2023 Evidence of Biblical Prophecy
Ten examples of Biblical prophecy being fulfilled in events being observed in 2023
Prophecy and End Times
The Bible has a lot to say about the end times. We should be living every day of our lives as if Jesus could return at any moment. We should have urgency in our evangelism. We should be passionate in our walk with Christ. The reality of the coming of Christ is something we are to use to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).
The Biblical eschatological worldview defined as pretribulational interprets the order of end-times events that the Bible reveals. Nearly every book of the Bible contains prophecy regarding the end times. Taking all of these prophecies and organizing them can be difficult.
Before we get to a summary of 10 examples of prophetic events for 2023, we can review a brief summary of what the Bible declares will happen in a series of events beginning with the rapture of the church. This specific event on God’s prophetic calendar will be rapidly followed by what the Bible terms the seven-year tribulation period (Daniel 9:27).
Christ will remove all born-again believers from the earth in an event known as the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54). At the judgment seat of Christ, these believers will be rewarded for good works and faithful service during their time on earth or will lose rewards, but not eternal life, for lack of service and obedience (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
The Antichrist (the beast) will come into power and will sign a covenant with Israel for seven years (Daniel 9:27). This seven-year period of time is known as the “tribulation.” During the tribulation, there will be terrible wars, famines, plagues, and natural disasters. God will be pouring out His wrath against sin, evil, and wickedness. The tribulation will include the appearance of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the seven seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments.
About halfway through the seven years, the Antichrist will break the peace covenant with Israel and make war against it. The Antichrist will commit “the abomination of desolation” and set up an image of himself to be worshiped in the Jerusalem temple (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10), which will have been rebuilt. The second half of the tribulation is known as “the great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14) and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).
At the end of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist will launch a final attack on Jerusalem, culminating in the battle of Armageddon. Jesus Christ will return, destroy the Antichrist and his armies, and cast them into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21). Christ will then bind Satan in the Abyss for 1,000 years and He will rule His earthly kingdom for this thousand-year period (Revelation 20:1-6).
At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released, defeated again, and then cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10) for eternity. Christ then judges all unbelievers (Revelation 20:10-15) at the great white throne judgment, casting them all into the lake of fire. Christ will then usher in a new heaven and new earth and the New Jerusalem—the eternal dwelling place of believers. There will be no more sin, sorrow, or death (Revelation 21–22).
2023 Evidence of Biblical Prophecy
Now that we have the context of future events in mind, we can more readily observe events that transpired in 2023 as “birth pangs,” as Jesus referred to them (Matthew 24:8).
Here are ten examples of Biblical prophecy being fulfilled in events that have been observed in 2023. Near the end of each year, we can look back to see how Bible prophecy was fulfilled, or has elements of fulfillment, throughout the year. We’re in a countdown to the close of the Church Age. Here are ten examples of Biblical prophecy for 2023. Many selections have ties to "black Sabbath"--October 7, 2023:
1) The world decided that Israel became the international burdensome stone (Zechariah 12:3). Whoever expected this new malady, Israel Derangement Syndrome, in their lifetime? We know that “the Time of Jacob’s Trouble” will be a time of Jew-hatred, but in the Church Age? And this is a hatred of a people based only on identity. A people group that has been a blessing to the world!
2) Israel now longs for peace like never before. She will fall for Mr. Fix-Its peace plan of Daniel 9:27. She just wants to get along with her neighbors, the Arab world, the Muslim world, and all her enemies. She has had 75 years of conflict, preceded by the Holocaust. But with centuries of demonic hatred thrown at her, the Antichrist will be stunning in his deceit of a nation longing for peace and security. He will overwhelm them in his efforts.
3) For a segment of society, love has grown cold. This is a Tribulation reference in Matthew 24, but we’re in a run-up to that. We’re watching large segments of society favor barbarians. Millions have sided with the butchers of Hamas! There are Facebook groups praising Hamas. College campuses know no shame. Jewish students are hiding in secluded areas. And much of the world, and parts of the church, shrug in indifference and seem to enjoy cursing Israel.
