This disclosure will acquaint us with God’s timetable concerning the history of mankind. In Psalm 90, 4, we read, “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past …” The same thought is being expressed by the apostle Peter in the New Testament, “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.” (II Pet. 3:8). When we read in the Scriptures about the last days, we have to discern, whether the last days are spoken of in the prophetic sense or whether the last generation is meant.

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. If one reads the creation account precisely, it is stated like this, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” (Gen. 2:2). This has a great significance for the course of the seven-thousand years of the human history. The number seven speaks of divine completion. The eighth day would be again the first day of week.

The Biblical course can be divided as follows: approximately 2,000 years — two days with God elapsed from Adam to Abraham, the next two from Abraham to Christ. Now we are close to the completion of the 2,000 years span again. The seventh is the rest day of the Lord — the Millennial reign. Prophets and apostles spoke and wrote of this “Day of the Lord”. John records an experience he had on the Isle of Patmos when he said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day …” (Rev. 1:10).

This lastday starts with the great battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:14-16), andends with the great battle of Gog and Magog after the Millennial reign, when Satan will be loosed and for the last time he will deceive the nations (Rev. 20:7-10).

In between these battles is the Millennial reign, where the wolf and the lamb, …the leopard with the kid … the calf and the young lion … the cow and the bear shall feed together (Isa. 11:6-11). “… and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3).

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, who shall stand for an ensign of the people; to him shall the nations seek, and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day,that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, who shall be left …” (Isa. 11:10-11).

Prophetically viewed, we live in the last two days since the beginning of the New covenant, also termed as the “last times”. The apostle Peter wrote of Christ, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (I Pet. 1:20). This span of time is now nearing its end. Because some count Biblical 360 days and others 365 days, it is not possible to calculate the time exactly. Thanks be to God for that. We do have of course an orientation given in the Scriptures. From the predictions and the events — the signs of the time — we can detect and understand that we are now living at the end of time. The great event and change in the history of mankind is within reach.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter visualised the two prophetic days when he established the event of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the scriptural foundation of Joel 2, “But this is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh …” (Acts 2:16-17). At the end of these last days — the two-thousand years — he places with all accuracy the day of the Lord which can only come after the day of salvation has ended. “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come” (Acts 2:20). According to Malachi 4:5, it will be the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Certain events will happen at the end of this two-thousand years period and others will fall in the beginning of the seventh day — the day of the Lord. There is not one place in the Scriptures stating that the Sabbath or the Sunday is the “Day of the Lord”. For the believers, this day will be glorious (Phil. 1:6; Phil 2:16). For the ungodly it will be terrible (Isa 13:6-12). As God completed His work of creation on the seventh day and then rested, so will it be at the completion of the work of redemption.

The time of grace is also called the “day of salvation”, the “acceptable time” (Isa. 49:8; II Cor. 6:2) and also as the “acceptable year of the Lord” (Isa. 61:2; Lk. 4:19). Originally the term the “acceptable year” meant the year of jubilee. In the Old Testament, this special year came after seven times seven years, in the fiftieth year. All who were indebted or slaves, who had lost their possessions could reclaim everything and return to their possessions in the year of jubilee (Lev. 25). At the great day of atonement, the trumpets were sounded and all were freed on one day in the year of jubilee. After that great day when reconciliation with God and humanity took place, the trumpet sound of the gospel is heard. Whosoever believes now can go free. The whole span of the time of grace is for every one, regardless where and when one lives. It is the divine jubilee year which our Lord described as the “acceptable year”. Everyone who believes God during this time and accepts the finished work of redemption may go out free. Our Lord proclaimed then, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”. (Lk. 4:21). This “today” is the God given day of grace (Heb. 4:7).

About the two last days, the apostle Peter made this statement, “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” (Acts 3:24). It is quite astounding to see the precision with which the men of God in the New Testament could describe by revelation, the things pertaining to the plan of salvation. “… Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah …” This covenant God made in Christ on Calvary and gave the promise to Israel, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” (Heb. 8:8+10).

