“The Be Happy Blessings of Revelation” - part 7
Key Scripture Verse: The 6th Blessing - Revelation 22:7:
7“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”
Thesis: Jesus is coming back for His church and for us to be a part of this return we must follow the words of this prophetic book. We must live by them and keep true to them because this will lead right into Heaven.
Video Clip: Rediscover the Bible
Revelation 22:7:
7“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”
Introduction:
The Words of this prophecy: What does this text refer to?
To the book of Revelation?
To the entire Bible?
This message is for the readers of Revelation – no doubt- but it is also for the readers and followers of the entire Bible –this letter was placed by the Holy Spirit at the end of the Bible for a divine purpose. It is there to remind all of us to keep our focus on Jesus – to be assured that yes He really is coming back in spite of the world’s mockery of “Where is He?” Many in the world say He was suppose to be back 1,000 of years ago.
They mock us with statements like the following:
“He’s late!”
“There is no way He is coming back – he is dead!”
“I cannot believe that you an intelligent human being still believes in that fairytale!”
This week I stumbled on to a You-tube video mocking Jesus statement that he will be back – they were singing, “He is not coming back quit deceiving yourself.” He’s not coming back! He’s not coming back! I must admit it caused a grieving in my spirit.
Let’s think about the magnificent dimensions of the Bible: It’s not like any other book ever written or presented to the societies of this world past, present or even in the future:
(The following points from http://thewaytogod.info/e.uniqueness.bible.html).
1. The Uniqueness of its Composition
The Bible is comprised of 66 separate books, and it was written over a period of at least 1.500 years by more than 40 authors who for the most part didn’t know each other personally.
The writers of the Bible came from different social and occupational backgrounds (for example Moses – political leader, educated in Pharao’s palace; Joshua – general; Solomon – king; Amos – shepherd; Nehemiah – cup-bearer; Daniel – politician; Peter – fisherman; Luke – physician; Matthew – tax-collector).
The authors of the Bible wrote in completely different geographic environments and under different circumstances (for example Moses – in the desert; Jeremiah – in a prison; David – in the mountains and in his palace; Paul – in prison; Luke – during his journeys; John – during his exil on Patmos).
They wrote in different states of mind – one in a state of great joy, the other in a state of mourning and despair.
The Bible was composed on three different continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) and in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek).
2. The Uniqueness of its Thematic (thesis) Unity
Unity in its objective: Although the Bible was written by about 40 different authors during a period of at least 1.500 years and although these writers lived on three different continents and belonged to various cultures, the Bible has a unifying objective. The main theme is to give answers to these basic questions:
Who is God?
Who is man?
Is there a possibility for a relationship between God and man, and if so – how? Through Jesus Christ!
The Bible wants to lead man to God (cf. John 20:31 and 2 Timothy 3:14-17).
Unity in its contents: The whole book is about one central figure – Jesus Christ. Basically, the complete Old Testament points to this Person, be it through metaphors or be it through direct prophecies. The New Testament shows us the fulfillment of these prophecies and the meaning and the consequences of the coming of Christ.
• To illustrate this point: If we take 100 trillion silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas, they would be two feet deep. Now we mark one of these silver dollars and thoroughly stir the whole mass--all over the state. Now blindfold a man and let him travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick only one silver dollar.
What chance would he have of picking the marked one? The same chance that the prophets would have of writing just eight of these prophecies and having them all come true for any one man if they had written them without God’s inspiration!
• The chance of any one man’s fulfilling all of 48 prophecies is one in ten to the 157th power. The electron is about as small an object as we can imagine. If we had a cubic inch of these electrons and tried to count them, it would take us (at 250 per minute) 19,000 times 19,000 times 19,000 years to count them.
Now mark one of them and thoroughly stir it into the whole mass. What chance does our blindfolded man have of finding the right electron?
The same chance as one man of fulfilling 48 of the prophecies about Christ without His being the Son of God!
