[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

The Key to Overcoming Hardships

The national debt of the United States is approaching a staggering 32 trillion dollars. The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have their own debt problems to a greater or lesser extent, as do most nations. Why are our nations so heavily indebted? How did our world get into this financial quagmire?

But what about you? How are you doing? Are you among the many living “paycheck to paycheck,” fearing what the future holds for you? Everywhere, inflation is squeezing personal budgets, but do you realize that the God of Creation wants you to prosper? Don’t take my word for it. Believe the words of Jesus Christ as found in John 10:10:

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

While that abundant life applies to far more than your pocketbook, that is certainly included. So, how does He give you a more abundant life? Is it only the forgiveness of sin? Or is there more to it? On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, I’ll give you one law of God that affects you as an individual and our nations as a whole. I’ll also be offering you what is our least offered booklet, so be sure to have writing material available to take down our contact information. Now stay tuned, as I will be right back to discuss one law of God that brings about a more abundant life.

Bad Choices Lead to Suffering

A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at Tomorrow’s World, where today I’ll be discussing a law that promotes an abundant life. When Jesus said He came to give us life more abundantly, He was speaking in a broad sense. He came to show us a better way of life, one that avoids the heartache brought about when we break God’s laws. Contrary to what many think, He did not come to do away with God’s immutable laws. As He said in Matthew 5:17:

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17).

But He also came to remove the stain of sin through His sacrifice, freeing us from the guilt of past sins. He also brought good news of the coming Kingdom of God—giving purpose to our lives. All this leads to a more abundant life.

God gave our first parents a choice between two ways of life, symbolized by two trees. The fruit of one would lead to wonderful blessings, resulting in life. But the fruit of the other, to curses, ending in death. These two trees are introduced in Genesis 2:9, but let’s pick it up in verses 16 and 17:

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16–17).

This one prohibited tree was symbolic of man choosing for himself to determine good and evil, right from wrong. But God did not stop him from making that disastrous decision. As you likely know, Adam and Eve chose to disobey. The result? They were kicked out of a beautiful garden paradise where food was plentiful, and life would be pleasant. Instead, they were doomed to hardship, suffering, and death. Sadly, their children, including you and me, have made the same choice—rejecting God’s revelation and determining for ourselves right and wrong—and experiencing the same results.

God reminded the nation of Israel of this choice in Deuteronomy 30, beginning in verse 15:

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess (Deuteronomy 30:15–16).

He summed it up in verse 19:

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).

That choice would appear to be, as they call it, a no-brainer; but if so, why is the majority of mankind choosing death? America was once the greatest creditor nation in the world, but today is the greatest debtor nation. Why?

There are invisible laws that if followed bring prosperity, but if broken, bring financial disaster. To the nation of Israel, God declared in Deuteronomy 28:

Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. … Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks (Deuteronomy 28:1, 3–4).

God next gave a long list of curses that would come upon them for disobedience. Among them, we read in verses 43 and 44:

The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail (Deuteronomy 28:43–44).

Longtime viewers of Tomorrow’s World know that we do not shy away from the truth. We show from the Bible what few seem to realize. We go against the grain by teaching the seventh-day Sabbath and the biblical Holy Days, rather than the pagan observances with the name of Christ blasphemously attached to them. But there’s one law that we practice that we almost never mention on this telecast—the law of tithing. The reason should be obvious. We follow Jesus’ command in Matthew 10:8:

Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).

That is why all our resources are given away free of charge. We pay for the phone calls, the postage, and the resources you request. I think you know our program is different. We refuse to merchandize off the word of God. So, to avoid even the appearance of contradicting our sincere desire to give the truth free of charge, we generally avoid the biblical subject of tithing. However, when the Apostle Paul gathered the Ephesian elders together, he explained in Acts 20:20:

I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20).

