Regardless of how religious a person is, almost all of us want to know what to expect in the future. Some people go to clairvoyants and magicians for these purposes, while those who consider themselves Orthodox Christians avoid such actions. However, news about what the future holds for us was not always rejected by the Orthodox Church. Our faith contains a large number of prophecies and predictions that reveal the secret of the future. Many predictions can be found in the patristic Tradition, the works of the holy fathers. However, there is another book that contains many prophecies regarding the future and the end times. We are talking about the Bible.
Dominion of Babylon
“The whole country will be a wilderness of deserts, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. When seventy years have passed, the king of Babylon and his people and the land of the Babylonians will fall, says one of the prophecies. “And the city will become deserted.”
Jeremiah in his book says that for 70 years Babylon will be a magnificent city, and this was so until the Assyrian king captured it. After this, the city became part of Israel. Later, the city was conquered by Cyrus, king of Persia, and the prophecy was fulfilled.
Bible Predictions About Our Days
The Bible describes what people will be like on the eve of the Second Coming of Christ. Very reminiscent of our time. However, judge for yourself.
List of Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul writes a letter to the young man Timothy and warns: “Know this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unfriendly, unforgiving, slanderers, intemperate, cruel, not loving what is good, traitors, insolent, pompous, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God who have a form of godliness, His strength has been denied. Avoid such as these” (Bible, 2 Timothy 3:1–5).
Someone will say that such people have existed at all times. But when before, tell me, were there so many seminars on how to love yourself, how to make everyone jealous, how to earn a million and become financially independent from your husband, how to ward off friends from whom there is no return? When used to advertise so many imaginable and inconceivable ways to make yourself beautiful and happy: entertainment, sweets, perfume, cosmetics, cars (you can also use credit)? When were children taught to call and complain to their parents for any trifle? When were teachers as powerless as they are now?
All children know their rights. Let me give you a small example. We have built a new children's playground in our city park. It became a favorite meeting place for teenagers. And so they swear at the top of their voices, touch themselves in front of people, make noise. The park guards, young men of impressive size, shared with me that they were simply shaking from the rudeness of teenagers and from the awareness of their own helplessness: you can’t lay a finger on these kids, but they simply ignore words and laugh in the adults’ faces. Children have rights! Result? Full compliance with the list of the Apostle Paul.
Like in Sodom and Gomorrah
God compares the time before the Second Coming of Christ with the distant days before the flood and before the destruction of the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Let's start with the last ones. What were Sodom and Gomorrah famous for? “The inhabitants of Sodom were evil and sinners greatly before the Lord” (Bible, Genesis 13:13).
Here is an example from the Bible. When messengers came to Sodom to warn Lot about the impending destruction of the corrupt cities, he met them and received them into his home. Local residents soon found out about this. Here's what happened next, according to the Bible: “Before they had gone to bed, the city dwellers, the Sodomites, from young to old, all the people from [all] ends [of the city], surrounded the house. And they called Lot, and said to him: Where are the people who came to you for the night? Bring them out to us; we know them” (Genesis 19:4, 5).
The word “know,” as we see from the context, means far from innocent acquaintance. Men wanted to know men. Judging by what is happening in the world, we are not far behind. Country after country is passing same-sex marriage laws. People who advocate traditional Christian values are considered almost extremists. They are being sued. Evil flourishes, people are told to remain silent about morality.
I recently spoke with a friend. Her daughter went to first grade. The little girl ran home in tears and told her mother that two first-graders had caught her at school. One held, and the other imitated sex. Where do these immature boys get such habits? What are our children watching? And what will these males allow themselves when they become teenagers and young men?
The same friend said that her other daughter (also in elementary school) visited a porn site. She explained to my mother that the boys took the phone at school, and that all the boys do during breaks is surf porn sites. Elementary school, friends. Why not Sodom and Gomorrah? "From young to old."
