The Coming Times
Disclaimer: I do not claim to have all the answers. As with everything there is a certain amount of growth that happens over time and this page is my journey to find those answers. Acts 17:11 speaks to what I hope from anyone reading this page as I also attempt to strive toward the goal of being a compitent watchman.
This page is my estimation of the order of future events based on my current understanding of Bible prophecy. Jump to a more concise narrative of how I think things may unfold or read on for more detail. I believe there are already prophetic events that have happened such as the re-emergence of Israel as a nation in 1948, but this page is more focused on the coming times than all prophetic fulfillment. I’m not saying this is how events will unfold, as the nature of prophecy historically is that we won’t understand most of the details until they’ve already happened. I’m simply taking what I’ve learned of the framework of Bible prophecy to try and build out a greater understanding of the coming times and what to watch for. This will change over time and in fact several key aspects of how I viewed some prophetic events in scripture have changed to date. As such, this page will likely continually be under construction.
Isaiah 28:13
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
2 Peter 1:20-21
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
An important point if you’ve arrived here without an understanding of the details of Bible prophecy or even if you have it all figured out. Understand the way prophecy is both hidden and revealed is partially the nature of it being spread through the whole Word of God. Precepts must be understood, concepts are spread across multiple places in both the Old and New Testaments. The Bible is 66 books written by 40 authors over thousands of years, all led by the Spirit of God to give it the cohesive narrative we have today. Whatever doesn’t appear to agree with itself requires a shift in our way of thinking or some great insight to be revealed with a little more digging, but we may yet never understand until eternity.
The biggest hinderance to understanding Bible prophecy I’ve come to find is not looking at it through the prism of the Old Testament and Hebrew culture defined by that history. To that end this page will be heavily linked to other pages detailing what I’ve learned about key concepts that are more glossed over here. I highly recommend you follow those links to understand why I’ve come to the conclusions that I have.
Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
I’ve recently been digging into some great research by Chris White that has brought new light to the importance of this first warning of the time of the end by Christ. The only way to protect from deception is if you know the truth. You can only spot counterfeit currency if you know what the real one looks like, with all it’s security built in. Likewise, God has given us His Word as the original by which we can discern deceit and lies. Chris White’s work has caused a paradigm shift in my view of how the end times will unfold and I think it’s important to understand and consider the idea laid out in great detail in his book False Christ: Will the Antichrist Claim to Be the Jewish Messiah? I plan on further researching and documenting that journey on the Jewish Antichrist page.
With that change in perspective, several things have begun to line up regarding what I think we have to watch for so we’re not in darkness about the signs of the end. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 It’s a joining of the signs Yeshua lays out in the Olivet Discourse along with John’s visions of the seals on the scroll and Chris White’s research on the false christ and coming great deception.
If you haven’t made the choice to repent and follow Christ, then when what God said in His Word comes to pass, I hope you will remember that God loves you with an everlasting love. We are all prodigal sons. Luke 15:11-31 We must repent of our sins and transgressions against His Law and call on Yeshua (Jesus) and He will save the truly repentant. He knows our hearts better than we do. If you’re not walking with God, you’re walking away from Him. He desires a relationship with you.
I’m not claiming to know everything and could be wrong on some of the order of events. Please open your mind while keeping it guarded with the Word of God.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Fulfilled Prophecies
I think it helps build faith in future prophecy yet to be fulfilled if one can see the track record. There are about 2,500 prophecies in the Bible and of those about 2,000 of them have already been fulfilled. Here’s a short list of 353 prophecies fulfilled in Yeshua. Here’s also some that were fulfilled in 1948 and more.
Israel & The End Times
I think the first important thing to point out is that the Old Testament is a collection of Hebrew writings about God’s relationship with Israel and is full of foreshadowing to the future redemption of mankind through His chosen people. The New Testament is a revelation of that Jewish Messiah and a revealing of the spiritual nature of love that naturally falls in line with the law of the Old Testament, the shadows of love.
Furthermore, the New Testament contains even more confirming prophecies of the Old Testament that are still related to Israel and her redemption. I like Chuck Missler’s statement, “The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.” Christ’s first coming as the suffering servant to die for the sins of mankind is still not accepted by most of the very people through which that salvation came. For this reason, God is not done with Israel and it is critical when looking at prophecy to understand this. Just because the Hebrews are God’s chosen people doesn’t mean they are right with God, far from it. They will go through a great many tribulations before they put aside their traditions for the Truth and finally accept the Messiah they were blinded to at His first coming in 30 AD.
