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Now, here's today's podcast, From Pathway to Victory. Hi, this is Robert Jeffers, and I'm glad to study God's Word with you every day on this Bible teaching program. On today's edition, a Pathway to Victory. If the Lord were to return today, or if you were to meet Him in death, Would you be ashamed of your spiritual appearance? of the appearance of your life right now.
If so, I pray these next weeks as we study Bible prophecy. that this series will be a motivation for you to start clothing yourselves. and holy conduct. As we prepare for the soon and certain return of Christ. Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr.
Robert Jeffress. Some people are excited at the prospect of studying Bible prophecy. while others can't imagine how Bible prophecy has any relevance to their lives.
So what does God's plan for the future have to do with how we should live right now? Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffers explains why we need to study the end times. But first, let's take a moment to hear some important ministry updates. Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory.
I believe you'll be very pleased to learn that beginning today, I'll be addressing one of the most highly requested topics on Pathway to Victory. My teaching series is called Perfect Ending. and it deals with the fascinating subject of biblical prophecy. In this study, I'm intent on helping you grasp not only the key elements of Christ's return, but more importantly, why His return matters to you right now.
So, as a guide, I've set aside two exclusive resources for you. The first is a brand new book I've written for you called Ask Dr. Jeffress About the End Times. In my book, I'll provide clear biblical answers to the top 20 questions people ask about the end times. And second, my book is paired with the very popular Bible prophecy chart.
I've developed this simple tool to help you better understand the end times and events like the rapture, the millennium, and the second coming. Two resources, my brand new book, Ask Dr. Jeffress About the End Times and my Bible Prophecy Chart. Both resources are yours when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of pathway to victory.
Okay, it's time to get started. I titled this first study in the perfect ending series, Why Your Future Matters Today. Perhaps you are familiar with the novel Futility by author Morgan Robertson. The book tells the story of a magnificent ocean liner named the Titan. that strikes an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic and sinks.
Now you may think, well, that certainly sounds like the real story of a Titanic. But the novel Futility and the fictional ship Titan is different from the Titanic in several ways. The Titan, the fictional book, is our boat, is 1,800 feet long, while the real Titanic was 1,882 feet long. The Titan was able to displace 66,000 tons of water, while the real Titanic was able to displace 70,000 tons of water. And yet, both the Titan, the fictional ship, and the Titanic were triple-screw ocean liners.
They both traveled 25 knots per hour. And they both carried 3,000 passengers.
Now you may wonder why did Morgan Robertson bother to write a novel that so closely approximated the real account of the Titanic? And why would he go to the trouble of just changing minor details, including the name of the ship from Titanic to Titan? Why do that?
Well, the answer is very clear. The real ship, the Titanic, sunk on April the 14th. 1912. The novel futility. about the fictional ship, the Titan.
was published in 1898. 14 years before the real event of the Titanic. It's amazing to think that a book could so closely approximate a real life event. That a book written more than a decade earlier could tell with laser-like accuracy what would happen in the future. And yet, the truth is, the Bible is filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of prophecies about future events.
Some of those events have already come to pass, hundreds of them. But there are many more that are yet to come. You know, the Bible is a book of prophecy. And yet, even though there are all kinds of prophecies in the Bible about the future event of Christ's second coming, it's always amazing to me how few Christians are really interested in the topic of Bible prophecy. You may be one of those Christians.
Why is that? Why is it many Christians have such a disdain for the study of prophecy? First of all, some people are apathetic about Bible prophecy because they say, well, the subject is too confusing to understand. It's not that hard to understand the events that will lead to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself made it very clear to us.
Secondly, some people object to the study of Bible prophecy because they say no one can know when Christ will return. Nobody can know that. You may say, well, if I don't know when this is going to happen, why do I need to know the what's of Bible prophecy?
Well, the fact is, sometimes knowing what is going to happen is important, even if you don't know when it's going to occur. The Bible says, here is what's going to happen, here's how it's going to happen, I'm not going to tell you when, but here's what to look for, and if we understand what to look for, we'll end up in the right destination. Number three, some people object to Bible prophecy because they say, well, there are too many different interpretations of prophecy for it to be that important. After all, so many good Christian scholars disagree on Bible prophecy. It just can't be that important.
