The “TIMES OF
JACOB'S TROUBLE”
-- Have They Arrived?
Biblical prophecies
hidden from generations are rapidly coming to pass --
right on target,
right on schedule! World events are
moving rapidly toward
an awesome
grand-smash climax of resounding horror and cataclysm!
World troubles are
crescendoing, the Palestinian intifada escalates – what
is going on? Have the awesome “times of Jacob's troubles”
already begun?
Where are we NOW in
God’s plan?
WILLIAM F. DANKENBRING
In the book of the prophet Jeremiah is
a strange and horrible prophecy for the end-times. We read:
“These are the words the LORD spoke concerning
What are these mysterious “times of
Jacob's trouble”? When do they begin?
The End Time
Prophecies
Daniel speaks of this same time. He writes, quoting the archangel Gabriel, who
says to him: “At that time Michael the
great prince who protects your people will arise. There will be a TIME OF DISTRESS such as has
not happened from the beginning of time until then. But at that time your people -- everyone
whose name is found written in the book -- will be delivered” (Dan.12:1).
The Moffatt Translation renders this
verse, “There shall be a time of TROUBLE such as never has been since there was
a nation.” He describes this awful
period of the future as “the CRISIS at the end” (Dan.12:4), and, “the crisis at
the CLOSE” (v.9).
Jesus Christ also spoke of these final,
frenetic, tormenting, tremulous times.
Looking into the future which will occur just before His Second Coming,
He declared: “So when you see standing
in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through
the prophet Daniel -- let the reader understand -- then let those who are in
Judea flee to the mountains. . . How dreadful it will be in those days for
pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray
that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
“For then there will be GREAT DISTRESS,
unequaled from the beginning of the world until now -- and never to be equaled
again. If those days had not been cut
short [by the intervention and coming of the Messiah!], no one would survive
[or be left alive on the planet earth!], but for the sake of the elect those
days will be shortened” (Matt.24:15-22).
Jeremiah, Daniel and Jesus Christ were
all talking about the SAME FINAL END-TIME DISASTER AND TIME OF TROUBLE which
will ENGULF the entire planet earth.
There could not be three different “times of distress” all of them
“unequaled in the history of the world.”
Since each one of these is the “greatest” time ever of distress, they
must all be referring to the SAME PERIOD OF TIME and the SAME GREAT
DISTRESS!
The
Time of “Jacob's” Trouble
Notice that these prophecies involve
both
Jeremiah's prophetic message is to both
“
History shows that millions of them
dwelt in this region, and became known in history as the Cimmerians, Celts, and
Anglo-Saxons. They migrated westward and
became the nations of
Thus many of the amazing Biblical
end-time prophecies do not just pertain to the “Jews,” the descendants of
Thus the end-time prophecy of a “time
of Jacob's trouble” is a prophecy relating specifically to the LEADING NATIONS
of the Western world, as well as the Jews in what is today called “
But Why Are Hard Times Coming?
Jeremiah warns of our present end-time
predicament. God Almighty says of our
nations, “Why should I forgive you? Your
children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they
committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each
neighing for another man's wife. Should
I not punish them for this?' declares the LORD.
Should I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” (Jer.5:7-9).
Jeremiah continues his prophecy: “They have lied about the LORD; they said, He
will do nothing! No harm will come to
us; we will never see sword or famine.
The prophets are but wind [wind-bags], and the word is not in them; so
let what they say be done to them.
Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: Because the people have spoken these words, I
will make my words in your mouth a FIRE and these people the wood it
consumes. O house of Israel [America and
Britain, etc.], declares the LORD, I am bringing a distant nation against you
-- an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know,
whose speech you do not understand.
Their quivers are like an open grave; all of them are mighty
warriors. They will devour your harvests
and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and
herds, devour your vines and fig trees.
With the sword they will DESTROY the fortified cities in which you
trust” (Jer.5:12-17).
God thunders through His prophet, “From
the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike,
all practice DECEIT. They dress the
wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no
peace. Are they ashamed of their
loathsome conduct? No, they have no
shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will
be brought down when I punish them, says the LORD” (Jer.6:13-15).
Untrammeled GREED and avarice have led
to the world's present economic brinkmanship, with the greatest Depression ever
hovering like a ghost or a Dracula over our shoulder. Unbridled LUST has brought our western
nations to the brink of RUIN!
God commands our nations to REPENT --
but His servants just sound like a bag of wind, an object of ridicule, to the
vast, overwhelming majority. They have
been blinded by the temptations of the present world with all its glitter,
pleasure, and self-indulgence.
The Four Chariots of Zechariah
In the famous
“All these are the beginning of
sorrows” (vs.6-8).
Zechariah the prophet speaks of a mysterious
prophecy of four horse-driven chariots,
identified with the “four winds” of heaven -- that is, the north, south,
east and west winds -- thus giving us a geographic positioning of the four
world powers or end-time kingdoms of the north, south, east and western
hemispheres.
Zechariah is told, “The one with the
black horses is going to the region of the NORTH; the white ones have gone out
to what is to the WEST of them; the spotted (pale] ones have gone out to the
region of the SOUTH; and the dappled [red] ones have gone out . . .” (see
Zech.6:1-7, Tanakh). A footnote says,
“Emendation yields 'the bay ones will go out to the region of the EAST.’” The words “dappled” and “bay” literally means
RED or reddish brown in color.
The Wild Ride of the White
Horse
In his vision of the end of the age, the
apostle John in the book of Revelation sees the end-time prophecies
encapsulated with “seven seals” which are revealed to him by the Lamb of God --
Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah (Rev.5:1-5; 6:1).
The first of these seals is a “white horse,” which has a “bow,” and goes
forth conquering “and to conquer” (Rev.6:2).
The second seal is a “red horse” which takes “peace” from the earth --
instigates wars around the world -- and causes people to kill one another
(vs.3-4). The third seal is a “black
horse,” which rises up, and great famines engulf the world. The fourth seal is a “pale horse,” and its
riders are Death and Hell, and it has power over one quarter of the earth, to
kill by warfare, famine and hunger, pestilence and plague, and wild beasts gone
on a rampage (Rev.6:8).
These
mysterious symbols of the book of Revelation hold chilling, spine-tingling
descriptions of events which will occur in the last days of this present age,
leading up to the second coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The time-sequence of events begins
with the “four horsemen” of the apocalypse.
