13 End-time Prophetic Events—in Exact Sequence
- Personal from David C. Pack, Publisher/Editor-In-Chief
- August 24, 2011
A previous
Real Truth article covered the failed prophecy of
a radio preacher about May 21, 2011, and his prediction about an
October 21, 2011 doomsday. It addressed how to know false prophets from
God’s servants, and much more.
But what is the
truth of Bible prophecy?
Jesus Christ, along with Old Testament prophets and other New
Testament writers, spoke about specific events and trends that would
precede His Return. There are about 70 that occur in sequence,
culminating in the Return of Christ. Some are larger than others—but all
are
provable. The purpose of this unique Personal is to simply
and briefly reveal in sequential order the first of 13 major events.
They form a
foundation to understand the answers to the most crucial questions about the future!
I will be plain about what is coming! To defeat widespread confusion, no punches can be pulled.
Many sense the world is hurtling toward calamity. Mankind is
overwhelmed with every kind of trouble, evil and ill—terrorism, violence
of every kind, pollution, overpopulation, political upheaval, religious
confusion and tremendous economic turmoil and decline, which suggests
an even worse Great Depression is ahead.
New diseases keep emerging and old ones are re-emerging. Famine is
decimating entire segments of local populations. And incomprehensibly
lethal weapons of mass destruction now threaten humanity.
Hundreds of millions live in abject poverty, ignorance and
oppression. Add rampant and worsening immorality and perversion across
the world—and the never-ending cycle of hatred and unrest growing ever
worse in the Middle East—and earthquakes, volcanoes and frightening
weather patterns across the world—and devastating fires, tornadoes,
hurricanes, droughts and floods occurring more often and in more places.
Headlines scream daily of seemingly endless problems. World conditions,
events and trends speak in frightening terms about how things could
quickly turn in the wrong direction.
Source of Answers
Most do not know
where or
how to look within God’s
Word to get correct understanding of how events will play out,
sequentially, within God’s Master Plan for the end of the age. And,
instead of examining the hundreds of verses on prophecy themselves for
proof, many are content to trust supposed experts.
One-third of the Bible is prophecy—history written in advance. Over 80 percent of this
future history is unfulfilled. Many major events must yet occur. God wants His servants to understand them. He has provided
clues—necessary
vital keys!—to understanding what lies ahead for the world.
The prophet Isaiah explained that God’s Word is written, “…
precept upon precept…
line upon line…
here a little, and
there a little…” (
28:10).
Nowhere is this Bible pattern more true than with prophecy. And another
great Bible truth is that this Book interprets itself.
Millions are wondering about the course of events, and whether the
world is on the brink of destruction. Jesus’ disciples asked Him about
final events. Notice: “The disciples came…saying, Tell us, when shall
these things be? And what shall be the
sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world [meaning
age]?” (
Matt. 24:3).
The idea of the world ending has been a subject of discussion and
speculation, but also ridicule, for almost 2,000 years. Is the world
nearing Christ’s Return—are these the
end times? Can we know?
Now begins examination of 13 events or conditions—
in sequence—that precede Christ’s Return. We will count forward from the present.
NUMBER 1: The worldwide breakdown of character
The apostle Paul warned, “In the
last days perilous [or dangerous] times shall come…” (
II Tim. 3:1).
Here is what he describes: “For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God” (
vs. 2-4). This time has come!—and it is worsening!
Look around. People’s conduct is
changing. More authority
figures are sounding the alarm that human nature is running wild—and
conditions are exploding out of control! No thinking person can
disagree.
Matthew 24,
Luke 21 and
Mark 13
are parallel accounts of what is called the Olivet Prophecy. This
crucial prophecy works in combination with the books of Revelation and
Daniel, and puts in sequential order events that span the entire period
from Christ’s First Coming until His Return 2,000 years later. Jesus
explained
exactly what would occur—what the serious observer should be looking for—and
expect. He presented, in
plain,
clear language, all key events and trends. These
parallel Revelation 6 precisely.
