Prophets not only declare God’s righteous standards for families, society, and civilizations but they also describe the world’s conditions in advance.

    Many seers have pictured the world we are in right now. The greatest prophet of all was our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The word “Messiah” means the “anointed ruler” who was foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament. This was fulfilled in the New Testament. The Greek name in the Bible for Messiah is Christ which is Jesus’ title.

    When Jesus arrived, he declared the good news of God’s kingdom. He said it was “at hand” meaning within reach, close by, attainable for those who would receive his message. Those embracing his good news were delivered from demons, healed of diseases, had marriages restored, lives saved, and went from despair to hope.

    Concerning prophets, a lot of folks today get it wrong. They think prophets only see now bad things, judgment coming, “the end is near,” and so forth.

    Not so. Prophets may describe the consequences of immoral behavior in individuals or idolatry among nations, but they also describe the advancing kingdom of Christ Jesus. In fact, the theme of the whole Bible is

prophetic: the kingdom of God coming among men and affecting nations. The return of the resurrected King will be the climax of history!

    This dramatic conclusion of secular human history begins with the return of Jesus as anointed ruler to the earth, as Lord of heaven and earth — saved and unsaved. Until then, his saved but not-yet-glorified saints will do their best to live out the kingdom of God as it now appears in families, churches, and upon some aspects of society.

    History has a pre-ordained conclusion. We are marching through his-story towards a destination God has shown us. People who read the Bible know this. We can affect our future within the arc of history by the choices we make. The timing of the final outcome, however, is solely in Gods hands.

    We can participate by our prayers and by extending the gospel. In the end, The Father will give his Son the inheritance He deserves and has earned by dying on the cross — “the nations of the earth!”

    When I started making notes for this article, I first listed the warning signs: the decay of western culture from values that helped us once pass wisdom from one generation to another; the humanistic ways that leave God out of our lives, individually or corporately; the decline of character in the public arena; the increase of immorality or idolatry; generational racism; the rise of religiously motivated killers (demonically motivated) who threaten Israel, America, and all Christians; the loss of virtue, integrity, or honor (even in some churches!); the increase of diseases and plagues, earthquakes and volcanoes, famine and droughts, and changes in weather; and the drums of war that beat ever louder. And its only just begun.

    But here’s good news. I want you to look up, for your redemption is drawing closer. The day of His appearing is drawing nearer. Look at the good indicators that also point to our salvation being closer than it was just yesterday. I see two major factors described by prophets and by Scriptures that haven’t fully existed on earth since 70 A.D. They are both positive signs. The first is the restoration of Israel as a nation. This only occurred in my lifetime, 1948. The second is the maturation of the Bride of Christ the church, which is His body so that she is adorned with her garments and gifts, prepared for the wedding, ready to meet her Groom, the Lord Jesus!

    Israel is gaining national strength despite hatred by the Islamists. The Church is regaining power due to intercessory prayer, fuller understanding of her task, and the restoration of charismatic gifts and the emergence of essential ministries.

    Ron Wood is a writer and minister. He has been a missionary, a pastor, and is known for his prophetic insight and humor when he teaches. He and his wife live in NW Arkansas along with their retired Jack Russell Terrier, near to their six lovely grandchildren. Write to Ron at wood.stone.ron@gmail.com.