THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

ESPECIALLY IN OUR WORLD TODAY - FOR END TIMES

Jesus is Coming Again

A Biblical Worldview has a radical effect on a person’s life and inspires faith for everyday life.

 
“A Gospel that does not deal with the issues of the day is not a gospel at all”  ~~ Martin Luther

“The Christian belief system (worldview) which the Christian knows to be grounded in divine revelation is relevant to all of life.” ~~ Carl. F. H. Henry

“The [secular] humanist system of values has now become the predominant way of thinking in most of the power centers of society.”  ~~ James Dobson

“Any objective social analyst would conclude that the United Sates faces its fair share of moral and spiritual problems.  A new research study from Barna Group suggests that a large share of the nation’s moral and spiritual challenges is directly attributable to the absence of a Biblical worldview among Americans.”  ~~ Barna

Many of the questions that people are asking all over the world today: “Is this the end of the world?”  “Is this the End Times?”

A Biblical worldview of End Times has at least 7 major time frames.   

The Bible is a roadmap for renewal and revival. 

Question:  Are we willing to commit to the roadmap? 

The Biblical Worldview of the roadmap includes:

1.   Old Testament prophecy

2.   Signs of the Times – today

3.   The Return of Jesus Christ – The Rapture

4.   The Seven Year Tribulation Period

5.   The Return of Christ with His Bride, the Church for 1000 year reign

6.   The final two judgments:  the Bema Judgment and the Great White Throne Judgment

7.   The New Jerusalem 

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY

The Word of God is approximately 30% prophetic.

We are encouraged to read – hear – keep- Biblical prophecy and we will be blessed, if we do.  Rev. 1:3

In the Book of Daniel, which is the Revelation of the Old Testament and full of prophesy, the Holy Spirit tells Daniel to shut up the words and seal the book to the time of the end (Daniel 12:4).

He gives two signs of the times.

1.   Travel shall increase…from the horse in Daniel’s day to space travel today

2.   Knowledge shall increase. In the 1900’s, knowledge increased every 100 years; in 1945 knowledge increased every year and now today, knowledge doubles every 24 hours. ~~ IBM

From Dr. Ed Hinson of Liberty University:

1.   There are approximately 2000 prophecies in the Word of God

2.  Approximately 1500 have been fulfilled

3.  Approximately 500 yet to be fulfilled according to the Book of Revelation.

4.  Jesus Christ not to return until Israel became a nation. Isaiah 66:8,9. After 2000 years of exile, Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948.

5.  There is no prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before the return of Christ.   

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

There are 3 main chapters in the New Testament concerning prophecy and End Times:

·     Matthew 24

·     Luke 21

·     II Timothy 3

·     Plus the entire Book of Revelation

In Matthew 24:4, the first thing Jesus said was “take heed” – to be aware of what is coming.

In verses 5 – 8, he outlines 5 signs:

1.   Time of deception - apostacy

2.   Wars – approximately 40 wars happening today - eg.  Russia and Ukraine(Wikipedia);  rumors of wars including China/Taiwan; Iran/Israel; and nuclear threats. Russia has just cancelled the nuclear agreement with U.S.A.

3.   Famine – there is a food crisis coming that will be catastrophic. ~~ Economist magazine

4.   Pestilence, plagues and pandemics. The word ‘plague’ is used over 100 times.   

“Most plagues in the Bible are used of God to bring people to repentance”. ~~ Dr. Joel Rosenberg.                                                                 

“All plagues are of God for repentance” ~~ Dr. Jim Showers, Friends of Israel.   

5.   Earthquakes - over 20,000 occurred in 2022, most ever on record. ~~ Wikipedia.                                                                                                             

Is Turkey a warning of what is coming? God often uses earthquakes to announce a major event. When Christ died, a major earthquake took place:

·     The veil of the Temple was ripped and now Christ is our High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16).

