At the Edge of the Cliff

Matt. 24; Dan. 9; Ezek. 37

 

 

Two weeks ago something happened which caused me to sit up on the very edge of my seat.  I believe it was the biggest fulfilled end times prophecy of my life.

 

We have been very near the edge of the cliff [the end of the world] for decades now.  And we inch our way forward day by day.  But imagine that the edge of this platform is the cliff, and you are perilously close to a big fall.  A storm is raging all around, and the winds are swirling so you are very mindful of your distance from the edge.  Imagine that you throw caution to the wind, close your eyes, and take a big leap forward.  Incredibly, you somehow survive, but you realize you can’t do that again.

 

This is what happened on October 13.

 

Here’s great news for the born again believer:  When you go over the edge of the cliff it will be on the wings of God’s holy angels escorting you up to God’s eternal heaven at the rapture.

Here’s some bad news for unbelievers:  When you go over the edge you are plunged into the Great Tribulation of horrors which precedes an eternity in hell.

 

Jesus said in Matthew 16:3

O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

 

In Matt. 24:3 the disciples ask Jesus about the signs of the end.  His long answer includes many things which precede the rapture, and have already happened, as well as things which follow the rapture during the tribulation.  A huge event happens halfway through in…

v. 15        “let him understand” what Daniel said.

        This is all about a great 7 year peace treaty that will be confirmed by the antichrist.  It will be heralded as a great miracle and multitudes will believe him to be the Messiah – God.  But he breaks the treaty after 3.5 years…that is the abomination.

 

Daniel 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate…

[In prophecy, a week refers to 7 years.]

 

On October 13, 2025, a covenant was made with many.  It is a peace treaty.  No time frame was stated.  The President repeated many times that this will bring eternal, lasting peace.  Over 20 world leaders, many of them Arab, Muslim, Palestinian participated.  Hamas signed.  There have been many treaties over the years, but this one is different.  Past treaties all involved Israel and a single enemy.  They all failed.  This one is different.  This one involves many.  Now, there have been other multi-nation treaties in history, but NONE of them involved Israel.  This one centers on Israel, and all her neighbors who hate her and have the stated purpose of ending her existence.

 

So the word ‘many’ is a key word here.  And yet, I don’t believe this new treaty was the 7 year treaty we find in Scripture.  But it likely forms the framework for just that, indeed.  This is a preview of what is to come.

 

Another key word is ‘confirm’, which isn’t talking about the forming of a new treaty, but the confirmation of an already existing one.  You see, this is a work in progress.  The Abraham Accords of 2020 [Israel and 4 minor Islamic nations] started this framework.  What happened on October 13 was a giant leap forward in the process.  Many more big, powerful, major players were added.  This has long been considered impossible.  But it happened, and Trump even left the door open for Iran to join.  They are actually talking about it!

 

One day, likely soon, the trumpet will sound and we will fly away, upward, away from this cliff!  Left behind in confusion will be a world who then goes over the edge, inexplicably devastated by the vanishing of millions, including all the small children.  The world remaining will need direction…someone to make sense and provide leadership through all the chaos.  The Antichrist will rise up and confirm the 7 year treaty of peace.  But most will not see him as the Antichrist at first, but as a Savior.

 

In Jesus’ answer about these signs of the end of the world, he said in…

vv. 32-33         The fig tree is Israel, regathered in her homeland after thousands of years scattered over the earth.

Ezekiel 36:24

For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Isaiah 11:11-12

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall 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 [sign] for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

 

This is the restoration of Israel, foretold in Ezekiel 37…

v.1-  God flew the prophet Ezekiel “on location.”  (an old battlefield)

God gave Ezekiel this “vision”. 

 

v. 2-  dem Bones:  very many, very dry…

This was an old battlefield and these were the losers: scattered, dry, & dead.

 

God told him to preach to these dead skeletons.  Imagine what Ezekiel must’ve thought.  “Say what now?”

        What a helpless feeling!  About as helpless as many pastors feel in dead churches we’ve all visited, where even the saved members are dry bones which do not listen, do not “hear the Word of the Lord.”

 

Looking for a church?  How about Bleached Bone Baptist?  Ever been there?

 

vv. 5-6--  Ezekiel said, “God is the One who will bring you to life.”

