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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

They like prophecy. I have an enquiring mind, And I want to know what’s going to happen down the road. But I have to be honest, I have no clue where I’m going to stop, pause, move on. I don’t know beyond the shepherd. I have no clue how, if I’m going to even finish this today. Or if we’re going to be here at two o’clock, I don’t know. But these are things that are going to take place in the near future.

When you consider all the things that have happened in the past, just concerning Jesus Christ and Him coming and all the prophecies that were fulfilled at a moment in time. Now we’re going to be talking about the prophetic days that are right ahead of us, mainly the tribulation period, the 70th week of Daniel, last for seven years. And it’s amazing how many prophecies are about this seven year period of time that lies right ahead of us. So everybody thinks that the world is in a mess and you think, well, what we need is a Savior and we’re just liable to get ourselves not just in the nation, but I’m talking about in the world.

The world is looking for somebody to come along and deliver us from this devastating dilemma. But Jesus did tell us some things that were going to take place. Now pre-rapture conditions by believers may only see the increase in intensity for the tribulation period. See the tribulation period is coming. The church ages where we are. Well that’s been from the time of Christ from Pentecost until the rapture and then we’ll be out of here. There’s things that are going to happen during the tribulation period that are broken down into two sections.

The first three and a half years is the time of sorrows, and the second half is what they call the great tribulation, which are poured out the seven bowls of judgment upon the earth. The worst period of time that mankind has ever known. Then of course after that, we have the millennium, which is the thousand year reign upon the earth, and then we’re into eternity. So we’re close to something happening very soon. Once you know what happens during that seven year tribulation period, you can tell how close we must be.

Now once in a while you’ll hear people say, you know, there’s signs being fulfilled everywhere. Well, we’re getting ready for the signs to be fulfilled. But during the church age, there’s really not that many signs that you look for. Because see, we’re told to look for the blessed hope, not the blessed tribulation. But there’s things that are gonna happen during the tribulation period that kinda gives us some ideas, buddy, we’ve got to be close, and I believe we are very, very close.

Large percentage of the Bible, the about one fourth pre-written history. In other words, what God tells you what’s gonna happen before it takes place. And of course everybody wants to know what’s gonna happen next. You have an inquiring mind, I do. And so remember, many scriptures have already been prophesied fulfilled. But there’s many scriptures that have not yet been fulfilled and that lies just ahead of us. Now the focal point of all history is his story. It always deals with the cross.

It’s either what before him or what went after him. And so history is broken down into before Christ after Christ. And so when we look back in the Old Testament, they look forward. We look back to the cross. But we also remember the one who died on the cross with Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation in chapter 19, it says, Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy. In other words, He’s the one that gives the prophecy, and then He’s the one that comes and fulfills the prophecy.

We’ve talked about many times how that it’s like in the mountains, there’s a lot of little streams. And then those streams come together and kind of get through the cross. Kind of getting more water and by the time it reaches down there in the valley, it’s a big old rushing mighty river. Well there’s prophecy that had been given, given over the years. And a one man gave a prophecy, another man, another, a little strange, but then they were coming together and there’s going to be a flood of fulfilled prophecies right ahead of us.

It seemed like everything has gone on along normal and nothing interesting, nothing exciting, And then all of a sudden, boom, it’s going to happen. You see, what kind of light was back in time of the flood, why are you building a boat? It’s going to rain. It ain’t never rain before. And all of a sudden, there was a need for a boat. And then Sodom and Gomorrah got, knowing his wife and two daughters out, and then Sutton destruction. Well, the Bible also talks about this Sutton destruction that come up upon them in the book of 1st Thessalonians in chapter 5.

So we are looking back to what Christ did, but when Christ was here, He told us some things that were going to take place in the future. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the most powerful proofs that the Bible really is what it claims to be, the Word of God. Because natural man could not pinpoint with such accuracy the things that God has told us is going to take place in the future. He says in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 1, says, this snow also that in the last days perilous time shall come.

Now does that sound like the church is going to bring in a utopia upon the earth? No. It kind of gives you the idea that by the time Christ is going to get worse and worse and worse. It’s not going to get better. Without the Prince of Peace there will be no peace. And if you look at the situation in the world today, it’s anything but peace. are getting worse and worse and worse all over the world. But he says, in the last eight perilous times, shall come.”

You think, and this is a description of our society today, for men shall be lovers of their own selves. Well, that’s true. Covedists, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unholy, unthankful. That’s just like people are today. without natural affection, truthbreakers, false accusers, and continent fears, despises of those that are good. Isn’t that descriptive of our society? How does the world view Christianity? Despisers of those that are good. You do right and you get criticized for it. Traders, heady, high-minded.

