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

A Widely-Held Falsehood

A vast portion of professing “Christianity” is obsessed with a myth—a myth that clouds their understanding of the end-times, that obscures other doctrinal truths of the Bible, and that provides a false hope concerning the Great Tribulation and the days before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. And yet, it is widely believed! When I travel to various cities giving public presentations concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and what to expect before Christ’s return, some of the most common questions I receive are centered around this myth.

So, it’s about time we put that myth to rest.

Join me for this episode of Tomorrow’s World, where we’ll debunk the Rapture myth.

What IS the Rapture Myth?

Warm greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we work to help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible.

You know, if I had a dime for every time I’ve been asked about the Rapture, I’d be a wealthy person. When is it coming? Is it before the Great Tribulation, during the Tribulation, or after?

At the heart of most of these questions is a more fundamental one: Is the common belief in the Rapture actually true?

Today, we’re going to tackle that question, and we’re going to do it with irrefutable evidence from your Bible.

Now let’s begin by being as clear as we can. Before we can address what the Bible does or does not say about the “Rapture,” we first need to define what we mean by the word “Rapture”—because people use it to say many different things.

Most use the word to indicate their belief that before Jesus Christ returns to rule the world, and before the time of trouble and suffering known as the Great Tribulation, Christians all over the world will be “raptured” into thin air—taken to heaven. Those who are NOT Christians will simply see that many people have suddenly vanished without explanation. Planes will plummet as their Christian pilots disappear, non-Christian husbands or wives will despair as they wonder where their Christian spouse has disappeared to. And as the world sorts through the mass disappearance, the Great Tribulation will be unleashed on those who are “left behind”—as the book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins worded it. Then, three or seven years later—depending on who’s explaining—Jesus begins His reign on earth.

This idea of the Rapture as being mysteriously and mystically whisked away from the earth is often associated with the words of the Apostle Paul, who says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17,

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

This is an important passage for those who believe in the “Rapture” because in the Latin Vulgate translation of verse 17, the word for “we shall be caught up” is rapiemur /ra-pee-Ā-moor/, from rapere / rah-PEHR-ay/. Thus, the “Rapture.”

But is Paul describing what many think of as “the Rapture,” or is he talking about something else entirely?

God wants us to read His word CAREFULLY, putting the details together to get the most complete picture we can, and that takes diligence. As Paul told the evangelist Timothy,

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Similarly, the prophet Isaiah wrote the following:

“Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:9–10).

Let’s do that. Let’s “rightly divide the word of truth” and put the WHOLE of God’s word together to help us see the truth about the Rapture theory and to understand what to truly expect of the end times.

And since ideas differ so widely in their details concerning the Rapture and what it really means, we are going to focus on Bible passages that will help us clarify the most common elements that are central in most people’s beliefs about the Rapture. So, as the program progresses, keep in mind these three crucial questions:

• Will Christians vanish around the world without explanation?
• Will Christians be caught up into the air years before Jesus returns?
• Will Christians spend the Great Tribulation in heaven?

Remember those questions! And as we look into what the Bible says will ACTUALLY happen with true Christians at the return of Jesus Christ, you will see each of these questions answered plainly and simply in God’s word. And when you do, you will see that the popular idea of the Rapture is little more than a popular myth.

First Resurrection—NOT A Secret Rapture

So, does the Bible teach that YEARS BEFORE Jesus returns in visible glory to rule the world, Christians around the world will VANISH and secretly be caught up into heaven right before the time of global horrors known as the Great Tribulation?

No, it doesn’t. We can begin to see this if we go back to 1 Thessalonians 4. But this time, let’s begin in verse 13.

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17).

Too many are so “enraptured” (pun intended) with seeing the “Rapture” in this passage that they skip right over those elements that prove Paul is NOT talking about their idea of a “Rapture.”

For instance, Paul says that this is the time of the RESURRECTION of those who died in Christ—those he describes as “asleep”—saying, “the dead in Christ will rise first.” He also says that “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.”

This doesn’t seem like a quiet, mysterious vanishing to me—more like a triumphant event announced to the world by the returning Christ.

But my personal opinion doesn’t matter—and neither does yours. Instead of settling for opinion, let’s look into additional Bible passages that describe this event—as we read earlier, “precept upon precept… line upon line… here a little, there a little….”

When the Last trumpet Sounds

For example, the Apostle describes this EXACT SAME event in another passage 1 Corinthians 15. Let’s read there starting in verse 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.”

Now notice: The dead are raised in incorruptible glory and the living will be transformed at that time, as well, just as we read in 1 Thessalonians. Now, is this done quietly? No! AGAIN just as we saw earlier, this happens with the sound of a mighty TRUMPET:

“…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” (1 Corinthians 15:50–53).

In fact, read that again CAREFULLY: It happens not just at ANY trumpet, but at the LAST trumpet. This implies that there is a SEQUENCE of trumpets, and the resurrection and glorification of the saints occurs at the LAST of these trumpets.

So, ask yourself: Is there any passage of Scripture that describes a series of trumpets in the end times? Because if there is, then we have located the time of this resurrection and transformation of faithful Christians!

And, in fact, YES, the Bible DOES describe a sequence of trumpets! We don’t need to guess, or theorize, or debate about it. The Bible makes it plain! And as it does, we will see the answers to our three questions beginning to take shape as well.

Seven Seals and Seven Trumpets of Revelation—Before Jesus Returns

The book of Revelation gives us a specific sequence leading up to Jesus’ return and the commencement of the Kingdom of God. Revelation chapter 6 reveals the Seven Prophetic Seals of Revelation, which the Apostle John sees in vision, opened in sequence by Jesus Christ to reveal the end-time events ahead. The FIRST FOUR SEALS represent the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, symbolizing global Religious Deception, Warfare, Famine, and Disease. Verse 8 says, that “power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”

The prophetic pathway continues with the FIFTH SEAL, describing a martyrdom of many true Christians. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus describes this time, saying, “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.” This is a time so terrible that no time before nor after will ever compare.

After two and one-half years of this Tribulation, the SIXTH SEAL is opened, and the Heavenly Signs take place: a great earthquake, the sun darkened, the moon red as blood, the stars falling from the sky, and every mountain and island on earth shaken! These announce that GOD AND JESUS CHRIST are about to PERSONALLY INTERVENE in world affairs! That time is described by the prophet Isaiah as “the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the YEAR of recompense for the cause of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8).

The Seventh Seal Opens, Then a Series of Seven Trumpets Sound

This year-long Day of the Lord begins when the SEVENTH SEAL of Revelation is opened. We read of this in Revelation 8:1–2.

“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.”

Finally, we see where a SEQUENCE OF TRUMPETS appears in end-time events—exactly what Paul’s description told us to expect! AFTER the end-time rides of the Four Horsemen, the Great Tribulation, and the Heavenly Signs, we come to the series of Trumpets indicated by the Apostle Paul!

And those first six trumpet blasts are devastating. One-third of earth’s vegetation is burned up; one-third of the seas become blood; one-third of ships and marine life are destroyed; one-third of the planet’s waters become bitter; and one-third of the sun, moon, and stars cease to shine. Then, in the most destructive military exchange in history, one-third of mankind is obliterated.

