When Jesus was giving His prophetic discourse, He gave His disciples a progression of events of the last days. Matthew records that as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age? The answer to the first question is recorded in Luke 21:

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 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 21:20-24 NKJV).

Jesus says, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is near. This was literally fulfilled in A.D 70. The Romans laid siege to Jerusalem and surrounded it. In the end, thousands of Jews were killed and many towns destroyed by the Romans who successfully re-established control over Judea.

The Jews in Jerusalem who acknowledged the Lord Jesus understood the application of His prophecies. They fled Jerusalem to a town known as Pella on the eastern side of Jordan.

The Roman emperor Titus, gathered his armies together and continued to besiege Jerusalem and the whole city was destroyed including the beautiful Temple. The Temple was completely destroyed that not one single stone was left upon another exactly as Jesus prophesied. In the course of that war, two million Jews were killed and one million were sold into captivity as slaves throughout the Roman Empire.

The lesson to learn from is this: The people who gave heed to the words of Jesus saved their lives and those that didn’t lost theirs. The second question from the disciples was: And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age? Jesus answered and said to them:

Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5).

Jesus warns that many false messiahs will come in His name and deceive many. This can happen to any one of us especially in this day and age of globalism. This deception will increase dramatically as this age draws to a close. In order to avoid being deceived we have to have passionate love and commitment to the truth of the Word of God.

As Jesus continues His discourse, He gives a progression of the events of the last days. What should be noted in this discourse of Jesus is the word then. He used this word several times in both Matthew 24 and 25. This word indicates a chronological sequence of events following one after another in a systematic way. Let’s try to look at the key verses where this word then was used by the Lord Jesus in His discourse in Matthew 24:

Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers (Matthew24:9).

And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (Matthew 24:10).

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Verse 11).

And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end (Verse 14).

“…..Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Verse 16).

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (Verse 21).

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it (Verse 23).

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, (Verse 30).

And then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Verse 30).

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left (Verse 40).

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? (Verse 45).

In summary the following are some of signs of the times, sorrows that Jesus gives in His discourse as this age comes to an end.

1. Wars, famines, earthquakes and pestilences
2. Worldwide persecution of Christians.
3. Apostasy and betrayal among Christians
4. False prophets with cults
5. Society will be like The Days of Noah and Lot
6. Lawlessness will abound and the love of many will wax cold.
7. The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to all nations
8. The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
9. The Great Tribulation.
10. The Coming of the Son of Man

When the events Jesus describes in Matthew 24: verse 7 happen,  that is beginning of the birth pains. We all know when a woman is about to give birth, the birth pains increase in intensity before the baby is born.

In the same way Jesus says that once these birth pains start, they will become more constant and intense. That means the birth will occur. Which birth? The coming of God’s Kingdom on earth. Therefore as much as these birth pangs are very painful, we will still be involved in them. The choice would be to ask ourselves which is more important:  The coming of God’s Kingdom on earth or not being involved in birth pangs? Jesus says,

For whoever wishes to save his life in this world will eventually lose it through death, but whoever loses his life in this world for My sake will find it that is, life with Me for all eternity (Matthew 16:25).

While Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, during what has been described as His Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 the disciples came to Him privately and said, tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age? He responded by saying deception will be very widespread and many will be led astray.

He warned that there will be a great falling away by believers, wars, persecution of Christians, betrayals, the abomination of desolation, and society will be like the days of Noah and Lot. He also promised that the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to all nations and then the end will come.  As Jesus presented His Olivet Discourse, He added an interesting observation:

Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see all these things, know that itis near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place (Matthew 24:32-34).

The second key event was prophesied by Jesus as recorded by Luke:

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).

Now the question is: what things and what generation? To answer these questions we have to look at how the first half of this prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70; 40 years after Jesus had predicted. In that year the Romans, under the leadership of Titus, conquered Jerusalem and dispersed the Jews among the nations.

Jerusalem remained under Gentile occupation for 1897 years –until June 7, 1967, when Israel won back the city of Jerusalem which another positive proof that we are indeed living in the time of the Lord’s return.

