If you have never heard the term “we are living in the latter days”–a term that prophecies about a time period that will occur at the very end of our age—then it’s about time you’ve become well acquainted with the words. Christians often toss it around loosely but the question that needs to be asked is does it hold any value? Can it truly be proven that we are in fact living in the “latter days?” The answer may surprise you…
The Bible doesn’t lack when it comes to prophecy. In fact there are hundreds of prophecies all throughout the Bible which predict future events and all written thousands of years ago. If we could prove that these prophecies are concurrently coming to pass in our modern era, we would not only have a powerful case that we are living in “the latter days,” but also that God who inspired the Bible knows the beginning from the end and is guiding world events implementing his Biblical prophecies.
In the video below I answer these very questions, but not only that I provide Scriptural evidence as well as evidence in current events. Specifically I target prophecies pertaining to Israel. I’ll dive into everything from the building of the future Temple in Jerusalem and how close we really are to building it, to the Sanhedrin and more….
“…bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us things to come. Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. Behold, you are nothing…” [RSV]
Here is a list of end time Biblical prophecies pertaining specifically to the Jewish people and the nation of Israel…
1- Jewish Dispersion
“Then the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known…” Deuteronomy 28:64
One way we can see prophecy fulfilled is through the Jewish dispersion. Basically what that is, is in 70 A.D., the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, and as a result the Jews were dispersed among the Gentile nations of the world. This event became known as the Diaspora – dispersion of Jews. Which had to happen so that in the future, Jews could be brought back to their land, Israel. But we’ll get into that later. For now, just know that this prophecy had to come to pass in order for future prophecies to be fulfilled.
2- Long-term Persecution of the Jews
“And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul.” Deuteronomy 28:65
“You will become a thing of horror and an object of scorn and ridicule to all the nations where the Lord will drive you.” Deuteronomy 28:37
No other people group have been such a target for attack, as the Jews have. Many battles have taken place over the years, such as, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, Portuguese Inquisition, the massacres inUkraine and the Pogroms of Russia, as well as many expulsions and finally, the Holocaust which killed over 6 million Jews!
3- Preservation of the Jews
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD, “So shall your descendants and your name remain.” Isaiah 66:22
“I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord.‘ Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you…” Jeremiah 30:10
Now it’s interesting to note that despite the 4,000 years of harassment, persecution, and often all-out war. No nation has ever succeeded in wiping out the Jewish race. However, many other nations have been wiped out including, the Amalekites, the Jebusites, the Hittites, the Edomites, the Canaanites, and the Parazieites. Yet, the Israelites remain.
Satan has been exhaustively trying to exterminate the Jews, and why? Simply because he doesn’t want to see fulfillment of prophecy. With each attempt he miserably fails! His goal is to erase the Word of God and what better way than to erase the people He said would always be around. Thankfully, Satan will never get his way, because God is God and he always prevails!
4- Israel’s Nationhood
“Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, her children will be born…” says your God.” Isaiah 66:8-9
God prophesied that Israel would be born in a single day and this is exactly what happened on May 14th, 1948. Israel became a nation again! Just as the Bible foretold! But it didn’t come without a price.
The very next day Satan, made his move. He sends six surrounding Arab nations to seek their demise. They were outnumbered 60/1, a brand new country, and only a day old. Yet, Israel manages to miraculously win the war!
“Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare in the coastlands afar off, And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him And keep him as a shepherd.” Jeremiah 31:10
Ever since Israel became a nation, and even a little before that, God has been gathering the Jews back to theirhome land by the thousands. They have once again received their Biblical inheritance, the Land of Israel, which has been deeded to them by the Lord.
“I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them says the Lord your God.” Amos 9:15
Despite all the conflicts we see today. The Jews will not be uprooted from their land, ever again! Ever since God brought them back from the Diaspora, they are there to stay. Satan can do nothing to change that.
5- Jerusalem Recaptured
“And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:24
The City of Jerusalem has passed from one Gentile power to the next. It has been besieged about 40 different times and destroyed (at least partially) on 32 different occasions. In addition the ruler-ship of Jerusalem has changed hands some 69 times. But the Scriptures are clear to say that one day, Jerusalem, will once again belong to the people of Israel. In June of 1967, this is exactly what happened with the Six Day War. Israel goes to war against other nations, and yet again, outnumbered in size, they recapture their precious city and win the war. Once again fulfilling Biblical prophecy.
6- Jerusalem, a Burdensome Stone
Even though this city belongs to Israel, doesn’t mean there will be peace in the city. In fact, the Scriptures say, that it will be a burdensome stone.
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” Zech. 12:2-3
The meaning of the word, Jerusalem is actually, “city of peace.” The irony is this so called ”peaceful” city has known more war, more bloodshed, more tears, and terror than any city on earth. Today, Jerusalem is unquestionably the focal point of all the controversy that is going on around the world. I mean, you can’t turn on the TV without some statement on terrorism or Middle East Peace. Just watch the daily news and then you’ll know enough to know that Jerusalem is a “Burdensome Stone”, to the whole world.