Look at this. Lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God. You think think of how many people, and this is not to be critical, but just to state the fact. Think of how many people are going to be watching ball games today. Think of how many watched them yesterday. Think of how many people will be in church today. Which one do you think they worship the most? Now, don’t answer, but I think you get to drift. We cause we are pleasure happy people.

We always want that which pleases the place, but we don’t have time for the Lord because after all that would mean I have to make a sacrifice. And so this is why God describes it in advance. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof from such turn away. Because even though there are some churches and you can have them filled to the brim, they have a form of godliness, but deny the power.

There are, in other words, they deny the power of salvation because it’s by faith alone and Christ alone. For His glory alone, there’s only one way of salvation, but multitude of churches have a multitude of ways in how a man gets to heaven. And yet there’s only one way to get to heaven that’s through Jesus Christ and Him alone. You can’t earn it, you can’t work for it, you can’t buy it. You see, that were given by Jesus to indicate the tribulation period.

Did Christ say anything about that? I want you to take your Bible and look there in the book of Matthew chapter 24. In Matthew chapter 24 and look there in verse 1, in verse 1, Jesus went out and departed from the temple. And his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, see not all these things. Verily I say unto you that there should not be left. Here one stone upon another that should not be thrown down.

And as he set upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came but to him privately said, tell us when shall these things be? What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, say, and I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that you be not troubled.

For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There shall be famine and pestilence and earthquakes and diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then you’re looking, verse 15, when ye therefore shall see the abomination of of desolation, spoken of Daniel the prophet, standing the holy place, then let them which are in Judea, flee into the mountain. So you know verse 15 because I will refer to it in a minute.

And when it has the words there, the time of sorrows. Remember that because we’ll come to that again also. Now I want you to look there in verse 21. For then shall be great tribulation. We’re gonna to look at that again also in just a moment. This is where Jesus went out, departed from the temple. His disciples came to him, showed him the buildings of the temple. These are Herod’s temples. He had rebuilt the temple and made it bigger than what it ever was before.

And Jesus said unto them, see not all these things, there should not be left one stone upon another. In other words, it’s going to be destroyed. Well, it was destroyed. Just like Jesus told him it was. Jesus wasn’t here. This happened around 68 to 70 AD. Jesus has already been gone for about 27 years. Now, understand it. The restoration of the Jews to Israel must be in place because see, there’s no way that the last world government, the Antichrist can make a peace treaty with Israel when there would be no Israel.

You see, a few years ago there was nobody to deal with. So Jesus told him, says, when you shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, that’s found there in verse 15 of Matthew 24. Well then how can the Antichrist go there and there’s no nation and there’s no temple. Now how can he stop the sacrifices if it’s never been started? So it’s been out for 2,000 years and just amazing that it’s come back in our lifetime.

Rebuilding the Jewish temple and the animal sacrifices restored. All this is going to take place. And I’ve been in the Western Wall six times. First time I went with Hank Lindstrom. And we got a chance to meet a guy by the name of Gershim Solomon. And he had the Temple Institute there. And so we had a chance to listen to him talk about the Messiah coming. And he’s not a believer in Jesus Christ, but He is in the Messiah and believes the Messiah is yet to come.

So I interviewed Him, Hank has done so, and I think He’s been here at this place. But they’re getting ready to rebuild the temple, and they want to do this. The last time I was over there, they showed us the candleabra where it’s all in gold. They’ve already got it done, got it ready. There’s a certain thing that they’re kind of ready for that temple to be set up, and then studying about the Jewish line of the priest. See, they have to be a little medical priesthood.

And they alone can conduct these things. And so there’s people that are in the works preparing for this moment that’s coming down the road. And he says, and as he said upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately saying, when shall these things be? What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? Now, I guess you could look at it. The whole tribulation period is one great big sign for the Jewish people when they’re here in the tribulation period and all these things are going on.

So they always want to sign, but they got the biggest sign you’ve ever seen in your life. And then the Bible says, He’s coming back. I believe that it’s going to be soon. Jesus answered, tell them, take heed that no man deceive you, for many shall come in my name and say I’m the Christ and shall deceive many. So we know in the last day many people going to be deceived. During the tribulation period they’re going to be deceived.

You shall hear wars and rumors of wars, see that you be not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. So this has to be passed the disciples at whom he was talking to. See when he told us this, when ye shall see the abomination, oh wait a minute, they won’t be here. Not those disciples he was talking to, but he’s talking as the way down in the future that seven years It’s out there.

After the church has fulfilled its responsibility and mission, God’s going to take us out. That’s seven years. That worst period of time the world’s ever known. Still setting out there and God says the end is not yet. Because it’s going to be another seven years. Before he sets up the kingdom upon the earth. Because they want to know and what is the sign of thy cunning. And so he was going to tell them. When he says, for nations shall rise against nation, ethnos, where we get the word, no ethnic, the race.

