Apocalypse Is Coming: Recent Episodes
James De Young
After we present how people may be saved and persevere after the Rapture in the first half of this bk, in podcast #51, now we give a short course in eschatology: what happens during the Great Tribulation, what does the Antichrist do, and what forms does God's unprecedented wrath take? We also note how amillennialism denies an actual, literal Great Tribulation.
Right after the Rapture (the "snatching away" of believers at the return of Jesus Christ from heaven) many will repent of their unbelief and become Christians. Without churches and pastors how will they grow, survive the persecution from the Antichrist, and persevere to the End? The first half of Missed the Rapture? answers all these concerns and more. Part 2 of the book is a short course in eschatology and is the concern of the next episode.
Since the time of Augustine in the 5th century and through the Reformation a large segment of the Christian Church has embraced a dual hermeneutic: grammatical-historical for much of the Bible but figurative/spiritual interpretation for prophecy and apocalypse, such as the Revelation. We show how this is inconsistent, incorrect, and depriving large numbers of Christians of the blessed hope and truth about the fulfillment of prophecy which Jesus and the apostles gave.
Today the wide spread upheavals and their intensity make our times the most difficult in history. It's the USA--the United States of Anxiety. But God has given his people 3-4 resources to enable us to triumph--shoes to wear for every day.
During Russia's present war on Ukraine our government has taken the position that we cannot give the type of aid to help Ukraine that would be really "game changing" out of fear that it might mean nuclear war. But this decision flows from mistaken values, placing physical life and survival over freedom and the spirit. It arises from a pagan world view rather than a Christian world view.
Russia's War on Ukraine has biblical significance re the alignment of nations in the times of the end and what Christian values we are willing to stand for--which seem to be rejected today.
The Bible prophesies Russia's rise to power in the "last days" (which are now) to attack Israel. The present war is a portent of things to come at the end of the age.
In the end times and before Christians must take warning of spiritual declension and apostasy. What are the warning signs that the Bible gives and how can a Christian be an overcomer?
During the terrifying time of the Antichrist's absolute control, Christians who were not believers when the Rapture occurred will be targeted for suffering, persecution, and death.
43, What will it be like to live under the terror of the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation? Here are far reaching consequences.
Paul the Apostle prophesied that in the end time God will send a strong delusion to people who reject the truth so that they will believe lies. Today unprecedented delusions are deceiving many and are portents of the end time.
Delusions prophesied by Paul for the end time are now appearing as never before; part 1
The present pandemic is a powerful warning, a portent of greater suffering to come at the end of history when the Antichrist assumes world control and requires all people to submit to him and take his code of 666 in order to survive.
Jonathan Edwards preached his famous sermon in 1741. It greatly contributed to the Great Awakening that led to one out of every six people becoming a Christian and gave a moral foundation to the birth of America a few decades later. Edwards sermon is as relevant today as America is weighted down with even worse personal and institutional evil. The need for repentance and awakening has never been greater.
The book of Revelation reveals that during the Great Tribulation hordes of demons will be released under the rule of Satan to first torment all humanity and then kill a third of humanity. Their final work will use miracles to draw the armies of the world to Israel to the Battle of Armageddon, when Jesus Christ will destroy all the Gentile nations and end history.
The 1946 film, "It's a wonderful life," has been recognized by the American Film Institute as the "# 1 most inspiring film of all time." Why is this? Because the film, starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, advocates Biblical moral values of goodness, morality, truth, decency, patriotism, and reverence for God. Today these are all under attack by immoral anarchists and cancel-culture hooligans. These reflect what the Bible says about the last days in 1 Timothy 3:1ff and 2 Timothy 4:1-4. But Christians can live an "overcoming" victorious life empowered by the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:4-5.
Habakkuk prophesied when the Babylon Empire was about to conquer Judah, God's special people, because of their sins, primarily idolatry. His words are appropriate for the USA and any nation that turns away from God.
