Facts About Bible Prophecy

Bible prophecy is admittedly a complex subject. However, it has been rendered more complex by the speculations of careless interpreters who insist on placing the events of Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation in the distant future.

To do this requires a willful neglect of numerous key time references such as Matt 24:34. This verse literally states that the events of Matthew 24 will occur during the lifetime of the generation then alive.

Thus, is Bible prophecy perverted to tickle the fancies of the itching ear. Far too many Christians prefer fictional stories about an imaginary, end-time global anti-Christ, rather than a literal reading of the Bible.

Not only is the fictional version more entertaining, it excuses Christians from their Biblical responsibility to disciple the nations (Mt. 28:19,20). The best antidote is a literal interpretation that sticks with the plain statements of Scripture. Some of these are reviewed below.

According to Bible prophecy, when did the “last days” begin? At the first advent of Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:2). The "last days" are not some future period associated with the end of the world. We are currently living in the last days.

When will the “last days” end? At the second coming of Christ, the culmination of all things (I Cor. 15:24; Rev. 20:7,11)

When does the “Kingdom of Christ” begin? During the lifetime of some of Jesus’ hearers (Mt. 16:28). Again, it is a present reality, not some future period after the end of the world.

When did Jesus’ “1000 years” reign begin? It began when Satan was bound at the 1st Advent of Christ (Col. 2:15; Rev. 20:2b,3) and continues until the 2nd Coming. Revelation and indeed all prophetic Scripture uses number to convey a figurative meaning, the number 1,000 symbolizing “vastness” as in Ps. 50:10.

Will the nations come to Jerusalem for instruction or destruction during the “last days”? The nations come for instruction in the last days, which the Bible defines as the period between the two advents of Christ (Is. 2:2,3). There appears to be a brief rebellion at the end of the millennial reign of Christ at the very end of history (Rev. 20:7-9)

Who is the Beast? Possibly Nero, because the “Beast” described in Rev. 13: 4-7 had to be a contemporary of John, a political tyrant whom his 1st century readers could calculate the number of (Rev. 13:8 – 666). The cryptogrammic value of “Nero Caesar” is in fact the number 666. John described the events of Revelation as occurring “soon” and that “the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:1; 22:6)

Is the Beast the same person as the Anti-Christ? No, the “spirit of antichrist” is the spirit of apostasy, not limited to an individual (I Jn. 2: 3)

When did the false Christs appear? Before the destruction of Jerusalem (Acts 8:9,10;13:6; 20:29)

Who is the false prophet riding on the beast with 7 heads (Rev. 17:3) Probably refers to conspiracy of the Jewish leaders and Rome, the City of 7 hills, to crucify Christ

According to Bible prophecy, when did famines and pestilence occur? Before the destruction of Jerusalem (Acts 11:28)

When were the disciples delivered up to be afflicted and killed? Before the destruction of Jerusalem (Read entire book of Acts)

When was “this gospel of the kingdom preached in all the world”? Before the fall of Jerusalem (Rom. 1:8; Col. 1:6)

What is the Abomination of Desolation? Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem (Lk. 21:20, 21; Mt. 24:15)

What is the “Great Tribulation” in Bible prophecy? Siege that occurred when Roman armies of Titus surrounded Jerusalem (Mt 24: 15,21)

Isn’t the Great Tribulation a 7-year period, Daniel’s future “70th week”? There is really no Biblical basis for a “Parenthesis” between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel 9:24-27). The 70th week was fulfilled in the events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem, which caused the Old Testament “sacrifice and the oblation to cease”.

When did the Christians flee to the hills? As recorded by Josephus, at the destruction of Jerusalem (Mt. 24:16)

When was the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood? The Bible uses such “apocalyptic language” to describe the fall of kingdoms (Is. 13:10), thus this occurred at the period associated with the destruction of Jerusalem (Mt. 24: 29). Peter declared that this was occurring at the moment he was speaking (Acts 2:16,17,20)

When did the sign of the Son of Man appear in Heaven? At the coronation ceremony just after His ascension, Jesus came to the Father in the clouds of heaven and was seated at His right hand (Dan. 7:13)

When was the coming of our Lord in the clouds? At the coronation ceremony just after His ascension, Jesus came to the Father in the clouds of heaven and was seated at His right hand (Dan. 7:13)

When did all the events of Mt. 24: 4-34 take place? Prior to the passing of the then living generation in 70 AD (Mt. 24:34)

Doesn’t the Bible speak of two “peoples of God”, the Jewish nation and the church? Israel is the Old Testament manifestation of the people of God and the church is the New Testament manifestation. In many cases Old Testament descriptions of Israel are carried over and applied to the church, as is the new covenant applied to both. (Heb. 8:8)

When does the “rapture” occur? At the 2nd Coming of Christ at the very end of His “1000 year reign” and at the very end of the “last days” just prior to the eternal state. (I Thes. 4:16,17)

When was the book of Revelation written? Only one extra-biblical source by Iraneus has been used to establish the A.D. 90 dating. However, all internal data suggests a date prior to the Destruction of Jerusalem. For one thing Revelation portrays the temple as still standing.

Thus, on the basis of a literal interpretation, we conclude that most of Matthew 24 and most of the book of Revelation have nothing to do with the end of the world. According to Bible prophecy, they describe the events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem and judgment of the Jewish nation.