Recently, I took a short commute to visit my great-grandfather who has been in love with the Lord practically his whole life. He’s going on ninety years old in the next few years and he has been blessed with deep knowledge about the Bible and decades of studying to back up what he knows and believes.
I have been extremely curious about the prophecies to be fulfilled before Jesus comes again. My friends and I were talking about it recently and it sparked some interest. I wanted to know more and the Internet can only tell me so much. I don’t absorb much through reading, so I thought my grandfather was the perfect man to ask.
If you aren’t aware, http://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/seven-prophecies-that-must-be-fulfilled-before-jesus-christs-return you can read the seven prophecies that are to be fulfilled. I would definitely recommend reading this article.
I’m going to focus in on one specific prophecy: “The gospel will be preached in all the world.” Mark 13:10.
It seems so simple but it holds so much meaning.
I got so carried away reading while writing this article that I cannot help but to post these verses.
Mark: 13:3-13 (NIV)
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately,
"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"
Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many.
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains."
"You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
A few months back, I think I was in some type of bible study setting where I wondered about people that are lonely and stranded. I knew there are multitudes of people that don’t know Jesus yet, but why? I wanted to know how come people haven’t tried to reach them yet. This was when I was really understanding what a relationship with God was. I didn’t think about mission trips or people that sacrifice their lives to serve the Lord and go across the world to these foreign places and teach the word.
I dream of someday going on a mission to a place where I will be educated enough, as my great-grandfather is, to go across the world and share my love for God, despite the dangers he has warned us of. He has given us the opportunities and he has given us a voice to speak up about this. We are the media.
I didn’t even read the article on this specific prophecy until I brought it up to my grandfather. I thought it was pretty self-explanatory. He said, “That’s what the media is for. This has already been fulfilled as far as I’m concerned.” Or he said something along those lines.
In a beautiful, mind-blowing way, I’m realizing more every day that I do trust that God makes himself known in every type of situation. Even if you are living in the tropics and you can’t speak a lick of any language, He’s got you. Hooked on drugs, alcohol, anything that could eventually destroy you, He's got you, too. I think it’s so cool to know that even if it’s not through television, Internet, or books, he will still in some way show himself to every single person. He will give every single person multiple chances to love him and choose him.