You see the Jews believe Jerusalem belongs to them, it’s their most holiest site. After all the word, Jerusalem, can be found 667 times in the Torah alone! Arabs on the other hand, claim that the city belongs to Islam, it is there 3rd most holiest site-next to Mecca and Medina. And there is NO reference to Jerusalem in the Koran. Lastly the Papacy has their say to! They believe it belongs to Christendom because it is where the death and resurrection of Christ happened. The worlds three major religions may disagree on many things, but the one thing they agree upon is that Jerusalem is a Holy Site. This is why we see such conflict in the area… thus fulfilling prophecy yet again!
7- Dividing Land in Israel
“For behold, in those days, and in that time [last days], when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, anddivided my land.” Joel 3:1-2
The United Nations, the European Union, and the United States all seek to divide Israel. “It is critical hot spot that endangers ‘world peace’.” So they claim. As a result we have see about 14 patricians (pushes for peace treaties) come through in the 65 years that Israel has been a nation. Including the Madrid Conference, the Oslo Accords, the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace, the Beirut Summit, and more. Attempts have been made to divide the land ever since Israel became a nation (some of which have prevailed). The current attempt to divide up the land, that the US and other nations are pushing, is called the Two-State Solution.
According to Wikipedia: The two-state solution envisions two separate states in the Western portion of the historic region of Palestine, one Jewish and another Arab to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Basically it divides up the Region into two–a Jewish one and an Arab one. Currently Obama is pressuring Netanyahu to sign this peace deal. But the truth is, there will be no peace. The Palestinians want Israel,‘wiped off the face of the earth,’ and they will not rest until this happens. Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled, they are dividing the land for false peace, just as God said they would.
8- Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ [Anti-Christ] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place [Jewish Temple]…” Matthew 24:15
The word, “holy place,” used in this Scripture, is referencing the New Jewish Temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem in the near future. Today there is an institution that is devoted specifically to this cause, it is called,“The Temple Institute.” They were founded in 1987 and are currently planning and developing the construction of the New Temple.
The temple probably would have been built by now if it wasn’t for the Muslims, “Dome of the Rock,” standing in the place the Israelites want to build. In truth, the temple can’t be built until some kind of arrangement can be made to either, build it where the “Dome of the Rock” lies, or there is a possible second location that is being considered, right next to the Dome. Which, some people claim is the true location, but that is debatable. Either way, the moment something happens in order to solve this conflict, the temple is ready to go, ready to be built.
In fact the Temple Institute has currently restored over 60 different sacred temple vessels including: the Priest’s breastplate, the crown of the priest, the shofar, musical instruments, the laver, the mizrak, and more. Even some of the most important vessels: the Menorah, the Incense Alter, the Golden Table of Showbread, and a mock up of the “Ark of the Covenant.
There is a group of Jews who every year commemorate the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple by wearing sash-cloth and ashes and parading around the ‘Dome of the Rock’ carrying a model of the Jewish Temple. In a sense they are saying symbolically, “this is what the temple is supposed to look like and this is where it is supposed to go.” God is fulfilling prophecy right before our eyes and what an honor it is for us to see it!
9- Re-Established Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin takes its origin from the book of Exodus, when God commanded Moses to assemble 70 elders to share in the leadership of the nation. From that time on, it continued to function for more than 400 hundred years.
Since then there have been several attempts to re-establish it, but all have failed, mainly because they didn’t have a country to inhabit. However today, this is no longer an issue. Israel has their country back and theSanhedrin has been revived!
There is a small group of young scholars who are preparing the way for this third temple to be built. They are a council of 70 men and they are known as the “Developing Sanhedrin.” Which means they have not yet achieved Jewish legal status on par with its previous position, however, they do have the authority of a Rabbinical Court.
A spokesman from the Sanhedrin said, “The rebirth of the Sanhedrin is a slow, ongoing process. Although it makes headlines and many like to highlight its controversy, it is in truth a humble project by rabbis from all sides of the Torah world joining together simply to fulfill a Torah commandment [rebuilding the temple, being the Torah leadership]…”
10- A Blossoming Israel
“And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their landwhich I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.” Amos 9:14-15
Israel was once a dry and desolate area, but now its green, fertile, and prosperous. Over 300 million trees have been planted in this century, rainfall has increased 450%, the former malaria infested swamps have been converted into cultivated land, and water from the Sea of Galilee has been channeled to the deserts, causing the deserts to bloom. Israel is once again a fruitful land, just as the Bible predicted it would be.
11- Restoration of the Hebrew Language
“For then I will return to the people a pure language [Hebrew language], that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent.” Zephaniah 3:9 (emphasis mine)
The ‘pure language,’ is the Hebrew language. God tells us in this Scripture, that one day the Hebrew language will be revived in Israel.
Prior to Israel’s nationhood in 1948, the Hebrew was a dead language. Today, however, the Israelites speak fluent Hebrew! The language has returned just as prophesied and this is the only example in history of the resurrection of a dead language. What a time to be alive!
12- The Fall of Damascus
“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Isaiah 17:1
The city of Damascus will one day become a ruinous heap and this prophecy could be fulfilled at any time.
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ [Anti-Christ] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place [Jewish Temple]…” Matthew 24:15
“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thess 2:3-4
For More Information…
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/05/world/meast/temple-mount-clashes/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/03/world/meast/jerusalem-temple-mount-crisis-lister/
https://www.templeinstitute.org/
Second Temple Location: http://www.templemount.org/
Sanhedrin: http://www.thesanhedrin.org/he/index.php?title=%D7%A2%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93_%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%A9%D7%99
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