Joel 2 calls the Day of the Lord “great and very terrible” (v. 2) for a reason! It represents God’s wrath unleashed on unrepentant mankind! Yet, these terrors are only the first SIX of Seven Trumpets!

The seventh, last trumpet is described 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!’”

Paul says that at THIS TRUMPET—the SEVENTH, declaring the authority of the Kingdom of God over the world—the Resurrection occurs, when faithful Christians, past and present, are gathered, glorified with immortality, and brought to meet Christ to become His Bride and to participate in the vanquishing of His enemies and the inauguration of the reign of God’s Kingdom!

All of this PROVES that this no secret “vanishing!” In fact, Jesus Christ personally described this moment to His disciples to make the PUBLIC nature of this event very clear. Read it yourself, starting 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. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH will mourn, and THEY WILL SEE the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29–31).

My friends, these passages are inseparable. Their descriptions of the end-time events are consistent and in perfect sequence: The Great Tribulation, the Heavenly Signs, the Seven Trumpets, the revealing of Christ to the world at the Last Trumpet, and the resurrection, gathering, and glorifying of true Christians as the Kingdom of God commences its glorious reign.

And where will that reign begin? Not in heaven! Rather, as Revelation 5 [v. 10] says, those glorified Christians will have been made kings and priests to [their] God; and [they] shall reign on the earth.

No one will vanish into thin air as unsaved loved ones wonder where they went. All eyes will see, and all ears will hear. The Rapture is simply a misunderstanding that conceals the magnificent truth of Scripture.

Still, that might leave some worried. Does this mean that every Christian must go through the Tribulation?

No, it doesn’t, though some will, while others are protected—though NOT by a “Rapture.”

The Saints of God Will Be Protected on Earth During the Great Tribulation

We asked:

1. Will Christians vanish around the world mysteriously and without explanation?

We saw in the pages of the Bible that, no, they will not. Christians will join Christ at the first resurrection at the same time when ALL the tribes of the earth will see Jesus returning.

2. Will Christians be caught up into the air years before Jesus returns to rule?

Again, no they won’t. The resurrection of true Christians occurs at the very Last Trumpet when Christ is inaugurated as Ruler of the world, only days before Satan is bound for 1,000 years, as described in Revelation 20.

Finally,

3. Will Christians spend the years of the Great Tribulation in heaven?

Again, no! They rise to meet Christ at the commencement of His reign, AFTER the Tribulation. Indeed, from that moment on, they will reign alongside Him, ruling ON THIS EARTH, with Him, for 1,000 years.

At the same time, some Christians WILL be protected during the Tribulation—but they will be protected HERE ON EARTH. While God reserves many details to Himself, He does make this plain in a number of passages. For instance, in Revelation 12, we read of the Church in the end times, symbolized by a woman, persecuted by Satan the Devil, symbolized by a dragon-like serpent. Starting in verse 14, we read, “But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.” The “time, times, and half a time” here is the two-and-one-half years of the Great Tribulation before the Heavenly Signs, followed by the year-long Day of the Lord we read about earlier.

This passage makes plain, too, that while a portion of the Church is protected, she is NOT protected in heaven. Note that the passage says she is protected in “the wilderness”—a word which is never used by God to describe heaven in the Bible, but which He does use to describe locations here on earth.

If we’re going to let God interpret His own word, then we have to agree that Christians are going to be protected during the Great Tribulation, but that protection is NOT going to be in Heaven as many Rapture fans would have us believe. It will be right here, somewhere on planet earth.

Martyrdom of the Saints: Not All Christians Will Be Protected

But notice, too, not all Christians are protected. As we read in verse 17, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Yes, some Christians, “the rest of her offspring,” must endure the trials of the Great Tribulation and the anger of Satan.

The distinction—one group protected and one sent into the Tribulation—is reflected in Christ’s comments to the two prophetic End-Time Churches of Revelation 3. The zealous Christians of Philadelphia are told by Jesus that He will “keep [them]from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” [v. 10], while the lukewarm Christians of Laodicea are told that they must “buy… gold [from God] refined in the fire [of persecution]” [v. 18] and that they need His “chasten[ing]” [v. 19].

Those Laodicean Christians who must go through the Tribulation are described as those unable to see their need to repent and to change—too self-satisfied in what they already believe they know, and too willing to compromise in their actions.

Be Counted Worthy to Escape the Great Tribulation

There is a reason that Jesus Christ says to all of us concerning the times to come, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted WORTHY TO ESCAPE all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Yes, there will be protection during the climactic, earth-shattering events of the end times—not in a Rapture off to heaven, but right here, somewhere on earth—for zealous, faithful Christians who are unwilling to compromise on the truth God has shown them.

Thank you so much for watching. All of us here at Tomorrow’s World work very hard to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible.

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

An All-Important Question

What is the purpose for your life? Do you know? Do you even care? This last question, “Do you even care?” should shock our senses. Why would anyone not want to know the purpose for his existence?

We come into this life knowing nothing. We involuntarily arrived one day and today we find ourselves somewhere, at some age and stage of life, and being who we are. What an enigma! But at some point, often in our teenage years, or as we near the end of life, we wonder, “What’s it all about?”

Do you, dear friend, ever ask yourself this question? And if not, why?

Sadly, too many don’t seem to be very concerned. We here at Tomorrow’s World keep trying to give you the answer to this question, and while thousands do order our resource that explains it, many thousands do not. Apparently, there are more people interested in the future of the world than their personal, eternal future!

On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we’re going to consider the most important questions of all for each and every one of us: Who am I? Why was I born? What is the purpose of life? What is God’s plan for me?

Now, stay with me as I will be back in five seconds to answer this most important of all questions!

Materialism is NOT the Answer

A warm welcome to all of you from those of us here at Tomorrow’s World. On today’s program, I’ll be answering the most important of all questions: “What Is the Purpose of Life?” The answer is found in the pages of the Bible, and it’s NOT what most people think! It’s NOT to float around for eternal retirement in heaven. No, dear friends, it’s infinitely greater than that!

The meaning of life question has been mulled over and debated among philosophers and theologians for millennia, yet, the answer has been with us from the beginning. No, we are NOT left to our puny minds to discover some novel idea that suits our fancy. There is a far greater purpose than most imagine.

Those who subscribe to an evolutionary origin to life, thus in their own minds doing away with the need for God, have no real answer. What grand purpose can there be for a life confined to the here and now? Even if you live a thousand years and come up with a cure for cancer, what good will that do you in the end? When you die, all hopes, dreams, and temporal rewards will end in the blackness of darkness forever if there is no God.

Philosophy Professor Thaddeus Metz summarizes a multitude of theories on life’s purpose from theologians and philosophers, and he mentions that:

Lately, however, an extreme form of naturalism has arisen, according to which our lives would probably, if not unavoidably, have less meaning in a world with God… (“The Meaning of Life,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, February 9, 2021).

In other words, to them, God’s existence would take away from a meaningful existence! Professor Metz then explains several theories put forward to come to this absurd conclusion. The first theory postulates that God’s existence places us in a master/servant or parent/child relationship, thus:

… our independence or dignity as adult persons would be violated.

Put another way, we could no longer be our own boss. We would have to answer to a higher power and atheists and agnostics chafe at such an idea. Professor Metz points to an additional “God, don’t tell me what to do” line of reasoning:

Another salient argument for thinking that God would detract from meaning in life appeals to the value of privacy…. God’s omniscience [all-knowing] would unavoidably make it impossible for us to control … the most intimate details about ourselves, which, for some, amounts to a less meaningful life than one with such control.

