Standard Broadcast

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

Prophetic Man of Mystery—Or Catastrophe?

The Book of Revelation warns us that a man is coming who will inspire the entire world to embrace a false and deceptive version of Christianity. Aided by supernatural signs and wonders, he will help usher in an era of death, destruction, and devastation the likes of which the world has never seen.

The false, deceptive system he represents is already in place—enjoyed by the deceived faithful every week. And that system is destined to grow in power and influence until it impacts the lives of every human being on the globe.

Who is this man? What does the Bible reveal about him and what should we do with that knowledge? Join us today on Tomorrow’s World as we uncover the great False Prophet of Revelation.

A False Christ With Deceptive Signs and Wonders

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible! It’s good to have you here.

Your Bible describes certain individuals who are prophesied to arrive on the world scene in the days just ahead of us and who will have a devastating impact on life as we know it, for literally every human being on the globe.

These individuals and their actions WILL impact you and your family, and me and my family—no living, breathing soul on earth will be able to avoid their power and influence. Frankly, they will wield the most destructive powers earth has ever seen unleashed by mankind, and they will be servants of Satan the Devil.

One of those individuals is called, in the book of Revelation, the “False Prophet.” This individual will deceive billions—and the religious system he supports is already in place today. On today’s edition of Tomorrow’s World, we’ll examine what the Bible has to tell us about the False Prophet of Revelation and how we might recognize both him and the false Christianity he will promote.

The name “False Prophet” first appears in the book of Revelation in chapter 16, and Revelation 19 tells us that the False Prophet will be tossed, along with the infamous Beast of Revelation, into the lake of fire at the return of Jesus Christ.

But the False Prophet is introduced to us in chapter 13 of Revelation. In the first portion of that chapter, we read of the Beast of Revelation—used to refer to both an individual and the political entity he controls, a world-ruling, end-time, Satan-inspired political entity that will possess astonishing economic and military power. On our program, we often refer to this entity as the “Beast power,” and verse 4 of Revelation 13 says, “they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’”

We will read more about this Beast today, since his role in the end times is intimately entwined with the False Prophet’s. However, Revelation 13 then speaks of a SECOND beast. We read about this separate person, symbolized by a second beast, beginning in verse 11:

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.”

THIS beast is the partner of the Beast of Revelation mentioned just before, and is called elsewhere the False Prophet! And this description given in verse 11 is crucial to understanding his nature! Notice, he LOOKS like a lamb, Jesus Christ, but SPEAKS like the dragon, Satan the Devil! If one LISTENS CAREFULLY to his teachings and doctrines, one can discern that they are the teachings not of Christ, but of the Devil.

But please note: That doesn’t mean that those teachings are OBVIOUSLY evil! Satan is the master of deception, and the old King James Version of the Bible says of Satan in Genesis 3:1, “the serpent was MORE SUBTIL than any beast of the field….”

His twists of true, biblical doctrine are subtle, hard to discern, and convincing.

In addition to describing his teachings, Revelation 13 continues:

“He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast…” (vv. 12–14).

It might surprise some of our viewers that such supernatural signs and wonders could be worked by a False Prophet. Aren’t such works only possible by God’s power? The Bible says NO, that is not the case!

In fact, a miracle-working precursor to the False Prophet in the first century was Simon the Sorcerer, often called Simon Magus. He is described in the book of Acts in chapter 8:9–11:

“But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.”

Simon Magus was a sorcerer, and not a man of God at all, though the people thought he was so. His power to work signs and wonders came not from God, but from the devil.

The False Prophet will follow in Simon’s footsteps! And the wonders he will work will grab the attention of the entire world in the days just ahead of us!

The False Prophet Allied With a Frightening World Power

In fact, verse 12 of Revelation 13 says that the False Prophet “causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the FIRST beast”—that is, the Beast of Revelation. Verse 15 says that he will cause all who are unwilling to worship that Beast “to be killed,” and verses 16 through 18 talk of how the False Prophet, the second beast of Revelation 13, will cause all people to obey the first Beast, symbolically taking his mark on their right hand or forehead. This is tied, in verse 18, to the mysterious number 666.

It is the Beast of Revelation—a political entity and its leader, wielding unfathomable economic, political, and military power—that provides the muscle. But we see here that it is the False Prophet who is USING this Beast for his own purposes, as well, in an unholy union of church and state power.

We see this relationship DRAMATICALLY pictured in Revelation 17:3–6.

There, the Apostle John is told in vision by an angel that he will show the apostle the religious system controlling affairs in the end times:

“So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”

This monstrous beast corresponds to the end-time economic and military powerhouse Beast of Revelation we’ve already discussed. But riding that beast and influencing it is a GREAT HARLOT, drinking in abominations and drunk on the blood of persecuted true followers of Jesus Christ—much like the bloody Inquisitions of ages past, but far surpassing them.

In the Bible, God uses women to symbolize religious systems and prostitution to symbolize corruptions of the true faith with pagan religious practices. Ancient Israel did this with the faith God had given them, and this end-time false Christianity does this with the faith of the Bible—MIXING it with sinful, pagan practices God does not approve, endorse, or command.

This harlot pictures the deceptive religious system headed by the False Prophet, and we see it influencing the Beast and benefiting from its power.

The union of these two powers and their institutions will be a tempestuous one, yet they will NEED each other. Chapter 2 of the book of Daniel describes the kingdom of the Beast of Revelation as being like a mixture of iron and clay, noting that the peoples of this entity do not mix well together. This political entity will need the religious influence of the False Prophet to keep the people bound together.

And the False Prophet uses the Beast for his OWN purposes, as well! Several prophecies of the Bible explain how this deceptive end-time religious leader desires to suppress the true understanding of God, His commandments, and His laws, and to persecute the true Church of God. As Daniel 7:25 says of this individual,

“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.”

This time, times, and half-a-time—or three-and-a-half years—represents the period of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord to come upon the earth, during which many true Christians will be martyred at the command of this false religious leader, and he will use the raw military power and political resources of the Beast to accomplish his diabolical purposes! (And notice the False Prophet’s desire to “change times and law”—we’ll come back to that later.)

Ultimately, the selfish dance of these two devil-inspired despots does not end well. Prophecy says that as their plans begin to fall apart during the events accompanying Christ’s return, the Beast will ultimately turn on the harlot who rides it and devour her, as we see in Revelation 17:16:

“And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.”

In the next portion of our program, I want to explain how the religious system of this False Prophet is in place TODAY, RIGHT NOW, and already has multiple millions in its sway.

The True Spirit of Antichrist—Against the Laws of God

Many think the False Prophet will rise on the scene and create something that is completely NEW, but the Bible says otherwise. Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 that “the mystery of lawlessness is ALREADY AT WORK….”

“Lawlessness” is important, because we saw earlier in Daniel that the False Prophet and the faith he presents seeks to “change times and law.”

That is, the fundamentals of this counterfeit Christianity that would seek to eliminate and replace the laws of God were ALREADY PRESENT IN PAUL’S DAY, fighting against the true faith and attempting to displace it. The presence of this hijacked version of Christianity, worming its way into the congregations of true followers of Christ, is part of what motivated Jude, one of the brothers of Jesus, to write to his fellow Christians,

“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (vv. 3–4).

It is not a coincidence that the Apostle John wrote of the coming ANTICHRIST and his religion in similar terms!

Look in 1 John 2. We see there that John also wrote in the first century to say that this lawless, false Christianity was already being put in place back in his day!

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour” (v. 18).

