A New Beginning presents a new book from Pastor Greg Laurie. We are offering a brand new resource called The House of David Devotional and it's based on the great Psalms of David as well as the life of David. So I'm going to put this brand new devotional in your hand so you can learn from this man of God.
Or your gift of any size at harvest.org. It's the official companion resource for the new Amazon TV series also called The House of David. I was talking with someone the other day and they said we watch the news a lot and it keeps me up at night. It shouldn't be keeping you up at night. In fact, you should be looking up. It may seem the world's in chaos. Maybe everything isn't falling apart.
Maybe it's falling into place. Today Pastor Greg Laurie brings us good encouragement straight from the Lord himself. Jesus said when you see these things begin to happen look up for your redemption is drawing near. This is the day when the lost are found. This is the day for a new beginning. Amazing grace how sweet the sound. Again you hear all the angels are singing.
This is the day the day when life begins. Why do we wear sunglasses? To keep the bright lights from hindering our ability to see what's lurking in the shadows. Well today on A New Beginning we'll all put on some spiritual sunglasses.
These prevent what's lurking in the shadows from hindering our ability to see the bright light of Christ. Pastor Greg Laurie brings an eye-opening study examining what's going on in our world and especially in the Middle East so we can see what's coming very soon in God's end times plan. I heard about a guy who was stranded on a desert island. He was finally rescued and they found that this man had built three buildings and they asked him what are these three buildings? He says well the first building that's my house. The second building that's my church. Really?
And what's the third building? He said well that's a church I used to go to. So you know even if you're all by yourself you'll find something to disagree with right? We're talking about hot button issues, controversial issues in the light of what the Bible says. And I don't know that there's any more controversial issue out there than the topic of what is called eschatology. That just means the study of end times events or Bible prophecy.
People have disagreements as to what event is going to happen when people have disagreements about the nation Israel or the Jewish people. So I want to look at all of that through the lens of what the Bible has to say. I can tell you back in the 70s when the Jesus movement was happening we talked about this all the time. In fact the number one selling book of the entire decade of the 70s was titled The Late Great Planet Earth. And it was a book about the end times written by Hal Lindsey.
I would say that belief that Christ could come in our lifetime contributed to the revival like atmosphere. But when you bring this topic up some recoil they say oh no here we go. Here come the end times charts and the conspiracy theories right? And it can be that way and it can be exaggerated and it can be extreme or we can look at it in a balanced way. Some don't want to talk about end times events because there is disagreement or because maybe they find it scary.
But listen to this. Bible prophecy is not given to scare us. It is given to prepare us. So we need to know about these things. Why?
Let me give you a number of reasons. Number one if you are taking notes the Bible talks about the return of Jesus a lot. Jesus said in John 14 let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. Do you believe in God? Believe also in me.
In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. If I go I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am you may be also. 25 percent of the Bible is prophetic. So it is not like it is a side note.
It is front and center. You might say the Bible oozes with the return of Christ. The New Testament contains over 300 references to the return of Christ.
That is one out of every 13 verses. Do you get the idea that God is trying to tell us something? So we should not talk about what God talks about so much.
It is the very opposite. We should discuss it because the Bible wants us to think about these things. So number one the Bible talks about the return of Christ a lot. Number two understanding Bible prophecy brings hope in a hopeless world. Understanding Bible prophecy brings hope in a hopeless world. Titus 2 13 says while we wait for the blessed hope the appearing of the glory of God and of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a blessed hope.
The word blessed can also be translated happy. So we might call it a happy hope. It is a happy hope to know that Christ could come back at any moment because if you watch the news all the time you are going to get down. I was talking with someone the other day and they said we watch the news a lot and it keeps me up at night. It shouldn't be keeping you up at night.
In fact you should be looking up. Jesus said when you see these things begin to happen look up for your redemption is drawing near. Number three understanding Bible prophecy unravels the mystery of history. Understanding Bible prophecy unravels the mystery of history. We wonder why is there so much evil in the world? Why does God allow all of these horrible things to happen? Even the believers in the book of Revelation chapter 6 are saying in heaven how long oh Lord holy and true until you judge and avenge our blood on those that dwell on the earth. They are saying Lord when are you going to do something about it? The Bible tells us that judgment is coming.
