- LOGOS TELOS: The Word About the End Times
Bruce Alan McKerras: Born in 1941, a New Zealander of Scottish/English descent. For the last 15 years or so, Bruce and his wife, Jan, have been deployed in various overseas locations, helping in Christian communities. The inspiration to write LOGOS TELOS came while living in Israel in 2010
The Bible is a book full of information, history, genealogy, etc, and how we should live our lives. Approximately 1/3 is prophecy, of this most remains unfulfilled, awaiting the end of this age and the final wrap up of God’s creation. That which has been fulfilled, proves to us the inerrant accuracy of the prophets.
My task, is to point out the prophecies relevant to our time and put them into short, easily read articles, with matching verses which clarify the message. The words I use are plain, modern English, in the Scriptures and in my comments and explanations.
I have taken Bible prophecy and presented it in easily read, short articles and compiled it into a series of subjects. I have carefully studied all the prophesies and their context, and then written explanations and comments, using other verses, historical facts and modern knowledge to support what is said. Please read my thesis, it is a precis of how the Lord has and will again act in His Creation.
If anyone has a problem making sense of what the prophets are telling us, or it may not fit what you already believe, then it is up to you to prayerfully ask God for wisdom and understanding. In the light of what Scripture really is telling us, you must make a decision, either believe what is actually written, or remain “in the dark” about coming events. 1 Thess. 5:4, James 1:5-6
When you read these articles you must decide whether to believe what is explained about our future, as prophesied in the Bible, or hold on to teachings and ideas that may not have a firm Scriptural basis. These words may conflict with what you have previously been taught, however, I ask that you study these scriptures with an open mind and heart.
The unfortunate fact is, that over the centuries that God has allowed His creation to go its own way, very many dubious doctrines and beliefs have become established and accepted. I know how difficult it is to overcome doctrines and teachings that may have some Biblical support, but do not give the full story. We are told through Daniel the prophet that only those who are ‘wise’, that is: those who make a genuine effort to understand prophetic Scripture, will understand God’s plan.
As Christian believers in the Creator God and in his Redemption through Jesus Christ, we are told by Paul the Apostle, that we should not be in the dark about these latter days. God wants His Christian people to be aware of His plans and to stand firm in their faith and trust in His protection during the imminent time of worldwide crisis and change.
My task is to take Bible prophecy and present it in easily read, short articles. I carefully study the words and context, then write explanations and comments, using other verses and modern knowledge to support what is said.
As God says: at present, we are “under the spirit of deep sleep”, The vision has become for you like a sealed book…if you confuse yourself, you will stay confused. Isaiah 29:9-12
Isaiah 6:9b-10 However hard you listen, you will never understand. However hard you look, you will never perceive. This peoples wits are dulled, they have stopped their ears and shut their eyes. They will not see or hear or understand, lest they turn and be healed.
Then at the gathering of His people, this shows that there will still be those who do not understand God’s Plan for us: Isaiah 43:8 Bring forward this people, a people who have eyes, but are blind, have ears, but are deaf.
Therefore, in order to gain understanding and knowledge of what God has planned for our future, it is necessary to ask in prayer, as James 1:5-6 Ask in faith and wisdom will be given to you. Revelation 1:1 …..to show His servants what must soon take place.
With my articles on prophecy, I can only suggest that you read them with an open mind, and if they fit what you already believe, well and good. But if, after careful reading of the verses, you cannot fit what is described anywhere, then:
1/ To ignore it is to pick and choose what Scripture you want to believe.
2/ To gloss over it and say: well, something like that may happen during the Tribulation, that is hardly good enough.
3/ When similar verses mention the same theme, then we can gain further information by studying them.
4/ God does not want His servants “to be in the dark”. When shocking and earth shattering events occur, then we should not be taken unawares and we will need to be prepared and be able to comfort our loved ones.
5/ We are warned about false teachers and with the example of Harold Camping, know that careful discernment about end times is required. His prediction was not based soundly on Scripture, therefore, be careful to listen only to those who truthfully expound God’s Word.
2 Peter 19 …. you will do well to listen to the message of the prophets, it will shine like a lamp in a dark place and will illuminate your mind.
Isaiah 42:18-19 You that are deaf – hear now! You that are blind, look and see! Who is so blind but My servants, who so deaf as the messenger that I send. Who so blind as the one who has My trust, so deaf as the servant of the Lord?
1 Thessalonians 5:5 You, my friends are not in the dark…Paul was telling the Thessalonians [and us] that we, who follow the Lord and study His Word, should be aware of end time events. He goes on to say in verse 6 & 7: You are all children of the Light, you do not belong to darkness and we must not sleep like other people, but keep awake and sober.
The attitude of – what will be will be, or I just leave my future in God’s hands is hardly good enough. Many Bible verses say that it is possible to be informed about the future and those who are taken unawares of coming events, could be disadvantaged.
In these studies, I bring out many Bible passages that are often treated as having been fulfilled, but careful study shows they are incorrectly attributed or there is a partial dual or even a triple future fulfilment.
My belief, and the premise of this book, is that we are, as at 2023, very close to the point where God will allow the commencement of the events leading to the end of this age. This will start with an attack on the Jewish State of Israel by a confederation of Islamic nations and entities. Prophecy clearly tells of the outcome of this attack, God will intervene and devastate much of the Middle East, including Israel. A remnant will survive in Jerusalem. Soon after this, all of the holy Land area will be regenerated and the Lord’s faithful Christian people will gather and settle there. Problems around the world of food, fuel and the economic situation will lead to the formation of a One World Government, led eventually by a powerful and charismatic man. Despite making a peace treaty with the new nation in the holy Land, he will attack and conquer them. This starts the Great Tribulation, as described in the book of Revelation. After 3½ years, the Lord Jesus will Return and commence His Millennial reign.
One essential fact to keep in mind with prophecy is the still continuing separation of Israel and Judah. Part of Judah, the Jews; have returned to some of the Land, but the House of Israel [Joseph, Ephraim] are still scattered around the world. Only God knows their true identity. Amos 9:9 Where Jacob is quoted – that refers to all 12 tribes. They are prophesied to rejoin only in the latter days. [this refers to the period prior to the Return] Even the Jews acknowledge that only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin are currently in Israel.
In these articles, I use as my main source the Revised English Bible. It is a complete retranslation from the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, into modern, easily read English. The translators were careful to render passages so as to convey the intended message to us. This scholarly and exhaustive work was completed and published in 1989, including the Apocrypha. I do refer to other translations, as I am aware that most of my readers use them, especially the NIV, NET and the KJV. It surprises me how often that the REB makes a passage so much clearer and better understood than the NIV. As for the KJV, I really feel that those who hold to it are handicapping themselves. There is plenty of evidence that the KJV has inserted non Biblical Church doctrines and subtle support for the authority of King James.
I abridge some verses and remove the Hebrew parallelisms so as to simplify and shorten the message quoted, without losing any of the meaning. All Scripture is in italics.
I have sorted these articles into subjects, however there is much overlap and readers need to carefully consider it all, to gain the general picture of what the Lord has planned for our future.
Bruce McKerras – KERAZ, the messenger
The Prophetic Word 