• Here are some others:
1) Some time before 500 B.C. the prophet Daniel proclaimed that Israel’s long-awaited Messiah would begin his public ministry 483 years after the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25-26). He further predicted that the Messiah would be "cut off," killed, and that this event would take place prior to a second destruction of Jerusalem. Abundant documentation shows that these prophecies were perfectly fulfilled in the life (and crucifixion) of Jesus Christ. The decree regarding the restoration of Jerusalem was issued by Persia’s King Artaxerxes to the Hebrew priest Ezra in 458 B.C., 483 years later the ministry of Jesus Christ began in Galilee.
(Remember that due to calendar changes, the date for the start of Christ’s ministry is set by most historians at about 26 A.D. Also note that from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. is just one year.) Jesus’ crucifixion occurred only a few years later, and about four decades later, in 70 A.D. came the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.
(Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 105.)*
(2) In approximately 700 B.C. the prophet Micah named the tiny village of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Israel’s Messiah (Micah 5:2).
The fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Christ is one of the most widely known and widely celebrated facts in history.
(Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 105.)
3) In the fifth century B.C. a prophet named Zechariah declared that the Messiah would be betrayed for the price of a slave—thirty pieces of silver, according to Jewish law-and also that this money would be used to buy a burial ground for Jerusalem’s poor foreigners (Zechariah 11:12-13). Bible writers and secular historians both record thirty pieces of silver as the sum paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus, and they indicate that the money went to purchase a "potter’s field," used—just as predicted—for the burial of poor aliens (Matthew 27:3-10).
(Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 1011.)
• The above from http://www.eons.com/blogs/entry/1332824-How-Many-Bible-prophecies-Did-Jesus-Fulfill-
Jesus is revealed in every book of the Bible – The prophetic message of the book is all about Jesus – the Messiah- the Savior of the world!
Jesus in all the books of the Bible...
The Bible is about Jesus. He is pictured or prophesied about in each of the 66 books as well as in countless types in the lives of different characters in the Bible. Here is a breakdown of how He is pictured in each of the books...
O.T Book Main Revelation Key Prophecies* / Types of Jesus
Genesis The Seed of the Woman Messiah would be born of the seed of a woman (Gen 3:15, Luke 1:34-35)
Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob (Gen 12:3, 17:19, 28:14, Luke 3:23-34)
Messiah would be a king in the line of Judah (Gen 49:10, John 1:49)
Typified in the person of Melchizedek (Gen 14:18)
The life of Isaac - the sacrificed son (Gen 22)
The life of Joseph - the rejected brother (Gen 37)
Exodus The Passover Lamb Typified in the life of Moses - the deliverer
The Passover Lamb (Ex 12, John 1:29,36)
The Manna from Heaven (Ex 16, John 6)
The Rock struck at Horeb (Ex 17, 1 Cor 10:4)
The Tabernacle (Brazen Altar, Lampstand, Table of Showbread, Ark of the covenant etc) (Gen 25-30)
Leviticus The High Priest Typified in the sacrifices and offerings (Lev 1-7)
In the Jewish festivals (Passover, Atonement, Lev 16, 23)
In the scapegoat (Lev 16:7-9)
In the person and duties of the High Priest (Lev 16)
Numbers The Cloud and The Fire Messiah would be a King (Num 24:17)
Typified in the bronze serpent (Num 21:8-9)
The Water from the Rock (Num 20)
Deuteronomy The Prophet Like Moses Messiah will be a prophet (Deut 18:15-19, John 6:14)
Messiah would be worshipped by angels (Deut 32:43, Luke 2:13-14)
Typified in the cities of refuge (Deut 4:41)
Joshua The Captain of Our Salvation Typified in the person of Joshua (our leader into the promised land)
In the Promised Land
In the Commander of the Army (Josh 5:13-15)
Judges The Judge And Lawgiver Typified in the Judges (for He is true Judge of the living and the dead)
