Seven Things We Can Be Sure Of

Editor’s Note: The Lord used the media ministry of Dr. Bruce W. Dunn in a marvelous way to stir in me a desire for a greater understanding of God’s Word and to motivate me for His service. Dr. Dunn spoke in a manner that is so desperately needed today—with a prophetic voice against all manifestations of wickedness that plague “this present evil age” (Gal. 1:4). I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with his son, Dr. David B. Dunn, who has enthusiastically agreed to allow his father to be part of our inaugural class of Revived Classics authors. We are grateful for this platform in which we can newly apply Dr. Dunn’s bold wisdom to our current situation, and thus introduce his ministry to a whole new generation. —PJS

“Now may be our last chance
to turn this country around.”

If you have ever done very much witnessing for Christ on a person-to-person basis, you have probably encountered someone who has commented, “There are two things that I never talk about—religion and politics! I just do not want to discuss it!”

I do not believe that there are any two areas where the devil is more active than in religion and politics. The main purpose for his activities is to populate hell. That is his main objective and if he can accomplish it by influencing governments to institute policies and follow programs that will eventually eliminate human freedoms, like the freedom to preach the gospel and send out missionaries, and taking prayer out of our schools, he will be glad to do it that way. Remember who he is: “Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9); who deceives the nations (Rev. 20:3, 8); who gives power to rulers (Rev. 13:3-5, 7; cf. Luke 4:6).

The devil is extremely active in the areas of religion and politics, but we can praise the Lord no matter what Satan does because there is no doubt as to the final outcome. In the words of the songwriter, “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does his successive journeys run.”

Ephesians 1:10 says that the great ultimate purpose of God is “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” And God’s objective and goal will without question come to pass. The outcome is sure.

What delays there might be along the way, however, we cannot be so sure about. Between now and then there will be some valleys, there will be some ups and downs, there will be challenges, and there will be dangers. There will be some difficult days for God’s believing people, but the ultimate victory, the ultimate objective and goal will be realized,

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10-11).

But what about all the turmoil of our present world in the light of that goal and objective? Upsets in the Middle East, inflation, energy, the movements among the nations around the world—how does all this fit into the picture?

Let us set up a framework by listing some of the things we can be sure of in the light of prophetic Scriptures.

Jesus is Coming Again

The first and most obvious fact is that Jesus Christ will return to this earth. Both the Old and New Testaments dogmatically affirm that fact, and of it there can be no question. The Old Testament prophet Zechariah said, “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives” (Zech. 14:4); and, “They will look on Me whom they pierced” (Zech. 12:10).

Acts 1:11 says, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Personally, visibly, bodily He went, and so will He return. This is an integral part of the Christian faith that cannot be denied. Jesus is coming again to fulfill the prayer that some day His will shall “be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10) and that will be quite a day!

Trouble and Turmoil Ahead

The second thing we can be sure of is that His coming will occur at the conclusion of a period of unparalleled world turmoil and trouble. That is clear from His own statements in the Olivet Discourse (see Matt. 24-25). He tells of the world going through a time of tribulation such as has never been before nor will ever be again. And except for Divine intervention, He said, “No flesh would be saved” (Mark 13:20). It is given a particular application to Israel in Daniel 12:1 when it says that the nation will have “a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time” in all of its long history.

Center of Action in the Middle East

The third fact I want to mention of which we can be sure in the light of Scriptures is that the center of action is going to be in the Middle East. That is where it all began! Eden was there! There too, the tower of Babel was built, and that’s where the division of the world by languages occurred. There Christ came and ministered; there He died and rose again.

The Middle East is where God gave the promises and covenants to His ancient people; revelations of Himself and His truth through prophet, seer and sage. And that is also where He will return to put His feet down on the Mount of Olives.

Armies of the World to Gather

The Middle East is where all the money is going, and power is going along with that money. The Middle East is attracting the attention of the whole world, and in the Middle East God will converge the armies of the nations. According to Zechariah 12 and 14, God said He would defend Jerusalem. The Middle East is the center of action in the last days, and the armies of the world will gather there for the climax of Armageddon.

God Will Judge Russia and Their Allies

The fifth fact I want to mention is that Russia and her allies will be judged by God Himself. The judgment will not be given into the hands of any other nation or combination of nations. The armies of Russia will be destroyed and be dealt with by direct action and the personal intervention by God (Ezek. 38:18-23). This will happen in the Middle East on the mountains of Israel.

In Ezekiel 37, and the verses preceding, God tells us how someday He will regather, from the four winds of the earth, His people into their land. And then immediately following that section He talks about the great federation of northern powers that will march down upon the land of Israel. Throughout Ezekiel 38 and 39, you can read about these “from the far north” (Ezek. 38:6).

“My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel,’” (Ezek. 38:18-19). And Bible scholars are quite unanimous in agreement, after studying the matter of linguistics and the names, that this is a federation of nations led by Russia which will move down into Israel at some future time. A federation of states moving down from the North on the land of Israel will be judged by God Himself. Some of us feel that judgment would be long overdue, but evidently it is not on God’s schedule until then.

United States of Europe Will Arise

According to Daniel 2 and 7, and reiterated in the book of Revelation, there must arise in the Mediterranean would a 10-nation federation of states which will include western Europe. It just about exists already as an economic unity, but has not yet been unified politically. A “United States of Europe” is what Winston Churchill once called it.

Satan’s Man Will Step Forward

Out of that federation of nations, after it is in existence and actually functioning as such, there will arise from within it a dynamic figure of a man. In the book of Daniel it tells us that he will uproot three of those 10 nations, and then go on to be the leading figure of that federation. And it will be that man, that prince who shall come, who will enter into a covenant or pact or treaty with Israel to protect its interests. He’ll say, “You play ball with me, and I’ll take care of you.”

Second Thessalonians says of this man:

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thess. 2:9).

Man of genius, man of personality, man of charm; no horns sticking out of his head, no red suit, no pitchfork in his hands—he will charm a world hungering for leadership and starving for peace.

Here is a man who will have a peace program and show genius that the world will gladly turn over to him the reins of government. And during the last part of his existence, just prior to the Lord’s return in power and great glory, he will rule the world.

(Read Part 2)

Dr. Bruce W. Dunn (1919-1993) was a pastor for more than 50 years. After serving churches in Wisconsin, Iowa and Chicago, he held the position of senior pastor at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Ill., from 1951 to 1991. From there, he reached out to the world through his weekly radio and television programs called, “Grace Worship Hour.” The broadcasts were among the first in the nation to feature sermons recorded live before a congregation as the basis for a media ministry. Dr. Dunn was known for his clear and bold preaching of God’s Word. A herald of the prophetic Scriptures, he continually warned his flock regarding the growing dangers of these last days. Dr. Dunn authored numerous booklets and was a frequent conference speaker. What a privilege it is to list him as a member of the inaugural class of Revived Classics authors for Dispensational Publishing House.

This article originally appeared as chapter 2 in
How Long, O Lord? How Long?: What To Do While Waiting For the Lord’s Return
(Columbus, GA: Brentwood Christian Press, 2002), pp. 21-31.
Copyright © 2002 Dr. David B. Dunn. All rights reserved.
The article is reprinted here by permission of Dr. David B. Dunn.
For more information regarding Dr. Bruce W. Dunn, go to www.TimelessTruthMedia.org.