WHAT'S WITH SYRIA?

We are certainly seeing the dominoe effect taking place in the nations of the middle east. While only the leader of Egypt has been removed so far, it is clearly evident that the ruthless despots of several other nations will soon be overthrown. While unrest has been fomenting in Syria for a long time, that nation's troubles have bubbled to the top in recent days. What can we expect to take place in this neighboring country of Israel?

While it is difficult to know precise details, we can get a sense of what direction things are heading. It is an interesting study, when these nations we see all over the news, for us to take a look at the Bible and see what their history has been and what Scripture says about their future. For instance, Libya was named as one of the countries that had persons in Jerusalem for worship at the Jewish temple on the day of Pentecost, just ten days after the ascension of Jesus. Then in Ezekiel 38:5, we read that Put (ancient name of Libya) will be part of the important Gog and Magog attack on Israel in the last days.

What do we discover about Syria?  Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its origins go back all the way to the time of Uz, Noah's grandson. It has had many different occupiers over the centuries. It was sometimes under the control of Israel. In the New Testament we read of Paul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. After his encounter he went on to Damascus where he was ministered to and taught by Christian believers. But what about Damascus in the future?

The Bible paints a bleak picture for Syria in the last days. God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and gives a series of oracles or proclamations about different nations and cities. In Isaiah 17:1 we read of the final days of a city who has had a long and prosperous history. God speaks through the prophet and says, "An oracle concerning Damascus: 'See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.'" A few verses later we find the clear reason for this drastic end of Damascus, "You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress" (verse 10).

We see a common thread in all the uprisings today: the nations are not worshiping and serving the God of the Bible and their end is prophesied as doom. God's call is for all nations to serve Him and His Son Jesus Christ and to respect the rights of God's people Israel. Those that choose to serve other gods will find their nations in constant distress and in the end will be subject to God's judgment. In these days, we are seeing the Bible's prophetic truths coming to pass before our very eyes. The nation of Syria, as its neighbors, needs to understand what they can do to stay their disastrous end which the Bible says will surely come to pass.

IS MAY 21, 2011 REALLY JUDGMENT DAY?

You have probably seen lately a billboard or bumper sticker that proclaims, May 21, 2011 Judgment Day. What is it all about? Is it for real? Who puts up these advertisements? Well, they are for real, at least in the mind of a man named Harold Camping. Camping has been setting dates for the return of Christ and other end-time events for many years. And he has always been wrong. But, he is a slow learner and does not give up on doing what Jesus said was impossible. Jesus said that not even He Himself, but only the Father in heaven knew the dates of when events prophesied in the Bible would take place. So, we can write off the predictions of this man right away because he is doing that which the Scriptures tell us not to do.

Satan is delighted when things like this occur because the unbelieving world thinks that all those who believe end time Bible prophecies are literally true are a bunch of kooks. Camping is a "scholar" who takes the Word of God and twists it to his own interpretations. He teaches these untruths on his large Family Radio network thus deceiving many who are eagerly seeking spiritual truth. When Jesus taught about the last days, He invariably taught first of all that His followers should not be deceived. Those who are guided and taught by the Holy Spirit are given the spirit of discernment and know that those like Camping who come teaching falsely the truths of Scripture are the very deceivers whom Jesus warns us about.

I would encourage you to read a most excellent but rather lengthy article exposing both the faulty exposition and study methods of this man. It is by Dr. David Reagan, entitled "Harold Camping: The Madness of Date-Setting." Go to the bottom of their home page and click on the Featured Question box. Know the truth and don't be deceived!

TEN WAYS PROPHECY WILL AFFECT YOU

I often find people who seem to have little interest in Bible prophecy. I am talking about Christians who are active in their church. Laymen say that they can't understand it. Pastors claim it is divisive. Others are just satisfied to let this important part of the Bible pass them by. They are fans of the popular song sung by Doris Day: "Que, sera, sera; whatever will be will be. The future's not ours to see, Que, sera, sera."

But the Apostle Paul said that he did not want his readers to be ignorant of the prophecies of Scripture. He shared the truth of the return of Jesus to claim His Bride in what we usually call the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Using this basic text, I want to tell you 10 ways that Bible Prophecy will personally affect you.

