As the war between Israel and Hamas escalates, many U.S. evangelicals are debating whether current events are related to biblical prophecy.
On October 8, the day after Hamas massacred more than 1,400 people in southern Israel, prominent California megachurch pastor, Greg Laurie, devoted about 10 minutes of his nearly hour-long sermon to the topic.
“You’re seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in your lifetime, in real-time before your very eyes,” Laurie said. “The Bible predicted hundreds of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered . . .”
Yet author and theologian Joel McDurmon counters this application of the Bible to current events. “What is happening in Israel is tragic, terrible, and unnecessary for multiple reasons,” he al corriente on X. “And it has nothing to do with Bible prophecy or Bible promises.”
A main factor influencing evangelicals’ views on the current conflict is their opinion of Israel. Is it merely a modern state without spiritual significance? Or, is Israel the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy that factors into End Times events?
Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of “Hurt and Healed by the Church” by Ryan George. To donate, haga clic aquí.
Itinerant minister and best-selling author joel richardson dicho El Informe Roys (TRR) that he believes the re-formation of Israel in 1948 was a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
“One of the most essential realities, I think, for Christians when studying the Bible is to first understand the Israel-centric context,” said Richardson. “All of the stories in the Bible primarily revolve around Jerusalem, Israel, and the larger Middle East. In the future, many of the great conflicts and controversies of the last days continue to revolve around Jerusalem.”
Richardson believes Christ will literally return to earth and establish his kingdom in Jerusalem for 1,000 years, known as the millennial kingdom. In this view, Israel being reestablished as a nation-state is a precursor to the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
In his October 8 sermon, Laurie had a similar interpretation of biblical prophecy. “Interesting how it always comes back to Jerusalem,” he preached. “Not San Francisco. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris. But Jerusalem, this tiny little city, in this tiny sliver of land (is) the focal point of end times events.”
However, author Scot McKnight, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Ill., does not view the re-establishment of the modern state of Israel as related to biblical prophecy.
Earlier this year, McKnight and co-author Cody Matchett released Revelation for the Rest of Us, in which they contend the Bible’s final book is about Christian discipleship for the church, then and today.
“Revelation teaches believers how to live as a follower of the Lamb when living in the Empire,” said McKnight in an interview. “It teaches how to discern corruption. It exhorts Christians to resist political corruption.”
He also explicitly rejects the common categorization of End Times views.
“Many of us don’t categorize our views by using the millennium as the defining point,” said McKnight. “There is one passage in the whole Bible about the millennium, in Revelation 20. And almost nothing there is part of what many teach about the millennium today.”
McKnight also cautioned students of the Bible about translating passages about Israel as the current nation-state. “The American commitment to Israel by evangelicals seems to be decentering the US,” he said. “But they are putting the US inside that center as allies with Israel. Which means they are patting themselves on the back by patting Israel on the back.”
Such a nuanced approach to prophetic language contrasts with Richardson’s plain reading of the text. “You’re taking very clear words and spiritualizing them to the point where they no longer even have meaning,” said Richardson.
“The Scriptures are clear that Jesus will come back to reestablish the throne of his father David in Jerusalem and rule the nations from that location.”
Caution about politics in the pulpit
Mark Tooley, presidente de El Instituto de Religión y Democracia, which advises evangelicals on how to engage politics, commented on evangelicals’ divergent views on End Times theology.
“We can all trust God is sovereign and active in all human affairs,” he said. “And we can also be modest about claiming to know the details of His will or how they fit into any possible biblical prophecy.”
He also cautioned ministers against proclaiming detailed political messages from the pulpit.
“Pastors don’t typically have expertise or a vocation for addressing political specifics,” said Tooley, who worked for years at the Central Intelligence Agency. “Among other problems, listeners might confuse the political views of the pastor with the Gospel itself.”
Richardson demurred when pressed about whether biblical prophetic passages apply to the current conflict between Israel and Hames, answering flatly: “No.”
