However before we examine the
ideas of the future Antichrist theory, let us review
what the scriptures teach regarding the return of Jesus.
The Bible describes several specific events which Jesus,
acting under God's authority, will accomplish when he
returns to the earth. It is important to note and understand
these events since most in Christendom today are unfamiliar
with them.
Five of the most prominent ones are as follows:
1. THE MILITARY DEFEAT
OF RUSSIA - In Ezekiel chapters 38
and 39 the prophet describes the invasion of Israel by Russia's
army. Though Russia is not mentioned specifically, the names
given: Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal exactly correspond to the
geographical area of Russia at the time Ezekiel wrote.
"Son of man, set your face toward
Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech,
and Tubal, and prophecy against him . . ." (38:2,
NASB)
According to the prophecy, Russia will attack
the young nation of Israel -
" . . . in the latter years you will
go against the land that is restored from war, the
land where people were gathered from many nations
upon the mountains of Israel ... You will advance
... you will be like a cloud covering the land..." (38:8-9
RSV)
In the midst of an apparent victory, Russia
will meet with sudden destruction. God working and manifested
through Jesus and the immortalized saints, will defeat
the invading Russian army.
" . . . when
Gog shall come against the land of Israel,
says the Lord God, my wrath will be roused
... I will enter into judgment with him; and
I will rain upon him . . . torrential rains
and hailstones, fire and brimstone. So I will show
my greatness and my holiness and make myself known
in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know
that I am the Lord. (38:17-23, see also 39:1-6 RSV)
2. A
NEW COVENANT TO BE MADE WITH ISRAEL -
Following the destruction of the Russian army, the Jews
in Israel will realize that it was Jesus who saved them
from certain annihilation and will recognize him for
the first time as their Savior (Zechariah 12:10-14).
A new covenant will then be made by Jesus with the Jews
-
"Behold, the days are coming, says
the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel and the house of Judah. . ." (Jeremiah
31.31 RSV)
"I will make a covenant of peace with
them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them;
and I will bless them and multiply them, and will
set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people. Then
the nations will know that I the Lord sanctify Israel,
when my sanctuary is in the midst of them for evermore." (Ezekiel
37:26-28, see also Jeremiah 32:36-41 and Romans
11:25-27 RSV)
3. THE
REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM -
In Ezekiel chapters 40 through 48 and again in Zechariah
14:20-21 there is a clear indication that the temple
first built by Solomon, rebuilt by Nehemiah and destroyed
in A.D. 70 by the Romans, will be reestablished in Jerusalem.
It will be situated on Mt. Zion, and animal sacrifices
will again be offered by the people.
"And on that day there shall be inscribed
on the bells of the horses, 'Holy to the Lord.'
And the pots in the house of the Lord shall be as
the bowls before the altar; and every pot in Jerusalem
and Judah shall be sacred to the Lord of hosts,
so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them
and boil the flesh of the sacrifice in them. And
there shall no longer be a trader in the house of
the Lord of hosts on that day." (Zechariah
14:20-21, see also Isaiah 56:7 RSV)
4. JESUS
TO REIGN FROM JERUSALEM AS KING OF THE EARTH -
Fulfilling the promise God gave to David 3000 years ago
(2 Samuel 7:8-16), Jesus will establish Jerusalem as
the capital of his world-wide government and reign on
the restored throne of his father David.
"He will be great, and will be called
the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will
give to him the throne of his father David, and
he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke
1:32-33, see also Isaiah 9:7 RSV)
All nations and people will look to Jerusalem
as the source of God's teachings and will visit the city
to learn of His ways. If any of the people refuse to
go up to Jerusalem, punishment will be brought upon them.
"It shall come to pass in the latter
days that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established above the hills; and all the
nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall
come, and say: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain
of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that
he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in
his paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isaiah
2:2-3, see also Jeremiah 3:17 and Zechariah 14:16-19
RSV)
5. PEACE
WILL BE RESTORED ON THE EARTH -
Once Jesus has established himself as King over the earth
he will bring about a time of peace throughout the world,
between all countries.
"He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall
beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears
into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more." (Isaiah 2:4, see also Isaiah 9:6 and
Zechariah 9:9-10 RSV)
WHAT DO
THE CHURCHES TEACH?
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