Back to the Future*

     Although some churches do not study the Old Testament, future events, as well as our future, are written in it, as they are also revealed in the New Testament.  

     The prophet Daniel was given a timetable of prophetic events that are continuing to be fulfilled, and will be fulfilled in the future. Daniel had been reading the prophecy of Jeremiah "whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem." (Dan. 9:2, see Jer. 25:1-11). This caused Daniel to come before the LORD in prayer, seeking forgiveness for himself and the people of God who had failed to listen and obey the Word of the LORD through His prophets, and through the statutes of God's Word: "We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land...Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him...all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth." (Dan. 9:3-13, excerpt). Daniel was praying to the LORD from captivity with God's people in Babylon.  With repentance, comes not only a change in our hearts and nation, but we grow in understanding of God's truth. I have long preached 2 Chron. 7:14 to the Church, to turn to the LORD in repentance, confessing our own wickedness. We are the majority of the problem.  Daniel included himself in his prayers of repentance to the LORD. Jesus told us to pray to be accounted worthy to escape and to stand before the Son of man.

     As Daniel continued his prayer, he prayed for Jerusalem, and the destroyed sanctuary of God: "O our God...cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate...O my God, incline thine ear...open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name...not...for our own righteousness, but for thy great mercies...for thy city and thy people are called by thy name." (v. 17-19). As Daniel despaired over the desolate sanctuary of God, our sanctuaries have become desolate also. Instead of being places of worship, they have become places of entertainment.

     While Daniel was still praying, the angel Gabriel came to him, having been sent at the beginning of Daniel's prayer. Gabriel said, "I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding." (v. 20-23). Jeremiah's prophecy mentioned seventy years of the time of captivity, which came to pass, but the angel Gabriel was there to show Daniel about seventy weeks of years in the larger prophetic timetable of the distant future. In this seventy weeks of years, it was "determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy." (v. 24). Within these seventy weeks of years, at three score and two weeks "shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:" (v. 26). Then a prince and his people shall confirm the covenant, or treaty, for one week (the last seven years or seventieth week of the prophecy), but in the middle of that seven years, at three and one-half years, "he (the prince to come) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured out upon the desolate." (v. 26-27). We can see that the temple must be rebuilt in Jerusalem in order for this coming prince to desolate it with an abomination.

     Jeremiah's prophecy to Judah regarding their being taken to Babylon in captivity because of their sins was fulfilled. Jeremiah also wrote to the captives in Babylon: "Thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word towards you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart...and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you...and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. Because you have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon." (Jer. 29:1, 10-15). Jeremiah was telling the captives to turn back to the LORD, and, as a result, they would be brought back to their land from Babylon. However, this word is not just about being returned from Babylon, but about the LORD gathering His people back to their land from ALL of the nations. This is what happened after World War II, and is continuing to happen.

     Jeremiah wrote again of another captivity and a return for Israel and Judah "to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it." (Jer. 30:1-3). Then, Jeremiah referred to a future time of great trouble, that we call the Great Tribulation: "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it...they shall serve (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid." (v. 7-10). David had been long dead at the time of Jeremiah's prophecy here. This refers to the Messiah, the Son of David, who is Yeshua, Jesus, whom God shall "raise up". The LORD prophesied also that He would make an end of all nations where His people had been scattered. He would not end Israel, but they would be punished and corrected during this time. (v. 11). The LORD promised: "...ye shall be my people, and I will be your God...The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it." (v. 22-24).  The punishment and correction prophesied by the LORD is the result of Israel's disobedience to the Word of God. This prophecy is for the "latter days",  and is not referring to the first captivity and return of Israel from Babylon.

     The LORD promised to rebuild His nation, even their possession of the West Bank area, in the latter days, because of His everlasting love and lovingkindness with which He has loved and drawn them. He will bring the people back from far places, as they cry to Him, "O LORD, save (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) thy people, (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the remnant of Israel." (Jer. 31:1-7, excerpt). Again, the LORD prophesied of a time future to today: "Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD...and their soul shall be as a watered garden, and they shall not sorrow any more at all." (v. 12). Though there shall be bitter weeping for her children, Israel is to have hope in its end: "that thy children shall come again to their own border." (v. 15-17). Ephraim (Israel) would be chastised, but it will turn and repent. Then comes the promise of a new covenant that the LORD will make with the house of Israel: "After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people...for they shall all know me...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.." (v. 31-34).  

     In these latter days, Israel should be meditating upon these prophetic promises of the LORD, for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of eternal life is Jesus. Sorrows may seem to be abounding, but the LORD has not forgotten His everlasting love for Israel. Ezekiel saw the restored people of Israel from the valley of dry bones (Ezek. 37). Psalm 83 says of the enemies of Israel: "They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." (v. 4). This Psalm also names the groups and nations plotting against Israel right now in verses 6-8. This is a very trying time for Israel, and for all of the innocent lives that have been taken, not only in this present conflict, but here in America with the millions of innocent lives taken through abortion. God says that He hates the shedding of innocent blood.

     Zechariah also saw the siege of nations against Jerusalem, but he also prophesied, as did Jeremiah, the LORD's raising up of the house of David. The LORD also decreed: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." (Zech. 12:1-9, excerpt). As Jeremiah prophesied, Zechariah also wrote of the revealing of the Messiah, and the inward work of the heart that will be accomplished in His people: "And I will pour out upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn...And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one...and there shall be no more destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited." (v. 10, Zech. 14:9-11).

     Israel, your Messiah died for you. The LORD has promised that He will raise up the house of David, and that you will look upon the Messiah.  The LORD will make a new covenant with you, Israel. The LORD has promised that He will bring you back to the land He has given you in eternal peace and blessing, and He will not let the nations destroy you.

     Jesus, the Messiah is coming. Light your lamps, set them on lampstands. Pray according to 2 Chron. 7:14 for yourself and for the healing of our nation. 

     * Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 11/26/23 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact or support this ministry, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705.