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Dear Readers,

Please pray for my cousin Genevieve, 17, who is currently undergoing surgery for a brain tumor just discovered this weekend.  The power of prayer can move mountains, and I know that if the followers of Jesus ask anything in His name, He will provide:

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.  For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”  Matthew 18:19-20 (NLT)

Thank you all…

Britt

Who was Jesus of Nazareth? For nearly two thousand years, the world has debated this question. Some say He was a prophet. Some think He was a madman. Still others think He was a great teacher. But for those who recognize His voice, the question is not ‘Who was Jesus of Nazareth?,’ but rather ‘Who is Jesus of Nazareth?’ Because unlike other men of history, Jesus of Nazareth was, is, and will be for all of eternity.

A careful examination of the historical record reveals that Jesus of Nazareth is nothing less than the Word of God dwelling as flesh among men. The Holy Spirit of God became a man and walked among us:

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (NLT)

“So the Word became human and made his home among us.” John 1:14 (NLT)

“In Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.” Colossians 2:9 (NLT)

While most of the world’s people desperately search for truth – to become closer to God Almighty, the Creator of the Universe – the door is wide open for them to experience a personal relationship with that same God. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His name is Jesus of Nazareth.

But don’t take my word for it. God has a number of identifiable character traits. If Jesus of Nazareth is worthy of the title of God Almighty and Lord of Heaven’s Armies, then the historical account of His life will reveal that He shared these unique traits. Let’s examine them.

Omniscient (All-Knowing)

The definition of God requires Him to be all-knowing. God must have knowledge of all things, including the thoughts of others. Did Jesus exhibit this character trait? Yes. He did.

History reveals a number of instances in which Jesus displayed His omniscience. Here, we’ll examine a few.

The Coin In The Fish – Jesus illustrated His knowledge of the future, as well as His knowledge of the most minute details of creation when He revealed to His disciples that they were to catch a fish, open its mouth, and find a large silver coin inside:

“Go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin.” Matthew 17:27 (NLT)

The Samaritan Woman – Upon meeting a Samaritan woman, Jesus told her everything she had ever done. His knowledge was enough to convince her that He was the Messiah, and His words were enough to convince many in her town that He is the Living Son of God:

“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, ‘He told me everything I ever did!’” John 4:39 (NLT)

“You Know Everything” – The disciples, who spent more time with Jesus during His earthly ministry than anyone else, testified that He knows everything – the very definition of omniscience:

“Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.” John 16:30 (NLT)

“A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’” John 21:17 (NLT)

12-Year Old Jesus In The Temple – As a young boy, Jesus and His family made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. While there, Jesus amazed the Jewish religious teachers with His understanding:

“Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Luke 2:46-47 (NLT)

“How Does He Know All This?” – Jesus taught in the Temple, and the people were amazed at the depth of His knowledge, since He was not a man educated and trained by men:

“Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. ‘How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?’ they asked.” John 7:14-15 (NLT)

“One Of You Will Betray Me” – Jesus had fore-knowledge of His betrayal. He knew that one of the most trusted members of His inner-circle would betray Him:

“Then Jesus said, ‘I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.’ He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.” John 6:70-71 (NLT)

Jesus Knew Of His Death – Jesus had full knowledge of His purpose in coming into the world. He knew what would happen to Him, the hands by which it would happen, and the miraculous event which would take place three days later:

“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.” Matthew 16:21 (NLT)

Omnipotent (All-Powerful)

A second character trait of God is omnipotence. By definition, God is all-powerful. He has power over all things. Did Jesus of Nazareth exhibit this character trait? History reveals that He did.

The Power To Forgive Sin – According to the Old Testament, only God has the power to forgive sins. And the Prophet Jeremiah prophesied of the day when God will forgive men of their wickedness and never again remember their sins:

“And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Jeremiah 31:34 (NLT)

Yet, in spite of His knowledge that only God can forgive sins, Jesus clearly announced His own power to forgive sins, thus revealing Himself as God:

“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, ‘What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!’” Mark 2:5-11 (NLT)

Power To Lay Down His Life – Throughout history, men and woman have died. Despite the immense power some of these individuals wielded, not a single one of them displayed the power to come back to life once dead. Yet Jesus claimed to have this power:

“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again.” John 10:17-18 (NLT)

Three days and three nights after His crucifixion, Jesus of Nazareth exhibited this power.

Power Over Wind and Waves – Like one would expect of God, Jesus of Nazareth had power over wind and waves:

“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, ‘Where is your faith?’ The disciples were terrified and amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!’” Luke 8:24-25 (NLT)

Power Over Fish – Similar to His power of the wind and waves, Jesus illustrated His power over all of creation by commanding the very movements of fish:

“Then he said, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!’ So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.” John 21:6 (NLT)

His Breath Blew Down Soldiers – The Roman Army is known throughout human history as one of the most ruthless and powerful fighting forces the world has ever known. Yet, Jesus of Nazareth cast Roman soldiers to the ground with the very breath of His mouth:

“As Jesus said ‘I AM he,’ they all drew back and fell to the ground!” John 18:6 (NLT)

Power over Physical Realm

In addition, the miracles of Jesus testify to His identity. They proclaim His power over the physical universe:

“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” Mark 1:40-42 (NLT)

“After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!’ They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, ‘Do you believe I can make you see?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they told him, ‘we do.’ Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘Because of your faith, it will happen.’ Then their eyes were opened, and they could see!” Matthew 9:27-30 (NLT)

“One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, ‘Would you like to get well?’ ‘I can’t, sir,’ the sick man said, ‘for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.’ Jesus told him, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!’ Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!” John 5:5-17 (NLT)

“He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost.” Mark 6:48-49 (NLT)

And Jesus performed many other miracles which required power over the physical universe, far too many to be examined here.

