What in the World Is Going On? | Nearing the End Times

We are glad you're joining us for a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners get more encouraging audio content. When you subscribe to pastor Greg daily Devos learn more and sign up@harvest.org even a casual reading of prophecy would reveal how close we may be Jesus return pastor Greg Laurie explained the process of so many others you going to the movies is what the world is going on for the answer racing toward Armageddon. So what are we supposed remember Jesus giving up your notice to get darker.

God has a spectacular end times plan when we in this earthly theater seems to be getting darker and darker minutes show time today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie launches a revealing study of the book of Daniel will read exactly what God's word says that's the title but I'm getting a lot of the Robo calls lately talking about random number that appear in my phone call but who are these people and when you answer.

There's a little pause and then there's a recording of some ominous voice may be there from the government. Maybe they're offering the vacation special. Maybe there's some other thing but there are these fake call and I looked it up in March alone. There were a record 3 billion Robo calls received across the country so they're starting to really irritate me.

So II found that there is a feature of my phone where I can block them so we get a call from this number.

I don't know the person they never leave messages. Usually you can block it. So I started blocking a lot of these numbers and then someone will come up to me and say I called you five times why didn't you answer the phone right so I blocking people. I want to hear from because I'm getting messages from people I don't want to hear from okay so in some ways I think as we look at our culture today, we look at what's going on in the world today and someone says these are signs of the times, they say all give me a break after that before they been saying Jesus is coming forever and nothing is really change.

No, actually, a lot of things have changed. I believe were living in the last I want to make a case for that. A little bit today and more in this series and the book of Daniel. Just look at the aggression of Russia on so many fronts and then there's the emergence of China.

Make no mistake about it. Not only is China an economic superpower. They are now a military superpower as well and they're becoming more aggressive and will be even more so in the future, you can count on that. So I had to Russia and China. These rogue nations now like Iran and North Korea threatening the world.

Then there's the ongoing threat of Islamic terrorism and there's all these advances in technology that are not being used for good things. Everything we do is recorded. We've always known that. But I think we become more aware of this, we realize people can get into our information pack our information in some of the sinister motives could use that for some very bad things in one day. That person will come on the scene. He's known as the antichrist, and then there's the ongoing conflict in the Middle East so we scratch our getaway say what in the world is going on, ready for the answer were racing toward Armageddon. It's like everything is been sped up, moving rapidly toward what the Bible calls the end of days or the last days. Jesus compared it to labor pains you girls know who had children. That is, you got closer to the moment of delivery.

Your labor pains got closer together right and Jesus said that's all would be in the end times. There would be these warnings these things that would remind us it's coming. But as we got closer to the actual unfolding of prophetic events. These labor pains are these warning signs we get closer and closer together and I think were seen that happen before us right now. So what are we supposed to do.

Remember Jesus said when you see these things begin to happen freak out right your endeavors. Neither, he said, when you see the things we getting up and do what look up look up for your redemption is drawing near.

Windows ME means look to Kevin and be reminded of this that God is in control and because of this we need to know what is happening in our world in the book of Daniel, among other things, contains a lot of Bible prophecy is not all it's about, but a good part of it is. This is also called eschatology, the study of end times events summit so you really can understand all of that.

It's far too complex. I could not disagree more vague.

Jesus said when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet will define what that is. Later he says let the reader understand that interesting choice talking about a prophetic event that is still in the future.

And Jesus says let the reader understand why would it say that if I couldn't understand the New Testament counterpart to the book of Daniel is the book of Revelation that there like bookends of the Bible to fully understand Revelation you have to first understand Daniel to gain greater insight into Daniel. You need to have a good working knowledge of Revelation.

What is the word Revelation me in, means unveiling the unveiling. So it is God's desire to reveal not to conceal its support in plain view not to hide from us so we don't have to be afraid of this topic and in addition there is a special blessing in Revelation promise to the person who reads the things in the book.

