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The Book Of Signs
31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse

The Book Of Signs - 31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse by Dr. David Jeremiah has been popping up on my Facebook page frequently.  Normally I would just ignore what I see as the sensationalizing of Scripture.  It is, unfortunately, common.  However, the bold claim to have ‘undeniable prophecies’ caught my attention.  I understand that this is probably a marketing ploy which will ‘undoubtedly’ be successful, but still, it is a claim that should be examined.

What True Christians Believe

All true Christians believe that Jesus will return again.  They agree that this return will be visible, physical and at the end of the world as we know it.  At the time of the return of Jesus, there will be a judgment.  Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour may be rewarded but will definitely enter eternity in the glorious presence of God.  Those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour will be sentenced to some degree of eternal punishment.  At death, a person is locked into one destiny or the other forever, depending on their relationship with Jesus Christ.  

The how and when this is going to happen has been controversial from the beginning.  Sincere, Jesus-loving, Bible-believing Christians have often disagreed on these details.  While I feel strongly about my position and expect others to feel just as strongly about their position if it differs - and I believe we should all be willing to change if convinced from Scripture of error - I think the claim that The Book Of Signs has 31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse where genuine Christians have failed to come to a conclusive agreement in about 2,000 years is extreme.

Historical Views On The Coming Of Christ

Book Of Signs

Let’s take a quick look at the three main views Christians have held over the last 2,000 years on the return of Jesus.  This is just a broad stroke, and, of course, each view has multiple variations.  It is interesting to me that the views are all defined by their interpretation of the millennium - which is only specifically mentioned in one section of Scripture: Revelation 20.

Historical Premillennialism

The Historical Premillennialism view believes that Jesus will return before [pre-] the millennium begins.  They looked for a literal reign of Jesus on the earth for 1,000 years.  It generally believes that the Tribulation is at the end of this period.  Historical Premillennialism also sees the church and Israel united in New Testament times and believes that the church and the Age of Grace were featured in Old Testament prophecies.

Amillennialism

The Amillennial view believes that is no [a-] literal millennium but that the millennium is the spiritual reign of Jesus in the hearts of believers during the Church Age.  In other words, they equate the Kingdom of God established at the resurrection of Jesus with the millennium.  They believe that Jesus returns at the end of this period to reign in the New Heavens and New Earth.  They do believe that things will grow darker before the return of Christ.  It also sees the Old Covenant blessings as being fulfilled in the Church.

Postmillennialism

The Postmillennial view believes that Jesus will return after [post-] the millennium.  They believe the millennium is a long period of time [symbolically represented by 1,000 years] after which Jesus will return.  Postmillennialists are the “end-times” optimists.  They do not necessarily believe that the entire world will be Christian before the return of Christ, but they definitely believe that the majority of the world will be under the positive influence of Christianity as the small original seed grows to be a great tree.  It tends to believe that the Church was the goal and Israel was the method, with both believing Jews and believing Gentiles being united with Christ forever.

The New Boy On The Block:
Dispensationalism

The Dispensational view is premillennial, although in other respects it is very different from Historical Premillennialism.  Dispensationalists take the millennium to be a literal 1,000 year period in which Christ will reign on the earth.  They also believe that things will get worse before the return of Christ.  They are focused on Israel as the people of God, and the Church is only an interim measure.  Their system breaks the Bible up into different ‘dispensations’ where God dwelt differently with people in the different dispensations.  Therefore, it denies the unity of Scripture.

Dispensationalism, which is very popular in many Christian circles today, has only been around since the 1800’s.  It’s newness does not mean it is wrong, but it does mean it should be examined very carefully.  This theory was developed by John Darby.  One of the major influences he had was a book written in the 1500’s by Francisco Ribera.  Francisco Ribera was a Catholic Jesuit priest who wrote his book to defend the Pope against the charges of the Reformers that the Pope was the Antichrist.  In defending the Pope, Ribera put the prophecies of Revelation, Matthew and other sections of Scripture into the future.  How ironic is it that one of the most popular Protestant end times theories today was originated by a Catholic priest defending the Pope against the Protestant Reformers!

