Futurism—A Summation Michael L. Wiltcher Often in assembling a child’s toy or some household item, I’ve become frustrated as the pieces don’t seem to go together as they should. Invariably there would be pieces that did not quite fit as expected, and of course, several items that are left at the end of the assembly that didn’t seem to fit at all. It would be then I would with great reluctance decide to go at last to the directions and start the assembly process again, this time at the beginning. Consistently starting at the first step would allow a successful completion of the project minus the stress and frustration previously endured. Studying prophecy also requires that one start at the beginning. Trying to figure out what is to happen in the future become much easier once you understand in history what brought events to its current status. Understanding why Daniel’s Seventy Weeks were imposed makes it easier to understand what the Weeks are to accomplish. The same can be said of the Olivet Discourse, Revelation, and the several dozen apocalyptic prophecies throughout the Bible. Plunging into deep study without starting at the beginning will invariably lead to incorrect conclusions and utter confusion as one tries to piece together all of the prophecies regarding the end-times. The Beginning of Israel One may not think that the study of apocalyptic prophecy would begin with God’s visitation to a Chaldean in Haran, but it actually does. Though one is tempted to avoid the first steps to get to the meat of prophecy, please allow a few moments to trek through the earliest stages of God’s purpose to take out the earth a people of every tongue, nation, and people (Rev. 5:9). We are not told what prompted Abram’s father to decide that a move to Canaan was in order (Gen. 11:31). Leaving the city of Ur Terah took his family north by northwest following the Euphrates River. This indirect route to Canaan would allow the caravan access to water sources not available in the direct route across the desert. Rather than completely the journey to Canaan, Terah pauses in a city called Haran located on the Balikh River, some 550 miles from Ur. Terah, his son Abram, and his grandson Lot decided to settle at Haran rather than to continue onward to Canaan (Gen. 11:31). When Terah died, God spoke to Abram instructing him to leave Haran and continue the trek toward Canaan (Gen. 12:1). In the plains of Moreh which lies in the land of the Canaanites, God promises the land to Abram and his seed (Gen. 12:7). Because Abram chose to obey, God promised Abram that he would become a great nation, and all of the families of the earth would be blessed because of him (Gen. 12:2,3). God later changed Abram’s name to Abraham (Gen. 17:5), and Abram’s wife’s name to Sarah (Gen. 17:15), and to Abraham and Sarah was born a son they named Isaac (Gen. 21:3). Isaac became the father of twins, Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:24-26). Jacob’s name was changed by God to Israel (Gen. 32.28) and unto Jacob was born 12 sons (Gen. 35:22). The families of these 12 sons grew in population and it is by the name of Israel that these descendants of Jacob came to be known (Ex. 1:13). The nation of Israel’s history begins with tribulation. What began as a treaty of peace (Gen. 47:6) became a place of affliction (Ex. 1:13) and a place of death (Ex. 1:16). It would be a foreshadowing of events that mark the end-times (Matt. 24:9), and as in the end of prophetic events deliverance will be sent to Israel, so was deliverance sent to Israel in her beginning. In the midst of her tribulation, the nation Israel called out to the only hope she had, the God of their fathers (Ex. 2:23). In response God sent to them one that had grown up among them and had been rejected as a prince and judge (Ex. 2:14). This too, except for the divinity of the One that who shall come, is a foreshadowing of things in Israel’s future. God’s deliverance of Israel out of Egypt initiates a very troubled relationship between the God of Heaven and those that He has chosen to set His love upon (Deut. 7:7). Throughout the wilderness God tested, taught, and corrected Israel as a parent would his child (Deut 8:2-5). He gave Israel manna to eat, a type of bread that their ancestors had never heard about. He ensured that their clothing never wore out or their feet would become swollen (Deut. 8:4). He provided water out of rock (Deut. 8:15), and deliverance from poisonous snakes (Num. 21:9). Despite the miraculous acts against Egypt, the wondrous parting of the Red Sea, and miracles in provision in the wilderness, Israel’s nature was that of rebellion and not toward God. In response to this rebellious nature of Israel, God said, “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it (Num. 14:21-23 King James Version).” Moses warned Israel that the blessings of the land promised would be a temptation to forget God and to forsake His commandments. When this abandonment of God would occur, Moses further warned, “When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell (Deut. 4:25-28 KJV).” This grim prophecy, however, was then tempered by a promise of redemption. Moses continued, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days (emphasis mine), if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; For the LORD thy God is a merciful God; He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them (Deut. 4:29-31 KJV).” to be continued...
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 09:57:12 +0000
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