Before our very eyes the prophetic statements are being fulfilled as predicted in the Holy Scriptures.The return of the people of Israel into the »Promised Land« is the most important sign. They were to be scattered among all the nations, as it was already predicted in Deuteronomy, chapter 4 and also in chapter 29. At the end of time they would be gathered again and planted anew in their native soil (Isa 14:1; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 36:24, a. o.). This was confirmed by our Lord Himself in the parable of the »fig tree« as a direct symbol of Israel (Hos. 9:10) in this final generation (Mt. 24:32-41; Lk. 21:24-33 a. o.).

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day (Gen. 2:1-3). When we are dealing with a »prophetic age«, then one day with God is like a thousand years with us. Thus it is written, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3:8). In Acts 2:17 the Apostle Peter makes reference to the »last days« spoken of by the Prophet Joel, in which the Holy Spirit would be poured out. Without any doubt he was referring to the 2,000-year period of the time of grace allotted to the New Testament Church. “In these last days God spoke to us by his son …” (Heb. 1:1-3) As sure as we are now ending the 6,000 years since the beginning of mankind, it is certain that the »Day of the Lord«, the seventh day with God, the seventh millennium could commence at any moment God decides. The Lord God does not go by our calendar, but we can expect the »last day« to be at any time. According to Rev. 20 it will be the one-thousand-year reign with Christ upon the earth. The following text testifies about it. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (v. 6). After the cleansing process, during which the worldly works will be consumed by fire (2. Pet. 3:1, a. o.), there will be a renewal, and the earth will be placed back into a state like it was in paradise, where »true peace« exists and even the lamb and the wolf will dwell together (Isa. 11:6-9; Isa. 65:25, a. o.). With reference to the biblical »Vision of the seventh millennium«, which concerns the most significant turn in the history of mankind, we can find very enlightening descriptions in God’s Word.

What concerns the course of humanity, we also have the divine time calculation in regards to the people of Israel, spoken of as »prophetic days«. It is very convincing, what the Prophet Hosea predicted, which is now becoming obvious before our very eyes, “Come, and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” (Hos. 6:1-2).

The »two prophetic days« mentioned are certainly pointing to the past two thousand years, when the children of Israel were scattered all over the world from the year 70 A.D. After such a long time, since 1948 we once again have the state, the Nation of Israel. From all the countries they have returned to their homeland. That is a proven fulfilment of Bible prophecy. The »third day« refers to the millennium that can start at any moment, when Israel will recognise Christ as their Messiah and receive their spiritual life from God. The Apostle Paul made reference to Israel, their past and their future, in the following text, “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? ... blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written” (Rom. 11:15 + 25-26; Isa. 59: 20, a. o.).

As soon as the »Day of salvation« we are currently living in is over (Isa. 49:8; 2 Cor. 6:2), the world will have to endure terrible sufferings and plagues in the transition period, before the »Day of the Lord«, the seventh millennium, starts. In Mt. 24 and other scripture passages, the Lord Jesus made reference to various events, which would accompany the end-time developments. He spoke about wars and rumours of wars, about earthquakes, famines and all the catastrophes that would come upon the earth. Then He made the statement, “this is but the beginning of the time of sorrow”. Earthquakes and other natural catastrophes of every kind will multiply, right until the long overdue earthquake in California at the West Coast of the U.S.A., along St. Andrews Fault, which is expected by scientists to happen at any moment and far surpass any previous quake. Usually the pains of travail come before the birth. In Rom. 8:19-22 we are told that the whole creation is groaning and is in travail, longing for a rebirth. In connection to this travail the Lord Jesus made the announcement, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Mt. 24:21).

In Lk. 21 and other scripture passages we are told about the great tribulation. “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (vv. 25-26).

We cannot go into detail concerning these terrible catastrophes which are predicted in the Holy Scriptures and are known as the »apocalyptic judgements«. They certainly will happen after the »Bride Church« of Jesus Christ will have been taken into Glory. In the beginning, God commanded the human beings to rule over the earth, but to do it in fellowship with Him. Separated from Him man ruins himself and also the earth wherein he lives. Experts speak with much concern about the air, water, and land pollution, about the threat of the hole in the ozone layer, about the »hothouse effect«, and also about the climatic catastrophe which will be triggered off as the ozone layer diminishes, wherein the sun in its final state will be seven times stronger than it is now. So we are informed in the Holy Scriptures, “Moreover, the light of the moon shall be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, like the light of seven days ...” (Isa. 30:26).