And then in verse 27 he said:

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

The law of tithing IS part of the whole counsel of God. It’s taught in the Old Testament and affirmed by Jesus. God wants what is best for us. But for that to happen, we must choose His way of love and outgoing concern, rather than the selfish get way of life. Part of that way of life is found in Matthew 23:23. There Jesus criticized the Pharisees for meticulously counting out seeds and leaves to tithe, but neglected how they treated others.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone (Matthew 23:23).

Yes, justice, mercy and faith are “weightier matters” than meticulously counting every tenth seed, but note that Jesus said,

… without leaving the others [tithing] undone.

Are we here at Tomorrow’s World to leave out that law when instructing in righteousness? We want everyone to know that we do not request donations from the public. Everything we have is given away free of charge. The call center we use instructs their operators not to ask for, not even to hint for, donations when you call for our materials. But we will do as Paul did—teach the whole counsel of God—including God’s law of tithing.

And the whole counsel of God includes the command against stealing—either from your neighbor or from God.

God’s Instructions for Making Good Choices

As we have already seen, our first parents chose to trust their own judgment rather than that of their Creator. We’ve also seen that God laid out to Israel the same choice in the simplest of terms. How they chose would have radically different results, as seen in Deuteronomy 30:19.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).

While God left it up to them to choose, He urged them to make the right choice—life and blessings. Even though obedience was for their own good, God moaned that mankind did not have the heart to obey Him. We see this in Deuteronomy 5:29:

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! (Deuteronomy 5:29).

The commandments He referred to were clearly the Ten Commandments as they are listed just before this statement. And one of those commands says,

You shall not steal (Deuteronomy 5:19).

James tells us, we are not to pick and choose which commandments to keep and which ones to ignore. He clearly referred to the Ten Commandments when he wrote the following in James 2, beginning in verse 10:

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty (James 2:10–12).

Choosing life means choosing God’s revealed way of life. Here at Tomorrow’s World we teach the whole counsel of God, which includes all the laws of God, but one law we rarely speak of to the public is the law of tithing. That is because we want everyone to know that we do not sell our materials. We depend on Living Church of God members and coworkers who have personally chosen of their own will to support this Work with their tithes and offerings.

But how can we in good conscience not tell you, our viewers, if you are sinning, when Isaiah commands us in Isaiah 58:1:

Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins (Isaiah 58:1).

And again, one of the Ten Commandments is:

You shall not steal (Deuteronomy 5:19).

Most people understand that we are not to steal from our neighbors, but is it a lesser sin to steal from God? Too many reason, “Well God understands.” Yes, He does, dear friends. But do we? Malachi asks in chapter 3 and verse 8:

Will a man rob God? (Malachi 3:8).

Now that’s a simple enough question. Surely, we would never do that! Or would we? Read on:

Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, “In what way have we robbed You?” (Malachi 3:8).

God’s answer?

In tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8).

Just as then, people reason around God’s laws today.

I cannot emphasize enough that all our resources are sent free of charge. We pay for the phone call, the postage, and the specific items you request. And as all our longtime viewers know, we do not hit you up for donations. This does not mean that we fail to teach the whole counsel of God. This does not mean that we don’t “cry aloud and spare not” and show our nations our sins. This does not mean we teach against robbing our neighbor, but fail to teach what it means to rob from God. We give the truth and you can do with it as you choose; but, I strongly urge you to obey God’s laws—all of them—but only you can determine whether to tithe and where to pay it.

True Riches in God’s Service

We are here, not because of blind evolution, but because there is a God in heaven who has created all things. This universe, this solar system, this marvelous planet on which we live, including the air we breathe, the water we drink, even the dirt beneath our feet, are all the result of God’s creation. We literally owe everything to Him. As King David wrote in Psalm 24:1:

The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein (Psalm 24:1).

Or, as we read in Psalm 50:10–12:

For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness (Psalm 50:10–12).

