A new season in salvation history
We believe that we've entered a new phase in salvation history. We do not live in anything akin to ordinary times. Unprecedented events taking place on earth today suggest that we’re beginning to experience the 'birth pangs' spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:8.
We believe that we could be nearing the end of the age and in the not too distant future the earth-shattering events mentioned in books like Daniel, Matthew and Revelation will begin to unfold, leading eventually to the return of Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus could return within the lifetime of people alive today and so it's imperative that the Bride of Christ not only prepares herself for the coming Bridegroom King, but speaks prophetically to the nations, warning them that we're about to experience God's final judgements.
Many events and signs, some linked to biblical prophecy, bear out this assertion:
- Israel has been back in the promised land since 1948 (Eze 36:16-28)
- Jews returning to Israel (Eze 37:21)
- Anti-Semitism is increasing worldwide (Jer 29:18; Zec 12:2)
- Israel being partitioned by the nations (Joel 3:2)
- There are plans to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem
- Many prophets believe we have reached God's End-Game
- People mock talk of the End-Times (2 Pe 3:3-4)
- We have the capacity to destroy all life on earth (Mt 24:22)
- There's an explosion in knowledge through the internet (Da 12:4)
- Christians are being marginalised and persecuted (Mt 24:9-10)
- False prophets are rising in the Church (Mt 24:11; 2 Pe 2:1-2)
- There's growing apostasy in the Church (Mt 24:12)
- Believers are abandoning the true faith (Mt 24:12; 2 Pe 2:1-2)
- The influence of Occult, Paganism, New Age and Islam is growing
- Occult and New Age groups are predicting major shifts at this time
- There's a worldwide escalation in ethnic violence (Mt 24:6)
- There's a marked increase in famines and earthquakes (Mt 24:7)
- A global financial meltdown looms on the horizon
- Innocent babies are being murdered in their mother's womb (Rev 9:21)
- Judaeo-Christian values are being rejected
- An increase in unexplained phenomena in the skies (Lk 21:11)
- An explosion in ET/alien reports in recent years
- A New World Order, based on global governance, is emerging (Rev 13)
- A global economic system is emerging (Rev 13:16-17)
- A one world religious system based on the deification of man is emerging
- The stage is being set for the appearance of the Antichrist figure
- Transhumanism (superhumans) is sought through genetic manipulation
- All ethnic groups will soon be reached with the Gospel (Mt 24:14)
These things taken together, lead us to believe that we're rapidly reaching God's End-Game. Jesus took the Pharisees and Sadducees to task for not understanding the signs relating to his first coming to earth and so we do well to take heed:
You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times (Mt 16:3)
Above all, it's important that we study the Bible and seek to discern events in the light of biblical prophecy. Around a quarter to a third of the Bible is prophecy and more than 150 chapters have the End-Times and the return of Jesus as their main theme.
Jesus warned the Church ahead of time concerning these events (Mt 24:25) in order that we recognise the battle we face, beware deception and are equipped to stand firm in the faith:
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation’ (2 Pe 3:3-4)
He told us to stay alert and to keep watch for his return:
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come (Mt 24:42)
We carry a sense of urgency 'as we look forward to the day of the Lord to speed its coming’ (2 Peter 3:12). We hasten the coming of the Lord through prayer (Rev 22:20), preaching the Gospel to all nations (Matt 24:14) and by calling men everywhere to 'repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth’ (2 Ti 2:25).
The church's loss of confidence
End-tIme prophecy is rarely discussed in the public arena. Despite the fact that political leaders continue to fail to find lasting solutions to the many intractable problems faced globally, the Church sleeps on, or at best only engages with the world at a rational level, whilst ignoring the prophetic scriptures which are key to understanding the future.
The Church in general is guilty of neglecting to present a biblical worldview in the public square despite the fact that global events are increasingly lining up with what the prophetic scriptures say. The apostle Peter said:
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19).
Sadly, we've become intimidated by a steady stream of anti-Christian left-wing vitriol and marginalisation, by secular and pagan progressive elites. The ground beneath us has shifted and our traditional points of reference (the authority of the Bible, the exclusivity of Christ, the strength of a biblical worldview, etc) are being challenged to the n'th degree, even by liberals within the Church. Christianity in the West is being shaken to its core. We're undergoing a painful paradigm shift in how the world views us, but more importantly how we view ourselves.
Our response to intimidation and scoffers
The Church's response has varied. Some have retreated from the public square, others have decided to compromise the message of the Gospel in order to be seen as relevant and progressive and still others seek the world's approval by engaging in umpteen social action programmes.
We've failed as a Church in our calling to give prophetic leadership to the nations despite the fact that we're the only ones who can provide this kind of guidance. We've read the book (the Bible) and know how it's all going to end. We were even warned in advance that scoffers would come and ridicule the promise Jesus made to return. The Apostle Peter says:
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming (2 Peter 3:10-12).
If there's one absolute certainty we can rely on, it's that Jesus is coming back for his Bride and to establish his rule on the earth.
Now is not a time for business as usual
Now is not a time for business as usual. It's time to wake up and fulfil our prophetic destiny; to uphold and promote a biblical worldview and interpret the signs of the times to the leaders of the nations; to prepare ourselves as a Bride for your coming Bridegroom King and to live as though he will return at any moment. It is time to be confident in the biblical worldview; it will never fail. Now is not a time to embrace humanistic ideas in order to gain the acceptance of the kings of the earth or we will lose our ability to salt and light the nations. It is time to embrace a biblical worldview, make Jesus Lord in every aspect of life and live counter-culturally, and we will be his true disciples. When you're persecuted and hated by all nations for his name's sake (Matt 24:9) then we can be confident that we're on the narrow road that leads to salvation.
A third of the Bible is prophecy
Around a quarter to a third of the Bible is prophecy and more than 150 chapters have the End-Times and the return of Jesus as their main theme. After the resurrection, but before his ascension to Heaven, the disciples asked Jesus if he would restore the Kingdom to Israel at that time (Acts 1:6) anticipating the fulfilment of many Old Testament prophecies.
Signs of the times
Earlier, prior to his crucifixion, they had asked him what would be the sign of his coming and of the end of the age, to which he gave a number of prophetic signs – the beginning of birth pains which would increase with intensity as the day drew near. Further specific revelation was given to the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos (Book of Revelation); other apostles also received insight (1 Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5).
Importance of having an end time perspective
Many views are held today concerning the End-Times based on different interpretations of scripture, which are radically dissimilar in detail and scope. Since whatever view we hold significantly impacts how we live in the present, it’s important to take time to understand what the Bible has to say, and not to rely on someone else’s point of view.
The various signs related to the end of the age were given to enable the Church to pray effectively, to be prepared for what is to take place in the future and to stay free of deception or taking offence at God.
Plain sense approach to scripture
We believe that the scriptures, approached in the right spirit (reliant on the leading of the Holy Spirit and with humility), can be understood by every saint in every age; this includes the events surrounding the return of Jesus. You do not need to be intellectual to receive revelation from God or to understand the Bible (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). A straightforward and plain sense approach to scripture (letting it speak for itself whilst listening to the Holy Spirit) is all that is required, treating a passage as symbolic or allegorical only where the scriptures require.
We believe that we've entered a new phase in salvation history. We do not live in anything akin to ordinary times. Unprecedented events taking place on earth today suggest that we're beginning to experience the 'birth pangs' spoken of by Jesusin Matthew 24:8. we believe that we could be nearing the end of the ageand in the not too distant future the earth-shattering events mentioned in books like Daniel, Matthew and Revelation will begin to unfold, leading eventually to the return of Jesus Christ . . .