That's true. Many of the details, secondary details of Bible prophecy are up for debate. But God has clearly stated an outline of the end time events that we need to understand. Fourthly, and perhaps most importantly, a lot of people object to the idea of studying Bible prophecy because they say Bible prophecy has nothing to do with my everyday life. Bible prophecy has nothing to do with my everyday life.
Admittedly, Most Christians are not nearly concerned about the future beast in Revelation 13 as they are with the beast they work for Monday through Friday. Most people don't sit around and try to figure out the 70 weeks of Daniel chapter 9 when they're just trying to make it through one week of work and church and soccer practices and everything else. Most people don't feel like they need to understand all the details about some coming future tribulation when they have enough problems in their life today.
So many people make the idea.
Well, I just don't need to understand Bible prophecy because the future. has nothing to do with my everyday life. Nothing could be further from the truth. What happens in the future does have a profound impact on how we live today. Did you know the Bible says one day there is a major reconstruction project coming for this entire earth?
One day, as we read just a few moments ago, this entire earth is going to be burned up and destroyed, and there's going to be a new heaven and a new earth. And the Bible says, knowing that this great cataclysmic event is going to occur sometime in the future, that everything we build our life around is going to be burned up and destroyed, it ought to impact how we live our everyday life. Abraham Lincoln said one time: If you can tell me where we are. and where we are headed. I can better tell you what to do and how to do it.
We've talked about some of the objections to studying Bible prophecy. In closing today, let me give you three positive reasons that you ought to invest your time in this series: Perfect Ending: Why Your Eternal Future Matters Today, Why You and I Need to Understand the End Time Events. Number one, Bible prophecy is a major theme in the Bible. Bible prophecy is a major theme in the Bible. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are more than 300 references to the return of Christ.
That's about one out of every 30 verses. Of the 27 books of the New Testament, 23 have the return of Christ as a prominent theme.
Now, this is what I find interesting. For every prophecy in the Bible about the first coming of Jesus Christ, there are eight about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Clearly, the prominence and the proportion of the prophetic theme in the Bible shows why it's important. Number two, why study Bible prophecy? An understanding of prophecy helps us both interpret and apply the Bible correctly.
Understanding Bible prophecy helps us interpret and apply the Bible correctly. Let me put this real simply for all of you. You can never understand the Bible. if you don't understand prophecy. The Bible makes no sense.
You will not be able to interpret it correctly. You won't be able to apply it correctly unless you understand the details of Christ's return. Just think about it. How would you ever understand the Old Testament, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, all of these major prophetic books in the Old Testament, not just about the first coming, but about the return of Christ? How do you make sense of that?
Or when you turn to the New Testament. How do you understand the words of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, the Olivet Discourse, the parables? They make no sense. unless you understand about the second coming of Christ. The epistles will be a mystery to you, just like passages we read today from 2 Peter, unless you understand the end time events.
Or think about the last book of the Bible, the Revelation. Did you know Revelation? Is the only book of the Bible for which God promises a special blessing to everyone who reads and understands it. But how can you make sense of the book of Revelation if you don't understand the truth of Bible prophecy?
Now, I could give you multiple examples of that. Let me give you two examples of where understanding prophecy helps you both interpret and apply the Bible correctly. Turning your Bibles over to Isaiah 65. Isaiah 65. This is one of the best known prophecies.
In the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah. Let's look at it together. Isaiah 65, verse 20. Isaiah says, No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days. Or an old man who does not live out his days.
For the youth will die at the age of 100, and the one who does not reach the age of 100. shall be thought accursed.
Now, he's talking about a time in which there'll be no infant mortality. Babies will not die. And people will live at least to 100 years of age. They won't die until they're at least 100 years of age.
Now, the question is: what period of time? What is Isaiah talking about? Obviously, he wasn't talking about his day or even today.
Somebody says, Why are he talking about heaven? He's talking about when Christ returns. He's talking about heaven. There is no death in heaven.
So, what period of time is it in history when infants don't die and people live until age 100 before they die? You can't understand this unless you understand Bible prophecy. When you understand Bible prophecy, you'll understand that what Isaiah is talking about is a special time in history we call the millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth. What I'm saying is, without scripture, understanding prophecy, the scripture makes no sense whatsoever. Let me give you an example of the New Testament.
