"Revelation: The Book of Advanced Technology?"

While most of civilization was advancing one small step at a time, the Book of Revelation took a giant leap into the future.

Any sufficiently-advanced technology can seem indistinguishable from magic, especially waaaaay back in, say, A.D. 95 when the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation.

Remember, John was instructed to write down the things "that he saw" (Rev. 1:2) and most of what he saw was nearly 2000 years in the future.

Talk about mind-blowing future-shock! How would a 1st century prophet describe things like:

• advanced attack helicopters
• armoured vehicles
• biological and chemical weapons
• fighter jets
• nuclear warfare?

Imagine the difficulty a primitive, non-technical man from the 1st century would have trying to make sense of modern advances and warfare--never mind trying to put it all in writing.

We take today's technological advances for granted, but back in John's day they must have seemed like magic.

In Revelation 13, John describes a statue that come to life and is able to speak. Some believe John is using symbolic language. We believe he's probably describing a technology.

"Holoportation" is a new type of 3-D capture technology that allows high-quality 3-D models of people to be reconstructed, compressed and transmitted anywhere in the world in real time. When combined with mixed reality, they are actually present in the same physical space. Communicating and interacting with remote users becomes as natural as face-to-face communication. 

A wise man once said: "John was catapulted by God from one time period to another so that his extensive "visions" would have the authority of an eyewitness. The prophet then unknowingly encoded a warning for the generation in which these things would happen with conviction, accuracy and authority." -- Hal Lindsey, author

"He was permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die" -- Revelation 13:15.

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near" -- Revelation 1:3. 

News:

• CBS New York: Mystery Surrounds Metal Towers Popping Up In Tunnels & Bridges; MTA project shrouded in secrecy.
• Defense One: U.S. Military constructing a Giant Armed Nervous System; every weapon, vehicle, and device will be connected and sharing data.
• Express: Scientists able to control the weather using lasers; breakthrough could potentially eradicate droughts

"2017 Predictions: Serious Study or Wild Speculation?"

Predicting the future is both tricky and dumb, and yet, people go on doing it. Why? Because people love it. They eat it up. They're even willing to pay for it. And so, of course, people continue to make predictions. Too bad no one seems to notice (or remember) how few of them come to pass. Google '2017 predictions' and we predict you'll get a ridiculous mix of astrology, I Ching, Nostradamus, and a wide variety of psychic prognosticators. Oh, and just enough Bible prophecy to discredit it along with all the others. That's right. Mix it all together--and voila--the Mayans, the Hopis, and the Bible are all equal.

Wait a minute. The purpose of this blog is to examine biblical prophecy and to raise a word of caution regarding non-biblical attempts to predict the future. We are continually shocked to discover how many people believe there is no significant difference!

Because we are living in the most incredible times the world has ever known, it is becoming clear even to the dimmest among us that something unusual is happening. Everything from natural disasters to international conflicts bombard us daily. Every new turn of events reminds us that the 'tipping point' could be just around the corner. And it could be. But one of the dangers of such expectations is the wild speculations that are sure to follow.

Instead of wildly speculating, why not use the signs of the times as a motivation to seriously study what the Bible has to say about our future?

As prophecy teacher Dr. Ed Hindson put it: "Along the highway, signs are used to identify locations, provide information, and give warnings. The same is true of prophetic signs. They stand out on the biblical horizon to get our attention. They give a glimpse of things to come--but only a glimpse. Signs are not intended to give all the details of future events, yet they do play a prominent role in biblical prophecy."

Much is being said about September 2017. Will the church be taken out? Will there be more earthquakes? Hurricanes? Wars? Your guess is as good as ours.

Speculating about the future beyond what the Bible actually predicts is a dangerous game we don't want to play. Just ask the Mayans.

A wise man once said: "The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." -- Thomas Russell

"You have more than enough advisers, astrologers and stargazers. Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds. But they are as useless as dried grass burning in a fire. They cannot even save themselves" Isaiah 47: 13,14.

News:

• Reuters: Mexico quake leaves 273 dead.
• Associated Press: Puerto Rico faces months without power after direct hit from Hurricane Maria
• The Washington Post: Trump seeks international support to confront N.Korea; U.S. officials consider situation at crisis point.

Revelation 12 & September 23, 2017

According to "Doomsday Doug", "the hottest topic in eschatology today is the Revelation 12 sign and September 23, 2017."

While intriguing, speculation in regards to Christ's soon return is just that: speculation. Why? Because "no man know the day or the hour." Jesus could return at any moment and warned us to be ready. But let's face it, gang, we could also die at any moment. Jesus' advice is the same--be ready.

In his classic best seller, Erwin W. Lutzer cuts right to the chase and asks:

"Where will you be...one minute after you die?"