Notice! We read here of four
horses and their riders. They are, in
order, white, red, black, and “pale.”
This is comparable to the four horse-driven chariots of Zechariah’s
prophecy. John writes:
“And I saw, and behold a WHITE HORSE: and he that sat on him
had
a bow; and a crown was given unto him; and he went forth conquer-
ing,
and to conquer” (Rev.6:2).
“White”
is a symbol of righteousness (Rev.19:8).
The “white” horse is connected with the west (Zech.6:6, Tanakh). It represents a mighty military power in the
“West” which has combatted the forces of fascism, Nazism, and Communism. Which nation or group of nations would that
be? Why, the United States and Great
Britain, and their allies! The United
States, in the western hemisphere, was largely responsible for saving the world
in World War I, World War II, fending off Communism in Korea and Vietnam, and
leading the victory in the Gulf War.
Suffice it to say here, the “white”
horse -- white is a symbol of righteousness -- represents end-time Israel,
primarily the leadership tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh -- the United States of
America and United Kingdom and Canada -- going forth to save the world from
totalitarianism and enslavement during this twentieth century. Our nations saved the world for “democracy”
and freedom from the scourge of World War I, Nazism and World War II, and
Communism since that time!
The United States has been “riding
high” since the end of World War II. It
is currently regarded as the world's only remaining “superpower.” Nevertheless, it is beginning to wear out its
welcome around the world. Its claim to
greatness is beginning to wear a mite “thin.”
Take note that this military world
power has a “bow” and goes forth conquering, “and to conquer.” A “bow” symbolizes AIR POWER – MISSILES! The allied air power was vital to the
conquest of Germany and Japan in World War II, and air power alone devastated
Iraq in the Gulf War of 1991! American
and British air power causes the whole world to stand in awe and wonder. But notice also – this mighty power conquers,
but then it “stops short” of conquering – it holds back, as it were. So often, the United States conquered its
enemies, but then failed to go on to “finish the job.” We let the Nazis off the hook after World War
II, we allowed Emperor Hirohito of Japan to live, and President George Bush
allowed Saddam Hussein to get off the hook, after the Gulf War.
What a striking fulfillment of the
prophecies of the “White Horse”!
Could the year 2001 be the “year of the white horse,” the
final hurrah, the final time when American power will be exerted around the
world?
The Fateful Ride of the Red
Horse
We read in Revelation in the New
International Version: “Then another
horse came out, a fiery red one. Its
rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each
other. To him was given a large
sword” (Rev.6:3-4).
The “Red Horse” of the Apocalypse
follows the “white horse.” It is the
opening of the “second seal.” It refers
to widespread political and social turmoil and chaos in the EAST -- the eastern
hemisphere.
The
“red horse” is in the east. The
Jewish Tanakh in Zechariah 6:7 shows the red horses are connected with the
“east.” Communism rose up in 1917,
overthrew the Czars in Russia, and set about seeking to enslave and conquer the
world. Millions lost their lives in
Stalin's purges. Millions more lost
their lives in the purges of Mao Tse-tung, in Red China. And now, once again, the “red horse” in the
East is threatening to rise up, and bloody revolution may well occur throughout
the former lands of the Soviet Union! The Hebrew word translated “red” in
Zechariah is adom and means “rosy, red, ruddy.”
The “red horse” represents the “red
star” countries of Communism -- Russia, China, and the like, in the
“east.” Russia has its red sickle flag,
“Red Square,” in Moscow, and Communists are commonly known as “the Reds.” How uncanny is Bible prophecy! These nations have indeed taken “peace from
the earth,” with millions being killed in massive purges in the Soviet Union
and in Mao's China, since World War II.
And these nations have instigated and fomented virtually every war since
World War II -- Mao's conquest of China, the Korean War, Vietnam, and even the
Arabic strikes against modern Israel in the Middle East, in 1956, 1967, and
1973 (the Yom Kippur War). Thus this
prophecy has been and is still being fulfilled, dramatically!
The break-up and restructuring of the
Soviet Empire contributed to the war in former Yugoslavia, and war in
Chechnya. The Russian economy is still
in tatters. China also, the red dragon
of the East, has annexed Hong Kong, and now threatens Taiwan with missiles, and
has warned President Bush not to equip Taiwan with new defensive weapons – “or
else.”
Will the year 2002 be the year of the
“Red Horse” – leading to war and chaos and troubles in Russia, China, and the
Far East?
Could North Korea launch an attack to
take over South Korea in that year?
This fiery apocalyptic nightmare does
not describe a conquering army or military power, such as the white horse. But it describes a power that causes
widespread warfare, and it pictures a region in turmoil and chaos, with men
slaying each other, their neighbors, in tribal and ethnic conflicts and CIVIL
war. A new Korean war could fit this
description perfectly or a war between China and Taiwan!
The Black Horse Charges Forth
The apostle John records: “I looked, and there before me was a black
horse! Its rider was holding a pair of
scales in his hand. Then I heard what
sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘A quart of wheat
for a days’ wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not
damage the oil and the wine!’” (Rev.6:5-6).
The “black horse” is identified with the NORTH country, north of Jerusalem -- or the region of ancient Assyria, Syria, and central and Eastern Europe. The ancient Assyrians migrated into central Europe and were the ancestors of some of today's Germans! This “black horse” represents the NORTH country (Zech.6:6) – modern EUROPE, dominated by Germany. The traditional color of Germany and ancient Assyria is BLACK -- the black swastika, the black uniforms of the Waffen SS, the black German eagle!
This world power is associated with the “north country” --
that is, to the NORTH of Jerusalem (see Zechariah 6:6). In ancient times it referred to Assyria --
the very peoples who later migrated into modern Germany and Austria! Therefore, in today's world, the “black
horse” refers to a modern “empire” or “kingdom” to the NORTH of Jerusalem. There is no doubt that this symbol refers to
modern Syria, north of Israel, as well as
Germany and the nations of the European Union. This union, dominated by Germany, will very
likely become the economic and political power-center of the New World Order
and the Western world!
