[Greetings friends and listeners.]

Who would be the powers that would rule the end time? Are you sure you know?

Today there is a struggle for power and domination in this world. As in the case in most organizations and political parties in this world, there is a great struggle for power even within the United Nations. For example, we have the communist bloc nations, the Afro-Asian bloc of nations and Anglo-American bloc of nations to name a few.

In the business world, there is also the struggle for power by creating a conglomeration or merger of companies and businesses creating if possible, a mega bloc of company. Then, there are also some business interests such as the OPEC known as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or such giant trading groups of nations as the ASPAC or Asia and Pacific ring of nations and also, the EC or the European Community of nations. There are many such groups and organizations.

Turning to the aspect of military powers, there are also the coalitions of forces of nations. In the 1500s, the world was divided between two powers at that time, Spain and Portugal. During World War II, this world was divided between the Axis powers composed of Germany, Italy, and Japan while on the other hand, we have the Allied powers composed of Britain, France, Russia (Russia was included, believe it or not) and the last to join was the United States of America. America was only forced to join the war when the Japanese Air Force bombed the American naval facilities in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

More recently, in 1999, and then 12 years later today, we have the coalition of forces, headed by the United States and Britain, as the major countries doing battle in Iraq. The question is, will they continue to be the great military powers until the end-time? What does the Bible say and how can we know?

The answers to these are vital to understanding prophecy. The knowledge of these can affect your future and mine. What other event will come into the world scene toward the end of this age?

In last week's broadcast, we described the fulfillment of God's promises to one faithful man, the patriarch Abraham as found in the Bible. We have proven from the Bible that when God promises something, He is able to bring it about, meaning He will fulfill it. Witness the great astronomical rise to power and prominence of two relatively very young Christian nations as Britain and the United States of America and also the nations that came from them. Unknown to many, some of their citizens are part of the lost ten tribes of history. They are among the descendants of Abraham upon whom God made an irrevocable promise to somehow bless them more than any nation on the face of this earth. They occupy a very unique role in that God said, "Through them all the families of the earth will be blessed." Of course, this is dual in the sense of a physical and spiritual fulfillment. The spiritual fulfillment is through Jesus Christ, who is a descendant of Abraham through Mary, His physical mother. However, since most biblical principles have the duality factor, meaning, it has a double meaning, the literal and physical fulfillment is being seen through the descendants of the seed of the children of Abraham.

Is there any other nation or group of nations at the face of this earth to which we can attribute that all the families of the earth has been blessed through them? Think deeply about the answers to that question. Could God's word return to Him unfulfilled and in vain? For more details on this very intriguing and interesting subject, request for our free authoritatively written and well-illustrated brochure titled The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.

However, our next logical question will be, would such conditions continue on to the end-time? Would they continue to have the pre-eminent world power? What events will befall these nations? It is important for you to know. It could affect your future and mine.

The Bible speaks of a time in the future when evil and sin will have become very rampant and intolerable in the sight of God among those nations such that God will bring punishment and destruction upon them. In the same way that there are great blessings resulting from obedience to God, there will also be great curses for disobedience to God.

For those of you who are regularly listening to this program, you will gain a lot of wisdom, knowledge and correct understanding of God's word. We therefore encourage you to keep listening and mention this program to your family, relatives and friends.

For now, notice Leviticus 26 starting in verse 3 are the stated conditions of blessings for obedience. We have seen these fulfilled among the nations which descended from the patriarch Abraham because of the faithfulness of this one man. However, starting in verse 14 to the end of the chapter in verse 46 of Leviticus 26, we also begin to read the punishment of these people for their disobedience. Because of the sins of ancient Israel, this has happened to them at the time of their captivities. Let us also remember that in biblical principle of duality, these would happen again because of sin. By that time, the twelve tribes of Israel had been divided into two kingdoms: the kingdom of Israel composed of the ten northern tribes, and the Kingdom of Judah, composed of the remaining two tribes principally of Judah with the remnants of Benjamin and some of the Levites. Many Bible students do not know or realize that Israel became two nations. Many suppose that the nation of Israel today is the only descendant of Abraham. Many would perhaps even be surprised if I can show you a verse which shows that these two nations were even at war against each other. If you'd like to know that, please open with me to 1 Kings 12:19-21. It reads, "So Israel rebelled against the house of David [and of course, the house of David is called Jews or Judah] unto this day. (20) And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. (21) And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men [that's 180,000], which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon." So we read here about a condition of where the house of Israel and the house of Judah or David were at war against each other. And this condition of war between these two groups which originally came from one family continued during the life times of Rehoboam and Jeroboam. You can check that out in 1 Kings 14:30 and in 1 Kings 15:6.

Now, back to our account, because of their sins, the northern ten tribes called the house of or kingdom of Israel was taken captive by the ancient Assyrians. Many decades later, because also of their sins and disobedience, the remaining two tribes called the house or kingdom of Judah were taken captive as well by this time, by the Babylonians.

Remembering that prophecy has a duality factor. There will still be a punishment that is coming upon disobedient nation including these nations which descended from Abraham and God does not give any exceptions, He is fair. I would encourage you to study these scriptures very well. Study, think, and prove to yourself how these verses have been literally fulfilled. Parallel to those passages in Leviticus 26, there are more details as well in Deuteronomy 28. Like in Leviticus, it starts with statements of blessings. Then starting in verse 15 we begin to read about the curses because of their sins and disobedience.

In the prophecies of Isaiah, at the return of Jesus Christ's rule at this earth, we read about Him gathering the descendants or remnants of Israel from various nations of this earth from where they have been taken captive. Please notice the following scriptures: Isaiah 11:11-12, "And it shall come to pass in that day [now, let's notice the context here, it will be the future], that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time [I'd like to repeat that phrase, that he will set His hand again the second time] to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (12) And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel [we read here about the outcast of Israel], and gather together the dispersed of Judah [now, you would notice here the outcast of Israel and the dispersed of Judah] from the four corners of the earth."