The Book Of Signs -
31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse

While I do not recommend this book if you want to confirm that I am quoting it accurately, you can purchase it here.  [If you do so, I will make a commission.]

Dispensationalism is the point of view taken by The Book Of Signs and its 31 Undeniable Prophesies of the Apocalypse - the current interpretation of said prophesies has been denied by all three long-term end-times views.

I do want to make clear that I have nothing against Dr. David Jeremiah.  I have no doubt that he is a sincere Christian who loves the Lord and believes in the authority of God’s Word.  Like Tim Lahaye and others, I am sure he has excellent material on other subjects.  However, since these prophecies have been put forward as ‘undeniable,’ let’s examine them and see if they are indeed undeniable.  

Introduction
The Book Of Signs

“…people have always been fascinated with the future. In the uncertain and often anxious times in which we live, all of us yearn to see ahead, to know, and perhaps to avert disaster…prophetic events foretold by God’s prophets, written out in Scripture, and confirmed in the headlines of the day.”  Jeremiah, David . The Book of Signs (pp. x-xi). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

IF God has indeed given us signs in Scripture that are being played out in today’s headlines, then we should study and know them.  God never does anything to simply satisfy idle curiosity or sensationalize His Word.  If what we are about to look into is the correct interpretation, then so be it.  I will have to change.

However, IF God has given us these prophecies for a different reason or they have a different meaning, then I am afraid this view is dangerously close to violating God’s command in Lev. 19:31:

Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.  I am the Lord your God. 

Why do people turn to mediums?  Because they want to know the future apart from God.  IF these signs are God-given, then they are legitimate; however, if they are misapplying the Scripture, then people are unintentionally or ignorantly degrading the Holy Word of God into a future-predicting manual against God’s own commands.

As the signs in this book unfold, it will be revealed that we can expect a period of international and cultural chaos with the possibility of ceaseless, unending, terrible war…there will be more and more disease and devastation….understanding the signs presented in the five parts of this book will help you live with confidence, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose.  Jeremiah, David . The Book of Signs (p. xi-xii). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

I am glad that someone is going to get confidence and hope out of this because if I believed it, I would be scared to death.  What I find interesting is the Book of Revelation, at the very beginning, states: 

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it because the time is near.  Rev. 1:3, NIV

One thing that we can agree on from the very beginning is that God is “the author of history.”  God is sovereign, and He is in perfect control.  As Christians, we can rest in that confidence.

These prophecies are supposed to be a blessing.  Let’s see if they are…

book of signs 2

The Book Of Signs

Part One:  International Signs

1.  Israel

2.  Europe

3.  Russia

4.  Babylon

5.  America

Part Two:  Cultural Signs

[Since the Cultural Signs all have the same foundation, we will deal with them in one article.]

6.  Materialism

7.  Immorality

8.  Radical Islam

9.  Persecution

10.  Spiritual Warfare

11.  Apathy

Part Three:  Heavenly Signs

12.  Rapture

[The remaining signs in this section are well done and do not need a lot of comment, so I have included them all in one article.  The beginning of the article starts at the Resurrection, but you can click to specific parts of the page with the other chapter titles.]

13.  Resurrection

14.  Heaven

15.  Judgement Seat Of Christ

16.  Rewards

17.  Worship

Part Four:  Tribulation Signs

18.  Four Riders

19.  AntiChrist

20.  False Prophet

21.  Martyrs

22.  144,000

23.  Two Witness

24.  Dragon

25.  Mark Of The Beast

26.  Armageddon 

Part Five:  End Signs

27.  Return Of The King

28.  Millennium

29.  Great White Throne Judgment

30. New Heaven And New Earth

31.  Holy City

Personally, I would feel very uncomfortable if my interpretation of Scripture had to change every time the headlines changed.  A history of Dispensationalism is a history of false predictions and broken promises [Christ will return 40 years after Israel becomes a nation, 88 Reasons Why Christ Will Return In 1988, It’s the Midnight hour, etc.]. Doesn’t the bride of Jesus Christ deserve something better?

For, in my opinion, a better view of these topics, take our course: Understanding The End Times.

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