Apart from revelation from God, the subject is broad, technical at times, and, well, meaningless! Leave God out and there can be no purpose beyond our far-to-short temporary existence. But, not surprisingly, there are those who argue against eternal life itself. As the professor explains:

First and foremost, there has been the argument that an immortal life could not avoid becoming boring (Williams 1973), rendering life pointless according to many subjective and objective theories.

One of the major Jewish sects during Jesus’ day also believed there was no future beyond the grave. Note this encounter between the Sadducees and Jesus when they challenged Him about the resurrection—Matthew 22:23:

The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him… (Matthew 22:23).

And when brought before the Council, the Apostle Paul created a near riot between the Pharisees and Sadducees over this subject.

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”…. For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both (Acts 23:6, 8).

Some among the Christians at Corinth were influenced by this erroneous idea. Paul’s first letter to that church addresses the subject of the resurrection from the dead in chapter 15, and he reasons with perfect logic the futility of life if it is only for the here and now.

For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep [or died] in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable (1 Corinthians 15:16–19).

Paul later explains the senselessness of self-sacrifice if all that we have is the here and now—taking it to its natural conclusion.

If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

But before we set off to eat, drink, and die forever, let’s ask ourselves the central question Paul addresses in this chapter: “Is there a resurrection from the dead?” Either there is, or there isn’t.

A Resurrection to Life—But Why?

And if there is no God, there can be no life after death: no memory, no thoughts, no joy, no happiness—only the blackness of darkness forever. As Paul convincingly wrote,

If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

Ancient king Solomon sought the purpose of life through wine, women, and song; and he discovered that none of these brought lasting happiness. What was the purpose of it all? He concluded that all was vanity and grasping for the wind.

“As it happens to the fool, it also happens to me, and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This also is vanity [or worthlessness].” For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool! Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:15–17).

You can never match Solomon when it comes to wine, women, and song. Neither with fame nor fortune. Most who try, find that what they thought would make them happy does not. Consider the lives of so many celebrities who outwardly “have it all.” Some get strung out on drugs, others have one failed marriage after another. Ponder the recent tragic case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Both had good looks, fame, and fortune, but it’s evident none of this provided the happiness both sought.

This is not to say that every rich person has a failed marriage or that all celebrities are unhappy—only that lasting happiness does not come from temporary pleasures, and unless there is a God who can resurrect you from the grave, anything you do in this life is temporary.

How can we be certain that we can live again? While there are those who claim a “near death” experience, only One was resurrected after three days and three nights in the grave, and that was nearly 2,000 years ago.

But Paul answers that question in this same “resurrection chapter” [1 Corinthians 15] listing by name individuals who saw Jesus after His crucifixion, and then asserts:

After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:6).

This was written less than 25 years after the crucifixion, and most of those 500 were still alive. What credibility would Paul or his letter have if this were not true? And scholars recognize further evidence.

According to John 7:5, Jesus’ own half-brothers did not believe in Him prior to the crucifixion, but afterward they became disciples. James went on to be the leader of the Jerusalem congregation and he wrote the epistle of James. His half-brother Jude also became a believer and wrote the letter bearing his name.

Furthermore, history records that of the twelve apostles (remember that Mathias replaced Judas), only John did not die a martyr’s death. Now many have died as martyrs for a cause they believed in, but how many would die for a cause they knew to be a lie? Jesus’ twelve apostles knew the resurrection was true.

The question remains: If God exists and there is life after death, what does that mean? What is God’s purpose for you and me?

Why God Created YOU

Do you know why man has so much greater mental capacity than animals? Several animals have larger brains, but none come close to man’s capacity to reason, to think, to innovate. None can devise a plan to go to the moon and return. None can build a telescope, a television, or a computer. Yes, I know, your dog is pretty amazing, but there is something fundamentally different between the two of you.

What makes the difference? How is it that man can build machines to go higher, faster, and further than any animal? And why is it that with all our intelligence, we cannot get along with our fellow man? Why divorce? Why wars between nations? Why people scamming, stealing, and bludgeoning one another?

We begin our search for the answer in the first chapter in the Bible. Here we find God’s purpose for mankind.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:26–27).

How many read over this passage without considering what it means? In plain language, God did not make man after any animal kind, but His (that is, God’s) kind. We are different because we were created in God’s image and likeness. Write down Genesis 1:26–27, and read it for yourself, and consider what it means. Or simply order our free booklet What Is the Meaning of Life? as this is explained there.

God created us after His own kind with amazing ability to think, to reason, and to do marvelous things. But why don’t we conduct ourselves in a godly manner? The missing element is explained in the second chapter of Genesis. There we find that man is made a free moral agent with the ability to make choices.

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).

He was given the ability to choose between right and wrong, between good and evil. Notice how this is spelled out at a later time for the nation of Israel—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 we sent men to the moon and brought them back safely, to this day we cannot get along with one another. There are too many failed marriages; too many murders, rapes, and assaults; too many wars, cutting short the hopes and dreams of millions.

Sometimes people ask why God, with all of His power, does not stop the atrocities that occur here below. But which of these same people are willing to submit to God’s will in everything?

Heirs to the Promise of Eternal Life

The idea that God is creating man in His own image is truly profound and this theme is found throughout the Scriptures. David looked up at the night sky and wondered why God would even be interested in puny little man, asking,

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:4).

The book of Hebrews picks up on this question and explains:

“You [that is, God] have put all things in subjection under his [man’s] feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:8–10).

The Bible reveals a plan and purpose being worked out that is far greater than going off to heaven for retirement to stare into the face of God for eternity. Why is it, dear friends, that people do not accept what the Bible plainly says? The Apostle Paul is not vague about our future. He explains in Romans 8:14–15 that we will be sons of God and joint heirs with Christ.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba [meaning “daddy”], Father” (Romans 8:14–15).

Now notice what he says next:

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (v. 16).

Did you catch that? We are to become children of God. Humankind, as brought out in Genesis 1, was made in the image and likeness of God, not of any animal kind, but of God Himself! Can you believe what the Bible clearly says? Notice further:

“… and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (v. 17).

In previous generations we understood that the masculine man or mankind, represented both men and women in this context; but if anyone is offended by that micro-mini-aggression, note that women are not left out.

I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:18).

But how can this be? Notice again from Romans 8:16:

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Here we find two spirits: God’s spirit and “our spirit.” In this we find the difference between God’s thinking and man’s thinking. Humanly speaking, we do not think as God thinks, and without His indwelling Spirit, though intelligent in material matters, we lack true love and self-control. That’s why we naturally exhibit what we call human nature.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like” (Galatians 5:19–21).

But, does that mean we can never think as He thinks? Let Paul give us the answer.

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10).

Paul next explained why there is a difference between the animal brain and the mind of man.

“For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?” (1 Corinthians 2:11).

Similarly, this explains the difference between the mind of man and the mind of God.

“Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11).

Here we find two spirits. The spirit of man empowers the human brain far above that of animals, but without the Spirit of God dwelling in us, we can no more understand the things of God than my dog Marcus could understand calculus! To be fully made in the image and likeness of God, to think as God thinks, these two spirits must unite.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:14, 16–17).

