23 THINGS I EXPECT IN THIS CENTURY
By
Jerry Falwell
INTRODUCTION
Today I am going to suggest to you 23 things that I think will happen in the next 100 years. Even though this seems like a “sensational” sermon topic, what I am predicting is not based on sensationalism or on a “Jeanne Dixon” type prophecy. I cannot read the future, nor do I have any power to predict the future. Three things you or I can’t do:
· We can’t read tea leaves
· We don’t have a crystal ball.
· We can’t predict the future.
There is only One Who can predict the future—God. He is without beginning, without end. He lives now at the day of your death, so He can be with you. He lives at the day of the Rapture, so He knows what will happen. Only God knows the future.
· He knows what’s in the final chapter of life’s book.
· He knows how things will turn out.
· He’s given us a few signs that point to the end times.
From what I know of the Bible, and from my limited knowledge of signs, here is a list of things I expect in the next 100 years:
1. I expect the Lord to return to rapture out His church.
While I said before that I am not predicting when He will come, I expect the Lord will probably come in this century for three reasons:
· Everything is in place that needs to happen before He can return. There are no more predicted events that need to happen for Jesus to return.
· Jesus said He would be gone a long time (Matthew 25:19) and it has been a long time (approximately 2,000 years) since His departure.
· We are commanded to “watch” and “be ready” for His return (Matthew 24:42-44), so if I expect Him to return this century, I am only following His orders by watching and waiting.
2. I expect the preaching of the gospel to reach every ethnic group in the world. Jesus commanded His church, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). The word “nations” means people groups or ethnic groups. We are closer to getting this done than ever before. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
3. I expect Jesus to return when He is least expected. Jesus told a parable about His unexpected return, “The Lord . . . shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him and in an hour that he is not aware of” (Matthew 24:50).
4. I expect many to set dates and make predictions about His return, but they will all be wrong. Jesus also told us, “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ, or there; believe it not (Matthew 24:23). Also, remember that Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36).
5. I expect Jesus to come unexpectedly when the unsaved are not watching for Him. “Behold I come quickly” (Matthew 22:7).
6. I expect constant conflict in the Middle East, primarily over the existence of Israel. The Bible is full of illustrations that tell that Israel shall return to the land (Ezekiel 37) and those nations inspired by Anti-Christ will oppose Israel.
7. I expect the European nations to form a united Europe. This is the prediction of the revived Roman Empire (Daniel 2). Daniel predicted four nations would rule the known world; first Babylon, second Medo-Persia, third Greece and fourth, Rome. This has happened as he predicted; then Daniel said the Roman Empire would be revived in the last days. I believe this will happen in this century, although I don’t know what form it will take.
8. I expect a global economy that is the next step to one-world government. When the Rapture takes place, Anti-Christ will step into the picture and create a one-world government, a one-world economy, a one-world religion. Therefore, I expect the world to move towards global economy in preparation for a one-world government.
9. I expect the nations of the world to work together outwardly in more harmony working towards a one-world government. While a functional one-world government will not happen before the Rapture, I believe that the preparation for one-world government will be in place when Jesus comes. While I do not approve of America giving up her sovereignty to the United Nations in the area of military, courts and legislation dictation; nevertheless, this will happen as we move through this century.
10. I expect there will be more and more wars, even though there is more and more talk of peace.
Jesus said to us, “And you shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars; . . . for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom . . . ” (Matthew 24:6,7). We have a media industry that is first driven on reporting crises and calamity, but worse, they are fanatical in their speculation and prediction of gloom, impending disaster, weather storms, etc.
11. I expect the apostate church to become more powerful as it departs further and farther away from the fundamentals of the faith. Paul told Timothy, “This know also that in the latter days, perilous times shall come, . . . having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (II Tim. 3:5). Again, Timothy said, “In the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrine of devils” (I Tim. 4:1).
12. I expect the prophetic picture to become more and more clear to the true church as we get closer to His return. Five hundred years ago there were many factors about the Lord’s return that we did not understand in Scriptures; but certain “signs” have appeared in the world, giving us evidence that God is doing something in Israel. Notice the following:
· The return of Israel to the land.