In today's Germany, an onslaught of
new, young, tough neo-Nazis has arisen, singing the old marching songs of the
Third Reich, shouting “Sieg Heil” and “Germany for the Germans.” They are
admirers of Adolf Hitler and are growing rapidly in numbers with their call to
get rid of the immigrants and to save German jobs for Germans. They rattle on about the “German master
race,” and repudiate the genocide of the Second World War, calling the
Holocaust a “Jewish lie” and “hoax.”
Many Germans today are tired of being reminded of the Holocaust.
The
black horse -- Germany -- attacked Poland in 1939 and initiated World War II
with the aggression of Adolf Hitler and the “Third Reich.” Germany is today once again the political and
economic powerhouse of Europe.
Shockingly, a new resurgent neo-Nazism
is making a bold comeback -- and thousands of Germans are participating, and
millions are listening. Many signs have
shown the increasing presence and power of NAZISM behind the scenes in
Germany. The old Frankenstein monster of
a “HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE” centered in Europe, with tentacles in the United States
and western world, is rapidly coalescing together into a gigantic global
Octopus!
The world's prophesied end-time world
empire, foretold in the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation, called the
“Beast,” is awakening, beginning to flex and stretch its muscles, and shaking
off the sleep of centuries. It appears
that Europe will play a very significant role in the resurgence of this ancient
“world empire.” In fact, it appears that
the final “Beast” will include – for a time -- the white horse of the west, the
red horse of the east, and the black horse of the north country!
The possibility that Europe may
dominate this final world Union may be underscored by the formation of the new
currency, the “Euro,” which will compete in the world financial markets with
the U.S. dollar. The days of the
dollar's world dominance may soon be over!
The
Socialistic European Union will come together as a powerful political force by
the year 2002-3. It is already beginning
to flex its muscles in trade disputes with the United States! American businesses tremble before the power
of the European trade commission, and bureaucrats in Brussels!
Could
2003 be the “year of the black horse”?
When
this horse rides, especially in the future, it is connected with famine,
scarcity, and hunger. Truly those will
be “lean years”!
The Fourth
Horseman
“And I looked, and behold, a PALE horse:
and his name that sat on him
was
Death, and Hell followed with him. And
power was given unto them
over
the fourth part of the earth, TO KILL WITH SWORD, AND WITH
HUNGER,
AND WITH DEATH, and with the beasts of the earth” (Rev.6:8).
Interestingly, the
“pale horse” of the apocalypse seems to represent two things: First of all, it portrays the growing power
of the ecological movement, and the New World Order! The Greek word translated “pale” in this
verse is chloros which means “greenish, i.e., verdant, dun-colored --
green, pale.” We get our word
“chlorophyll” from this word. The “Green
movement” is part of the ecological movement. Mikhail Gorbachev is prominent in
this area. He is the head of Green
Cross, International.
At
the State of the World Forum, held at the Presidio, in San Francisco, Gorbachev
told the assembled world leaders, “The environmental crisis is the
cornerstone of the New World Order.” In
a speech in Indiana in October, 1996, Gorbachev openly declared, “World
civilization as we know it will soon end.
We have very little time and we must act.” “By the year 2002,” he said, “we will be
presenting the final draft of the Earth Charter” -- a kind of global “bill of
rights” which will be imposed on the world's inhabitants by a system of world
government.
Will
the year 2004 be the real beginning of the END – and the year of the Fourth
Horseman – the New World Order?
Another View of the Pale Horse
This horseman is ALSO connected with
the SOUTH -- south of Jerusalem -- and refers to the rising up of the final
KING OF THE SOUTH mentioned in the book of Daniel. Zechariah shows this horse of “pale” or
“dappled” color goes to the south (Zech.6:6).
It is a reference to the Arab nations, united in a final end-time union,
which could include Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Sudan, Libya, and all the
“terrorist states” which hate the West, especially the Jews of Israel and the
United States, whom they view as “the Great Satan.” Many of these nations have been creating
killer biological agents, such as anthrax and bubonic plague, and it is their
intent to USE these weapons against the West, when the opportunity avails
itself.
The
leader of this group of nations toward the south of Jerusalem would be Egypt,
identified in the book of Daniel as the “king of the south” (Dan.11). Led by Egypt, fueled by the billions of Saudi
Arabia and the Gulf States, with millions of fanatic Muslim followers -- and
probably aid and encouragement from Russia -- this horseman will “push” at the
king of the north, leading to a terrible round of World War. Notice!
“And at the time of the end shall the king
of the SOUTH PUSH AT HIM:
and the king of the north shall come
against him like a WHIRLWIND,
with
chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall
enter
into the countries, and shall overflow, and pass over. He shall enter
into
the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown” (Dan.11:
40-41).
Note
that by the time this happens, the Western and Northern kingdoms have “merged”
and have become part of a New World Government – the New World Order! The “ships” referred to here can only be a
reference to the ships of the world's greatest navies, today, those of the
United States, Britain, and Europe! The
implication is that by this time the New World Order has been established, but
the Moslem world rebels against it -- and war breaks out in the Middle East!
It would seem, then, that the “black
horse” of the Apocalypse refers to a united GERMAN-DOMINATED EUROPE. This kingdom, along with the “white horse”
and “red horse,” would evolve into the final kingdom of the “Beast”—the New
World Order (Rev.13:1-5). It will possess tremendous war-waging ability. People
will exclaim excitedly, “Who is like the beast?
Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev.13:4). This final World Empire will include the
United States, Europe, Russia, China (the dragon power), and the world's
economic and military powers, and will -- with them -- dominate the new
revitalized UNITED NATIONS.
This assemblage of nations will be
dominated by SEVEN HEADS -- apparently
the G-7 industrialized nations (Rev.13:1).
It will also possess TEN HORNS.
These could be an enhanced Security Council of the United Nations, with
TEN nations given “permanent member status” – which would mean five more are to
be added, very likely Germany, Japan, Brazil, Egypt, and a fifth country.
At the same time, there is a powerful
movement afoot to strip the present five permanent members of the Security
Council of their VETO power. By doing
this, ALL nations would become subservient to the new, enhanced UN!
The Final World Dictator
This
final “Babylonian” or “Roman Empire” will become dominated by a “stern-faced
king, a master of intrigue” who will “become very strong, but not by his own
power. He will cause astounding
devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty and the holy
people. He will cause deceit to prosper,
and he will consider himself superior” (Dan.8:23-25).
“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every
god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath
is completed, for what has been determined must take place” (Dan.11:36).
