that it is the symptom to the children of God that the Day of the Lord begins and the whole world is going to witness the great disaster such one was never occurred in the world and never will be.  

Sacrilege will stands for 3½ years:

Daniel 7:25 says, “He shall speak words against the Most High, shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High and shall attempt to change the Sacred seasons and the law; and they shall be given in to his power for a time, two times, and half a time.” That is 3½ years. Daniel 9:27 says, “He shall make a strong covenant with many for one weak , and for half of the week he shall make sacrifice and offering cease; and in their place shall be an abomination that desolates, until the decreed end is poured out upon the desolator.” One weak is seven days. Daniel 9:27 means this one weak i.e. seven days as seven years. So, half weak refer 3½ years. When Antichrist enters into his ruling power and authority, at first, he will make treaties with various nations for one weak that is for seven years. After ½ weak that is 3½ years in the seven years passed, he will cause the burnt offerings ceased and the desolate sacrilege stand in the holy place for the following 3½ years. This will last until the fall of Antichrist. Revelation 11:2 says about this period as 42 months that is 3½ years. Let us read the verses: “ 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months .”  

At first, Rebellion against God:

However 2000 years ago, St. Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4 that before the lawless one Antichrist who opposes and exalts himself above every so – called god or object of worship is revealed, there shall be a rebellion against God taken place. Then only he will come out. And then only there shall be the Day of the Lord. Let us read 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4: “ As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed , the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so – called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God , declaring himself to be God .” Antichrist will come with the full power of Satan. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 say, “The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”  

Rebellion took place in 1917:

We all know that the atheistic rebellion against God has emerged in old USSR/Russia in 1917 with the spread of communism. Our Lady of Fatima warned the whole world about the forthcoming danger of communism in USSR/Russia and asked the children of God to pray for the repentance of Russia . So the rebellion against God has happened and now the lawless man Antichrist is going to come out. Let us read in the next chapter who is Antichrist and which his nation is.