WOW—“children of God… heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”

I hope you enjoyed and profited from this video.

We here at Tomorrow’s World want to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible. That’s why we make these videos.

If you found it helpful and want to learn more, be sure to get your own free copy of our study guide What is the Meaning of Life? Just click the link in the description. It will be sent to you completely free of charge.

And remember to like and subscribe to our channel so you can watch more videos on vitally important biblical topics.

Thanks for watching! See you next time.

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

Who Can Be Saved?

Most religious people believe God is trying to SAVE everyone on earth NOW! Millions wrongly believe this is the only day of salvation for all humanity. And if one doesn’t become a Christian before he dies, he will go to a burning hellfire at death. Is that what ACTUALLY happens? If that’s true, billions of non-Christians are suffering unjustly in hell. Masses of humans who have lived and died have never heard the true gospel. How could they have been saved?

My friends, God is not an unjust God. He WILL give those masses of people their FIRST opportunity for salvation in the WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT. And what about you? Are you saved? Or are you lost? Or will you have an opportunity beyond death?

God has an awesome plan for all human beings. His desire is that “all men be saved” as it tells us in 1 Timothy 2:4. Some of you, to put it bluntly, have made a mess of your life. Is there any hope for you or your loved ones beyond death? Are you saved, or lost? Stay tuned for the surprising answer!

What Steps Do YOU Have to Take?

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

Two thirds of all people on earth do not even claim to be Christian. Most have never heard true Christianity preached. When they die, are they lost forever? Is God losing the battle to “save” the world from sin and evil? The encouraging truth is that the Bible offers HOPE for your so-called “lost” family and friends. It’s called the WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT in your Bible. Just what is the White Throne Judgment? You need to know!

Let’s understand, your Bible plainly reveals a successful and abundant way of life. Jesus Himself stated 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.”

The common religious appeal you may hear is: “Just accept Jesus into your heart and you will be saved!” But most people neglect the action that Jesus Himself asked of us. What action is that? What is missing in those messages? The word “repent” is what’s missing in so many false appeals. My friends, you cannot be saved unless you repent! Jesus Himself stated in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

God wants every human being on earth to repent—to change from the selfish way of life and to seek the true God. Turn in your Bible to Acts the second chapter. This was the historic day when the New Testament Church of God began. God poured out His Holy Spirit as Christ’s disciples were meeting in the Jerusalem temple. Turn in your Bible to Acts the second chapter. The Apostle Peter convicted the people of their sinful support for crucifying the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38, “… Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

My friends, one of the first steps towards being saved is to do exactly as the Apostle Peter instructed. To repent and be baptized. Have you been baptized? Totally immersed in water? Romans 6:1–4 describes the phenomenon and the symbolism. For more information, view our program, “Why Baptism?” Just type that program title into the TomorrowsWorld.org search bar to view the program on our website.

The world has unusual ideas about being saved. Perhaps you have heard the expression “Once saved, always saved.” But what does your Bible say? The New Testament confirms three stages of being saved: past, present, and future. Once you have genuinely repented and been baptized, you have been saved from the penalty of your past sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. But that is not the end of our salvation. Notice that the Apostle Paul uses the present progressive tense in 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Converted Christians must continually grow spiritually, as we read in 2 Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” They must overcome human nature with the promise of God’s divine nature, as it states in 2 Peter 1:2–4. Some of you may be familiar with the old hymn with the words, “overcoming daily with the spirit’s sword, standing on the promises of God.” Jesus Himself admonishes His seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, to “overcome.” The ultimate blessing of salvation is given to overcomers in Revelation 21:7, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

Genuine Christianity includes a commitment to seek God’s Kingdom above all else in life, as Jesus stated in Matthew 6:33. The future stage of salvation is shown in several scriptures and promises. Here are just two: Romans 5:10, “… if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Yes, we shall ultimately be saved by His life! Matthew 24:13 also gives the life-long commitment: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

The Vital Purpose of the Resurrections

We saw that your Bible requires us to repent of our sins, as Jesus stated in Mark 1:15. We also saw that salvation is an ongoing process, and that newly baptized Christians must grow spiritually over a lifetime. “[B]ut grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). We also saw the awesome promise in Romans 5:10, “[I]f when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

That’s God’s wonderful promise to you! But what happens to the billions who never even heard the name of Christ? Scripture tells us in Acts 4:12, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Masses of humans have lived and died and have never heard the true gospel. How could they have been saved? My friends, God is not an unjust God. He WILL give those masses of people their FIRST genuine opportunity for salvation in the WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT.

Turn in your Bible, if you have one available, to Revelation 20:11. As we’ll see later, this great judgment takes place after the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ on this earth. 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, [here, billions of humans stand before God in a great resurrection!] and books were opened. 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” (Revelation 20:11–12). Here are masses of dead people resurrected to judgment. They will have genuine hope. They will have a new physical lifetime and an opportunity to repent and accept God’s salvation through Christ.

What happens when you die? Shocking as it may seem, the Bible teaches that NO ONE goes to HEAVEN or a BURNING HELLFIRE immediately after death. The TRUTH IS, no one will even live again, until the RESURRECTION. The dead remain dead until one of the THREE GENERAL RESURRECTIONS. My friends, you need to know what the Bible teaches about the three resurrections. The SECOND RESURRECTION takes place at the White Throne Judgment, and it gives hope to billions of humans who have never converted to Christianity. They will have their FIRST OPPORTUNITY for Salvation! They will have their FIRST complete opportunity to become true Christians.

Let’s review what happens to every person who dies. If you have your Bible, open it to the 15^th chapter of 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians the 15^th chapter is referred to as the resurrection chapter. 1 Corinthians 15:12. Here, the Apostle Paul is testifying to the truth of the resurrection. Some in the Corinthian congregation believed there was no resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:12, “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”

In other words, the resurrection is the HOPE of a Christian. If there’s NO resurrection, we absolutely have NO hope! Paul repeats this important point in verse 16, “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (1 Corinthians 15:16–18).

Paul is saying IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION, then even faithful Christians would be dead forever. They would have perished, as Paul wrote. But the good news is: THERE IS A RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. Now notice another important point. How does scripture refer to Christians who have died? 1 Corinthians 15:18. Paul refers to the dead as “those who have FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST.”

The dead are dead, as it tells us in Ecclesiastes 9:5, “For the living know that they will die; But the DEAD KNOW NOTHING….” The dead are totally unconscious—they do not experience pain—they do not experience the passing of time. Even the faithful saints, genuine Christians, remain in the grave until the resurrection at the return of Christ. In the White Throne Judgment, as we’ll see later, billions will also be resurrected from the dead to live out their natural, physical lives. That will be the second resurrection.

But the FIRST resurrection is for faithful Christians. It is a resurrection to immortality, not to physical life. That resurrection is the hope of a Christian. Let’s understand, if one already went to heaven at death, there would be NO NEED for a resurrection. One is NOT born with immortality or eternal life. Believe it or not, the Bible teaches that the SOUL can die. The SOUL is NOT immortal. Let’s briefly review what will be shocking to many. Turn again [in] your Bible to Ezekiel 18:4. Ezekiel 18:4, “The SOUL WHO SINS SHALL DIE!” This is repeated in verse 20, “The SOUL WHO SINS SHALL DIE!” The Hebrew word for Soul is “Nephesh” which means physical or natural life. Souls can die. No human has an immortal soul. In 1 Corinthians 15:53 we learn that, at the RESURRECTION, “this MORTAL must put on immortality.”