“We need to be very careful of acting like every single newsflash connects to some obscure verse somewhere in the prophets,” he said. “By the same token, we don’t want to just disregard all biblical prophecy as irrelevant.”
Nadine Maenza, an evangelical policy leader in the international religious freedom movement, noted there are “so many different beliefs in the church about prophecy” and regarding the larger Mideast conflicts.
“Let’s guard ourselves to be salt and light as we engage in these difficult issues,” she said. “Is the goal to convince everyone that our views are the right ones? Or should we be modeling how Jesus would respond?”
Wide-lens prayer
Regardless of how one interprets Scriptures about Israel, Christian leaders urge believers to have a “wide lens” on the entire region.
“Please don’t forget our already beleaguered brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle East and the impact this war could have on them,” said Maenza, who in recent years served as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religion Freedom (USCIRF). “The ramifications for some of the oldest Christian communities in the world could be disastrous if Iran increases its involvement, especially for those in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.”
In his prayers for the region, McKnight said he is seeking the goodness and welfare of all in harm’s way. “I’m praying for the Palestinian people, a people internationally marginalized,” he said. “I’m praying for the end of all anti-Semitism. I’m praying for the USA to measure its word by a true and equal justice—both for Israel and for the Palestinian people.”
Richardson echoed concerns about anti-Semitism, as troubling rhetoric has become widespread. He noted that protests at universities and major capital cities tener “celebrated the slaughter, rape, and murder of Jews” which has caused him to “break down in tears.”
“I’m standing with the global Jewish community,” he said. “And it’s not primarily because of my particular interpretation of biblical prophecy. It’s an issue of standing with other humans who are undergoing horrific treatment at the hands of an inhuman, terroristic, apocalyptic cult.”
Indicators point to further escalation. Israel has amassed tanks and artillery on its border with Gaza. Palestinians facing suffering and displacement informe in a recent survey that they regard Hamas as corrupt. The fate of 200 hostages in Gaza, including Americans, remains uncertain.
Tooley concluded: “We can pray that peace with justice prevails, with all parties able to live in freedom without fear—which is a tall order in the Mideast.”
This article has been corrected to accurately state Maenza’s role with USCIRF.
Periodista independiente Josh Shepherd escribe sobre fe, cultura y políticas públicas para varios medios outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.
Spanish 
English
43 Respuestas
All I can say is some End Times Prophecy type named “Skip” has been buying ads on morning drive-time in my area since Monday. One or two commercial slots each morning (when my radio is on) on the biggest talk station in my metro area during its peak hours, so it can’t come cheap.
I survived the Gospel According to Hal Lindsay in the Seventies, and all I can say is “Christians for Nuclear War are Alive and Well and Living on Planet Earth”.
That anything like the “plain reading of the text” during the Dispensation of Hal Lindsay? Back when the “plain reading of the text” PROVED that Henry Kissinger was the Antichrist?
You know, the one where the demon locusts of Revelation are “plainly” helicopter gunships with chemical-weapon “stingers” piloted by long-haired bearded Hippies?
Coming up on 50 years and I still remember that one.
And they have little regard for understanding the original meaning of the entertainingly interpret it so they they can sell more books.
“The Bible predicted hundreds of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered”
Except, of course, that this war involves a small force from the West of Israel
The SOUTH west, no less!
Very witty and insightful comment Ken. You’d think we’d be a little more leary of end-times madness after surviving the era of rapture ridiculousness of the seventies!
Dallas Theological Seminary and its disciples have been spreading the false doctrines of Darby Dispensationalism for years. Sheeples like it because it’s sensational and gives them hope that this life will be over soon. Few seem to notice and are undaunted when all the chosen dates for the mythical Rapture come and go. I recently read about someone predicting 2024 based on their faulty reading of prophecy and history. After my visit to the Holy Land in September, I became more convinced than ever that the modern State of Israel has no connection to Bible eschatology and prophecy. Likewise, when visiting Tel Megiddo and looking out at the valley, it was clear Armageddon was never intended to be a literal place or battle or anything else.
