Prophecies of Daniel - Page 57 of 58 - Prophecies fulfilled, and yet to be fulfilled

“The sky is falling!”

Feb 1, 2013 · by Mark McMillion · In: Angels, Miracles and the spirit world, Basic Christianity, Current events, Insights, The Future and Endtime Tagged: the return of Jesus, cataclysmic change, endtime, signs of the times, world crisis

Believe it or not, I heard once that the phrase, “May you live in interesting times” is actually a Chinese curse! But it does seem we live in interesting times. Of course some people are like what Jesus said about folks in the time of Noah, “they knew not till the flood came and carried them all away.” (Matthew 24:39) Some just never pay much attention to “the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3).

On the other hand, there are a lot of people everywhere now who are really concerned that something serious is about to happen. Some thought that 2012 was extremely propitious and that omens abounded for sudden cataclysmic change. Others look at the economic situation in Europe and fear a further slide into times unseen since the 1930’s. And they know what those times brought on. Some closely watch events in the Middle East and see a potential horrific war resulting from a military attack by Israeli against Iran. And if you are an American, you may see dire consequences if the presidential candidate you opposed in the election won the presidency. All in all, there are quite a lot of folks who are seriously concerned about the current crises that are bubbling and boiling around the world.

But not everyone. Perhaps equally if not more are the people who don’t notice or just aren’t disturbed by the current crises. Many are completely preoccupied with their own personal difficulties of finding a job, paying their bills and taking care of their families. And the rest see “the distress of nations, men’s hearts failing them for fear” (Luke 21: 25 & 26) but don’t feel things will get out of hand. Like the saying goes in Australia, “It’ll come round, mate.” Which translates to, “Everything will be ok” or “Don’t worry, be happy.”

But if you’re a Christian and look for times that foreshadow the ones leading up to the Lord’s return, then all this does take on a larger dimension. Are we seeing events that will lead into the final days that Jesus and Jewish prophets foretold? And here is where things get even more divided.

Many are adamant that “this is it”. Conspiracy theories abound. On the other hand, those who don’t believe any of that are equally resolute. They assert that talk of the collapse of society and the economy, a looming one world government and such assorted fears are just coming from absolutely nuts, crazy kooks and often deluded religious extremists.

Who’s right? Is something about to happen? Should we be prepared? Is there even any way to prepare? Which side are you on? Which side am I on?

Here’s what I think: be prepared either way. Honestly, I’ve felt something dire was possibly very near. But I’ve felt that for over 40 years. You may not agree but I believe the world is pretty much held together by belief or confidence. And confidence is fragile, for individuals, societies or the world at large. In my life I came to where God in heaven just pulled the plug on it because I was so far out of His will. And also He had a better plan for me. So He in essence said, “Time’s up.” In the Bible God is quoted as saying, “My Spirit will not always strive with man, for he that being often warned and hardens his heart shall suddenly be destroyed.” (Genesis 6:3, Proverbs 29:1) And on the other hand, God is more patient and merciful than any of us can imagine. But it can come to a time, a tipping point when the goose is cooked, the genie is out of the bottle and you can’t go back to Kansas, to mix several metaphors there.

Will that happen? When? Will we just have another 50 years of muddling through? Or are we really nearing a precipice, descending into worldwide chaos, leading to the final events foretold in the Bible?

I’ve tried to be prepared either way. I want to live for the world to come. That means not placing my trust in “uncertain riches” (I Timothy 6:17) or “laying up treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19). It means that I put my relationship with the Lord first and I’m prepared, as much as is possible, for any sudden events, local or national. My “weapons” and defense aren’t based on physical things, guns or militias. My preparedness is in and of the Spirit of God. My dependence is on His protection and provision. If I’m doing that, then come what breakdown or disruption may be, I’ve put my trust in the “System” that’s never going to break down, the “government” that’s never going to fail me, and the one that’s ultimately going to survive and run this world the way it should be run. Either way, approaching chaos or another 50 years of surviving the storms of this world, my choice is to settle my life on the Rock of God and His will and blessings. What do you think? I hope you’ll do the same.

Introducing “Pre” and “Post”

Jan 4, 2013 · by Mark McMillion · In: Current events, Insights, The Future and Endtime Tagged: great tribulation, post tribulation, pre tribulation, abomination of desolatiion, Christ's return, Daniel the prophet, Islam, kingdom of God

Jesus said there would be “great tribulation” before His return. (Matthew 24:21) But will it be a “post tribulation” return or a “pre tribulation” return? Well, it’s nice when everything is really simple but things aren’t always that way. So, to introduce “pre” and “post”, we’re going to have to back up. We’re going to back up to Abraham, 4000 years ago. Abraham is called “the father of faith”. The God of Abraham is the God of three religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

And each of the three religions with one supreme God all teach and believe in an ultimate kingdom of God that will come to earth. In fact, although I’m a Christian, the videos on this web site are based on a prophet who wasn’t Christian. Daniel was Jewish. We could get into that and quibble but the point here is that all three religions who worship the God of Abraham each look forward to a future kingdom of God on earth.

But, when? How? Where? Being a Christian, I can tell you what Jesus said about that when He was asked. Numerous times He was asked about when the Kingdom of God would come, or even when He Himself would return to earth.

He describes His coming in the clouds of heaven to gather together His elect.

And actually, Jesus chose to refer back to specific places in the book of Daniel to be precise about His answer. The two best chapters on this subject are Matthew 24 and Mark 13. Matthew 24, verses 29 to 31 are the climax of Jesus’ description of His return to earth. He describes His coming in the clouds of heaven to gather together His elect. Matthew 24: 29-31 is utterly packed with information and glory, as well as some mystery about some parts.