Omnipresent (Ever-Present)

By definition, God is omnipresent. He is everywhere at all times. He exists in all places in the past, present, and future. Can this be said of Jesus? Did Jesus of Nazareth really exhibit this character trait? Yes. He did.

“I Saw You Under The Fig Tree” – Upon first meeting Nathanael, Jesus proclaimed that He saw him under the fig tree earlier that day. His statement mesmerized Nathanael, who recognized this as knowledge that no other man could have. But Jesus was there. As the omnipresent Spirit of God, He was present when Nathanael was under the fig tree:

“As they approached, Jesus said, ‘Now here is a genuine son of Israel – a man of complete integrity.’ ‘How do you know about me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, ‘I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.’ Then Nathanael exclaimed, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God – the King of Israel!’” John 1:47-49 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit – God is Spirit, and the Spirit of God became flesh in the name of Jesus of Nazareth:

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5 (NLT)

Be With You Always – Reminding them of His omnipresence, Jesus assured His disciples He would always be with them, even to the end of the age:

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NLT)

This unique ability to be present with each individual (not just the twelve disciples, but all who believe in Him), at all times throughout history, is demonstrative of the omnipresence of Jesus.

Him Who Fills All – In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul testifies that Jesus “fills all things everywhere with himself”:

“And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.” Ephesians 1:23 (NLT)

Eternal

Yet another characteristic of God is His eternal nature. God is not bound by time or death. He is the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega. According to the Old Testament, there is no other God:

“This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: ‘I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.’” Isaiah 44:6 (NLT)

Does this character trait describe Jesus of Nazareth? The Apostle John testified yes:

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.’” Revelation 1:17 (NLT)

What Did Jesus Say?

So far, we’ve examined the evidence as recorded by the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament witnesses. But what did Jesus Himself have to say about this subject? If were truly the righteous religious teacher and holy man many claim Him to be, would He call Himself God if to do so were false? Of course not. Yet this is exactly what Jesus claimed. On many occasions, He unequivocally stated that He is God Almighty.

The Father and I Are One – Jesus Himself claimed to be equal with God:

“The Father and I are one.” John 10:30 (NLT)

Before Abraham, I AM – According to the Old Testament, when Moses requested to the know the name of God, the Almighty replied “I AM”:

“But Moses protested, ‘If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?’ God replied to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14 (NLT)

In answering His critics, Jesus proclaimed Himself to be “I AM”:

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!’” John 8:58 (NLT)

“Philip, Don’t You Know Me?” – When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus plainly told Him he had already seen the Father. To look upon Jesus, is to look upon the Father:

“Jesus replied, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?’” John 14:9 (NLT)

You Will See the Son of Man on Clouds of Heaven – While standing before the High Priest to be interrogated, Jesus was asked who He was. No one with knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures can mistake His response:

“Jesus replied, ‘You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Matthew 26:64 (NLT)

By claiming they would see Him seated in the place of power at God’s right hand, Jesus was proclaiming Himself to be the Lord of the Old Testament:

“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.’” Psalm 110:1 (NLT)

By claiming they would see Him coming on the clouds of heaven, Jesus was proclaiming Himself to be the One whose rule is eternal:

“As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal – it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14 (NLT)

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be none other than God Himself.

Accepts Worship From Others Without Rebuke – In addition to His statements, what Jesus didn’t say has a lot to say about His identity. For example, Jesus clearly stated a person must only worship God:

“’Get out of here, Satan,’ Jesus told him. ‘For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Matthew 4:10 (NLT)

Yet, when people worshipped Jesus or fell down at His feet or called Him Lord, He did not rebuke them. He did not respond to them by saying, “I’m only a man. Don’t worship me.” Instead, He perpetuated the notion that He should be honored like God the Father:

“He has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father.” John 5:22-23 (NLT)

The following examples show Jesus accepting this high praise and honor:

“’My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.’” John 20:28-29 (NLT)

“Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. ‘Lord,’ the man said, ‘if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.’” Matthew 8:2 (NLT)

“But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, ‘Lord, help me!’” Matthew 15:25 (NLT)

“And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.” Matthew 28:9 (NLT)

“‘Yes, Lord, I believe!’ the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.” John 9:38 (NLT)

In each of these instance, human beings gave Jesus praise, honor, and titles worthy of God alone. And He gladly accepted their praise.

What Did God Almighty Say?

If Jesus were the only witness of His divinity, then He shouldn’t be believed. But He’s not the only witness. His Father in heaven also testified to the identity of Jesus of Nazareth:

“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.’” Matthew 3:17 (NLT)

I Will Share My Glory With No One

The Old Testament clearly documents God’s intention to share His glory with no one else:

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8 (NLT)

In fact, one of the ten commandments outlaws worship of false gods:

“You must not have any other god but me.” Exodus 20:3 (NLT)

If God will not share His glory with anyone else, then by definition, Jesus of Nazareth can not share in His glory. Unless, of course, Jesus and God are one and the same. And this is the position put forth by the Creator of the Universe:

God’s Voice Speaks

God testified before men that He would bring glory to the name of Jesus:

“‘Father, bring glory to your name.’ Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, ‘I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.’” John 12:28 (NLT)

And Jesus spoke of the glory they share:

“Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.” John 17:5 (NLT)

Following the birth of Jesus, a host of angels praised God in full sight of men, thus giving glory to Jesus:

“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’” Luke 2:13-14 (NLT)

John also testifies to the glory of Jesus:

“We have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14 (NLT)

It’s the same glory God proclaimed He would give to His son in the Old Testament:

“The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: ‘The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.’’” Psalm 2:7 (NLT)

How could God glorify Jesus, and stay true to His word to never give His glory to anyone else, unless giving glory to Jesus is the same as giving glory to God?