“… protests at universities and major capital cities have “celebrated the slaughter, rape, and murder of Jews” which has caused him to “break down in tears.”” [Joel Richardson].
The complexities in what this article addresses, are boundless. Our fundamental beliefs and faiths, be they religious or secular or whatever, mediate us and delimit us pretty absolutely. They mediate the existential substance of who we are are and how we act; they delimit what we can recognise and understand.
Joel’s quoted observation above is a case in point. It may have some empirical basis, but it risks grossly misrepresenting the “protests” about the plight of Palestinians which are taking place around the globe.
My sense then is that Israel-Palestine and Jerusalem is an epicentre where the tectonic plates of human believing and faith (a universal capacity and aspect of being human) are tragically and seismically clashing. Where the weaponry of violence is the material manifestation of an underlying failure in human meaning making, individual and collective.
If and when we make use of the Bible to other than address this tragedy and failure, then we set the Bible (OT & NT, Judaic and Christian) on its own path of complicit failure.
From my experience every end times speculation about Israel and the end times has not ended well. Remember how many revisions the mark of the beast went through or the identity of the antichrist?
Sadly most of these end times gurus have little regard for understanding the original intent of the books of the Bible and simply use them as a texts to interpret as they please.
this has nothing to do with bible prophesy, what most evangelicals believe today comes from being indoctrinated into dispensationalism which was invented out of thin air in 1830’s england, then pushed in america by the dallas theological siminary and the moody bible institute from the 1920’s onward. dispensationalists believe …1) the old covenant is still in effect for jews, 2) God has 2 peoples, christians and unbelieving Jews, 3) the new covenant will soon end and every jew in israel will accept christ as christians will be raptured to heaven and the old covenant will resume for all eternity. dispensationalism teaches that Jews are more loved by God than non jews and they are Gods top priority with christians 2nd and everybody else third. THIS is the whole cause of the trouble in the middle east. the new testiment clearly teaches that God is NOT a respector of person, and that God is the God of ALL Jews AND Gentiles who HAVE FAITH in him. ALL who reject christ are under Gods wrath and judgement, ALL who believe and follow him are his people. . IF I believe God favore one race/ethnic group then that group is free to kill others and commit genocide. THATS why dispensationalism is so wrong.
James outstanding explanation. Thank you
I’ve never understood why Bible scholars and better Bible student laity don’t often and continually call out the dispensationalist/sensationalist prophesy types as “Judaizers” as St Paul did… (I’m not suggesting an anti-Jewish/Semite approach) but the idea that the old covenant and all its trappings is somehow going to be revived, reinstated in Jerusalem/temple is border-line blasphemous imo… at it’s essential base it’s saying everything Jesus came for and did was pointless…
Pretty sure both Andrew and James are creating straw men here.
Here’s a sure prophecy that fits the state of the world regarding such things as wars, wickedness, false prophets, people leaving the faith, and persecution of believers:
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Mt 24)
And as prophesied, the gospel continues to advance as people hear and receive it for the first time.
Although most will not, will you be found faithfully living out the true gospel and helping proclaim it to all ethnic groups until the end?
At what time in history was this not the case?
From reading I sense most of us are boomers and had the experience of “godly men” sharing that THEY know the real end times. Yikes. And yet they never refunded the books or DVDs we all bought. Robertson stated three times and guess what. all wrong. Why this strange spirit filled the air in the seventies an eighties with end times or prosperity gospel is beyond my understanding. And yes, Gaza has been an open-air prison forever. And yes, you push people hard enough and they push back. American Christianity have given Israel a pass for too long based on the fear of what the OT says about supporting Israel vs actual Israels treatment of the Palestinians since 1948 viewed thru Jesus eyes. Chris hedges has written a lot of his experiences in Gaza over many many years. Hé’s worth googling and learning.