 

At best we as ministers of the gospel (all of us) are just talking to dry bones, it is the Spirit of God that brings life!

 

vv.7-8--  The Bodies

Imagine the scene as scattered bones surf the desert in search of their counterparts.  Imagine the sound as they clicked together into socket.  Imagine the sight Ezekiel saw when he observed hundreds and thousands of skeletons as they came together in perfect order!

 

Notice the process taking place:  it was gradual, not instantaneous. 

 

They were scattered, dry and dead.  But then they come together…skeletons…but still dead.  Then body parts and flesh come upon them, not just bones, but bodies, corpses…but still dead.

 

vv. 9-10--The Big Breath

This miracle resembles the miracle of man’s creation.

Genesis 2:7

    And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 

They were alive.  All around Ezekiel stood a living, breathing army!

 

Note the 3 stages again:

1. Scattered, dry, dead bones.
2. Corpses, but still dead.
3. A living, breathing army.

 

Ezekiel 37:11

Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

 

        Before Jerusalem was conquered, the Jews held to a false hope, that the prophets would return unto them.

        Once Jerusalem was destroyed, they had lost all hope. 

 

Ezekiel 37:12

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

 

--  also v.21—God said He would gather Israel back up and bring them back to their own land.

 

He did…May 14, 1948—Israel became a nation.  It was the first giant leap toward the edge of the cliff.

They were scattered, dry, and dead!

In 1948 they were brought together, and they exist together today, as a spiritual corpse!

They have a flag, a constitution, a prime minister, police force, and an army.

        They have everything except spiritual life.

In Jerusalem, you can walk all the way from the Arab section to the Israeli section; you will see lots of sights, but you will not find true “spiritual life.”

 

ISRAEL STANDS TODAY A SPIRITUAL CORPSE, AWAITING LIFE! 

Back to Matt. 24:32 – the fig tree of Israel will be tender [young in their newly restored home], and you know the end is near.  Notice the word ‘know’ in vv. 32 and 33.

 

Today, we see this prophecy in action.  We hear the bones clicking together.  We see everything coming together, including this peace agreement with Arab nations!

 

v. 34        Jesus gives it a rough time frame – this generation of people won’t all pass until it all comes to an end.

 

Balance:

v. 36        Nobody knows exactly when…don’t be a date setter!  But it’s right to be a sign watcher.  [not even Jesus knows acc’d to Mark 13:32]

 

An illustration to help us understand:

vv. 37-39         Noah preached to his generation and warned them of what was coming in their lifetime.  It would be sudden, like a thief in the night.  But not without warning signs, just like labor pains.  That’s right, the signs of the times tell us that the earth is about to deliver.  We are the generation He’s talking to.

 

Raise your hand if you were alive in the 40s…how about before May 14, 1948…

…and now the 30s.  Look around.  This generation shall not pass until it’s all fulfilled!

 

Here we are at the edge of the cliff.  It’s all unfolding before us!  End times events that precede the rapture are being played out before our very eyes.  The panorama for the second coming is spread out like a table for Sunday dinner.  The stage is set, the key players have taken position, the cameras are rolling and the lights are beginning to dim.  A hush is falling across the audience in heaven and all we need is for the Director to cry out, “Action!”

 

I don’t know it all, but if I die before the rapture, I want you to know I died surprised”.

 

No one knows all the specifics, but Jesus said when you see these things coming to pass look up!

 

Have you been saved?

If not, don’t you want to be?

Don’t you see how God is bringing everything together, drawing you home to Him?  The final step is inviting Him into your life, giving Him your heart, repenting of your sin and turning to Him in faith.  Inviting His Holy Spirit to reside in you.  Give your life to God.  Ask Jesus to place your reservation in heaven.  Be born again!

 

If you have been saved, allow me to remind you that you have some co-workers :

Friendly/corpses, awaiting spiritual life.

Talk about lots of topics/need to hear the gospel.

 

You have neighbors/but they’re corpses:

You watch out after their stuff/need you to watch out for their souls.

 

You have relatives/but they’re corpses:

See each other because of your physical relation/separated for all eternity because they need a spiritual relationship w/Christ.

 

We’re at the edge of the cliff.  Will you be carried upward, or plunged downward?