Strange as it may seem, the “image of
the beast” prophesied in Daniel, chapter two, also reveals a final
“resurrection” of this beast-world empire system which will be comprised of TEN
TOES, representing a final union of TEN NATIONS! Daniel wrote,
“Finally, there
will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron -- for iron breaks and smashes
everything
-- and as iron
breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw
that the FEET AND
TOES were partly of BAKED CLAY and PARTLY of IRON, so this will be
a DIVIDED
KINGDOM; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw
iron
mixed with
clay. As the TOES were partly iron and
partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly
strong and partly
brittle. And just as you saw the iron
mixed with baked clay, so the people will
be a MIXTURE and
will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay” (Dan.2:40-43).
Could these “ten toes” of this image
represent the final “resurrection” of this world's great empire, beast
system?
Could it be a UNION of nations which
will control the new, supercharged UNITED NATIONS, led by the TEN permanent
member nations of the SECURITY COUNCIL?
The Fifth Seal and the New World Order
In
order for these things to happen, however, the United States in particular,
must be brought into complete conformity with this new world thinking. America must be an integral part of the New
World Order, if not the actual leader of it.
Massive changes, therefore, are being orchestrated for the United
States, to bring it into alignment with globalism.
During
the years ahead of us, it appears that the United States and other nations of
the “lost ten tribes” of Israel, together with Judah (the land known as
“Israel” in the Middle East), will somehow lose their national sovereignty, and
become absorbed into the “New World Order.”
This has already begun to occur, with the passage of legislation forcing
NAFTA, GATT, and trade agreements upon our nations, leading to loss of jobs,
and suffering. At the present, the
United States is one of the leaders in this movement toward Globalism, but
leadership could transfer to Europe in the years ahead of us, if the
U.S. runs into catastrophic economic trouble, with incredible natural
disasters, riots and revolution in the streets.
The prophet Hosea records:
“The pride of Israel doth testify to his
face: therefore shall Israel and
Ephraim
[the United States] FALL in their iniquity; Judah [the Jews
and
modern “Israel”] also shall FALL with them. . . . They have dealt
treacherously
against the LORD: for they have begotten
strange children
[lawless
and rebellious youth!]: now shall A
MONTH DEVOUR THEM
with
their portions” (Hos.5:5-7).
However
it comes about -- via internal strife and violence, economic collapse, and
foreign troops being sent to America to “restore order” or some other means --
our western nations will end up submerged in and oppressed by this “New World
Order” – the Fourth Beast of Revelation 7!
Our people will be in dire circumstances, with economic slavery and loss
of freedom and sovereignty. Our
enslavement will become complete as our nations become merged with and “one”
with the New World Fascist/Socialist Order.
Our resources and military will then be used on the behalf of that World
Government.
After the four horsemen
of the apocalypse begin to ride, dealing death and destruction, the apostle
John records that there will be great persecution upon Christians and
Jews. In other words, “Jacob’s Troubles”
will continue to escalate! The final three and one half years will be known as
the “Great Tribulation.”
The
book of Revelation continues the story:
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I
saw under the altar the SOULS
OF
THEM THAT WERE SLAIN for the word of God, and for the testimony
which
they held. . . . And
white robes were given unto every one of them; and
it
was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until
their
fellowservants
also and their brethren, that should be KILLED AS THEY WERE,
should
be fulfilled” (Rev.6:9-11).
This
great persecution and martyrdom and oppression will occur at the hands of the
“Beast” power of Revelation -- the “New World Order” -- modern “Babylon the
great” when it has come into existence!
This persecution and oppression will no doubt be carried out by the new
World Court which has been approved by the out-going Clinton
Administration.
So
when will modern BABYLON come to full power, and REPLACE the nation-states of
the world? It is the FOURTH Beast of
Daniel 7. It will very likely begin around
the year 2004-2005 A.D.! It will oppress
and rule for 42 months, or, that is, three and one half years
(Rev.13:1-5). The apostle John writes:
“And they worshipped the dragon which gave
power unto the beast, and
they
worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is
able
to MAKE WAR with him? . . . and power was given unto him to
continue
FORTY AND TWO MONTHS. And he opened his
mouth in
blasphemy
against God . . . And it was given unto him to MAKE WAR
WITH
THE SAINTS, and to overcome them: and power was given
him
over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations”
(Rev.13:4-7).
The Sixth Seal -- Signs in the Heavens
Jesus
Christ foretold that after that great tribulation, great heavenly signs will
occur. “Immediately after the
tribulation of those days,” He declared, “shall the sun be darkened, and the
moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matt.24:29).
These
awesome occurrences in the skies and heavens will stagger mankind, causing
terrible fright and anxiety (Rev.6:9-17).
If, as I suggest, each of these final Seven Seals represents one of the
final SEVEN years of this age – Daniel’s 70th week – and the “seven
times” punishment of Leviticus 26 – then this sixth seal would represent
awesome signs and wonders occurring in the heavens about 2006 A.D.
Then,
after this, comes the Seventh Seal, and the Seventh and Final Year – that is,
the awesome and terrifying final “Day of the Lord” -- the time when God
Almighty Himself intervenes in world affairs, and begins to unleash His
divine fury, and pour out His incredible wrath, to punish the nations, and
mankind, for their gross rebellion and wickedness!
If
these Seven Seals replicate the final Seven Years of this age, then the Seventh
Seal will very possibly be the year 2007 A.D. – during which Messiah will
return! That awesome and dreadful day is
known in Bible prophecy as “The Day of the Lord.” Since a “day” is a year being fulfilled, it will evidently last
one year (Num.14:34; Ezek.4:6).
The
prophet Joel tells us, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon
into blood, BEFORE the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Joel
2:31).
The Awesome Trumpet
Plagues
What will happen during this final “year” – the “Day of the
Lord”?
In Revelation, chapter 8, God says He
will then send seven angels with seven trumpet plagues -- terrible ordeals --
which will in succession afflict the earth.
Notice these awesome events. The first
four of these will be incredible natural disasters, including hail and fire
cast to the earth -- meteorite showers causing widespread devastation and
destruction (Rev.8:7).
The second plague will be a “great mountain”
-- probably a space mountain, or asteroid -- falling upon the sea, causing a
third part of the sea to become greatly polluted, destroying ships and killing
one third of sea life (Rev.8:8-9).