The Bible tells us that one day Satan himself will be judged and Jesus will return and make every wrong right. So the Bible unlocks the mystery of history and Bible prophecy does that in particular. I heard about a guy he did not have a lot of theological training but he loved to read the book of Revelation. And one of his friends who considered himself a theologian said you can't understand the book of Revelation.
No one can. The guy says I understand it. Oh you do? Do you?
Yes I do the man said. Okay then explain. What does the book of Revelation really mean? The guy replied it means we win in the end.
That is true. Another thing that studying Bible prophecy does is it brings sense to our suffering. It brings sense to our suffering. What do you say to someone who has suffered a great tragedy? What do you say to someone dealing with a disability? What do you say to someone who has lost a loved one?
What do you say to someone that is dealing with overwhelming grief? You say this is not God's final plan. Revelation 21 says God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
There'll be no more death nor sorrow or crying or pain for those things are gone forever. In fact when we talk about the topic of the rapture and that's a controversial subject not everyone believes that the rapture is a real event. They'll say you can't find the word rapture in the Bible which is true. But you can't find the word Bible in the Bible either. Nor can you find the word Trinity in the Bible. But actually you can find the word rapture in the Bible if you happen to have a Latin translation. See the word rapture comes from the Greek word harpazo which is translated rapturus or the English version rapture.
Call it what you like. The great escape. It's an event that means to be taken by force. 1 Thessalonians 4. Paul is talking to Christians who've lost loved ones and they're wondering if they'll ever see their loved ones again. So Paul then gives these words to them and really to us. The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel.
The dead in Christ will rise first and we which are alive and remaining shall be caught up together with them in the clouds and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Then he brings this word therefore. Whenever you see the word therefore in the Bible find out what it's there for. Therefore or in conclusion comfort one another with these words.
What words? Comfort one another with the words that ye will be reunited with your loved ones who have died. So you have people you know and love that have died and they're buried in the ground. And we wonder where are they now where their body is in the ground and their soul or their spirit has gone into the presence of God. So at the rapture the harpazo or the first resurrection as it's also called people's bodies will be resurrected from the graves.
Job said in my flesh I will see God. There's going to be a bodily resurrection. Christ was resurrected bodily and we too will be resurrected bodily. And so we'll be caught up together with them in the clouds. So on the moment of the harpazo the rapture if you will these bodies will be resurrected and we will be caught up together with them in the clouds and so shall we ever be with the Lord. So summation you will see your loved ones again. You'll just be going on with your business average day doing whatever you do and all of a sudden in a moment in a flash in the twinkling of an eye you're reunited with loved ones who have preceded you to heaven. That's a hopeful thing and that's why we should study end times events because it brings sense to our suffering.
Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. Hey everyone I want you to know about our app called Harvest Plus. Think of it as a harvest version of Netflix. We have all of our resources in one place. We have our movies like Steve McQueen The Salvation of an American Icon, Johnny Cash The Redemption of an American Icon, A Rush of Hope and much more. Then we have our television program Daily Devotions and much more. So go and download the Harvest Plus app. Well glad you're along today as Pastor Greg is bringing some reasons why we need to study Bible prophecy.
Let's continue now. Understanding Bible prophecy brings a specific blessing to us. The book of Revelation is the only book of 66 that comes with the built-in blessing attached. And it says this in Revelation 1 3. Blessed or happy is the one who reads and hears and keeps the Word written in this book for the time is near.
Built-in blessing. So when you study and keep the words of Revelation you'll be blessed or you'll be happy. And I think what's true of Revelation is principally true of the study of prophecy and the Bible in general. One last thing. Understanding Bible prophecy causes us to live godly lives. It causes us to live godly lives.