And kingdom, Bosally against, kingdom, nation against nation, race against race. You stop and think, just look at the world today. Are we getting better or worse? It’s a prophecy that God has given. Christ gave it, says this is what’s going to take place down the road. And remember now it’s going to get worse because people don’t believe the truth. You see when you stop and think about all the riots and so forth that’s going on. You see, the biggest problem is not the color of the sin.

It’s sin. Sin is our problem. But you see, the only way you can deal with sin is with the cross. And when you take the Bible out of schools, and don’t teach them the Bible, don’t teach them the truth, you take Christ out of that, see, you have removed the restraints upon the human nature. How do you expect people to act without God? They are going to act like animals. It’s going to take place and it is taking place All of these the Bible says are the beginning the sorrows Last for that day.

This is in the book of Jeremiah chapter 30 when he’s talking about the day of the Lord For that day is great and that none is like it It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble Jacob trouble refers to Israel trouble God says He’s going to take Israel and chasing Israel. This is the greatest chasing anybody has ever received. All the nations of the earth are going to turn against Israel. Israel is going to be on the bling of annihilation if God doesn’t intervene.

And this is why in Matthew 23 when he says, you will not see me again until you say, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. And that’s when he comes back in power and great glory. glory and Israel will be saved as in a day. And that’s why He promises, but He shall be saved out of it. Matthew 24, just to give you a little brief layout so you can kind of visualize it. You see, you have the cross because we’re on this side of the cross.

We have the church age, well that’s who we are, that’s where we are in this time period. And the next thing to happen, we’re going to be able to see the closer, the longer the Lord takes of this intensity of things preparing for the worst period of time that’s on the face of the earth. And so that’s going to be for the first three and a half years. This thing really builds up. So signs that will escalate leading up to the mid-trib, the middle of the tribulation period.

That’s why it says these are the times of sorrows. And then in the middle of the tribulation period, remember this, found back there in the book of Daniel in chapter verse 27, it says, and in the midst of the week, yes he’ll make a peace trade it, but in the midst of the week which is three and a half years, in the middle of that seven years he will break the covenant. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted.

This is what’s going to take place. So we know that there’s a seven-year period of time right ahead of us, the Bible declares the worst period of time that the world has ever known. Abomination of desolation. This is the verse I told you just a moment ago to remember when Jesus is answering their questions about and what shall be the sign of thy coming? What’s going to take place in the future? So he’s describing mainly this tribulation period that’s going to take place upon your why because the nation of Israel rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

So you have this tribulation period seven years divided into two parts, time of sorrows and the great tribulation. And so this is the midpoint. This is when the head of the last world government, the Antichrist himself, will set up a kingdom upon this earth. He goes into the temple in Jerusalem and claims to be God. And abomination, when somebody else claims to be God himself. So you see it broken down a little bit more. are the beginning of sorrows in verse 8.

And then at verse 29, immediately after the tribulation of those days, this is when Christ comes back to the earth, in power and great glory in every eye shall see him. Now when he comes for you and I at the rapture, which is right before the tribulation, he comes in the air. And we are changed in a moment, the twinkling of an eye caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and then we’re taken to heaven to the judgment seat of Christ.

So when it comes to the earth, that’s a different period of time altogether. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect. These are the same Jewish believers from the tribulation period. See, during this seven-year tribulation period, there’s going to be a lot of people that will trust the Lord. But he says those that endure to the end the same shall be saved. These are those who endure until the end of the tribulation period.

Those that are alive is only going to be those that are believers, and they go into the kingdom because those who are not believers at the great judgment of the nations, they are going to be cast in the kingdom. to hell. So the Kingdom upon the earth is these believers, even Gentiles, and believing Jews will be going into the Kingdom upon the earth. And I believe that it’s laid out very well and I believe it’s the truth. So this is going to take place.

God is going to keep His Word. But does Jesus leave us in the dark? No, He’s telling us all kind of things. But many people just know it’s there but they don’t know where to hang them in. That’s why you’ve got to have a bone structure. This goes here and this goes here. These birth pains will increase in intensity and severity from the beginning to the end of the tribulation period. It just builds all the way through. It’s like in the Bible describes as a woman going to have a child.

She’s having these labor pains. And you’ll find that’s mentioned in quite a few scriptures that we’re not going to take the time to look at them now. But just remember, it’s like a woman going to bring forth a child. All of this tribulation and this sorrow and these pains is because God is going to deliver a child. A nation is going to be born. The nation of Israel, when they believe on Jesus Christ and they will be a saved nation.

You see, they’re back in the land today, but they’re back in unbelief. God’s talking about those who have believed These are counted for the seed. And this is the one, this new child is gonna be the greatest nation upon the face of the earth. That’s what’s laying ahead of us. Till the child is delivered. Israel will be born as in a day. Now, the Lord tells us about wars and rumors of wars. Things are gonna take place in the very near future.

