End Times Evidence Hidden in Romans 15

The core focus of the message is the perfect gospel—the good news of God and the way of salvation. This salvation is centered on Jesus Christ, who is the King. Jesus’s work ensures eternal life for all who believe, undoing the consequences of mankind’s sin and establishing righteousness and justice.

Christ’s Commission and the Incarnation

The study highlights three key aspects of Christ’s coming, drawing from Romans 15:8-9: the incarnation, the commission, and the establishment of peace and salvation.

1. The Incarnation: God became flesh (“dwelt among us”) in the person of Christ Jesus, revealing Himself to humanity.
2. The Commission: Jesus was commissioned to fulfill Bible prophecy, confirming the promises made to the Jewish fathers. Skeptics are challenged to note that Jesus predicted His resurrection in advance, serving as an exclamation point on His claims. Jesus provided eternal life and forgiveness of sins, unlike other world religions or gurus whose teachings died with them.
3. Peace and Salvation: Jesus became the sole source of peace and salvation in the world. Through His death on the cross, He disabled the devil, and by His resurrection, He defeated the power of death.

Salvation for Jew and Gentile

The gospel was initially designed to be preached first to the Jewish people, who were then meant to take it globally. While Israel’s national leadership rejected Christ, many Jewish individuals accepted Him, leading to the incorporation of Gentiles into the church.

The message stresses that both Jew and Gentile are saved in the exact same way—through faith in Jesus Christ. It is crucial to reject the idea that there is a “second type of salvation”.

• To the Jews: God communicated through the prophets and covenants, calling them to consider and remember the covenant made with their fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob).
• To the Gentiles: Salvation is brought through God’s mercy, not by covenant, demonstrating the light extended to the Gentiles. The church today has become increasingly Gentile, though Jewish believers are now being added in greater numbers in recent history (the last 100 years).

When Gentiles are redeemed, they are called to “Rejoice O Gentiles with his people,” a distinction that refutes the notion of replacement theology, where the church replaces Israel. Furthermore, believers are “all one in Christ Jesus,” being Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Prophecy, the Last Days, and the Role of Zion

The discussion pivots to current events as indicators of future prophecy, suggesting that the “stage is being set” for the last days.

The Great Commission and Persecution

The church is called to proclaim this perfect gospel. Jesus gave His disciples (who were Jews) the command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (which includes the Gentiles), baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Evangelism and discipleship are ongoing tasks for all believers.

The speaker notes a “shocking observation”: while the gospel is becoming “more and more illegal” and persecuted by law, it is simultaneously spreading more effectively than ever before globally, even in countries where the Bible or the mention of Jesus is forbidden. This relentless spread is powered by the Holy Spirit and the word of God, which believers carry in their hearts.

Indicators of the End of the Age (Matthew 24)

Jesus provided signs regarding His return and the end of the age (as requested by the disciples on the Mount of Olives). These signs, which were predicted to start small and then intensify, are now observed as increasing indicators:

• Deception: Jesus warned, “Take heed that no one deceives you”. Unimaginable forms of deception are currently infiltrating humanity.
• False Christs/Cults: Many will come in Jesus’s name saying, “I am the Christ,” deceiving many.
• Global Conflicts: Hearing of “wars and rumors of wars” and “nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom” (ethnicities and political realms warring).
• Natural Disasters: Famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places, which Jesus called the “beginning of sorrows”.
• Persecution of Believers: Believers will be “delivered up to tribulation and kill[ed]” and “hated by all nations” for Jesus’s name.
• Lawlessness: The love of many will grow cold because lawlessness will abound.

The Focus on Israel and the Tribulation

The sources define the seven-year Tribulation period as God’s specific time for dealing with the nation of Israel, as promised in Scripture. During this horrific time of wickedness and judgment, there will also be a great time of salvation.

• This global proclamation of the gospel will be led by 144,000 Hebrew-speaking men (12,000 from each tribe of Israel).
• The number of Gentiles converted during the Tribulation will be so vast that “no human would be able to count” them.

The Certainty of Zion

The concept of Zion (the City of David/Jerusalem) is critical to end-times prophecy. The sources assert that the God of the Bible is a “Zionist” and will return to Zion. Resistance or attempts to destroy the word “Zion” fulfill prophecy (Psalm 2).

Scripture demands that the Messiah (Jesus) had been in Zion before and will return there.

• The Deliverer (Jesus) will come out of Zion.
• Jesus will stand on Mount Zion.
• The Lord (Yahweh/Yeshua) prophesied that He will “return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem,” where it “shall be called the city of truth”.
• When Christ returns, He will establish the throne of David on earth, with Zion as His headquarters.