Everything was created by God. We owe Him our very existence. Now consider. If you are renting an apartment or house, you must pay the landlord. It is not a matter of giving, but paying for the privilege to live in his property. In like manner, God gives us a beautiful home, but commands us to pay ten percent for our food, shelter, clothing, and luxuries. No matter how rich or poor, the percent is the same. When you think about it, that is a pretty good deal!

But think further. God, and ONLY God, has the power to extend our life for eternity, but He tells us we must choose His way, not our own. However, it is not eternal life only that He offers. He offers us a better life today—blessings of all kinds, rather than curses. As we read in Deuteronomy 30:19:

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).

As we read earlier, Jesus declared:

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

And the Apostle John wrote in his third letter, in verse 2:

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2).

Yes, God wants us to prosper. He wants us to obey all His laws, because He knows that is the way to blessings in this life and ultimately to eternal life. God gives us time on this earth to choose the tree of life (His revealed way of love and outgoing concern), over the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (the way of human reason that is directed by Satan the Devil).

A rich young man came to Jesus one day with an important question. We read of it in Matthew 19:16.

Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?

Jesus responded by telling him to keep the commandments. The young man asked, “Which ones?” And Jesus responded by listing several of the Ten Commandments, including the prohibition against stealing. Continuing in verse 20:

The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” (Matthew 19:20).

It was then that Jesus got to the core of the man’s problem. He was violating the spirit of the first commandment because his wealth was being placed ahead of God, and he was breaking the spirit, or intent of, the tenth commandment, against coveting. This became evident when Jesus told him to sell all that he had and to give it to the poor. This is not intended to be a command for everyone—only those who trust in their riches above trusting in God, as shown in the parallel account found in Mark 10:24.

And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24).

The whole Bible shows that God is not against you prospering. And in fact, God promises to bless those who obey His commandment on tithing. And I’ll show you that in the last portion of this program, but please do not misunderstand. This is neither an appeal for support, nor a promotion of a health and wealth gospel. If that is what you are looking for, you’ll have to go elsewhere.

Faith and the Purpose of Tithing

God spoke through Malachi to a cynical, argumentative, self-justifying people when He asked the question: “Will a man rob God?” The answer was that they were doing so by not paying their tithes, what we might view as their just rent on God’s beautiful earth. As a result, He said there in Malachi 3:

“You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:9–10).

Is it any wonder why our nations struggle financially? Is it any wonder why so many individuals struggle financially? Do we really think we can rob from God and not suffer the consequences? Now I know some think they cannot afford to tithe, but can they afford not to tithe? Remember what Jesus said were the weightier matters of the law?

Justice and mercy and faith (Matthew 23:23).

The Bible refers to Abraham as the father of the faithful in Romans 4:16. In addition to other acts of faith, we are first introduced to tithing in Genesis 14:19–20, when Abraham sets the example of giving a tithe to “God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.”

And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he [Abraham] gave him [Melchizedek] a tithe of all.

Do you have the faith of Abraham? One who did was a widow in the days of Elisha. She was down to her last meal when she chose to put God first. But notice also how Jesus praised her for her faith [Luke 4:25–26]:

But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow (Luke 4:25–26).

You can read this inspiring story of faith in 1 Kings 17. I hope you’ll do that, 1 Kings 17.

If you found it helpful and want to learn more, be sure to get your free copy of our study guide God’s People Tithe. Just click the link in the description or go to TWTV.ORG/Tithe.

We here at Tomorrow’s World want to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible. So be sure to like, subscribe, and hit that bell so you don’t miss another video.

Thanks for watching! See you next time.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

The Importance of Bible Prophecy

Is the end of the world coming soon? Will Russia’s military aggression—in Ukraine, lead to World War III? Will China’s powerful increase in military strength set the stage for Armageddon? My friends, Bible prophecy reveals the future of the world. You can know the answers to these questions, IF you understand Bible prophecy!

Bible prophecy’s many amazing messages from God’s prophets can be challenging even to Bible scholars.