People have always said that all these things that Jesus talked about have been happening throughout history. The challenge is true, but it is not incomplete. Why? Because all prophecies that relate to the close of this age are due to the fact that Israel is a sovereign nation.

Secondly, Jesus said the end-time signs would be like “birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8). In other words, the signs would increase in frequency and intensity as the time draws near for the return of Jesus Christ.

Another prophet by the names of Daniel was given many prophecies by the Lord.  The seventh chapter of Daniel has been described as the central part of the Book of Daniel just like the eighth chapter of Romans is to that epistle. The chapter gives the most precious and prominent portion of the sure word of prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah, therefore we are required to do a most careful prayerful study of Daniel’s prophecies.

His prophecies have been referred to directly or indirectly by the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul, and other apostles perhaps more than other Old Testament prophet.  When Daniel received these divine revelations, those that related to his time were clearly understood by him.

He also understood prophecies that he was given that relate to distant times, such as the succession of Gentile empires that would ultimately culminate to the establishment of the revived Roman Empire. But what should be noted is that when it came to prophecies about the end times, Daniel did not understand what was revealed to him.

The Bible says he wanted to know what all these meant and he finally cried out to God:

And I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, O my lord, what shall be the issue and final end of these things? (Daniel 12:8). The Lord responded to him by saying, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end (Daniel 12:9).

Therefore it was Daniel’s responsibility to deliver the prophecies, but not to understand them. In the next verse the Lord told Daniel that those who are wise shall understand. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10).

At this time the wise are beginning to understand these prophecies which is evidence enough that are living in the days Jesus and the prophets spoke about.

They will be re-gathered from all nations

In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people— those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.  He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 11:11-12 NLT)

Though I have scattered them like seeds among the nations, they will still remember me in distant lands. They and their children will survive and return again to Israel. I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will resettle them in Gilead and Lebanon until there is no more room for them all.  (Zechariah 10:9-10 NLT)

God will use the Gentiles to bring the Jews to Israel

Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, and set up My standard for the peoples; They shall bring your sons in their arms, And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders; (Isaiah 49:22 NKJV)

Birth of the New Nation

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. (Isaiah 66:8 NKJV)

The Land will be fruitful

In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this.  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. 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 land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God. (Amos 9:11-15 NKJV)

Prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled

All nations gathered against Jerusalem

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 very heavy 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. (Zechariah 12:2-3)

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

Their crucified Messiah will be revealed to them

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves;  the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves. (Zechariah 12:10-14 NKJV)

The Lord comes in glory and will rule the Earth

Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You. (Zechariah 14:3-5 NKJV)

Conclusion

In light of all these predicted prophecies we come to the mystery that was revealed to Paul which is some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ. And so all Israel will be saved.  For the Scriptures say:

The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins. (Romans 11:27)

The Bible clearly teaches that God has two covenant people in the earth. Those two peoples are Israel and the Church of Jesus Christ. Israel is formed out of the natural descent from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whereas the Church is formed out of a supernatural regeneration through the Holy Spirit.

The Bible predicts the course of Israel’s history accurately for the past 3,500 years… Listed below are a few Scriptures predicted by the prophets before they happened:

Promise of a Land

Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV)

Possession of the land of Canaan

On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, (Genesis 15-18-20)

Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying:  “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; (Deuteronomy 32:48-48 NKJV)

God’s eternal covenant with Israel

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice (Jeremiah 31:3-4)

They were to be enslaved in Egypt

Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. (Genesis 15:13 NKJV)

Deliverance with wealth from Egypt 

And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. (Genesis 15:14)

They turned to idolatry in the land of Canaan 

But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; you grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God; to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear.  Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten the God who fathered you. (Deuteronomy 32:15-18)

Worship in Jerusalem

But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. (Deuteronomy 12:5-6)

For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. (Psalms 132:13-14)

They were held in captivity by the Assyrians

Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts. (Amos 5:27)