Chuck Smith predicted the rapture would come in the early 80’s. The logic was that this time frame was a generation (40 years) after the re-establishment of Israel. Apparently, no lessons were learned.
Loren let me add. When it didn’t occur in 1988 which is one generation after Israel becomes a nation in 1948 (40 years a generation 1988) it was taught that the prophets meant when Jerusalem is free (1967) therefore 2007. Oops wrong again and again and again. Folks let’s keep it simple. WHAT DID Jesus say????? AND for you OT people let’s do what God said to do to the false prophets. And I will bring the rocks. After all am I not following Gods word? class dismissed.
gary,
Do you live by a state that, in their charter, states they wish to exterminate and destroy your state? Who hates Americans. Have you been invaded and had thousands in your communities slaughtered? Babies beheaded, young women raped and killed, whole families executed? Used as human shields and kidnapped 200 of your neighbors. How would you react if your Grandmother was kidnapped and paraded around and used as a human shield. And by the way, she was a Holocaust survivor. Being bombed constantly these past 20 years? Being bombed when eating at your favorite cafe? Being surround by your enemies who wish your destruction. Israel is the only democratic country in the Middle East and are our allies. Hamas is a terrorist organization and they were voted in by the Palestinians. Hamas is ISIS. Hamas is funded by Iran and Hezbollah. Maybe you should look a bit deeper into this situation. Do you even know why Israel has this territory. Look it up. Dispensationalists believe that many Jews are going to be exterminated while wonderful Christians are going to be raptured before all this destruction. Premillennial Dispensationalism denies what Christ finished on the cross and verges on heresy.
congratulations Vance you just confirmed what it’s like to be a Palestinian since1948. I know people from that area. It’s a one-sided story. Let’s try this. Pretend Russia and China are the world police and American is just a regular country like let’s say Brazil. And they along with Mexico decide that some writings from the bible says Texas is Mexico’s and Mexicans pour in and take over all of Texas including your home and business etc..etc.. and use the equivalent to the Hagenah, the Irgun, and Lehi act as terrorist against Texans because God said its their land. Now how would you react especially if you’re a Christian in Palestine. It is a prison, and the Hamas is like the Gestapo was in Germany. You don’t fight them. And look up the word goyim. It’s the term used by our judo Christian brothers to describe non-Jews. It’s called an animal.
The defining teaching on end times is given by Jesus in Matthew 24. This gives us the benchmark by which of theology is judged. The disciples asked two questions, the first about the Fall of Jerusalem and the second about the End. There would be signs for the first and they would have their fulfillment within a geneneration; the second has no specific signs as things carry on as they are, there is no prior warning. Furthermore, the parable of the wheat and weeds indicate that the wicked are dealt with first; the idea of “left behind” is debunked.
As in the days of Noah, we know who was left behind after the flood and it wasn’t the wicked.
let’s see, Christianity pretty much started when Jesus rose from the dead. Real simple. Nothing much to need to know. Now, think of all the ***isms and ***ists out there and how many denominations we have, and all say the same thing WE RIGHT YOU WRONG JESUS IS ON OUR SIDE NOT YOURS. Other than satanic forces to explain this, how would the disciples respond if they saw the massive confusion and contradictory ways we are supposedly getting to heaven. Very sad. and profitable also.
remember when Sadat signed a peace deal with Israel then was assasinated? The prophecy people when bonkers on that.
remember when Rabin was assisnated? The prophecy people went bonkers on that.
remember when Desert Storm started? The prophecy people went bonkers on that.
remember when…
It has always been a marvel to me that American Evangelicals will support the secular state of Israel like their lives depended on it, while wholly ignoring–even turning a blind eye to–the plight of Palestinian Christian communities who have been worshipping Jesus Christ for thousands of years, and who are routinely caught in the crossfire between secular Israel and religious Hamas. But, something, something, End Times, something, something.