Dying with fear
Thanks to our media. Where would we be without them? But what do we hear on the news? Does this contribute to health and peace of mind? Panic is being sown, and on a planetary scale. Jesus warned: “People will faint from fear and anticipation of the [disasters] that are coming upon the world” (Luke 21:26). Nowadays, the media is a powerful resource that can instill fear, sow discord, and form an opinion (which is beneficial to someone). And who forces us to listen to all this and die of fear? Just don't press the remote button. Do something useful.
Among believers, the concept of “information post” appeared. This is not abstinence from food, but from a powerful flow of information. It has a very beneficial effect on the psyche and provides an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual.
As it was in the days of Noah...
“As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man: for as in the days before the flood they did eat and drink, they married and were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they thought not until the flood came and did not destroy them all, so will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Gospel of Matthew 24:37–39).
One prophecy after another is being fulfilled, bringing us closer to the day when Jesus will come again. He will come to reward everyone according to his deeds. The earth is shaking, natural disasters are becoming more frequent, new diseases are appearing, military conflicts are not subsiding, morality is in decline.
Meanwhile, the preaching of the Gospel is becoming louder, the Bible is being translated into new languages, and there are fewer and fewer places where people have not heard about the love of Christ. Before our eyes, the prophecy is being fulfilled: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come” (Gospel of Matthew 24:14).
Meanwhile, life goes on as usual: people eat (there have never been so many grocery stores!), people drink (draft beer stores are growing like mushrooms), people have lavish weddings... This was the case in the days of Noah. But then the first heavy drops of rain fell (until then there had been no rain, the ground was watered with dew). Thunder rumbled. And then everyone remembered the words of Noah. People mad with fear rushed to the ark. But it was closed by God's hand a few days before the flood began. Late. I should have thought earlier. For 120 years Noah preached, but the people did not listen. They were worried about what to eat and drink, how to satisfy their needs.
“They didn’t think so,” the evangelist sadly reports. What haven't you thought about? That life is not only about food and drink. “Is not the soul greater than food, and the body than clothing?” (Gospel of Matthew 6:25). Shouldn't we pay attention to the eternal and imperishable? Finally, ask yourself the questions: who am I? where am I from? where am I going? Raise your eyes to the heavens. Turn to the One who has been calling you for so long. “As I live, says the Lord God, I do not want the death of the sinner, but that the sinner should turn from his way and live. Turn yourselves, turn from your evil ways; Why should you die...?” (Bible, book of the prophet Ezekiel 33:11).
Snowdrops in the trash
One day in the spring I was walking along a residential building. The snow has just melted, and not everywhere. The ground under the windows is strewn with cigarette butts and all sorts of rubbish. Dog poop thaws. And among all this a bunch of snowdrops breaks through. What a contrast! I immediately remembered the words from the Bible: “That you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish among a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world” (Bible, Philippians 2:15).
Yes, the world is crippled by sin. Yes, it's only getting worse. But God has a special people on earth, for whom He will return very soon. Now is the time to think beyond food and drink. It’s time to build a relationship with God, so that the day of His coming becomes for us not a day of fear and horror, but a day of long-awaited meeting and pure joy.
Marina Vologina
The Hidden Treasure newspaper June 2022
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Cyrus will open the gates of Babylon
Isaiah in his book says that God will open the doors of Babylon to Cyrus and his army. In those days they said that it was impossible to capture the city, since it had high and thick walls, 250 watchtowers, from which there was an endless view. However, this did not stop the king of Persia, and he was able to enter Babylon, conquering it. Cyrus's army marched along the Euphrates River and entered the city.
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Second Coming of Christ
Quite unexpectedly, the Second Coming of Christ to earth will take place. “...The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2). The Apostle Paul spoke about the rapture this way: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a proclamation, with the voice of the Archangel and the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first: then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet to the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Christ will come to earth again, but not alone, but with His Church.