But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” Says the Lord God of hosts; “And they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the Valley of the Arabah.”(Amos 6:14)

Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land. (Amos 7:17)

Babylonian Captivity

Therefore I will cast you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers; and there you shall serve other gods day and night, where I will not show you favor.’ (Jeremiah 16:13)

For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good,” says the Lord. “It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. (Jeremiah 21:10)

Destruction of the first Temple

But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and this house? Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them. (2 Chronicles 7:19-22)

Prophecy of the Return from Babylon

And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.Then it will come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity,’ says the Lord; ‘and I will make it a perpetual desolation. (Jeremiah 25:11-12)

For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. (Jeremiah 29:10)

Destruction of the second Temple

And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2)

For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,  and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation. (Luke 19:43-44)

They were to be scattered among all nations

I will scatter you among the nations and bring out my sword against you. Your land will become desolate, and your cities will lie in ruins. Then at last the land will enjoy its neglected Sabbath years as it lies desolate while you are in exile in the land of your enemies. Then the land will finally rest and enjoy the Sabbaths it missed. (Leviticus 26-33-34)

And when I scatter them among the nations, they will know that I am the Lord. But I will spare a few of them from death by war, famine, or disease, so they can confess all their detestable sins to their captors. Then they will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 12:15-16 NLT)

They would be persecuted and oppressed

And for those of you who survive, I will demoralize you in the land of your enemies. You will live in such fear that the sound of a leaf driven by the wind will send you fleeing. You will run as though fleeing from a sword, and you will fall even when no one pursues you. Though no one is chasing you, you will stumble over each other as though fleeing from a sword. You will have no power to stand up against your enemies. You will die among the foreign nations and be devoured in the land of your enemies. Those of you who survive will waste away in your enemies’ lands because of their sins and the sins of their ancestors. (Leviticus 26:36-39 NLT)

MOCKED AND INSULTED

Prophecy

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. (Psalm 22:6-8 KJV)

Fulfillment

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:39-40 NKJV; 27: 41-44; Mark 15:29-32)

GIVEN GALL AND VINEGAR

Prophecy

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Psalm 69:21 KJV)

Fulfillment

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. (John 19:29 KJV; Matthew 27:34-48)

HEARS PROPHETIC WORDS REPEATED IN MOCKERY

Prophecy

He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. (Psalm 22:8 KJV)

Fulfillment

He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:43 KJV)

PRAYS FOR HIS ENEMIES

Prophecy

For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. (Psalm 109:4 KJV; See Isaiah 53:12)

Fulfillment

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34 KJV)

HIS SIDE WAS PIERCED

Prophecy

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10 KJV)

Fulfillment

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34 KJV)

SOLDIERS CAST LOTS FOR HIS GARMENTS

Prophecy

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalms 22:18 KJV)

Fulfillment

And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. (Mark 15:24 KJV; See John 19:24)

BURIED WITH THE RICH

Prophecy

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:9 KJV)

Fulfillment

When the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.(Matthew 27:57-60 KJV)

HIS RESURRECTION

Prophecy

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10 KJV)

Fulfillment

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. (Matthew 28:9 KJV; See Luke 24:36-48; Matthew 16:21)

HIS ASCENSION

Prophecy

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. (Psalm 68:18 KJV)

Fulfillment

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:50-53 NKJV)

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19 NKJV)

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:9)

BETRAYED BY A FRIEND

Prophecy

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9 KJV)

Fulfillment

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. (Mark 14:10 KJV)  And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? (Luke 22:47-48)

SOLD FOR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER

Prophecy

And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12 KJV)

Fulfillment

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15 KJV)

POTTER’S FIELD BOUGHT WITH THE MONEY

Prophecy

And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter. (Zechariah 11:13 NKJV)

Fulfillment

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood. And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. (Matthew 27:5-7 NKJV)

THE BETRAYER’S OFFICE TO BE TAKEN BY ANOTHER

Prophecy

When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few; and let another take his office. (Psalm 109: 7-8 KJV)