Matthew 24 provides clues, which explain the
symbols we will study in Revelation. You will see Jesus gives a direct answer to a direct question.
Paul’s last-days description culminates with, “Evil men and seducers
shall wax [grow] worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (
II Tim. 3:13).
NUMBER 2: False Christianity grows much worse
First, Jesus told His disciples, “
Take heed that no man
deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I [Jesus] am Christ; and shall
deceive many” (
Matt. 24:4-5). Jesus goes straight to the problem that would exist—there would be
many deceivers at work. Christ warned that the many would be deceived by those claiming to represent Him—not the
few. Are
you concerned about this?
The number of false teachers and false prophets is exploding, exactly as Jesus warned
three times (just in
Matthew 24) would occur. Most are unaware of this deception—and its impact throughout Christianity.
Now let’s read the exact parallel in the
first seal of
Revelation 6. Understand that what the apostle John records is written in
symbols, not plain language. He introduces the infamous Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: “The Lamb [Jesus] opened
one of the seals…behold a
white horse: and he that sat on him had a
bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth
conquering, and to
conquer” (
Rev. 6:1-2). The
white horse represents
false Christianity. The rider is a counterfeit of the true Christ and a counterfeit of His Second Coming, described in
Revelation 19:11-16. There, the
real Christ wields a sharp two-edged sword, while the false christ is carrying a bow. Do not overlook this critical difference!
Since false teachers, ministers and false prophets have been plying
their trade for centuries, Jesus’ warning for the end of the age must
involve a big increase in the power, prevalence and influence of false
Christianity.
NUMBER 3: War grows much worse
Following
false Christianity, Jesus states, “You shall hear of
wars and
rumors of wars:
see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass,
but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom” (
Matt. 24:6-7).
This requires no interpretation. In fact, it is Jesus’ interpretation of
Revelation 6. As we read the remaining seals, we have Jesus telling us
in advance what we are viewing—what the symbols mean. All mystery disappears.
When the
second seal opens, a red horse appears: “When He had opened the
second seal…there went out another
horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth,
and that they should
kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword” (
Rev. 6:3-4).
The
same Jesus Christ would not give two different versions
of what happens immediately before His Return. He would not tell one
thing to His disciples of the
first century, and another to those of the
21st century! This should be obvious.
The sword of
Revelation 6
is shown as an instrument of war and killing. This horse and rider take
peace from the earth. When peace leaves, war remains—what Christ
described in
Matthew 24:6.
Wars have continued and grown steadily worse since the time of
Christ’s prophecy. This part of John’s astounding vision has the gravest
implications for all alive on Earth today. This horseman represents the
dreadful destruction of
world war. By the end of the age, the
potential for devastation in war has become so great it holds the power
to take peace not just from two or more nations, but “
from the earth.”
Only in the modern age have weapons of mass destruction been
available. The 20th century saw the two most devastating wars in
history, with WWII far more destructive than WWI. We are in the last
intermission preceding the truly greatest war, foretold to exceed
anything before it. A sinning, rebellious humanity is reaching the end
of its rope, when war’s potential cannot grow worse, because it can
erase
all life from Earth in one last blast of total destruction—
if Christ did not intervene and cut events “short” (
Matt. 24:22).
NUMBER 4: Wars and commotions
Jesus added this in
Luke 21: “When you shall hear of wars
and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by [or yet]” (
vs. 9).
The Greek word for “commotions” means disorder, confusion and tumult.
An expanded definition could include acts and effects of terrorism, such
as bombings, but also demonstrations, protests and riots. These things
have almost arrived full force. But civil disobedience and related acts,
including violence, will grow
far worse than today’s mere front edge.
NUMBER 5: Famine
The pattern of history is that
famine always follows war. In
Matthew 24, Christ also said, “There shall be
famines…” (
vs. 7). This is reiterated in
Revelation 6—when the black horse appears. Notice: “He…opened the
third seal…and lo a
black horse;
and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a
voice…say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley
for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine” (
vs. 5-6).