With reference to the time span of the Old Testament which is also described as days in the prophetic sense, we read in Hebrews 1:“God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, …” The end of the days of the fathers merged into the days in which God spoke through His Son and gave the answer. We are dealing with the approximate 2,000 years allotted for the church which will reach her completion at the end of this age. After this, there will be the realisation of God’s plan with Israel. This of course will fall into the beginning of the seventh day, directly before the commencement of the Millennial reign.

In Hosea 6, reference is made to these prophetic days, “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).

In the year 70 A.D., the temple was destroyed by the Roman army under Titus and Israel was dispersed among the nations as Moses and the prophets had foretold. Moses also spoke of their return (Dt. 4:27-28). And through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord gave the promise, “… He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth flock … Therefore, they shall come and sing in the height of Zion … for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” (Jer. 31:10-13). The prophet Ezekiel also wrote about this subject in chapters 36-38. In chapter 37, verse 21, we find the following statement, “… Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, to which they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.” In chapter 38, the time in which this will happen is being closely described, “… in the latter years … it shall be in the latter days …” (vs. 8+16).

We are told by the prophet Hosea that the return and the healing of Israel will take place after two days, that is to say, after 2,000 years. On the third day, the Lord will heal Israel and He will give them life. The hope for the Messiah is left vivid in all the believing Jews until this day. In general, a prayer at the Wailing wall ends with the petition that the Messiah should come and the temple be rebuilt. It will then be fulfilled what the prophet stated, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” (Hos. 6:3).

By a miracle of God, as this cannot be misinterpreted, we do have the country of Israel again since 1948. Viewed from God’s plan of salvation, God deals with Israel as a nation in their own country. From all the other nations, He calls out individuals. In regard to the completion of the church from the nations and the deliverance of Israel, the apostle Paul writes, “… 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. 11:25-26).

James had already expressed this thought in the special gathering at Jerusalem, “Simeon hath declared how God first did visit the nations, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written: After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David …” (Acts 15:14-16). The prophet Amos stated it like this, “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, …” (9:11). Concerning the people of Israel, the prophet Zephaniah wrote, “In that day shalt thou not be ashamed …” (3:11). “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; … And it shall come to pass, in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zech. 12:3+9).

The fact of the return of Israel into their homeland is a proof that the time of grace for the Gentiles is nearing its end. Within a short time, God will turn to Israel again. Before that last day commences, the work of God with the church must be completed. Thus saith the Lord, “Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.” (Mal. 4:5). Could it be that this promise has already been fulfilled without the established clergy taking notice of it? Or as it was at the beginning of the time of grace with John the Baptist who was turned down by the Jewish clergy of his day.

Because John the Baptist fulfilled the first part of the prophetic statement, “… to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children …” (Lk. 1:17), he was also called Elijah. Since then almost 2,000 years elapsed, but the day of the Lord has not yet come. John was the messenger according to Mal. 3:1 who prepared the way of the Lord (Mt. 11:10;
Mk. 1:1-3).

John was also asked, “Art thou Elijah?” He boldly answered, “I am not.” (Jn. 1:21). Just at the end of the day of grace, before the judgements and the wrath of God are poured out, God promised to send a man like the prophet Elijah. This man has the task to turn the hearts of God’s children back to the faith of the apostolic fathers. Elijah gathered Israel on Mount Carmel and rebuilt the altar of the Lord. He took the twelve stones according to the twelve tribes, and God gave the decision and the answer from heaven. The Elijah of this day must bring the hearts of the children back to the original doctrine of the twelve apostles upon which the New Testament church was established. Then only the living God will confirm His Word by a supernatural act and manifest His power within His church. This man of God will not represent a certain denomination. He will have to be one sent by God with a direct commission and with the timely message to God’s people.

