Get Back to Prophecy!

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Brown

So what can a famous movie title tell us about understanding biblical prophecy?

Okay, Doc and Marty may not exactly be Paul and Barnabas but their final dialogue piece speaks volumes about understanding the days we are living in. 

In the closing scene of “Back to the Future”, the DeLorean was able to skip its traditional street runway as it left the ground and warped into time travel. Doc informed his two passengers that they wouldn’t need roads once they arrived in their future destination. Quite a way to end what would become a classic movie with a perfect outro to set up a sequel. When considering our own future per biblical prophecy, Marty exclaiming to Doc that he “better back up” prior to liftoff is very, very wise advice.

The advancement of technological “wonders”, sometimes associated with the rise of evil supernaturalism are hallmarks helping to confirm the final crescendo of the end times the Bible describes (Daniel 12:4). But Houston… we have a problem! In our present day, many speakers lay hold of a particular technology or future assumption in order to lionize it as a fulfillment of various biblical prophecy. Unhinged speculation and error in terms of biblical prophecy has been prevalent well before Jesus and Christianity began. As Christians, all of us who are willing have benefitted from correction and deeper understanding of biblical insights. There is no issue about speculating on some things based on evidence and perceived Holy Spirit revelation. As long as a directive to test the information with accountability for truth is brought to the table with the point being made. 

The rise of social media that empowers the general public to have a vast media reach offers several benefits. In terms of our focus on biblical prophecy, there are certainly well grounded people expressing valid points connecting modern events to the biblical record in its context. Unfortunately, the social media revolution has also too often attested to how little we know based on the things many people share on prophecy. 

A large and growing catalog of assertions made by “prophets” and pundits alike have failed to be true in relation to the future. Equally troublesome is the number of authors who share erroneous information, while taking no responsibility for misleading their audience. Frequently, audacious claims are attempted to be made between current and believed forthcoming technology with biblical prophecy. Some of these efforts are valuable to be observed and tested as the scriptures themselves mandate for us to pursue (1 Thess 5:21). But far too often, the mighty multitude strapped into the DeLorean for a trip into tomorrow, need to pump the brakes. Unlike Doc, we need the road the Bible provides to keep us on track towards our destination with Jesus. 

First off, we are immensely blessed to have the clarity of the biblical literal-futuristic roadmap yet to come. The return of Israel as a nation-state as prescribed by God in order for final end time events to be fulfilled has occurred. The rise of a rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, possibly as part of a syncretic religious complex on the Temple Mount, is most certainly coming.

This has led to the designated peoples, tribes, nations and geographic realms in and around MENA (Middle East North Africa) to continue their march towards the proclamations of God’s prophets. Final biblical events are Jerusalem and MENA centric that culminate with the victory of Jesus to save the remaining Jewish people from their surrounding enemies (Zechariah 12-14, Revelation 19). The great Danish philosopher and Christ-follower Soren Kierkegaard stated, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards”. The prophet Isaiah agrees as God shares through him; “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning  and from ancient times things not yet done - Isaiah 46:9b-10a. 

If we are to understand where we are going, we must go back.. to know the future. Instead of an all encompassing focus on ai, aliens, trans-humanism and quantum physics to name a futuristic few. Biblical prophecy is anchored in the final crescendo of the first testament (old testament) peoples, nations and conflicts. That means we must be knowledgeable of things in MENA more than the metaverse, and the end-time identities of Ezekiel more than extraterrestrials. I am not advocating to abandon exposing the rise of evil supernaturalism in our days amongst a host of phenomena. I myself report on such things and pray I do so with a spiritual foundation in Christ. Some of the various technological and supernatural realities, possibly like some I have mentioned, certainly may factor into apocalyptic events. What is John seeing in Revelation Chapter 9 for instance concerning the “locusts” being described? 

The descriptions of the locusts in Revelation have similarities to what Greek mythology labeled as a Manticore. Will there be an evil supernatural host of these “locusts” rising from the bowels of the earth to torment those who do not have the seal of God? Or is John seeing into the spiritual realm of evil forces commandeering various technology or military craft/weaponry that will enact this stinging torture as the text describes? Further afield, what about intriguing reports of evil supernatural entities working alongside humans to create chimera creatures inside of DUMB’s deep underground military bases? Whatever/however this army led by Abaddon, its demonic leader of the abyss plays out is not to be dismissed. 