Ruth The Kinsman Redeemer Messiah would be a descendant of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:12-17)
Typified in the life of Boaz - The Kinsman Redeemer (Ruth 2:1)
1 & 2 Samuel The Prophet of The Lord Messiah exalted by God with power (1 Sam 2:10, Matt 28:18)
Messiah would be a descendant of David (2 Sam 7:12-16, Matt 1:1)
Messiah would be the ’Rock’ (2 Sam 23:2-3, 1 Cor 10:4)
Typified in the life of David - The King in Exile (1 Sam 22)
The life of Jonathon - the faithful friend (1 Sam 18:1-4)
1 & 2 Kings The Reigning King Typified in the life of Solomon (the Millennial Reign)
In the life and miracles of the prophet Elisha (multiplying bread 2 Kings 4:42, healing leper 2 Kings 5)
1 & 2 Chronicles Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah (1 Chron 5:2, Luke 3:23-32)
Typified in Solomon’s temple
In the Wisdom of Solomon (2 Chron 9:22)
Ezra The Faithful Scribe Typified in person of Zerubbabel, the rebuilder of the temple (Ezra 4)
Nehemiah The Rebuilder of the Walls Typified in the person of Nehemiah, the rebuilder of the walls of salvation
Esther Mordecai Typified in the person of Mordecai
Job The Dayspring From on High Typified in the sufferings of Job and the blessings that would follow
Psalms The Lord Who Is Our Shepherd Messiah would be the Son of God (Ps 2:7, 12, Matt 17:5)
Messiah would be resurrected (Ps 16:8-10, Acts 13:30-37)
Messiah would be despised & crucified (Ps 22:6-8, 14, Luke 23:21-23, Matt 27:35)
Messiah would be hated without cause (Ps 69:4, Luke 23:13-22)
Messiah would be Lord, seated at the right hand of God (Ps 110:1,5, 1 Pet 3:21-22)
Messiah would be in the line of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4, Heb 6:17-20)
Messiah would be the ’stone’ rejected by the Jews (Ps 118:22, Matt 21:42-43)
Key Messianic Psalms: Chapters 2, 8, 16, 22, 45, 69, 89, 109, 110, 118
Proverbs & Ecclesiastes The Wisdom of God Messiah would be from everlasting (Prov 8:22-23, John 17:5)
Messiah would be the Son of God (Prov 30:4, Matt 3:16-17)
Typified in the Wisdom of God (Prov 8:22-31)
Song of Solomon The Lover & Bridegroom Typified in the Bridegroom’s love for, and marriage to, the bride
Isaiah The Suffering Servant Messiah would be born of a virgin (Is 7:14, Luke 1:34-35)
Messiah would be Immanuel "God with us" (Is 7:14, Matt 1:21-23)
Messiah would be God and Man (Is 9:6, John 10:30)
Messiah would have the 7-fold Spirit upon Him (Is 11:1-2, Matt 3:16-17)
Messiah would heal the blind, lame, deaf (Is 35:5-6, Mark 10:51-52)
Messiah would be proceeded by a forerunner (Is 40:3, Luke 1:17)
Messiah would be a light to the gentiles (Is 42:6, John 8:12)
Messiah would be despised by the Jewish nation (Is 49:7, John 10:20, Matt 27:23)
Messiah would be whipped and beaten (Is 50:6, Matt 26:67, 27:26)
Messiah would die as a guilt offering for sin (Is 53:10, John 18:11)
Messiah would be resurrected and live forever (Is 53:10, Mark 16:16)
Jeremiah & Lamentations The Weeping Prophet Messiah would be God (Jer 23:6, John 13:13)
Messiah would be a righteous Branch (Jer 23:5)
Messiah would be our righteousness (Jer 23:6, 1 Cor 1:30)
Ezekiel The Son of Man Messiah would be a descendant of David (Ez 34:23-24, Matt 1:1)
Daniel The Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven Messiah would be ’a son of man’ given an everlasting kingdom (Dan 7:13-14, Luke 1:31-34)
Messiah would come 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Dan 9:25, John 12:12-23)
Messiah would be killed (Dan 9:26, Matt 27:35)
Revealed as the ’stone’ (and His kingdom) that smashes the kingdoms of the world (Dan 2:34,44)
Typified in the 4th man in the fiery furnace - one like ’the son of gods’ (Dan 3:25)
Hosea The Bridegroom Typified in Hosea’s faithfulness to his adulterous wife (Hos 3)
Joel The Baptizer With The Holy Spirit Messiah will offer salvation to all mankind (Joel 2:32, Rom 10:12-13)
Messiah would baptize people with the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32)
Amos The Burden Bearer God would darken the day at noon during Messiah’s death (Amos 8:9, Matt 27:45-46)
Obadiah The Mighty Savior
