Countdown to His Coming Part 1 and part 2

Bob Yandian Blogs, End Times

Countdown to His Coming Part 1

There is a knowing, a sense throughout the Body of Christ, that Jesus is coming back very
soon. Each day, events in the world point to only one conclusion: Bible prophecies are
coming to pass all around us, and we are definitely in the last of the “last days.”

The purpose of the article is not to pinpoint dates or even a certain year when specific yet
unfulfilled prophetic events will happen. It is to show you from the Scriptures what to
generally expect to happen in the coming years. It will give the scriptural background for
the world conditions of our day.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Daniel 2

vs. 31 ““You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose
splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.”

vs. 32 “ This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs
of bronze,”

vs. 33 “its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.”

vs. 34 “You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its
feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.”

vs. 35 “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together,
and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so
that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great
mountain and filled the whole earth.”

This passage of Scripture is Daniel’s interpretation of a dream the Lord gave to

Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon. The King saw a large image of a man, whose body
was divided into parts made up of different substances. Daniel interpreted each part of the
image to represent one of the major world empires to come. Two empires, Egypt and
Assyria, had already declined by the time of the King’s dream; therefore, they were not
included. In King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, five world empires were seen, beginning with
his own kingdom. The dream ends with the coming of the eternal kingdom of the Lord Jesus
Christ, described in verse 35 above.
The Image of the Large Man

Daniel 2

vs. 38 “Thou (Nebuchadnezzar) art this head of gold,”

The head of gold represented the Babylonian Empire, which was holding Judah, the
southern kingdom of Israel, in captivity at that time. Daniel himself was one of the captives.

The kingdoms which would follow the Babylonian Empire, depicted as different metals,
were seen in descending power.

vs. 39 “ But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third
kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.”

vs. 40 “And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces
and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and
crush all the others.”

The chest of silver was the coming kingdom of the Persians, which would appear later in
chapter five of the Book of Daniel. The Persian Empire would be instrumental in returning
the Jews to Israel.

The belly and thighs of brass were the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great. This
empire would develop and teach the whole known world the Greek language. This common
language would give all nations the ability to read the New Testament when it was written.

The iron legs are the longest part of the body, and they represented the Roman Empire,
which lasted almost one thousand years. It is this iron kingdom which would see the birth,
earthly life and ministry, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Roman
Empire would be the last kingdom to hold Israel captive, and it would also torment,
persecute, and kill both Jews and Christians before its downfall.

Once Jesus rose from the dead and the Church began at Pentecost, world empires, or
governments which controlled the entire known world of their time would cease to exist.
King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream makes it clear that as long as the Church is on the earth, no
natural kingdom can rule the entire earth. However, once the Church has been removed,
the iron empire will arise again in a different form

vs. 41 “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the
kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron
mixed with ceramic clay.”

vs. 42 “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom
shall be partly strong and partly fragile.”
vs. 43 “As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but
they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.”

The feet of iron and clay represent a revived version of the former Roman Empire which
will come after the Church Age. This last world empire, like the feet in the dream, will be
the shortest kingdom of all and the most unstable. Its control of the rest of the world will be
far less powerful, but its leader will be more wicked and ruthless than any leader in history
– Satan’s man, the antichrist.

vs. 44 “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall
never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in
pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”

vs. 45 “ Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and
that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God
has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its
interpretation is sure.””

Once the Church is gone, the earth will return back to Jewish time for seven more years,
known as the Great Tribulation. Time will take up where it left off before the Church Age
began at Pentecost, as the feet of iron and clay in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the revived
Roman Empire, will rise up as a world power and again control Israel. Once more, that
empire will attempt to destroy Jerusalem and the Jewish people.

The small stone at the end of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which represents the Lord Jesus
Christ, will keep Israel from being destroyed. Jesus, Himself, the small stone cut out without
hands (virgin born), will strike the fragile feet of the revived Roman Empire, led by the
antichrist. The entire image will come crashing down, which signifies that all world
empires will come to an end forever.

Then, as the image crumbles to the ground, the small stone will grow into a mountain and
fill the whole earth. “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and
of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). The millennium, the
one-thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ, will then begin.

How New is the New Age?

Every world empire in history had a religion, and the last kingdom of iron and clay, the
revived Roman f Empire, will also have a religion. It will consist of all religions from all of
the empires that came before it. These include both the five empires depicted in King
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, plus the Egyptian and Assyrian empires which preceded them,
which is a total of seven kingdoms.

John writes of this in Revelation 17, when he saw a woman, a prostitute, sitting on a beast
with seven heads. The woman represents the religion of the last empire, revived Rome, and
the seven heads represent the seven world empires which existed before the eternal reign
of the Lord Jesus.

Revelation 17

vs. 9 “…The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.”

vs. 10 “There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come.
And when he comes, he must continue a short time.”

The seven heads are seven mountains (world empires), on which the woman sits (draws
power). And there are seven kings: five are fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and
Greece), and one is (Rome), and the other is not yet come (revived Rome); and when he
(antichrist) cometh, he must continue a short space (seven years).