Brent that is my question. I have relatives that to even mention not supporting Israel 100% of the time in anything they do is against God. I have difficulty accepting that God is going “yeah kick their butts and yes I know those Palestinian Christians love my son but hey these are my people and they come first”. sorry not ready to believe it’s that simple or if it is then heck let’s just blow the world away because God approves if its Israel shooting off the nukes. or Amercian evangelical you’ve made enough money on your fear mongering. Let’s get back to the simple message of salvation or are all you theologians and evangelicals to bored with the simple message. Ahh that’s right there are no mega mansions err I mean parsonages in the mix if the message is just about salvation. Hey Osteen, ya figure out where that 600k in cash came from? ya know the money found in the bathroom walls? I didn’t think so.
Good Heavens. Imagine if Evangelicals put as much time and thought into caring for “Widows and Orphans in their Distress” as they do end times prophecies.
But Karl where is the glory and profit in that? you’re so silly. Now name one reason why I should not live in a mansion, and you must tithe to ME err GOD or GOD will get you.
Most of these end times gurus believe that God will soon make all things right so why waste time feeding and helping the poor. I’m assuming that most of the money that they make from their books and audio downloads (Once upon a time tapes and CDs) go to pay for their mansions and fancy cars.
The problems in the middle east are absolutely nothing at all new. To understand it one has to try to understand Islam, its long, ultra-violent history, its Koran, its Hadith and its sacred scholarly texts that go back many centuries. Add in all of its conquests, its treatment of people of the Book: Christians and Jews and the fact that their own civil wars have never stopped. It is now what it has always been. What Hamas has done is nothing new. Such things are traditions going back for over a millennia. The dispen-sensationalists are just in it for fame and money. But facts never get in the way of what they say or the common lies being fed to us from our own celebrities and media. There is no substitute for educating yourself instead of being told what to think by narcissists.
I’m well into my ninth decade of life. I don’t recall a time when End Times were not the “click bait” of the times. Of course, back in the day, we used postage stamps or staticky AM radio stations….no clicking going on then, or even television. But somehow, we got by! The earliest I remember was in 1948 when Israel emerged into statehood. But, the “true believers” don’t even need Israel involved. I heard the same screed when Putin recently invaded Ukraine. I don’t know scripture as well as most on this site. I’m significantly less skilled at understanding all the internecine, at times, toxic repartee that is shot back and forth across some invisible wall that apparently must be defended. Somewhere in The Book Jesus is quoted as acknowledging even He didn’t know the timing of the end. If He didn’t know and demonstrated no sense that He felt He should know, I’ve concluded that all the chatter since then is largely explained by folks having become enamored with the sound of their own voice. But then, some of those voices generate significant income, and coming even from the era I do, I can understand what’s going on there.
Having watched the referenced 10 minute Greg Laurie clip, and having read what was quoted of him in the article, a couple of things should be brought up in response. First, it was mentioned of Greg Laurie saying, “You’re seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in your lifetime, in real-time before your very eyes,” (toward the latter part of the clip). Here’s a broader quote of what he mentioned (relating to the current Hamas / Israel situation): “I’m not saying this is gonna lead to the Ezekiel 37, 38 scenario, but I’m saying it’s very interesting. If you get up in the morning and read this headline, ‘Russia attacks Israel,’ fasten your seat belt. You’re seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in your lifetime, in real time before your very eyes.” He said this after saying that the current happenings could possibly play a role in leading up to a foretold prophecy in Ezekiel 38. He could have done a better job by not mentioning about Bible prophecy being fulfilled in our lifetime, or he could have clarified this better. Second, it was mentioned of Greg Laurie saying, “The Bible predicted hundreds of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered . . .” This quote was actually from earlier in the clip, and this article could have clarified the quote better because the article seemed to have left the impression that Greg Laurie said this in reference to the Hamas attack, and he didn’t. The quote was in reference to him talking about Ezekiel 37 & 38, foretelling of the Israelites being regathered in their land and then foretelling of a coming invasion from certain nations from the north. This article should have clarified this better.
Don’t forget Ezekiel 47:21-23 where the Hebrews are told, before they go back, to share the land with those that are there.