Conclusion

The characteristics of God, all shared by Jesus of Nazareth, reflect the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy – a promise to the world. God promised a sign, that a virgin would conceive a child, a boy whose name means ‘God is with us,’ meaning He would be God in the flesh:

“All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)

This prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth:

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’’” Matthew 1:20-23 (NLT)

Yet, despite this miraculous sign, and the miraculous life which followed, most of the world has failed to recognize the Creator among them.

They Did Not Recognize Him

This is the message of the Gospel of John. God came into the world in human form, yet the very world He created failed to recognize Him:

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.” John 1:10 (NLT)

Even those who lay claim to the wisdom of this world failed to recognize their own Creator:

“But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.” 1 Corinthians 2:8 (NLT)

Even many self-proclaimed Christians fail to recognize the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth. He is the Christ, the Lord of lords, and King of kings. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

Don’t repeat the mistakes of those who refuse to acknowledge the glory of Jesus of Nazareth. He is more than a holy man, a prophet, and a teacher. He is God among us.

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For years, the conventional wisdom among those who study bible prophecy is that Armageddon is a human war in which Christ intervenes, rather than a war which human beings aggressively attack Jesus Christ. Yet, the latter is more in line with the Word of God, so why has this interpretation flourished? Certainly the widespread spiritualization of the scriptures bears some responsibility, but it might well be that the concept of man physically attacking the Creator of the universe is so beyond reason that we’re incapable of accepting it.

Nevertheless, the bible testifies to this human desire to physically assault the Lord. In almost every instance in which the rebels of this world rejected Christ and His ministry, they weren’t merely content to refute Him verbally. They also sought to physically harm Him. The Gospel of John illustrates a number of these instances:

“So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.” John 5:18 (NLT)

“After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death.” John 7:1 (NLT)

“Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.” John 7:19 (NLT)

“Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, ‘Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?’” John 7:25 (NLT)

“Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message.” John 8:37 (NLT)

“Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.” John 8:40 (NLT)

“At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.” John 8:59 (NLT)

“Once again the people picked up stones to kill him.” John 10:31 (NLT)

“So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.” John 11:53 (NLT)

Matthew, Mark, and Luke recount additional instances of human attempts to physically harm Jesus. Each of them failed until Satan and his children succeeded (so they thought) in physically assaulting and overcoming Christ at the crucifixion. Fallen man experienced the complete fulfillment of his basest desires on the day of the crucifixion. Yet little did they know that their actions would open the door for many to be counted as righteous.

Knowing this, one must logically conclude that if Christ was physically assaulted following His First Coming, then it stands to reason that His Second Coming will elicit nothing less than a similar response from Satan, his fallen angels, and the humans who have joined them in rebellion.

Spiritual AND Physical Rebellion Against God

Perhaps because the notion strikes people as utterly preposterous, Christians throughout history have spiritualized prophecies which clearly point to a day when men will engage in physical battle against the Lord Almighty.

All around us, people are living in open spiritual opposition to God. They mock His laws, and live their lives independent of His Word. However, the idea that a person would be arrogant enough, much less capable of, physically assaulting God is outside the boundary of an average person’s thought process. Therefore, many people simply dismiss the idea.

Yet the bible is filled with instances of those who have done just that. Aside from the Gospel accounts, the Old Testament also mentions individuals rebellious enough to physically confront God. For instance, Jacob – Abraham’s grandson – dared to take on the King of kings. Genesis 32:22-32 catalogues his wrestling match with God. Therefore, it’s a grave mistake to simply spiritualize prophecies which clearly and plainly state that mankind will one day set out to wage open war against God Almighty.

For the day will come when mankind will attempt to cast off every restraint of God’s authority:

“Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry. ‘And free ourselves from this slavery.’ But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:1-4 (NLT)

Let there be no mistaking the purpose of this rebellion. Its timing provides us with great insight. It occurs in the aftermath of Satan being cast down to earth:

“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, ‘It has come at last – salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.’” Revelation 12:7-12 (NLT)

Satan, indwelling the Antichrist, will lead the world’s kings and people against the Lord and His Anointed One:

“And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These miracle-working demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:13-14 (NLT)

“He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle.” Daniel 8:25 (NLT)

The purpose of this battle is no secret. Long ago, Lucifer’s intentions came to light:

“For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:13-14 (NLT)

This isn’t Satan’s desire alone, but also that of the angels who joined his rebellion and a multitude of humans who have been co-opted to his purpose:

“‘You won’t die!’ the serpent hissed. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.’” Genesis 3:4-5 (NLT)

Humanity’s fall in the Garden of Eden was the direct consequence of a human desire to be “just like God.” Yet, despite eating the forbidden fruit, mankind is not like God. Despite the overwhelming desire of many, God is the Alpha and the Omega – man is not. This fact is the cause of great hatred within those who reject God.

One day it will result in humanity launching a physical war against God Himself, because they desire only pleasure and not righteousness:

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn’t it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong – you only want what will give you pleasure.” James 4:1 (NLT)

Human beings, like Satan, want what they can’t have – God’s power and authority. So they conspire to take it. This desire is rooted in the same arrogance which prompted the fall of Lucifer. Every human being has a desire to reside in heaven, but many only harbor this desire because of the physical pleasure it will bring them. They otherwise disdain God and cannot fathom humbling themselves in order to receive His mercy.