The third plague will be “a great star”
or comet which will fall from “heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell
upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; . . . and
many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter” (v.10-11).
The Final Three “Woes”
The last three of these trumpet plagues
-- numbers 5, 6, and 7 -- are also known as the “three woes” (Rev.8:13). These represent the final three rounds of
WORLD WAR, culminating in the return of Christ to settle the issue of who will
rule the earth once and for all!
Notice!
In Revelation 9, the first “woe” is described as “locusts” which utilize
chemical warfare, “tormenting mankind” for five months (Rev.9:1-11). The head of this World Empire is Satan the
devil, working through the “Beast” (v.11).
“Locusts,” in the Bible, are a type of Assyrian and Babylonian soldiers
(see Nahum 3:15). God compares the
soldiers -- the military -- of this final World Government to “locusts,”
therefore. But these are peculiar
locusts -- they use chemical and biological weapons to “torment” mankind. In appearance, these soldiers are described
as “women” suggesting they have long hair (Nahum 3:13; Rev.9:8).
This world power will inflict awesome
calamities everywhere -- it is the “king of the north” (compare Daniel
11:41-45). This “king” is called
“Abaddon,” and “Apollyon” (Rev.9:11), which means “Destroyer.”
What triggers this devastating round of
war? Most likely the lust for OIL! The Middle
East is an “oil swamp,” and contains most of the world’s resources of
this valuable commodity. Apparently the
Arabs will “cut off” the oil spigot and the pipelines and tankers carrying oil
to Europe and the northern kingdoms.
The prophet Daniel tells us,
“At the time of the end, the king of the south will
lock horns with him [the king of the north];
but the king of
the north will attack him with chariots and riders and many ships. He will
invade lands,
sweeping through them like a flood; he will invade the beautiful land [Israel],
too, and many
will fall, but these will escape his clutches:
Edom, Moab, and the chief of the
children of the
Ammonites. He will lay his hands on
lands; not even the land of Egypt will
escape. He will gain control over treasures of gold
and silver and over all the precious
things
of Egypt, and the
Libyans and Cushites [Ethiopians] will follow at his heel. But REPORTS
FROM EAST AND
NORTH WILL ALARM HIM, and he will march forth in a GREAT FURY
TO DESTROY AND
ANNHILATE MANY. He will pitch his royal
pavilion between the sea
and the beautiful
holy mountains, and he will meet his doom with no one to help him”
(Daniel 11:40-45,
Tanakh).
Soon after the “Kingdom of the North”
retaliates against the “Kingdom of the South,” led by Egypt, and her allies, it
appears that the “kings of the East” will become involved in the struggle for
oil. They will come to the aid of their
Muslim allies, and launch a massive assault against the “king of the north,”
who will at that time have his headquarters in the Holy Land, perhaps in Jerusalem itself. Then he will hear terrible news, “reports
from east and north,” that will “alarm him.”
The apostle John tells us more about why he is so frightened, in the book
of Revelation:
“The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I
heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden
altar that is
before God. It said to the sixth angel
who had the trumpet, Release the four angels
who are bound at
the great river Euphrates. And the four
angels who had been kept ready for
this very hour
and day and month and year were released to kill a THIRD OF MANKIND. The
number of the
MOUNTED TROOPS WAS TWO HUNDRED MILLION.
I heard their number”
(Rev.9:13--16, NIV).
In this great battle of East versus the
West, one third of mankind will perish!
These numbers are beyond human imagination. With the world now populated by some six
billion men, women, and children, this would indicate that in this massive
struggle for world supremacy, some TWO BILLION PEOPLE will perish! No doubt, atomic and thermonuclear weapons
and nuclear-armed missiles will be used in this tremendous conflict!
Notice! This woe consists of a massive army from the
EAST numbering 200,000,000 men! (Rev.9:12-21). This huge army will undoubtedly consist of
millions of soldiers from China and India, and surrounding regions, including
the Persians and Russians. This massive
army, like the hordes of Genghis Khan, will march westward, into Europe and the
Middle East. These hordes come from
“beyond Euphrates” (Rev.9:14-15). They
will slay the third part of men (v.15).
It
is a fascinating fact, today, that the nation of China has an excess of men
over women in the younger generation.
Men outnumber women in that age group by 9 to 1 -- with an excess of
almost 150,000,000 men! This fact is
due to the Chinese governmental policy of limiting each family to having only
one child. Since most Chinese families,
by culture and tradition, desire to have a male offspring, someone who can take
care of them in their old age, young girls babies are often aborted, or killed
shortly after childbirth. Growing up
lonely, frustrated, and miserable, these young men will become part of that
huge army that will attack the West!
The “Third Woe” -- ARMAGEDDON!
At
this point, after billions have already died in natural disasters and worldwide
wars, the devil and his demons will bring all the armies of the earth together,
for one final “battle” -- to fight against the Messiah at His return!
“And I saw three unclean spirits like
frogs come out of the mouth of the
dragon,
and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false
prophet. For they are the spirits of demons, working
miracles, which go forth
unto
the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, TO GATHER THEM
TO THE
BATTLE OF THAT GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY. . . .
"And he gathered them together into a
place called in the Hebrew tongue,
ARMAGEDDON
. . .” (Rev.16:13-16).
Where is “Armageddon”? Many
Bible scholars have tried to associate it with “Har Megiddo,” a site north of
Jerusalem overlooking the plain of Jezreel.
A Bible writer and researcher pointed out to me recently that the Greek
word “Armageddon” has a different basis in Hebrew grammar than is usually
explained. The Hebrew word “Megiddo”
occurs many times in the Old Testament as a place name, referring to the
fortress at Megiddo. But this place name
never has a final ‘n’ letter. The
only place in the Old Testament where “Megiddon” occurs, with a final ‘n,’ is
in Zechariah 12:11 – “In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem,
as the mourning of Hadadrimmon IN THE VALLEY OF MEGGIDON.”
The root of “Megiddon” is “Gad,” meaning “a troop,”
“company” (Gen.30:11). The meaning of
“Megiddo” is “a gathering of troops.”
The final “n” adds the meaning, “the place of.” Hence the term “Megiddon” has the generic
meaning of “the place of the gathering of troops.” It is not necessarily the archaeological site
known as ‘Har [Mountain] Megiddo.’