Here's the things that are in the book and keep the things that are in the book it says blessed is he who reads and hears the words of this prophecy, and keep something Zenit because the time is near. What is true of studying Revelation is also true of studying Bible prophecy. In general, wife number one studying Bible prophecy helps me to remember that God is in control of all events in the world today is in control. So, because it can be very scary can't it or what's going to happen. God is in control.

Actually, things are going according to schedule. That's also a good reminder that God is in control of your life to because maybe some this happened in your life lately.

That doesn't make any sense.

A tragedy has befallen you. There's been some big shifts in other areas in your thinking what's going on. Words that God is right there with you and number two it gives you a heavenly perspective and a lot of times we lose our heavenly perspective.

Yesterday I went to a hospital to visit a young lady in our church.

Her name is Michelle.

She ministered to me more than I minister to her why is that because she just said when the Lord is with us were trusting the Lord that she actually said to me, Pastor Greg, I'm very excited about what is happening. The Lord is at work on thing in your lying in a hospital bed and you're excited. What she is and I'll tell you why she could say that because when you're in a time of difficulty like that God will be with you in a special way.

Maybe it's just that you're more aware of how we is with you and your hanging onto them more tightly in his strength to be made perfect in weakness. I think we all need that on our life right now because we can go through a single whole day without a single thought about heaven, we can go through a whole week without even thinking about eternal things, but when you're on your back. The only way you can look us up. Look up your redemption is drawing near. And so we need a heavenly perspective, and we need to be reminded of the simple fact Jesus Christ is coming back again and he's coming back soon.

My question for you is are you ready are you ready to very important thing and I think if you really believe that Christ could come back at any time. It will affect you in the way that you live. First John three says he that has this hope of the Lord's return, purifies himself, even as he is pure.

So if you understand Bible prophecy as you ought to love us spiritually purifying affect positive affect on your life. In fact, one of the signs of the last days. According to Scripture, will be a renewed interest in Bible prophecy in chapter 12 of Daniel the prophet is disturbed by various visions he has seen he can't quite wrap his mind around it. What is all this mean then the angel given these visions responded in Daniel 12 for you Daniel keep this prophecy a secret seal up the book until the time of the end.

Many will rush here and there in knowledge will increase.

In other words, the angel is a look. Daniel, you're not going to understand all of this and a lot of this is really happening in your lifetime is coming in the days ahead. In the last days and the end of day.

And that's when this is going to be rediscovered and I believe were living in these last days the final day for Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment at harvest ministries we hear from people all around the country and in places that are sometimes hard to reach.

Dear Pastor Greg read about in the wilds of Idaho, but are able to enjoy the Harvest at Home broadcast. Recall in our home church away in our 13-year-old son even gave his heart to Jesus by watching harvest at all. Praise the Lord and blessings to you, it's so great to know the harvest home broadcast is impacted this family in this way you have a story to tell if so, would you let Pastor Greg know just drop him an email greg@harvest.org again, greg@harvest.org today. Pastor Greg is launching a study in the book of Daniel regaining some important insight just where we are on God's prophetic calendar. Let's continue as a lot of things that the Bible predicts that are happening before us. For instance, the Bible tells us that there will come an army of 200 million identified as the kings of the East the Walmarts through the dried up river Euphrates and heads of the Valley of Megiddo, which is part of Israel for what is known as the battle battles of Armageddon. Now when John wrote those words in the book of Revelation there were not 200 million people living on the face of the earth.

Yet he specifically said an army of 200 million, China has said they have the ability maybe even use the number we can put an army of 200 million on the ground so is China. The kings of these listen, no one can say with certainty right but I think there's a good chance they are and then the Bible speaks of a large force to the north of Israel identified as God and Magog that will one day attack her. Many scholars believe that to be modern day Russia.

If that is the case, it's interesting that in Ezekiel chapter 38, God talks about the allies of Magog as Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya, and Persia is modern day Iran will did you know that in 1979.

Ron became in Islamic Republic and for 2500 years Russia has had no alliance whatsoever with the Ron but now they are allies working together for the first time in history, and if Magog is Russia. This is a sign of the times of fulfillment of Bible prophecy right before our eyes.

