Calvary Albuquerque with Skip Heitzig Audio Podcast

I realize that my sermon title today seems like it could have been a headline from a Ukrainian newspaper in early February 2022. But it actually will be a headline in the Jerusalem Post at some future date. The role of Russia in biblical prophecy, along with a group of nations in strategic alliance with its leader, is noteworthy. Who will they attack? When will it happen? And what is their motivation for this major military incursion of such a tiny country like Israel? Let’s find out.

The land of Israel has been described as “the most important piece of real estate on earth,” “the geographical platform on which the story of the Bible is staged,” “the center of divine dealing with nations,” “the spiritual navel of the world,” and “ground zero for the end times.” Jerusalem has been called “the only city on earth not up for negotiations with anyone at any time for any reason.” Over and over again, God promised Israel “a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Let’s again consider how and why Israel stands at center stage for the fulfillment of end-time prophecy.

One of the great questions that has persisted throughout church history has to do with the future of the nation of Israel. Is God finished with Israel as a nation? Will there be a literal regathering and spiritual restoration? Or is all that figurative and allegorical, meaning that the promises to Israel are now subsumed by the church? Today and for the next few weeks we will consider these questions. We begin with the Abrahamic covenant—God’s unconditional promises made to the nation’s founder.

Last week, we considered how God tells time as we explored the detailed timetable of Israel’s future, including the prediction of the Messiah’s coming and death. Today we will consider the final period of that time clock, the seventieth week. We typically refer to it as the tribulation, a period that is given the greatest explanation in Revelation 6-19. God achieved redemption for the world by the end of the sixty-ninth week through the death of the Messiah, but the overall goal will require the seventieth.

God inhabits eternity but reveals Himself throughout time. Moreover, He wants us to understand what He is up to and what His plans are for the future. Amos declared, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). God gave to Daniel the prophet the most remarkable timetable for Israel’s future that would lead up to the coming of the Messiah, the tribulation period, and even the kingdom age. Daniel 9 has been called the Backbone of Prophecy. For the next two weeks, we will seek to unravel and understand it.

The Old and New Testaments include numerous references to the kingdom of the Messiah. It is one of the most frequently mentioned subjects in the Bible. Jesus Himself even taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, KJV). But this subject has become a point of division throughout church history. Three major viewpoints have emerged. Today we examine them and consider the millennium’s chronology, theology, and necessity.

How could the return of Jesus Christ ever be a problem? It certainly won’t be a problem for anyone who trusts in Him. The problem lies in understanding its timing and manner. When and how will Jesus return? How can we say that Jesus can come back at any time and that we should always be ready for Him knowing He said certain signs must happen first? How do we reconcile all the prophetic signs the Bible predicts must happen (including the great tribulation and worldwide devastation) and yet say Jesus is coming soon? Hint: you already know the answer!

Welcome to a study of eschatology, or end times. In the next several weeks, we will be looking into one of the most discussed topics in all of Scripture—the last days and the end of the world. While this is not necessarily a lightweight or feel-good subject matter, it will actually make you feel good if you’re on the right side of it! Four words can be used to sum up the experience of this theme of the last days. These four words will form the basis of our studies in coming weeks.