The reason we learn about the future is to motivate us to live right in the present. Let me take you a quick poll. How many of you believe Jesus could come back at any time? Raise your hand. Don't raise your hand if you don't mean it. Okay. If you believe that, and I believe you do, should that not affect you in the decisions you make today? Should that not affect you in the things that you say? Should that not affect you in the things that you do as well as the things that you don't do?
And the answer to all of that is yes. Because it says in 1st John, he that has his hope, that is the hope of the coming of the Lord, purifies himself even as he, God, is pure. 2nd Peter 3-11 says, since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives we should be living. But some will say, but Bible prophecy is too hard to understand. Listen. It is not God's desire to conceal but to reveal.
Let me say that again. It is not God's desire to conceal but to reveal. The very word revelation means the unveiling.
So God wants us to know these things. Jesus in Matthew 24 and the so-called Olivet Discourse is talking about the end times. And he says when you see the abomination of desolation, then he goes on to say let the reader understand.
Now the abomination of desolation is when the antichrist desecrates the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. Jesus says if you see that you need to understand. But the point I am making is let the reader understand. Paul speaking of end times events says I would not have you ignorant brothers. So God wants us to understand these things.
Not to neglect them or ignore them. And my last point is the key to understanding Bible prophecy is Israel and the Jewish people. And that is one of the most controversial topics of all. Israel and the Jewish people. When the Jews formed their nation on May 14, 1948 a modern day miracle occurred. And more specifically a prophecy was fulfilled and the prophetic time clock began to tick. It wasn't just a sign. It was a super sign.
Why? Because it was all predicted by the Jewish prophets. Like Ezekiel in chapter 37 where he talks about a valley of dry bones. A graveyard effectively.
And all of a sudden all these bones start coming together and then flesh is put on these bones and they come alive. And this is a symbol he says of the nation Israel. They will be dead. They will be gone. And they will come to life again in their land in the last days.
And we saw that happen before our very eyes. And God gave the land of Israel to the Jewish people. To the Jewish people God said in Deuteronomy 1a look I am giving all this land to you.
And so go in and occupy it. For it is in this land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors that you have that is given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all their descendants. Now I bring this up because people will say well you know the Israelis are occupiers. They have taken land that belonged to someone else.
Excuse me. The Jews are indigenous to this region. This is their land that God gave to them. And more to the point they haven't even occupied all the land that God did give them.
So they are not the occupiers or the colonizers as some like to say. There is a surge of anti-Semitism sweeping the world today. You would have thought that after this horrible attack took place on October 7 there would be an outpouring of public sympathy for the innocent victims there in Israel. But instead this anti-Semitic vitriol and Jew hatred has been expressed in so many ways. And it is from the devil. John 10 sums it up perfectly. Jesus said, the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.
But I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly. Why this hatred for the Jews in particular? Why is her anti-Semitism simple answer? Satan hates what God loves. He always has and he always will. So we think about that in light of history and it goes way back to the book of Genesis. After our first parents sinned God said to Satan, there is coming one who is going to crush your head but you will bruise his heel. So the battle lines were drawn and the conflict began. Fast forward to the book of Exodus we see the Pharaoh giving the order to drown all the little Jewish baby boys. But the Jewish midwives would have nothing to do with that and they didn't do that at all thankfully. And then fast forward to the book of Esther and we have the order of Haman who is in a position of power to kill all of the Jewish people because he had been offended by one Jew in particular named Mordecai. And a woman named Esther who was Jewish stood up for her people and saved them. And in both of those instances with the Jewish midwives and the story of Esther a woman saved a nation and the women saved the nation as well. Way to go girls. Girl power.
Okay. But the point of this is, is Satan hates what God loves. And we see that in history.
Go on to modern history and you see it as well. Because the Jews are the chosen people. The Jews as described in Scripture are the apple of God's eye. Because God made a promise in Genesis 12, I will bless those that bless you and I will curse those that curse you. And the German nation cursed the Jewish people. They tried to eradicate them from the face of the earth. And in the Holocaust they killed over six million Jews. And so judgment came on that nation. And I believe one of the reasons God has blessed the United States of America is because we have stood by our ally the nation Israel.