Where understanding prophecy not only is the key to interpreting the Bible correctly, but applying it correctly. Turn over to Matthew 25. This is a passage of Scripture that so many people are familiar with. Matthew 25, verses 35 to 40.
Now, these are Jesus' words. Look at what he said. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. And I was thirsty and you gave me drink. And I was a stranger and you invited me in.
Naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and invite you in?
Or when did we see you naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? And the king will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these my brothers, even the least of them, you did it to me.
Now how many times have you heard people say, this is the purpose of the church? We're supposed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison. We are never more like Jesus than when we do these things. Haven't you heard that before? There are many churches that build their whole mission around these verses right here.
Now listen to me carefully before you fire off the email to me. Yes, we are to show concern for the poor. No doubt about that. But that is not the primary mission of the church. When you think about it, every other organization in the world, first and foremost, being government itself.
It's concerned with meeting the physical needs of people. Only the Church of Jesus Christ has been charged with the responsibility of meeting the spiritual needs of people. The body ends, the spirit goes on forever and ever. We are called to care for people's spirits, not to be a sanctified relief agency. You say, well, then how do you interpret these words of Jesus?
How do we apply them if that's not the correct application? You'll never understand what Jesus was talking about unless you understand Bible prophecy. Instead of ripping these verses out of context to make them say what they don't say, understand the context. Jesus is talking about the end times. He's prophesying about what's going to happen.
The tribulation has just occurred when anybody who follows Christ will have been persecuted, many of them will have been martyred. The Son of God has come back to earth at his second coming. He's about to inaugurate his millennial kingdom on earth. And this comes in the context that he has just judged the righteous and the unrighteous. The unrighteous have been sent to hell.
The righteous are invited to come and be a part of God's kingdom on earth. And so, as he separates the unrighteous from the righteous, he says to the righteous, Come and enter my kingdom. For I was naked and you clothed me, I was hungry and you fed me, I was in prison. And you came to visit me. And the righteous who are getting ready to enter into the kingdom of God will scratch their heads and they will say, wait a minute, Lord.
When did we see you? naked, hungry, thirsty, imprisoned. And Jesus will say to these who are about to enter the millennial kingdom. When you ministered to these brothers of mine. Who are the brothers of Christ?
It's talking about his followers during the tribulation. Those who were persecuted by the Antichrist, both Jews and Gentiles alike. When you saw these brothers of mine being persecuted and ministered to them, it was as if you were doing it to me. See, during the tribulation time, the way people will demonstrate their salvation, not earn their salvation, how they demonstrate their salvation. Is by coming to the aid of Christ followers during that time who are under the Antichrist persecution.
They don't earn their salvation by meeting the physical needs. They prove that they are a Christ follower by ministering to Christ's servants, his brothers. And that's what he's talking about here. You can never understand that until you understand the context of Bible prophecy. Bible prophecy is the key to interpreting the Bible correctly.
Thirdly, and most importantly, an understanding of Bible prophecy motivates us toward godly living. An understanding of Bible prophecy motivates us toward godly living. Listen to this. God never divorces Bible prophecy from practical application.
Nowhere in the Bible is there that divorce between Bible prophecy and practical application. Turn over to 2 Peter chapter 3 for a moment, the passage we read a few minutes ago. Peter is describing the end of the world, the destruction of the present heaven and earth before the creation of the new heaven and earth in Revelation 21 and 22. Look at what Peter describes in 2 Peter 3:10. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
In which the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. But then notice the application in verses 11 and 12. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, here's the application. What sort of people ought you to be? in holy conduct.
and godliness. looking for and hastening The coming of the day of God. The fact that the end is coming. Whether it's the end of the world or the end of your life. The fact that the end is coming soon.
ought to be in the forefront of your mind day and night. The fact that you and I are soon going to meet God. Do you know it's going to come very soon when we meet God? Either when He comes or we go, but sooner or later, we're going to face Him. It's going to be sooner.
The fact that we're all going to face God to give an account of our lives. Ought to be a powerful incentive for living an obedient and consistent life now. Bible prophecy, when properly understood. is a powerful motivation. to holy conduct and godliness.
