We have heard the dire predictions of men about global warming and various other calamities coming upon this earth, and many people are concerned about the future how strange that we just came through the effects of Hurricane Sandy (called the "Hurricane on Steroids") as I was beginning this article!  I am buried under snow, and my daughter who lives only 20 miles away, only had light rain!  However, it is more important to see what God says about the future.

The Bible predicts a good-news, bad-news scenario. We will look at the bad news first.

 

I. Changes in the Tribulation: The Bad News

 

The Bible predicts major catastrophes for our planet, far exceeding current doomsday predictions. A holy God will settle His account with sinful man.

 

A. Earthquakes.

There will be at least seven major earthquakes between the Rapture, and the Second Advent, resulting in unprecedented topographical changes:

 

1.    Soon after the Rapture, before the Tribulation itself commences, widely scattered earthquakes will bring about devastation (Mt. 24:7).

2.    At the middle of the Tribulation, cosmic disturbances will shake the entire planet, horrifying world leaders (Rev. 6:12-16).

3.    When Israel is invaded in the middle of the Tribulation, God will punish the invaders with an earthquake that will cause the collapse of every wall in Israel (Ez. 38:20-21).

4.    As Satan is cast out of Heaven to Earth and viciously attempts to drown Israel within a flash flood, a Divinely initiated earthquake in Trans-Jordan will swallow up the flood (Rev. 12:16).

5.    After the two witnesses in Jerusalem are killed and then come back to life and ascend to Heaven, an earthquake will destroy part of Jerusalem, crushing to death 7,000 individuals (Rev. 11:13).

6.     Immediately prior to the Second Advent an earthquake will cause great destruction upon the earth (Rev. 11:19).

7.     At the moment of Christ's return with the Saints to the Mt. of Olives, a terrifying earthquake will split the mountain in half (Zech. 14:4). Is it any wonder that Isaiah in chapter 24, his “Little Apocalypse” predicts that “the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard” (Is. 24:20) because of the Divine punishment of human transgression?

 

B. Emptiness:

 

It is difficult to conceive of a world with most of it decimated by the middle of the Tribulation. War, drought, famine, pestilence, wild beasts and demonic hordes will greatly reduce the world population (Rev. 6:8, 9:15). When a fiery object plunges into the ocean, one third of its waters turn to blood and one third of the individuals in the sea will perish (Rev. 8:8-9).

 

Again, Isaiah summarizes the catastrophic condition resulting from divine judgments, “The Lord maketh the earth empty, and make it waste...the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and a few men left” (Is. 24:1, 6).

 

How wonderful to know that those of us who have trusted in Christ as Savior are exempt from that “wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9; Rom. 5:9)! Now let's look at the good news!

                                                   

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II. Changes in the Millennium-the Good News

     

A. Topographical Changes.

 

With the return of the King, a series of dramatic changes take place in Israel and presumably around the world. These changes involve a deep east-west valley in the Mt. of Olives (Zech. 14:4) and an elevation of Israel's central mountain range into a plateau. Positioning Jerusalem as the world's capital above the surrounding area (Zech. 14:10-11). Due to these cataclysmic changes, many familiar Biblical sites will vanish. If you have always harbored the wish to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Bethany and Shiloh, better visit Israel before these places in the Holy Land either vanish or are changed beyond recognition!

 

In the Millennial Kingdom people will flock to Jerusalem which “is exalted above the hills” (Mic.4:1).

Leading up to it is a splendid new highway for the worshipers (Is.11:16; 35:8).

 

B. The Lifting of the Curse.

 

The curse will be lifted from nature and the animals (Is. 11:6-9; 33:24; 65:25). Seasonal rains will be restored (Joel 2:23) and a new river, emanating from the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, will bring abundant life to the formidable Judean desert and the Dead Sea (Joel 3:18; Zech. 14:8; Ez. 47). In fact, all the desert areas of the earth will be healed (Is. 35:6) as waters gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

 

In stark contrast to the drought and devastation of the tribulation period, this extreme fruition of  nature will afford multiple harvests each year (Amos 9:13-15). Human longevity will increase (Is. 65:20).

 

The Lord reigning from Jerusalem is not simply the source of spiritual but of physical life as well. How wonderful to know this Lord as Savior and to anticipate with Isaiah and the end of “sorrow and sighing”, so characteristic of our earthly existence and to await a glorious future when we worship with “songs and everlasting joy...and gladness” (Is. 35:10) in the presence of the Prince of Peace!

 

(Taken from the teachings of Dr. Manfred E. Kober, with his blessings!) 

 

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(*Dear Friends: I want to dedicate this article in memory of my youngest sister, Donna, who just went Home to Jesus this month. She is my second sibling who has left for Glory this year. My only brother left at the end of February and now Donna, has joined him and all the rest of our loved ones. We can only imagine the family reunion that is still taking place over there!)

 

God Bless You All,

Pastor Moser

October, 2012