I. Introduction. In this article, we will consider the events of today’s world, and historical events, as they relate to the suggested outcomes of personal opinion and Bible prophecy. The USA is dealing with the effects of a virus that began in China. Rioting has been taking place throughout the USA, with the city of Portland, Oregon experiencing 100 days of violent riots, as of September 20, 2020. The many voting irregularities of the November 3, 2020 Presidential election have many Christians and Jews wondering if the USA will survive as a nation that God has used to support His Chosen People of Israel (Deuteronomy 14:2).
A. Video Title. Revelation.
B. Article Title. Bible? Virus? Riots? Rigged Elections? Which will cause, “End Of The World, 2nd Coming Of Christ, Tribulation, Rapture?
C. Article Focus. God’s Plan, or God’s Reaction.
1. Many among Christian and Jewish groups are attributing the current day events to God’s response to today’s lawlessness and turmoil. But, there has been a great lack of misunderstanding of events that have happened in world history that have resulted in far greater deaths than those that are being experienced today. Before anybody assumes that today’s world events will cause God to do anything to His creation, we must consider the great numbers of deaths that have resulted from past wars, disasters, pandemics, natural disasters, and other catastrophies.
a. List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_and_anthropogenic_disasters_by_death_toll
b. List of epidemics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epidemics
c. List of natural disasters by death toll.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_natural_disasters_by_death_toll
d. Conclusion. In spite of previous atrocities, pandemics and wars, with deaths that greatly surpass those of today, God has not responded with the end of the world, the second coming of Christ, the Tribulation, or the rapture of the believers in Christ. God has a plan for His creation that will not be thwarted by events that come as a result of His creation’s bad behavior, or by the effects of nature or anything else that may happen in this world (there is no mother nature!).
II. Today’s World. God’s Plan. The Times Of The Gentiles; The Fullness Of The Gentiles.
A. The Times Of The Gentiles…The Fulness Of The Gentiles. In the Book, “Things To Come,” written by J. Dwight Pentecost, there is a good study on this subject on pages 303-304 (re Romans 11:25-27). Pg 303, in Lk 21:24, Christ referred to the “times of Gentiles” as continuing as long as Jerusalem is “trodden down of the Gentiles.” The reference in Luke is to the political domination of Jerusalem by Gentiles which began with the fall of Jerusalem at the time of the captivity and has continued to the present day. While the terminology is not significant in itself from the context of the two passages involved, it seems clear that the expression “times of the Gentiles” has reference to political domination of Gentiles, while the expression “fullness of the Gentiles” has reference to Gentile blessing and opportunity in this present age. If this analysis is correct, the times of the Gentiles and the fullness of the Gentiles are two entirely different ideas. The times of the Gentiles began long before Christ, and will continue until Christ returns to establish His kingdom. The fullness of the Gentiles began at Pentecost and will continue only as long as the present age of grace. From the standpoint of eschatology, the important point is that the fullness of the Gentiles will come to its close before the times of the Gentiles are run out …{“it seems clear that the fulness of the Gentiles will come abruptly to its close when the church is caught up to heaven” (John Walvoord, “Israel’s Blindness, July, 1945}.
B. The MacArthur Study Bible adds the following note on Romans 11:25 (Times Of The Gentiles): “Until” refers to a specific point in time; “fullness” refers to completion; “has come in” translates a Gr. verb often used to speak of coming salvation (Mt 5:20, Mk 9:43, 45, 47; Jn 3:5, Ac 14:22). Israel’s spiritual hardening (which began with rejecting Jesus as Messiah) will last until the complete number of elect Gentiles has come to salvation.)
C. The Ryrie Study Bible explains the time of Tribulation and Second Coming of Christ in Mt 24:3 note: Christ speaks of the end of the age in vs 4-28. Vs 4-14 lists the characteristics of the first half of the Tribulation period, whereas vs 15-28, deal with the second half. In vs 29-31 Christ speaks of his second coming. Zech 12:10, At the second coming of Christ, Israel will recognize Jesus as her Messiah, acknowledging with deep emotion that He was the One whom their fathers pierced …(Jn 19:37)]
D. Mt 24:31 is not the rapture; neither is Mt 24:40-41. Zech 14:1-5 and Rev 19:11-21 tell of Christ returning “to earth” with his saints and angels (as opposed to the rapture in the air, Jn 14:2-6, 1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 Thes 4:13-18). Zech 14:9,11, tells of Christ taking His throne, with peace finally coming to earth. The 1000 year millennial reign of Christ (Kingdom age, Rev 20:4) will follow the tribulation (Rev 6:1-19:21) and the 2nd coming of Christ (Mt 24:29-31). The rapture of the church will occur prior to the Tribulation, when the predetermined number of Gentiles has come to saving faith in Christ, which will occur during the Church age of grace. The tribulation will follow the rapture (Rev 6:1-19:21), being followed by the Kingdom Age (Rev 20:1-10), and the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15, where unbelievers of all ages are cast into the lake of fire). The destruction of the world in which we live will follow the Great White Throne Judgment (2 Pet 3:7-12, Rev 21:1). The eternal state of new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem, will follow the destruction of the former (Rev 21:1-1).
E. Re: Rom 11:25. God has determined “a fullness” of Gentiles (the number of saved Gentiles). Then, the rapture of the church (born again believers in Christ) will take place. The fullness of the Gentiles is based on God’s measure, and doesn’t happen in, and of, itself.
F. Credentials.
1. Charles C. Ryrie (Th.D, Ph.D.) (Deceased).
2. J. Dwight Pentecost (Th.M., Th.D.) (Deceased).
3. John F. Walvoord (Th.M., Th.D.) (Deceased).
4. John MacArthur (M.Div., Litt.D., D.D.). Walvoord has made reference to McArthur’s writings.
III. The Cause Of Today’s World’s Problems.
A. Upon the completion of God’s creation of our world, and all that is contained, the words “very good,” are found in Genesis 1:31 to assess the condition of the newly created world. Everything that is found in Chapters one and two of Genesis show perfection; without error, without sin (1 Tim 4:4).
B. Sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen 3:1-13).
C. A curse on all of God’s creation followed the fall (Gen 3:14-19), which included death (Gen 2:17; Rom 5:12). There were no human or animal life before the creation in the Garden. There was no death of pre-Adamic cavemen, or dinosaurs of billions of years ago. The perfection of Genesis chapters 1 and 2, is no longer present in our world, and will not return until the time of the eternal state (Rev 21:3-4).
D. The world in which we now reside is affected by the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve, and the resulting curse, and is shown in the words of Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Such sin from the fall and the curse, causes pandemics, riots, and election rigging. Such persistent sin is evidence of people not having been born again, not having the righteous influence of the indwelling Spirit of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Jn 3:3; 14:20; 16:7-14), NOT HAVING BEEN SAVED!
IV. Considering References. Everybody reads something that someone else has written. It has been my goal to study the works of pastors, seminary instructors, and authors of books, who have a history of being respected for their works by others of their peer groups. No conclusion that I draw comes without having also been such a conclusion coming from one of my sources of information. A list of my sources of information can be found on my website Page, “About Sources.” https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/about-sources/
V. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
VI. Video Details. REVELATION. REVELATION STATION. Aug 6, 2019.
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