This pictures
extreme worldwide famine—a widespread lack of
food beyond anything civilization has seen. This condition is seen to
seize the entire world in a terrible way. Famines are increasing now.
They are now far worse than most imagine. Around 24,000 people on Earth
starve to death every day—with this number steadily rising!
All nations are poised for a never-before-seen global food crisis. Drastic changes will
soon
come to an interconnected modern world. No more will supermarket
shelves brim with abundance. No more vast exports. No more wealthy
nations able to assist countries stricken with drought and famine.
Articles every day declare that the black horse is just over the horizon
for all nations! Believe this!
NUMBER 6: Troubles
Mark’s account of Jesus’ list adds a word not found in Matthew or Luke: “There shall be famines and
troubles...” (
13:8). The Greek word translated
troubles
means “disturbance, that is, (of water) roiling, or (of a mob)
sedition: trouble.” While this brings to mind riots, civil uprisings,
protests, violent crime and gang war—and these are connected to
commotions—it also includes a range of difficulties that would come from
floods, tremendous hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons, and other severe
storms—all forms of “roiling water.” Mark’s gospel indicates that these
things will also grow worse. Make yourself see what is already
happening.
NUMBER 7: Disease
If war leads to famine, and it does—the resulting malnutrition invites a host of
diseases. Jesus next said, “There shall be…pestilences [or
diseases]…” (
Matt. 24:7). The fourth seal reveals a pale horse: “When He had opened the
fourth seal…behold a
pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over
the fourth part of the earth [one in every four people], to
kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (
Rev. 6:7-8).
This horse is depicted as pale because it is
sickly. It obviously represents disease—
pestilence!
The pale horseman’s arrival portends that hundreds of millions—and not
just in poor, underdeveloped countries—will perish through terrifying
disease epidemics. The reference to “Death”—the end result of
disease—and “Hell”—hades, meaning the grave—make this clear. The death
toll now from disease around the world is staggering—82,000 lives lost
every day, 30 million a year—and growing!
Disease will soon alter the course of history in a profound way. Horrific epidemics, the likes of which have
never
been seen, will strike the world’s wealthiest nations. And coming
pandemics will dwarf all that preceded them. The ensuing chaos will
affect you, and all of your loved ones.
Everything around you will change for the worse.
NUMBER 8: Animal attacks
Revelation describes “beasts of the earth.” The prophet Ezekiel recorded, “The
sword is without, and the
pestilence and the
famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him” (
Eze. 7:15). First, notice the similarity to
Matthew 24 and
Revelation 6. When one allows the Bible to interpret itself, a clear picture emerges every time.
Ezekiel continues, “Thus says the Lord
God; As I live, surely they that are in the
wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the
open field will I give to the
beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence” (
33:27). The picture painted is almost too horrifying to contemplate.
There is seen to be no way out! God permits
no escape for
those who will not turn to Him! Many will try to flee, but will be
unable. Death will literally pursue them like a tracker an outlaw. In
fact, you saw one fourth of all human beings will die from the horsemen
and wild animals—and this is before things get
much worse.
Revelation 6:8
becomes one of the Bible’s most powerful single passages—or what might
be called a summary statement—on the entire subject of prophecy. Grasp
the sheer awesome magnitude of the message here.
NUMBER 9: Earthquakes and volcanic activity
Earthquakes and volcanoes have become
regular in the news.
The greatest period of activity in history is now underway. Jesus
warned, “There shall be...earthquakes in [various] places” (
Matt. 24:7).
Jesus says earthquakes would be here and there—but also that they would increase in
frequency and
intensity before His Return. Luke adds “
great earthquakes” (
21:11). The word translated “great” is
megas, meaning “big,” “great,” “high, large, loud, mighty,” and “strong.” Believe Christ’s words.
Mega-earthquakes—of
awesome magnitude, resulting in tremendous, widespread destruction.
This sets apart the time when earthquakes come more often and with more
destruction from less frequent relatively “average” quakes in previous
periods of history. The same would be true of volcanic activity.