Nevertheless, the Word of God is clear. Only one gateway into heaven exists – the blood of Jesus Christ. Without it, no human is cleansed of sin and capable of entering heaven. But this doesn’t mean that many won’t try. Human history offers a long list of false religions, false prophets, and futile human attempts to circumvent God’s gateway, but all these efforts lead to the same destination – eternal destruction:

“‘I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.’ Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.’” John 10:1-10 (NLT)

In the future, the hubris of mankind will reach such epic proportions that some will attempt to physically leap over the walls of heaven. God can only laugh at such foolishness, and He will not tolerate the illegal entry of those who do not belong in His presence – not when the front door is wide open for anyone who chooses to enter legally.

Conclusion

The bible prophesies that one day men will plot against God, planning a campaign to overthrow His authority, thus prompting Christ to bring the Lord’s vengeance:

“Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem.” Zechariah 14:3-4 (NLT)

These prophecies have much to teach today’s believers. It’s instructive to note the grave danger inherent in pride. God created Lucifer to be the Anointed Cherub, yet pride transformed him into the antithesis of everything which God created him to be. Likewise, when pride rears its ugly head in human lives, destruction and ruin soon follow.

“‘What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,’ says the Lord. ‘You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.’” Isaiah 30:1 (NLT)

What joy, however, awaits those who humble themselves before the Lord. Those who accept the free gift of Christ’s sacrifice as payment for their sins will have their robes washed clean and counted among the righteous:

“They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.” Revelation 7:14 (NLT)

But those who reject the free gift of Christ will die in their sins. At the end of this age, a great number of them will rise up in physical opposition to the Prince of Peace. Rather than having their robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb, their own blood will stain the robes of the conquering Messiah as He executes “the Day of God’s anger against His enemies” (Isaiah 61:2):

“Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? ‘It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!’ Why are your clothes so red, as if you have been treading out grapes? ‘I have been treading the winepress alone; no one was there to help me. In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. Their blood has stained my clothes. For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors. I was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So I myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm, and my wrath sustained me. I crushed the nations in my anger and made them stagger and fall to the ground, spilling their blood upon the earth.’” Isaiah 63:1-6 (NLT)

God has given you free will to choose your own eternal destiny. Will your blood stain His garments, or will His blood cleanse you of sin and bring you eternal life? The choice is yours alone, but make no mistake – He is Coming! And when He comes, there will be nowhere to hide. He will come to bring judgment, and there will be no escape:

“Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence! As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, your coming would make the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!” Isaiah 64:1-2 (NLT)

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What happens when a person dies? This question has plagued mankind since its inception. It’s a pretty good bet that almost everyone capable of rational thought has pondered this question at some point in his/her lifetime. To some people, death is scary – while to others, death is a peaceful state to be embraced.

Numerous cultures and civilizations have given birth to myths and speculations concerning the afterlife, but few people ever discover the true answer. And among those who do, only a small minority openly exhibit signs of preparing for what’s ahead.

As a result, physical death is a rather odd thing – everyone knows it’s coming, but very few prepare for it.

In all likelihood, a much larger number of people would make preparations for life after death if they had greater knowledge of their ultimate destination. So where does a person go following physical death? The most reliable explanation comes from the Bible, a work which has stood the test of time, weathered a barrage of critics, and demonstrated its divine nature through the fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies. Some of these prophetic statements pertain to events following physical death, and they reveal two staggeringly different destinations for mankind.

The bible has much to say about the afterlife, and we can have complete confidence in its accuracy. In it, the prophets, as well as Jesus Christ Himself, reveal in vivid detail what happens when a human being dies. Unfortunately, a great number of people have and will continue to pass away without first preparing for their future destination, and this lack of preparation will be lamented by both Christians and non-Christians alike.

A Deceased Human Being Travels To One of Two Places

According to the bible, when a person dies, they go to one of two places:

1) Torment
or
2) Paradise

These destinations are commonly referred to as heaven and hell. Jesus verified the reality of these places in His parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus:

“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.” Luke 16:22 (NLT)

And

“The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.” Luke 16:22-23 (NLT)

In addition, these two places are divided by a great chasm that can not be crossed:

“And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.” Luke 16:26 (NLT)

By definition, these destinations are permanent.

Paradise

Paradise is the final destination of those who place their faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. During the crucifixion, one of the criminals crucified alongside Jesus expressed His belief in the Son of the Living God. Jesus responded by assuring the man He would enter paradise that day:

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Luke 23:42-43 (NLT)

In paradise, God will dwell among His people, and death, sorrow, crying, and pain will be gone forever:

“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’” Revelation 21:3-4 (NLT)

“No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.” Revelation 22:3-4 (NLT)

Paul spoke in reverence of this place, which he had the distinct honor of visiting:

“I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know – only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.” 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (NLT)

“For “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

Paradise is a place of indescribable joy and beauty, where men and women will experience fellowship with their Creator.

Torment

Torment, or hell, is also a very real place often referenced by Jesus:

“So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.” Matthew 18:8 (NLT)

According to Jesus, torment is such an awful place that a person should do anything to avoid it. In fact, a person should go so far as to cut off their own hands and feet if doing so will mean avoiding the pain of torment. Jesus described torment as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth:

“But many Israelites – those for whom the Kingdom was prepared – will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:12 (NLT)

The number of verses testifying to the reality of torment and the reality of people being cast into hell are too numerous for a short article such as this one, but a diligent search will reveal many scriptural references. Below are just a few passages which shed light on the truth about this place:

“They are doomed to blackest darkness.” 2 Peter 2:17 (NLT)

“And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.” Jude 1:6-7 (NLT)

“Then the Devil, who betrayed them, was thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10 (NLT)

Jesus described torment as “eternal punishment,” but in doing so, He offered a message of hope:

“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 (NLT)

The message Jesus preached is that torment can be avoided and paradise can be obtained. But where a person spends eternity is completely dependent on that person’s individual relationship with Jesus Christ.