That’s right! Even in John’s day, shortly after the very foundation of the true Church, another FALSE version of Christianity was ALSO being founded! And here, we see John naming those who come in its name, including the False Prophet to come, by a word many have heard before: “antichrist”! The prefix “anti” can imply “against,” “in opposition to,” or “in place of,” and the False Prophet will be the climactic, end-time antichrist and the leader of the religion that well deserves the label “antichrist”—a religion that, from the beginning of TRUE Christianity in the first century, has been working to replace it with a lawless counterfeit!

In fact, in 1 John 4:3, the Apostle says that the counterfeit spirit of antichrist was already in the world IN HIS TIME.

And we must remember, this counterfeit WILL LOOK CHRISTIAN IN APPEARANCE! Revelation 13 says that the False Prophet APPEARS TO BE LIKE THE LAMB! The Apostle Paul spoke of those teaching such deceptive forgeries of the true faith when he warned those in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 11,

“For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (v. 4).

And many HAVE put up with it for centuries. The writings of Paul, John, and others make it clear that this false, deceptive system that began in their day would continue throughout time into our OWN day—and that it would be, by far, the dominant version of “Christianity” at the end!

While the False Prophet of Revelation, the final head of this religious institution, will perform amazing signs and wonders before Christ’s return, these verses make plain that the religious teachings He will spread and enforce are being taught TODAY in the guise of Christianity! Those teachings will lay the foundation of ultimate deceit in the days just ahead, and without God’s protection, those who resist them will be mercilessly martyred—and they are being taught in pulpits and religious services all across the world RIGHT NOW by those claiming the name of Jesus Christ!

But how would you know the difference? How would you recognize such a servant of the spirit of antichrist, spreading the counterfeit faith that will one day support the False Prophet of Revelation?

The True Church Keeps the Commandments of God

The False Prophet of Revelation will be one of the most powerful men to have ever lived. Yet, as we saw at the beginning, his end will be to be cast by God into the Lake of Fire and be destroyed as an enemy of Jesus Christ. But before then, he will contribute to more devastation and death than the world has ever seen before.

We’ve seen that he speaks the teachings of the devil—yet that he will appear very Christ-like, and his false, Christian religion very much like what one might expect of a “good” Christian faith.

This is the Devil’s M.O., as the Apostle Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 11. Speaking of those who preach this alternate version of Jesus Christ, who looks so believable and so close to the “real thing,” Paul says,

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (vv. 13–15).

So, if these false ministers of Christianity are at work today, how can you identify them for what they are?

We’ve seen, for instance, that the religious system of this False Prophet, at work in his day and ours, is called by Paul the “mystery of lawlessness.” It’s not a religion that teaches against the laws of man—like speed limits or tax laws—but against the laws of GOD. And we’ve seen that the False Prophet’s religion represents “chang[ing] times and laws.”

Ask yourself, how many “Christian” churches teach obedience to the Ten Commandments—ALL ten, including the fourth about the seventh-day Sabbath—versus only some of the Commandments, or no need for obedience at all? And how many “Christian” churches teach the times and holy days given in the Bible, such as Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Trumpets, versus times and holidays with pagan origins and traditions hidden behind a veneer of “Christian” reinterpretation?

And recall that Revelation 17 not only describes the False Prophet’s religious system as a harlot or prostitute, corrupting true worship with heathen falsehoods, but also says in verse 5 that she is the “MOTHER OF HARLOTS”? What religious organization in the world not only claims the authority to change the laws and commandments of God, substituting its own ecclesiastical laws and ordinances, but has ALSO spawned countless DAUGHTER HARLOTS, each with their own differences, yet each still carrying with them corrupted ideas and heathen influences?

When you find this so-called “Christian” religion in the world, you have found the great harlot or one of her daughters! And you have found the counterfeit Christianity that the False Prophet will use to spread deception around the globe, persecuting those who are described in Revelation 12:17 as those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Thank you so much for watching!

We work hard every week to produce not just videos like this, but additional videos, whiteboard videos and others, all oriented to help you make sense of your world through the pages of your Bible. We hope that you enjoyed it and that you’ll click on subscribe and click on that bell to be notified of future videos—and for today’s particular offer, please click on the link down below in the description.

Thanks so much!

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

The City of Peace—Captured by War?

Generals, dictators, and despots have tried to rule the world. Their capital cities were monumental and impressive. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon built one of the designated “Seven Wonders of the World,” the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The historian Herodotus wrote, “In addition to its size, Babylon surpasses in splendor any city in the known world.”

The Bible documents the King’s great pride and boasting over his accomplishments. The prophet Daniel had warned the king to humble himself.

“At the end of the twelve months he [King Nebuchadnezzar] was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’” (Daniel 4:29–30).

God punished King Nebuchadnezzar, who finally learned his lesson:

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (Daniel 4:37).

The Nazi dictator Adolph Hitler, in his plan to rule the world, envisioned a world capital to last a thousand years. Albert Speer, Hitler’s architect for the future city, planned a Grand Hall next to the Reichstag that “would have been the largest enclosed space in the world, with a dome 16 times larger than that of St Peter’s in Rome” according to HistoryToday.com (“Germania: Hitler’s Dream Capital”).

Of course, Hitler fell before the Allied armies in World War II.

Bible prophecy reveals that another great dictator, called the “Beast” in the book of Revelation, will desire to rule the world and establish his own capital. As it tells us in Revelation 13:7,

“And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”

The good news is that the coming King of kings will conquer and destroy this coming Beast power (Revelation 17:14) and Jesus Christ will establish a righteous world capital city. What city will become the capital of the world? In spite of today’s conflicts, Jerusalem in Israel will soon become the glorious capital of the world.

The Greatest Capital City of All

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

Today’s world news features the rising power of China, the aggression of Russia against Ukraine, [and] the determination of European powers, especially Germany, to increase their military forces powerfully! All these will play their part in end-time prophecies. But eventually, the Middle East will be the focus of dramatic events. You need to know the sequence of prophetic events.

Consider the great national capital cities in today’s world. While you may not agree with this list, The News International listed the ten most beautiful capital cities in the world.

In reverse order starting with number ten:

10. Moscow, Russia

9. Ottawa, Canada

8. Budapest, Hungary

7. Tokyo, Japan

6. Rome, Italy

5. Paris, France

4. Washington D.C, United States

3. Berlin, Germany

2. Islamabad, Pakistan

1. London, England.

Another impressive national capital that my wife and visited some years ago is Canberra, Australia. The city was designed in 1912 by architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin.

The capital building itself is impressive.

One of my hobbies is visiting state capitals here in the United States. I’ll share two of them with you. The Washington State capital in Olympia features glistening “marble quarried across the globe” according to one history magazine.

“Ornately decorated, the Roman-Neoclassical legislative building is topped by the fifth-highest stone masonry dome in the world. Inside dangles a five-ton Tiffany chandelier so massive you could fit a VW Bug inside it” (“History, Architecture and Politics Combine in a Salem-to-Olympia Tour,” 1889mag.com, November 15, 2016).

The state capital in Frankfort, Kentucky also features extraordinary marble columns and walls. One Kentucky newspaper describes it this way: “The Capitol’s august exterior of Indiana limestone and interior composed of Georgia marble, gray Tennessee marble and dark green Vermont marble with grand corridors featuring 36 columns of Vermont granite and delicate art glass skylights and murals make it a place of beauty” (“Capitol building in Frankfort full of history, beauty,” Lexington Herald Leader, October 5, 2015).

The beauty and grandeur of state and national capitals makes a statement of governmental power and majesty. We saw earlier that the Nazi dictator Adolph Hitler, in his plan to rule the world, envisioned a world capital built to last a thousand years. Albert Speer, Hitler’s architect for the future city, planned a Grand Hall next to the Reichstag that “would have been the largest enclosed space in the world, with a dome 16 times larger than that of St Peter’s in Rome” according to HistoryToday.com (“Germania: Hitler’s Dream Capital).

