As stated previously, most Old Testament prophecy is focused on “the latter days,” meaning the past 2000 years of mankind’s history. Most of that prophecy involves “the end of the end times” as those years are called in the book of Daniel. During the final years the church’s final era she is prophesied to exhibit “Laodicean” beliefs and customs described by Jesus Christ in Revelation 3:14-18. A major problem involves her operating under the guise of “Christianity.” Read that passage in order to see today’s Catholic/Protestant Religious System (“the church”) from God’s point of view. A short history lesson will help to tie today’s version of the church to the end of the end times prophecies written by the prophets.

In the Book of Acts we find the New Testament Church being created on the Day of Pentecost 31 A.D, as the Holy Spirit of God came onto and entered into the 120 true believers gathered in Jerusalem. Receiving the Holy Spirit caused them to speak in the hundreds of different languages of the visitors in Jerusalem who had come from “every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5) to celebrate the Passover-Pentecost season. Notice the Apostle Peter’s response when asked what was going on. He said: “THIS IS THAT which was spoken by the Prophet Joel when he said: ‘IN THE LAST DAYS’ says the Lord, ‘I will pour out My spirit on all flesh ….'” ‘2:16-21). Peter was telling the people that what they were experiencing signaled the BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE AGE. In Matthew 24:1-8 Jesus warns us about what would take place from the establishing of the New Testament Church until His return. The Book of Revelation is about the final year of that time period called “The Day of the Lord” that will follow the 2 1/2 year-long time called the Great Tribulation. At the end of “the Lord’s Day” (year) Christ will return, resurrect His Very Elect saints, and with them, descend to earth where He will establish the Kingdom of God where He, the Father and their true saints will live forever.

Anciently, when the Israelites’ morals had declined to a point beyond which God could tolerate, He sent the Assyrian Empire to defeat them and carry them away captive. They later scattered throughout the world. Many prophecies reveal that the same thing will happen to their modern-day descendants–namely America and Britain, founded by the descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph, the son of Jacob, whose name God changed to “Israel.” As described in Scripture, the Tribulation/Lord’s Day period will be a time of horror, destruction and death so terrible that Jesus described it as being worse than all of the curses by which God had afflicted sinning man throughout history–COMBINED. Jesus said that what we are experiencing today is merely the “beginning of sorrows.” Read Who and Where is Israel Today? Key word–Who.

The Scriptures tell of the defeat, capture, enslavement and scattering of ancient Israel throughout the world as punishment for her sins. The punishment was designed to teach God’s people about the effects of sin and to point them toward Him and to the benefits of obedience to His Law, the breaking of which is sin (1 Jn. 3:4). In Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 He lays out the lessons He wants His people to learn in plain, though graphic, form. However, “the church,” having cast God’s holy, eternal Law aside, has failed to learn the lessons God has been teaching her over the centuries through His “voices.” Read The “Voices” of God. Key word–Voices.

Though free and prosperous now, the time is coming when God’s people will suffer the same defeat, enslavement and scattering as did their ancient Israelite ancestors. In Jeremiah 30:3 the Almighty tells Jeremiah about a future time when He would cause the Israelites (including America and other Christian nations) to suffer national and personal tragedy, as did their ancestors. He said: “Behold, I will bring (cause) AGAIN the captivity of My people Israel.” The first defeat and captivity happened to ancient Israel. The final defeat and captivity will happen to their descendants, the people of America, Britian and other Christian nations. The main focus of God’s wrath will be on America and Britain. He refers to this time of terror “the time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble” (vs 7).

But there is light at the end of that terrible tunnel. Upon their repentance and return to Him in full obedience to His Law, the Lord will restore His people to their original status on earth: “Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the coasts of the earth …. They will come with weeping and with supplications and I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way wherein they will not stumble, for I am a Father of Israel ….” (vss 8,9).

So much misery is coming upon America and other so-called “Christian nations” that it is hard to comprehend. However, as individuals we do not have to suffer what the church and the nations that host her will suffer. We can leave the world to the world and learn what He teaches us in His Holy Bible. Those who obey what they learn will be protected in a special place while the world around them is suffering the 3 1/2 year-long session of hell on earth. Read about “Her Place” using the key word–Safety. At the end of that time Christ will return and His people will rise to meet Him in the clouds. He and they will then return to earth where He will create the Kingdom of God in what is today called the Promised Land. Read about this incredible place using the key word–Kingdom. Also read The Three Resurrections. Key word–Three. L.J.