INTRODUCTION
Many who read the Bible fail to realize that it is actually all one story from beginning to end. It is the story of this planet; its origin and destiny. The story of rebellion and terrible loss but more than this, it is the story of a most precious gift—a King’s ransom—made to offer mankind a second chance to return to loyalty to their loving heavenly Father.
Woven throughout the Bible is an amazing series of predictions we call prophecy. Again few realize that these prophecies really connect together to tell the same story. The Bible is a history book, it tells the past—but like no other history book—it tells the present and future just as clearly.
Although prophecy is scattered all through the Bible, two books focus almost entirely on symbolic representations; these are Daniel and The Revelation. Written centuries apart, we nonetheless see that they actually compose one book, each helping to explain the other in a way that only an omnipotent God could do. Here are a few examples:
There is a choice to be made by every person living on this earth, and we are making that choice day by day whether we realize it or not. It is the choice of obedience or rebellion; righteousness or sin; life or death. The study of these prophetic books will reveal to us the players in the great drama now preparing for their final act in which all who live must decide where loyalty will be placed.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” —Joshua 24:15
CHURCH & STATE
In order for mankind to truly return to God with his whole heart, it is absolutely necessary that the individual have freedom of choice in regard to worship and religion so as to be able to follow his conscience and be led of God. The ONLY worship and service acceptable to God is true hearted service; anything forced or pretended is an abomination before God.
“Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Romans 14:5.
Because ONLY those who turn to God with this wholehearted and fully persuaded service can be part of God’s kingdom at the end of this world’s history, Satan has always been at work to inspire people to seek to force and rule the consciences of their fellow beings. When religious powers fail to find enough force to do this, then civil power is sought and the combination of church and state used to crush out free religious inquiry, and cast down any who would seek to serve God according to the dictates of their conscience.
Prophecy tells the story of this desolating work which has arisen over and over again to trample rights and freedom underfoot and bathe the world in the blood of martyrs. It warns clearly that we are already on the verge of the biggest confederacy to do this very thing again and shows us behind the scenes the powers bringing it to pass. Study this book prayerfully and carefully for deception is rampant and we MUST be sure to be found on the right side of this conflict soon to hit the world.
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” —Revelation 15:2-3