In Matthew 17:11, Jesus Christ confirms this ministry as to be in the future. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.” Dr. Scofield, the famous Bible translator, gives in his footnote this fitting statement, “Christ confirms the specific and still unfulfilled prophecy of Mal. 4:5-6:‘Elijah shall truly first come and restore all things.’ Here, as in Malachi, the prediction fulfilled in John the Baptist, and that yet to be fulfilled in Elijah, are kept distinct. But John the Baptist had come already, and with a ministry so completely in the spirit and power of Elijah’s future ministry (Lk. 1:17) that in a typical sense, it could be said, ‘Elijah has come already.’”

The one who prepared the way at the first coming of Christ came in the spirit and power of Elijah. The man of God before the second coming of Christ must establish God’s order to the original pattern of the early church. This must happen before the return of Christ, because in reference to His coming we read, “Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the age began.” (Acts 3:21).

In view to the day of the Lord, the apostle Paul writes, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night …” (I Th. 5:2). That is to say, without special warning and it will be a surprise. The apostle further states in reference to this day, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.” (vs. 3). At no other time, the terminology “peace” and “safety” has been so much emphasised as right now. The politicians yearn to bring peace and with peace also safety to the nations. At that time, when these two words “peace” and “safety” will receive world-wide significance, sudden destruction will happen. That time is now. In both, East and West, only one thought prevails and that is to destroy the terrible weapons and secure a world-wide peace. For those who know the Scriptures, they will not be taken by surprise, because they know that according to the signs of the time these developments take place. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (I Th. 5:4).

The apostle Paul picks up this theme of the return of Christ and our uniting with Him and tells us to remain calm and not to be “soon shaken mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of the Lord is present.” (II Th. 2:2). In this chapter as well as in other places, the spiritual marks and the general situation of the end time are clearly shown by the Scripture. “… there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts …” (Jude 18).

The apostle Peter almost used the same wording, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.” (II Pet. 3:3).

In the following verse, the apostle not only describes the mocking in general, but specifies, what they will finally mock, and that is the promised return of Jesus Christ Himself, as they will ask, “Where is the promise of his coming? …”

The general situation of the end time is described in II Tim. 3:1-9. “This know, also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; from such turn away …” The Lord also described the moral and spiritual condition of the end time when He compared it to the days of Noah and to the days of Sodom (Lk. 17). In the times of Noah, the mixing of the two lines (Seth and Cain) took place. And because of this, God set an end to all flesh (Gen. 6). Now the greatest religious mixing and joining of all times takes place.

In II Tim. 4:1-5, we are warned of the proclamation which deviates from the truth. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine … And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Certainly it was not the apostle who was speaking in I Tim 4:1-3, but rather the Spirit of God Who foresaw the spiritual developments. “… the Spirit speaketh expressly that, in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons, … forbidding to marry (encouraging celibacy), and commanding to abstain from foods (Not eating meat on Friday), which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by them who believe and know the truth.” What people look upon to be especially holy, not to marry, etc., the Holy Scripture declares as doctrines of demons.

The apostle Peter also spoke of the day of the Lord. He uses the terminology “day of God”. “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 … looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,” (II Pet. 3:10-12).

The prophet Daniel repeatedly spoke of the end time. In chapter 2, verse 28, we read, “But there is a God in heaven who revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, what shall be in the latter days.” In chapter 8, verse 17, 19, and 26, he was told, “… Understand, O son of man; for at the time of the end shall be the vision. … Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation; for at the time appointed the end shall be. … wherefore, shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.” In his last chapter, the prophet Daniel was given a summary, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end … Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” (12:4+9).

Up till now, it was not possible to place the prophetic part of history as shown in the Scriptures. But now it is possible based upon the political and spiritual developments. The present establishing of the religious and political Europe is the coming forth of the old Roman empire and is based upon the Roman Treaty of March 25th, 1957. The irreversible developments in Central Europe and the world condition in general show unto us that the return of Jesus Christ is very near and also the day of the Lord which would follow. The time is not only at hand but the time is here. Today it is not necessary to explain Biblical prophecies. We see them becoming a reality. The time of grace, the day of salvation is ending and the countdown is on. One epoch will come to its consummation, and then the last day will begin. After the seventh day, the last thousand years, time will merge into eternity.

