The time is coming when this world will be radically changed for the better. It will last for a thousand years, bookended by resurrections. The following passage in Revelation is the summation of the event. However, many O.T. Scriptures give much detail on Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom with Jesus ruling the nations from a much elevated and improved Jerusalem compared to the Jerusalem that exists today. In fact, all of the O.T. prophets were shown the triumphant end of Israel’s story with their Messiah ruling the nations. God has unfinished business with the nation He established for His purposes. The Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3,Gen. 15:7-12, 17 ), Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-16), and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) have yet to be fulfilled
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:1-6
For YHVH (God of Israel) of Armies says this: “After glory, He has sent me against the nations that plunder you (Israel), for the one who touches you (Israel) touches the apple of His eye” Zechariah 2:8
“Therefore, all who devour you (Israel) will be devoured, and all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity. And those who plunder you will become plunder, and all who plunder you I will turn into plunder. For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds, declares YHVH – because they have called you an outcast, saying: ‘It is Zion; no one cares for her.’ This is what YHVH says: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings. And the city will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the palace will stand on its rightful place” Jeremiah 30:16-18
This is just what God revealed to two of the Old Testament (O.T.) prophets. In fact, all of the O.T. prophets were shown the triumphant ending for Israel with its Messiah ruling and reigning over all the nations of the Earth – Jesus Millennial Kingdom (www.millennialkingdom.net)
Read what the New Testament prophet (N.T.) Paul has to say about the future of Israel.
“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”” Romans 11:25-27
Israel’s calling as a nation was (and remains) to love the God of Jacob “with all your heart and all your soul, and to obey His word“.
“And now, Israel, what does YHVH your God require of you, but to fear YHVH your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep YHVH’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? Deuteronomy 10:11-13
“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years... Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4,6
Exciting Signs of Spiritual Change: Iranians Pursue Truth Beyond Islam
In Iran, an intriguing phenomenon is currently unfolding. It suggests a potential surge in secret Christian conversions throughout the nation. This silent movement is met with both optimism and the possibility that Iranians are exploring alternative paths. But what if they are abandoning faith altogether?
While many mosques receive government funding in addition to private funding, the government is not the primary supporter nor does it have the authority to close mosques.
Mohammad Abolghassem Doulabi, a senior cleric for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, gave a speech to a group of religious students in which he stated that 50,000 of Iran’s 75,000 mosques have closed their doors. Doulabi blamed the devaluation of the Iranian currency and a lack of direct government support for the closures.
Some scholars, however, were not quite as quick to agree. Mohammad Taghi Fazel Meybodi, a cleric and a member of the Assembly of Scholars and Teachers of the Seminary of Qom, believes the type of government support is one source of the problem. “If the government did not support mosques and interfere in the affairs of mosques, our mosques would probably not be emptied today,” Meybodi said.
He also cited the politicization of mosques and preaching as part of the problem.
Iran’s Quest for Spiritual Truth
Iran, a nation steeped in history and rich religious traditions, finds itself in a period of introspection. Iranians, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a yearning for spiritual nourishment, are actively exploring their options.
While not widely recognized, the potential for secret Christian conversions cannot be dismissed. These conversions may represent a quiet revolution of faith, with numerous Iranians embracing the teachings of Christ in the privacy of their hearts.
A Silent Revolution of Faith
Many Iranians are making transformational decisions behind closed doors, embarking on new paths that provide solace and spiritual fulfillment within the Christian belief system.
These brave personal journeys lead them away from the familiar embrace of Islam, guiding them toward a different realm of faith.
Questioning Established Religions
It is crucial to consider another plausible explanation for mosque closures – the growing trend of Iranians questioning established religions altogether. Some individuals may be disillusioned with organized faith, prompting them to explore alternative truths or seek spiritual independence.
While the reasons behind the closures remain enigmatic, this undeniable development in Iran serves as evidence of the shifting religious landscape. It showcases the profound longing within Iranians to establish a deeper connection with the divine.
Whether this manifests as secret Christian conversions or a broader rejection of organized religion, one thing remains certain – Iranians are on a quest for truth. They seek solace, hope, and enlightenment for their souls, no matter which path it may lead them down.
“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel 2:21
Daniel was shown by God that He sets up kings and takes down kings—the opposite of something that is random or arbitrary.
God had used three kings, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, his son, King Belshazzar, and Darius, King of the Medes and Persians for His purposes to judge His nation Israel. It was for a season, 70 years.
“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.” Daniel 8:1-2
God is still using kings and presidents for His purposes today. The re-establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948 was a miracle and it had been prophesied by the O.T. prophets including Moses. Even before Israel went into the Promised Land, Moses told them that they would be cast out and scattered, but at the prophesied time God would regather them, and their Messiah, Jesus, would rule and reign the nations of the world. He would do so from a completely new Jerusalem on the highest mountain in a world restructured by the coming wrath of God as described in Revelation: the Trumpet and Bowl judgements.
The Seven Trumpets of God’s Wrath
“Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed… Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind... Revelation 8:6-9, 13-15
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood... The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.” Revelation 16: 1-4, 17-21
“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6
The world is increasingly operating as if God does not exist and is not in control of the Cosmos He created and the people He made in His image that live in it. Due to Scriptures like the following one in 2 Chronicles, we know that God is in command of the elements and the creatures on earth.