If You Accept Christ

Let’s return to the scene of the crucifixion, where one of the criminals asked for Jesus to remember him:

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Luke 23:42-43 (NLT)

Jesus didn’t promise to see both crucified criminals in paradise, but only the one who acknowledged his own sin, while recognizing the blameless life of Jesus. This is because the criminal’s belief in Christ opened the door for him to enter into paradise.

Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life. Those who accept the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as atonement for their sins will enjoy everlasting life and avoid the torment of hell.

Why This Happens

So why does this happen? Why is Jesus Christ the only gateway through which human beings can enter into paradise?

Because all of us are born into sin, we are all condemned – banished from the presence of God who, in His infinite justice, can not tolerate the presence of the unholy. In order to make us holy, blameless in the eyes of God, Jesus Christ paid the price of humanity’s sin through His blood on the cross:

“For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” Romans 3:25 (NLT)

The above statement by Paul is in complete agreement with the Law of Moses:

“In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22 (NLT)

“For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.” Leviticus 17:11 (NLT)

Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Therefore, Christ shed His blood in order that we might be forgiven:

“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

Christ even paid the penalty for the sins of those who died prior to His First Coming – prior to His ministry, His death, and His resurrection:

“That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead – so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 4:6 (NLT)

“That is why the Scriptures say, ‘When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.’ Notice that it says ‘he ascended.’ This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.” Ephesians 4:8-10 (NLT)

Because of the wonderful sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the door is open for anyone to establish a personal relationship with the Alpha and the Omega – the very Lord of the Universe!

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:8-11 (NLT)

Unfortunately, many people will inexplicably reject the free gift offered by Jesus. For such people, torment is their only future.

If You Reject Christ

Those who reject the sacrifice of Christ on the cross will die in their own sins, because they will have no one to intervene and pay the penalty for them. As a result, they can not enter paradise, because God dwells in paradise and God can not tolerate the presence of sin and still be just.

All those who reject Christ will have their names stricken from the Book of Life, a heavenly book which records the name of every human being ever born. Anyone who wants to live in paradise, must have their name written in the Book of Life:

“Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14-15 (NLT)

It’s a monumental tragedy that even one person in all of history would reject Christ’s offer of reconciliation with God. Yet sadly, entire multitudes of people will do so. The gift of Christ is free of charge – He already paid the price for us! Why then, do people turn Him away?

For many, pride will be their ultimate downfall. In their refusal to acknowledge Jesus Christ as King of kings, they will condemn themselves. Yet, in the end, they will still bow to Him and confess His name:

“I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to me.” Isaiah 45:23 (NLT)

“For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’” Romans 14:11 (NLT)

Why This Happens

Why does this happen? Why must God condemn people in everlasting torment?

If it weren’t for Christ, all would be condemned:

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Romans 5:12 (NLT)

However, because of Christ, it’s not necessary that a single person be condemned. Unfortunately, many people reject Christ and attempt to enter paradise on their own terms:

“I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.” Romans 10:2-5 (NLT)

Only one person ever lived a life in complete obedience to all of God’s commands. As a result, only one pathway leads into paradise – the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NLT)

Those who refuse to acknowledge the truth and continue in their reckless living are condemned in the eyes of God, and they will judged accordingly:

“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.” Hebrews 10:26-29 (NLT)

“Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” John 3:36 (NLT)

“But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.” John 12:48 (NLT)

Whether a person believes in Him or not, a day of judgment is in the future. God has made this promise.

Every Person Will Be Judged According To His Works

In addition to entering either torment or paradise, every person who has ever lived must stand before Christ to be judged:

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)

“But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:10 (NLT)

“So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’ Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.” Romans 14:10-12 (NLT)

Even those who are washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, must face judgment for their works:

“For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, ‘If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?’” 1 Peter 4:17-18 (NLT)

Each believer will receive a reward for what he or she has done for Christ. Therefore, Christians should not judge each other in this life, because only God knows the secret motives behind each person’s works.

“So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time – before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.” 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NLT)

Unfortunately, some Christians will experience great regret on their day of judgment because they will have few or no works to present to Christ. However, those who trust in Jesus need not be afraid on the day of judgment:

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.” 1 John 4:17 (NLT)

Such will not be the case for those who have rejected Him. They will be judged by the One they have denied:

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 (NLT)

“If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT)

This Life Matters… It Has Eternal Consequences!

If you don’t think this life matters, think again! Each person’s life here on earth has eternal consequences. A spiritual war is being waged in the heavenly realms, and the human race is a battlefront in that war. A clear line has been drawn. A person is either for or against Jesus Christ. One cannot be both, but one can always switch to the side of Christ and be forgiven. For it is God’s will that not one soul be lost:

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT)

That is why God gave His only Son as a sacrifice for mankind:

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT)

To all who are thirsty, Christ offers living water. Those who drink it will never be thirsty again:

“Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” Revelation 22:17 (NLT)

They will never be disappointed for trusting in Him:

“And anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.” 1 Peter 2:6 (NLT)

But time is short. The end of this age is fast coming to a close. Do you know what will happen when you die? If not, then now is the time to prepare for that day, for Christ is coming soon:

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12-13 (NLT)

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I’ve recently received several emails in which people have expressed a belief that the fulfilled prophecies of the Bible are not exclusive – that other books have exhibited the same power to prophesy the future. This idea is advanced in such a way as to undercut the divine authority of the bible by categorizing its impeccable track record of fulfilled prophecy as something less than the astounding miracle it is.