The first part of the Greek word
“Armageddon” is interesting. “Arm” is a
shortened form of the word “Aram,” the name of the country of Syria, in
Hebrew. The verse in Zechariah 12:11
speaks of “Hadadrimmon” – these were two Syrian gods, Hadad and Rimmon – and
they were never known within Israel at any time. When the Syrian name Aram is joined to
another word, it becomes shortened to “Arm.”
Thus “Armageddon” becomes “the gathering of troops in the place of
SYRIA! In other words, the launching
point or staging area for troops to invade ISRAEL in these end times is NOT the
valley of Jezreel after all, but A MARSHALLING GROUND IN THE NATION OF
SYRIA!!!
This makes much more sense for an
army gathering to invade ISRAEL!
Now,
notice what God’s Word says about this final great, climax – the “Mother of all
Battles”!
“The
ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received
no
kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings
with
the beast. These are of one mind, and
they will give their
power
and authority to the beast. These will
MAKE WAR with
the
Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords
and
King of kings; and those who are with him are called, chosen,
and
faithful” (Rev.17:12-14, NKJV).
These
“ten kings” of the world give their power to the “Beast” for just “ONE HOUR” --
prophetically speaking. Jesus Christ
said that there are “twelve hours in a day” (John 11:9), and there are 12
months in a year, so “one hour” evidently refers to ONE MONTH, or 30 days, in being fulfilled! Thus this alliance will last only 30 days –
and will suddenly be broken up, when their armies are annihilated by the armies
of the Messiah from heaven!
Thus
this final “alliance” refers to a final union of the world’s nations which will
come together, briefly, in a last ditch effort to prevent the Kingdom of God on
the earth. All the world will be
gathered together to resist the Messiah.
All nations will fight against Him, thinking that He is an “invader from
outer space,” an “alien” seeking to overthrow the earth! Movies such as The X-Files, Independence
Day, Armageddon, Alien, Men in Black, and many others, are
mind-conditioning millions to believe that when the Messiah comes from heaven
with His armies, that He will be an “alien invader”!
They
will fight against Him. But they won't
succeed. “Now out of His mouth goes a
sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of
iron. He Himself treads the winepress of
the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Rev.19:15-16). “And the angel thrust in his sickle into the
earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress
of the wrath of God. And the winepress
was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto
the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand six hundred furlongs”
(Rev.14:19-20) – about two hundred miles!
When Will It All Happen?
The chronology of Archbishop Ussher
points to the fact that the creation of Adam and Eve occurred in the year 4004
B.C. Since the “week” of seven days is a
picture or prophetic outline of the plan of God through history, and since a
“day” with God is as a “thousand years” (II Pet.3:8-10), the seven-day week
pictures God's plan of 7,000 years. The
last 1,000-year “day” of that Plan is the sabbath Millennial rest (Rev.20:4)
which lasts one thousand years. This is
the “sabbath-rest” (Heb.4:4-11).
Edward Gibbon, who in 1770 published
his epochal work, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, tells us in
chapter 15 that the early Christians who sat at the feet of the apostles were
taught that Jesus would come back at the end of 6,000 years.
In the epistle of Barnabus, we read:
“The Sabbath is
mentioned at the beginning of creation [thus]:
‘And
God made in six days the works of His hands, and made an
end
on the seventh day, and rested on it, and sanctified it.’ Attend,
my
children, to the meaning of this expression, ‘He finished in six
days.’
This implieth that the Lord will
finish all things in six thousand
years,
for a day is with Him a thousand years. And He Himself
testifieth,
saying, ‘Behold, today will be as a thousand years.’ Therefore,
my
children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, all things will
be
finished. ‘And He rested on the
seventh day.’ This meaneth: when
His
Son, coming [again], shall destroy the time of the wicked man,
and
judge the ungodly, and change the sun, and the moon, and the stars,
then
shall He truly rest on the seventh day” (The Epistle of Barnabus,
Ante-Nicean
Fathers, vol1, p.146).
Obviously, the early Church believed in
a six thousand year plan of God in dealing with mankind! The “Sabbath rest” will last one thousand
years (Rev.20:1-4). If the last “day” of
the divine “week” equals 1,000 years, and a “day” is as 1,000 years, then the
six previous days of the “week” picture 6,000 years. Thus the “week” pictures the Plan of God when
man has “six days” to do his own work on this earth, his own way, but then will
come the seventh-day “Sabbath” of the Lord our God, when man will “rest” from
his own labors.
Since Biblical chronology, as pointed
out by Archbishop Ussher, shows that Adam was created in 4004 B.C., this means
that the END of man's own dominion over the earth, before the Kingdom of God
takes over, is 6,000 years later. A
simple calculation shows that the end of 6,000 years is fall of 1997.
But, the ancient Levitical book of
Jubilees shows that Adam and Eve did not transgress God's law and sin until
exactly SEVEN YEARS from the time of Creation.
The indication from Biblical prophecy and Biblical evidence is that
the 6,000 years from Adam and Eve should be counted from the time they sinned,
and were expelled from the Garden of Eden.
That's when the countdown began. The book of Jubilees tells us that this
occurred seven years after their original creation in 4004 B.C. Notice:
“And during the first
week of the first jubilee Adam and his wife had been in the garden
of
Eden for SEVEN YEARS tilling and guarding it. And we gave him work and we were
teaching
him to do everything which was appropriate for tilling. And he was tilling. And
he
was naked, but he neither knew it nor was he ashamed. And he was guarding the garden
from
the birds and beasts and cattle and gathering its fruits and eating. And he used to set
aside
the rest for himself and his wife. And
what was being guarded he set aside.
“At
the END OF SEVEN YEARS which he completed there, SEVEN YEARS EXACTLY,
in the second month on the seventeenth day, the serpent
came and drew near to the
woman”
(Jubilees
3:15-17).
As we know, Eve and
Adam both sinned, were enticed into transgression, and banished from the
Garden. This occurred most likely,
therefore, seven years after their original creation, in 4004 B.C. -- or in the
year 3997 B.C. The seven years of
idyllic paradise should not be counted in the 6,000 years during which mankind
has been subject to the “god of this world,” Satan the Adversary (II Cor.4:4,
Eph.2:2).