Babylon will finally fall
Babylon was considered the pearl of all kingdoms, the pride of the Babylonians. This city was revered in the same way as Sodom and Gomorrah, but like these cities, Babylon fell.
Isaiah says that Babylon will fall completely and will never be able to rise again. The city destroyed by Cyrus never again had the power it had before. Before this period, the city was captured by the Assyrian Empire, but it managed to recover.
About the Antichrist
The destruction of the established order of the world and the increasing unrest that will precede the Second Coming of Christ will reach incredible proportions. Such an event will create the need for a strong leader who can solve all the world's problems. This is how the Antichrist will appear on the world stage.
For three and a half years, the Antichrist will rule on earth and promise peace, but this is a false peace, a deception for humanity. The Bible says: “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety,’ then destruction will suddenly come upon them, just as the pain of childbirth comes upon one who is pregnant, and they will not escape!” (1 Thess. 5:3). Wars, disasters and famines will worsen (Matthew 24:7), and a time of great tribulation will come, such as has never been seen before.
Nineveh will be destroyed by fire
The prophet Nahum said that the city of Nineveh would be destroyed by fire: “there the fire will devour you, like locusts destroying...” This prophecy clearly states that the city will be burned in fire.
In the nineteenth century, when archaeologists excavated the city, they discovered a layer of ash covering the ruins. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Nineveh was destroyed by fire, which resulted in the failure to rebuild Nineveh.
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History of the Israeli people
The second example of the fulfillment of biblical prophecies is the history of the people of Israel. Again, there are too many examples of such prophecies to list; suffice it to say that the Bible has predicted the exact course of Israel's history over the past three and a half thousand years.
Historians and archaeologists confirm that the events that the Bible speaks about through the mouths of the prophets were exactly fulfilled exactly at the time that God pointed to.
When analyzing the Bible and history, one cannot help but take seriously the words that are written in the Holy Scriptures in the name of God.
In light of the proven accuracy of Bible prophecy in the past, we can confidently turn to Bible prophecy as a reliable source of information about future events.
The earth is shaking
Some say that earthquakes are just features of changes occurring in the earth's crust, while others argue that this is the wrath of God. Moreover, the last thing people talked about about earthquakes was hundreds of years ago.
The scripture from Luke says that “there will be great earthquakes.” And this is really happening. About 50 thousand tremors of varying power are recorded annually. Of these, about a hundred cause enormous damage. Once a year, strong tremors occur in certain parts of the world, causing cataclysms on a grandiose scale. According to statistics, from 1975 to 2000, earthquakes claimed the lives of almost 500 thousand people.
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Prophetic Word for the End Times
(2 Pet 1:19-21)
And besides, we have the most faithful prophetic word; and you do well to turn to him as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day begins to dawn and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing first of all this, that no prophecy in Scripture can be solved by oneself. For never the prophecy was not pronounced by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke it, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
A large part of the Bible consists of prophecies.
(Luke 21:24)
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and be carried away into captivity among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Today Israel has returned to its land. Jerusalem is again in the hands of the people of Israel. However, the Jews do not really own it. The situation in the country is not stable. Because the times of the pagans are not over yet.
Other prophecies
Throughout the centuries there have always been prophets and prophecies. However, not all of them came true. There are scriptures in the Bible that have not yet happened, but according to experts, will soon come to pass. Thus, the book says that one day a red calf will be born in Israel. And it happened. According to Islamic and Christian scripture, the sacrifice of this calf is a sign of the construction of the Third Temple of Jerusalem, which will become a real spiritual center for all the peoples of the world. And after its construction the Messiah will come. Israeli scientists studied the red cow and said that its birth was a miracle.
Another unusual phenomenon is the revived Dead Sea. It received its name not by chance, but due to the fact that no life forms can exist here. But the prophecies of Ezekiel say that the time will come when the Dead Sea will come to life. Images from space have shown that some kind of inhabitants actually live in the sea.
