The Convergence Factor

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 39:21-29
New Testament Reading: Revelation 22:1-21

The Convergence Factor
“From Now to Eternity”
Matthew 24:33-36

Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor

What God said in prophecy thousands of years ago is fast becoming history in our day, as we enter the final chapters of “His Story” of our redemption.

• The shocking events going on in the world should cause us to weep and pray because we know they are going to get worse in the days to come.
• But they should also give us hope in knowing that what we are seeing on the world’s stage today is the convergence of those final, biblical prophecies that will bring an end to this age and the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• Seven biblical truths are essential to our understanding of biblical prophecy, and will, therefore, give us the foundation we will need to remain true to our faith—from now to eternity!

1. The Sequence of End-Time Events

• The Battle of Psalm 83
• The Battle of Isaiah 17
• The Rapture of the Church
• The Battle of Ezekiel 38-39
• Daniel’s 70th week begins
• The Great Tribulation
• The Second Coming of Jesus
• The Millennium
• Eternity

2.  The Eternal Destiny of the Three Divisions of Humanity

• Creation began with Gentiles only.
• God called Abraham to birth the Hebrews, who were called Jews.
• At the cross, God created the Church from both the Gentiles and the Jews—Christians.
• Gentiles who converted to Judaism before the cross share in the eternal destiny of the Jews.
• Gentiles who received Christ during the Church Age will be raptured and live in the New Jerusalem.
• Gentiles who become saved after the rapture are Tribulation Saints and those who survive will re-populate the earth during the Millennium.Jews who died believing in the Messiah, but before Jesus went to the cross were taken with Christ to heaven at His resurrection, and will receive resurrection bodies at His Second Coming.
• Jews who are born again during the Church Age share in the eternal destiny of the Church.
• Jews who become saved after the rapture will be preserved by God and live in Israel during the Millennium.
• Jews or Gentiles who don’t do any of the above during their lifetime will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment.

3.  The Purpose of the Great Tribulation

• To destroy the nations among whom the Jews were
• To discipline the Jews for their unbelief and prepare them for
• Since Christians were purified from their sin through the blood of Jesus Christ, they will not be involved in the Great Tribulation.
• The first 3 1/2 years is the beginning of “Jacob’s ”
• The last 3 1/2 years is “The Great ”
• In the middle of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will stand in the temple and demand to be worshipped as God.
• The events of Revelation 13-17 unfold.

4.  The Purpose of the Rapture of the Church

• To keep those who have accepted Christ as their Savior from the wrath of God.
• After the events of Revelation 3, the Church is not mentioned again until Revelation 21:2.
• Revelation 4, John saw an open door into heaven and was told “come up hither” – he saw the ransomed, redeemed and raptured
• Only Paul mentions this, because of his study of the prophecy of Isaiah 26:19-21.

5. The Conditions Surrounding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

• Preceded by increased natural and supernatural activity.
• Preceded by increased hatred of Jews and Christians.
• Preceded by the preaching of the gospel around the world.
• The Antichrist will desecrate the Temple and demand to be worshipped.
• The events of Revelation 13-17 unfold—42 months.
• The armies of the nations of the world will be gathered in the valley of Megiddo to come against the City of Jerusalem and destroy the Jews.
• The natural forces God put in place to give calendar and order to the systems of the world will be destroyed—the sun, moon, stars, etc.
• The people on earth will see the “sign of the Son of Man” – the Shechinah Glory—and then Jesus Christ will appear—return to the earth and carry out His judgment upon those who did not receive Him as their Savior.
• There is evidence that this event will occur on the “Feast of Trumpets”, and since the sun and moon will be darkened, no one can know the hour!

6.  The Purpose of the Millennium

• This will be the final 1000 years of the 7000 years of the age of man from the first Adam to the second.
• Jesus will serve as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords of the whole world, and His throne will be in Jerusalem.
• Earth will be restored to the condition of the Garden of Eden; man’s lifespan will continue to increase, and productivity will become a joy rather than a chore.
• Children will be born with the sin nature and will have to choose to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
• At the end of the Millennium, Satan will have amassed millions who will join him in one final revolt against Jesus, but God will send fire from heaven to destroy them all, and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire forever.
• While believers will come to earth on assignment, our home will be in the New Jerusalem—a cube—1400 miles high, wide, and deep that hovers over the earth but is never attached to it.
• There is no temple—for the Lamb of God is there.
• There is no light—for the glory of God illumines it.
• His glory reflects off of us as natural light for the nations.
• Our bodies will be glorified and eternal.

7.  The True Meaning of Eternal Life

• Everyone will live forever; the only question is where.
• There are only two possibilities:
  • Eternal bliss in the presence of God
  • Eternal shame in the absence of God
• While God is patient—not willing that any should perish, He also loves us enough to give us that choice.