·     Graves were opened and the dead arose and walked the streets of Jerusalem;  (Matt. 27:45-56)

Then Jesus said: v. 6 and 8

1.   Do not be troubled

2.  These things must all come to pass

3.  This is the beginning of sorrows; ie. Birth pains

4.  The end is not yet

Jesus gave us more signs:  v. 9-14

1.   Persecution is coming. 1 in 7 Christians around the world suffered some type of persecution in 2022 and over 100,000 were killed  ~~ Open Doors

2.   Hatred will increase. There were 70 mass shootings in the U.S.A. in the first 45 days of 2023; ~~ Fox News

3.   False Prophets Shall Rise. ~~ New York Times.  Christian prophets are on the rise.  What happens when they are wrong? Christianity is in crisis.   

4.   Many will wax cold. (not on fire, not willing to ignite a blaze).  II Timothy 3 talks about persecutions and apostasy.

5.   We must endure. ( to persevere; to abide; to suffer)  v. 14 – When will the end come?  When all the world has heard the Gospel.

No one knows the timing of the Return of Jesus Christ, (Matt.24:36,37) but Jesus said it would be as in the time like the days of Noah; Genesis chapters 6 to 9

What were those days like?

·     Anti-God

·     Sexual immorality

·     Violence (def. in Hebrew – Hamas)

THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST – FACTS

1.   The dead in Christ shall rise first

2.   Those alive will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air

3.   We are to comfort (to exhort, to pray for) one another comfort is a present imperative, meaning continuous or repeated action

4.   This will occur in the twinkling of an eye

5.   This is a mystery to the world.  Mystery = secret.  There are 14 mysteries in the New Testament known only to believers. Six of the 14 mysteries are about End Times (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51).

THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD

What is the Tribulation?

The tribulation is a future seven-year period when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world. The church, comprised of all who have trusted in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, will not be present during the tribulation.  I take a pre-tribulational approach to eschatology. The church will be removed from the earth in an event called the rapture (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-58). In this way, the Church is saved from the wrath to come (I Thess. 5:9).

“That day will be a day of wrath – a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness – a day of trumpet and battle cry (Zephaniah 1:16)."

The tribulation will be marked by various divine judgments, celestial disturbances, natural disasters and terrible plagues (see Rev. 6 – 16). In His mercy, God sets a limit on the duration of the tribulation. As Jesus said, “Those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world until now – and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive (Rev. 13:19,20).

THE RETURN OF CHRIST WITH HIS CHURCH TO BEING THE 1000 YEAR REIGN

The feet of Jesus will land on the top of the Mount of Olives, which will split in two.  (Zechariah 14:1-4). The Holiday Inn would not construct a hotel on that location because they were told that Mt. Olives had a fault running through the middle of the mountain.

The millennium (also known as the millennial kingdom) is the 1,000 year reign of Jesus after the tribulation and before the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked. During the millennium, Jesus will reign as King over Israel and all the nations of the world (Isaiah 2:4; 42:1). The world will live in peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; 32:18), Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:1-3) and, at the beginning, everyone will worship God (Isaiah 2:2,3). The purpose of the 1000 year reign is to fulfill various promises God made to the world.  Some of these promises, called covenants, were given specifically to Israel. Others were given to Jesus, the nations of the world and creation.  Jesus’ 1000 year reign will be a time of promises kept.  Remember, “1000 years is like a day unto the Lord” II Peter 3:8.

THERE ARE TWO JUDGMENTS COMING

1. The Great White Throne Judgment is for unbelievers and is described in Rev. 20:11-15 and is the final judgment prior to the lost being cast into the

lake of fire. We know from Revelation 20:7-15 that this judgement will take place after the millennium and after Satan is thrown into the lake of

fire where the beast and the false prophets are (Rev. 19:19,20; 20:7-10). The books that are opened (Rev. 20:12) contain records of everyone’s

deeds, whether they are good or evil, because God knows everything that has ever been said, done, or even thought, and He will reward or punish

each one accordingly. (Psalm 28:4; 62:12; Romans 2:6; Rev. 2:23; 18:6;22:12).