Each world empire dominated and controlled Israel for a time. Each one of their religions
was Satan’s attempt to counterfeit Christianity, gaining false authority and power over
people through mysticism, spiritism, and even witchcraft. The last world religion is in the
earth right now. It is the religion of the New Age

Revelation 17:3 says this woman is “full of names of blasphemies.” The blasphemies of
the New Age combine all deities and religions into one final mockery of the righteousness
of God by Satan. Which brings us to the question, why does the Holy Spirit use a prostitute
to represent false religion?

A prostitute is the counterfeit of a wife. She provides the sexual act of marriage without
love, fidelity, or honor. In other words, there is no commitment with a prostitute, just the
exchange of money. There is also a lack of fulfillment and peace, which only comes with
marriage.

The New Age gives the ritual of religion and supernatural experience without a personal
relationship with God, which can only come through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no call
to sanctification and no peace or fulfillment. Furthermore, just as the prostitute drains her
victims of prosperity, leaving them destitute, so will the New Age religion rob the people of
their wealth and goods (Revelation 17:4).

How new is the New Age? It is as new as Satan’s intervention into the events of man in the
Garden of Eden. Facets of this religion have been around as long as world empires have
existed. The New Age movement today incorporates all of the deities and religious
practices of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans.

The little stone which will cause the image to topple will also bring to an end all false
religion in the earth. The New Age Movement will be short-lived as the Son of God takes His
rightful throne on the earth. Jesus will not only set up his eternal kingdom, but He will be
worshiped as the true and living God forever.
Countdown to His Coming Part 2
Bob Yandian End Times

Countdown to His Coming Part 2

Scripture Before Our Eyes

As earthquakes rock different parts of the world with more frequency, shocks and
aftershocks run through the Church with each day’s newscast. We can hold our daily
newspaper beside the books of Daniel, Zechariah, Matthew, and Revelation, marveling at
the foreknowledge and wisdom of God. We can also be thankful that we know Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior, rejoicing that we will soon be delivered from Satan’s rule in this Earth.

There are many teachers and prophets in the Church today who are telling you what to
look for concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some, claiming they have heard
from God, are even declaring exact dates for certain events. As with many other predictions
of the past, we can only wait and see.

Many prophecies have been issued in the last few years concerning a worldwide revival
before the Lord’s coming. I believe these prophecies are valid, even though they cannot be
found in the Bible. Historically, the Holy Spirit has moved in times and seasons, usually
preparing the Body of Christ through dreams, prophecies, and visions for events to come.

For example, neither the outpouring at Azusa in the early 1900s, the Healing Movement of
the 1940s and 1950s, nor the Charismatic Renewal of the 1960s and 1970s are foretold in
the Word of God. However, they were significant historical times of the Church and genuine
moves of God.

Nevertheless, in this article, I want to bring you back to the Bible to see what God does have
to say to us about the events of our day. What does He say in His Word are the milestones
we can watch for, happenings which will warn us that the Rapture of the Church, the
Tribulation, and the second advent of Jesus Christ are soon to take place?

Three World Focal Points

The Bible makes it clear that before the coming Tribulation, three regions of the world will
begin to take center stage during the Church Age. These areas will not suddenly emerge
after the Rapture of the Church, but will start to escalate into key players before the seven
years of world catastrophe. Since their rise and growth are predicted by the Word of God,
we can look to them now as time clocks, telling us how much closer we are to the coming of
the Lord.

These three regions are Israel, Russia, and Western Europe, or the European Economic
Community (EEC).
Israel

Matthew 24

vs. 32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves
come out, you know that summer is near.”

vs. 33 “Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”

vs. 34 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things
have happened.”

The generation Jesus was referring to was the generation which would see the fig tree
begin to put forth leaves. That generation is ours! The fig tree is symbolic of Israel, and the
Bible is saying that while it is still in its infancy, tender and growing, it will begin to put
forth leaves. The leaves indicate economic and political prosperity.

We have seen those leaves spring forth in the last few decades. Not long after becoming a
state in 1948, Israel developed into a world power. This little nation has survived
attack after attack and won several wars. It has become a tremendous economic force
in the world, sending its goods and services to many nations.

Jesus’ words in Matthew also tell us that when the leaves appear, it is an indication that
summer is near. Summer represents the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus. From this
passage, we can conclude that we are getting very close to summer!

These verses come at the end of a chapter in which Jesus has told of the Tribulation, the
rise of Antichrist, and His second advent to come. He informs His disciples that the
generation which would see the fig leaves come forth would be the generation when all of
these things would come to pass.

At this moment, Israel is working diligently toward a peace agreement with the PLO and
other Arab neighbors who have been its enemies for centuries. This peace is absolutely
critical to set the stage for the coming time of world troubles, the Tribulation.

Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 tell us of a time when Israel will be attacked by Russia. The war
will occur in an unprecedented time of peace in Israel, as the Russian armies will invade a
land of “unwalled villages” with people “at rest,” having “neither bars nor gates” (Ezekiel
38:11).