What is symbolized by the grand image described by the prophet Daniel? What meaning can we learn from the beasts and the harlot of Revelation—and other mysterious symbols?

Proven principles of Bible prophecy will open your understanding to the ultimate future of the world, of humanity, and of the glorious Kingdom to come.

Between 25 and 30 percent of your Bible is prophecy. If you understand Bible prophecy, you can find hope for the future, and for your own life. You need to know the keys to understanding Bible prophecy!

Stay tuned!

Signs from God in the Bible: Know the Biblical Timeline

Bible prophecy reveals the future of the world, and frankly, the future of the universe. Your Bible has proven the power of prophecy.

I hope you’ve seen our telecast “Amazing Prophecies Fulfilled!” From Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue in the Old Testament book of Daniel, to John’s New Testament visions in the book of Revelation, your Bible reveals major end-time events, with mysterious prophetic symbols such as the Beast of Revelation 13 with seven heads and ten horns rising up out of the sea; and the harlot woman of Revelation 17 sitting on scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns.

How can you understand the meaning of these symbols?

1. Learn God’s prophetic framework

On today’s program, we’ll discuss seven keys to understanding Bible prophecy. My friends, these seven keys to understanding prophecy will help you understand the most amazing future and events that relatively few people on earth even come close to understanding. Key number one to understanding Bible prophecy is learn God’s prophetic framework.

Some have wrong ideas about prophecy because they wrongly believe that Jesus Christ will return AFTER the prophesied Millennium. But your Bible shows clearly that Christ will return to set up a literal kingdom here on earth for a literal period of one thousand years.

The book of Revelation describes a period of 3 and a half years leading up to the return of Christ. The fifth seal of Revelation, described in chapter six, covers a period of two-and-a-half years of the Great Tribulation Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24. The SIXTH seal is the heavenly signs, which puts whole world will be put on notice announcing the final one year “Day of the Lord.”

Let’s read about that sixth seal in Revelation 6:12:

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, [Listen to this] and every mountain and island was moved out of its place” (Revelation 6:12–14).

The whole world will be shocked and terrorized. The world will then realize that the time of God’s judgment has come as Jesus returns to establish God’s Kingdom here on the earth, a new world order ruled by the King of kings, Jesus Christ.

Key number one to understanding Bible prophecy is learn God’s prophetic framework.

2. The Bible interprets its own symbols

Key number two to understanding Bible prophecy is the Bible interprets its own symbols. The book of Revelation contains symbolic language which confuses many casual readers. If you have your Bible, turn to Jeremiah 51:24 for one example. Your Bible probably has a heading to chapter 51 such as “God’s judgment (or vengeance) upon Babylon.” God is declaring his punishment on the great empire of Babylon.

Jeremiah 51:24,

“‘And I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion in your sight,’ says the LORD. ‘Behold, I am against you, O DESTROYING MOUNTAIN, who destroys all the earth,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will stretch out My hand against you, roll you down from the rocks, and make you a burnt MOUNTAIN’” (Jeremiah 51:24–25).

Yes, God will judge rebellious nations, symbolized here as mountains. What mountain or kingdom will rule the whole earth? As so many prophecies explain, that Kingdom will be the Kingdom of God ruled by the King of kings, the Savior, Jesus Christ! Bible students are familiar with the prophecy in Isaiah 2.

Isaiah 2:2,

“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:2–4).

A mountain in Bible prophecy can symbolize a Kingdom, empire, or nation. Here we see the good news of God’s Kingdom, which will establish world peace! We’ve explored an example of prophetic symbolism: a mountain can be symbolic of a kingdom or a government. So, key number two to understanding Bible prophecy is the Bible interprets its own symbols.

3. Bible Prophecy Fulfilled Proves its Power: Know Which Ones and and When

The THIRD key to understanding biblical prophecy is the proof of fulfilled prophecy.