The prophesied world-ruling superpower, called the Beast in the book of Revelation, may claim his national capital is also the capital of the world. But Jesus Christ will crush the Beast and the false prophet, and cast them into a lake of fire, as it tells us in Revelation 19:20. But WHERE will Christ the King set up His government? What city on earth will be the capital of the world? Jerusalem! Many different scriptures confirm this wonderful fact. If you have your Bible, turn to one of the major prophecies regarding the future of the world. The second chapter of ISAIAH gives us a wonderful and encouraging view of tomorrow’s world. ISAIAH 2:1. Notice this specific prophecy concerning Jerusalem. ISAIAH 2:1,

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and JERUSALEM. 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” (Isaiah 2:1–2).

As our regular Tomorrow’s World viewers saw, in a previous program on the principles of prophecy, mountains are a biblical symbol for a kingdom or government. Isaiah stated plainly that the Lord’s Kingdom would be established in JERUSALEM. Yes, Jerusalem will be the capital of the world! Notice that “ALL NATIONS shall flow to it.” All nations will submit to the world government. Let’s understand, this will NOT be government in the hands of selfish human beings. This new government will be a world ruling DIVINE Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. The world-ruling Kingdom will be ruled by the Savior, the King of kings, Jesus Christ! That’s the good news we all look forward to. I hope that you’re looking forward to that time of world peace! I hope that you’re yearning for the Kingdom to come! I hope that you’re PRAYING, “Your Kingdom come!” as we’re taught to pray in Matthew 6:10.

The Most Contested City in History

Turn in your Bible to Zechariah 14. During the thousand-year reign of Christ, all nations on earth will look to Jerusalem as the capital of the world and will send representatives to worship the King of kings. Zechariah 14:16,

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16).

All nations will finally learn the way to peace, not war. And they will learn the true way of love toward God and love toward neighbor. Nations will no longer desire military power and war to solve problems. They will want the truth taught them from the capital city, Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:3,

“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 2:3–4).

The very name, Jerusalem, means “City of Peace.” But even today, tensions and conflicts erupt within it. Your Bible records its ancient history. In Genesis the 14^th chapter we read about Melchizedek, King of Salem, or as all biblical scholars know, the King of Jerusalem. Our Tomorrow’s World Bible Study Course highlights historic milestones in Jerusalem’s long history. I’ll share a few of the past significant events. This report is titled “Jerusalem: A Historical Overview. A city washed in blood through centuries of endless conflict awaits its prophetic destiny.”

We will start this historic overview with the earliest biblical references.

c. 1895 BC—Melchizedek, King of Salem, blesses Abram and receives his tithes.

c. 1850 BC—God instructs Abraham to take Isaac to the land of Moriah to sacrifice him there. Later, God provided a ram sacrifice in place of Isaac.

c. 1406 BC—Joshua defeats Adon-i-zedek, King of Jerusalem. (Joshua 10:1–5, 23–26). The Jebusites retain parts of the city.

About 400 years later, King David ruled all Israel from Jerusalem.

c. 1000 BC—Jerusalem is captured by King David Jerusalem becomes the capital of all Israel.This would become the future location of God’s temple.

Over a period of about twenty years, the kingdom of Judah went into Babylonian captivity culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem.

586 BC—King Nebuchadnezzar conquers and destroys Jerusalem and the temple.

539 BC—Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon. He subsequently allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

After its subjection to the Persian Empire and the Greco-Macedonian Empire, Jerusalem is ruled by Rome.

63 BC—Pompey conquers Jerusalem and makes it a part of Roman Empire.

37 BC—Herod the Great assumes kingship in Jerusalem.

31 AD—Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, His resurrection, and the beginning of the Church Age.

70 AD—Second temple destroyed by the Romans.

During the next 1,800 years after 70 AD, Jerusalem experiences many conflicts including Muslim domination.

1917—Jerusalem enters a new phase.

1947—United Nations partitions Jerusalem. The city is divided between Arab and Jewish control.

1948—Israel becomes an independent nation on May 6. Israel successfully defends itself against the attack of the Arab League.

1967—During the Six-Day War, Israel captures all of Jerusalem, putting it under Jewish rule for the first time since the Roman destruction in 70 AD.

Will Jerusalem ever achieve its inherent purpose and title, City of Peace?

Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel has fought wars and negotiated peace treaties with several Arab states. But Israel has never been able to negotiate a permanent peace agreement with the Palestinians. Both claim Jerusalem as their capital.

The one issue that appears unsolvable: “Who will control Jerusalem?” In 1980, Israel declared Jerusalem its “UNITED AND ETERNAL CAPITAL” (“FACTBOX: Jerusalem, a city at the heart of conflict,” Reuters.com, July 22, 2008).

If both sides consider their positions non-negotiable, there’s an impasse. The Israeli position remains unchanged—that is, they insist that Jerusalem will remain united under SOLE ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY.

Yes, the gap between views over the sovereignty of Jerusalem is wide and deep! What does the international community think about this conflict? What IS the solution? In 1980, when Israel declared Jerusalem to be Israel’s “united and eternal capital,” the Vatican STRONGLY OBJECTED to that declaration. Then later, in 1984, Pope John Paul II called for Jerusalem to have a “special internationally guaranteed status” (“Holy See Press Office Communiqué: Audience with the President of the State of Palestine,” Press.Vatican.va, November 4, 2021).

My friends, the status of Jerusalem will continue to be a major issue. You need to be watching the Middle East and the trends that will mean major changes in political and religious control over the city of Jerusalem.

Sacrifices Resumed—And Violently Stopped

Jesus spoke of a time when enemy armies will invade the Holy Land and surround the city of Jerusalem. LUKE 21:20, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” So, we see that there are at least two signs Jesus tells us to watch for: The Abomination of Desolation emphasized in Matthew 24:15, and Jerusalem surrounded by armies. These will not just be ANY armies of the Middle East, but the Gentile armies that will control Jerusalem for three and one-half years, as we read in Revelation 11:2. Now, let’s continue in LUKE 21:22, “For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:22–24). How long will the Gentiles control Jerusalem?

Turn in your Bible to the book of REVELATION or the Apocalypse. REVELATION, chapter 11. The Apostle John wrote in REVELATION 11:1,

“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been GIVEN TO THE GENTILES. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for FORTY-TWO MONTHS’” (Revelation 11:1–2).

The Holy City will be controlled not by the Jews, but by the Gentiles for 42 months. As you read through the book of Revelation, you’ll see that this period of three and one-half years precedes the return of Christ.

Now turn to DANIEL, CHAPTER TWELVE. Daniel had been given a revelation by an angel. When he asked the meaning of the message, the angel told him in DANIEL 12:9,

“Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

Over 2,500 years later, we can now understand these prophecies—this IS the time of the end! But notice VERSE 11:

“And from the time that the DAILY SACRIFICE is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days” (Daniel 12:11).

At the time of the end, shortly before the return of Christ, God reveals the daily sacrifice will be stopped, or “taken away.” This obviously implies that the sacrifices must be STARTED, before they can be STOPPED! The Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and the second temple in 70 AD. The Jews have not offered temple sacrifices since that time.

But notice: In ancient times, when they returned to Jerusalem from exile, the Jews actually began sacrificing BEFORE the foundation of their temple was laid. EZRA 3:6. The Jews also observed the Feast of Tabernacles with daily sacrifices, as it states in verse 4. Now, EZRA 3:6,

“From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, although [listen to this] the FOUNDATION of the temple of the LORD had NOT BEEN LAID.”

Notice another important point. The exiles return WHERE? Ezra refers to the location of the holy place, as the HOUSE OF GOD, when the temple had NOT YET been built. EZRA 3:8,

“Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the HOUSE OF GOD at Jerusalem….”