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
This Scripture was written for the nation that God created to reveal Himself to the world, but now that Jesus has come and revealed the truth about God and provided a way for us to get back into a relationship with Him, this verse equally applies to the world today. If we would humble ourselves, acknowledge God, and turn from our wicked ways, He would heal our land.
Over the past six weeks, hundreds of out-of-control wildfires have spread across Canada causing mass evacuations and burning through millions of acres.
While the Canadian wildfire season runs from May through October, such destruction this early is rare. One month in, Canada is on track to have its most destructive wildfire season in history. Man-made climate change is blamed as the causative factor which will only further fuel the panic to get rid of fossil fuels.
This Canadian crisis has not been limited to the Great North. Smoke from the fires has spread across a large portion of the U.S., affecting air quality for millions across the East Coast, as the fires rage on without signs of stopping.
According to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, the destruction from these fires up to this point in the season has been 13 times worse than the 10-year average.
As New York City suffocated under a thick smog that turned the skies orange and shrouded its skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty, climate activist, Sen. Chuck Schumer said on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday that climate change was driving the smoke blanketing the Eastern seaboard. “These Canadian wildfires are truly unprecedented and we cannot ignore that climate change continues to worsen these disasters,” he said. “Warmer temperatures and severe droughts mean forests burn faster, burn hotter, and burn bigger, and the warming is happening faster in countries with higher latitudes. None of this — none of this is a coincidence.”
And forecasts hold little hope. On Monday, the Canadian government issued an updated outlook for the wildfire season stating that, “current June projections indicate the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity across most of the country throughout the 2023 wildland fire season due to ongoing drought and long-range forecasts for warm temperatures.”
What we are seeing are but the birth pangs Jesus spoke of prior to His second coming to earth.
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places, famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you… You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” Luke 21:10-12 ,16-19
God’s Word tells us exactly what will unfold in the final seven years prior to His return. God is ultimately in control of all that transpires on His planet. Do you believe that, and if so, how is it affecting what you do today?
We know as Christians that God places rulers in power to accomplish His purposes, as difficult as that might seem for us.
“He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Romans 13:1
These verses and others like them are great reminders of God’s sovereignty in history. These are the kind of bedrock verses to meditate on when a new government arises headed by an Islamic leader, who seemingly will be big trouble for Christ-followers.
Our faith cannot be shaken by whoever is in the driver’s seat of any given government. God is in control and often we get the leader we deserve. In Australia, the Victorian people voted in the ungodly Daniel Andrews and they are now getting the anti-God legisation they deserve.
It is useful to reflect on how God uses kings for His purposes. For example, Divine judgment came against the Lord’s people by means of King Nebuchadnezzar and the nation of Babylon. God refers to Nebuchadnezzar as His servant, meaning that the king was doing the work of God in punishing the people of Judah.
The fact that Nebuchadnezzar was referred to as the Lord’s servant should not be interpreted to mean that he was a righteous king. It is also not an indication that Babylon was replacing Judah as God’s special people. This is made clear as God’s judgment would later be pronounced against Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon.
“‘Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the Lord, ‘for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation. I will bring upon that land My words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.’” Jeremiah 25:12-13
We must drill down into the Rock. Jesus and cling to Him as world events continue to mold a godless future at a faster rate than ever seen before. We must also use the many prophecies of these future events for what I call apocalyptic evangelism. They prove the inerrancy of the Bible and the fact God is in control of History. The Bible clearly indicates the world gets darker as the world comes under greater control of Satan and his demonic powers. God even allows Satan to install his Antichrist and prophet to rule for three and a half years prior to Jesus’ return to earth with the glorified Saints to rule and reign for 1000 years.
“They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”Revelation 20:5-6
Men see the strength of a nation in its wealth, population, armaments, technology, and knowledge. But where does God look? “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34. The Bible reveals that the cause of the rise and fall of nations is moral and spiritual. No nation can rely on its strength, power, human intelligence, social programs, and wealth to save it from the devastating effects of moral decay. Just look at history to see how this has played out relentlessly.
Since Israel had forfeited her privileged status, God promised to destroy her as He destroyed the Amorites and the Egyptians (Amos 2:9-10; 4:10,12). The people of Israel had gone so far that God expected no repentance from them. Israel’s opportunity to repent had faded away. It was too late!
As He had fought their battles for them in the past, now God would fight against them. Whatever their courage or expertise, nothing would go in their favor. The things that had formerly given Israel strength in war would be turned against them.
Most Western nations have been built upon Judaeo Christian principles but are now turning away from God just as the Israelites did and they are already starting to see the judgement of God coming upon them.
To heal a person and to heal a nation requires God’s Solution in His Eternal Word. Both require humility, prayer, seeking His face, and turning from their wicked ways. Itcould not be more clear.
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7: 13-14
The prophesied time when God pours out His wrath upon an unrepentant world with the trumpet and bowl judgements is fast approaching.
“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”Revelation 6:12-16
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 