A Resurrection for Those Who Never Knew Christ

But WHEN does the first general resurrection take place? 1 Corinthians 15:21, “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all DIE, even so in Christ all shall be MADE alive. But each one in his OWN ORDER: Christ the firstfruits, AFTERWARD those who are Christ’s AT HIS COMING” (1 Corinthians 15:21–23).

So, the first resurrection takes place at the Second Coming of Christ. That hasn’t happened yet! Will you be in that resurrection? If you GENUINELY belong to Jesus Christ at that time, you will be in the FIRST RESURRECTION. It’s called a “better resurrection” in Hebrews 11:35. WHY? Because it’s a resurrection to ETERNAL LIFE and IMMORTALITY.

Yes, faithful saints and Christians who died are waiting in their graves for the first resurrection, and the return of Christ. But what happens to the billions of humans who never converted to Christianity? Are they burning in hell right now? No! As we have seen, everyone who has died, with the exception of Jesus Christ, is still dead. These people who never had their minds opened to true Christianity will be in the White Throne Judgment! They will be in the SECOND RESURRECTION.

This second great resurrection is to judgment. Those resurrected to physical life will stand before God in the White Throne Judgment. These are the “rest of the dead” who lived not again “until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5). Now notice this in John the FIFTH chapter. Jesus spoke about this resurrection to judgment. John 5:28: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which ALL who are in THE GRAVES will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” or judgment, as other translations have it.

So, is there hope for the BILLIONS of humans who never converted to Christianity? Yes, there is hope! 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 [This is the SECOND resurrection.], and books were opened. 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 Greek word for “books” is “biblia.” The good news is that the books, or the Bible, are opened to the understanding of the masses of people for the first time. Remember the Valley of Dry Bones described by the prophet Ezekiel? This resurrection described in the 37^th chapter of Ezekiel, also takes place at the SECOND RESURRECTION. Turn in your Bible to Ezekiel 37:5. The Creator God resurrects the dead to physical life. Those who never knew the true God, will now become very acquainted with Him. Ezekiel 37:5, “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.’” These resurrected humans will now have renewed physical life in the White Throne Judgment. The SECOND RESURRECTION is a resurrection to physical life. This resurrection includes not only the House of Israel, as identified here in Ezekiel, but gentiles as well.

The Book of Life is finally opened to those resurrected in the White Throne Judgment, as we saw in Revelation 20:12. This will be their FIRST opportunity to really learn the truth. This is NOT a SECOND chance as some would like to call it. All human beings will be held accountable for their actions and thoughts. But this will be their first time for many to SEE their sins, to the extent they’ll have the opportunity to REPENT of their sins, and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Others in the resurrection will include those who were victims of accidents, oppression, and genocide. They will be healed and given a chance for a peaceful and prosperous life—and a genuine opportunity for eternal life in glory. Yes, today is not the only day of salvation!

The Final Judgment—AFTER a Chance to Live in God’s Kingdom!

“Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6–7).

It’s God’s purpose to give everyone who has ever lived a GENUINE, FAIR OPPORTUNITY to be a part of His Divine Family for all eternity. Sadly, some individuals will reject God’s grace and salvation. They’ll REFUSE to repent of their sins and accept Jesus’ sacrifice. But God will not allow human beings to suffer for all eternity in a state of bitterness, hate, and rebellion. He’ll destroy them in the lake of fire. Notice this sobering statement 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” (Revelation 21:7–8).

The THIRD RESURRECTION is to eternal punishment and destruction in the lake of fire. [GRAPHIC: The THIRD RESURRECTION = Just punishment and eternal DEATH in the lake of fire] God is just. He states in Hebrews 10:30, “‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” All the unrepentant, evil rebels will feel the wrath of God. They’ll receive the ultimate punishment.

Finally, let’s turn to Revelation 20:14. Let’s see what happens at the end of the White Throne Judgment. Revelation 20:14, “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14–15). The second death is the death from which there is NO resurrection. It is the ultimate penalty.

The wicked will be tormented as they stand before the lake of fire. Then all the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire and burned up. They will LIVE NO LONGER. As it tells us in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death [eternal death], but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God has an awesome plan for all humanity. His plan is sure and wonderful. Everyone, including billions of non-Christians, will have their first genuine opportunity to respond to the true gospel, to surrender to their Savior, Jesus Christ, and to be a part of God’s family for all eternity.

The truth about the White Throne Judgment is an awesome part of God’s plan for billions of human beings. The REAL HOPE of all humans is the resurrection.

My friends, you do not want to be among those who are spiritually lost! As the Apostle Peter stated in Acts 2:40, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” You need to take the first steps toward salvation. You need to seek God as it tells us in Isaiah 55:6–7; you need to get down on your knees if you physically can, and confess your sins. God will bless you as you seek repentance and baptism.

Thank you for watching!

We, here at Tomorrow’s World, produce these videos to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible.

So, if you found this helpful, please like, share, and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another video.

And if you want to learn more you can request our free Bible Study Guide—Is This The Only Day of Salvation?—just click the link in the description.

See you next time!

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

The Antichrist—Already Here in Today’s World

Perhaps no figure looms larger in our prophesied future than the ANTICHRIST. Your Bible is clear that he IS coming, and that a level of destruction, persecution, and death arrive with him—such as the world has never seen before or will ever see again. And there is cause to believe that he is alive TODAY—certainly, his tools of deception are ALREADY in place and ALREADY impact the lives of most who consider themselves “Christian” today.

Will you be among the few to recognize him when he steps onto the world stage? Most won’t—but you can.

Join us for this episode of Tomorrow’s World, as we reveal Seven Signs of the End-Time Antichrist!

Relevant Prophecies About the Antichrist and His Impact

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World—where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible.

Consider this list of famous—or infamous—men: Ronald Reagan, King Juan Carlos (of Spain), Saddam Hussein, King Charles III, Bill Gates, Henry Kissinger, and Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum.

What do they have in common? Well, each, at one time or another, has been accused of being the Antichrist—that dark and mysterious figure foretold by Bible prophecy.

Some of these men are dead. Some are still alive. NONE of them fit the Bible’s description. Today, we will reveal SEVEN SIGNS of the END-TIME ANTICHRIST, as detailed by Bible prophecy, that will enable anyone to identify who the final Antichrist is.

Now, in our world of high-tech wonders and modern comforts, talk of an “antichrist” might seem archaic—“doom and gloom” preaching in an age that has moved beyond scriptures and prophecies.

But the opposite is true. Time hasn’t left prophecy behind—rather time has finally CAUGHT UP to prophecy, and only now do the times in which we live fit the circumstances describing the end-time stage onto which the Antichrist will enter.

For instance, Matthew 24 and verse 22 says that in those prophesied days, it would be possible that “no flesh would be saved” from mankind’s destructive capacity. That has only really been true since we entered the era of weapons of mass destruction, capable of eradicating humanity. And Daniel 12:4 describes the end-times of prophecy as an era when many “run to and fro” and “knowledge shall increase”—ancient words that describe our modern world, in which global travel is commonplace and we are beginning to suffer from a daily deluge of information.