1. There will be a Resurrection. 1 Thess. 4:16 says that the dead in Christ will rise first. Believers in Jesus who have died in faithful service to Him will be the first to rise.
2. There will be a Rapture. 1 Thess. 4:17 tells that believers who are alive when Jesus comes will be snatched away to go with Him to heaven.
3. There will be Reunion. 1 Thess. 4:17 says that those who are alive and those who are resurrected from the dead will meet together and join the Lord in the air.
4. Believers will be clothed in their Redeemed Bodies. 2 Cor. 15 tells that those who have died will exchange their perishable bodies for imperishable ones and those living will exchange their mortal bodies for immortal ones.
5. You will be shown to a new Residence. In John 14:3, Jesus told his Bride that He was going to prepare a place and He would come again to take her to that place He had made ready in the Father's house.
6. Believers will receive their Rewards. 2 Cor. 5:10 tells that all believers must appear before the Judgment seat of Christ to give account to Jesus for what we have accomplished for Him since our salvation.
7. You will ber appointedd to Responsibility in Christ's coming earthly kingdom. In Luke 12 Jesus told a parable of how those who are faithful now will be put in charge of the Master's possessions.
8. You will live in continuing Relationship with Jesus. 1 Thess. 4:17 says, "and so we will be with the Lord forever."
9. You will Return with Jesus to the earth at the end of the Tribulation period when He comes in power and great glory. Rev. 19 says, "The armies of heaven were following Him dressed in fine linen white and clean" which was identified those clothed in garments of righteousness.
10. You will Reign with Jesus when He occupies the throne in Jerusalem. Rev. 20, "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge (rule)."

Paul gives us instruction about what we are to do with these truths. He said to encourage each other with these words of prophecy. I have sent these words to encourage you. Send them along to someone else. Talk about them. Discuss them. Your heart will be encouraged as you think about the wonderful promises which the Bible reveals to us about the last days.

What's Sure About Prophecy?

We just completed the 12 weeks of Bible Study here at Avon Park Holiness Camp in FL. I have taught this winter on the theme, "A More Sure Word of Prophecy." This is taken from the words of Simon Peter when he wrote, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed" (2 Peter 1:19).

Why did he say that the word of the Biblical prophets was at that time more certain? Truly, it must have been because as he and the other disciples had been with Jesus and had seen the Old Testament prophecies about Him be literally and completely fulfilled, they were more certain than ever that the prophecies given in the Bible were true. And as they saw the prophecies about the first coming of Jesus take place with pin-point accuracy, they were all the more convinced that the prophecies concerning the end of the age and the return of Jesus had to be true as well.

Therefore, those who wrote the New Testament letters filled their writings with either direct teaching on end-times prophetic events or allusions to them. When we think of Bible prophecy, we find our minds turning first of all to the Old Testament books of Daniel, Ezekiel and the other books called the Major and Minor prophets. And some people seem to think that Revelation is the only prophetic book in the Bible. But the entire Bible is a prophetic book. Twenty-seven per-cent of all Bible verses contain some prophetic material. That convinces me that God wants us to know the future. The best way to discover these wonderful truths is to begin to read and study God's Word. As you do, you will arrive at the same conclusion of truth that Peter did. The word's of the prophets are becoming more and more certain.

Where's America?

One of the questions we often hear asked is, "Where is America in Bible Prophecy?" This is a difficult query to answer because we don't find any Bible material that is clearly a reference to the United States. So it appears that when we look to discover America's future, we can only find our answer in terms of general principles that relate to all the nations. Since its inception, the U.S. has been an exceptional nation and quickly rose to prominence as a world power. For many of us who have never been a part of any other kind of country, it is hard to face the reality that our nation is slipping from its position of prominence. The emphasis on globalism is beginning to bear fruit, and it is not the kind of sweet fruit we are used to. The current situation in Libya is a strong case in point. America is playing follow the leader. We are allowing the U.N. to call the shots. European countries like France are out in front asking us to come along for the ride. A few years ago, such a position would have been unthinkable. As we begin the ride down the slippery slope of yielding our leadership to other nations, we will become increasingly less significant as a power player on the world stage. And that is exactly what most of the world is anxiously awaiting. Unfortunately, we are likely in the near future to see ourselves relegated to just another one of the many nations that will be caught up in end-times events with no real understanding of how we fell from our lofty position. Yes, there is good reason to ask where America is both in terms of its standing in the world politic and in regards to its role in the end-times described in the Bible. It is getting harder and harder to see its role.