These 10 Bible prophecies from Jesus, Zechariah and the Bible's book
of Revelation deal with the End Times, Apocalypse, or Last Days, when
Jesus is to return and judge the living and the dead.
1. Jerusalem would become an international problem
Bible passage: Zechariah 12:1-5
Written: between 520 and 518 BC
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Zechariah 12, the prophet said that there would come a time when
the surrounding nations would besiege Jerusalem and Judah (the area
around Jerusalem), and that all the nations of the world would gather
against Jerusalem, but that God ultimately would save the city and its
people. This is widely regarded as an End Time prophecy to be fulfilled
in the future.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this prophecy is that it is
predicated on Jerusalem being a city of critical interest to the rest of
the world. And it just so happens that Jerusalem is the only city
in the world that is of interest to the rest of the world.
For Jews, it is their ancient capital, founded by King David about 3000
years ago. Many Arab Moslems, however, believe that the city should be
part of an independent state for Palestinian Arabs. The issue of who
should control Jerusalem has been a cause of the Arab-Israeli wars
during the past century.
And, the conflict between Arabs and Jews has been a primary reason as to
why the international community has taken an interest in Jerusalem. In
1947, the United Nations General Assembly approved a plan to carve up
the ancient land of Israel into a state for Jews and another for Arabs.
This plan would have established Jerusalem as an international city to
be governed by the United Nations.
This extremely unusual proposal, suggesting that a city be governed by
the United Nations, simply shows the unique status that Jerusalem
already has in the world: It is the only city in the world that
is of interest to the rest of the world.
Given the history of the city, the volatile conflict between Israel and
the surrounding Arab nations, and the unusual interest that the
international community has shown in regards to Jerusalem, it seems
clear that the groundwork for the future fulfillment of this prophecy is
in place.
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Zechariah 12:1-5
This is the word of the Lord concerning Israel. The Lord, who stretches
out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the
spirit of man within him, declares: "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup
that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged
as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are
gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all
the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day
I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,"
declares the Lord. "I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah,
but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Then the leaders of
Judah will say in their hearts, `The people of Jerusalem are strong,
because the Lord Almighty is their God.'
2. When Israel blooms again, the Kingdom of God will be near
Bible passage: Luke 21:29-31
Recorded: about 30 AD
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Luke 21:29-31, Jesus said that when the fig tree blooms again, people
will know that the End Times and Kingdom of God is near. Some Christian
scholars believe that the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. This
passage is sometimes interpreted to mean that the End Times would not
begin until sometime after the nation of Israel regains sovereignty.
When Jesus delivered this prophecy about 2000 years ago, Israel was
ruled over by the Roman Empire. The people of Israel did not have
sovereignty over their own land during that era. But, after centuries of
exile, the Jews were able to return to Israel and reclaim sovereignty,
in 1948.
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Luke 21:29-31
He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When
they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is
near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the
kingdom of God is near.
3. The Messiah will appear after the Jews return to Israel
Bible passage: Jeremiah 23:3-6
Written: sometime from 626 to about 586 BC
Fulfilled: end times
In Jeremiah 23:3-6, there is a prophecy that indicates when the Messiah
is to appear in the land of Israel. Jeremiah said that it would be after
the exiled people of Israel return to their homeland. From a Christian
point of view, this is of special interest because Jesus is supposed to
appear twice. And this coincides with the fact that the people of Israel
have been expelled from their homeland twice, and that they are
currently in the process of returning after the second expulsion.
More than 2500 years ago, the Assyrians and Babylonians forced the
people of Israel out of their homeland. Many returned during the
centuries that followed and then Jesus appeared, about 2000 years ago,
and announced that he is the Messiah. Later, the people of Israel were
again forced out of their land (by the Romans in 135 AD) and scattered
to countries throughout the world.
But, during the past few centuries, millions of exiled Jews around the
world have returned to their ancient homeland. And this is one of the
reasons why Christians say that the world is being prepared for the
return of Jesus Christ. Because, as Jeremiah had prophesied long ago,
the Messiah is to appear after the people of Israel return to their
land.
The phrase, in Jeremiah 23:5, "I will raise up to David a righteous
Branch, a King," refers to the Messiah, and that he will be a king and a
descendant of King David, who reigned over Israel about 3000 years ago.
Christians believe that when Jesus returns, he will establish a kingdom
of peace and righteousness.
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Jeremiah 23:3-6
"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries
where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,
where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place
shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be
afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the Lord. "The
days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a
righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and
right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live
in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our
Righteousness.
