It’s Going To Rain
Living in west-central Indiana, we have not had a rain shower this summer. Not that we’re in a drought – far from it; we have had record rainfall, but it seems like every time it rains, it has stormed. If you’ve seen the news, you have seen the films of the flooding in Indiana. We live about seventy miles from those areas. Last Thursday, and this is not an exaggeration, I witnessed the strongest winds I have ever seen. I have had firsthand experience with tornadoes, and last week I was certain I would witness one touchdown in my front yard. During that storm, two trees crushed our chain-link fence on the west side of the house, and half of the privacy fence on the east side was blown away.
No need to fret: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
One thing about storms: they have signs indicating their arrival. A clear sky turns cloudy; the clouds grow increasingly dark; the wind begins to pick up; thunder can be heard, and lightning can be seen off in the distance. How long we see signs before the rain differs with each storm. We have all said, “Wow, that storm came on quick!” We have said that because we either never noticed the signs or they were there for only a few minutes, rather than a good portion of time.
Biblical prophecy is the same way. Jesus told us of signs. Paul, Peter, and John all tell us of signs in their writings. Even the Old Testament gives signs of Jesus’ second coming and end-time events.
The rapture, when all true believers are removed from this earth, is the next event on God’s timeline of prophetic events. It can happen at any moment. It could happen before I finish writing this column. It may happen two hundred years from now (highly unlikely). Jesus said that no one knows when this will happen except for God the Father (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; Matthew 24:42, 44; Matthew 25:13).
There are only a few signs that point directly to the rapture; however, there are dozens of signs given for events after the rapture. Therefore, if we see signs for after-rapture events taking place, then we can conclude that the rapture is closer in time than farther away. Also, as we see signs for multiple prophecies occurring at the same time, and nearly all these events occur during a seven-year window (the Tribulation), it is safe to assume that the storm clouds of prophecy will soon be producing rain.
Let’s go over some end-time prophecies and signs that show current events are moving in the direction of these prophecies being fulfilled.
The Temple
There is no specific prophecy that a third Jewish Temple will be built; however, Jesus tells us of a still future event that will occur in the Temple. It’s simple: if something happens inside the Temple, then there must be a Temple. The Antichrist will walk into the Holy of Holies and proclaim himself to be God. This happens near the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14).
Also, Daniel 9:27 says that the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices and ceremonies at the Temple. There must be another Temple built.
The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has everything ready for the next Temple. All the utensils and furniture the priest will use for sacrifices and other rituals within the Temple and on Temple grounds have been made. The priestly robes are finished. Everything is made to the Biblical specifications of the Old Testament. The Institute has traced genealogies back to where they now know who is in Aaron’s line, and they have named a High Priest. They are ready to start Temple rituals. All that is needed is a Temple. There are even several Biblically acceptable red heifers available for the purification sacrifice required by Numbers 19. No acceptable red heifers have been known to exist for the last two thousand years.
No Jewish prayers have been allowed on the Temple Mount until this year, when in February police started allowing the Jews to pray there. In July, thousands of Jewish visitors went onto the Mount during Tisha B’Av. Just this Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reported that Jewish prayer books were allowed and read from on the Temple Mount for the first time.
With Jewish religious activity at the Temple increasing over the last few months, the Temple Institute is ready to start sacrifices and other ceremonies at a moment’s notice, and red heifers are waiting in the wings; the wind is picking up on the construction of a third Temple.
The coming invasions: Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39
Psalm 83 describes an invasion of Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Ezekiel describes a much larger invasion by many nations, with the three main players being Russia, Turkey, and Iran. No nation is involved in both invasions, also it is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia and Egypt are not part of either invasion.
The interaction between the nations involved in both invasions is growing almost daily. Last week, Russian newspapers reported that Russia and Syria are discussing procedures for transferring control of Latakia International Airport from the military to civilian authorities to enable civilian flights between the two countries.
Also this week, Al Jazeera reported that Russia will have a “reshaped” military presence in Syria. AP reported that the reshaping means Russia and Syria will transition their bases into joint training centers.
Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have signed a joint protection agreement, indicating a shift in Gulf attitudes toward US protection.
Lastly, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continue to shoot missiles at each other daily.
The nations are aligning; hostilities are escalating, both militarily and diplomatically. The storm clouds are getting darker; there is occasional lightning in the distance.
We could go on, but time and space are limited. What matters is this: just as the clouds darken, the winds pick up, and lightning can be seen in the distance, signaling that a storm is coming, we have daily signs that the prophecies of the Bible are about to rain down upon us.
Preacher Tim Johnson is Pastor of Countryside Baptist Church in Parke County, Indiana. His weekly column “Preacher’s Point” may be found at: www.preacherspoint.wordpress.com