Secular thinkers laugh at and mock Biblical prophecy.  Yet, they make predictions and prognostications more than any. They only trust their scientists and see their knowledge and abilities as unlimited.  For more than forty years they have predicted global warming, over-population, pandemics and every conceivable disaster that could be caused by man.  They are false prophets, hypocrites, and liars.

Prophecy is the foretelling or prediction of what is to come, something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation, a divinely inspired utterance or revelation.  God invented prophecy when He communicated to various men messages for others, but He always communicated with mankind from Adam, Eve, and the earliest people, to us today.  The Bible has many books in the Old Testament by major and minor prophets.  At mount Moriah, God spoke directly to the entire Israel nation, but “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.  They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen.  But do not have God speak to us or we will die.’ ” (Exodus 20: 18-19).  In New testament times there were prophets and Yeshua prophesied a lot about his life, purpose and the end times.

Luke 21 contains Yeshua’s prophecy of what would happen in the next few years, centuries later, and concluding with His return.  Of course, it would take too long and be meaningless to His audience to include many details, but having a perspective two thousand years later, we can see the accuracy in His words.  He predicted that the temple would be destroyed – it happened in 70 AD.  He warned that others would claim to be the Messiah and many have done so down through history.

“When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened.  These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” (v. 10).  Globally, there have been more times of war than peace.  Then, he comes back to predict what will start in a period of months, but continue in varying degrees until the end – persecution and martyrdom of Believers, and their accompanying testimony even to kings and governors.  The Apostle Paul fulfilled this along with many others.  He said, “Everyone will hate you because of me.  But not a hair of your head will perish.  Stand firm, and you will win life.” (v.17-19).  It’s true and the message of eternal life and love continues to flourish around the world.  “Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies… For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written….They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.  Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (v. 20, 22, 24).  This began in 70 AD and was completed in 1967 or perhaps this year with its designation as the capital of Israel.

Finally, the end of the world will begin with the return of the Messiah.  “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.  On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.  People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.  At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (v. 25-28).  For Believers this is a great encouragement, but for the lost, terror.  If you’re alive it is not too late to find shelter and much more, even life eternal, in Yeshua Messiah.  All it takes is the faith of a child to believe.