Jonah The Forgiving God Typified in Jonah being 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a fish (Jon 1:17, Matt 12:40)
Micah The Messenger With Beautiful Feet Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2, Matt 2:1-2)
Messiah would be from everlasting (Mic 5:2, Rev:1-8)
Nahum The Avenger of God’s Elect
Habakkuk The Great Evangelist, Crying For Revival Messiah would come from Teman at His return, full of glory (Hab 3:3)
Typified in the life of Habakkuk (his intercession and prayer for his people)
Zephaniah The Restorer of the Remnant
Haggai The Cleansing Fountain Messiah would visit the 2nd temple (Hag 2:6-9, Luke 2:27-32)
Zechariah The Pierced Son Messiah would be Priest and King (Zech 6:12-13, Heb 8:1)
Messiah would be ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zech 9:9, Matt 21:6-9)
Messiah would be God (Zech 11:12-13, John 12:45)
Messiah would be pierced (Zech 12:10, John 19:34-37)
Malachi
The Son of Righteousness Messiah would appear at the temple (Mal 3:1, Mark 11:15-16)
Messiah’s forerunner would come in the spirit of Elijah (Mat 4:5, Matt 3:1-2)
N.T Book Main Revelation Titles / Names Revealed of Jesus
Matthew The Messiah The Son of David (Matt 1:1)
The King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2)
The Son of God (Matthew 2:15).
The Bridegroom (Mattew 9:15)
Mark The Miracle Worker The Holy One of God (Mark 1:24)
The Servant (Mark 10:45)
The King of Israel (Mark 15:32)
Luke The Son of Man The Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
The Consolation of Israel: (Luke 2:25).
John The Son of God The Only Begotten Son: (John 1:14,18)
The Lamb of God (John 1:29,36)
The Bread of life (John 6:35)
The Light of the World (John 8:1)
The I AM! (John 8:58)
The Door of the Sheep: (John 10:7,9)
The Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
The Resurrection and life (John 11:25)
The Way, the Truth, the Life (John 14:6)
The True Vine (John 15:1)
Acts The Ascended Lord The Prince of Life (Acts 3:15)
The Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
The Just One (Acts 7:52).
The Hope of Israel (Acts 28:20)
Romans The Justifier The Rock of Offense (Romans 9:33)
The Deliverer (Romans 11:26)
The Lord of the dead and the living (Romans 14:9)
The Root of Jesse (Romans 15:12)
1 & 2 Corinthians The Last Adam The First-fruits (1 Corinthians 15:23)
The Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45)
Galatians The One Who Sets Us Free The Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 1:3)
Ephesians The Christ of Riches The Head over All Things (Ephesians 1:22)
The Cornerstone: (Ephesians 2:20)
Philippians The God Who Meets Our Every Need The Name above all names (Philippians 2:9)
Colossians The Fullness of The Godhead The Image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15)
The Head of the body (Colossians 1:18)
The Beginning (Colossians 1:18)
The Firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)
The Hope of Glory (Col 1:27)
1 & 2 Thessalonians The Soon Coming King The Lord of Peace (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
1 & 2 Timothy The Mediator Between God And Man The King of Ages (1 Timothy 1:17)
The Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
Titus The Blessed Hope The Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13)
The Great God and Saviour (Titus 2:13)
Philemon The Friend, Closer Than a Brother The Lord Jesus Christ (Philemon 3)
Hebrews The Blood That Washes Away My Sins The Heir of All Things (Hebrews 1:2)
The Faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17)
The Author and Finisher of our Faith (Hebrews 12:2)
James The Great Physician The Lord of Glory (James 2:1)
The Judge at the door (James 5:9)
1 & 2 Peter The Chief Shepherd The Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4)
The Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)
1 & 2 & 3 John Everlasting Love The Eternal Life (1 John 1:2)
The Righteous (1 John 2:1)
Jude The God our Saviour The Only Wise God our Saviour (Jude 25)
Revelation The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! The Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last: (Revelation 1:17, 22:13)
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5)
The Word of God (Revelation 19:13).