No, the prophecies of the Antichrist are not dusty old writings, irrelevant for our modern age. They were WRITTEN for our modern age—inspired by the God who declares the end from the beginning! [Isaiah 46:10] And His warnings about the final Antichrist are VITAL. Because his rise is profoundly connected to more death, destruction, and human suffering than humanity has ever before experienced—a period called in the pages of Scripture, the Great Tribulation.

During the lives of most of you watching this today, the Antichrist WILL rise to power and deceive the VAST MAJORITY OF HUMANITY—subtly and seductively swaying men and women around the world to willingly accept a false and demonic COUNTERFEIT of Christianity! In fact, that version of Christianity is ALREADY present on the earth, possessing great influence. Many of you watching, right now, are already under its sway, making you all the more vulnerable to this future tyrant.

Imagine the full complement of modern warfare—the almost limitless destructive capacity of mankind—available at the beck and call of a man under the direct influence of Satan the Devil, devoted to destroying true Christianity—and true Christians—from the face of the earth, ensuring that it is replaced with a religion that SOUNDS like true Christianity, and uses the NAME of Jesus Christ, but which represents the very opposite of the Christianity of Jesus Christ.

That individual IS coming. Whether or not you will be able to recognize the Antichrist WILL BE a matter of life and death. And prophecy is plain: Most WILL NOT recognize him.

But you CAN recognize him with the SEVEN SIGNS that we will reveal on the remainder of today’s program.

These Seven Signs Identify Him

And this first sign is one most get wrong.

1. According to God’s word, the Antichrist is NOT a military or political leader. Rather, the Antichrist will lead a RELIGION, a great FALSE CHURCH.

This mistake arises because many confuse the Antichrist with the Beast of Revelation, which IS a military, political, and economic powerhouse that WILL dominate the world. However, while they are connected, the Antichrist and the Beast are two distinct beings. Turn to Revelation chapter 17. Here the Apostle John records a vision, shown to Him by Jesus Christ and the angels under His command:

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” (Revelation 17:1–5).

There is MUCH that is worth noting in this passage, but I want to focus on one particular point. The Beast here with seven heads and ten horns, ridden by a prostitute, is the end-time military-economic juggernaut called the Beast of Revelation. But what of the woman?

Normally a rider mounts a beast to control it and influence its movements—and this beast is being ridden, or guided, by a prostitute.

If you’ve watched Tomorrow’s World for long, you know that we allow the Bible to interpret its own symbols, and women in the Bible are frequently used to picture different faiths and religious organizations.

But rather than the chaste virgin that God uses to symbolize His church in passages such as 2 Corinthians 11:2 and Revelation 19:7–8, the church that is riding this powerful Beast is described as a wealthy prostitute.

Fornication, adultery, and harlotry are often used by God to symbolize the corrupting influence of RELIGIOUS COMPROMISE with pagan practices and pagan worship, as in Jeremiah 3 and Ezekiel 16.

The religious system of the ANTICHRIST is the Harlot riding this Beast! It is not the SAME as the Beast. In fact, later in Revelation 17:16, we see that the Beast will eventually TURN on the woman to destroy her. No, the Harlot RIDES the Beast—manipulating it, influencing it, guiding it for her purposes.

This is why the Apostle John, in 1 John 4:1–3 speaks of the Antichrist in the context of false prophets—because he will be the ULTIMATE false prophet!—not a military or political ruler, but a RELIGIOUS FIGURE who will control the most powerful church on earth. In turn, he and that church will influence the military-economic powerhouse known as the End Time Beast Power of Revelation.

What more can we understand about the religious system led by this Antichrist?

That brings us to today’s second sign of the Antichrist:

2. The Antichrist will appear CHRIST-LIKE and come IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!

In his powerful Olivet Prophecy given on the Mount of Olives in the area of Jerusalem and recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus Christ warned His disciples that many would come practicing religious deception, and come in HIS OWN NAME—that is, the NAME of JESUS CHRIST! And they did! John reveals the spread of that deceptive, counterfeit Christianity even in the first century, saying in 1 John 2 and verse 18, “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.”

Yes, many antichrists had come by the time John wrote those words, and the deceptive, counterfeit Christianity they wove, falsely under the name of Jesus Christ, persists and dominates world religions today!

Many fail to recognize that the word “antichrist” represents more than a person. It represents a system of belief that APPEARS Christian, but is actually a COUNTERFEIT to true Christianity. Paul writes in the Bible of those who preached “another Jesus” and brought a “different gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:4). This system has been in place since the time of the Apostles, and in John’s own day, many representing that system, “many antichrists,” were already preaching.

The final, end-time Antichrist will be the culmination of this deception—a great False Prophet representing this false Christianity who will APPEAR very Christian on the outside. Turn to Revelation 13 with me, where we see the Antichrist described in prophetic symbolism.

Beginning in v. 11, we read of a different beast rising from the earth—not the seven-headed Beast of Revelation: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11).

Scripture consistently uses the Lamb as a symbol for Christ but a Dragon as a symbol for the devil! So this False Prophet to come, this final Antichrist, will LOOK like the Lamb, Jesus Christ! He may seem kind, compassionate—he may seem to teach from the Bible! Yet prophecy says he will be speaking the words of the DRAGON, the DEVIL! The Christianity he teaches will be a subtle, twisted version of Christianity—NOT the Christianity of Jesus Christ, even though it will claim His name!

The Antichrist and His Laws and Teachings

One of the tools the end-time Antichrist will use to deceive even the skeptical and bring them into his twisted version of Christianity is our next sign:

3. He will eventually work “miracles” and supernatural “wonders.”

Staying in Revelation 13, let’s continue to read, beginning in verse 13: “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…” (Revelation 13:13–14).

This individual will have the ability to call fire from heaven, much like the prophet Elijah did in the Old Testament. How amazing will that be! In 2 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul describes this coming false prophet, mentioning in chapter 2 verse 9: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

But the key to resisting the appeal of supernatural signs, intended to deceive, is to compare the “miracle worker’s” teachings to God’s truth. Remember, the Antichrist LOOKS like Jesus Christ, but SPEAKS like the SUBTLE DRAGON, Satan the Devil.

That brings us to the fourth sign:

4. He will DENY that Christ continues to come in the flesh.

This is a VITAL point, but a subtle one—easy to miss. We dive into detail on this crucial sign in our free booklet, but let me summarize.

This doctrine of the Antichrist is described in 2 John 7: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

Now, many think John just means that antichrists teach Jesus didn’t really come in the flesh 2,000 years ago. And, yes, John condemns such falsehoods.

But read carefully: John says that the deceivers do not teach Christ “as coming in the flesh.” That is a present tense verb—continuing to come in the flesh.

Dr. Charles B. Williams, whose translation of the New Testament is praised for its attention to the detail of the Greek verbs in the original New Testament text, translates this passage as saying that the antichrist does not confess that Christ “continues to come” in the flesh.

But what does that mean?

It means that the Antichrist does not teach that Jesus Christ CONTINUES to live in Christians TODAY, reliving the life He lived 2,000 years ago, helping them to grow in obedience and godly character.

