No Fear of the Future

Gary answers several questions from a listener who is fearful and anxious about the world based on what local pastors are preaching and teaching about the “end times.”

At first reading, the New Testament seems to teach that the temple would be destroyed (Matt. 23:38; 24:2), Jerusalem would come under siege (Matt. 22:7), and the Old Covenant order would come to an end before the last disciple died (Matt. 10:23; 16:27–28; cf. John 21:18–23). Jesus prophesied that a series of devastating events would take place before that first-century generation passed away (Matt. 24:34). Modern prophecy writers present what seems to be compelling evidence that “famines, pestilences, and earthquakes” (24:7), the rise of “false prophets” (24:11), and the gospel being preached “to all the nations” (24:14) are end-time events taking place in our day.

The Bible really is its own best interpreter. Jesus said there would be famines before the generation to whom He was speaking would pass away. A famine hit the Roman Empire “in the days of Claudius Caesar” (Acts 11:28), who ruled from A.D. 41 to 54. Luke describes the famine as being “throughout all the world,” that is, encompassing the borders of the Roman Empire since the Greek word oikoumene (“inhabited earth” or “known world”) and not kosmos (“world”) is used.

Paul states unequivocally that the gospel “was preached to every creature under heaven” (Col. 1:23) in his day. The gospel had “been made known to all nations” in his day (Rom. 16:26). Those who are mesmerized by end-time speculation will insist that this did not happen. Their argument is with the Bible; Paul’s language is clear.

Jesus and the New Testament writers were not mistaken. Each and every prophetic event outlined by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse took place prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Gary answers several questions from a listener who is fearful and anxious about the world based on what local pastors are preaching and teaching about the “end times.” The events they are claiming are for today happened in the first century and fulfilled the prophecies in the very timeframe Jesus claimed they would. Christians should not be fearful; the victory is won and the Kingdom is growing, despite what certain people are saying.

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American Vision’s mission is to Restore America to its Biblical Foundation—from Genesis to Revelation. American Vision (AV) has been at the heart of worldview study since 1978, providing resources to exhort Christian families and individuals to live by a Biblically based worldview. Visit www.AmericanVision.org for more information, content and resources