Notice that these verses have not yet been fulfilled to this very day. Notice that they are still a divided group of nations being taken from among the nations of this earth as captives. This gives us sure comfort that God will not forget His people. However, I know of people who do not like to hear about prophecy. Why? Because most of them had been deceived and taken advantage of by possibly well meaning and sincere but likewise deceived religious leaders. But the damage to them and their life has been done. In most cases, they have suffered mental anguish and great material lost.

Especially at periods and times like this, many claim to preach about the prophetic events and the end of the world. Many religious leaders seem to compete with each other to say that we are now at the end of the world. This is not new. Throughout history, many have made predictions about the end of the world. Many dates in history have left their marks and we may start at the time of the apostles toward the close of the first century. Then there were great suppositions that the end will come at the turn of the first millennium or the year 1000, but nothing happened. Then a woman who called herself a prophetess and a religious founder proclaimed a date in 1844 as the return of Christ. They were all dressed in white, waiting on the top of the mountain but nothing happened on that date. She then postponed it to a year later in 1845, still nothing happened. Others thought it will be perhaps 1972 or 1975. A noted Korean religious leader proclaimed 1990 and also nothing happened. I also know of another religious leader and sect founder who claimed to be a prophet and proclaimed 1996 as the end of the world, still nothing happened. Another noted local religious leader dogmatically proclaimed among his followers that the year 2000 will surely be the end of the coming of Jesus Christ to his church. In fact, he rushed the building of a site in an elevated district of the city as the place to receive Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah when He returns. Still in great disappointment to many, the year 2000 came and has gone and nothing happened. I know of people who have sold their lands, their houses, their carabaos, and their livestock together with their precious belongings because according to the pronouncements of their religious leaders, it is the end of the world. I have known of people who used all their money to buy large quantities of rice, dried fish, and bagoong, and salt and went to some mountain hide-out to wait for the end of the world but nothing happened to this day. As a result, many people now avoid the subject of prophecy. You cannot blame them. Many have been badly burned, so to speak, by people who were perhaps very sincere but nonetheless have in effect deceived and misled people.

There are still many more such people today and we need to be careful and be aware. At the end of practicing such beliefs, they have become severely disillusioned and in addition become very much poorer. Therefore, many began to think that prophecy is foolish, irrelevant in their lives, and vowed not to be deceived again. While they have somehow matured, some become cynical. I sympathize with such people. I would like to help develop their trust in God again.

In this deceitful world of Satan, we need to understand that while many have been deceived by false teachers and preachers, let us also not go to the opposite extreme of completely ignoring the true words of God and the Bible, and hardening our hearts in the process. What we need is a correct understanding of God's word from people who are led and inspired by the Holy Spirit of God and not relying on manmade ideas and interpretations. So where do we get true and correct answers? Is nothing predictable anymore? Is it God's will that we must live in ignorance of our future? Where is this world headed?

There are certain fundamental principles which we need to know to properly understand Bible prophecy. We need to take the whole Bible in the context of God's great plan and purpose for mankind to properly understand prophecy. In fact, there are keys needed to unlock the understanding of Bible prophecy. Unless God reveals it to that person and those keys are given to him, such individuals will have a wrong interpretation and conclusion on prophecy.

Many have not considered that Jesus Christ was not only the Savior for mankind but also was a great prophet. Many people missed that fact. Many are locked into thinking of Jesus as a little baby in the manger or a little fat doll with red clothes called Sto. Niño or a seemingly malnourished bony man hanging limp on a cross. These are all enormous misperceptions and very sad ideas. But the Bible says that Jesus was also a prophet.

In a conversation with some of the believers in His day, the Bible records these verses, the first one, Luke 24:19, it says, "And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." So right here we read about God being a prophet.

There is another scriptural passage: John 6:14, we read here, "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." As prophet, what did Jesus Christ say? We will watch for in connection with the end-time. Actually His disciples asked Him that very same question privately; He answered that question as well. Please open with me to Matthew 24, we read here starting in verse 3, "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? (4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." So we see here a religious deception, "And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." So the beginning of wars and troubles is not the end of all things, according to Jesus Christ. In verse 7, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places. (8) All these are the beginning of sorrows. (9) 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. (10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many [here is a major religious deception]. (12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom [now notices what kind of gospel? Gospel of the Kingdom] hall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

Meanwhile, what does the Bible say about world condition in those end time? 2 Timothy 3:1 reads, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." For a continuation of the account on world turmoil, please turn with me to Luke 21:20. We read here, "And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies [meaning surrounded with armies], then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." Now, this event has to occur first and it has not yet occurred in our time. Verse 21: "Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter there into. (22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (23) But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. (24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (25) And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh [or near]." And only then will we say the time has come.

Prophecy is a big subject. In fact, almost one-third of the Bible is classified as prophecy. And about 90 percent is yet to be fulfilled. A 30-minute program is not adequate to discuss all these aspects here.

Therefore, to be able to help you accelerate your learning and understanding of the coming events as revealed from the pages of your own Bible, I'd like to offer you a glossy, well researched and well illustrated publication titled, You Can Understand Bible Prophecy. It is yours free for the asking.

To be ready to face the future, we need to know now what to expect in the future. This 32-page pamphlet will show from the pages of the Bible the answers to the intriguing questions on prophecy. For example, what new world power will dominate the world scene at the end-time? For the answers, simply request for our free literature and keep listening to this broadcast.

[Until next time, in behalf of the Good News of the World Tomorrow, this is Ed Macaraeg saying thank you for listening.]