Fulfillment

And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:24-26 KJV)

ACCUSED BY FALSE WITNESSES

Prophecy

Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. (Psalms 27:12)Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. (Psalm 35:11 NKJV)

Fulfillment

Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnessescame forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days. (Matthew 26:59-61 NKJV)

SILENT WHEN ACCUSED

Prophecy

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.. (Isaiah 53:7 KJV)

Fulfillment

And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Matthew 26:62-63 NKJV)

HATED WITHOUT CAUSE

Prophecy

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. (Psalm 69:4 KJV; See 109: 3-5)

Fulfillment

He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. (John 15:23-25 KJV)

SUFFERED VICARIOUSLY

Prophecy

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5 KJV; See Isaiah 53:6, 12)

Fulfillment

When the evening was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. (Matthew 8: 16-17 KJV; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3)

CRUCIFIED WITH SINNERS

Prophecy

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12 KJV)

Fulfillment

Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. (Matthew 27:38 NKJV)

Prophecy

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16 KJV; Zechariah 12:10)

Fulfillment

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” John 20:27 NKJV; John 19:37; 20: 25-26)

BORN OF A VIRGIN

Prophecy

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (which means ‘God is with us’). (Isaiah 7:14 KJV; See Genesis 3:15)

Fulfillment

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18 KJV; See Luke 1:26-37)

MASSACRE OF BABIES

Prophecy

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. (Jeremiah 31:15 KJV)

Fulfillment

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. (Matthew 2:16-18 KJV)

FLIGHT TO EGYPT

Prophecy

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. (Hosea 11:1 KJV)

Fulfillment

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. (Matthew 2:14-15 KJV)

FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH

Prophecy

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1 KJV; Isaiah 40:3)

Fulfillment

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (Luke 7:27 KJV; Luke 1:17; John 1:23)

MINISTRY IN GALILEE

Prophecy

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:1-2 KJV)

Fulfillment

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah: the prophet, saying,The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; (Matthew 4:13-14 KJV)

AS A PROPHET

Prophecy

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. (Deuteronomy 18:15 KJV)

Fulfillment

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. (John 6:14, KJV; See Acts 3:19-26)

PRIEST IN THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK

Prophecy

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4 KJV)

Fulfillment

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:20 KJV; See Hebrews 5:5-6; 7: 15-17)

SOME OF HIS CHARACTERISTICS

Prophecy

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; (Isaiah 11:2 KJV; See Isaiah 61:1)

Fulfillment

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52 KJV; See Luke 4:18)

REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE

Prophecy

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not… (Isaiah 53:3 KJV)

Fulfillment

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11 KJV)  I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43 KJV)  But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. (Luke 17:25 KJV; 23:18)

TRIUMPHANT ENTRY

Prophecy

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9 NKJV)

Fulfillment

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written. (John 12:13-14 KJV; See Matthew 21:1-11)

People who have doubts about God’s ability to reveal the future to us through the His Holy Word the Bible need to look at the record of Jesus Christ. Jesus really did say and do what the Bible reports, beginning with His claims about His own Divinity:

He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you will also know My Father. … The one who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:6-8). He also said, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). Here, Jesus claimed not only to have pre-existed Abraham but also that His pre-existence was eternal, as would have been the case had He said, “I was.” More significantly, “I AM” was a name for God.

He further identified Himself as the God of the Old Testament when proclaiming, “I am the light of the world” (Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation”) and “I am the good shepherd.”(Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd.”) When responding to the high priest as to His deity, Jesus said, “I am and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).

The apostle Peter in preaching to the religious to the people and religious leaders in the Book of Acts explained to them the Messiah God had sent to the earth.