But remember, he said this two thousand years ago, but they haven’t been fulfilled yet. So all of these things that he’s telling us about must be things that will be fulfilled in a seven year period of time. Remember before Christ died on the cross, there were a multitude of scriptures. They say about 300 scriptures about Jesus Christ being born and died on the cross. And that was just in his one little life period. And they all came together. Most of them were fulfilled when Jesus Christ was being crucified, when He died to pay for our sins.

And now here we’re talking about a seven year period of time and how many things has to fit within that seven, look how many things gotta be ready to go. So there’s wars and rumors of wars. The rise of Russia, this has to be because the Bible describes in the book of Ezekiel 38 and 39, talking about Russia coming down from the North against Israel. This has got to be done. I believe this is a battle that takes place, not saying that this is the one that takes place at the end of the millennium where we’re talking about the battle of God.

That’s another battle that will take place at that time. This is a thousand, seven years, probably ahead, when this is going to be maybe taking place toward the beginning of the tribulation period because Russia has got to come down against Israel. Well, I’d be because it’s prophesied in the Scriptures and it’s got to take place. And since Russia loses this battle and Iran comes with them and they lose this battle. So if they lose this battle it can’t be the middle of the tribulation period because there has to be a peace treaty made.

Something has to happen because the nations of the world have a peace treaty with Israel. We are living at the most exciting time of all is Russia on the move and it’s getting worse and worse. And Israel is sitting right there’s a little obitination being surrounded by all of this. In Ezekiel 38 verse 2 says, Son of man set thy face against God. That’s the prince, the land of may God, the land, the chief prince of Miseché and T’bol and prophesied against him.

Now this is a battle that’s never taken place yet. It’s never happened yet. And he mentioned some of the people that will be coming down with Russia, which is Persia, which is Iran, Ethiopia, Libya with them, all of them with shields and helmets, Gomer in all of his bands, the House of Tobin are of the North quarters and all of his bands and many people with him. So God already knew in advance Those that will side with Russia and they’re going to come down against, but now most of these year are Muslim countries that are going to be working with Russia.

Now I didn’t make that up. I’m just, this is what the book said. Now we believe that Jesus Christ is God and we worship Him as God. Well, this is what He said. That’s the word of God. So we, we believe it or take the thing, throw it in the trash and don’t worry about it. But I just have the sudden kind of feeling that I bet this is going to happen. I bet it’s going to happen just like he said.

After many days, thou shall be visited in the latter years, thou shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword and is gathered out of many people against the mountains of Israel. So Russia is coming down against Israel from the north and thou shall come from thy place out of the north parts, now and many people with thee. So this is going to take place, the there to the north of Israel. I believe that’s why in one of the reasons they’re now building one of their little launching pads right there in Syria.

This is Syria real close to Israel. It’s just a coincidence. I don’t think so. I bet somewhere along the line somebody might have made an agreement, but I’m not going there, and thou shalt come up against my people of Israel in the latter days.” So the Bible says this. Now we know where Israel is. Russia is huge, but it also needs to get a little bit closer to the land of Israel. The Scriptures are going to be fulfilled. It’s going to take place.

But now the Bible tells us that during the tribulation period there will be two witnesses. It doesn’t tell us who they are, but many people believe it could be Moses, it could be Elijah, it could be Enoch. All we know is this going to be two witnesses and they’re going to come on the scene. And we believe it mainly because of the first three and a half years, because when the Antichrist takes over, he kills them and they have been ministering for three and a half years.

Now, in Revelation chapter 11, verse 3, 2, 5 says this, and I will give power unto my two witnesses. They shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, three and a half years. Cloven sackcloth. And these are the two olive trees and the two candles extended before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeded out of their mouth and devoured their enemies. And if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

Now that I’d like to see, I mean I’d like to see how it’s gonna happen. Sounds like science fiction doesn’t it? burn them up. And they can’t kill them. They can’t do anything to them. And they cause plagues all over the earth. And these two, they’re able to stop the rain for three years. It wouldn’t rain. This is why I believe that the first part is why we’re having all the famine and all these things, the disease and the pestilence and all these things.

And they’re the people that are gonna hate these two individuals. If we can only get rid of those two individuals, well, oh, they will. Are you a new listener to Bibleline? Do you enjoy the teachings of Dr. Arnold? Well, if you’ve never contacted us before, we want to give you Dr. Arnold’s book, The Gospel Driven Man. Every day we receive many emails from folks who have questions about repentance and salvation, about faith in works, and about how to share the Gospel with friends and loved ones.

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The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. And now, a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound, and we will be changed. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Leaving that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.