Habakkuk lived in a time with uncanny parallels with the USA today. The people had great privileges, wealth and a strong military but were guilty of great sin. GOD was about to judge Judah by wicked Babylon. The parallels with contemporary USA are many.
We celebrate Christmas as the first Advent of Jesus Christ into this world --the incarnation of Deity. Yet the Bible makes it clear that this was only the first phase of a two-fold coming. We look forward to Christ's 2nd Advent when He will return and take His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords. Many of our Christmas songs celebrate both Advents in the same song, just like the Bible.
Jesus cites the Prophet Jonah in two ways: As one who typifies his burial for 3 days and 3 nights, but also as a "sign" of the times, that Gentile nations will be judged unless they repent. This is a powerful warning to the USA.
The Portents of the end times often bring anxiety and fear but the Bible provides resources and assets that can empower Christians to rise above them and to live victoriously
In light of the end times and the Coming again of Jesus Christ, Christians will be tempted to give up, to fail to persevere in their faith and in the faith, because of persecution and other distress. In this second episode on perseverance, we discuss the evidences of the loss of perseverance, the special aids to perseverance, how to maintain perseverance. Finally we cite 4 sober implications about perseverance in light of the many unprecedented events and turmoil today.
What does perseverance mean? Who are our chief examples? What does the Bible teach us? How does the parable of the sower, of the soils, relate to perseverance?
The Rapture is the Resurrection of believers--both those who have died and those who are alive--at the end of the age. But when does it occur? Before the Great Tribulation or at the end of it? Either believers will not go through the time of God's judgment or they will. These are the options. What does the Bible say?
The Bible teaches that in the final Judgment those nations that bless Israel God will bless; those that curse (harm) Israel God will curse. In the current vote for President, one party and one candidate has a record of supporting Israel and one does not. This issue alone should help Christians decide how to vote.
Two broad approaches to interpreting biblical prophecy appeal for our support. In this episode we show the faults and failures of Amillenialism to deal adequately with history and Bible prophecy.
2000 years ago Jesus Christ promised to return and bring this age, this era of history, to an end at the B of Armageddon. While people's hearts are "fainting from fear and foreboding of the expectation of judgment" (Luke 21:26), believers are "to straighten up and raise their heads because their redemption, their salvation, is drawing near" (Lk 21:28).
Contemporary cataclysms and troubling events are portents, adumbrations and foreshadowings of the end times when God will judge the world--just as Jesus said (Matthew 16:1-4).
Since about 2017 a new form of deception has arisen, namely QAnon. It has its leader, Q, who prophesies about conspiracies, often linked to the Bk of Revelation, and opposes such evils as child and sex trafficking. Several things make it attractive to Christians. In this episode we alert Christians to this deception.
Never before have we witnessed such unprecedented, unparalleled events that portend the end times. We should soberly reflect, take stock, pray, repent, and be renewed in our commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Recently some people of color have listed Christianity as an "evidence of whiteness, alongside other seeming evidences. If this were so then teaching about the end times including the Antichrist and the Second Coming of Christ would be only for white people. This episode shows how wrong this idea is.
The Bible gives many promises of the Second Coming of Christ. In episodes 20 and 21 we explore the many purposes of these promises: comfort for God's people, deliverance, judgment of the nations, vindication of God's judgment and righteousness, relief from suffering, bringing an end to history, and more.
The Bible gives many promises of the Lord's Return for many reasons, including comfort, information about the signs of the times, the stages involved, the vindication of God's judgment, the exposure of heresy, and more. These two episodes explore these ideas.
John Balch, co-host of the podcast, Apocalypse Is Coming, interviews his co-host, James De Young, on the release of his new book, The Apocalypse Is Coming. In this segment they reflect on the tumult of the times, how De Young came to write the book, and the first 2 of 4 chief topics: the Antichrist and the concept of "mystery." Part 2 covers the topics of the Restrainer and how to interpret prophecy
After discussing the what of Christ's return and how He will return, in episodes 15 and 16, we now discuss when He will return. It Is a topic that has witnessed many predictions through the ages and currently, as recent as today. We discuss what the Bible says about the date of Jesus's return.