This was around 536 BC. But there was no building as yet. The following verses describe the laying of the FOUNDATION of the temple.

The point, my friends, is that sacrifices must be presented in a holy place. But in this case, the sacrifices were made daily, WITHOUT a physical building called a temple. The returning Jewish exiles referred to the Holy Place as “the House of God,” even though no temple existed. The holiest place under the control of the Jewish religious authorities today, is the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall. It is the western retaining wall to the Temple Mount. Jews are not allowed to publicly worship on the Temple Mount, only Muslims. In recent years, Jews have been pressuring for a religious presence on the Temple Mount. So, it remains to be seen where and when the Jews will begin sacrificing. It will probably take a national crisis to precipitate that event.

World Peace from Jerusalem—Truth, Knowledge, and Freedom for All

We’ve seen that Jesus Christ will come from Heaven to rule the earth for a thousand years of peace and prosperity. Jerusalem will be the capital of the world. Jerusalem will not only be the GOVERNMENTAL capital of the world, but also it will be the EDUCATIONAL capital of the world. The great Educator and Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ, will teach true knowledge based on the word of God. As we saw in Zechariah 8:3,

“Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth.”

All nations will learn the eternal principles, laws, and values that guarantee peace and prosperity for all. As Isaiah said, the people will come to the Holy Land and say,

“‘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” (Isaiah 2:3).

The great Educator and Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ, will teach true knowledge based on the word of God. As we saw in Zechariah 8:3,

“Thus says the LORD: ‘I WILL RETURN to Zion, and DWELL in the midst of JERUSALEM. JERUSALEM shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’ Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets’” (Zechariah 8:3–5).

The city of Jerusalem will finally live up to its name, “City of Peace.” Because, the Lord, the Eternal, the glorified Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth will actually DWELL there. As He said, “I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of JERUSALEM.” That’s when we’ll begin to experience genuine world peace. Jerusalem will be called “the City of Truth.”

That’s the good news of YOUR future—and the future of the world. Eventually, the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven to this earth as the capital of the universe, more glorious than any humanly designed capital. You can read about that magnificent time in Revelation chapters 21 and 22. In the meantime, we look forward to the soon-coming world capital, Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be the center of world government, education, and religion. The word “Jerusalem” means “city of peace.” Jerusalem has experienced bloody fighting and wars over the millennia. But soon, this great city truly will be the CITY OF PEACE for ALL PEOPLES. That’s the good news you can look forward to!

Thank you for watching!

We here at Tomorrow’s World want to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible. And we encourage you to not just believe us, but look up these verses in your own Bible.

If you would like to know what Bible prophecy says about the future of Israel and the nations surrounding it, just click the link in the description for a free Bible study guide, The Middle East in Prophecy. And remember to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video. See you next time!

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

A Turbulent Future

What can you expect to happen in the year ahead? Will 2023 be better than last year? Or will it be another disappointing year with troubles on every side?

At the beginning of each year, one of us here at Tomorrow’s World, gives trends to look for in the coming year and beyond. Our predictions are not based on crystal balls, palm readings, or astrological signs—and forget Nostradamus. Our predictions come from prophecies found in the Bible. History has proven that Bible prophecy IS accurate. The Bible does not always give the exact timing of an event, but it gives us a framework of history in advance with remarkable details.

On today’s program I’ll briefly review whether our predictions for 2021 and 2022 were accurate; and then give you trends to expect in 2023 and beyond. So, if you want to know what’s ahead for your near future, stay tuned. I’ll be back in five seconds.

Reviewing Prophetic Trends from 2021

A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at Tomorrow’s World, where we bring you good news of the coming Kingdom of God, reveal end-time prophecies, and explain the clear teachings of Jesus Christ.

Is it possible to know the future? And, if so, where should we look? Should we look to astrological signs in the sun, moon, and stars? Should we visit that small house on the edge of town where a psychic has set up? Should we try to decipher the writings of Nostradamus, Edgar Casey, Jeane Dixon, or other well-known psychics and astrologers?

We here at Tomorrow’s World look to the Bible. None of us are prophets, but we can read clear statements from the prophets and point you to what they wrote. But it’s reasonable for you to want to know how accurately we’ve understood their writings.

Here is the trend I said to watch for in 2021:

Before the break I told you that I would read from the Bible what God says is in your future. Today we reviewed predictions and trends proclaimed by Tomorrow’s World the last two years. Then I said I would give you a single trend to watch in 2021 and the immediate years following. We cannot know the exact timing, but the trend is certain:

[Trend]: There will be disaster upon disaster for America and the British descended peoples

Notice how the prophet Ezekiel describes what is ahead for the Anglosphere:

Destruction comes; they will seek peace, but there shall be none. Disaster will come upon disaster, and rumor will be upon rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet; but the law will perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders. “The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the common people will tremble. I will do to them according to their way, and according to what they deserve I will judge them; then they shall know that I am the LORD!” (Ezekiel 7:25–27).

How accurate was that single prediction of disaster coming upon disaster? A year later, I reviewed the major news of 2021, and as I mentioned at the time, in my more than 74 years of life, I couldn’t remember another year where there were so many stunning disasters stacked one upon another. But in case you forgot, let me briefly remind you of only a few that I recounted in that program:

The consequences of the war on fossil fuels

The historic winter storms that slammed Texas and the Central Plains states

The crisis at America’s southern border

The Delta variant and continuing COVID-19 pandemic

More died in 2021 than in the previous year.

The humiliating manner in which America left Afghanistan

The breakdown in the supply chain

Inflation

Worker shortages, and more…

The list was hardly exhaustive. There were many more MAJOR devastating events! 2021 truly was an extraordinary year of disaster upon disaster!

But what about our predictions for 2022? Let’s briefly look at those three predictions and see if they were on target.

1. When you think it cannot get any worse, it will!
2. Disaster upon disaster would continue
3. Rumor would be upon rumor

The last two are found in Ezekiel 7:25:

Destruction comes; they will seek peace, but there shall be none. Disaster will come upon disaster, and rumor will be upon rumor (Ezekiel 7:25–26).

Is that what we saw? Has there ever been a time when rumors were more prevalent and widespread than what we see in social media? Rumors have always abounded, but the Internet has put them on steroids.

But what about disaster upon disaster? Did historic disasters occur in 2022? And when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, did it.

Continuing Prophetic Trends from 2022

Note this headline from the BBC:

Permacrisis declared Collins Dictionary word of the year

The article then explained:

Permacrisis - a word describing the feeling of living through a period of war, inflation, and political instability - has been chosen as Collins Dictionary’s word of the year.

It “sums up just how truly awful 2022 has been for so many people”, said Alex Beecroft, head of Collins Learning (November 1, 2022).

High fuel prices and inflation plagued our world in 2022. The national average price for gasoline in the United States in October 2020 was $2.16 per gallon. This rose to $3.29 a year later. But prices went through the roof in 2022, rising to a never-before-seen crushing high of $4.93 in June. Prices moderated in July through September, but started rising again in October to a national average of $3.82—a price still well above any month the previous year. So yes, when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, 2022 proved us wrong, as the cost of virtually everything went up as a result (U.S. Regular All Formulations Retail Gasoline Prices (Dollars per Gallon) EIA.org, November 7, 2022).

Now, most countries would love to have what they view as America’s bargain prices. Inflation, high fuel prices, and empty shelves plagued the world—and all of it intensified by the black swan event of the year—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That man-made disaster made everything worse.

More than half of the eurozone countries recorded double-digit inflation rates in October, including Germany (11.6 per cent), Belgium (13.1 per cent) and the Netherlands (16.8 per cent). France showed the lowest rate, at 7.1 per cent (Record inflation: Which countries in Europe are being worst hit as energy and food prices soar?” Euronews.com, November 1, 2022).