And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance [not aware of what you were doing], as did your rulers also. Thus has God fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (the Messiah) should undergo ill treatment and be afflicted and suffer…. Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel and those who came afterwards, as many as have spoken, also promised and foretold and proclaimed these days. You are the descendants (sons) of the prophets and the heirs of the covenant which God made and gave to your forefathers, saying to Abraham, And in your Seed (Heir) shall all the families of the earth be blessed and benefited.  It was to you first that God sent His Servant and Son Jesus, when He raised Him up [provided and gave Him for us], to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness and evil ways. (Acts 3:17-26 AMP)

There are over two hundred passages in the Old Testament that prophesied about Christ, and every one of them has come true.   Here are just a few of them and I humbly suggest that you read and meditate on these Scriptures yourselves.

SEED OF A WOMAN

Prophecy

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15 NKJV)

Fulfillment

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law. (Galatians 4:4 NKJV (Also Luke 2:7; Revelation 12:5)

PROMISED SEED OF ABRAHAM

Prophecy

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (Genesis 18:18 KJV; Also Genesis 12:3)

Fulfillment

You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (Acts 3:25; See Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:34)

PROMISED SEED OF ISAAC

Prophecy

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. (Genesis 17:19 KJV)

Fulfillment

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren. (Matthew 1:1-2 KJV)

PROMISED SEED OF JACOB

Prophecy

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. (Numbers 24:17 KJV)

Fulfillment

Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor. (Luke 3:34 KJV)

HE WILL DESCEND FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

Prophecy

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49: 10 KJV)

Fulfillment

Nahshon was the son of Amminadab, Amminadab was the son of Admin, Admin was the son of Arni, Arni was the son of Hezron, Hezron was the son of Perez, Perez was the son of Judah. (Luke 3:33; See Matthew 1:2-3)

THE HEIR TO THE THRONE OF DAVID

Prophecy

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7; See Isaiah 11:1-5; 2 Samuel 7:13)

Fulfillment

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1; See Luke 1: 32-33)

PLACE OF BIRTH

Prophecy

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2 KJV)

Fulfillment

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (Matthew 2:1-2 KJV; See Luke 2: 4-7)

TIME OF BIRTH

Prophecy

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (Daniel 9:25 KJV)

Fulfillment

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 1-7 KJV)

Have we lost sight of the second greatest commandment which is to love one another?  Jesus said in John 13:34, I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. “Love is of the heart. It is the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible says….. For God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5).

The Bible also tells us that faith works by love, you cannot study faith or healing or any other spiritual gift without studying love.  The Bible tells us to earnestly desire the greatest gifts and graces. Although chapter 12 is about spiritual gifts by themselves, chapter 13 is about love without spiritual gifts. Here is what Paul says:

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!  Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless…..Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13)

Paul says in chapter 14 that spiritual gifts like faith work with love. I will show you a still more excellent way one that that is better by far and the highest of them all–love.

He says we should desire the special graces that the Holy Spirit gives especially that we may prophesy interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching but we should eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this love and make it our number one goal or aim.

This is the first and principal commandment:

And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31)

At the same love is not being nice. You cannot speak only nice things to people, even if what you are saying is false. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. (Verse 6) Look at that list there is nothing nice.

The reason why we tell others only feel good messages, even if what we are saying is not true is because we fear they might reject us. So who becomes the focus of our love? The people we are trying to tell the truth or us? If you really love and care about other people, you have to risk rejecting you as long as your motive is to please the Lord.

On the other hand you cannot be a harsh preacher. The love of God in your heart must motivate you, you must be patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. Not everyone agrees with our perfect knowledge and that why Paul said that while knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church:

If anyone imagines that he has come to know and understand much [of divine things, without love], he does not yet perceive and recognize and understand as strongly and clearly, nor has he become as intimately acquainted with anything as he ought or as is necessary. (1 Corinthians 8:1-2 AMP)

Love gives attention to people. Love is an act of the will; it is this love that is commanded by the Lord. You cannot force someone to affectionately fall in love with someone else, but it is possible to tell someone to love a person with agape love—which is the love of God.

The reason why many of us believers have been divided over charismatic issues is that we lack agape love which is the sort of love that brings people together who have very different views on some issues. We choose to love one another in spite of our differences. Why? Because love is a choice and an act of the will.