Episode 16 expands on #15, interpreting Matt 24 and the Book of Revelation, on the what and how of Jesus's Return
The Return of Jesus Christ is a theme found in all of the Bible. It is coupled with the "Day of the Lord" as the events of the end time, at the end of history. It encompasses salvation for God's people and judgment for non-believers.
The Rapture is the sudden transformation of sleeping (dead) and living Christians (in this order) from mortal into immortal (resurrected) bodies, prior to the great tribulation. Other timings are discussed.
Daniel, Jesus, Paul, and John, and others in the Bible, predict the coming of a time of unprecedented suffering and tribulation: wars, plagues, earthquakes, famines, and much more; at the last seven years of our history/time. Why does it come? How will it come? What happens to Christians? How will it end?
Only one author in the Bible uses the word "Antichrist" and that's the Apostle John, in his Letters of 1 John and 2 John. The word has two ideas: "instead of Christ" and "against Christ." Antichrist denies both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ. He has counterparts, predecessors today.
In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul writes that the Antichrist is presently restrained in his lawlessness. Who and what is this today?
Jesus Christ, in his last teaching, gives us an outline of world history to the end time, including the rise of the Antichrist prophesied by Daniel, the Great Tribulation, and his own 2nd coming in power and glory to end the age. He warns that people should not set dates but to be prepared, watching, waiting, being good stewards; and he will reward the nations.
The book of Daniel in the Old Testament prophesies many events of the end time, including the Antichrist, the great tribulation, and the first and second comings of Jesus Christ. Daniel wrote in the 6th century BC; but liberal theology and it's followers reject supernatural prophecy. They make the Bible a merely human book. Thus God could not predict the future through Daniel. They place Daniel in the 2nd century so that he merely records history. This episode presents the many proofs that Daniel is true and trustworthy.
Why does the Bible devote so much attention to the Antichrist? What do learn from his first mention in the Bible, in the book of Daniel?
During the end times, an evil, false Christ will arise, empowered by Satan himself. He will persuade the world to worship him as God and will try to destroy Jesus Christ and his people. He will compel all to take his mark, 666, or suffer death.
How do we interpret the Book of Revelation and other prophecy? What guidelines are there? What is the difference between an amillennial approach and a premillennial approach? Between a figurative and a literal approach?
Titus 2:13 relates the "Blessed Hope." It is the fulfillment of the promise that our divine Savior made that he would return in power and glory at the end of history, to bring judgment to the nations (Matt 24:29-31) and deliver his people. Christians expectantly await his return and devote themselves to doing good (3:14).
Amazingly the Apocalypse, the Bk of Revelation, reveals much about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the basis for his Second Coming at the end of the world. We are given great encouragement for our eternal life in heaven with Jesus Christ.
This episode shows the difference between apocalypse as literature and apocalyptic times when hope and peace seem impossible in the face of affliction and suffering.
Are we living in the end times? What are the end times? When do they start? How do they differ from the "last days"? What does the Bible say?
This episode introduces the concept of apocalypse. It concerns end time events, as described in the Bible, a time of upheaval and catastrophe. It is especially timely that we think of the end times in light of the great crises--the coronavirus and the economic recession--presently facing our country and the world. What does all of this mean? Is there hope in such a time as this--hope that can take us through this dark time? We proclaim the good news that God offers peace and hope in the salvation found in the person of Jesus Christ that come to a person who believes in him. The Bible tells us that God is working all things according to his plan that will bring the present power and evil of Gentile nations, including our own, to an end and will bring in the everlasting kingdom of His Son. In future episodes of this podcast we will unfold this plan as the Bible reveals it.