The King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16)
The Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
* Prophecy Source: http://www.messiahrevealed.org/book-index.html Please check this link for additional prophecies
Yes, Jesus is revealed through every book in the Bible and it all climaxes in the last book of the Bible - Revelation. The Bible is a clear message of Jesus! Jesus is the Messiah, He is the only way to heaven and He is coming back for His bride the church so we must be ready to go with Him!
3. The Uniqueness of its Relevance
Although the Bible is already many centuries old, it is still read regularly and with great interest by very many people.
The Bible is a book that has been relevant in every epoch of world history – whether in times of war or peace, in the Dark Ages or in our modern technological age. Millions of people have found nourishment, help, and encouragement in this book.
The Bible is the only book in the world that is read by people from all walks of life and from every age group.
4. The Uniqueness of its Circulation
The Bible is one of the first books that have ever been translated. About 250 B.C. the Old Testament was translated into the Greek language (the Septuagint).
The Bible was the first major book that was printed – in form of the Latin Vulgate on Gutenberg’s press.
It is the most-translated and most-spread book in the world (in 2002, the Bible had been translated into 2287 languages: the complete Bible into 392 languages, the New Testament into 1012 languages and single books of the Bible into 883 languages), with a still increasing tendency.
5. The Uniqueness of its Survival
It has survived time: Although the Bible was written on perishable material and therefore had to be copied by hand for many centuries until the art of printing had been invented, neither its accuracy nor its existence has suffered.
It has survived persecution: The Bible has withstood the most malicious onslaughts of its enemies like no other book. For centuries people have tried to burn, ban, and outlaw the Bible.
It has survived criticism: An army of rationalists arose who thought up the wildest and most intense attacks against the Bible. But nevertheless, the Bible has been distributed more, read more and cherished more than any other book.
Distribution Facts: About 100 million per year are sold worldwide. The New Yorker confirms that it is the bestselling book in history and outsells all other books every year. People spend ½ Billion dollars a year for Bibles each year. In America 91% of all homes have a Bible in it.
6. The Uniqueness of its Literary Character
According to Arthur Brisbane (a non-Christian), the Bible contains brilliant examples of great literature in any form: lyric poetry – the Psalms, epic poetry – Genesis; dramatic poetry – Job; historic narrative art – the Books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles; rural idyll – Ruth; patriotism – Esther and Daniel; practical wisdom – Proverbs; philosophy – Ecclesiastes; moving depth – Isaiah; short stories – the Gospels; letters – the various Epistles of the New Testament; thrilling mysticism – the Book of Revelation.
A long literary stream of books inspired by the Bible testifies to the influence of the Bible on the world literature.
7. The Uniqueness of its Moral Character
The absolute unique moral character of this book forces man to make a choice, a decision. It seems that nobody can remain untouched or neutral in the presence of the Bible.
For that reason is the Bible not only the most-sold, most-spread, most-translated and most-read, but also the most-hated book in the world.
But it is just as much the most-cherished book in the world. Other books may represent certain ideals. But practice proves the impossibility of lifting fallen man up to the level of these ideals, because the power is missing that only the Bible seems to possess. The Bible brings the impossible about by bringing us into contact with Jesus Christ who does not “repair” fallen man, but who has died for them. And fallen man has died in and with Christ, and has become a completely new human being, a new creature in the risen Christ. Scripture tells us that everybody, who truly has accepted Christ in faith, can rest in this assurance. – The biblical answer to the moral problem of the modern man is a personal, spiritual new birth, an actual inner change – not the conversion to a system, but to a Person, and the sincere, believing trust in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
8. The Uniqueness Of Its Accuracy
The Bible itself tells us how it was written: “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Greek word for inspired, theopneustos, means “God-breathed.” The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say. Thus we have verbal inspiration, because the words of the original text were inspired by God.