· The establishment and recognition of the State of Israel.
· The power of an Israeli Army to beat back aggressors.
· The re-occupation of Israel by its people.
13. I expect evil to become more perverse in the next 100 years. I think one of the things that surprises me most in the last fifty years, is not the scientific advances nor all the electronic marvels we have in our home. What surprises me is the growth of sin in the lives of all people, and the American people accept it and like it. Notice what we have:
· “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” (II Tim. 3:4,5). “Evil men . . . shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). Again, Paul described the last days, “Men shall be . . . covetous . . . blasphemers, disobedient to parents . . . truce breakers, false accusers . . . fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors” II Tim. 3:2-4).
I once wondered if sin could become any blacker. I once doubted if homosexuality would become an accepted way of life in America, but it has. I would have never thought that America would kill its unborn, but they do. I would never have expected that America would put up with a President who lied to them to hide his terrible sex acts in the office and deceived the public, but they did.
14. I expect the knowledge explosion to continue, but we will not become any wiser to use what we know.
Daniel predicted “knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). The Internet has made the knowledge of the world available to anyone who will go on-line, but today everyone—including the young—has access to all knowledge. Paul predicts, “In the last days . . . men shall be, ever learning, and never able to come to the truth” (II Timothy. 3:1,7). Timothy added to this, “that people would be ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth” (II Timothy 3:7).
15. I expect more and more disruption to the family and raising of children. Paul predicts, “In the last days . . . disobedient to parents” (II Timothy. 3:1,2).
16. I expect more prosperity with people becoming wealthy and spending their money on hedonistic pleasures. James predicts in the last days there shall be heaping of treasures, “Your riches are corrupt . . . you have heaped treasures together for the last days . . . ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton” (James 5:2,3,5). The word wanton means luxury. Listen how the Living Bible puts it, “The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh in hell” (James 5:3).
17. I expect more leaders will promise us “peace and safety” in the face of dangers and growing unstability. “But of the times and seasons, ye have no need that I write unto you . . . for when they shall say peace and safety, there cometh sudden destruction” (I Thess. 5:1,3).
18. I expect more people to travel to more places for more reasons than ever before. The Bible predicts in the end time, “Even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro” (Daniel 12:4). The Living Bible says, “Many will rush here and there.”
19. I expect more violent weather turbulence than in the past. Sometimes I wonder if we have more violent weather, or more people are located when storms strike such as along rivers or coastal areas, or there are just better tools to gather and report weather information. But after the Lord comes, there will be violent disruptions of nature. It appears that before He returns, the disruptions will begin. Jesus said, “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places” (Luke 21:11).
20. I expect false messiah’s to arise claiming to be Christ. “Take heed that ye be not deceived, for many shall come in My name, saying I am the Christ, and the time draweth near; go ye not after them” (Luke 21:8).
21. I expect to be raptured in this century, if I don’t die first. When the Lord comes back in the Rapture, Paul tells us, “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep . . . then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” I Thess. 4:15, 17).
22. I expect my body to be resurrected if I die in this century. If I should die sometime in this coming century, what would happen? Again Paul tell us, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them which also sleep in Jesus will God bring them . . . for the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (I Thess. 4:14,16). Do you know what it means when I say that the dead in Christ shall rise? Paul explains this, “We shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump for the trump shall sound, and the dead shall be raised uncorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Cor. 15:51-53).
23. I expect a . . . soul-winning . . . sin-crushing . . . Holy Ghost filled revival to transform individuals. While the Bible promises “perilous days” and “evil days” at the end of this age, I believe God:
· God loves people and wants to save as many as possible.
· God is powerful enough to stop evil at any time.
· God will respond to the repentance and prayers of His people.
Years ago I read an article by Dr. Towns where he quotes a prominent fundamentalist college president who said there couldn’t be a world-wide revival and there wouldn’t be one. I disagree. I believe the promises of the Bible. This is the promise I give to you and to the church for the coming century,
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Contact us and ask for a copy of The How To Book or use The How To Book Online (Falwell.com). It is a booklet that will answer many of the questions you are sure to have about living the Christian life. And when you contact us, tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
