For the church.
1. Communism spread atheism
2. Liberalism undermined spiritual and Biblical foundation of the church - first in Europe, then U.S.A. Also, general acceptance of evolutionary theory.
3. Move toward ecumenical world church began, and continues.
4. Movement in some churches into apostasy, denying Biblical truth.
5. Moral values greatly decline - also decline in traditional family, and traditional family values.
6. Spread of spiritism and the occult, including satan worship.
7. Jerusalem: continued controversy from all sides: Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
8. The Rapture removes true Christians from earth.
9. The restraint of evil by the Holy Spirit will cease at the same time.
10. The Superchurch will enfold all world religions by the False Prophet who helps the Anti-Christ rise to power.
11. The Anti-Christ will demand to be worshipped as god.
12. Christian believers will be severely persecuted and killed by the thousands.
13. Christ, with His host of translated believers, returns to the earth in glory, defeating the nations gathered in the valley of Megiddo.
Prophetic Calendar of World Events.
1. U.N. founding - first step toward one world government.
2. Reuniting of Europe - the European Union - began a revival of the Roman Empire.
3. Israel was established as a nation.
4. Russia's rise in power and alliances with Islamic nations.
5. Common market and World Bank began international regulation of world economy.
6. The middle east became the area of greatest continual conflict - because of Israel surrounding Muslim nations.
7. The ballooning importance and influence of oil - bringing concentrations of wealth and power, the ability to control the flow of oil, and the ability to buy masses of up to date weaponry.
8. The continual incidents of terrorism and the imminent threat of terrorism, the guaranteed increase in oil prices, an the continual instability and threat of the Muslim nations toward Israel, will increase pressure for measures to bring peace.
9. Ten world leaders will come together to create the Revived Roman Empire power block.
10. Dramatically, one charismatic leader will out three of the ten and take total control.
11. He will negotiate a peace treat (7 years) in the Middle East (which he will break in 3 and 1/2 years).
12. Russia and allied Islamic nations will begin invasion of Israel and be miraculously destroyed - earthquake, hail (75 lbs.), and brimstone.
13. The European Anti-Christ will proclaim himself ruler of the world, break the peace treaty with Israel, and claim to be god, demanding worship in the Temple in Jerusalem.
14. For the next 3 and 1/2 years, the Great Tribulation pours out terrible judgments upon the whole earth.
15. 200,000 army will invade from the east against the Anti-Christ's hold in the Middle East. Also, armies from Africa and the North East will come. Described by some as World War III.
16. Christ will return to earth with armies from Heaven and destroy all opposition in the Battle of Armageddon.
17. The millennial reign of Christ begins. The time of the Gentiles is over.
Prophetic Checklist for Israel
(Related to the others but distinct to Israel)
1. Continual persecution and destruction of Jews in dispersion, culminating in Hitler's mass executions.
2. 1948 reestablishment of the nation in Israel - continual immigration back to promised land and nation.
3. Nation survived all attempts against it, and continues.
4. Russia reveals itself as enemy; U.S. supports nation (??).
5. Arab oil used to influence nations against Israel.
6. U.S. will become more isolated. Russia will build more alliances with Arab nations.
7. This tense and threatening situation will force Israel to make a treaty with new European Union leader to guarantee peace.
8. During the first 3 and 1/2 years, the worship of Jehovah will be revived, and sacrifices and ceremonies will be reinstated, in a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem.
9. The invasion by Russia and allies mysteriously destroyed.
10. The Anti-Christ (after first 3 and 1/2 years) will desecrate the Temple, and persecute those that refuse to worship him, especially the Jews, and also Christians.
11. Many Jews will acknowledge the coming to pass of prophetic events recorded in both Testaments and believe in Christ as the Messiah of Israel. A great many will be massacred all over the earth.
12. Some witnesses will be divinely preserved, carrying the Gospel message.
13. Christ returns to earth, welcomed by believing Jews as their promised Messiah.
14. Christ's 1,000 year reign on earth from the throne of David from Jerusalem - the final fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning the nation of Israel.
The Middle East remains and in fact is increasingly the focus of the two main sources of impending crises - terrorism and oil. Oil is increasingly in demand and from all over the world - especially now China and India. It is also the origin and the continued location of the Islamic terrorists. Any threat that even looks like it would threaten the continued supply of oil is to be dealt with at all costs. The U.S. invaded Afghanistan and then Iraq (2001-2003). This has only increased the activity of terrorists. Like a powder keg ready to be set off - that is the present situation.
Many believe that the stage is set, and that the only thing necessary for the rise of the Anti-Christ is the Rapture of the Church. The resulting panic and confusion will demand drastic measures. Someone with extraordinary power and great-seeming insight will be called upon to calm things down and bring a semblance of peace and security. That will be the rise of the Anti-Christ, promoted by the False Prophet to take over the European Power Bloc.
Israel's security is increasingly in danger because of the Hamas power over Palestinians, Hesbollah in Lebanon, the hostility of Syria and Iran. Because of the economic necessity of oil, nations formerly supportive of Israel have been and continue to be pushed to alliances with Arab countries - in effect abandoning support of Israel.
Russia's increasing alliances with Arab nations will lead them to hostility against Israel, finally leading to their invasion against Israel. China has now dramatically increased its reliance on oil and has for the first time claimed to be able to raise an army of 200,000,000.
Christ's coming is imminent, even at the doors. More so than at any time in history. Biblical prophecy is certain and specific. The technology for instant world wide communication is in use. Electronic commerce is widely used and control could be implemented. Surveillance and monitoring of individuals' activities - internet, banking, phone, travel, business transactions, could become a reality or everyone - both systematic and punitive. Control would be complete.
The mark of the beast will be seen as logical and necessary for many reasons. Because of counterfeiting of currency, i.d.'s, and any kind of paper documents, a secure, personal, and unique i.d. must be implanted in each person. It must also contain financial information. Therefore no one can buy or sell without it. Technology now exists for this possibility, and is being continually upgraded and refined.
Many other props are on the stage. Many actors stand ready in the wings. The set is nearly complete. The plot is already written. When the church is raptured, that will be God's way of saying "action". The drama of the Great Tribulation begins.
T.O.D. Johnston was licensed to preach the Gospel by Paran Baptist Church on May 26, 1979. He has been a student of Scripture since 1972. View more lessons at his Holy Bible Study page.