Daniel Whyte III
Welcome to The Prophet Daniel’s Report. This is report #508. My name is Daniel Whyte III here to remind you that Jesus Christ is coming back soon and that you need to be prepared. This broadcast is not about predictions, nor is it about setting dates as some foolishly have done, however it is all about preparation.
First, today, let’s look at some Signs of His Coming in the news.
The disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 24:3, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Jesus Christ then went on to give them (and us) clear signs that show us when we can begin to expect to see the coming of the Lord and the end of the world. Those signs include:
1. the appearance of false Christs and false prophets
2. wars and rumors of wars
3. famines
4. pestilences (fatal epidemic diseases)
5. earthquakes in divers (various) places
6. increased persecution of believers
7. the Gospel being preached in all the world
8. signs and great wonders in the heavens (involving the sun, moon, stars, and planetary movements)
9. distress and perplexity among people
10. increased violence “as in the days of Noah”
11. increased homosexuality and sexual immorality “as it was in the days of Lot”
12. the rise of “Gog and Magog” (which many Bible scholars believe refers to Russia)
13. the rise of the “kings of the east” (which many Bible scholars believe refers to China)
14. increase in knowledge (science and technology)
15. apostasy in the church
16. interest in a unified world government to bring about global peace
17. interest in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem
The Bible also speaks of other signs which will be evident in “perilous times” in Second Timothy 3. Those signs are people being:
18. selfish
19. covetous
20. boasters
21. proud
22. blasphemers
23. disobedient to parents
24. unthankful
25. unholy
26. without natural affection
27. trucebreakers
28. false accusers
29. incontinent
30. fierce
31. despisers of those that are good
32. traitors
33. heady
34. high-minded
35. lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God
36. having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
Other signs of the times which have been gleaned from Scripture include:
37. scoffers who mock of Christ’s return
38. movement toward a one-world religion
39. outpouring of the Holy Spirit
40. outbreak of demonic and occultic activity
41. re-establishment of Israel
42. Arab hostility toward Israel
43. re-unification of Europe
44. movement toward a one-world economy
Looking at world events through the lens of the Word of God, let’s look at some headlines from today’s news that point to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, today, under the Sign category of DISTRESS AMONG NATIONS — According to Bloomberg, The killing of at least 12 people at a French magazine that received threats because of its depiction of Islam stands to exacerbate burgeoning anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe. The shooting by masked gunmen at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in eastern Paris adds to an already tense environment, with an anti-immigrant party dominating in France, mosque burnings in Sweden and thousands marching in Germany decrying the “Islamization” of the west. France is home to Europe’s largest Muslim population, with more than 5 million people of the faith out of a population of about 65 million.
Second, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMORS OF WARS — According to the AFP (Agence France-Presse), US-led aircraft have dropped nearly 5,000 bombs in the air war against Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria, damaging or destroying more than 3,000 targets including tanks. American commanders say the raids have halted the advance of the ISIS group in Iraq, disrupted its crude oil smuggling network and hampered its ability to move on the ground. But the ISIS militants remain in control of large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq and continue to receive new recruits.
Third, today, under the Sign category of THE TURMOIL IN ISRAEL & THE MIDDLE EAST — According to the Associated Press, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday that Palestine will join the International Criminal Court on April 1, a high-stakes move that will enable the Palestinians to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel. In a statement posted on the UN’s treaty website, the secretary-general said “the statute will enter into force for the State of Palestine on April 1, 2015.” He said he was acting as the “depositary” for the documents of ratification. The Palestinian move has drawn threats of retaliation from Israel and is strongly opposed by the US as an obstacle to reaching an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
Fourth, today, under the Sign category of THE TURMOIL IN ISRAEL & THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Jerusalem Post, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that Palestine is not a state, and therefore does not qualify for membership in the International Criminal Court. The US will oppose the Palestinian Authority’s move to join the body, and several others at the United Nations, as technically flawed. The Obama administration has said in recent days that the PA’s ICC bid runs contrary to the pursuit of peace, and is a major setback to the diplomatic process.