The Apostle Paul explained this in a beautiful passage. Let’s read it in the King James Version, Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

This is why Paul says in Romans 5:10 that we are reconciled by His death, but SAVED BY HIS LIFE. As opposed to Christ doing it all at His crucifixion as many false preachers teach, Christ lives His life in the converted Christian daily, helping him or her grow and conquer sin NOW, in THIS life! The Antichrist will deny this fundamental but often ignored teaching, and this connects directly to our fifth sign:

5. The Antichrist will REJECT God’s law.

Remember: we read in 2 Thessalonians 2 that Paul called the final Antichrist “lawless.” But God isn’t concerned here with HUMAN laws. The Antichrist will oppose the laws of GOD.

In fact, he will REPLACE GOD’S LAWS as REVEALED in the BIBLE with religious laws rooted in HUMAN TRADITION and PAGAN SUPERSTITION.

Daniel chapter 7 describes this effort of the Antichrist. We see this end-time false prophet described in detail in verse 25: “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” (Daniel 7:25).

He will “CHANGE TIMES AND LAW”—he will replace the times of worship as God designed them with a counterfeit set of worship days, and he will replace the laws of God with a different set of laws—laws that will feel Christian, but will NOT be rooted in the laws of God, revealed in the Bible.

The Antichrist will promote MAN-MADE church laws, creeds, confessions, and traditions and will claim the authority to OVERRULE the clear commandments and laws of God revealed in Scripture! Church calendars with man-made holidays will OVERRULE the holy days and festivals of God, found in your Bible! This coming “lawless one”—the Antichrist—will claim authority that no one but God Almighty has, attempting to change the very law of God... And, frankly, many of you watching today are ALREADY affected by this.

Who Can Escape the Antichrist’s Persecution?

However, the Antichrist will not be content with simply converting the world to false teachings. He will also want to deal with the few who dare to believe the true teachings of the Bible that contradict His false doctrine. That leads to our sixth, tragic sign:

6. The Antichrist will PERSECUTE true Christians.

We saw this mentioned in Daniel 7:25, where we read that the Antichrist “shall persecute the saints of the Most High”—true followers of God and those who keep his laws and his commandments, not the man-made doctrines, holy days, and teachings of the Antichrist.

Jesus Christ warned of this time when He told His disciples in John 16:2 that a time will come when those who kill true Christians will think they are doing God a service!

Think back to the images you have seen of concentration camps and the horrors of World War II, in which millions of Jews were herded to their deaths. Now imagine such machinery turned onto a new minority, those Christians Jesus calls His “little flock,” who actually believe in the Ten Commandments of God and in the need to obey them.

Revelation 12 describes the anger true Christians’ obedience engenders in Satan the Devil and how he will respond: “[T]he dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17).

How does the Antichrist accomplish this persecution? That power is connected to our final sign:

7. The Antichrist will point the world to a revived “Roman Empire”— a political/military powerhouse of strength and might such as the world has never seen before.

Remember—the woman RIDES THE BEAST! Revelation 13 tells of how the False Prophet will influence the people of the world to support the coming Beast of Revelation, and how the Antichrist will influence the might of this Beast Power—an end-time, revived “Roman Empire” that will outshine even the power and might of the United States today. He will direct the might of the Beast AGAINST those who refuse to cast aside the laws of God and the true worship of Jesus Christ, and who refuse to accept the FALSE Christianity the Antichrist offers. The result will be a MODERN-DAY INQUISITION on a horrific scale, never before seen in human history.

This unholy alliance of false church and tyrannical state will DOMINATE THE WORLD in the end-times just ahead of us.

Even with their powers combined, this most powerful of religious, political, economic, and military entities will still be NO MATCH for the returning Jesus Christ! He will return in their days to glorify His faithful followers and to establish the Kingdom of God, forever!

So, what do we DO about these things? Remember: The “Antichrist system” that this final Antichrist will sell to the whole world exists TODAY, and most are already deceived by it! We do not need to wait until this religious despot appears on the scene—we can act NOW to reject his system and his Counterfeit Christianity. As Jesus admonishes all of us in Luke 21 and verse 36, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Yes, Jesus does promise protection for those who are not ashamed to reject the false Christianity around them and who are willing to embrace the fullness of His teachings and life—allowing Him to live His life of obedience to God’s commandments in their lives today.

We hope you will heed His admonition and avoid the deceptions of the coming end-time Antichrist and his religious system at work in the world today.

Thank you for watching, from really all of us here at Tomorrow’s World, where we work very hard to help you make sense of your world through the pages of your Bible.

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

The Prophetic Future of Our World

Where is the ongoing war in the Middle East headed? Can Israel survive when it seems the whole world is lined up against it, and many chant “from the river to the sea”—meaning there can be no Israeli state—drive all the Jews out, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

In what way will events in the Middle East affect you and your family? Can you know? And what about Europe, where there is still a very real war being waged by Western nations against Russia and its allies: China, North Korea, and Iran? Is it possible to know the future, and if so, how? And what should we watch for in 2024?

At the beginning of each year, we here at Tomorrow’s World give you trends to watch in the coming year and beyond. Our predictions come from an ancient source that has proven to be accurate and reliable, and that source is the Bible, where God makes this bold statement to the skeptic in Isaiah 46:9–10:

I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9–10).

That is a bold statement. Is it true? On today’s program you may be shocked at how precise and accurate Bible prophecy is regarding what you are seeing right now in the Middle East. And the Bible shows that events in that part of the world will affect the rest of the world.

Four Prophetic Trends

A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at Tomorrow’s World. On today’s program I’ll be giving you five trends to watch in 2024 and beyond—especially in the Middle East. Thousands of years ago, the Bible foretold what you see in living color in today’s news.

None of us here at Tomorrow’s World are prophets, but we can read what the biblical prophets, under inspiration from God, foretold. How can we be so certain about the Bible as a reliable source for future events?

Answer: no human could so accurately tell what would happen thousands of years in advance. Do you doubt that? Well tell me this: What will happen 2,000 years from now, in the year 4024? Pick any nation, any city, any people and make your prediction. And what about 3,700 years from now? Where will the Jews be then? Will they have a country they call their own? What about Germany or the United States? What about cities such as New York, London, Berlin, or Jerusalem? Give it your best shot and see if you can match God for precision and accuracy—not that you will be alive in the flesh to know what happens, but I think you get the point. Making predictions that far into the future is impossible apart from God.

Based on Bible prophecy, let’s review what I said last January, as we looked ahead to 2023.

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.

The invasion of Ukraine moved countries such as Germany to begin rearming—something we’ve predicted for decades. Several U.S. presidents put pressure on Germany to do more militarily—but to no avail. The invasion did it in a matter of hours. These two predictions WILL come to pass. A strongman WILL rise up in the very near future, and bring together ten nations or leaders in Europe, and this implies a geopolitical realignment. Therefore, watch Europe as there will likely be surprises along the way.

After giving those two trends to watch in Europe, I then shifted to the Middle East and to what to expect where you may live.

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.

The last four years saw optimism for peace in the Middle East. The Abraham Accords brought normalization of relations between Israel and several of its neighbors. And both Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were optimistic about normalizing relations between their two countries—possibly as soon as a few days or a few weeks. And U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan declared:

And the middle east region is quieter today than it has been in two decades (“National Security Advisor Sullivan Said Mideast Is ‘Quieter’ Than Any Time Since 9/11 -- Eight Days Before Massive Hamas Attack,” RealClearPolitics.com, October 8, 2023).