The seer John on the isle of Patmos saw this taking place in the following vision, “And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.” (Rev. 16:8-9). At that moment the time of grace, the »Day of salvation« will be over, and therefore it will no longer be possible to convert to God. For many people it will be a terrible awakening, it will be for ever too late.

After the sun has scorched the earth’s surface, it will turn into darkness, as the Scripture says, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come” (Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20). “… and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind ... And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17).

God in His love and mercy has always provided humanity with a way of escape, even in the times of Noah through the ark, because the catastrophe of the flood was unavoidable. So the Word of God warns us now, that we may escape by finding salvation and security in Jesus Christ, our ark of safety, before the catastrophes come. Those who believe the message of His Gospel and are made ready will receive the power to escape all the things which will strike the earth and be taken into Glory before it happens (Lk. 21:34-36). In this connection our Lord said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near.” (Lk. 21:28).

A doomsday attitude is certainly uncalled for, it offers no solution. The command right now is not to panic, but to consider, reflect and turn to the Lord. The message of this hour is: “Escape for thy life” — “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” The time of grace is coming to an end. The countdown is on. The last call goes forth like a sound of a trumpet. Whoever desires to turn to the Lord must do it right now. It is indeed very urgent, as we should consider the following Bible text:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are in it, shall be burned up. Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Pet. 3:10-13).

Many scriptures could be referred to concerning this very complex matter. What has been written for a long time will soon become history. In spite of this we must remain sober and steady in all things, live a completely normal life and plan for the future, because nobody knows the day or the hour. We should be concerned, of course, to be right with God and to be ready at any time to meet the Lord. This final age we are living in our Lord Jesus Christ compared with the days of Noah and with the days of Sodom and Gomorra (Lk. 17:26-30, a. o). No one would deny that things are much worse right now world-wide. Humanity that has turned away from God is just about to receive the judgement. God offers both, grace for those who seek shelter in Him and accept the salvation of their souls, and judgement to those who reject Jesus Christ.

Before our very eyes the prophetic statements are being fulfilled as predicted in the Holy Scriptures.  The return of the people of Israel into the »Promised Land« is the most important sign. They were to be scattered among all the nations, as it was already predicted in Deuteronomy, chapter 4 and also in chapter 29. At the end of time they would be gathered again and planted anew in their native soil (Isa 14:1; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 36:24, a. o.). This was confirmed by our Lord Himself in the parable of the »fig tree« as a direct symbol of Israel (Hos. 9:10) in this final generation (Mt. 24:32-41; Lk. 21:24-33 a. o.).

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day (Gen. 2:1-3). When we are dealing with a »prophetic age«, then one day with God is like a thousand years with us. Thus it is written, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3:8). In Acts 2:17 the Apostle Peter makes reference to the »last days« spoken of by the Prophet Joel, in which the Holy Spirit would be poured out. Without any doubt he was referring to the 2,000-year period of the time of grace allotted to the New Testament Church. “In these last days God spoke to us by his son …” (Heb. 1:1-3) As sure as we are now ending the 6,000 years since the beginning of mankind, it is certain that the »Day of the Lord«, the seventh day with God, the seventh millennium could commence at any moment God decides. The Lord God does not go by our calendar, but we can expect the »last day« to be at any time. According to Rev. 20 it will be the one-thousand-year reign with Christ upon the earth. The following text testifies about it. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (v. 6). After the cleansing process, during which the worldly works will be consumed by fire (2. Pet. 3:1, a. o.), there will be a renewal, and the earth will be placed back into a state like it was in paradise, where »true peace« exists and even the lamb and the wolf will dwell together (Isa. 11:6-9; Isa. 65:25, a. o.). With reference to the biblical »Vision of the seventh millennium«, which concerns the most significant turn in the history of mankind, we can find very enlightening descriptions in God’s Word.

What concerns the course of humanity, we also have the divine time calculation in regards to the people of Israel, spoken of as »prophetic days«. It is very convincing, what the Prophet Hosea predicted, which is now becoming obvious before our very eyes, “Come, and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” (Hos. 6:1-2).