And we need to keep doing it. I was invited to speak at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. A museum dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism.
Educating people about it and fighting it in the present day. And I may have been the only Christian among many Jewish people and I was honored to be invited to speak to them. And I said, I owe you all a debt. My Bible came from the Jewish people. And I love the Bible. But also my Savior came from the Jewish people.
Jesus Christ. So I didn't hide that fact. But I told them our love for them comes from the study of the Bible.
And this is why we are there praying for them. Now I am not Jewish. I am a Gentile.
I did a 23andMe test. And I was hoping I would have some Jewish blood in me. And I found out that I was pathetically Gentile and white.
Just I am Irish and English. But I have been grafted in as a Gentile and non-Jew into the promises of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob according to Romans 11 17. And every believer has.
If some of the branches have been broken off you though you were a wild offshoot have been grafted in among the others and now sharing the nurturing sap from the olive root. And listen to this. One last thing. God is not done with the Jewish people. I want you to look at Romans 11 25.
I want you to understand writes Paul the mystery dear brothers and sisters so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Blindness in part has happened to Israel but that will last only until the full number of the Gentiles have come to Christ. God is not done with the Jewish people. They are going to see a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their people in general and even on the nation Israel. Pastor Greg Laurie with encouraging words today here on A New Beginning. And there's more to come in this message called Israel and the End Times Why Prophecy Matters Today. Pastor Greg has said before if the soon return of Christ excites you you're probably a believer.
You know good things are ahead. If you're fearful about the return of Christ maybe you're not a believer. If you'd like to make a change today in your relationship with God a Pastor Greg would like to help you out. Pastor Greg speak to the person listening who would like to do that right now. Yes here's what the Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. So you need to reach out to God not just think about it not just say one of these days I would like to just do it.
In fact you can do it right now. You say well how do I call out to the name of the Lord. You do it through prayer.
God is just a prayer away. He desires a relationship with you. He wants you to know him.
He wants to reveal himself to you. So you just need to call out and say Lord save me and help me. How about if I lead you in a prayer and you could pray this prayer after me. You can pray it out loud if you like. You can pray it quietly in your heart but direct this prayer toward God and you could pray it after me right now.
You ready? Pray this after me. Lord Jesus I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior and I want a relationship with you. So as your word says I'm calling on the name of the Lord. I'm asking you to save me from my sin and I'm asking that we begin a new relationship today.
Thank you for loving me and sending your son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin and then raising him from the dead. I now put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ and I ask this in Jesus name. In Jesus name. Amen.
Amen. And listen if you have just prayed that prayer along with Pastor Greg and you've meant those words sincerely, let us be the first to welcome you into the family of God. And we want to help you get started off right in this new daily walk with the Lord. Pastor Greg would like to send you his New Believers Bible. It's a special edition of God's Word for those who are new to the faith with scores of special helps for new believers written by Pastor Greg.
So get in touch and ask for the New Believers Bible. We'll send it free of charge. Just call 1-800-821-3300.
That's 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God. And then let us say a word of thanks to those who support us financially, those who make it possible for us to bring you these studies each day. We're definitely a listener supported ministry.
It's the generosity of listeners that help us be here with these programs. So if you've partnered with us, thank you. And if you have yet to partner with us, I hope you'll get in touch today and let us know that you're standing with us. Even a small investment would help.
It's actually an investment in changing lives. Thank you for partnering with us. You can donate securely online at harvest.org or write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, California, 92514. Or call us at 1-800-821-3300.
Again, that's 1-800-821-3300. Hey everybody, I want to encourage you to join us for something we call Harvest at Home. It happens every Sunday at harvest.org and on our brand new app, Harvest Plus, which is available on your mobile TV devices. Download it now and you can watch Harvest at Home with Christians from around the world as we worship together and study God's word. So again, join us for Harvest at Home at harvest.org or on Harvest Plus. Well, next time, Pastor Greg takes this discussion a big step further as he speaks with a friend of his, an author and Bible prophecy expert who now lives in Israel. First-hand insights are coming. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher, Greg Laurie.