Many indicators for the accuracy of the Bible can be found in the fields of science, such as astronomy, physics, medicine, or biology. You will find many examples to support this statement if you follow this link: Scientific Evidence for the Accuracy of the Bible
No historic fact in the Bible ever has been shown to be in error. For more information on this claim, please visit the following link: Historical Evidence for the Accuracy of the Bible
• JESUS: A REAL PERSON IN HISTORY
"What then, does a historian know about Jesus Christ? He knows, first and foremost, that the New Testament documents can be relied upon to give an accurate portrait of Him. And he knows that this portrait cannot be rationalized away by wishful thinking, philosophical presuppositions, or literary maneuvering" (ref.9, p.40).
Non-Biblical Historical Confirmations:
Cornelius Tacitus was a Roman historian, born A.D. 52-54. He was Governor of Asia in A.D. 112 and son-in-law of Julius Agricola, the Governor of Britain, A.D. 80-84. Writing of the reign of Nero he says, "But not all the relief that could come from man, not all the boundaries that the prince could bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have ordered the conflagration, the fire of Rome. Hence to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also" (ref.10).
Flavius Josephus, born A.D. 37, a Jewish historian, became a Pharisee at age 19; in A.D. 66 he was the commander of Jewish forces in Galilee. After being captured, he was attached to the Roman headquarters. He says, "Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call Him a man, for He was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to Him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men among us, had condemned Him to the cross, those that loved Him at the first did not forsake Him; for He appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning Him. And the tribe of Christians so named from Him are not extinct at this day" (ref.12).
From: http://www.newtestamentchurch.org/html/Christian_Evidence/Historical_Evidence.htm
One of the strongest objective evidences of biblical inspiration is the phenomenon of fulfilled prophecy. The Bible is essentially unique among the religious books of mankind in this respect. – Prophetical Evidence for the Accuracy of the Bible
(The previous points from http://thewaytogod.info/e.uniqueness.bible.html).
TYRE
In the 26th chapter of Ezekiel (592-570 BC), seven things are predicted to happen to the city of Tyre (ref.2, p.285):
1) Nebuchadnezzar will destroy the mainland of Tyre (Ezekiel 26:8).
2) Many nations will be against Tyre (Ezekiel 26:3).
3) Tyre will be made a bare rock, flat like the top of a rock (Ezekiel 26:4).
4) Fishermen will spread their nets over the site (Ezekiel 26:5).
5) Debris will be thrown into the water (Ezekiel 26:12).
6) Tyre never will be rebuilt (Ezekiel 26:14).
7) Tyre never will be found again (Ezekiel 26:21).
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to mainland Tyre three years after the prophecy and after a 13-year siege (585-573 BC) Tyre made terms and acknowledged Babylonian authority over them (ref.4, vol. xxii, p.452). When Nebuchadnezzar broke the gates down, he found the city almost empty. The majority of the people had moved by ship to an island about one-half mile off the coast and fortified a city there. The mainland city was destroyed in 573 BC, as predicted. The city of Tyre on the island remained a powerful city for several hundred years (ref.2, p.286).
Alexander the Great, in his war on Persia, marching southward called on each city to open its gates to him as part of his plan to deny their use to the Persian fleet. Tyre refused to do so, and Alexander laid siege to the city. Possessing no fleet, he demolished old Tyre on the mainland, and with the debris built a causeway 200 feet wide across the straits separating the old and new towns, erecting towers and war engines at the farther end (ref.4, vol. xxii, p.452). Tyre continually raided the causeway with fire-ships, greatly retarding progress until Alexander pressured conquered subjects to make ships for his operation. After attaining a superior naval force, Alexander finished the causeway, battered the walls of Tyre down, killed 8,000 of the inhabitants, and sold 30,000 into slavery (ref.5, p.153).
A history book by a secular historian reads, "Alexander the Great...reduced Tyre to ruins.... The larger part of the site of the once great city is now bare as the top of a rock--a place where fishermen now spread their nets to dry" (ref.5, p.55).
Another historian, John C. Beck, says, "The history of Tyre does not stop with after the conquest of Alexander. Men continue to rebuild her and armies continue to besiege her walls, until finally after 1600 years, she falls never to be rebuilt again" (ref. 6, p.41).