A second point is seen by comparing Luke and Mark to Matthew. The latter lists earthquakes at the
end of war, famine and disease. Luke and Mark list them
before
these things. The point is obvious. They will occur throughout the
final years when false Christianity, war, famine and disease have grown
worse.
Grasp what you have learned! In effect, Jesus has given an advance newscast—or the
headlines—of events and conditions that are all around us and will grow much worse.
Remember, it is not my purpose here to prove every detail of every
prophecy. We can only examine summaries of the most crucial events to
come. The serious reader will want detail—and that detail is available.
The purpose here is to give the briefest thumbnail—a powerful
overview—of what is happening.
NUMBER 10: True gospel is preached
Jesus foretold that a worldwide effort to preach the
true gospel would occur
before the end! Notice: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in
all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (
Matt. 24:14). This means
someone is preaching the gospel of the kingdom today, in our present age, because the
end—close as it now is—has not yet come!
Delivering the only
true gospel to the world—the good news
of the coming kingdom of God!—is the Work of God’s Church! While this
commission began with the original apostles, The Restored Church of God
continues it. The message and goal are the same—only the methods differ.
Today, God’s truth is available as never before. Vast thousands the
world over are learning sound principles, straight from their Bibles,
helping them to live happier lives.
The Restored Church of God offers
more material—more truth
in writing and in video and audio form—than at any time in the history
of God working with mankind. Check this for yourself. And we offer it
all without cost on our websites. We are the largest (most extensive)
religious
publishing operation in the world—now or ever.
Our websites, collectively—
rcg.org,
realtruth.org and
worldtocome.org—are also the most extensive
religious websites of any kind in the world—now or ever!
NUMBER 11: The world is warned
This event works alongside number 10. The world does not know God. It
is unaware of the Plan and Purpose He is working out. Worldwide
disobedience to His laws, and rejection of His truths, will cause
horrible plagues to be poured out on a God-rejecting humanity. But the
God of the Bible is a
loving God. Before punishment, He always
makes certain His “watchman” sounds the alarm to those in harm’s way.
Notice: “Son of man, I have set you a watchman unto the house of Israel;
therefore you shall hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me.
When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die; if you do
not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in
his iniquity [lawlessness]; but his blood will I require at your hand.
Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he
do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have
delivered your soul [your life]” (
Ezek. 33:7-9). Also read
verses 30-33.
God wants no one to have an excuse, to say, “I didn’t know” or “Why didn’t you tell me?”
It becomes our responsibility to
warn all who will take heed of the seriousness and
meaning
behind world-shaking events and calamities, soon to come on a sleepy,
unsuspecting world. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Cry aloud, spare not,
lift up your voice like a trumpet, and
show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (
58:1). The job of
The Real Truth magazine is to issue this warning while there is still time.
Jesus makes a special promise in
Revelation 3: “Behold, I have set before you [His Church, in context]
an open door, and
no man can shut it” (
3:8). This door refers to the Work God’s Church must carry out and complete.
My book
The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked! – A Voice Cries Out
is unlike anything you have ever read. Many have and are reading it.
Even greater numbers soon will. I urge you to read this book. It goes
far beyond what is covered in this Personal.
NUMBER 12: The Holy Roman Empire is resurrected
Revelation 17:8-9 describes a Beast that ascends out of a bottomless pit and is ridden by a “woman.”
Verse 12
shows that this Beast involves 10 kings who shall receive power and
unite to bequeath it to a leader who will take the role of the Beast.
Comparing
Revelation 13 and
17, with
Daniel 2 and
7, brings full understanding of this Beast, and the
system
it represents. Numerous Old Testament scriptures also refer to this
system, but these are the most critical chapters to understand.
Combined, they explain a staggering—and deeply sobering!—prophecy about
latter-day events that will affect
all peoples in your lifetime!
This seventh, final, short-lived resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire is arising
now in the heart of Europe! A United Europe
is coming—and lies just ahead. When it appears, the entire world will stand in shocked amazement.
