Mark Hitchcock - What Jesus Says about Earths Final Days

To Dr. David Cotten,
my pastor, teacher, and friend.
Words cannot adequately express what your
consistent example of living and teaching the
Word have meant and continue to mean to me
and my entire family.

When the Chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1 P ETER 5:4

Gulf War II
Weapons of Mass Destruction
North Korea and the Axis of Evil
AIDS Epidemic
SARS
Terrorist Threats

D oes it sometimes seem like the world is spinning out of control? Do you find youself feeling anxious and worried, and even a bit depressed, about where our world is headed?

If so, this book is for you. In times like these its critical for us to pay attention to the words of Jesus Christ, because Hes the only person who ever lived or ever will live who knows the future. And He is so gracious that Hes given us His personal forecast for the future of planet earth.

Jesus knows the future. Nothing takes Him by surprise. Hes not worried one bit about whats ahead. He not only knows whats coming; Hes in total control.

So take a deep breath and rest in Him. He has a plan that Hes working out for His own glory. The purpose of this book is to unfold that plan so that we can know whats ahead and can live more faithfully for Him until He comes. Wont you join me as we listen to the Masters voice concerning earths final days

His words will comfort you.

His words will challenge you.

His words will call you to live each day in light of His coming.

As with all the other books in the End Times Answers series, I will assume that the reader has at least a basic grasp of the main events of the end times. However, to help make sure that were all on the same page, heres a brief overview of some of the key terms you will see sprinkled throughout this book.

The Rapture is an event that could occur at any moment. Its a signless event. At the Rapture, all who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior, the living and the dead, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and will go with Him back up to heaven. Then they will return again with Him, back to earth, at least seven years later at His second coming (John 14:13; 1 Corinthians 15:5058; 1 Thessalonians 4:1318).

The Tribulation is the final seven years of this age. It will begin with a peace treaty between Israel and the Antichrist and will end with the second coming of Christ back to earth. During this time the Lord will pour out His wrath upon the earth in successive waves of judgment. But the Lord will also pour out His grace by saving millions of people during this time (Revelation 619).

During the last half of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will rule the world politically, economically, and religiously. The entire world will give allegiance to him or suffer persecution and death (Revelation 13:118).

The campaign or War of Armageddon is the final event of the Great Tribulation. It will occur when all the armies of the earth gather together to come against Israel and attempt once and for all to eradicate the Jewish people (Revelation 14:1920; 16:1216; 19:1921).

The climactic event of human history is the literal, physical, visible, glorious return of Jesus Christ to planet earth. He will destroy the armies of the world gathered in Israel and set up his kingdom on earth, which will last for one thousand years (Revelation 19:1121).

Gods Blueprint for the End Times

May the Lord use this book to help us hear what Jesus says about earths final days. May we all obey His command to be alert, busy, and ready when He comes.

Be like men who are waiting for their Master when He returns (Luke 12:36).

Maranatha!

Our Lord, come!

Mark Hitchcock

Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My words will not pass away.
M ATTHEW 24:35

T heres a poignant old saying, The futures not what it used to be.

When we look around today, we may be tempted, now more than ever, to agree with this analysis of the world situation. The world today is a more dangerous place than its ever been. Uncertainty abounds. We see and hear things on television that we never thought we would live to see. The future often troubles us.

But not Jesus. The future is no problem for Him. He talked about the future with confidence, assurance, and hope. And not just in some nebulous, general, vague fashion. Jesus gave meticulous, detailed, specific prophecies concerning events in the distant future. Events that are still future in our day. Yet Jesus gazed into that distant future with piercing perception and spoke of events that were then more than two thousand years away.

But before we jump into the details, lets get a little more background from the four Gospels on Jesus relationship to the future.

Its common nowadays to hear people say something like, I dont worry about the end times or Bible prophecyI just live each day for Jesus and leave all that up to Him. No one knows whats going to happen anyway.

Maybe youve said something like that yourselfperhaps even recently.

But nothing could be further from the biblical truth. Jesus wants His followers to know whats coming. Thats why He spent such a great deal of time talking about the future. In fact, He may have talked about the future more than any person who ever lived. Jesus wasnt preoccupied with it in an unbalanced way, but He did emphasize its importance on many occasions.

Heres a brief list of some of Jesus more familiar teachings concerning the future.

Its crystal clear from His many discussions, debates, and discourses that Jesus wants His followers to know whats coming. In Matthew 24:25, Jesus said, Behold, I have told you in advance. Again in Mark 13:23, He said, But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.