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Book of the Prophet Isaiah
One of the most interesting Old Testament books can be called the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. This servant of the Lord lived in Jerusalem, had a family and children. Through his ministry, he shows people an example of great humility and submission to the Will of God. Not at all afraid of punishment, he boldly denounces the wrong policies of the rulers of that time, predicts the death of the king and the upcoming Babylonian captivity.
The prophet Isaiah recorded prophecies about the coming of the Messiah
The book of Isaiah is a collection of his speeches, which can be divided into two groups - accusatory and consoling. At the beginning of the book, the prophet reproaches God's chosen Jewish people for having forgotten their great destiny, not following the Lord, and not striving to know and fulfill His Holy Will. The sins of the Jews are also exposed - greed, deceit, unmercifulness. For the depravity of morals, the prophet predicts the expulsion of Jews from their land and long-term slavery.
Together with formidable denunciations and predictions of heavenly punishments, the chosen one of God calms the Jews. He says that fallen Jerusalem will rise, that the Savior Messiah will come. The exodus of the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity is also described in detail.
Important! Many of Isaiah's prophecies came true during his lifetime, many became clear much later. The main idea that he carries through all his speeches is the need to strictly follow the Lord and seek His Providence.
Spiritual illness can only be cured with spiritual medicine
The human brain is one of the most complex structures in the Universe! Can we say that the human mind itself is sin? No. The human mind can produce sinful thoughts. But he can also produce holy thoughts. And if the brain were a bad tree, then it would not be able to bear good fruit even sometimes, but if it does, then the problem is not in the human mind. Man, created in the image and likeness of God, is a very subtle structure, a spiritual structure. The same brain can be the source of opposing thoughts: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on carnal things, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on spiritual things. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Rom.8:5,6).
A person’s spirit, his personal “I”, which has freedom of choice, is affected by sin! Spiritual illness can only be cured with spiritual medicine. This is prayer, studying God's Word, charity. Well, the most important thing is about the source of the strength of your new life, this is to walk through life with Christ. Identify your actions and thoughts with His holy life. For you have been called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that we would follow in His footsteps. (1 Peter 2:21).
The next topic will be on rebirth or being born again. This is a very important stage in a person’s life. Because if a person is not born again, then he cannot live a new life.
The Most Important Knowledge. Topic No. 5 “The Bible about Christ”
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Gotta be ready
Just as all the biblical prophecies about the First Coming of Christ came true, so all the prophecies about His Second Coming will come true. When exactly this will happen is God’s mystery, but we need to always be ready to meet Christ. For those who know Jesus and believe in Him as their Savior, His coming will be a joyful day of hope fulfillment. But for those who rejected Christ, it will bring retribution. Before it is too late, we need to turn to the Lord in a prayer of repentance, because “God has not prepared for us furious wrath, but salvation, which we receive through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9).
Tatyana Archibasova
The Main Purpose of the Everlasting Gospel
But do not assume that the main purpose of the Everlasting Gospel is simply to tell everyone about the Son of God. About His Sacrifice, love for people, His service for us. The most important purpose of the Eternal Gospel is to achieve from a sinful person who has free choice a response of love and trust to the actions of God and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ! The Son of God, who revealed the character of God in human nature, really wants to awaken in sinful people the desire to know God and be reconciled with Him. Find the closest relationship based on mutual love with Him.
Since God is a spiritual Person, coming to Him is not a physical concept - from point A to point B; and spiritual, the transition from a sinful life to a holy life, free from sin. Sin separated man from God: Behold, the hand of the Lord is not too short to save, and His ear is not too heavy to hear. But your iniquities have created a separation between you and your God, and your sins have turned His face away from you, so as not to hear. (Isa.59:1,2).
To save a person from what destroys him, that is, from sin, this is the goal that stood before the Son of God: ... and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.” But the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be truly free. (John 8:32-36).
Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6).
