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Page 2 of 10 A fourth is due this fall. Each arrives in the wake of the 2006 success of 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, which has been selling thousands of copies a month since its release in May and counts more than 40,000 in print. The books also build on popular interest in the Maya, fueled in part by Mel Gibson's December 2006 film about Mayan civilization, Apocalpyto. Authors disagree about what humankind should expect on Dec. 21, 2012, when the Maya's "Long Count" calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era.Comment: There is a lot of buzz about this subject on the Internet and there have been a good number of people asking me about it at conferences and through email. My response is always the same. Why would anyone interested in the subject of end times be more concerned with whatever the Mayans believed than the proven prophets of God? Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah and others wrote extensively about the end times. They have spelled out fairly clearly how the end times would play out. None of God's prophets have ever been discredited because they prophesied falsely. Their credibility is "over the top" on the issue. Yet, many people prefer to pay attention to other sources. In this case, the Mayan calendar. What is significant here is the fact that the Mayan calendar simply ends at 2012. The subject is left hopelessly to speculation from that point. Unlike hopeless speculations, God's prophets gave us the full picture. Thanks to them, the future is very clear: 1.) Israel would be scattered from their land. 2.) The Church would be founded and operate in the interim. 2.) After many years, the Jewish people would return. 3.) Israel would be reestablished and rebuilt as a nation 4.) Israel would have to fight for their lives. 5.) All nations would eventually come against Israel. 6.) The Lord would fight against those nations at His return. 7.) The Lord would set up His Kingdom in Israel for 1,000 years. 8.) God would then bring New Jerusalem down and dwell among man forever. (See Ezekiel 33-48 and Revelation 19-22 Question: Some people have the bent that all Arabs (Ishmael's offspring) are mapped out only for disaster prophetically. Can you point me to a Scripture that addresses this issue? Answer: Ishmael's descendants were to inherit the land "east of his brothers" (Gen. 16:12). This would include the countries of Jordan, Syria, Iraq, etc. Ishmael's violent tendencies are also prophesied there in Genesis 16:12. However, according to Isaiah 19:23-25, peace will finally one day be achieved between Ishmael and his brother, Isaac. Together, when this Scripture is fulfilled, they will enjoy great blessings from the Lord. "In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance". Isaiah 19:23-25 (NAS). How we should all long to see this prophecy fulfilled! Question: Is there any one Scripture that causes you to conclude that the Rapture of the Church will take place before the Tribulation?
Answer: Yes. Revelation 3:10 says, "Because you have kept the
word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing,
that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those
who dwell upon the earth". (NAS) |
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