John the Baptist

Today begins a study we call “Concerning the End of Time”. We will examine prophecies from the New Testament regarding the future. Our focus will be the Scriptures related to the future as told by John the Baptist, Jesus and the apostles in the epistles. We’ll conclude with some key verses from Revelation. I don’t know the length of the study. The Spirit, we pray, will lead us. First, we look at John, the Baptist’s ministry. Scripture passages are from the New International Version.

John the Baptist
 
 Luke 1:16-17 “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
 
AS we consider our future from a Christian worldview, we’ll first focus on the Kingdom of God. “Kingdom” can be a very uncertain term as it relates to the Christian life. Is this about our life now? Or does it refer to the future? Could it shape our lives now and later? What did Jesus mean when he used “kingdom” in prophecies and parables? When did it, or when will it begin? How will we know?
   Hopefully these questions mean something to you. After all, Kingdom of God citizenship is an extraordinary gift and a privilege. From the Garden to the Promised Land to the New Heaven and earth, Scripture very precisely tells us God prepares a place fo his people. Then he gives it to them. We receive an inheritance we do not deserve because God is love.
   Hopefully you will respond to God’s gift with a deep desire to know more of the King and his Kingdom.
   Our Kingdom understanding begins with John the Baptist. In eternity past, God had arranged for John to be the bridge between the Old Testament and the New. He is the final prophet who must come on stage to announce the King has come.
   God will use John to prepare for the Christ. He will call the Jews to repentance and fuel their anticipation of the Messiah. The Savior’s prophecies, presence and power await for John to announce him to the world. God’s desire is for his people to expectantly and joyfully raise their hearts to receive his Son.
   John will be Elijah-like. 1 Kings records Elijah’s passion and power to awaken people to God. Elijah condemned Israel’s sins. He lived in a wilderness and revealed God’s judgment and salvation through great miracles, even a resurrection. John would also come out of a wilderness to preach repentance and awaken the Jews to God’s judgment and salvation.
   This Scripture also fulfills the Old Testament’s final prophecy: Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
   Dramatic change is coming to the earth. John was born to point to Jesus. The Jews will struggle to understand. Still, one day the wisdom of the righteous will transform many hearts. The Kingdom of God requires we know about and prepare for the King.