Seven years, subtracted from 4004 B.C., brings us to the year 3997 B.C. Therefore, 3997 B.C. is the date we should count from when computing the length of the sojourn of mankind on this planet under the dominion and influence of Satan the devil. Thus a simple calculation of subtracting 6000 from 3997 B.C. gives us the date of A.D. 2004! If we add the seventieth week of Daniel, we would come to 2011 A.D. If we then add the “Day of the Lord,” the final one year period during which God intervenes with the “seven trumpets,” and seven last plagues of the book of Revelation, that would bring us to 2012 A.D. Could that be the fateful year?
When Will Messiah Come?
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, declared, “I
will come again” (John 14:2). But
when? Will He come in the Spring? or in the Fall? Or can we even know?
Yeshua told His disciples, after giving
them several signs and guideposts to look for which will precede His coming
(Matt.24:1-30), “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of
heaven, but my Father only” (Matt.24:36).
He added, those days will be like the days of Noah -- filled with
violence and wickedness (v.38-39). He
then stated again, “Watch therefore: for
ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (v.42).
Not knowing the “hour” or the “day” is
one thing. But does this mean that we
can't know the year? Most of God's
people, down through the centuries, obviously, did not know. But for those of us in this end-time, can we
know? God has certainly given us many
“hints,” as it were, in His Word!
For example, the Church of God is told that it
is to flee into the wilderness, before the Great Tribulation, when a certain
“sign” occurs -- the sign of the “abomination of desolation” appearing, which
will pollute the Temple (Matt.24:15-16).
We are also told that the Church will be protected and taken “into the
wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time [year], and times
[two years], and half a time [half a year], from the face of the serpent”
(Rev.12:14). This figure is also
mentioned in Revelation 12:6, where we are told the woman -- the Church -- will
be fed and protected “a thousand two hundred and threescore [1,260] days.” This number of days = 3 and 1/2 years of the
360-day prophetic year!
Now, if we can know these things, then
it is a simple mathematical step to add this number beginning with the time of
the placement of the “abomination of desolation,” when we see it, to derive the
time of the coming of the Messiah! It
will occur exactly 3 and 1/2 years or 1260 days later!
Although we may not know the exact day
or hour, it would appear at least that we will be able to ascertain and know
the precise YEAR -- IF we are among those who see the abomination
of desolation and perceive it for what it really is!
Will Christ Return at
Passover?
Many have thought that Messiah will return at the Feast of
Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah, in the fall of the year. Although this is possible, a case can also be
made for Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement,” which symbolizes the Judgment Day
of God, and which is the day the “final” trumpet is blown, and the Jubilee
trumpet of freedom and liberty, during the Jubilee year of redemption (see
Lev.25:8-12).
However, there is much evidence also
that the Messiah will return in the SPRING of the year, perhaps right at the
time of the PASSOVER!
Says Alfred Edersheim in his book The
Temple,
“Jewish tradition has
this curious conceit: that the most
important
events
of Jewish history were connected with the Paschal season.
Thus it is said to have
been on the present Paschal night that, after his
sacrifice,
the ‘horror of great darkness’ fell upon Abraham when God
revealed
to him the future of his race.
Similarly, it is supposed to have
been
at Passover time that the patriarch entertained his heavenly guests,
that
Sodom was destroyed and Lot escaped, and that the walls of Jericho
fell
before the Lord. More than that -- the
‘cakes of barley bread’ seen in
the
dream, that led to the destruction of Midian's host, had been prepared
from
the Omer, presented on the second day of the feast of unleavened
bread; just as at a later
period alike the captains of Sennacherib and the
King
of Assyria, who tarried at Nob, were overtaken by the hand of God
at
the Passover season. It was at
the Paschal time that the mysterious
handwriting
appeared on the wall to declare Babylon's doom, and again
at
the Passover that Esther and the Jews fasted, and that wicked Haman
perished.
And so also in the last days it
would be the Paschal night when
the
final judgments should come upon ‘Edom,’
and his glorious deliverance
of
Israel take place” (Edersheim, The Temple:
Its Ministry and Services,
page 229-230).
Edersheim goes on, making the strong point
that it is the Passover seder service which, more than any other Jewish
festival or observance, that in detail, pictures the coming of Messiah, to
deliver His people in the future, even as He delivered His people from Egyptian
bondage at Passover time, 3,500 years ago.
Says Edersheim:
“Hence to this day, in
every Jewish home, at a certain part of the Paschal
service -- just after the
‘third cup,’ or the ‘cup of blessing,’ has been drunk --
the
door is opened to admit Elijah the prophet as forerunner of the Messiah,
while
appropriate passages are at the same time read which foretell the
destruction
of all heathen nations. . . . But, in general, it may be interesting
to
know that no other service contains within the same space the like
ardent
aspirations after a return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the
Temple,
nor so many allusions to the Messianic hope, as the liturgy for the
night
of the Passover now in use among the Jews” (ibid., page 230).
The Passover season, more than any
other, pictures the Messiah and the Messianic Hope. Passover itself was the season of Israel's
deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The
Scriptures speak of a second much greater “Exodus” which will accompany the
coming of the Messiah himself (Isa.11:10-16; Isa.27:12-13; 60:1-7; 66:15,
19-24; Jer.30:8-9, 18-22; 31:1-12; Ezek.20:33-44).
However, the Jewish Midrash has an even
more impressive list of amazing events and deliverances of God's people at or
around Passover. Rabbi Jeffrey M. Cohen,
in 1001 Questions and Answers on Pesach, tells us:
“. . . a whole series of
miracles (rov nissim) . . . according to the Midrash,
occurred
on the night of Pesach. These
include: Abraham's escape from
the
fiery furnace that King Nimrod made him enter; the punishment of
Avimelech,
the Philistine King of Gerar, for holding Sarah prisoner; the
divine
warning conveyed in a dream (be-emesh laylah) to Laban not to do Jacob any harm; Jacob's vanquishing
of the angel with whom he wrestled
the
entire night (of Pesach); the defeat of Sisera, general of Jabin, King of
Canaan
(see Judges 4-5); the revelation to Daniel of the meaning of Nebu-
chadnezzar's
dream (see 2), and his deliverance from the lion's den; the
death
of Belshazzar who removed the holy vessels from the Temple; and
the
reading of his royal Book of Chronicles to Ahasuerus, which marked
the
ascendancy of Mordecai and the beginning of the downfall of Haman”
(P.169).