Revelation 13 describes a symbolic Beast with seven heads, 10 horns and 10 crowns, as well as a
second beast with two horns. The first Beast represents the Roman Empire—a
political kingdom. The two-horned beast represents the
headquarters of an influential, prophetic woman, or
church, that controls the first Beast.
Revelation 13 also describes the “image” and the “mark” of this Beast. The prophet Daniel explained that the “ten horns” of
Revelation 13
were 10 successive governments, which arose out of the Roman Empire and
continue until Christ’s Second Coming. Daniel states, “The
ten horns out of this kingdom
are ten kings [or governments] that shall arise” (
7:24). Who are these 10 kings? Start by recognizing they must be
successive,
not simultaneous because they span a period from AD 476 until Christ’s
Return. Obviously, no man can live this long and neither has any
single government, empowered by Rome, lasted this long.
Briefly, beginning in AD 554, the Roman Empire became known as the
Holy Roman Empire. Historians almost universally acknowledge that the pope’s crowning of
Justinian signaled this change. Over the centuries, new rulers appeared and were crowned—
Charlemagne (AD 800)—
Otto the Great (962)—the Hapsburg Dynasty of
Charles V (1520)—then
Napoleon (1805)—with the sixth head being Garibaldi’s united Italian head from 1870-1945! This revival of the
Holy
Roman Empire culminated in the defeat of Adolf Hitler and Benito
Mussolini. Mussolini, after signing a secret agreement with the Vatican
in 1929, united Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somaliland back to Italy
in 1935. He declared this to be the Roman Empire re-established!
But there is
another figure who appears on the world scene during this period of end-time events.
NUMBER 13: The False Prophet appears
This event could easily be exchanged with number 12 because these appear at or about the same time. The
Revelation 17
“woman” riding the Beast is a great false church—and the evidence of
this is overwhelming. This explains the “Holy” attached to “Roman
Empire.” Like one who rides a horse, camel or elephant, the woman
directs, controls and guides the animal to go where she wants and do
what she wants. This church is led by a leader the Bible calls the
“False Prophet.” The Beast and False Prophet will combine to rebuild and
lead a powerful religious-governmental system. Many verses show that
demons will bring the power to work miracles through this system.
The False Prophet is also called the “Man of Sin,” among other names.
Paul wrote, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [the day
of Christ] shall not come, except there come a
falling away first [a prophecy fulfilled in the late 20th century among God’s people], and that
man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he
as God sits in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God” (
II Thes. 2:3-4). This religious figure will be revealed some time before God’s Work is over.
This final, world-charming False Prophet will lead all nations to worship the Beast! The deception will be
so widespread that these men will actually deceive all mankind into fighting Christ at His Return (
Rev. 16:9,
13-16;
17:13-14).
A regathering of power—under two men—is foretold to happen one more time!
Look for the final 13 events, culminating in Christ’s Second Coming, in an upcoming
Real Truth issue.
For much more about what will happen in
your lifetime, read my vital book
The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked! – A Voice Cries Out.
The
plaintiffs – Abdalah Tahini, Talal Rouda and Khosai Nouridine – in the
action brought before the Federal High Cour sitting in Abuja are also
seeking the court’s order stopping the Federal Government from deporting
them.
Buhari
was not seen at the height of the event which brought together
dignitaries such as former head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar, Bauchi
State governor Malam Isa Yuguda, PDP national chairman Bamanga Tukur,
business mogul Aliko Dangote, Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Minister
of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
He
noted that the ban of Boko Haram sect has finally ended Federal
Government talks on amnesty and dialogue with the group, querying why
government constituted a committee to dialogue with the militant group,
when it had plans to ban it.
"I
put it to you that you beat him, he fainted and you resuscitated him.
He woke up and... you beat him again," prosecutor Jacky Mabasa told the
jury in court
Your job is that of securing lives and property; does it not overlap with that of the police?
“Palmgren
tendered his resignation due to serious threats directed toward him and
his family,” a national football association statement said.
He died at a United States of America hospital Sunday night after a brief illness. He was aged 74.