Prophecy

Matthew 24:9, Revelation 6:9 Deliver Christians up to be killed and persecuted

Early Christians were persecuted by the Jews and Romans.

Revelation 12:13 Persecution of Christians by the dragon (woman = true believers, dragon = Rome cp 4^th beast of Daniel 7:7, 20-25)

Persecution of Christians by Pagan Rome

Revelation 13 Persecution of true believers by apostate Christianity (beast = Papal Rome)

Power passes from Pagan Rome to Papal Rome. The Catholic Church persecutes Christians and will not allow any other doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:1-3 In the last days people will depart from the Gospel. Forbidding to marry would be one false doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:3 People would prefer to follow myths

The Catholic Church has a celibate clergy and has a system based on many false doctrines and myths (eg Mary mother of God, paying for remission of sins, confession, no salvation outside of the Church, the Trinity, hellfire, and heaven going).

2 Peter 3:3 The “last days” would see scoffers of Christianity

Matthew 18:8 “Last days” will have lack of faith

Since the return of Israel in 1948 more and more people have turned away from Christianity and do not believe.

2 Timothy 3:1- 7 In the last days people would love themselves and money, be proud, arrogant, abusive, ungodly, heartless, without self control, lovers of pleasures.

Society is taught that the most important person is “me”, suffers from affluenza, has little care for others, but a lot for their own fun.

Luke 17:26-28 The last days would be like the days of Noah and Lot, eating and drinking, buying, selling and building

Obesity is an epidemic, and retail is the growth industry and people are building

Daniel 12:4 In the last days knowledge would be increased, and there would be much running to and fro

The last 100 years has seen an exponential growth in knowledge and passage of information (especially since the internet). International travel is undertaken by the average person via airline.

Matthew 24:14 The Gospel would be preached throughout the entire world

The Bible is in over 210o languages and Christianity has been preached to remote tribes.

Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 12:21 Gentiles would follow Jesus

Despite Jesus deliberately only preaching to the Jews, it is the Gentiles who follow him, not the Jews.

Luke 21:29 Israel would return in the last days before return of Christ (fig tree = Israel)

Israel was named a state in 1948. This is the sign the Jesus will return soon.

Luke 21:26 The last days before the return of Christ will see people in fear with distress of nations, turmoil and war

September 11, terrorism, global warming, war in Iraq, 2005 Tsunami, Chernobyl