Billy Graham. In his book, World of Flame, he tells a true story from the life of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. President Eisenhower, one August, was vacationing in Denver, and one morning the president opened up the local newspaper, the Denver newspaper, and there was an open letter to him. that was published from a six-year-old boy named Paul Haley, who was dying of cancer.
And Paul Haley expressed in that letter a desire for President Eisenhower to visit with him while he was in Denver.
So, in one of those acts of kindness of a president long remembered after his speeches have been forgotten, President Eisenhower decided he was going to go visit Paul Haley. He announced it to his staff. They all got into the processional and got into the limousine, and off they went to the Haley home. They arrived in front of the home. President Eisenhower bounded out of the motorcade.
He went up to the front door and knocked on it. The door opened and There was Paul Haley's father, Donald Haley, standing there. Can you imagine the surprise of opening the front door and seeing the President of the United States? Donald Haley wasn't dressed for the occasion, though. He hadn't shaved for a day.
He wore some old jeans, a faded t-shirt. Little Paul Haley was standing behind him and kind of peeked around. The president looked at him and said, Paul? I'm President Eisenhower. I understand you wanted to visit with me.
So Put out his hand, and Paul Haley shook his hand. They went outside for a walk up and down the sidewalk. They talked together. When Eisenhower was finished, he said goodbye. got in his limousine and off he went.
For years afterwards, the Haley talked about that unique act of kindness of President Eisenhower. They were all thrilled about the day's events.
Well, almost all of them. There was one member of the Haley family who wasn't that thrilled about the presidential visit. It was the father, Don Haley. In a Newspaper interview, Don Haley lamented about that day's events. He said, just think about it.
An unshaven face. Faded blue jeans, a soiled t-shirt. What a way to meet the President of the United States. I can tell you something that's going to be even more embarrassing. One day the Bible says suddenly.
Unexpectedly. The trumpet is going to sound. The clouds are going to part, and we're going to see the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And yet many Christians Are going to be embarrassed by their spiritual appearance on that day. Many Christians, when the Lord returns, are going to find that they have clothed themselves in the faded and soiled garments.
of immorality. Materialism. Personal ambition. Rather than having clothed themselves in the pure linen garments of righteousness described in Revelation 19:8. Let me ask you a very, very personal question.
If the Lord were to return today, or if you were to meet him in death, Would you be ashamed of your spiritual appearance? of the appearance of your life right now. If so, I pray these next weeks as we study Bible prophecy. That this series will be a motivation for you to start clothing yourselves. and holy conduct.
and godliness. as we prepare for the soon and certain return of Christ. Uh This is one of the many reasons why your eternal future matters to you today. And it's the overarching purpose of this new study on biblical prophecy called Perfect Ending. That is, to help you see your place in God's timeline.
And now, let me encourage you to take your next steps. You can learn more by requesting two resources I've prepared for you. The first is the brand new book that parallels the series. It's called Ask Dr. Jeffress About the End Times.
Everywhere I go, people pull me aside and ask the same questions. What's going to happen? Are we living in the end times? What does the Bible actually say? People are hungry for answers and they deserve real ones.
And the second resource is my Bible prophecy chart. In my decades of teaching Bible prophecy, no tool has proven more effective for making this complex timeline simple and clear. Bible prophecy is a muscle that every Christian needs to stretch and strengthen. These two resources will equip you with God's promises for your future. and how they influence your life today.
Both resources will be delivered to your home right away. When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory, Here's David with all the details. When you give a generous gift to support the Ministry of Pathway to Victory, we'll say thanks by sending you Dr. Jeffress's brand new book, Ask Dr. Jeffress, About the End Times, along with the highly requested Bible prophecy chart.
Just call 866-999-2965 or visit online at ptv.org. You can also support this ministry by texting PTV to 78800. And when your gift is $125 or more, We'll also send you Dr. Jeffers' best-selling prophecy book, Perfect Ending. You'll also get the complete perfect ending teaching series on audio and video disc, and the stunning full-color resource, The End Times Illustrated: a panorama of Bible prophecy from Genesis to Revelation.
One more time, call 866-999-2965 or visit ptv.org. If you'd prefer to write, here's that mailing address, PO Box 223-609, Dallas, Texas, 75222. Again, that's P.O. Box 223-609, Dallas, Texas. 75222.
I'm David J. Mullins. From the beginning, it's been clear that God has a special plan for the nation of Israel.
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