2. What is the Judgment Seat of Christ? The Bema Judgment Seat. The Bible speaks of a special judgment that God will hold for believers only. It

is known as the judgement seat of Christ or the judgment seat of God. Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,

that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what we have done whether good or bad.” (II Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10) All

believers will stand before God and be individually judged. The Bible also talks about the reward of five crowns for the believers for our work while on earth.

WHAT IS THE NEW JERUSALEM

The New Jerusalem, which is also called the Tabernacle of God, the Holy City, the City of God, the Celestial City, the City Foursquare, and Heavenly Jerusalem, is literally heaven on earth. It is referred to in the Bible in several places (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 11:10; 12:22-24; 13:14) but it is most fully described in Revelation 21.

In Revelation 21, the recorded history of man is at its end. All of the ages have come and gone. Christ has gathered His Church in the Rapture (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). The Tribulation has passed (Revelation 6 – 18). The battle of Armageddon has been fought and won by our Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 18:17-21). Satan has been chained for the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth (Rev. 20:1-3). A glorious Temple has been established in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40 – 48). THE FINAL REBELLION AGAINST God has been quashed and Satan has received his just punishment, an eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:7-10). The Great White Throne Judgment has taken place and mankind has been judged (Rev. 20:11-15).

The New Jerusalem will be fantastically huge. John records that the city is nearly 1,400 miles long and is as wide and as high as it is long. The New Jerusalem being in equal in length, width and depth (Rev. 21:15-17). The city will be dazzling in every way. It is lighted by the Glory of God (verse 23). Its twelve foundations, bearing the names of the twelve apostles, are “decorated with every kind of precious stone” (v. 19). It has twelve gates, each a single pearl, bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (v. 12 and 21). The street will be made of pure gold (v. 21).

The New Jerusalem will be a place of unimagined blessing. The curse of the old earth will be gone (Rev. 22:3). In the city are the tree of life “for the healing of the nations” and the river of life (v. 1,2). It is the place that Paul spoke of “in the coming ages [God] might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7). The New Jerusalem is the ultimate fulfillment of all God’s promises. The New Jerusalem is God’s goodness made fully manifest. Compare this to the Old Testament Holy of Holies, where only the High Priest could enter and only on the Day of Atonement, where God would speak to him. The Holy of Holies was also a cube of about 30 feet. The Holy of Holies was in total darkness except for the Day of Atonement. Praise God for the New Covenant where we will have daylight 100% of the time in the New

Jerusalem.

TWO SIGNS OF THE TIMES

NOT REALIZED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE

China is not mentioned by name in the Bible. However, an army of 200 million men will march across a dried-up Euphrates River to attack Israel. Revelation 16 tells the story. According to the New York Times, the Euphrates is about 50% dried up today. This will be the Battle of Armageddon, which will end the world, as we know it today. And to finish the world, the Lord will send:

• Hailstones, each weighing 100 pounds or more
• The largest earthquakes the world has ever seen that will:

o Divide Jerusalem into three parts

o Destroy mountains and islands – but men who sin is so great they blasphemed God

The second sign of the times is not well known, it is the call for:

• One world government
• One world currency

The World Economic Forum has called for a one world currency which no doubt will be linked to the number 666. 666 is the number of the beasts (Wikipedia) (Rev. 13:17-18) and no one will be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast.

Today over 5000 Swedes have microchip implants. To allow them to buy anything without cash. ~~ BBC

Elon Musk, who is not invited to the WEF said, “the single world government could doom humanity."

TIME FOR A RESET

KLAUS SCHWAB is founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. He is the author of “Stakeholder Capitalism: A Global Economy that

Works for Progress, People and Planet."