This disclosure will acquaint us with God’s timetable concerning the history of mankind. In Psalm 90, 4, we read, “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past …” The same thought is being expressed by the apostle Peter in the New Testament, “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.” (II Pet. 3:8). When we read in the Scriptures about the last days, we have to discern, whether the last days are spoken of in the prophetic sense or whether the last generation is meant.

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. If one reads the creation account precisely, it is stated like this, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” (Gen. 2:2). This has a great significance for the course of the seven-thousand years of the human history. The number seven speaks of divine completion. The eighth day would be again the first day of week.

The Biblical course can be divided as follows: approximately 2,000 years — two days with God elapsed from Adam to Abraham, the next two from Abraham to Christ. Now we are close to the completion of the 2,000 years span again. The seventh is the rest day of the Lord — the Millennial reign. Prophets and apostles spoke and wrote of this “Day of the Lord”. John records an experience he had on the Isle of Patmos when he said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day …” (Rev. 1:10).

This last  day starts with the great battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:14-16), and  ends with the great battle of Gog and Magog after the Millennial reign, when Satan will be loosed and for the last time he will deceive the nations (Rev. 20:7-10).

In between these battles is the Millennial reign, where the wolf and the lamb, …  the leopard with the kid … the calf and the young lion … the cow and the bear shall feed together (Isa. 11:6-11). “… and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3).

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, who shall stand for an ensign of the people; to him shall the nations seek, and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day,  that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, who shall be left …” (Isa. 11:10-11).

Prophetically viewed, we live in the last two days since the beginning of the New covenant, also termed as the “last times”. The apostle Peter wrote of Christ, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (I Pet. 1:20). This span of time is now nearing its end. Because some count Biblical 360 days and others 365 days, it is not possible to calculate the time exactly. Thanks be to God for that. We do have of course an orientation given in the Scriptures. From the predictions and the events — the signs of the time — we can detect and understand that we are now living at the end of time. The great event and change in the history of mankind is within reach.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter visualised the two prophetic days when he established the event of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the scriptural foundation of Joel 2, “But this is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh …” (Acts 2:16-17). At the end of these last days — the two-thousand years — he places with all accuracy the day of the Lord which can only come after the day of salvation has ended. “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come” (Acts 2:20). According to Malachi 4:5, it will be the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Certain events will happen at the end of this two-thousand years period and others will fall in the beginning of the seventh day — the day of the Lord. There is not one place in the Scriptures stating that the Sabbath or the Sunday is the “Day of the Lord”. For the believers, this day will be glorious (Phil. 1:6; Phil 2:16). For the ungodly it will be terrible (Isa 13:6-12). As God completed His work of creation on the seventh day and then rested, so will it be at the completion of the work of redemption.

The time of grace is also called the “day of salvation”, the “acceptable time” (Isa. 49:8; II Cor. 6:2) and also as the “acceptable year of the Lord” (Isa. 61:2; Lk. 4:19). Originally the term the “acceptable year” meant the year of jubilee. In the Old Testament, this special year came after seven times seven years, in the fiftieth year. All who were indebted or slaves, who had lost their possessions could reclaim everything and return to their possessions in the year of jubilee (Lev. 25). At the great day of atonement, the trumpets were sounded and all were freed on one day in the year of jubilee. After that great day when reconciliation with God and humanity took place, the trumpet sound of the gospel is heard. Whosoever believes now can go free. The whole span of the time of grace is for every one, regardless where and when one lives. It is the divine jubilee year which our Lord described as the “acceptable year”. Everyone who believes God during this time and accepts the finished work of redemption may go out free. Our Lord proclaimed then, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”. (Lk. 4:21). This “today” is the God given day of grace (Heb. 4:7).

About the two last days, the apostle Peter made this statement, “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” (Acts 3:24). It is quite astounding to see the precision with which the men of God in the New Testament could describe by revelation, the things pertaining to the plan of salvation. “… Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah …” This covenant God made in Christ on Calvary and gave the promise to Israel, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” (Heb. 8:8+10).