The »two prophetic days« mentioned are certainly pointing to the past two thousand years, when the children of Israel were scattered all over the world from the year 70 A.D. After such a long time, since 1948 we once again have the state, the Nation of Israel. From all the countries they have returned to their homeland. That is a proven fulfilment of Bible prophecy. The »third day« refers to the millennium that can start at any moment, when Israel will recognise Christ as their Messiah and receive their spiritual life from God. The Apostle Paul made reference to Israel, their past and their future, in the following text, “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? ... blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written” (Rom. 11:15 + 25-26; Isa. 59: 20, a. o.).

As soon as the »Day of salvation« we are currently living in is over (Isa. 49:8; 2 Cor. 6:2), the world will have to endure terrible sufferings and plagues in the transition period, before the »Day of the Lord«, the seventh millennium, starts. In Mt. 24 and other scripture passages, the Lord Jesus made reference to various events, which would accompany the end-time developments. He spoke about wars and rumours of wars, about earthquakes, famines and all the catastrophes that would come upon the earth. Then He made the statement, “this is but the beginning of the time of sorrow”. Earthquakes and other natural catastrophes of every kind will multiply, right until the long overdue earthquake in California at the West Coast of the U.S.A., along St. Andrews Fault, which is expected by scientists to happen at any moment and far surpass any previous quake. Usually the pains of travail come before the birth. In Rom. 8:19-22 we are told that the whole creation is groaning and is in travail, longing for a rebirth. In connection to this travail the Lord Jesus made the announcement, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Mt. 24:21).

In Lk. 21 and other scripture passages we are told about the great tribulation. “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (vv. 25-26).

We cannot go into detail concerning these terrible catastrophes which are predicted in the Holy Scriptures and are known as the »apocalyptic judgements«. They certainly will happen after the »Bride Church« of Jesus Christ will have been taken into Glory. In the beginning, God commanded the human beings to rule over the earth, but to do it in fellowship with Him. Separated from Him man ruins himself and also the earth wherein he lives. Experts speak with much concern about the air, water, and land pollution, about the threat of the hole in the ozone layer, about the »hothouse effect«, and also about the climatic catastrophe which will be triggered off as the ozone layer diminishes, wherein the sun in its final state will be seven times stronger than it is now. So we are informed in the Holy Scriptures, “Moreover, the light of the moon shall be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, like the light of seven days ...” (Isa. 30:26).

The seer John on the isle of Patmos saw this taking place in the following vision, “And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.” (Rev. 16:8-9). At that moment the time of grace, the »Day of salvation« will be over, and therefore it will no longer be possible to convert to God. For many people it will be a terrible awakening, it will be for ever too late.

After the sun has scorched the earth’s surface, it will turn into darkness, as the Scripture says, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come” (Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20). “… and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind ... And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17).

God in His love and mercy has always provided humanity with a way of escape, even in the times of Noah through the ark, because the catastrophe of the flood was unavoidable. So the Word of God warns us now, that we may escape by finding salvation and security in Jesus Christ, our ark of safety, before the catastrophes come. Those who believe the message of His Gospel and are made ready will receive the power to escape all the things which will strike the earth and be taken into Glory before it happens (Lk. 21:34-36). In this connection our Lord said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near.” (Lk. 21:28).

A doomsday attitude is certainly uncalled for, it offers no solution. The command right now is not to panic, but to consider, reflect and turn to the Lord. The message of this hour is: “Escape for thy life” — “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” The time of grace is coming to an end. The countdown is on. The last call goes forth like a sound of a trumpet. Whoever desires to turn to the Lord must do it right now. It is indeed very urgent, as we should consider the following Bible text:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are in it, shall be burned up. Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Pet. 3:10-13).

Many scriptures could be referred to concerning this very complex matter. What has been written for a long time will soon become history. In spite of this we must remain sober and steady in all things, live a completely normal life and plan for the future, because nobody knows the day or the hour. We should be concerned, of course, to be right with God and to be ready at any time to meet the Lord. This final age we are living in our Lord Jesus Christ compared with the days of Noah and with the days of Sodom and Gomorra (Lk. 17:26-30, a. o). No one would deny that things are much worse right now world-wide. Humanity that has turned away from God is just about to receive the judgement. God offers both, grace for those who seek shelter in Him and accept the salvation of their souls, and judgement to those who reject Jesus Christ.