But for the moment, let’s zero in on the first words of that passage. Jesus is specifically marking clearly when this event will take place. Matthew 24:29 begins like this, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days…”

“Immediately after”, that’s clear enough. “Immediately after…” what? “…the tribulation of those days.” What tribulation? If you look a little earlier in the text, Jesus has already explained it. Back in verse 21, it begins “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world…”.

It’s almost like when you have to chew your food slowly. To understand this, even though it‘s pretty simple, you have to “chew” it slowly. Jesus told when He would gather His people: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days”.

In trying to find out more about that time and what He was talking about with “tribulation”, we can look back to verse 21, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world...”

We may not understand it all, but we can still believe it. He said He would return. This would happen immediately after a time of trouble such as the world had never seen before. And we can even go back a bit further in Matthew 24 to read of a sign or signal that would mark the beginning of that time of great trouble. In verse 15 of Matthew 24, Jesus said, “When you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…” and that verse ties directly into verse 21 which says “Then shall be great tribulation.”

My advice: don’t try to immediately understand all this if it’s your first time to hear it. I certainly didn’t. I didn’t doubt it; I just didn’t understand it all at the first.

But trying to put it in the simplest terms, Jesus described the circumstances of His return. He said it would be “immediately after” a time of trouble that would be worse than any the world has seen till that time. And He described a signal of the beginning of that trouble saying “when” you see the abomination of desolation [yes, you don’t understand that, that’s normal] “then”will be that great time of trouble. In my Bible years ago I marked those three phrases, When in verse 15, Then in verse 21 and immediately after in verse 29.

Finally, we can now talk about “pre” and “post”. For those who study this subject, there has been a big debate about whether Jesus’ return to this world will be “Post tribulation” or “Pre tribulation”. Since He Himself clearly stated in the verses we’ve just looked at that His return would be “Immediately after the tribulation of those days”, my view, and the view that’s put forward in this video series, is what’s called a “post tribulation” view. In the next part of this series on “Pre” and “Post”, I’ll aim to tell you why this is important.

Why study the book of Daniel?

Dec 22, 2012 · by Mark McMillion · In: Daniel videos and texts, The Future and Endtime Tagged: Bible prophecy, book of Daniel, fulfilled prophecy, future certainties, the abomination of desolation, the book of Ezekiel

I assume, if you’re reading this, that you probably already have a passing interest in the subject of Bible prophecy and the future. In these times, more and more people are beginning to have at least some curiosity about this subject and are trying to find out more about it.

Daniel pours out his heart to God for wisdom to understand Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, from Daniel chapter 2 — Daniel pours out his heart to God
for wisdom to understand Nebuchadnezzar’s dream,
from Daniel chapter 2

But once you start searching around, you can really find some different, even opposing ideas about it all. So much of it can even engender fear or confusion. Often folks just give up trying to grasp any constants or absolutes that can be found about the subject of Bible prophecy.

Some have even said, “Why study the book of Daniel? Hasn’t it all already been fulfilled? Isn’t it only written for Jewish people?” That’s what some say.

Currently I’m meeting with a group of people who are studying the subject of prophecy in the Bible. The main thing we’ve been reading is from the book of Ezekiel. It’s being taught in this group that Ezekiel chapter 38 is in the process of being fulfilled right now in current events playing out daily in the Middle East, as a precursor to the final events leading up to the coming of God’s kingdom on earth. Then I have other friends talk to me about verses in Isaiah which they say predict an atomic attack on the city of Damascus in Syria. And they look for that to happen, soon. So why am I doing a series on the book of Daniel? Shouldn’t we be studying Ezekiel or Isaiah?

The authority of Jesus

Here’s why. If you are looking for authority in the Bible, there’s no greater than Jesus Himself. Did He talk about the future, the time before His return and His coming Kingdom? Absolutely. The two main chapters where He talked about this were Matthew 24 and Mark 13. He’s quoted as saying this in both chapters but I’ll quote from Matthew 24:15. “When you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).”

When asked about the future, Jesus didn’t refer to Ezekiel, or Isaiah, or any other book in the Bible. But He did refer specifically to the book of Daniel and even to a specific passage of Scripture in that book. Then He went on to say, “Whosoever reads it, let him understand.” Jesus both emphases that book and made it unusually clear, highlighting the importance of understanding that particular passage.

Admittedly, that verse, Matthew 24:15, is not very easy to understand at first glance. That’s one of the reasons why in my series on Daniel, I start with the first prophetic chapter in Daniel and then build on it. The series begins with Daniel chapter 2, then goes on to chapter 7 and 8, before we are really ready to look at this emphasized statement that Jesus made about certain passages in what turns out to be Daniel 9 and 11.

Then if we look at what is considered the most specifically prophetic book in the New Testament, Revelations, it is full of material that refers back to characters and events first introduced in Daniel’s visions and prophecies some 600 or more years earlier than the date of Revelations.

If we are to look for instruction from the Bible as to what the future holds, there’s no clearer or more unambiguous book in the Old Testament than Daniel. And no, definitely, it has not all been fulfilled. Numerous things that are first clearly spoken of in Daniel, and further clarified and defined in Revelation, just haven’t happened yet.

With so much speculation nowadays having to do with fulfilled prophecy and possible events soon to come, I’m convinced that a solid understanding of Daniel’s prophecies offers the best hope of establishing a foundation of understanding future certainties. And it seems Jesus Himself pointed us to this beginning point when He referred to specifics in Daniel yet to be fulfilled and said, “Whoever reads, let him understand.”

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Daniel’s Dreams and Visions

The authority of Jesus