LESSON 259

OUR BOOK OF FACTS

Many times unbelievers and skeptics have said, “You Christians are so simple-minded and
foolish. You take everything by faith. We only believe in facts”. However, they are really the
ones who are foolish and ignorant of the facts.

The Bible is a book of facts. The book of Genesis and the order of creation are facts. Sin and its
terrible results are facts that can be seen. Archaeological finds prove again and again the
historical trustworthiness of the Bible. Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection are facts that
stand the test of time. And prophetic promises and warnings concerning the future are great
indications that the Bible is indeed the Word of the living God.

Jesus spoke in detail concerning certain signs that would precede His return to rule the earth.
Other scriptures also speak of events that will take place before the end of time. We will study
twelve of these signals in these series of lessons. Thus far, we have looked at six signals that will take place prior to Christ’s return.

They are:

1) THE REBIRTH OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL
2) JERUSALEM IS AGAIN THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL
3) THE MOCKING OF BIBLICAL MORALITY
4) MASSIVE FAMINES, VIOLENCE, WARS AND PLAGUES
5) EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN KILLER EARTHQUAKES
6) EZEKIEL’S VISION OF A LAST DAY’S INVASION OF ISRAEL

SIGNPOST #7—A THREATENED NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST

Skeptics must have laughed for centuries at the Apostle Peter’s description of the end of the
world. The sky passing away with a great noise? Earth’s elements evaporating through
unimaginable heat? Earth itself dissolved?

They laugh no more. Now God’s description of how He will destroy the old earth and create a
new one makes perfect sense. The splitting of the atom turned many skeptics into believers.
After all, look what man himself is capable of doing with the atom and hydrogen bombs. Now
the fear is that nuclear weapons are being placed in the hands of madmen who wish to annihilate
their enemies. The world fears and trembles over this threat of nuclear destruction. A desperate
cry is building for some great leader who can guarantee the world peace and prosperity by
controlling governments, economies and weapons. We will look at this probability in our next
point.

 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.” 2 Peter 3:10-11

SIGNPOST #8—THE CALL FOR A ONE-WORLD SUPERMAN

How often you hear the words, “There are no great leaders today. Our world is ready to explode.
We need a great leader who can bring us all together.”

Since the world’s “wise men” want peace and prosperity in order to better enjoy their lives of sin, they do not choose Jesus. However, they will approve of a leader who is coming on the scene with a golden tongue and the heart of a devil. Christ had warned the religious leaders that though they would not receive Him coming in His Father’s name, they would receive another coming in his own name. (John 5:43)

This demonic personality will arrive to lead a new world order. He will be the anti-christ himself
whose rule will first appear powerful and then turn hellishly violent. Christians argue: “Will the
Church be here—or gone—when anti-christ comes?” I shall not join the argument but continue
to teach Christians, “Live as if Jesus will return tomorrow-—and prepare your soul as if there is
great suffering ahead.”

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

SIGNPOST #9—THE CALL FOR A REBUILT TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM

With their temple destroyed in 70 AD, religious Jews have prayed for—and prepared for—the day when they would again construct their temple on the original site. Today Muslims control the Temple Mount and vow there will never be another Jewish temple. Yet Scripture indicates that God will allow the Jews to rebuild their temple and that it will be the place the false Christ will enter to declare himself to be God. Watch the Mideast carefully. Perceptive hearts will see
certain signals that will be warnings that our Lord’s return grows nearer and nearer.

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (Christ’s return) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,  who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

TO BE CONTINUED