Jesus' Prophecy About the Present Age

II Peter 1:21 tells us, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”  Those prophecies can be trusted because they come from God himself, through his messengers.   We have an even greater assurance that what Jesus said is true, because he is not just a messenger, but is himself God, as Paul points out in I Timothy 3:16.  “… God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”  While false prophets may make up their own story, claiming it came from God and mislead people, there is no question as to where Christ’s message came from.  If our interpretation of a prophecy conflicts with what he said, the interpretation must be incorrect. 

Let’s start with some of his basic teachings before getting into his prophecies.  Early in his ministry, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” in Matthew 7:13-14.  Literally, he says there is no room for a person to pick and choose if he wants to get into God’s kingdom.  He drives that point home again in John 14:6, saying, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  John 3:16-18 is equally clear.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

The only way into heaven is through Jesus Christ sacrificing his life to pay for our sin. No amount of good behavior, philanthropic giving, or religious activity will get people into heaven.  A little later in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 7:21-23,  Jesus warned, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  Understanding these basic teachings will be crucial in understanding many of the prophecies, and especially those in the New Testament. 

While prophetic passages are scattered throughout Jesus teachings, Matthew 24 and 25 record the biggest and most detailed prophetic message.   The message started with the disciples showing Jesus around the Temple  since he was not originally from Jerusalem, according to Matthew 24:1-2.  “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The disciples were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, as Peter stated in Matthew 16:16.  “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  As a result of that testimony by Peter, Jesus had made one his prophetic statements, in Matthew 16:27-28.  “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”

 Jesus’ comments about the Temple reminded them of the various prophecies about Jerusalem’s destruction, and about the Messiah’s second coming.  Like people today, they wanted to know when it would happen, as Matthew 24:3 tells us.  “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” 

Jesus warned that it would not be right away, and that they should not allow themselves to be misled by people using natural events to convince people that Messiah had come again, in Matthew 24:4-8.  “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

For centuries, prophetic teachers have been referring to the various wars, famines, pestilences , and other natural disasters as proof of the eminent return of Christ, creating panic among so called Christians much like the panic the media has caused over the Covid-19 virus.  They then used that panic to manipulate and control the people.  Paul warned about this same danger, in II Thessalonians 2:1-2.  “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”

During the period between the Messiah being cut off, and the establishment of the Antichrist’s kingdom, as described in Daniel 9:26-27, there would be countless wars and natural disasters, some of which were predicted in Daniel 11:7-22.  Throughout this period there would be persecution of Christians, as Jesus warned in Matthew 24:9-13.  “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Even various “Christian groups would fall prey to the temptations around them and begin to attack one another, and false teachers would stir up those conflicts.  Surrounded by wicked ideas and practices, their beliefs would become just a matter of keeping traditions, with no real awareness of God.   Fortunately, God will not forget those who stay true to him throughout this period.   Despite the false teachers and constant conflict between different churches, and the persecution, the Gospel will be preached around the world, as Matthew 24:14 tells us.  “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

Even a superficial study of history shows that this prophecy has been and is still being fulfilled, but we have no way of knowing how long it will continue.  After the crucifixion and resurrection, the disciple asked the lord again about when he would come back.  Acts 1: 6-7 describes their question and Jesus’ response.  “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

In I Thessalonians 5:1-2, Paul stated there was no point in trying to figure when Christ would come because it is meant to come as a surprise.  “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”  Jesus warned that many would turn away, no longer expecting Christ’s return or bothering to serve him.  Those who have remained faithful will not be caught unprepared.