Dozens of Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in the New Testament in the person of Jesus Christ. Another example of fulfilled prophecy, and there are many, is the dream God gave ancient king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Turn to the Book of Daniel, chapter two. Here the prophet Daniel tells the king his dream.

Nebuchadnezzar’s famous image reveals four world-ruling empires. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him. Daniel was called before the king, and proceeded to describe the great image in the king’s dream.

Daniel 2:31,

“You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces” (Daniel 2:31–34).

Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that he was the head of gold represented in the image. Daniel said in verse 38, “YOU are this head of gold.” History CONFIRMS Daniel’s prophecy of the subsequent empires symbolized by the statue. What world ruling empires followed after Nebuchadnezzar?

The head of gold represented the Babylonian Empire from 625 to 539 BC. It was replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire from 558 to 330 BC, represented by the chest and arms of silver. The belly and thighs of bronze represented the Greco-Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great from 333 to 31 BC. The two legs of Iron represent the Roman Empire from 31 BC to 476 AD. And, finally, the ten toes on two feet of Iron mixed with ceramic clay represent a future revival of the Roman Empire.

The prophecies of Daniel are genuine. The predictions of these four empires did come to pass.

Key number three to understanding Bible prophecy was the proof of fulfilled prophecy.

4. Prophetic Timeline: Understand the Time Gaps in Bible Prophecy

Key number four to understanding Bible prophecy is understand prophetic time gaps.

Let’s look at Luke 4:16. Jesus was visiting his hometown of Nazareth and was invited to read from the scriptures on the Sabbath. He was given the scroll of Isaiah.

Luke 4:16,

“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah [Luke 4:17]. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.’ [Now notice this] Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:16–21).

Yes, the Messiah had come to preach the gospel to the poor, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. Jesus told them that this very prophecy of Isaiah was now being fulfilled through Him. But was that ALL of the prophecy? Turn back to the prophecy Jesus read. Notice the two mission statements here, in Isaiah 61:2: “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God.” Jesus closed the book He was reading, right in the middle of a verse. He omitted the second part of the verse referring to the day of vengeance. Why? Because the remainder of Isaiah’s prophecy applies to Jesus’ SECOND COMING—when the Day of the Lord, the day of God’s vengeance and wrath, takes place. There is a TIME GAP of about 2,000 years between the fulfillment of the first part of the verse and the second part of the verse.

Key number four to understanding Bible prophecy is understand prophetic time gaps.

5. Recognize Dual Purpose in Bible Prophecy

Key number five to understanding Bible prophecy is recognize prophetic duality.

Turn in your Bible to 1 Corinthians 15:45, for example. “And so it is written, ‘The FIRST man Adam became a living being.’ The LAST Adam became a life-giving spirit.” Who was the last Adam? Verse 47 gives us the answer, “The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.” Yes, the second Adam was Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ Olivet prophecy in Matthew 24 is also an example of duality. Some of the terrible conditions Jesus described DID take place when Jerusalem was destroyed. But that was just a type or forerunner of the final climactic fulfillment. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:21,

“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. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21–22).

Yes, prophecy is dual—and we ought to learn the lessons of history. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in 70 AD was just a type of the Great Tribulation that lies just ahead. Key number five to understanding Bible prophecy is recognize prophetic duality.

God’s Prophetic Purpose and National Identity: Past, Present and Future

The simple knowledge of the origin of nations in the Bible gives us a clearer understanding of Bible prophecy. We call the next key, the MASTER Key to understanding prophecy. Key number six to understanding Bible prophecy is know the biblical origins of nations.