Since humans can’t even predict the weekend weather with great accuracy, the issuance of detailed prophecies years in advance of their ultimate fulfillment is, and should be, viewed by most people as a sign of supernatural origin.

Almost every religious system devised by man has its own set of prophets who claim divine knowledge of God’s will. Despite the fact that few of these religious systems provide evidence of their supernatural origin by foretelling specific future events, the world experiences no shortage of religious adherents willing to claim they do.

Muslims claim the Koran is prophetic. Mormons claim the Book of Mormon is prophetic. Hindus claim the Vedic texts are prophetic, and a cult following of people from various religious backgrounds claim that the writings of Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce are prophetic. In addition, countless other supposedly prophetic works exist, a list so long that space limitations don’t allow me to mention them all here.

In addition to their prophetic claims, each of the aforementioned texts claims its fulfilled prophecies are sufficient evidence of divine and/or supernatural authorship.

So when someone like me claims that the Bible is the only book which accurately prophesies the future, and is therefore the Word of God, it doesn’t make much of an impression. After all, numerous books are prophetic – right?

Wrong.

Just because someone makes a claim, it doesn’t make that claim true. Evidence must first be presented to test the claim, especially a bold claim such as the ability to foretell future events. Yet, for some reason, many people are more than willing to let the false assertions of others go unchallenged. The reasons are varied – political correctness, fear, and/or a reluctance to hurt someone’s feelings – but none of these reasons is sufficient grounds for allowing the truth to be corrupted.

When the false notion of multiple prophetic and divine texts is allowed to fester, it leads many people to accept the words of false prophets and idolatrous religious systems. This separates people from God, rather than drawing them closer to Him. And God doesn’t want people to be confused. He wants them to come into a full and abundant knowledge of His truth.

So in this article, we’ll examine some of the evidence backing these claims of divine authorship. Doing so will reveal the authentic Word of God and expose the counterfeits for the imposters they are.

God’s Challenge

If you’re searching for truth in a world of darkness, how do you keep from being deceived? Many books, people, prophets, and religious organizations claim to speak on behalf of God, yet many of them contradict one another – so they can’t all be true. How, therefore, does one uncover the truth?

God Almighty, in His infinite wisdom, knew the people of this world would be faced with such a conundrum. In order to keep His Word from being crowded out by the false teachings of Satan, God branded it with a unique watermark, one impervious to counterfeiters. So what is this watermark which identifies the true Word of God?

It’s fulfilled prophecy.

Since God is not confined by time, He already knows the future. Not because the future is pre-ordained, but because He’s in the future. God Almighty is in the past, present, and future simultaneously. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last… As such, He can recount with absolute certainty the future of the human race. And, as logic would dictate, anyone who claims to be God should have no problem foretelling the future with one-hundred percent accuracy.

But don’t take my word for it. God Himself made the same declaration to the prophets of Israel:

“But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.” Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (NLT)

The 66 books of the Bible were written by numerous prophets, each performing God’s work under direction of the Holy Spirit. In the more than 2,000 years since God revealed that a prophet must have a perfect track record in order to establish his credentials as a messenger of God, no one has uncovered a single false prophecy written by any these men. On the contrary, hundreds upon hundreds of specific and detailed prophecies – in some cases written hundreds of years in advance – have been fulfilled to the letter.

These fulfilled prophecies are God’s certificate of authentication, His personal signet proving His direct authorship of the Old and New Testaments. As the Lord states, He will not give His glory to anyone else. And only the Lord can tell the beginning from the end:

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.” Isaiah 42:8-9 (NLT)

For those who present alternative scriptures, who claim to have received divine revelation or a message from above, God issues the following challenge:

“‘Present the case for your idols,’ says the Lord. ‘Let them show what they can do,’ says the King of Israel. ‘Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods.’” Isaiah 41:21-23 (NLT)

According to this verse, God has laid down a bold challenge. “Tell us what will occur in the days ahead,” He says, and “then we will know you are gods.”

In other words, if a person or a book can foretell the future, then that person or book has established his/her/its divine credentials. Absent this ability, any person or book which claims divine authority is nothing but an imposter – and that person or book is not to be feared.

As evidence of His own divinity, only one person in human history has ever successfully taken on God’s challenge. His name was Jesus of Nazareth:

“I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah.” John 13:19 (NLT)

The Son of God reiterated the Old Testament tenet that if one can tell the future beforehand, then it establishes his divine credentials. This unique ability to foretell future events is the fail proof identifier of the Bible’s divine authenticity as well as the divinity of Jesus Christ:

“This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: ‘I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future.’” Isaiah 44:6-7 (NLT)

God has thrown down the gauntlet. He’s issued His challenge. Who is like Him? Let that person or text step forward and prove it. Let them prove it by foretelling the future in advance.

What Books Meet God’s Challenge?

An objective search for the truth will carefully examine each text or series of writings which claim to foretell the future, taking into account a number of variables. For instance, could a prophecy be easily fulfilled by a supporter who set out to fulfill it? Does evidence exist that a prophecy was made in advance of its fulfillment? Is the prophecy in question vague and indecipherable? Is it so general that it’s easily fulfilled? What are the odds of its fulfillment?

A healthy dose of skepticism will go a long way in helping a person to discern truth from fiction. Many of the earliest Christians didn’t simply accept the words of mere humans, but they searched through the scriptures diligently to find out the truth for themselves:

“And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.” Acts 17:11-12 (NLT)

For instance, I unequivocally state that the Bible is the inspired Word of God Almighty, and the hundreds of fulfilled prophecies within it is one reason I believe as I do. No other book can claim such astounding and accurate insight into future events.