Through its pursuit of peace with the Arab nations, Israel is moving itself into position
for this Bible prophecy to come to pass. This time of false peace will cause the great Jewish
military machine to lay down its defenses. Then the leaders of Russia will not think twice
about attacking Israel.
Although the war will be supernaturally won by Israel, fear over the future will change
Israel’s strategy. After this war, Israel will look for a strong ally for protection. It will turn to
Europe, which the Book of Daniel calls the revived Roman Empire. Therefore, it is also very
significant that Israel is now working on a financial agreement with the EEC and a peace
initiative with the Vatican, a fierce enemy for centuries.

Russia

Although the former Soviet Union has opened its doors to freedom, western
capitalism, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, these doors will be shut in the near future.

Even now, the doors are beginning to close. This window of time was necessary for Bible
prophecy to come to pass. Not only did God use this time to bring the Gospel to this area of
the world, but as this bankrupt nation gains western money and expertise, it will regain the
power and the ability it needs to attack Israel.

The former Soviet Union is not dead, yet its problems are far from over. Due to the
geographical location of the entire country, it is too far North to have any consistent
growing season for crops. For decades, it has depended heavily on foreign countries for its
food supply. The need for basic necessities has never been greater than at this present time.

Israel, on the other hand, is the breadbasket for all of Europe. The crops grown there are
the biggest and best on earth. Israeli crops are on the tables of homes and restaurants
around the world. Therefore, the Russian leadership is developing a great desire to possess
this small, fruitful nation.

Plans have been in place for years for Russia to obtain Israel, but God knew these plans
from eternity past and has a surprise waiting for the Soviets! Although they will attack in
mass and military might, they will not win. The Bible declares that this battle will be won
supernaturally by Israel, and more than 80 percent of the Russian army will be destroyed.
The Word of God prophesies it will take Israel seven months to bury the dead and seven
years to consume the spoils from that war (Ezekiel 39:9,12)!

It is my personal belief that the Church will see this battle just before we are removed by
way of the Rapture.

Europe

Today, it is easy to recognize that the world’s center of political power and economic
strategy is moving toward the EEC. This confederation of 12 nations has recently been
united to consolidate the immense wealth of formerly independent countries. The Church
can look for a greater shift of the world’s investments and business power to this area of
the world in days to come.
Daniel chapters 2 and 7 tell us that this area, the Roman Empire of the past, will drop to 10
nations, and a leader will arise to control it. The Scriptures describe him as Satan’s
counterfeit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus he is referred to as the “Antichrist.”

As in the days when Jesus was crucified, this revived Roman Empire, the EEC, will again
dominate Israel under the leadership of Antichrist. What will mark the beginning of the
Tribulation is the seven-year peace treaty he will draw up with Israel, an agreement he will
break after three and a half years.

In Jesus’ day, Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. In our generation, the EEC, under
the Antichrist’s rule, will also attempt to permanently erase the Jewish capital and its
people. Rome was successful in A.D. 70, but revived Rome’s attempt will fail at the Battle of
Armageddon, when Jesus will return, destroy Antichrist and his forces, and bring us into
His millennial reign.

The relationship between Europe and Israel has already begun, primarily because its
relationship with the United States, its greatest support and ally in the past, has suffered in
the last few years. Israel was against the reelection of President Bush. It felt betrayed
when his administration refused it loan guarantees, and it wanted the United States to
stop interfering with its internal affairs. With the election of President Clinton, the United
States has turned further away from Israel and concentrated more on domestic affairs.

However, when Israel and the PLO were going to sign a peace treaty, President Clinton
jumped right in, and the signing took place at the White House. Interesting enough,
he invited nations who wished to contribute money to the new Mideast alliance to
come to Washington, D.C. Forty nations came to contribute money, and the largest
contributor was the EEC. Israel has found a new ally.

We have also recently witnessed the uniting of two longtime enemies, Israel and the
Vatican. Hundreds of years of fighting seem to have been settled with another treaty.
Israel now has stronger ties than ever before with Europe and its main religious system.

Look Up!

1 John 4:17 “Herein is our love made perfect [matured], 1hat we may have boldness
[confidence] in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in the world.”

God is confident about the future as He looks down from heaven and observes current
events. He knows everything is going according to His plan in these last days. The question
is, “Do you know that?”

Does all of this excite you or scare you? Do you have confidence about the day of judgment?
If you don’t, you can. Confidence about that day begins with a personal, relationship With
Jesus today, and it will be strengthened in the days to come by the study and application of
God’s Word.
You are in the generation which is witnessing the blooming of the fig tree and the coming of
summer. The Bible tells us that believers who will go to heaven by way of the Rapture of
the Church will see the second advent from Jesus’ side, returning with Him in all His glory
(Revelation 19:11-14). What an exciting time to look forward to!

With an understanding of passages of Scripture like these, you can be as steadfast,

confident, and assured on Earth as God is in heaven. As you learn and apply God’s Word in
your life, you will discover a peace-filled assurance in a world filled with chaos and
instability. You can say with Jesus, “Although I hear of wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, and
earthquakes, I will not be troubled!”

Bob Yandian

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