Then there is this sobering report from Canada:

A Yahoo/Maru Public Opinion poll The poll also found that 53 per cent of respondents say they are “worried” because inflation is causing serious money issues for them, while 13 per cent say they are ‘genuinely panicked’ due to the drastic lifestyle changes they are having to make to deal with rising prices (“Inflation in Canada slows for third month in a row, rising 6.9% annually,” News.Yahoo.com, October 19, 2022).

But it gets worse. Prior to the war, Ukraine and Russia were the world’s number one and number two grain exporters. Countries, principally in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, rely on grain and cooking oil from these two warring countries. The effects of the war on the food chain have been seriously compromised. CNN reported on July 16, 2022:

Across Ukraine, in the shimmering heat, one sight is becoming familiar this summer: Combine harvesters sweeping across fields of grain in a race against fast-spreading fires.

The conflict’s front lines straddle some of Ukraine’s richest farmland. Whether caused by accident or intention, the fires darkening the summer sky are eating into a harvest that was always going to be tough to collect and even tougher to export….

But nearly half the land is now too dangerous to cultivate….

Again from CNN, this time on July 23, 2022:

Earlier this month, Ukraine’s grain traders’ union said it expected a grain and oilseed harvest of 69.4 million tons… far below the 106 million tons harvested last year (“Kyiv and Moscow agree deal to resume Ukraine grain exports from Black Sea ports,” CNN.com).

Then there are the effects of war on fertilizer, which also impacts the food chain. According to CNBC:

In 2021, Russia was the world’s top exporter of nitrogen fertilizers and the second-largest supplier of both potassic and phosphorous fertilizers….

Trade between Russia and the rest of the world has not stopped, but has been severely disrupted as importers and vessel charterers steer clear of the country in light of the invasion of Ukraine, CRU Head of Fertilizers Chris Lawson said on Tuesday.

Russia, which accounts for around 14% of global fertilizer exports, has temporarily suspended outgoing trade, which is expected to have a strong ripple effect across global food markets.

Is mass starvation in our future.

No Course Corrections for 2022 and Beyond

When we think of 2022, another disaster that only got worse was the weather. As of November 10:

According to the United States Drought Monitor, 47 percent of the land area of the contiguous 48 states is experiencing various degrees of drought, nearly all of it in the High Plains or from the Rocky Mountains westward. Drought affects the entirety of nine states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon and North and South Dakota (“Western Drought Will Last Into Fall or Longer,” NYTimes.com, August 19, 2021).

Major reservoirs such as Lake Meade and Lake Powell are at record lows, threatening agriculture and electric power generation.

Further east:

Water levels on the Mississippi River normally decline in the fall and winter, but not by nearly as much as they did in October 2022. Drought and Barge Backups on the Mississippi (“Drought and Barge Backups on the Mississippi,” EarthObservatory.NASA.gov, October 21, 2022).

The Mississippi river is critical to moving agricultural and construction supplies to the Gulf of Mexico for export, but as Fox News explained:

Critical ship and barge traffic for the agriculture industry has been disrupted.

The river moves more than half of all U.S. grain exports, but industry estimates cited by the federal government show the drought has reduced the flow of goods by about 45%.

Barges have been stuck there, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, and ships have been advised to lighten their loads (“Mississippi River water levels plummet due to drought, exposing shipwreck,” FoxNews.com, November 3, 2022).

But it’s not in America alone. Note this further report from The Verge:

In August, officials noted that Europe was likely in the thick of its worst drought in 500 years. The same month, Southern China officially entered its longest drought in 60 years of record keeping. Perennially parched California has just had its three driest years on record (“Climate change made drought 20 times worse this year, and there’s no relief in sight,” TheVerge.com, October 6, 2022).

Anyone who thought it couldn’t get any worse than 2021, was sadly mistaken. How could a geopolitical blunder be worse than the disastrous manner in which the United States pulled out of Afghanistan? But that event likely played into the more disruptive invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Vladimir Putin’s miscalculation has now turned to threats of the unthinkable, and many informed people realize this is a war Putin cannot afford to lose:

“The whole world should be praying for Russia’s victory, because there are only two ways this can end: either Russia wins, or a nuclear apocalypse,” nationalist Russian tycoon Konstantin Malofeyev tells the Financial Times. “If we don’t win, we will have to use nuclear weapons, because we can’t lose,” he added. “Does anyone really think Russia will accept defeat and not use its nuclear arsenal?” (“Is Vladimir Putin’s ‘partial’ Ukraine War mobilization a step too far for Russians?” TheWeek.com, September 23, 2022).

Not all Western analysts agree with that assessment, but some do. Here’s a similar view from Robert Baer, a former CIA case officer who spoke to CNN regarding Putin’s options:

“I think the chances of his de-escalating are close to zero … [he] simply cannot give up so much ground and be seen to be losing and continue as leader of Russia…. The chances of his using nuclear weapons — at least tactical nuclear weapons — is going up by the day,” Baer added. (“Ex-CIA officer says Putin is ‘completely cornered’ and the chances of his using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine are increasing ‘by the day’,” BusinessInsider.com, September 27, 2022)

But is this how the world will end? Not according to Bible prophecy. The Bible tells us more must first happen. While many view China and Russia as the greatest threats in the 21^st Century, Bible prophecy indicates otherwise.

While there is much bad news in our immediate future, the late Dr. Roderick C. Meredith explains in the forward to Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs that there is good news ahead:

Humanity today is facing staggering crises of war, disease, pollution, drought and famine. Where will it all lead? Bible prophecy reveals that God is working through current events to bring about a future time when the whole world will be at peace. If you understand what God is doing now, and what He has planned for His creation, you can have hope—even in times of trouble!

More Troubles Ahead, and Increased Pressure on Europe to Unite

COVID and the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have destabilized the world, especially Europe, and it is in times of crisis that strong leaders come to the fore. High inflation and unemployment in the early 1930s brought Adolf Hitler to power and we all know how that turned out. So, does the Bible have anything to say about the future of Europe?

The prophet Daniel interpreted an unusual dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had, explaining that the king saw an image of a man that represented four great empires, beginning with his own Chaldean empire. History shows that the next three were the Medo-Persian, the Greco-Macedonian, and the Roman Empires. Other scriptures describe these same four empires as wild beasts and the last one, the Roman Empire, would continue in one revival after another until the end of the age when God would intervene. The end of this Roman system is described in Daniel 2, beginning in verse 41:

Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed….

Could there be any better description of Europe today? The dream of a United States of Europe, despite a continuing effort to bring such about, has never fully materialized. These nations do not mix any more than iron and clay. Yet, the prophecy indicates that ten nations or leaders will come together for a short time. Revelation 17 speaks of this final empire as a ten horned beast—the ten horns matching the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s image.

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour [meaning a short time] as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12–13)

These nations do not naturally adhere to one another, but Bible prophecy shows that ten kings—that is kings of nations or leaders of nations—will give their power over to a strong leader. Both the leader, and the combine of European nations, are referred to as the Beast. But what is the glue that will hold them together? Bible prophecy tells us there is a second beast that masquerades as Christ, but is of the Devil.

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed (Revelation 13:11–12).

We cannot know the exact timing, but the stage is even now being set by more than one crisis gripping Europe. Will these two beasts (one secular, the other religious) manifest themselves in 2023, or 2024, or will it be later? We cannot know, but watch for these trends going forward:

Trend #1: The crisis in Europe will continue until a strongman arises to bring ten kings together.

And just as there were two legs and feet in Nebuchadnezzar’s image, so there will be two legs in this combine of nations. So,

Trend #2: Watch for a geopolitical realignment in the next few years between eastern and western Europe.