But instead of taking my word for it, let’s examine some prophecies from the Koran, Nostradamus, and the Bible. And when we’re finished, you can draw your own conclusion as to which, if any, of these sources meets God’s challenge.

The Koran

The Koran, dictated to Muhammad in a cave sometime in the late 7th Century, is heralded by over one billion Muslims as the divine word of god. The text is divided into 114 Suras (chapters), covering any number of subjects including, some claim, prophecies of future events. Yet, when presented with God’s challenge to foretell the future, the Koran falls short.

Proponents of the Koran’s ability to prophesy point to more than sixty passages which they claim are prophetic in nature, but most of these passages are vague, ambiguous, and sometimes not even prophecies at all. Given the space limitations of this article, only three of these supposed prophecies are featured here.

The first is said to be a prediction of genetic engineering:

“And most certainly I will lead them astray and excite in them vain desires, and bid them so that they shall slit the ears of the cattle, and most certainly I will bid them so that they shall alter Allah’s creation; and whoever takes the Shaitan for a guardian rather than Allah he indeed shall suffer a manifest loss.” Sura 4:119

It’s quite a stretch to say that slitting “the ears of cattle” and altering “Allah’s creation” are clear predictions of the human race engaging in genetic engineering. Like many purported prophecies, this verse is vague in its prediction (assuming it’s an attempted prediction at all).

Some adherents also claim the Koran foretold modern modes of transportation:

“And (He made) horses and mules and asses that you might ride upon them and as an ornament; and He creates what you do not know.” Sura 16:8

Again, the statement that “He creates what you do not know” isn’t exactly a detailed and specific prophecy of future events, much less a fulfilled prophecy of modern transportation. Yet, supporters of the Koran are more than willing to overlook this ambiguity in order to support their preconceived notions of the Koran’s divine origin.

In yet another example of creative interpretation, supporters claim the Koran foretold the pollution of the industrial age:

“Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought, that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, so that they may return.” Sura 30:41

Of course, corruption is a rather ambiguous term. Does it infer physical corruption? Spiritual corruption? This supposed prophecy is so vague, it can have a hundred different meanings to a hundred different people.

The above verses are indicative of the types of prophecies found in the Koran – imprecise and broad-based in nature. Nowhere in the Koran can one find a prophecy that names a specific year, time, season, or place in which an event will occur. Yet countless people continue to harp about its supposed predictive powers. Take the time to read the Koran, and you can find out for yourself.

Nostradamus

If the Koran is the most famous work people point to when arguing that another book approaches the prophetic significance of the Bible, then the writings of a 16th Century French doctor are a close second. Published in a book titled ‘The Prophecies,’ the predictions of Nostradamus are written in quatrains organized in several chapters known as ‘Centuries.’ Modern apologists make bold claims concerning the prophetic significance of these writings. Yet to believe in the prophetic power of Nostradamus requires an overt willingness to engage in recklessly broad and creative interpretations of his writing. It’s a stretch to proclaim even one fulfilled prophecy can be located in his work, much less an entire series of fulfilled prophecies. Yet, inexplicably, there’s no shortage of people willing to attribute prophetic power and supernatural significance to these writings.

To illustrate the absurdity of the Nostradamus prophecies, all one has to do is read one. Let’s examine his most famous, a quatrain heralded by proponents as proof positive of the seer’s keen insight into the future:

“Beasts wild with hunger will cross the rivers,
The greater part of the battlefield will be against Hister.
He will drag the leader in a cage of iron,
When the child of Germany observes no law.”
(Translation of Century II, Quatrain 24)

Of course, the key word in this quatrain is “Hister,” which proponents immediately translate as “Hitler.” However, some translations state the word as “Ister,” which is the Latin name for the Danube River in Germany. Even advocates of Nostradamus admit the original translation never directly names “Hitler.” It’s only through creative manipulation of the translation that people arrive at the name of Hitler. Of course, with enough creativity, any number of meanings can be attributed to these verses.

In addition, Nostradamus supposedly predicted the rise of Napoleon:

“An Emperor will be born near Italy,
Who will cost the Empire very dearly.
They will say, when they see his allies,
That he is less a prince than a butcher.”
(Translation of Century I, Quatrain 60)

Clearly, this quatrain predicts the rise of Napoleon. Right? Yes, it does – as well as the rise of any historical person fitting this description, of which there are many. For example, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was born in Italy, cost the empire dearly, and was more of a butcher than a prince.

If any doubts lingered as to the authority of Nostradamus as some sort of divine prophet, they should have been put to rest in July 1999. For in one of the rare quatrains where Nostradamus actually predicts a date, he fails miserably. Apparently, some sort of great king of terror should have appeared from the sky in July 1999:

“In the year 1999 and seven months
From the sky will come the great King of Terror.
He will bring back to life the great king of the Mongols.
Before and after, war reigns happily.”
(Translation of Century X, Quatrain 72)

Again, let me reiterate God’s position:

“But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.” Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (NLT)

July 1999 came and went, and no king of terror appeared from the sky. Yet, apologists for Nostradamus continue to push the idea that his obscure collection of ambiguous ramblings qualifies as serious prophecy. It’s nothing less than mind-boggling.

When a newspaper horoscope states “You will see someone you know today,” and then you see someone you know, this may in a technical sense qualify as a fulfilled prophecy. But would you ascribe supernatural inspiration to such an event? Of course you wouldn’t. No rational person would. But that’s exactly what has happened with the Nostradamus “prophecies.”

