Decoding Prophecy

By Anthony (Andy) Griffin

As small children growing up, our parents would try to focus on being prepared for the future. In our preparation, we learned that there were a lot of uncertainties. The one thing that we can be certain of is Bible prophecies. Of the many prophecies of the Bible, more than three hundred messianic prophecies (prophecies concerning Christ) have been fulfilled. Also, prophecies about the course of world history and the rise and fall of world powers have been fulfilled. Prophecies that have been fulfilled should be an encouragement of what remains to be fulfilled. This book is written for the layperson to outline what will be in the last days so that we can be better prepared.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888321317

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Decoding Prophecy

Anthony (Andy) Griffin

ISBN 979-8-88832-130-0 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88832-131-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Anthony (Andy) Griffin

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

The Beginning

Pushing the Buttons

The Game Changer

Fighting Dirty

God's Program

Making the Connection

Adding Up the Numbers

Fables Need Time to Take Root

Unveiling the Antichrist

The Nature of the Beast

The Rise of a New Contender

All Things Considered

Setting the Stage

Caught in the Crossfire

Setting Things in Order

Thy Kingdom Come

Life in Paradise

Trouble in Paradise

A Place for Us

About the Author

The History of the Author

To my wife, Carletha, of over forty-nine years of whom I often say God used her to cause me to grow when I didn't want to grow.

To my mother, Naomi, who showed me how to endure hardness as a good soldier and how to walk by faith.

To my siblings, George, Big E., and Beverly, whom I love dearly.

Chapter 1

The Beginning

The study of Bible prophecy can be difficult when you violate the principles set forth in scripture. The Prophet said (Isaiah 28:10), For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; God sometimes speaks of things in the future as though they were passed. Sometimes He shows the prophet future events backward (Isaiah 9:6–7; 53:1–11). Because of this, some of the rabbis concluded that there must be two messiahs.

They could not understand how the Messiah could reign forever and later die (John 12:34). It's important to remember this:

Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:9–10, 11c)

The Bible begins with these words, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep (Genesis 1:1–2). According to the New Scofield Reference Bible 1967 Edition, page 1, note 5, Two main interpretations have been advanced to explain the expression—without form and void (Hebrew tohu and bohu). The first, which may be called the Original Chaos interpretation, regard these words as a description of an original formless matter in the first stage of the creation of the universe. The second, which may be called the Divine Judgement interpretation, sees in these words a description of the earth only, and that in a condition subsequent to its creation, not as it was originally. Because I hold to the divine judgment interpretation, that phrase can be understood to mean, and the earth became without form and void. What could possibly have caused such devastation?

The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ gives us a glimpse into eternity's future and eternity's past. Important passages which are parenthetical (that is, supplemental or corrective) must be observed.

Such passages are the Jewish remnant and the tribulation saints (7:1–17); the angel, the little book, and the two witnesses (10:1–11:14); the lamb, the remnant, and the proclamation of the everlasting gospel (14:1–13); the gathering of the kings of the earth in preparation for Armageddon (16:13–16); and the four hallelujahs in heaven (19:1–6).

These passages do not advance the prophetic narration but, looking backward and forward, sum up the past and anticipate the future. The order of the narrative is, therefore, not consistently chronological. The Apostle John, the Amanuensis of the book of Revelation, was given a command to write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter (1:19); commentators conclude that the progression of the book is consistently chronological. However, in 10:8–10, John is commanded to take the little scroll that was in the hand of the angel and eat it. Afterward, he is told, Thou must prophecy again about many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. John is here told that he will review, with further details, those events thus far covered.

In other words, John, let's start over. Commentators have always concluded that everything written in the book of Revelation from chapter 4 onward is the future, but John is told to start over. Chapter 12 of the book of Revelations has always been seen as a progression of future events.

However, when we examine the contents of verses 1 to 9, one must conclude that this section of the chapter is parenthetical. John, like Isaiah, is shown events in the reverse order, from the recent past to the distant or eternity past.

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven—a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And she, being with child, cried, traveling in birth, and pained to be delivered. (Revelation 12:1–2)

It is generally agreed that the woman in verses 1 and 2 is Israel based on the book of Genesis 37:9–10.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the Earth; and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered, to devour her child as soon as it was born. (Revelation 12:3–4)

There can be no doubt that the dragon is Satan, the devil (verse 9, 20:2).

History reveals that this is not a future event but a past event and is recorded in Matthew 1:18–2:23 and Luke 1:26–2:40. It is the first advent of Christ. The second advent of Christ will not be from Israel but heaven.

And she brought forth a male child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up unto God and to His throne.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (Verses 5–6)

The reason for the difficulty in understanding verses 1 to 9 of the chapter is because John is given a panoramic view of