He did say that could change, and it did only eight days later with the barbaric attacks by Hamas.

Jacob’s Prophecy About the End Times

More than 3,700 years ago, the grandson of Abraham brought his twelve sons to him and said,

Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days….

“In the last days” is specific, but it is doubtful that Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, had any idea how far into the future that would be. Apart from a revelation from God, no human being could possibly know what to expect of his progeny so far into the future. Now here is the prophecy for his son Judah, meaning the Jews.

Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people (Genesis 49:8–10).

Note that the promised lawgiver—that is, the Messiah—would come from the Jews, and he did 1,700 years later. Many recognize this, but what about the part that describes the “time of the end” when the Jews would be as a lion that is best not roused? Is that not the history of the last 75 years and what we see even now? Dear friends, there are even more specific prophecies were given 2,500 years ago by the prophet Zechariah. Notice what God foretold through him in chapter 12 and verses 2–3:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah [that is, the Jews] and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it (Zechariah 12:2–3).

Consider how specific and remarkable this passage is. Note these five points:

1. The Jews will be in Jerusalem

That was far from a given—it has not always been that way. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD and expelled Jews from the Holy Land in 135 AD. For more than 1,800 years there was no Jewish state—not anywhere on earth. As Richard Ames explains in The Middle East in Prophecy:

… Jerusalem was in the hands of Byzantine rulers when it fell to a Muslim army led by Caliph Umar in 638. This crusade brought Jerusalem under Western control in the “Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem,” which held the city from 1099 to 1187, when Saladin reconquered Jerusalem for Islam. Later crusades brought Jerusalem briefly under Western control from 1229 to 1239, and from 1243 to 1244, when it was sacked by the Tatars. In 1247, the city fell to the Egyptian Mamluks, under whose control it remained until 1517, when Ottoman sultan Selim I conquered the city (The Middle East in Prophecy, p. 3).

In 1917, the British took control, and through a series of events, the Holy Land was partitioned, giving the Jews a portion of it. They declared their independence to form a Jewish homeland in 1948. Arab neighbors immediately attacked and tried to drive the Jews out, but the lion rose up and prevailed.

So while we may take it for granted that there is a Jewish state on the eastern end of the Mediterranean, it was not always so, not from 135 AD until 1948. But what else do we learn from Zechariah?

2. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples (Zechariah 12:3).

Now, is that true, my friends? When this was written, Christianity was more than 500 years in the future, and Islam nearly 600 years after Christianity. Yet today, Jerusalem is at the heart of three religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All lay claim to Jerusalem. It truly is a troublesome stone—the great sticking point in all peace talks.

3. … all who would heave it away [the heavy stone of Jerusalem] will surely be cut in pieces (Zechariah 12:3).

Remember Jacob’s prediction that in the last days Judah would be like a resting lion that is best not aroused? In 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nassar threatened Israel by moving troops to Israel’s border. Jordan and Syria would join the fight, but the Jews struck pre-emptively and defeated their enemies on all sides in a mere six days. In 1973 Israel’s neighbors attacked on the most sacred Jewish Holy Day—Yom Kippur—when the Jews were weak from fasting. But once again, they cut their enemies in pieces.

Predictions About Jerusalem, Judah, and Israel Coming True

What’s ahead in the Middle East as we enter 2024? What does the Bible have to say about it? As we are seeing, quite a bit. So far, we’ve seen three lessons from Zechariah 12.

1. The Jews will be in Jerusalem.
2. Jerusalem would be a very heavy stone in the world (Zechariah 12:3).
3. … all who would heave it away [the heavy stone of Jerusalem] will surely be cut in pieces (Zechariah 12:3).

Now let’s look at another point from Zechariah 12:

4. … though all nations of the earth are gathered against it [that is, Israel](Zechariah 12:3).

Are all nations gathered against the Jews? There are more United Nations resolutions condemning Israel than all other countries combined. And consider the massive demonstrations taking place all over the world against the Jews—in Russia, in China, in Germany, in France, in the United States, in Australia, in Britain.

The father of the Jews prophesied 3,700 years ago that they would be a powerful military force. They would be like a lion that is best not aroused. This is also confirmed in Zechariah 12:6:

In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6).

This has hardly been the Jewish history until the last 75 years! So, we next read number five,

5. The Jews ability to wield great military might

Dear friends, these are remarkable prophesies, but there is more. Despite their military prowess, there is coming a time in the near future when Jerusalem will be overrun by the Jews’ enemies. What happened October 7, 2023 will happen in Jerusalem. Zechariah 14 gives the details.

Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city (Zechariah 14:1–2).

Note that Jerusalem today is a divided city, just as the prophet indicated when he said “Half the city shall go into captivity.” Again, Zechariah speaks of the world lining up against the Jews. Revelation 11:2 tells us that Jerusalem would be overrun by the Gentiles for a period of 3½ years leading up to the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

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 11:2).

The time setting of Zechariah 14 is yet future. It’s that 3½ year period of the Great Tribulation and the one-year day of the LORD when God’s wrath on rebellious mankind leads to Christ’s second coming. This is stated explicitly in verse 4:

And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south (Zechariah 14:4).

And if that is not clear enough, here is what it tells us in verse 9:

And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—“The LORD is one,” and His name one (Zechariah 14:9).

Five Continuing Prophetic Trends for 2024

So where are we in the scope of end-time Bible prophecy? Those who have eyes to see recognize that we are on the edge of a worldwide war of catastrophic proportions, just as the Bible shows elsewhere. But the end is not yet.

But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:34–36).

So here are trends to watch in 2024 and the immediate years ahead.

#1: Watch for increasing demand for international intervention and control over Jerusalem

World leaders are already wondering what to do in the aftermath of this current war. Who will administer Gaza, the West Bank, and yes, Jerusalem itself? Mr. Richard Ames writes in The Middle East in Prophecy,

As violence escalates in the region around Jerusalem, watch for more world leaders to join in demanding international control of this ancient city held dear by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.

#2: Watch for the forming of what the Bible calls “the king of the South” arising in the Middle East and northeastern Africa.

The eleventh chapter of Daniel gives a detailed history of intrigue and war between a king of the north and a king of the south. This interplay between the two covers a period of 2,500 years, all the way to the time of Christ’s return. Verses 40–45 tell us how it will end.

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Daniel 11:40–45).

Psalm 83 speaks of a coalition of nations who conspire together against Israel. Is this not the attitude that we see right now?

They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You (Psalm 83:4–5).

This coming confederacy will include Assyria—modern day Germany— and the European Beast power. This will be the king of the North, and this is why we say:

#3: Watch Europe—especially Germany

Expect to see the formation of a German led group of ten leaders or nations that the Bible refers to as the Beast.

#4: Watch for animal sacrifices to begin in Jerusalem.

This does not require a temple. The Jews began sacrificing after returning from Babylonian captivity prior to building the Second Temple. And finally,

#5: Watch for a charismatic miracle-working religious leader to rise up in Europe.

We cannot know exactly when these events will happen, but according to Bible prophecy, they will. As we have seen on today’s program, the Bible is very accurate and specific, and many prophecies are coming to pass right before our eyes.

I hope you profited from this video.

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