Passover!
The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that Biblical
prophecy indicates strongly that Christ will return in the SPRING-TIME, the
time of New Life, and the time when, according to Scriptures, that “kings go
forth to war.” The Passover season is
the season of God's intervention and deliverance! It has been so, in the past, and it will be
so again in the future!
The strong indication, therefore, is
that the Messiah will come to rescue and redeem His people once again at the PASSOVER!
Daniel's 70 Weeks Prophecy
It is my belief that the “seven seals”
of Revelation represent the final SEVEN YEARS of this world before the Messiah
returns -- and therefore they correspond to the seventieth “week” of Daniel's
prophecy, the final “week” of which leads up to the SECOND coming of the Messiah!
Daniel records: “The people of the ruler who will come
will destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end will come like a flood:
War will continue until the END, and desolations have been decreed. He [the ruler -- that is, the end-time
king] will confirm a COVENANT with MANY for ONE ‘SEVEN’ [week]. In the middle of the ‘seven’ [“years” being
fulfilled -- that is, after 3 1/2 years] he will put an END to the sacrifice
and offering. And on a wing of the
temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that
is decreed is poured out on him” (Dan.9:26-27, NIV).
The Jewish Tanakh has this passage:
“The ARMY of a leader
who is to come will destroy the city and the
sanctuary
[Titus-Vespacian of Rome in A.D. 70], but its end will come
through
a flood. Desolation is decreed until the
end of war. During one
week
he [the end-time prince, or king] will strike a firm covenant with
many. For half a week [3 1/2 years] he will put a
stop to the sacrifice and
the
meal offering. At the corner [of the
altar] will be an appalling abom-
ination
until the decreed destruction will be poured down upon the
appalling
thing.”
In addition, the Septuagint adds more
insight to this ancient prophecy.
Beginning with verse 24, we read:
“Seventy weeks have been
determined upon thy people. . . .
“And
thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the
command
for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem until CHRIST
THE
PRINCE there shall be seven weeks and sixty two weeks: and then
the
time shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times
shall
be exhausted.
“And
after the sixty two weeks, the anointed one [the CHRIST] shall be
destroyed
[killed by crucifixion on a stake], and there is no judgment in
him: and he [Christ, resurrected and in heaven
at God's right hand] shall
destroy
the city and the sanctuary WITH [BY] THE PRINCE THAT IS
COMING: they [the city and the Jewish people] shall be
cut off with a
flood
[army], and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall
appoint
the city to desolations [Jerusalem was desolated from that time, and
particularly
after the Bar Kochba rebellion, in A.D. 135, until our day, the
20th
century, and until 1967, when the Old City was restored to the Jews in
the
miraculous Six Day War].
“And
ONE WEEK shall establish the covenant with MANY: and in the
MIDST
of the WEEK my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away:
and
on the Temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the
END
OF THE TIME an end shall be put to the desolation” (Daniel
9:24-27,
LXX).
Notice how clearly this prophecy
pinpoints the first coming of the Messiah, after a period of 69 weeks --
that is, 483 years (69 X 7 = 483). In
the seventh year of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, which was 457 B.C., the king
issued a decree regarding Jerusalem and the Temple of God (see Ezra 7). Counting 483 years from 457 B.C., we come to
A.D. 27 -- the very year Jesus Christ, at age of 30 years, began His ministry.
But notice! The final week of this prophecy does not
continue on from that point. Rather, the
Messiah was killed -- destroyed -- and put in a grave, where He lay for three
days and three nights (Matt.12:40). Then
He arose from the dead, and after appearing to His disciples for 40 days, He
was taken out of their sight up into heaven (Acts 1:1-3, 9-11). Forty years later, He sent the Romans to
punish the wicked and apostate nation of Judah, and to destroy the Temple, as
He had foretold (Matt.24; Mark 13; Luke 21).
Since that time, as Daniel foretold, the land has lain desolate and in
ruins, until this modern twentieth century, when God has intervened to open the
door for His people to return to the Holy Land.
The return began with the Balfour
Declaration in 1917, when Great Britain occupied the land of Palestine after
World War I. Jewish independence was
achieved in 1948. In 1967, fifty years
(one Jubilee period) after the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the Israelis
recaptured the Golan Heights, West Bank of the Jordan, the Sinai peninsula, and
the Old City of Jerusalem, with the Temple Mount -- controlling it for the
first time since A.D. 70!
This has set the stage for the final
fulfillment of Daniel's last week of the 70 weeks prophecy -- the seventieth
week! Remember, each day of the week
represents a year in actual fulfillment.
Thus the last seven years of this Age are blue-printed in the 70th week
of Daniel's prophecy. What is going to
occur?
Notice!
In the middle of this final “week” of years, the end-time King will
invade and occupy modern “Israel,” probably in the name of “peace-keeping” for
the United Nations. Sacrifices and
offerings at the Temple of God, which is yet to be rebuilt, will be abrogated.
Thus, in the midst of the final “week”
of years, this World Dictator from the north (Dan.11:29-39) will send troops to
“keep the peace” and maintain order in Israel.
He will “destroy” God's people, invade Israel, and seize control over
Jerusalem and the Temple, and set up the “abomination of desolation” that Jesus
Christ warned us about! This invasion
will occur, therefore, 3 1/2 years before the return of our Messiah!
If we recognize that event when it
occurs, we will then KNOW to the exact month and possibly even the exact
DAY of Jesus Christ's glorious return!
Thus it is possible that everything is
now in place. The “times of Jacob’s
troubles” have indeed begun! The final
“seven weeks” of the end of this age could be IMMINENT!
The apostle Paul prophesied, “While
people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them
suddenly, as labor pangs on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (I
Thess.5:3).
By every indication, the “times of
Jacob's troubles” have begun! We are
now IN the final “countdown to the coming of the Messiah”! For more information on this sizzling topic,
write for our articles, “Will Messiah Come in a Jubilee Year?”, “God’s 6000
Year Plan in Prophecy,” and “Countdown to Armageddon – How Much Longer?”
Are you ready? Is
your house in order? Are you prepared to
meet the Messiah? It is high time we
really get serious. There is not much
time left!!!
“He who
testifies to these things says, ‘SURELY
I AM COMING
QUICKLY.’
“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev.22:20).