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-For today’s update, I’ll do something a little bit different than usual, in that my approach will be to take an apologetic posture for the prophetic. -That’s not to say that I’m going to apologize for anything, rather, I’ll present a defense for everything as it relates to what the Bible teaches. -More specifically, what the Bible says about the last days leading up to the rapture of the church of Jesus Christ, which I believe is imminent.

-In order to accomplish this, I’ve selected four answers as a defense to the question of why we can be so certain that we are the last generation. -The common denominator in all four of these arguments is that they deal with the nation of Israel and the Jews as God’s chosen people. -Actually, Israel is the litmus test when it comes to proving that God is real. In other words, God is real by virtue of the fact that Israel is real!

-What follows are four prophecies, which prove that the God of the Bible is the one and only true God, as evidenced by the nation of Israel.

Prophetic Fact #1: The Bible says that in the last days, God will miraculously rebirth, and return, Israel as a nation to their land. -In the Old Testament, the prophet Ezekiel records how that God will bring life to dead and dry bones, returning Israel back to their homeland.

Ezekiel 37:11-14 NIV Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' (12) Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. (13) Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. (14) I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.'"

-In the New Testament, Jesus Himself takes it further saying that the final generation will be those that see the leaves come back to the fig tree.

Mark 13:28-33 (28) "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. (29) Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. (30) I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. (31) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (32) "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (33) Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

Fulfillment: On May 14, 1948, then Prime Minister David Ben Gurion raised the Israeli flag proclaiming Israel a sovereign and independent state.

Prophetic Fact #2: Once back in the land, Israel’s enemies will declare she has no right to exist, seeking to wipe Israel off the map.

Psalms 83:3-4 NIV With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. (4) "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more."

Fulfillment: Back on October 26, 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying; "As the Imam said, Israel must be wiped off the map."

-This one prophecy alone seals the deal for me personally. Why? Ask yourself this question; why Israel? Why not China? Why is it the Jews? -Could it be that from the very beginning, Satan has sought to annihilate God’s chosen people because of Who, as a Jew, was yet to come? -Absolutely! I would submit that Satan, starting with Abel, has tried to thwart the coming of the seed of the woman, Who would crush his head.

Genesis 3:15 NIV And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

-By the way, try as he may, Satan and his roommate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will never succeed in wiping Israel off the map. Jeremiah 31:35-36.

Jeremiah 31:35-36 35 This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar--the LORD Almighty is his name: 36 "Only if these decrees vanish from my sight," declares the LORD, "will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me." NIV

Prophetic Fact #3: Russia and Iran will unite politically, ultimately leading an alliance of Muslim nations in a nuclear attack on Israel. (Ez. 38-39) Fulfillment: November 8th 2001, this was set in place with the AP report that central support for Iranian nuclear projects are provided by Russia.

Prophetic Fact #4: Those in close proximity to Israel, both geographically and genetically, will attack Israel besieging Judah. (Zechariah 12) Fulfillment: In 2006, then subsequently in 2009, both Hezbollah, (Southern Lebanon), and Hamas, (Gaza), continue to launch attacks on Israel.

-I’m of the belief that wisdom would have us step back and examine what’s really happening in the world, so as to connect the prophetic dots. -There are a number of reasons we would do well to do this, not the least of which is the impact that Bible prophecy can have on our lives. -When I come to the realization that the Lord could come at anytime, it has a way of purifying me so that I get my affairs in order, so to speak.

1 John 3:2-3 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. NIV

-Not only will having the hope of Christ’s coming purify me, it will also change me in the sense that it will affect how I behave in my Christian life.

J.C. Ryle in a writing titled; “Behave Like Christ is Coming Again,” says it ever so eloquently this way; “Wherever you may live, and whatever may be your trials; however great your difficulties, and however small your helps; nothing should prevent your aiming at the highest standard, to behave like one who believes that Christ is coming again! You should resolve, by God’s help, to live so that the day of Christ shall find you needing as little change as possible! You should seek to have . . .your tastes so heavenly, your affections so spiritual, your will so subdued, your mind so unworldly — that when the Lord appears, you may be thoroughly in tune for His kingdom! http://jcrylequotes.com/2012/01/25/behave-like-christ-is-coming-again/

-I bring today’s prophecy update to a close by simply saying that this is not theory, this is sound theology! It’s the more sure Word of Prophecy!

2 Peter 1:16-21 NIV We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (17) For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (18) We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. (19) And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (20) Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. (21) For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.