With reference to the time span of the Old Testament which is also described as days in the prophetic sense, we read in Hebrews 1:“God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, …” The end of the days of the fathers merged into the days in which God spoke through His Son and gave the answer. We are dealing with the approximate 2,000 years allotted for the church which will reach her completion at the end of this age. After this, there will be the realisation of God’s plan with Israel. This of course will fall into the beginning of the seventh day, directly before the commencement of the Millennial reign.

In Hosea 6, reference is made to these prophetic days, “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).

In the year 70 A.D., the temple was destroyed by the Roman army under Titus and Israel was dispersed among the nations as Moses and the prophets had foretold. Moses also spoke of their return (Dt. 4:27-28). And through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord gave the promise, “… He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth flock … Therefore, they shall come and sing in the height of Zion … for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” (Jer. 31:10-13). The prophet Ezekiel also wrote about this subject in chapters 36-38. In chapter 37, verse 21, we find the following statement, “… Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, to which they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.” In chapter 38, the time in which this will happen is being closely described, “… in the latter years … it shall be in the latter days …” (vs. 8+16).

We are told by the prophet Hosea that the return and the healing of Israel will take place after two days, that is to say, after 2,000 years. On the third day, the Lord will heal Israel and He will give them life. The hope for the Messiah is left vivid in all the believing Jews until this day. In general, a prayer at the Wailing wall ends with the petition that the Messiah should come and the temple be rebuilt. It will then be fulfilled what the prophet stated, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” (Hos. 6:3).

By a miracle of God, as this cannot be misinterpreted, we do have the country of Israel again since 1948. Viewed from God’s plan of salvation, God deals with Israel as a nation in their own country. From all the other nations, He calls out individuals. In regard to the completion of the church from the nations and the deliverance of Israel, the apostle Paul writes, “… 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. 11:25-26).

James had already expressed this thought in the special gathering at Jerusalem, “Simeon hath declared how God first did visit the nations, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written: After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David …” (Acts 15:14-16). The prophet Amos stated it like this, “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, …” (9:11). Concerning the people of Israel, the prophet Zephaniah wrote, “In that day shalt thou not be ashamed …” (3:11). “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; … And it shall come to pass, in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zech. 12:3+9).

The fact of the return of Israel into their homeland is a proof that the time of grace for the Gentiles is nearing its end. Within a short time, God will turn to Israel again. Before that last day commences, the work of God with the church must be completed. Thus saith the Lord, “Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.” (Mal. 4:5). Could it be that this promise has already been fulfilled without the established clergy taking notice of it? Or as it was at the beginning of the time of grace with John the Baptist who was turned down by the Jewish clergy of his day.

Because John the Baptist fulfilled the first part of the prophetic statement, “… to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children …”  (Lk. 1:17), he was also called Elijah. Since then almost 2,000 years elapsed, but the day of the Lord has not yet come. John was the messenger according to Mal. 3:1 who prepared the way of the Lord (Mt. 11:10;
Mk. 1:1-3).

John was also asked, “Art thou Elijah?” He boldly answered, “I am not.” (Jn. 1:21). Just at the end of the day of grace, before the judgements and the wrath of God are poured out, God promised to send a man like the prophet Elijah. This man has the task to turn the hearts of God’s children back to the faith of the apostolic fathers. Elijah gathered Israel on Mount Carmel and rebuilt the altar of the Lord. He took the twelve stones according to the twelve tribes, and God gave the decision and the answer from heaven. The Elijah of this day must bring the hearts of the children back to the original doctrine of the twelve apostles upon which the New Testament church was established. Then only the living God will confirm His Word by a supernatural act and manifest His power within His church. This man of God will not represent a certain denomination. He will have to be one sent by God with a direct commission and with the timely message to God’s people.