GENEVA – Covid 19 lockdowns may be gradually easing but anxiety about the world’s social and economic prospects is only intensifying. There is good reason to worry: a sharp economic downturn has already begun and we could be facing the worst depression since the 1930’s. But, while this outcome is likely it is not unavoidable.

To achieve a better outcome, the world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions. Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. In short, we need a “Great Reset” of capitalism.

DAVOS-KLOSTERS, 16-20 January

The world today is at a critical inflection point. The twin triggers of the Covid19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine rattled an already brittle global system. Economic growth in the world’s largest economies is stalling, while navigating headwinds from rising food and energy prices. For the first time since the 1970’s, the world is facing a precarious disequilibrium with growth and inflation moving in opposite directions. This is occurring alongside heightened geo-economic fragmentation, financial sector vulnerabilities, including stretched asset prices and high debt levels, and a climate crisis spiraling out of control, which could magnify any growth slowdown, particularly in emerging markets. Unless these systemic and interconnected risks are addressed, the promise of a “decade of action” may become a decade of uncertainty and fragility.

Quotes:

1. China is our model

2. Own nothing and be happy

3. No ownership. Personal real estate

4. We need to live in the world in a different way

Membership in World Economic Forum, as I understand it, by 2023, according to WEF records: 195 countries involved globally; there are 197 countries in the world.

People involved:

1. Joe Biden

2. Justin Trudeau

3. Al Gore

4. Bill Gates

5. George Soros

6. John Kerry

Companies you may know:

1. Bank of America

2. Goldman-Sacks

3. Johnson and Johnson

4. Procter and Gamble

5. Coca-Cola

6. HSBC Bank

7. Chevron

8. Blackrock, which holds about 30% of USA retirement funds

JOE BIDEN – “the world needs a new world order and the U.S.A. must lead the

way."

Additional interesting facts:

1. It appears that China and Germany are two big supporters.

2. About 40 heads of state attended the January 2023 convention

3. Over 2000 leaders from all walks of life

4. World Health Organization and United Nations involved

5. Over 1000 CEO’s from around the world

6. WEF is self-funded by membership fees, with over 1000 companies

involved, to the run of over $5 billion.

HOW SHALL WE THEN LIVE TODAY?

1. Repent of sin – daily. Barna’s research indicates that only 10% of

pastors today are preaching about repentance or sin. Psalm 66:18;

Proverbs 1:28,29

“Christianity is based upon repentance” ~~ R.C. Sproule

“Whatever happened to repentance?” ~~ David Wilkerson

“Repentance does not end with salvation”. ~~ Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones

The very first word in the teaching of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ was REPENT. Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Acts 2:38

A change in man’s conduct could bring about a change in God’s judgment. God is free of sin but HIS mercy endures forever.

Def. ‘repented’ – sorry, mercy. Noah found grace. People were given 120 years to repent. We are given grace and faith; Rom. 12:3

God repented of His decision to destroy Nineveh; Jonah 3:10

‘Repented’ for God means ‘to change His mind’...

Question: Can the repentance of His people change the time of His return?

Answer: I do not know but I do know this, that “He is not willing that any

should perish but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

2. “Occupy” or ‘do business’ until He comes; Luke 19:13

Key point: keep on living and enjoy what god has given you.

3. “Watch and pray” Mark 13:32-37 Key point: watch, keep awake, be alert, spiritual alertness; the word ‘vigilant’ is mentioned 4 times

4. “Give thanks to God”. I Cor. 15:57,58 Key point: Be steadfast, fixed, moral, settled, immoveable – firm in your Biblical worldview; abounding,

better, exceed, excel, over and above, in the work of the Lord.

5. “Always be ready” Matt.24:44 Key point: be prepared for the return of the Lord

6. Live in faith and love. “without Faith, it is impossible (impotent) to please God; Heb. 11:6; I Cor. 13:13 – love, which is the greatest gift.