Particular prophecies such as in Revelation 9 and how they occur are yet to be determined. Our need in the Church is to know that the larger, foundational prophecy framework has and is being revealed. If we have no working knowledge of the revealed identities found in Ezekiel Chapter 38 for example, how can we jump into that DeLorean of destiny being so confident on forecasting things like Revelation 9, that do not have such clarity at the moment? The Prophet Ezekiel in Chapters 38-39 is detailing the nations and distinct conditions that result in a massive army from the north invading Israel. Hal Lindsey in his best selling book, “The Late Great Planet Earth” got the ball rolling in the right futuristic context of Ezekiel 39-39 fifty years ago. That “ball rolling” means the declared revelation of God in those writings from Ezekiel are yet to occur. What Hal originally authored has now been refined, corrected and revealed via another best-selling author of our day, Joel Richardson. 

You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.- Ezekiel 38:16

We know now that Gog, a title meaning “ruler” of Magog, Meshach and Tubal, is a leader of Turkey. (Ezekiel 38:1-2) Go grab almost any Bible Atlas or biblically evidenced commentary with archeological/historical considerations today and the identity of Gog and his nation is crystal clear, it is the country of Turkey. What is shocking is how few people in the Church know that or its connectivity to other scriptures! The dual paradox is that many people in Christendom are not informed on a bedrock prophecy such as Ezekiel 38-39, but are gobbling up and/or declaring things about… aliens.

Let’s look at just a handful of verses from those Ezekiel chapters and their revealed identities;

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, (ruler/prince) of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, (Turkey) and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (Turkey). And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, (Iran) Cush, (Sudan, possibly ethnographically parts of Ethiopia also) and Put (Libya) are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer (Northern Turkey, likely stretching into other Black Sea area nations to the north and possibly farther) and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah (similar to Gomer) from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you. - Ezekiel 38:1-6

We clearly read in Ezekiel 38 about an allied army that invades Israel and as noted in the chapter a few verses later, during the last days. Ezekiel 38-39 is coming and we know for certain several of the locations/peoples that his initial verses in chapter 38 are speaking about. Our first observation should be what do Turkey, Iran, Sudan, and Libya all have in common? The answer is they are Islamic nations that are aligned against Israel. Do you know how important that baseline information is in view of so many other corroborating passages to it in the Bible!

Ezekiel 38-39 is describing the geo-political movements and war taking place during the great tribulation and Armageddon. These events culminate with the return of Jesus Christ and his victory over this invading horde led by Gog. The two prophetic chapters in question are not outlining a precursor war to those final affairs, they are rather the events themselves and deeply intertwined with other chapters such as Daniel Chapter 11 and Revelation 19. Gog of Ezekiel, The Little Horn of Daniel, aspects of the Assyrian in Isaiah, The Man of Sin of Paul, The Antichrist and Beast of John are all detailing the same person! So the pieces we learn from Ezekiel 38:1-6 about Gog are instrumental to our knowledge and more valuable than speculations about monoliths on Mars.

For Christians, we need to have the same dogged truth of Doc Brown to jump into our discipleship DeLorean’s to investigate the past, to know the future. The resources and tools our generation has been given in seeking biblical insights is beyond any that have come before us. Additionally, this too is part of God’s grace to reveal biblical prophecy to us for it is the time. We are living in the days of unsealing that which God told Daniel would come; But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” - Daniel 12:4

The Ancient Near East focus from biblical prophecy is vital for understanding how specific things will transpire. Our concluding episodes on earth before Jesus returns that occupy the yet to come 7-year period remaining from Daniel Chapter 9:24-27 will unfold. The last 3.5 year portion of that period from Daniel is known as the great tribulation (Matthew 24) and Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30). God tells us through Isaiah to know the end from the beginning. The future of what is to come is embedded in the biblical conflict heritage of Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau.. Israel and Islam. As both groups today need Jesus Christ as much as any of us did prior to receiving salvation. 

It is time to take that ride back, to know the future and yes, that doesn’t negate looking into Revelation 9 or other marvels of technology, the supernatural, etc..

Let us instead pray to be sober minded and grasp the key biblical prophecy players and purposes in and around Jerusalem that will affect MENA centrally and the entire globe. Marty only suggested to back up that teleporting sports car, he didn’t say to stop it. God encourages us to do the same; It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. - Proverbs 25:2

• Joe Schlabach