Or was that only for the period of the old dispensation? There is a curious delight among some Protestants in the treatment of Palestinians in the way that the Canaanites were treated in Joshua. Does that trump what Jesus had to say about loving our neighbors? 75 years is a long time to be treated badly, isn’t it?
Ezekiel 47:21-23 is part of a broader section of Ezekiel 47:13 – 48:29 in which specific details and instructions are given regarding borders and divisions of the land of Israel. It’s all part of a broader section of Ezekiel 40-48 that gives detailed instructions of a temple to be built (a temple that hasn’t been built as of yet). The divisions and borders of the land are given with the presumption of this foretold temple existing at that time, so this is all yet to come. And this was all revealed to Ezekiel while the Jews were under Babylonian captivity (Ezekiel 40:1-4).
From someone who was in-country during the Dispensation of Hal Lindsay:
The only part of Ezekiel these guys know is “The Nuclear War Chapter”.
(i.e. the chapter where Israel is invaded from both North and South.)
Jeff I would agree with you except Laurie has been speaking of this since the seventies. He is one of those people who I took at face value and actually assumed the eighties is it, so why get married or prepare for the future. I am sure they prepared with all their profits. If they did believe what they said about end times, then why did they make so much money vs just giving it to the poor. I feel, like many, deceived until Gods discernment came upon me. So, is Greg bad? NO Does he have a good message? YES. But I sense these older types just pump fear or hopelessness to the young and that’s what I was when I listened to him and Lindsay and Robertson and etal. Stick to the message of salvation and do not be afraid to point at Israel and hold them for their evil against the Palestinians. Remember the Israelis came in with British and UN and USA approval and basically said “we here now get out or move over”. Exactly how would you behave? it’s those observations that American evangelicals have pumped into our churches as a question you NEVER ask. And as Hagee has learned its very profitable to close one’s eyes to what is before you.
This is a wonderful discussion.
Perhaps you would find this letter from Palestinian Christians useful. It reminded me of the letter that C Martin Luther King, Jr wrote while he was in the jail in Birmingham.
https://www.change.org/p/an-open-letter-from-palestinian-christians-to-western-church-leaders-and-theologians
American Protestants for too long have regarded Arab Christians as a mission field and not worthy of support, thanks to the false prophet John Darby. Have we reached the time when his version of the culmination of everything and others’ versions of his version will begin to fade?
Read the Change.org petition letter from some Palestinian Christians if you’re interested in antisemitic rhetoric typical of the Progressive Left and BDS. Discerning readers will quickly recognize the buzz words, virtue signaling, and half truths. The real intent of these rants is revealed in this sentence that furtively express the desire to eliminate the State of Israel by calling its existence occupation. “We are also horrified by the refusal of some western Christians to condemn the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine, and, in some instances, their justification of and support for the occupation.”
Scoffers and naysayers like Joel McDurmon, Scot McKnight, and many who are commenting in this blog post are further validation that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes. Which begs the question. Will you be ready to stand with Israel as you stand for the God of Israel when the antichrist makes war with Jews and those who hold to the testimony of Jesus? And do not believe the fairytale that Christians will somehow be exempt from the Great Tribulation or that it somehow has already happened in the past.
2 Peter 3:1-7
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
This is the silliest claim of fulfilled prophecy of them all. Anyone who makes a fantastic claim can predict that there will be people who will reject and mock that claim. It doesn’t take supernatural revelation to make a prediction of mockers.
I have two predictions:
1. I predict that Joe Biden and Donald Trump will be revealed to the world as lizard people in the near future.
2. I also predict that people will reject or flat-out ignore my first claim.
My second prediction being correct isn’t evidence for the validity of the first prediction.
Theologians like Joel McDurmon, Scot McKnight, and virtually all of those commenting in this post validate Bible prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes.
2 Peter 3:1-7
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Article is very well balanced and written
Thank you. That’s certainly what I aim for as do all of us at The Roys Report.