4. The Gospel will be preached to the entire world
Bible passage: Matthew 24:14
Recorded: about 30 AD
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Matthew 24:14, the Bible says that the Gospel (the New Testament
books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) will be preached throughout the
world. The Bible also says that after this happens, the end times will
come. The Bible has been preached throughout the world for a long time.
But now, with the increasing worldwide availability of television and
the Internet, there is greater potential for the Gospel to be preached
to everyone, everywhere.
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Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
5. The world would be able to simultaneously witness events
Bible passage: Revelation 11:9-10
Written: sometime between 54 and 95 AD
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Revelation 11:9-10, the Bible gives a prophecy that has not yet been
fulfilled, at least not in a literal sense. But, perhaps for the first
time in history, it can be fulfilled. The prophecy says that people all
over the world will be able to simultaneously witness a particular event
(the death of two prophets). This of course would have been difficult
before the popularization of television and the Internet. But it is now
common for people worldwide to simultaneously witness events via
television and the Internet.
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Revelation 11:9-10
For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and
nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants
of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each
other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on
the earth.
6. Zechariah foreshadowed modern warfare
Bible passage: Zechariah 14:12
Written: between 520 and 518 BC
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Zechariah, chapter 14, the prophet says a time will come when nations
gather to attack Jerusalem. In Zechariah 14:12, the prophet says the
nations that attack Jerusalem will be struck with a "plague" that will
cause their flesh to rot while they are still standing. This might be a
fitting description for modern warfare if it were described by a person
who lived 2500 years ago, as Zechariah did. Chemical weapons are capable
of causing rapid deterioration of flesh. And a blast of heat from a
nuclear weapon could have a similar affect. Some Bible scholars,
however, believe that this plague could refer to a supernatural event
from God to protect the Holy Land.
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Zechariah 14:12
This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that
fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still
standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their
tongues will rot in their mouths.
7. Many people will go to Jerusalem to seek God's favor
Bible passage: Zechariah 8:22
Written: between 520 and 518 BC
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Zechariah 8:22, the prophet said 2500 years ago that a time will come
when many people go to Jerusalem to seek and honor God. This prophecy
has been at least partially fulfilled already. The Jews recaptured
Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967. Since then, people from around
the world have toured Jerusalem to visit various sites that are
important to the history of Judaism and Christianity. Jerusalem is also
an important city to Moslems.
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Zechariah 8:22
And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the
Lord Almighty and to entreat him."
8. Book of Revelation envisioned an army of 200 million
Bible passage: Revelation 9:16
Written: sometime between 54 and 95 AD
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Revelation 9:16, the Bible says that an army of 200 million will one
day be assembled. This prophecy, obviously, hasn't been fulfilled yet,
at least not literally. But, as the world's population rises above 6
billion, it is increasingly possible for a coalition of countries to
amass an army of 200 million, and this would have been unthinkable even
100 years ago.
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Revelation 9:16
The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their
number.
9. The troops would cross the Euphrates
Bible passage: Revelation 16:12
Written: sometime between 54 and 95 AD
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Revelation 16:12, the Bible says there will come a time when the flow
of the Euphrates River is halted or dried up, preparing the way for the
"the kings from the East." Some scholars have connected this prophecy to
others that speak of armies waging war in Israel. When the book of
Revelation was written 1900 years ago, it would have taken a great
natural disaster, or a great amount of labor to divert the flow of the
Euphrates so that an army could cross it. (In 539 BC, Cyrus and his army
diverted the flow so that his troops could march across the riverbed and
conquer Babylon). But, today, there are a series of dams that would make
it much easier to divert the flow of the powerful river.
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Revelation 16:12
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and
its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.
10. People would be forced to receive the mark of the beast
Bible passage: Revelation 13:16-18
Written: sometime between 54 and 95 AD
To be fulfilled: End Times
In Revelation 13:16-18, the Bible says that there would come a time when
a powerful leader would force people to receive a "mark" on or in their
right hand or forehead, and that no one would be able to buy or sell
unless they had that mark. When the book of Revelation was written about
1900 years ago, it would have been nearly impossible for a world leader
to force everyone to receive such a mark. But, today, with modern
technology, it would be much easier. Today, for example, it would be
possible to implant under a person's skin a small microchip that could
be used like a credit card.
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Revelation 13:16-18
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,
to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that
no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath
understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a
man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (KJV).