All the prophecies of Ezekiel about Tyre have come true: Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the mainland city of Tyre; many nations were against Tyre; Alexander made her a bare rock and threw debris into the water to make the causeway; fishermen now spread nets over the site (there is a city of Tyre today, but it is located down the coast from the original Tyre); the old city of Tyre has never been rebuilt, even though a great freshwater spring is located at the site, providing 10,000,000 gallons of water daily. It is still an excellent site today but has never been rebuilt, although many have tried. All seven of the predictions came true in the most minute detail.
Some other examples of fulfilled Bible prophecy about history:
Babylon (Daniel 2, 7; Isaiah 13:19-22; 14:22-23; Jeremiah 51:26, 43)
Chorazin-Bethsaida-Capernaum (Matthew 11:20-24 )
Gaza-Ashkelon (Amos 1:8; Jeremiah 47:5; Zephaniah 2:4)
Moab-Ammon (Ezekiel 25:3-4; Jeremiah 48:47; 49:6)
Nineveh (Nahum 1:8-10; 2:6; 3:10, 13, 19)
Palestine (Leviticus 26:31-33 & Ezekiel 36:33-35)
Petra-Edom (Isaiah 34:5-15; Jeremiah 49:17-18; Ezekiel 25:13-14; 35:15)
Samaria (Hosea 13:16 & Micah 1:6)
Sidon (Ezekiel 28:22-23)
Thebes-Memphis (Ezekiel 30:13-15)
From: http://www.newtestamentchurch.org/html/Christian_Evidence/Bible_Prophecies.htm
We see clearly that the main point of the Bible is to reveal to us how we can have a relationship with God the Father it is through Jesus Christ! Jesus is the way to the Father and the way into Heaven and He will soon return to bring those who are committed to Him back home with Him.
Scripture Text: Rev. 19:11-21:
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”£ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
18so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.”
19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.
20But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
21The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
This text rings from the Heavens “I Jesus am coming soon!” Yes Jesus is coming again. In our day and age we hear of how many say they know he will be here on a certain day. The truth is, though, none of them know for sure because it’s never stated in Scripture exactly when he would return. I am stepping out on the limb today and revealing startling information on Christ’s return. Are you ready for a Revelation from the throne room of Heaven delivered by the Holy Spirit? Jesus Christ’s second coming is going to be sometime after 10:15 am on November 7, 2010. The next great revelation I want to reveal to you today is this, “We are closer to the second return of Christ then when the Book of Revelation was written.”
I can honestly say that today we are closer to Christ’s return than yesterday! Yes he will be here soon and very soon. His word states it! When Jesus announces His return in Revelation - He tells us that his returning is very soon. He is warning us to, “Be ready by keeping the words of this prophecy.” “I will be there when you least expect me!”
Yes, the 6th blessing in Revelation that will come to the Christian is a result of following the principles, teachings, facts, commandments, points, and instructions of Jesus.
Over the last couple of months we have been exploring and discovering more about Jesus Christ and His teachings. We have learned that in the book of Revelation Jesus Christ is revealed more and more. There is more being unveiled, we are discovering more about the Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the end! We have discovered that the book of Revelation reiterates over and over that we are to be ready!
Rev. 1:18 “I am the living one; I once was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Rev. 3:11 “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
We cannot be sleeping because he’s instructing His church to be faithful to Him in the midst of an antichristian environment. The church needs to stay awake! It needs to be watching and participating in what the Lord is doing today. It needs to be preparing for His return.
It’s time to get down and get holy. To shout and dance and sing hallelujah. What a Savior. What awesome power he has! It’s time to stay focused! It’s time to take the message to heart!
So---Are you ready? Come on get ready? Yes, ready for the upcoming return of Jesus?
To be ready you must follow the words of this prophecy? Follow His Words! So where does His Word lead us? Where do they take us? Why would I want to follow them? Because they lead us right into Heaven?
Conclusion:
Ray Stedman notes the following
Finally, we are admonished to wait for the coming, to work for it, to be diligent and faithful and obedient until the Son of God comes. This is a book of extreme optimism. Although it paints a dark, dark picture, it does not stop there; it looks on beyond to the final victory of God, even more sure than tomorrow’s sun.