7. PRAY. II Chron. 7:13-15 Pray means:

 a. To make supplication, to ask for. There are at least 12 preparation steps for prayer in order for God even to hear our prayer. Two of the most important are repentance (I John 1:5-10 – 5 ‘ifs’ in that chapter) and forgiving others (Matt. 6:14,15).

b. Seek my face; seek me to search out, to worship or to request (Psalm 80:7,19).

c. Turn from your wicked ways. ;’turn’ means return to the starting point or to relinquish. Solomon used the word ‘turn’ three times in his prayer (II Chron. 6:26,37,42).

If we do these 3 things, here is God’s Promise to Us:

o I will hear you from Heaven. ‘Hear’ means attention.

o I will forgive your sin as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).

o I will ‘heal’ your land, which means to mend like a physician, to repair thoroughly…. DIVINE INTERVENTION. The word ‘heal’ is also used in Isaiah 57:17,18 in the context of our salvation.

8. Humble ourselves. V. 14. To me, this is one of the most incredible verse in the Bible because it is directed to us today. “if” (our choice) my people

who are called by name will do four things….” Humble themselves, which means to bend the knee. It is used in II Chron. 34:27. Spurgeon said,

“voluntary humbleness is what God is looking for” – that’s what Solomon did!

The only way to not experience the terrible seven year tribulation is to REPENT – ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST as personal Savior and live for HIM today. John 3:15-18

HABAKKUK WAS A SPOKESMAN FOR GOD, ARE WE?

Like Job, Habakkuk not only speaks about trouble, but they lived through it. The Holy Spirit instructed him to write about the trials he experience in a vision; Hab. 2:10-4. Included in the vision is the word ‘salvation’ in 3:18. “Salvation’ is the Hebrew word from which the name of Jesus is derived in Matt. 1:23 – IMMANUEL, which means, God with us. It is a name of Jesus Christ. It’s prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8. The Lord answered Habakkuk’s prayer just as He answers us; Hab. 2:1-4.

Chuck Smith on Habakkuk Days:

• It seems everything was going wrong
• Evil was triumphing over good
• The judicial system had broken down
• The courts had become a mockery
• The guilty were not being punished
• Prisoners were being released to continue their crimes
• Respect had been lost for the law
• Violence increased.

Habakkuk was very frustrated because he believed God was not answering his prayers. But GOD DID ANSWER. Hab. 2:1. Habakkuk was prepared to wait

for God to answer. Like the eagle, we also should be prepared to wait on HIM. (Isaiah 40:31)

HERE’S WHAT GOD TOLD HABAKKUK

1. Write the vision. Five instructions on the importance of having a vision:

• Write it down – God did
• Make it clear and plain – God did
• Make an appointed timeline – God is in control of our vision but we need a timeline.

• It may take time but wait for it – God did.

2. What was Habakkuk’s response? His prayer for revival, even though there was a pandemic was: (vs. 5) “The just shall live by faith. Even though

things may not be improved, Habakkuk was prepared to accept three instructions from the Lord:

o Rest in the Lord

o Stand still… wait

o Fret not thyself

3. The just shall (not – might or maybe) live by faith. These are the words that inspired Martin Luther for the Reformation.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION?

CONCLUSION

As the Temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 3:16,17; 6:17-20) there are at least 3 New Testament sacrifices that the Lord commands us to make, not for sin but to praise Him for what He has done for us.

1. Present our bodies, His temple, as a holy sacrifice, so that we will be transformed , which is our reasonable service; Rom. 12:1,2

2. Sacrifice of praise continually and the fruit of our lips is to give thanks. Heb. 13:15. “The Lord inhabits (dwells) in the praises of His people." Psalm 22:3

3. God is well pleased when we do good and communicate. Greek def. ‘communicate’ is koinonia – to be in partnership – with – to share. Other

New Testament words that come from koinonia:

• Fellowship
• Communion
• Partner
• Communicate
• Partner
• Distribution
• Contribution

Barry Borthistle,

bborthistle@shaw.ca