4) Gog & Magog further align as they unite against Israel. One periodical reports that “Turkey’s President Erdogan wants to lead the Muslim world against Israel so his country can become a great power.” Russia has pledged to come to Iran’s rescue if Israel attacks. The three power players of Ezekiel 38-39 are Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Gog and Magog appear in Ezekiel 38—39 and in Revelation 20:7–8. While these two passages use the same names, a close study of Scripture clearly demonstrates they do not refer to the same people and events. The events are separated by at least 1,000 years. They are aligning more and particularly in 2023.
5) The church is slipping further into apostasy. Many churches practice a theology that has encouraged them to remain silent during Israel’s greatest crisis since the Holocaust. Many openly sided with the so-called Palestinians. The silence of the shepherds has been staggering and devastating to many church members. Too many won’t deal with prophecy, current events, or Israel and won’t take a stand. It’s time to call out evil and to love what and who God loves. Christ” In Jude 1:4, we see the most compact reference to apostasy. In this one verse, Jude provides Christians with three traits of apostasy and apostate teachers. Too many churches refuse to call out evil in proper Biblical context and they have been exposed in 2023.
6) The Jews are coming home in greater numbers and are more open to the gospel. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, there has been a 149% increase in interest to return to Israel from Jewish French citizens and an 81% increase from North American Jews. The trauma of October 7 will leave deep scars on the nation and people forever. The crisis is driving the Jews to seek God like never before in history. Many are leaving secularism, mysticism, and more to call out to the God of the Bible. The New Testament teaches that everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, has sinned against God (Romans 3:23). All of us are under the consequences of sin, and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). We are all in need of salvation from our sin; we are all in need of a Savior. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). The New Testament teaches that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
7) Strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) intensifies and abounds! The Biden Administration continues to give Iran billions. The White House expresses deep concern about Islamophobia, not anti-Semitism! Biden gives hundreds of thousands of dollars to mosques. We have seen young people praise Osama bin Laden in spite of the reality of radical Islam. The solution in the Middle East is a Palestinian state! Everywhere, evil is called good and good is called evil (Isaiah 5:20-21) and facts are irrelevant due to the delusions of our day. Only the righteous can see straight! The Bible makes it clear why God is sending a strong delusion in the end times: “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Simply put, God sends a strong delusion to those who choose not to believe the gospel of Christ. Those who take delight in mocking and rejecting Him, He will condemn.
8) The intensified longing for a world leader as American leadership is weak and non-existent in the Executive Branch. The absence of American in its military power and its negotiating capability and its inability to manage the national border of its own country is creating a vacuum within the world stage. Soon, world leaders will line up in Pied Piper-like fashion, behind a man-with-a-plan, who will guarantee peace and stability. The Bible speaks specifically about the proud authority of the Antichrist. Revelation 13:5-8 declares, “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He will exude global leadership. The world is ready due to America's absence. One day, the Antichrist will be revealed. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 tells us how those who have been left behind following the rapture of the Church can recognize the Antichrist.
9) The intensification of perilous times (2 Timothy 3), violence, and spirit of the Antichrist. We are warned of October 7 “copycat attacks” around the world! America’s southern border invites chaos. Rogue nations are threatening with nukes. World war seems inevitable. And the Tribulation has not even begun!
10) There is an explosion of global reprobate minds (Romans 1). Things have taken a dark turn unlike anything seen in modern times. The world has become unhinged on a greater level than WWII. People clearly have been “given over.” Up is down; black is white. There are multiple examples and evidence of Isaiah 5:20-21 all around us. Men can be women and vice versa. Israel is apartheid; Hamas are freedom fighters. Normal or Godly thinking does not come to these conclusions!
What must we do?
There are no more important questions to deal with in the world, and the answers are summarized: God, Man, Christ, Response.
God — is our Creator. He is loving, holy, and just. One day he will execute perfect justice against all sin.
People — are made in the image of God. We are beautiful and amazing creatures with dignity, worth, and value. But through our willful, sinful rebellion against God, we have turned from being his children to his enemies. Still, all people have the capacity to be in a restored loving relationship with the living God.
Christ — is the Son of God, whose sinless life gave him the ability to become the perfect sacrifice. Through his death on the cross, he ransomed sinful people. Christ's death paid for the sins of all who come to him in faith. Christ's resurrection from the dead is the ultimate vindication of the truth of these claims.
Our response — God requires from us is to acknowledge our sin, repent, and believe in Christ. So we turn from sin, especially the sin of unbelief, and turn to God in faith, with the understanding that we will follow him the rest of our days.
❤️🙏❤️