In Matthew 17:11, Jesus Christ confirms this ministry as to be in the future. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.” Dr. Scofield, the famous Bible translator, gives in his footnote this fitting statement, “Christ confirms the specific and still unfulfilled prophecy of Mal. 4:5-6:‘Elijah shall truly first come and restore all things.’ Here, as in Malachi, the prediction fulfilled in John the Baptist, and that yet to be fulfilled in Elijah, are kept distinct. But John the Baptist had come already, and with a ministry so completely in the spirit and power of Elijah’s future ministry (Lk. 1:17) that in a typical sense, it could be said, ‘Elijah has come already.’”

The one who prepared the way at the first coming of Christ came in the spirit and power of Elijah. The man of God before the second coming of Christ must establish God’s order to the original pattern of the early church. This must happen before the return of Christ, because in reference to His coming we read, “Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the age began.” (Acts 3:21).

In view to the day of the Lord, the apostle Paul writes, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night …” (I Th. 5:2). That is to say, without special warning and it will be a surprise. The apostle further states in reference to this day, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.” (vs. 3). At no other time, the terminology “peace” and “safety” has been so much emphasised as right now. The politicians yearn to bring peace and with peace also safety to the nations. At that time, when these two words “peace” and “safety” will receive world-wide significance, sudden destruction will happen. That time is now. In both, East and West, only one thought prevails and that is to destroy the terrible weapons and secure a world-wide peace. For those who know the Scriptures, they will not be taken by surprise, because they know that according to the signs of the time these developments take place. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (I Th. 5:4).

The apostle Paul picks up this theme of the return of Christ and our uniting with Him and tells us to remain calm and not to be “soon shaken mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of the Lord is present.” (II Th. 2:2). In this chapter as well as in other places, the spiritual marks and the general situation of the end time are clearly shown by the Scripture. “… there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts …” (Jude 18).

The apostle Peter almost used the same wording, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.” (II Pet. 3:3).

In the following verse, the apostle not only describes the mocking in general, but specifies, what they will finally mock, and that is the promised return of Jesus Christ Himself, as they will ask, “Where is the promise of his coming? …”

The general situation of the end time is described in II Tim. 3:1-9. “This know, also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; from such turn away …” The Lord also described the moral and spiritual condition of the end time when He compared it to the days of Noah and to the days of Sodom (Lk. 17). In the times of Noah, the mixing of the two lines (Seth and Cain) took place. And because of this, God set an end to all flesh (Gen. 6). Now the greatest religious mixing and joining of all times takes place.

In II Tim. 4:1-5, we are warned of the proclamation which deviates from the truth. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine … And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Certainly it was not the apostle who was speaking in I Tim 4:1-3, but rather the Spirit of God Who foresaw the spiritual developments. “… the Spirit speaketh expressly that, in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons, … forbidding to marry (encouraging celibacy), and commanding to abstain from foods (Not eating meat on Friday), which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by them who believe and know the truth.” What people look upon to be especially holy, not to marry, etc., the Holy Scripture declares as doctrines of demons.

The apostle Peter also spoke of the day of the Lord. He uses the terminology “day of God”. “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 … looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,” (II Pet. 3:10-12).

The prophet Daniel repeatedly spoke of the end time. In chapter 2, verse 28, we read, “But there is a God in heaven who revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, what shall be in the latter days.” In chapter 8, verse 17, 19, and 26, he was told, “… Understand, O son of man; for at the time of the end shall be the vision. … Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation; for at the time appointed the end shall be. … wherefore, shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.” In his last chapter, the prophet Daniel was given a summary, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end … Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” (12:4+9).

Up till now, it was not possible to place the prophetic part of history as shown in the Scriptures. But now it is possible based upon the political and spiritual developments. The present establishing of the religious and political Europe is the coming forth of the old Roman empire and is based upon the Roman Treaty of March 25th, 1957. The irreversible developments in Central Europe and the world condition in general show unto us that the return of Jesus Christ is very near and also the day of the Lord which would follow. The time is not only at hand but the time is here. Today it is not necessary to explain Biblical prophecies. We see them becoming a reality. The time of grace, the day of salvation is ending and the countdown is on. One epoch will come to its consummation, and then the last day will begin. After the seventh day, the last thousand years, time will merge into eternity.