Everybody wants to know how it's gonna end. But God doesn't want us to know (exactly) how or when. That's why he inspired John to write "The Revelation." (You try and figure that book out, I sure can't) But He actually gave us a little clearer picture in Zechariah. For some reason few bother to read it. Without further adieu here are some excepts and understandings:
Israel will stand alone and defenseless: In that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people. All that burden themselves will be cut in pieces. (U.S. & England will not be in the end times) Though all the people of the earth will be gathered against it. Zech 12:3
And Israel shall be a land of unwalled villages. (In those days the walls of the city were it's primary defenses) Ezek 38:11. Israel will have signed an agreement to disarm and turn over all power to the Antichrist. Dan. 9-27
Israel will be savagely attacked:
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to do battle: and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled and the women ravished; and half the city shall go forth into captivity and the residue of the city shall be cut off from the city. Zech. 14:2
The Lord himself will defend Israel: And the Lord shall be seen over them, and His arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet and shall go with the whirlwinds of the South. And the Lord of hosts shall defend them. Zech. 9:14-15 For they that touchest you touchest the apple of His eye. Zech. 2:8
The Lord will rescue Israel: The Lord shall save the tents of Judah first. And the glory of the house of David. And the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (who) do not magnify themselves against Judah. Zech. 12:7
The Lord will now convict Israel: And I will pour out upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem my spirit of grace and supplications. And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son. Zech. 12:10 And in that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem and the entire land and all families shall mourn. Zech 12: 11,12,14
Israel will be restored, redeemed and forgiven: And I will hiss (signal) for them throughout the land. I will gather them for I have redeemed them and they shall increase as they (in the world) have increased Zech. 10:8
And I will strengthen the house of Judah. And I will save the house of Joseph. And I will bring them to (my) place for them, for I shall have mercy upon them and they shall be as though I had never cast them off. For I am the Lord their God and will hear them. Zech 10:6
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (to cleanse them) for sin and uncleanness Zech. 13:1 Then how great will be Israel's goodness, and how great her beauty. Corn (the harvest) shall make the young men cheerful and new wine (bounty) the maids. Zech 9:17
And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord and His name one. Zech 14:9
Well, there it is. Pretty simple, huh? God will first rapture his believers (the Church) so they won't have to see all this bloodshed, then shall be the second coming to save. Not just save the world from Satan but to (personally) save the nation of Israel, as he promised in the Old Testament. That is where He will set up His Kingdom. These events will happen exactly as written. We may struggle and delay them but they will happen with absolute certainty.
If these things will happen, many ask, why bother to try change things and bring peace. "Let's just give up." But there is one remaining question: To what percentage of the world's population will they happen? We are told that when the Lord comes, we will be raptured and His church will not have to suffer these terrible things. How many will that be? Will it be 40%? Maybe 43%. Maybe even 50%. Of course no one knows, but that is the only remaining variable.
The simple answer is… how many can you (and I) influence to make a decision for Christ? We cannot affect the events. What we can affect is the percentage of the world’s people who will be raptured. That is the great responsibility we have. That is our job description. That is what Team RFC is all about.