So what is the next event on the prophetic calendar.

No one can say with certainty, but I'll offer my opinion, which happens to be right, of course, I do believe it's right but they will see right will see I believe the next event of the prophetic calendar is what many call the rapture of the church noticed that some of the rapture in the Bible shall be rupture in the Bible well do listen, the word millennium is not in the Bible the word Trinity is in the Bible and the word Bible isn't in the Bible.

How do you like that so relax and understand this actually the word is in the Bible. If you have a Latin version because it's from the word wrapped for us it's a translation of the Greek word harp also. Which means to be caught up suddenly by force. That word is used repeatedly in the New Testament of first Thessalonians 4 and first Corinthians, it's that event where were harp also do work caught up suddenly to meet the Lord in the air and sometimes it's referred to as the rapture, that is when the Lord comes for his church.

It is on the heels of the rapture that the coming world leader is going to emerge on the scene first will appear as a man of peace, a good God then he will reveal his true colors. He's known as the Antichrist, the beast, then the tribulation period begins at last for seven years.

Again, as I said, it begins peacefully, but then literally all hell begins to break loose, culminating with the final battles to be fought in the Valley of the ghetto known as the battles of Armageddon. It is during the battle of Armageddon in Christ himself returns from heaven in glory. This is called the second coming, so people sometimes get confused.

What's the difference between the rapture and the second coming to event in the rapture. He comes for his church and the second coming, he returns with his church and the rapture gets in the moment, in the twinkling of an eye. You can even measured in human time and the second coming. Every eye will see him so what goes up must come down and were going to go out to meet the Lord Armageddon returned with the Lord in the second coming and then Jesus establish what is known as the millennial reign, sometimes called the millennium the word millennium just means that thousand so the 1000 year reign of Christ, and after that the new Jerusalem as a bride adorned for her husband comes down from heaven to earth and we rule and reign with the Lord. These are events that are happening and when the first one happens the others will follow in rapid succession. I think I can safely say that we've never been closer to the return of Jesus Christ that we are right here right now we need to be ready. That brings us to the book of Daniel. By the way, that was the introduction of long, but nowhere in the book of Daniel. So what's going on here. Well, we look at a couple of books recently Nehemiah as well as Esther and he Nehemiah we read about the return of the Jewish people were living in captivity and Babylon back to their homeland and they rebuilt the walls of the city.

In the book of Esther that during their captivity. When Xerxes was raining and Haman wanted to destroy the Jewish people. Okay so this is not going back to the beginning where there taken into captivity in the Babylon why did Israel end up in Babylon. Simple answer because they kept worshiping false God and the Lord warned him over and over. Stop worshiping false gods turn from these falls got it made no sense. They had this vibrant relationship with the true and living God. They wanted to worship in animate objects instead.

It would be like leaving your beautiful, loving, nurturing wife for a mannequin right you know when the honey I'm leaving you.

I have a new woman in my life.

Where is she she's in the car and your wife what's up there since the passenger seat, a mannequin from the department store. Why would you choose her over me. For starters, she says nothing.

She doesn't talk she doesn't complain.

She does and then she just sits or has a beautiful smile on her face all the time she goes awry want to go. She doesn't want to do.

I'm leaving you for your immediate body we are talking about. Is it any more ridiculous that we leave the true and living God for some object something that's with Israel was doing worshiping these false gods over and over again. So he warned them in the morning to the Lord warned him even specifically warned him who would lead the armies that would take them into captivity.

Jeremiah 25 verse eight the Lord says because you love listen to me. I will gather together all the armies of the North under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I've appointed as my deputy met interesting a pagan guy. The Lord says he's my deputy I'll bring them all against this land and its people. It was an ominous warning and they weren't paying attention.

So now the Lord says you want idols, they give you idols welcome to idols, central Babylon, where they worship thousands and thousands of false gods. Careful what you wish for. If I get is a gun I want this. I want this person in my life.