Even though we cannot know the exact timing, the stage for these biblical prophecies is being set. But also, let’s not forget what is happening in the Middle East. Jerusalem is at the center of many Bible prophecies. So,

Trend #3: Expect greater tension in the Middle East between Israel and her neighbors.

But what about where most of you live who are watching this telecast?

Expect:

Trend #4: More chaos, confusion, division, and disasters (manmade and natural) for America and the British-descended peoples.

Yes, when you think it can’t get any worse, 2023 may once again prove that notion wrong. The United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, and other British-descended peoples are on a downward spiral, and unless we turn back to God—and we see no evidence of that—no elected leader will save us. We will have ups and downs, but the trend will continue down.

If you found this video helpful and want to learn more, be sure to get your free copy of our study guide Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs. Just click the link in the description to order. It’s that easy.

And remember to like and subscribe to our channel so you can watch more videos on different Bible topics.

We here at Tomorrow’s World make these videos because we want to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible. Thanks for watching!

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

Is Armageddon Closing In?

Are we nearing Armageddon and the end of the world? What does your Bible reveal?

You probably own a Bible. I challenge you to read one of its most revealing books for the future, the book of Revelation. Of all the books ever written, this is one you must read.

How many books have been published?

PCWorld stated the following: “For those who have ever wondered how many different books are out there in the world, Google has an answer for you: 129,864,880, according to Leonid Taycher, a Google software engineer who works on the Google Books project” (“Google: 129 Million Different Books Have Been Published,” PCWorld.org, August 6, 2010).

Many spend a lifetime reading books and resource material for knowledge, education, training, and even for entertainment. But the Holy Bible is the one book in the world that reveals the great mysteries and purpose of life! And the book of Revelation reveals a soon-coming judgment day called the Day of the Lord. What is this mysterious Day of the Lord?

What are the major prophetic events that will soon shock the world? You need to know the prophecy of Revelation and the Day of the Lord.

Stay tuned!

SIGNS, SEALS, AND END-TIME PROPHECY

The book of Revelation in your Bible describes an awesome event that will shock the whole world. That event is revealed in more than 30 prophecies in your Bible. It’s called the Day of the Lord. The prophetic Day of the Lord will affect all nations and all peoples on earth. And it will affect you and your family if you are alive to see it.

Just what is the Day of the Lord?

Is it a day of the week? How long will it last? How will it affect every nation and person on earth? What significance will it have in the flow of Bible prophecy?

The book of Revelation introduces the Day of the Lord with dramatic cosmic disturbances. “The stars of heaven” fall to the earth. The sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon becomes like blood. There is a great earthquake. And as it tells us in Revelation 6:14, “every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” The prophetic Day of the Lord will prepare all nations on earth for the greatest and most encouraging event in modern history, the return of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

My friends, you need to understand this dramatic and mysterious time period that will affect every human being on earth! Just what IS the Day of the Lord?

More than 30 prophecies in your Bible refer to the Day of the Lord, much more than we can cover on this short program. The Day of the Lord is a major prophetic event that looms on the horizon. Just what is it? And how does it fit into the framework of Bible Prophecy? If you have your Bible, turn to the Apocalypse, or the Book of Revelation, chapter one.

The Apostle John writes in Revelation 1:10,

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”

John is not speaking of a day of the week, as some commentators believe. John is speaking of the major prophetic period of time described in the rest of the book as the prophetic Day of the Lord. John is not referring to Sunday as the Lord’s Day. If John were doing that, he would have referred to Sunday “as the first day” of the week as he did in the Gospel of John.

Jesus Himself said He was Lord of the Sabbath, as it tells us in Mark 2:28! And He was not speaking of Sunday. Listen carefully!

The expression “Lord’s Day” here in Revelation is plainly referring to the theme of the whole book, the prophetic Day of the Lord, culminating in the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! In chapter five, we read about a scroll sealed with seven seals. Jesus, the Revelator, opens the seals to the book. We read the description of those seals in Revelation the sixth chapter.

The first four seals are known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The first horse, the white horse and its rider represent false religions, false Christs. Jesus Himself points out the sequence of these end-time events in the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew 24. We’ve explained this convergence in previous programs.

The second seal reveals a horseman riding a red horse with the power to take peace from the earth.

The third seal presents a rider on a black horse representing the scarcity of food and resulting famine.

The fourth seal shows a rider on a pale horse whose rider is named Death and Hades.

These four horsemen have a combined power over one fourth of the earth to kill major populations. Jesus also spoke of the pestilence that normally follows on the heels of famine. Then Christ opens the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9:

“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.”

Here is described the martyrdom of saints, true Christians.

In the first century, the Emperor Nero violently persecuted Christians and put them to death. This fifth seal also predicts a major end-time persecution of saints. Then Jesus opens the sixth seal, revealing the heavenly signs that will shock people all over the earth. 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, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place” (Revelation 6:12–14).

Almighty God will get the attention of rebellious humans through these earthquakes and heavenly signs. The Creator God tells us in Hebrews 12:26,

“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

A TRUMPET FOR ZION—AND THE WORLD

The cosmic disturbances and earthquakes introduce the Day of Judgement on all nations. Jesus Christ will judge the nations during the Day of the Lord, a year that will be “the great day of His [Christ’s] wrath” (Revelation 6:17). The Day of the Lord is the time when Almighty God will intervene powerfully in world affairs. He will judge rebellious nations, and as we’ll see, He will even let the nations actively attempt to destroy one another in world conflict.

Your Bible reveals what will happen during the Day of the Lord.

Again, if you have your Bible, turn to the book of Joel. Joel is near the end of the Old Testament. It’s the second of the so-called Minor Prophets. Turn to Joel the second chapter. Here’s a prophecy for our generation. Joel 2:1,

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the LORD is coming, for it is at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been; nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations.”

The trumpet is used to sound an alarm—to help people prepare for major battles, or as described here, an invading army! The prophet Joel warns of a unique time in all history. Again, Joel 2:2,

“… A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been; nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations.”

The following verses describe terrible destruction, a scorched earth policy—everything is left desolate. Joel 2:3,

“A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; the land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; surely nothing shall escape them.”

Humanity will also see incredible disruption of the heavens as well as total destruction on the land. Joel 2:10,

“The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The LORD gives voice before his army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it?”

And God continues to describe His judgment in Joel 3:12–16:

“Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, The vats overflow—for their wickedness is great.” Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. The LORD also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the LORD will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Almighty God will intervene in human affairs in a dramatic way. There will be major wars during the time God executes judgment on the nations. Simply stated, the Day of the Lord is the time of God’s intervention in world affairs.

Not only will there be destruction from military weapons, there will also be incredible ecological devastation. When God brings punishments upon rebellious nations in the future Day of the Lord, He’ll call upon the nations to humble themselves and repent! Of course, we don’t need to wait until then! As conditions worsen on the world scene, we all need to pray and cry out to God—and make sure we’re on God’s side.

FINAL PROPHETIC EVENTS BEFORE CHRIST’S RETURN

Where does the Day of the Lord fit in the scheme of end-time prophecy? Let’s notice the biblical framework and the prophetic sequence of events.

There are three major periods of time or events we need to look at. They are referred to as the Great Tribulation, heavenly signs, and the Day of the Lord. It’s important to understand the correct order.

Jesus spoke of the climax of the age 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.”

This unique time in all history, the Great Tribulation, is also the time of Jacob’s trouble as pointed out in Jeremiah 30:7,

“Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

Notice the sequence of events as Jesus stated them in Matthew 24:29:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

The first major event is the Great Tribulation, followed by Heavenly Signs. The Day of the Lord, the third event, leads to the Second Coming of Christ. The second chapter of Joel confirms that the Day of the Lord follows after the Heavenly signs. Joel 2:30,

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.”