Fifth, today, under the Sign category of DISTRESS AMONG NATIONS — According to the Associated Press, EU sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine are cutting both ways: hurting Russia as well as pinching some big European companies. But economic relief isn’t likely any time soon since EU divisions make the sanctions tough to overturn. France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are trying to set up talks next week in Kazakhstan to ease the tensions behind the punitive measures that, along with slumping oil prices and U.S. sanctions, have sent the ruble sinking. The sanctions, and Russian retaliation, have in turn squeezed corporate Europe — including banks, oil companies, machinery makers and food giants that do business with Russia.
The Bible says in Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
You can read these stories in more detail and get more Second Coming-related news on our website at Second Coming Herald.com
Now, it’s time for Prophecy Bootcamp.
Prophecy Bootcamp is where we deal with the basics of prophecy, the Second Coming of Christ, and what will happen in the future according to the Bible. Our aim here is not to make predictions but to help you get prepared by understanding how things will unfold in the end times.
Our topic for today is titled “The Great Unveiling (Part 1)” from Dr. Ed Hindson’s book “Revelation: Unlocking the Future”.
Revelation opens with the preface to the book. This gives the reader an introduction to all that follows in the succeeding chapters. It is virtually impossible to understand the Apocalypse without a grasp of this first chapter. Its key elements include the following.
Title: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Most Bible versions title the book, “The Revelation of St. John the Divine.” However, such titles were not in the original New Testament Greek manuscripts. The actual title of the book is given in the opening verse: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” He is the divine author of the book. It is His revelation (unveiling) of the future. John is the human author who recorded what he saw and heard. In many ways, John acts as a recording stenographer. He jots down, as fast as he can, future events that transpire before his eyes.
Testimony: All that he saw. Immediately, in verse 2, John begins with one of the many “triplets” which appear throughout the book. These are typical of the Johannine writing style. Notice John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In Revelation 1:2 the triplet reads: “Who bore witness to:
1. the word of God,
2. the testimony of Jesus Christ,
3. even to all that he saw.
This passage tells us that the Apocalypse is an eyewitness account. This is not secondhand information that John has heard from someone else. He stakes his apostolic reputation on the fact that he actually saw and experienced these things.
Lord willing, we will continue looking at this topic on our next broadcast/podcast.
In closing, let’s consider what God wants you and me to do in light of His Second Coming.
Jesus Christ said in Luke 19:13 to “Occupy till I come.” In light of that, we are continuing our Bible study series on the books of First & Second Thessalonians which Paul wrote to believers who had concerns about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and what they should do as they waited. This section is titled “The Fate of the Earth (Part 7)” from the book “Waiting on the Second Coming” by Ray C. Stedman.
The Day of the Lord is inevitable. “They will not escape,” says the apostle Paul, who likens that day to a woman in labor, whose time has come to give birth.
When our first daughter was born, we were living in a trailer on the campus of Dallas Theological Seminary. At two o’clock one morning, my wife indicated that the baby was coming. I put her in our old clunker of a car, which promptly refused to start. We had to enlist the aid of the garbage collectors, who were doing their rounds, to push the car and get it started. By the time we arrived at the hospital, the baby was well on its way! When a woman is ready to give birth, she can’t change her mind. Ready or not, the baby is coming.
It is that inevitability that the apostle is highlighting. The world cannot escape the terrible judgments of God. And the only way we can handle this sobering thought is to find the means of escape provided in Jesus Christ our Lord.
In this connection, the words of C. S. Lewis are particularly apt: ”God is going to invade this earth in force, but what is the good of saying you are on his side then when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else, something it never entered your head to conceive, comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing. It will be the time when we discover which side we have really chosen whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it.”
It is vital that we understand that God’s delay of this event is for the purpose of giving people a chance to escape to see what is happening in their lives and to choose the redemption that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If the Lord tarries His coming and we live, we will continue looking at this topic in our next broadcast/podcast.
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Remember the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:42: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:44 says, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for over twenty-seven years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com. Follow Daniel Whyte III on Twitter @prophetdaniel3 or on Facebook.