C.S. Lewis has written these significant words:
God is going to invade this earth in force. But what’s the good of saying you’re on his side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else, something it never entered your head to conceive comes crashing in. Something so beautiful to us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left. This time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love, or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down, when it’s become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realize it or not. Now, today, in this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever; we must take it or leave it.
There is a great deal of encouragement in this book. It is a book that will stiffen your back when things are happening in human history that frightens you. It will give you great comfort and encouragement, if you know the Lord of it. But it is also a solemn book, designed to make us understand that the One who is unrolling the scroll is the One who was once here and died on Calvary’s cross, a lamb led to slaughter, so that he might win the right to be King of all the earth.
Jesus really is coming back: The Bible promises the return of Jesus. In the 216 chapters in the New Testament there are over 300 references to the return of Jesus. 23 of the 27 books of the New Testament mention Jesus’ return.
I shared a while back of the many fulfilled prophecies which point toward the return of Jesus.
1. The rebirth of the nation of Israel on May 14, 1948.
a. Genesis 17:7
b. Matthew 24:9 – The hatred of many for Israel
c. The amazing protection of Israel in the 6 day war in 1967.
2. The reunification of Europe
a. Daniel 7:23-25 – This happened May 1, 2004 with the formation of ETUC.
3. The increase in Technology of the last few decades.
a. Daniel 12:4 – But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end, many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.
b. We have seen a dramatic increase in knowledge in our own life times.
c. This technology or knowledge makes the mark of the beast possible.
i. Chip implants are already here – Applied digital Solutions of Palm Beach is already posed to market these – many are already being used in animals today.
4. A powerful Russia and alliance with other nations like Iran is in the making.
a. Ezekiel 38:1-3; 14-17
b. There will be an alliance between these nations to attack Israel in the future.
5. Signs in nature and times:
a. Matthew 24:7
i. Famine – Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Congo, Burundi. Sierre Leone, Liberia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Afghanistan, Iraq and many others reported by International Famine News.
ii. Wars
iii. Pestilience – epidemic of disease – Aids? Sexual Diseases?
1. According to Worldvision there are 15 million Aids orphans in the world today.
2. It is believed that 1 million people in America have HIV and over ½ million have died from it in the USA.
3. The latest statistics of the global HIV and AIDS epidemic were published by UNAIDS in November 2009, and refer to the end of 2008.
Estimate Range
People living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 33.4 million 31.1-35.8 million
Adults living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 31.3 million 29.2-33.7 million
Women living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 15.7 million 14.2-17.2 million
Children living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 2.1 million 1.2-2.9 million
People newly infected with HIV in 2008 2.7 million 2.4-3.0 million
Children newly infected with HIV in 2008 0.43 million 0.24-0.61 million
AIDS deaths in 2008 2.0 million 1.7-2.4 million
Child AIDS deaths in 2008 0.28 million 0.15-0.41 million
More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.
iv. Earthquakes – there is an average today of 50 earthquakes around the world per day
6. A awakening to the things of God and prayer an Out pouring of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:17-19
a. IHOP fits this unique phenomena
b. The ministry of Bethel Church in Redding CA.
c. Denver Outpouring
d. The Alabama Outpouring
e. Portland Outpouring
f. Louisiana Outpouring
g. China Outpouring
h. South America
7. The evangelization of all the world
a. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
b. Mark 13;10; Rev. 14:6
c. I heard a recent missionary say that one missionary organization believes the whole world will be reached with the Gospel somewhere between 2015 -2020
1. Missions| Sat, Apr. 24 2010 10:44 AM EDT GMO: Potential There to Reach World with Gospel by 2020: We have the potential to share the Gospel with everyone on earth by 2020, stated the head of an internet ministry. We are the first generation in all of human history to hold within our hands the technology to reach every man, woman and child on the earth by 2020,” said Walt Wilson, founder and CEO of Global Media Outreach, during the recent Summit at Biola University. “Our generation has within its grasp everything that is required to fulfill the Great Commission.” Wilson, a former Apple executive, said by 2015 there will be WiFi everywhere on earth.
All of these signs remind us why we need to be ready today to go be with the Lord in Heaven!