6. Know the Nations in the Bible by Their Modern Names

My friends, can you find the United States, Canada, Great Britain and the other English-speaking nations in Bible prophecy? If you can, you will understand major parts of VITAL prophecies that very few today can even begin to comprehend. The Bible mentions by name such nations as Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia. And it may surprise you that Assyria will eventually be one of the prominent nations in tomorrow’s world along with Egypt and Israel. You can read about that in Isaiah 19:23. Also read the 10th and 11th chapters of Isaiah. But who is modern Assyria? In our Tomorrow’s World magazine, we previously published a full article on this subject entitled, “A Fourth Reich?” Here is what Dr. Douglas Winnail wrote in the article: “While most historians are reluctant, or fail, to make any connection between the disappearance of the Assyrians and the appearance of the Germanic tribes, the fact remains that no other nation’s history and national character resembles Germany more than does that of Assyria.”

Key number six to understanding Bible prophecy is know the biblical origins of nations. So, can you find THE UNITED STATES in end-time prophecy? It’s there if you know where to look. To learn more about the identity of the United States and Britain in your Bible, please view our inspiring program, “Jeremiah’s Message for the British and American Peoples.” Just type that title in the search bar on [the] Tomorrow’s World website to view the program. Key number six to understanding Bible prophecy is know the biblical origins of nations.

7. Understand God’s Purposes for Bible Prophecy

Key number seven to understanding Bible prophecy is understand the purposes for Bible prophecy. My friends, Bible prophecy can sustain hope and inspire confidence. But it ALSO warns people and nations to REPENT. John the Baptist was baptizing massive crowds of people who were moved by his preaching. The Gospel writer Matthew describes what happened.

Matthew 3:1,

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’” (Matthew 3:1–2).

Later, Jesus Christ preached the same message. You can read that in Mark 1:14–15. And what was the response to John’s preaching? Verse 5,

“Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:5–6).

In the book of Revelation, Christ promises protection for those who repent and are faithful. In the letter to the Church at Philadelphia, the Apostle John records this message.

In the book of Revelation 3:10,

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

The hour of trial is that unique period of time in all history, called the Great Tribulation and leading into the Day of the Lord. God will protect His faithful people in the trying years ahead. In Verse 11, Christ gives us this instruction: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11). Bible prophecy warns people to repent and avoid the great punishments to come!

Another purpose of prophecy is to give opportunity to those in future captivity to repent and come under God’s deliverance as God promises in Deuteronomy 4:27–31. My friends, are you preparing for the Second Coming of Christ? Understanding Bible prophecy and facing reality, will help you prepare! On the day of Pentecost, in 31 AD, the Apostle Peter exhorted the thousands in his audience to repent and be baptized. You can read that in Acts 2:38. Peter motivated the crowd to change their lives. He said in Acts 2:40, “‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:40–41). My friends, if you have studied biblical baptism, and if you have come to the place in your life where you have repented and have accepted Christ’s sacrifice and His authority over your life, we invite you to counsel with one of our ministers. We have representatives in many regions around the world.

Key number seven to understanding Bible prophecy is understand the purposes for Bible prophecy. Bible prophecy also demonstrates the awesome sovereignty of God as it tells us in Isaiah 46:9–10.

Greatest Prophecy Just Ahead: The Return of Jesus Christ

I hope you saw our recent program titled “Are You Saved or Lost?” Be sure to view it on our website if you missed it. Bible prophecy reveals the awesome future of your salvation. The framework of prophecy, as we discussed today, reveals the coming judgments on the nations during the Day of the Lord and the ultimate glory of the coming kingdom.

At the beginning of the program, I asked the question[s]: Is the end of the world coming soon? Will Russia’s aggression in Ukraine lead to World War III? Will China’s powerful increase in military strength set the stage for Armageddon? The framework for Bible prophecy answers those questions. But what will save the planet and all humanity from total extinction and annihilation? The greatest event in all human history is coming soon. The return of the Savior, Jesus Christ, will save planet earth and establish world peace.

You may know the awesome prophecy of Isaiah 9:6,

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6–7).

I hope you are praying as Jesus instructed in Matthew 6:10, “Your Kingdom come.” We all look forward to the good news announcement at the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

May God bless you as you prepare for the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God on earth.

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