I want this career. I want this ministry and you keep asking and asking know better prayer to pray is what I think this is what I should have. It seems to me this is a good idea, but then at this, not my will but yours be done. God from Pastor Greg Laurie to keep us from falling into the trap of idolatry so much more to come here on a new beginning as he continues this eye-opening study in the book of Daniel part of a new series called the end of days. Will Pastor Greg, I have a copy of your new book called Lennon Dylan, Alice and Jesus, which were making available right now yes what I read something from your book of I may its intersection. Talking about Prince and you're right. Contrary to popular belief, adversity is not the greatest test of character overnight success is just ask Dez Dickerson who is princes dazzling lead guitarist from 78 to 83.

He said this same was like this vertical takeoff and suddenly there are more people around you. Oh, we have roadies now owe we have bodyguards now and they're there for a reason to. We experience many riots.

We couldn't walk down the street and they had to cordon off the floor of our hotel. What that does to your head is beyond description and what it does to the human psyche is a whole other thing. There's this internal mechanism that unconsciously begins to take form in your equilibrium get so skewed that you find yourself doing and saying things that are you get this. He says you become your own press release.

I thought that was very telling you that's very insightful and that's written by someone who knows what they're talking about and think about Prince himself.

I mean this in incredibly talented men died of a drug overdose.

I mean so many have died of drug overdoses. You would've thought that Prince would've said he my friend Michael Jackson died this way. Hey Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin died this way he Chester Bennington died this way.

He actually took his own life. I don't want to die that way but that's exactly how he died and I think people take drugs to numb the pain because they just don't know how to live with this altered state of reality. They find themselves, and they need Jesus. And I think so many people look to these rock stars saying oh I wish I was them know you. You should not wish you were them but you have your challenges you of your pressures and really Christ is the answer for everyone. He's the answer for the rockstar. He is the answer for the unknown person. He is the answer for the billionaire.

He's the answer for the person that doesn't have two pennies to rub together. He's the answer for every man, every woman, every boy, every girl every person so I've written this book to say no one is beyond the reach of God. Don't stop praying. Don't give up on these people you know I think about electronic dance music DJ of Vici's real name was Tim Berglund of e.g. had global success. Thousands of people would come to his rave concert and thought he was the greatest thing ever but a Vici was a young man who according to his parents was searching for peace and the meaning of life. Tragically, he began to drink extensively in his liver was failing and the doctor told him he had to cease and desist from drinking or you would die.

He still a very young guy and then he made somewhat of a recovery and retired from his career and then ended up taking his own life in the worst way imaginable, but I think a lot of these guys are searching for peace and meaning. Why are they here on this earth. And really, we all are. When you get down to it, except these people have had all the successes world offers and of realized how empty it is, I explore the lives of a lot of rock stars past, present, and ones that are emerging on the scene right now so it's not just about rock music. It just about this. Don't take the wrong course in life don't think that things will fill that void in your life or a career will do it, or success will do it, or sex will do it, or any other thing. What you really want what you really need is a relationship with God and we have a lot of rock stars that we talk to for this book and we interviewed that will tell you that from personal experience.

As always Christ is the answer now to write so many reasons to dig into this spiritual biography of rock 'n' roll is actually a group of short biographies, several dozen musicians and artists and what we can learn from their lives. It's fascinating and a great tool to help you share your faith letter sent you Lennon Dylan, Alice, and Jesus is our thank you gift to those who can partner with us right now, so that these daily studies can continue to contact us today. Our phone number is 1-800-821-3300. We are always ready to take your call 24 seven that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org everybody what are you doing this weekend. I like to hang out with you at harvest and home services own.

It is a time of worship and Bible study exclusively designed for people that are viewing in from all over the place so you can be a part of our extended congregation at Harvest at Home. Join us this weekend Saturday and Sunday for Harvest at Home@harvest.org next time. Pastor Greg comes back to continue his message. What in the world is going on. Join us here on the new beginning – a revival Greg Laurie and I knew beginning of the podcast, made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God if this show has impacted your life. Share your story, leave a review on your favorite podcast and help others find help