So we see the sequence of events. #1 is the Great Tribulation; #2 is Heavenly Signs (or the 6th Seal of Revelation); and #3 is the Day of the Lord (or the 7th Seal of Revelation).

Just how long is this Day of the Lord?

As many students of Bible prophecy know, there is the year-for-a-day principle in prophecy. Remember when the twelve spies of ancient Israel under the leadership of Joshua searched out the Promised Land?

Turn to Numbers 14:34,

“According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.”

Notice also in Isaiah 34:8,

“For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion.”

Here again, God’s punishment, the day of the Lord’s vengeance is equated to one year. This is the year-long time pictured by the seventh seal. It consists of seven trumpet plagues. These trumpet plagues are described in the 8th and 9th chapters of Revelation.

Turn in your Bible to Revelation 8:1,

“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.”

How long is the Day of the Lord? The Day of the Lord in one sense, is the year preceding the return of Christ! It’s a significant part of God’s plan, something all Christians should know! The trumpets give us warning—they announce seven plagues or judgments!

As you read through chapter 8, you’ll notice that, as the first four angels sound their trumpets, there is great ecological devastation all over the earth. There are earthquakes; vast areas of vegetation are burned up; a third of all sea life dies; water sources are poisoned. The heavens are darkened.

The last three trumpet plagues are called woes. The word “woe” is an exclamation of grief! Revelation 8:13,

“And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, ‘Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!’”

The first woe or the 5th trumpet plague is described in chapter nine. The 5th angel sounds a trumpet that begins a military action that lasts 5 months. The second woe, or the 6th trumpet plague is pictured with symbols of horses and horsemen. Here we see an intense military counter-attack. Revelation 9:12,

“One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’”

An army of 200 million drives west across the Euphrates River and destroys one third of the earth’s population! This phase of World War III will kill billions of humans!

Yes, Jesus said that unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved—otherwise, all life on earth would be destroyed.

Next we hear the sound of the seventh trumpet. For Christians, the sounding of the seventh trumpet is good news because it announces the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth and the return of Jesus Christ. We all need to be preparing for that time! 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!’”

AN EPIC CONFRONTATION

The seventh trumpet announces the good news of Christ’s takeover of world governments. But the seventh trumpet is also called the third woe!

Why? Because it also signals the seven last plagues! You can read the description of these plagues in the 16th chapter of Revelation. They include plagues of painful sores on those who have worshiped the Beast power and its image. They include even more poisonous rivers and seas to the extent that “every living creature in the sea died,” as it states in Revelation 16:3. The sun becomes hotter resulting in extreme heat waves that torment those who will not repent of their sins!

In northern Israel, on the plain of Jezreel, will be gathered massive military power and might! These armies will actually fight against the commander of Heaven’s armies, Jesus Christ. Turn to Revelation 19 in your Bible. Revelation 19:11, the apostle John writes,

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS.”

When Christ returns to this earth, He will conquer all his enemies. He will conquer the nations and their powerful armies that fight against Him at His coming. The Day of the Lord will bring God’s judgment on the nations.

As we’ve seen, in one sense the Day of the Lord is the year preceding the return of Christ. In another sense, it continues on through the millennium and on out to eternity. And the Apostle Peter exhorts us to be in a spiritual state of readiness. God in His great love for us has revealed the future to His servants. The Apostle John writes in Revelation chapter 22, the last chapter in the Bible,

“Then he said to me, ‘these words are faithful and true.’ And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book’” (Revelation 22:6–7).

We must be alert to the Day of the Lord, a sobering period of judgment on the nations. Beyond that lies tomorrow’s world, a wonderful time with beauty, prosperity, and restoration under the rulership of Christ.

May God speed that day!

Thank you for watching!

We here at Tomorrow’s World want to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible. And we encourage you not just to believe us, but look up these verses in your own Bible. If you would like to learn more, just click the link in the description for a free Bible study CD titled, THE DAY OF THE LORD. This inspiring audio CD will give you much more vital information than we’ve had time for on this program.

And remember to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video. See you next time!

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

Introduction: One of the Most Well-Known Scriptures—Misunderstood!

One of the best-known verses in the Bible is John 3:16! Zealous professing Christians have tried to publicize this scripture with large banners at nationally televised football games, and even on large boulders and billboards along the highway.

This famous verse holds out awesome hope to all human beings whom God is calling. But few, even professing Christians, really understand the depth of truth enclosed in this profound statement. Jesus Himself stated this truth in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Hidden in this famous verse are eight vital spiritual truths. But for most people, they are eight hidden mysteries.

Why?

Because they read this verse based on human traditions rather than Christian doctrines based on the Bible! You can learn more about the eight hidden mysteries of John 3:16, in our free study resource: John 3:16, Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. Be sure to write down the contact information to order your free copy.

Would a God who loved the world condemn His creations to eternal suffering in hell-fire? How could that be fair?

And if God let Jesus die so believers would not perish, where did we get the idea that the wicked would not perish but instead would live in eternal pain? And, most importantly, what does it mean to have everlasting life as a born-again follower of Jesus Christ?

On today’s program you need to understand four mysteries of John 3:16.

Stay tuned!

Who Is the God of the Bible?

One of the most profound truths of your Bible is stated in John 3:16. It’s called “The Golden Verse” of the Bible.

We need to seek its truth. But there are so many different interpretations and beliefs, even among professing Christians. Listen to this amazing fact: The World Christian Encyclopedia identifies at least 33,000 Christian denominations, with 9,000 of them classified as “Protestant” and 22,000 as “Independents.” These thousands of denominations disagree among themselves in many of their doctrines, teachings, and beliefs.

Yet they can’t all be right!

Could it even be that many believe in a false Jesus Christ who is not the Jesus of the Bible? Jesus Himself warned us in Matthew 24:24 that “false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Since these thousands of denominations teach varying doctrines, could it be that many believe in a counterfeit Christianity?

There are many differing beliefs concerning the nature and existence of God. So, let’s consider the first hidden mystery of John 3:16,

Who is the God who loved the world?

How is He described in the Bible? If you have your Bible, turn to Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Evangelist Gerald Weston, author of the free study resource we’re offering today, states this:

The first place the term “God” is used in scripture (Genesis 1:1), it comes from the Hebrew Elohim, a plural word. The plurality of God is affirmed in verse 26: “Then God [Elohim] said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’” (p. 4).

Notice “Us”—that’s plural. But God is also one. What does your Bible reveal about the relationship of Jesus Christ and God the Father? We read in Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” And Jesus stated, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).

So, we need to answer the question, “In what way is God ‘one’?” Mr. Weston answers that question:

On the night in which He was betrayed, Jesus was on earth, and He prayed to His Father in heaven. Note these clear words about oneness found in this prayer: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one” (John 17:20–21). So we see that He wants us all to be one, but in what way? So “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one” (vv. 21–23) (John 3:16, Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse, pp. 5–6).

As we’ll see later in the program, God is preparing a Family. Born-again Christians will become part of that Family at the First Resurrection. Even now, Christians after baptism receive the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit.

We all need the gift of the Holy Spirit of God, the power of God, as Jesus stated in Acts 1:7–8 and as the Apostle Peter exhorted in Acts 2:38. We thank God that He will give repentant sinners the gift of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of “power and of love and of a sound mind” as it tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7.

Yes, God is the father “from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15).

My friends, pray that you also can have God as your Father. Jesus taught us to pray to the Father in Matthew 6:9.

We’ve seen that God the Father and Jesus Christ are one. They are the two beings right now in the One God Family. In fact, God the Father is the father “from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15). And faithful Christians will join them when they are born again, as we’ll see later in this program.

God Is Building a Family—Not Burning It!

Now turn to John chapter 11. We saw that the Father and Jesus Christ are now members of that one family. As the Apostle John taught us in John 1:14,

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

And it was that Jesus, the Son of God, who poured out the Holy Spirit on the disciples in Acts 2:32.