A story is told by Jerome an early church writer, about the Apostle John in A.D. 90, by this time John was very old and they carried him into the church every week on a chair with poles through it. The church members would often ask him to speak. He would sit in the chair at the front and he’d just say, “Little children, love one another!

The next Sunday they would carry him into church and ask if he had a word for them. “Yes” he’d say, ” I’ve got a word for you today.” They would carry the chair to the front and he’d say “Little children, love one another!”

The next Sunday they brought him in and exactly the same thing happened. they began to think he was getting senile. Didn’t he realize that he kept repeating the same words? They finally went to the old man and said, “Master, why do you always say,  “Little children, love another?” He answered: “Because it is the Lord’s command, and if this only is done, it is enough.”

We now live in a society that is dominated by the individual. Of course there are many reasons for this individualistic society but one of them is the historical breakdown of the extended family. The generations of family, friends and relatives no longer live in close proximity to each other and we meet far less frequently, if at all.

This means that individuals are thrown back on their own resources. We form our own opinions with far less family or friends involvement, and we live our lives in way that suits us rather conforming with the requirements of the extended community.

In Africa, the extended family is still the major social unit but now it has been threatened by pressures such as famine, disease, and immigration to Western nations in search of better opportunities. Africans had a sense of corporate activities, family bonding and community loyalty but now it’s also being threatened by technological advances like the internet, gadgets, phones, Iphones’ Ipads, you name it.

So even Africans that had to rely more on community cohesiveness are finding that they have to cope on their own more and more, rather than rely on the family or the wider community.

In the West individualism is promoted by creating a dependency culture wherever possible. Once you remove the incentive to be creative and work and instead promote welfare for anyone and everyone who wants it, you’ve totally destroyed society. Furthermore, the people who are display those attitudes of government dependence are inclined toward antisocial racism, class warfare, poverty, apathy and criminal behavior.

When you preach to pay a “fair share of taxes” regardless of effort, hard work and sacrifice, the consequence of this would be greed, envy and jealousy. Those who are unproductive would wish to live and prosper at the expense of others. This leads to social unrest, loss of production and eventually to hatred between different racial groups.

The Martin Trayvon and George Zimmerman case is a good example when it comes to the increasing division between blacks and whites, as some on the other side of the media have inflamed racial  and emotional feelings associated with the case.

History teaches us that when any government generates a racial war between different color groups, or a class war between the rich, middle class and the poor, it finds it easier to take emergency action measures to secure national peace.

Strife has continued at an alarming rate within the West within the last few years. The Bible says that in the last days a wicked terrible coldness and a spirit of betrayal shall infect even the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children will take a stand against their parents and will have them put to death…. (Matthew 10:21-22)

And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. (Matthew 24:10)

Christian brother will be handed over to the secret police by Christian brother, and women will be against men, children against parents, neighbor against neighbor, race and against race. This is now happening at a very exponential rate. Why is it happening?The answer can be traced directly to what Jesus said would happen in the last days…. Because of multiplied lawlessness and iniquity from the government and the people alike, the love of the great body of people (even Christians) will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12).

Many will turn away from the faith, be offended and betray one another. Why would they do it? To save their own lives. What is very frightening is that persecution of Christians is most likely to come from believers. At the moment the worst enemy of Christianity is complacency and lukewarmness. The cares and worries of this life have chocked out the seed of the Word of God in the hearts of most Christians.

God created us for koinonia. It is only in koinonia with Him and our fellow human beings that we can find true fulfillment in our lives. We need to pray that God will increase our love for our fellow human beings and discernment for the Lord to reveal the true motives of whom we call our friends. For true friendship cannot really be true unless that love that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit cements the friends together. (Romans 5:5)

We need to acknowledge that in many professing Christians, there is little evidence of true koinonia (fellowship).You can’t assume a person is a Christian even if he/she claims to be one or if he uses any religious language. Knowing in whom a person can confide and whether that person truly knows Jesus Christ may mean the difference between life and death in these last days.