Will you be delighted beyond your wildest dreams or forever separated from all that is good?

"Many people spend more time planning for a vacation than preparing for eternity," say Lutzer. "So while relatives and friends plan your funeral, you will be more alive than you have ever been."

The Big Question? Where, exactly will you be? That depends on choices you make now. There are only two alternatives. "Either way, your future will be irrevocably fixed and eternally unchangeable," Lutzer explains. "One minute after you die, you will either be elated or terrified--and it will be too late to re-route your travel plans."

Wow...with stakes that high you'd think God would have given us detailed instructions on how to choose correctly. You'd think He would have sent a few messengers to make sure we understood exactly what we need to do to ensure we don't miss the boat on this one.

Guess what, gang--He did. It's that Bible some of us "messengers" are constantly trying to shove down your throat.

Atheist comedian Penn Jellette (of Penn & Teller, magician duo fame) once said,

"I don't respect people who don't proselytize. If you believe that there's a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would be socially awkward...how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?"

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is woven with predictions. In fact, more than 1/4 of the Bible is prophecy. Most of them (roughly 80%) have already been fulfilled with 100% accuracy.

These prophecies are very specific, provable events. God chose prophecy as the vehicle to authenticate the Bible. How better to prove One's existence and power over world events than to tell history in advance? Fulfilled prophecy conveys the unique signature of God, and is a powerful proof to an unbelieving world.

A supernatural book requires a supernatural key to unlock its mysteries. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and that God will flood you with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. "I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people" (Ephesians 1:18).

Do you want to know where you will be one minute after you die? click here

A wise man once said: "We must accept God as He is revealed in the Bible, whether He suits our preferences or not." -- Erwin W. Lutzer, author of One Minute After You Die

"I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:19,20).

News:

• FNC: N.Korea fires another missile over Japan Thursday fueling war fears.
• The Washington Post: S.Korea delegation asks Washington for nuclear weapons; meanwhile, N.Korea threatens to "sink" Japan, reduce U.S. to ashes.
• DailyMail.com: Antidepressants raise risk of early death by 33% study finds; the drugs do more harm than good, researchers say.

"Time of the Signs: Zero Hour"

Is it just us, or have you noticed a quickening in the news cycle, too? Wash, rinse, repeat...one crisis after another with each one seemingly worse than the last.

In his classic commentary on The Book of Revelation, What The World Is Coming To, the late Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel states:

"The world is moving toward its zero hour. We're in the final countdown...The "birth-pains" have begun." (Matthew 24:8; Mark 13:8).

Doom & gloom? You betcha--if the birth-pains (or doom & gloom) were the only message.

"The Book of Revelation delves into grave details using remarkable symbols of judgment," proclaims S. Douglas Woodward of Faith-Happens. "Each broken seal discloses a new horror; each trumpet portends a new calamity; each vial grows increasingly more horrible."

"If we dwell on these images of doom, no doubt we too would become gloomy," cautions Woodward. "Nevertheless, the Bible consistently offers a starkly contrasted message: the greatest day for those who believe in Christ, comes on the worst day for those that don't."

In other words, the doom & gloom has a purpose. For the unbeliever, these "birth-pains" are a warning: seek God while He may be found; receive the redemption His Son suffered and died to purchase for you before it's too late.

For the believer and student of Bible prophecy, these same birth-pains are an amazing, faith-building, fear-of-God producing, awe-inspiring wonder to watch as events unfold exactly as God said they would in His word.

Remember, the purpose of Bible prophecy is not to predict the future, but to authenticate the message.

And what is the main message of the Bible?

Hope! God is the creator of everything. He has a plan and a purpose to redeem not only those of us who believe that Jesus died in our place and rose again as our Savior, but His entire creation as well.

"Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for His children...It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead..." 1Peter 1:3-6

Eventually, there will be a new heaven and a new earth where everything (including us) must be born again. But first, like any birth--there are birth pains.

A wise man once said: "Night is coming...a darkness that will cover this globe in suffering and sorrow such as we have never known. But we must not sit and wring our hands about the state of the world. God has provided a way to escape the coming night. Now is the time to tell everyone about the hope of a brand new world waiting for us." -- David Jeremiah, author

"So I pray that God who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in Him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Prophecy Alert: Don't miss Amir Tsarfati's Breaking News

News:

• The Washington Free Beacon: N.Korea revealed plans for EMP attacks for the first time this week in its official Communist Party newspaper, Rodsng Sinmum, after Tuesday's nuclear bomb test.
• Miami Herald: Hurricane Irma: strongest hurricane ever recorded; meanwhile, last week's Hurricane Harvey claimed 70 lives.
• Reuters: Wildfires sweep across U.S. West with huge fires raging in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and California burning more than 1.4 million acres; military called upon for help.