“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”

My friends, you need the Holy Spirit, as we’ll discuss later in this program.

Another hidden truth and mystery of John 3:16 is the answer to the question: Is God fair? Hidden Mystery Number Two: “Is God fair?”

When you come to really understand the awesome unconditional eternal love that the Creator God has for human beings, you’ll understand that every human being will have a genuine opportunity for salvation. And this introduces this second hidden truth.

Many professing Christians have a wrong idea that God will burn billions of people in hellfire forever, simply because He arranged for them to be born and die without ever hearing the name of Christ or the gospel of Christ.

Is that fair?

In Chapter Three of today’s free booklet, Evangelist Gerald Weston writes,

The Apostle John taught plainly that “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Here, “the world” is not a reference to planet Earth, but rather to the people who dwell here. And, no matter how you count it, by any reckoning there have always been far more “unsaved” than “saved.” So, if God “loved the world,” how can this be? Is He so weak that He cannot save the majority of His creation? This leads to the question, “Is God fair? Is He a respecter of persons? Has everyone—or will everyone—have a genuine and fair opportunity for salvation?” (pp. 17–18).

Bible students know that salvation comes only through the name of the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ. As it tells us in Acts 4:12,

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

My friends, God has a plan for those who never heard the name of Jesus Christ.

Hidden Mystery Number Two is: “Is God fair?”

God will not condemn those who never heard the name of Christ as many in traditional Christianity believe. Ask your minister or priest this question: If a tribe of people in a remote jungle never heard the name of Jesus Christ, never accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, will they be condemned to hellfire when they die? You may be shocked by the answer.

Your Bible reveals that God will give such people an opportunity for salvation in the Second Resurrection to judgment. That’s described in Revelation 20:11–13. Turn in your Bible to Revelation 20:11. God reveals to us the Great White Throne Judgment. This judgment takes place after the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. These are the “rest of the dead” mentioned in verse 5. This is the second general resurrection from the dead. Revelation 20:11,

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God….”

If the dead are now standing before God, they have been resurrected. You find a description of this resurrection to physical life in Ezekiel 37—the valley of dry bones comes to life.

Now, continuing in Revelation 20:12,

“… and books were opened.”

The original Greek word for books is biblia, from which we derive the word Bible. Let’s continue,

“And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.”

In the White Throne Judgment, billions of people who never heard the name of Christ will have their first genuine opportunity for salvation. That resurrection to judgment may include friends and relatives you may have thought were lost forever.

What Does It Mean to Perish—And to Be “Born Again”?

Hidden Mystery Number One we’ve discussed is, “Who is the God who loved the world?” Our Hidden Mystery Number Two is, “Is God fair?” Our Hidden Mystery Number Three is very important for understanding God’s truth: “What is the biblical meaning of ‘perish’?”

My friends, God is the Giver of life, the Creator of all things—He is the Life-giver. Turn to Acts 17. In verse 26, the Apostle Paul reveals God’s desired relationship with all of us.

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’” (Acts 17:26–28).

Since God is the giver of life, what does it mean to “perish”? Many assume that they will never perish! They believe the pagan doctrine of the immortal soul. They believe that their so-called immortal soul will not perish at death. But Gerald Weston writes in his informative free booklet on John 3:16,

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines perish as “To be destroyed; to pass away; to become nothing… to die” (“Perish,” Websters1913.com). We know what it means when food perishes. We speak of people perishing in a plane crash. So, when it comes to the biblical matters, why do people push other, incorrect meanings onto perish?

The Bible consistently and unambiguously agrees with the standard dictionary definition of “perish”! It clearly teaches that life and death are opposites! Nowhere does Scripture ever describe human life as being inherently immortal. As we have already seen, even the soul—whatever one may think it is—can die (Ezekiel 18:4, 20).

God’s word reveals that immortality is not something we already have, but rather that it is something we must seek (Romans 2:6–7) and “must put on” (1 Corinthians 15:53–54) (p. 50).

The Bible plainly reveals that only God has immortality (1 Timothy 6:16) and that immortality is something we must put on in the future (1 Corinthians 15:53).

God’s purpose is to save us from eternal death, to save us from perishing. But Scripture tells us that those who seal their character with evil will perish in the lake of fire. Read that in Revelation 21:7,

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The incorrigibly wicked will perish in the lake of fire. They will be punished with the second death from which there is no resurrection. That’s the punishment of eternal death. As it states in Romans 6:23,

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We don’t already have immortality. Eternal life is a gift of God. Thus we see the contrast between traditional Christianity and biblical Christianity. Traditional Christianity teaches that we have an immortal soul that will always live and never perish or never cease to exist. Biblical Christianity teaches that unrepentant sinners will perish in a lake of fire, experience the second death—eternal death—and cease to exist.

But the good news is that those who truly believe in the Jesus Christ of the Bible, who repent and are baptized as it states in Acts 2:38, and remain faithful, will not perish, they will be given the gift of eternal life. The Third Hidden Mystery we’ve discussed today is: “What is the biblical meaning of ‘perish’?” My friends, will you personally perish?

Our Savior revealed that those who genuinely live by John 3:16, shall “not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We’ve briefly discussed three hidden mysteries of John 3:16. Our Hidden Mystery Number Four is: “You Must Be Born Again.” In fact, chapter five of our free study resource today is titled, “You Must Be Born Again.” Most professing Christians are familiar with the story of Nicodemus the Pharisee, who came to Jesus by night and admitted that Jesus was sent from God. Jesus told him,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

The common belief is that if you accept Jesus in your heart as your Savior, you are at that moment “born again.” But what did Jesus tell the dumbfounded Pharisee?

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (vv. 5–6).

Conclusion: Begotten of God—Baptism and Repentance Are Only the Beginning

One simply needs to ask the question, “Am I spirit or am I flesh?” Physical Christians will be changed into spirit at the resurrection. Read about the miraculous change at the first general resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:50,

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (vv. 50–54).

That is the time Jesus referred to when He said, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Mr. Weston explains the context of Jesus’ statement in chapter five of the study resource we’re offering today, John 3:16: Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. We must understand, as in the human begettal and birth process, the difference between the words “begotten” and “born.”

Mr. Weston writes on page 34,

Why does this matter generate such confusion? In this passage of Scripture, the word translated as “born” is the Greek word gennao. Translators, knowing Greek but not understanding the doctrinal implications, variously render this unusual word into English as “born,” “beget,” “begot,” or “conceive.” This seemingly small detail can lead to confusion and result in significant misunderstandings, especially about the concept of being “born again.”

When we receive God’s Holy Spirit at baptism, we become God’s begotten child. In spite of the translators’ bias, the word gennao is correctly translated in 1 Peter 1:3,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you….”

Our Father in heaven begets us as His children, and as such we love all of God’s begotten children.

Yes, to be born again, you must first be begotten at baptism.

My friends, I pray that you will consider repentance and baptism and begin your spiritual life as a begotten son or daughter of God Almighty and as a brother or sister of [Jesus] Christ as He referred to us in Matthew 12:50 and Hebrews 2:11.

If you are considering repentance and biblical baptism, contact one of our representatives at the Regional Office nearest you. You can find them on our website, TomorrowsWorld.org.

Hidden Mystery Number Four is: “You must be born again.”

On today’s program, we’ve discussed four hidden mysteries of John 3:16. But we’ve only scratched the surface.

May God bless you as you seek His truth in the pages of your Bible.

Thank you for watching!

My friends, there are more hidden truths in John 3:16 that billions of human beings around the world do not understand. If you would like to discover them for yourself, just click the link in the description to order a free copy of our study guide John 3:16: Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. And remember to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video.

See you next time!