Those vague and ambiguous quatrains which can be linked in some way to a modern event are heralded throughout the media as fulfilled prophecies, while the same pundits get a case of selective memory when it comes to the hundreds of additional quatrains which can’t be linked to anything at all.

If you have any doubts concerning the legitimacy of the prophecies of Nostradamus, then I encourage you to find a translation of his work and read them. Don’t blindly accept the conclusions of others. Find out for yourself. Reading these quatrains firsthand, you’ll quickly conclude that the highly vaunted Nostradamus is nothing more than a man from a bygone era who recorded a mountain of gibberish.

The Bible

Although billions of people quote, read, and study the Bible every year, most of the world is ignorant of the staggering number of specific and detailed prophecies found in its pages. More than 25% of the Bible is prophecy. And each prophecy except those concerning the “last days” and the millennial kingdom that follows have been fulfilled with 100% accuracy. Some of these prophecies, such as Jeremiah’s claim that Israel would be taken into captivity for a period of 70 years by the Babylonians, were written decades before fulfillment. Others, such as Ezekiel’s forecast of the exact year in which Israel would be re-established as a nation, were written 2,500 years before fulfillment.

But regardless of the time frame in which they occur, the prophecies of the Bible are very specific in nature. Nevertheless, most people are simply unaware of them. Despite the fact that millions of people supposedly read the Bible, countless books have been written on the subject of bible prophecy, and some of these prophecies have been fulfilled in our time, the media trumpets Nostradamus while distancing itself from the prophecies of the Bible.

Below are a few instances of specific and detailed bible prophecies fulfilled in history:

The Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.

The Old Testament Prophecy:
“And I said to them, ‘If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.’ So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.” Zechariah 11:12 (NLT)

The New Testament Fulfillment:
“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, ‘How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.” Matthew 26:14-15 (NLT)

The 30 pieces of silver will be thrown in the potter’s field.

The Old Testament Prophecy:
“And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potters’ – this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potters in the Temple of the Lord.” Zechariah 11:13 (NLT)

The New Testament Fulfillment:
“When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. ‘I have sinned,’ he declared, ‘for I have betrayed an innocent man.’ ‘What do we care?’ they retorted. ‘That’s your problem.’ Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself. The leading priests picked up the money. ‘We can’t put it in the Temple treasury,’ they said, ‘since it’s against the law to accept money paid for murder.’ After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood.” Matthew 27:3-8 (NLT)

The Messiah’s enemies will divide his clothes among themselves and cast dice for his garments.

The Old Testament Prophecy:
“My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice for my garments.” Psalm 22:17-18 (NLT)

The New Testament Fulfillment:
“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said, ‘Let’s not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it.’” John 19:23-24 (NLT)

That’s all well and good you may say, but you’re using the bible to verify the Bible!

Notwithstanding the widespread scholarly acceptance of the New Testament as an accurate and reliable historical record, the Bible has foretold events from our own time. Don’t believe it?

How about the re-gathering of the Jews in Israel? Despite nearly 2,000 years of dispersion and unspeakable persecution, the Jews remained a distinct race of people and returned to their land to reestablish Israel in 1948:

“‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west and from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.” Isaiah 43:5-7 (NLT)

“‘But the time is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when people who are taking an oath will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ For I will bring them back to this land that I gave their ancestors.” Jeremiah 16:14-15 (NLT)

“Therefore, give the exiles this message from the Sovereign Lord: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you were scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.” Ezekiel 11:16-17 (NLT)

The promise to restore Israel as a nation isn’t made just once in the Bible, but numerous times.

Still not convinced?

How about the exact day in which Israel would be reestablished as a nation?

How about the exact year in which the Messiah would arrive at the Temple and “appear to be killed.”?

The Bible harbors hundreds upon hundreds of specific and detailed prophecies just like these. They serve to authenticate the divine authority of the Bible and to serve as a warning and hope of things to come.

Conclusion

The Bible contains clear and detailed prophecies, many fulfilled in history and others to be fulfilled in the days to come. The fulfilled prophecies provide the world with clear evidence of the Bible’s heavenly inspiration. No other books of purported supernatural origin come anywhere close to answering God’s challenge – not the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedic texts of Hinduism, the Book of Mormon, the writings of Nostradamus, the writings of Edgar Cayce, or any other work of human hands.

The answer is clear to the objective observer. The bible is the only text which meets God’s challenge of foretelling specific future events with 100% accuracy. According to God, when this happens, it is a sign that those words of prophecy have come from Him:

“Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NLT)

If you find this site helpful, please consider a donation to support this ministry.

Dear readers,

You may have recently noticed the addition of a PayPal donation link in the left sidebar as well as the addition of a donation link at the end of each article. This is part of a new strategy for financially supporting this site.

It does cost money to operate the site, and I believe God has bigger plans for further expanding the reach and audience of BrittGillette.Com. In the past, I’ve funded the site with personal funds and the small trickle of Google ad revenue derived from the advertisementss hosted on the site. However, I believe God is now calling me to pursue the goal of operating this ministry on a full-time basis. To do so, I will need the consistent financial support of a large number of readers on a regular basis. Therefore, I’ve decided to add a permanent link for accepting donations.

I do not, and never will, charge fees for the material on this website. It is the goal of BrittGillette.Com to offer informative articles on bible prophecy and preach the Gospel of Christ across the World Wide Web free of charge. Google Ads will continue to supplement funding of the site, but ultimately, it will be the collective decision of many contributers as to how far the boundaries of this site will expand.

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I do not know when God will enable me to pursue this ministry full-time, if ever. It may be in as short as few weeks, or it may take as long as several years to build the necessary foundation for support. But until that day arrives, I will continue to work on:

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