In general though, events foretold in the Bible that have not yet come to pass yet will primarily involve Israel and her promised redemption. (Romans 11) That doesn’t mean there’s nothing outside of Israel in scripture related to prophecy, but she is the focus of much of it. As followers of Yeshua, we are no more Gentile or Jew but one in Christ, natural and wild branches grafted onto the same root, which is Yeshua. For those in relationship with and obedience to Him, our future is certain and we will escape the wrath of God to come, but God is not done with unbelieving Israel and they will be refined through fire. (Zechariah 13:9)
Conflict and Peace in the Middle East
To get to a point of Daniel 7’s view of the political precursor to the kingdom of the man of sin, I believe there has to be some sort of agreement between 10 nations. It is from amonst those 10 leaders that the man of sin rises to power, taking out three of them in the process. How can this happen in the political climate as we know it?
There is conflict, on October 7, 2023 Hamas attacked Israel on several fronts, breaking through border fences and killing 1,400 and kidnapping 240 civilians from Israel. This was reportedly triggered from 2023’s Sukkot and Israelis visiting the Temple Mount. In addition, according to Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida in a speech from January 14, 2024, one of the motives for the Palestinian militant group’s October 7 massacre in Israel was the Jews “bringing red cows” to the Holy Land.
They understand the significance of the red heifer to the Jews and there are plans, if they are still viable, to perform the sacrifice on Pesach 2024 on the Mount of Olives. The ashes of the red heifer, according to Numbers 19, are the starting point for ritual purification of the priesthood, the people, and the temple. From a Christian perspective, we are told in BIble prophecy a physical temple will exist and the daily sacrifices will be resumed. Daniel 9:27 | Revelation 11:1-2 The Biblical requirements of purification being fulfilled for the first time in 2,000 years are comparable to Israel becoming a state in terms of precursors to prophetic fulfillment. Keep in mind this was given to Israel by God during the Exodus as a perpetual statute. Numbers 19:21
These atrocities, the largest perpetrated on the men, women, and children of Israel since the Holocaust, have clearly hardened the Israeli psyche, determination, and resolve, and rightly so. I believe modern Israel will soon come to a point where they are ripe for deception, battered by their enemies and hated by the world for defending themselves. I believe the mystery of iniquity has been at work for some time cultivating this environment for that very purpose of defining the world in which his great deception can take place.
This has also revealed the vocal minority around the world who rally and celebrate Israel’s pain, hatred for Jews under the guise of the plight of the Palestinians, and even celebrating what Hamas did. This taking off the mask and further violence globally against Jews will likely bring about a greater aliyah, immigration of Jews back to the land of Israel, as it is seen as the safest place to be in a world that hates your lineage. It only takes one hatful person among millions to attack Jews wherever they are, but there is definitely more than one among millions willing to do so. Ultimately they will be part of phase 2 of the great tribulation. Revelation 12:17 There is safety in numbers and the Jews are all literally family. This influx of descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob back into the land will only make Israel stronger, regardless of the hatred and after what happened on 10/7/2023, I doubt Israel will tolerate terrorism any longer, especially as she gets bigger, stronger, and more resolute.
Spiritually, in times of distress, even those who don’t believe in God search for answers. After 9/11, church attendance was up for a short while and I think all human beings know in their heart of hearts there is a God and when things are out of our control, we grasp for what can give us that sense of control again. For the Jews, God has been a part of their culture over 3 millennia, whether they believed and obeyed the covenantal bond or just carried on the “traditions” from the Mosaic Covenant. In this way, I believe as Israelis feels more isolated and alone against genocidal forces attempting to wipe the family of Isaac and Jacob from the earth, we will see an increase in desire to turn back to God and the Mosaic Covenant to include the rebuilding of the temple.
Ephesians 6:11-12
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
As our emotions and desire for justice grow stronger, let us also step back to God’s Word and understand who our enemy is. The dragon is the great deceiver and he has been hard at work through human history whispering the desires of the human hearts, deceiving his disciples with the trappings of this world and promises in the next to which he cannot deliver. As smart as we may think we are, without God we all fall prey to the devil’s designs. We have our hands, feet, and minds tied behind our backs in a fight against the fallen angel of light who was around at our beginning at creation. Do you not think such a great deceiver is playing both sides to his own end?
Whether American politics, global politics, or possibly the rise of a Jewish antichrist, do you think the dragon is not building the playing field on which he will build his kingdom? And when getting the opportunity to, would he not be playing both sides off each other to his ultimate end? Remember that he is locked away for 1,000 years for the express purpose of preventing him from deceiving the nations and in a “little season” he is able to gather armies from all over the earth to battle against the God who has been ruling for 1,000 years. They’ve seen Yeshua’s power and glory and know who He is, yet the dragon is released and he has an army as large as the sands of the sea. Do not underestimate the dragon’s power over humanity as we come into this time of great deception. We must be filled with the Spirit of God and the knowledge of His Word to see the truth through the blanket of deception.
Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. ... And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
As events in the Middle East unfold, pray for revealing of truth, justice and peace. Pray for those on both sides, pray for the deceptions to be unveiled so everyone can make their decisions without blinders. Just understand that emotions tend to veil the vision in anger and the dragon knows this. He is working to build up his kingdom too, and if my understanding is right, Israel will overcome all her enemies, who are just pawns in the dragon’s game. Israel will become very strong in her resilience and self-preservation, and rightly so.
It seems to me that given the future laid out in scripture the greatest deception the dragon could unfold would be to take advantage of the blinded Jews, and their strong desire for the salvation of the Messiah to save them from their enemies, and stand in place of Yeshua presenting himself as their awaited Messiah. They are looking for a strong savior to defeat their enemies. He has been deceiving Islam for over a millenia to share his hatred for Israel. Indeed he has been using one lineage of Abraham against the other for all this time fomenting genetic hatred between Abraham’s seed. He has control of the very enemies against which Israel wants salvation from.
Strength and power are respected in the Middle East and that’s exactly what the Jews are expecting of their Messiah. Imagine if this strong leader who defeats Israel’s enemies were also to make an agreement with the Islamic nations surrounding her through something like the Abraham Accords, to allow Israel to rebuild the temple in a showing of respect for Israel’s strength and a sign of peace and cooperation. Not all those around Israel will appreciate this, and perhaps this is the meaning behind the 3 horns that are plucked up by the leader that arises from the ten horns.
We also know that God will send a strong delusion that those who refuse to turn to Him will believe a lie. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 The dragon will be part of that delusion through his puppet the man of sin, do not be deceived that Christ has come on the earth to setup His kingdom. Read your Bible and understand He will come from the skies and defeat the deceivers from the earth who came before Him. Modern Israel overcoming her enemies may feel good as justice is accomplished, but remember the possible conclusion of that power and might and pray for the people of Israel. The hour of temptation is coming on all the world, will you be deceived into worshiping the dragon in sheeps clothing and lose your eternal soul, or will you see through the deception we’ve been warned about and stand to the death for the truth?
Apostasy
Apostasy is the falling away from Truth in relation to Biblical teaching. The only other place that Greek word is used is Acts 21:21 regarding teaching to forsake Moses, which is curious in light of what the apostasy may be speaking of more specifically, the harlot rejecting the One True God to go after another god, the dragon in the end, the great deception. This is one of only two events Paul tells us that must happen before the coming of Yeshua and our gathering to Him at the Day of the Lord. The other will be covered later.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling awayG646 first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
In a Western Christian mindset, the falling away is typically associated globally as falling away from faith in God and His Word. It will take some time, and indeed we have seen it happening over recent generations and this very day. If true, one would place this as the first noticeable sign currently under way that will only get worse over time. While this may be an element of the apostasy, I believe this may be a clearer, short period of time, more on that later.
In Western culture different forms of Christianity were the norm and with America’s founding, a nation with freedom of the individual and personal accountability was kept in check by the morals of the people founded in obedience to God. This moral foundation has been eaten away as the world becomes more self-centered, cold and divisive. The Word is still there, but faith and belief in the Judeo-Christian God seems to be waning, and with it the moral foundation.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
I think just about anybody that holds the teachings of the Bible or with a little grey in their hair can look at the scriptures above and see the truth in them because they’ve been alive long enough to compare the world they grew up in with the world today. Social media has been a huge technological shift that started out innocent, but has grown into a way to gain followers, money, fame, and all this tends to bring with it more self-focus. Self-centered attitudes have taken the world by storm and as a result, the spiritual climate is a growing anger and hatred, the love of many growing cold. I think that technology, politics and things like the pandemic further push those divisions as we’re forced apart. Communicating with perceived virtual people tends to bring out the worst in some as they feel they are behind a veil and can say and do what they want.
As opposed to those things of the world and of the flesh, what is its opposite? We’re told that God is Love and I believe we can see in the 10 Commandments the actions, or lack thereof, tied to the fruits of the Spirit of God.
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
There are some who believe that Christians will take over the world for Christ and that He will then return to take ownership of the world again only after that. I have heard Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10 used to support this idea.
I do not hold this view. We are told prior to the end we would be hated by the nations and deceived by false prophets. (Matthew 24:9-24) Given that, I think it’s extremely dangerous for the church to try and conform to the world to gain growth. While it may give the appearance at times of a growing church, it will undercut what makes it the bride of Christ in the first place. Furthermore, the parable of the 10 virgins would seem to indicate that of those awaiting the Bridegroom’s coming, only half are prepared and go with Him to the marriage. (Matthew 25:1-13) Let this be a warning to guard your heart with God’s Word and not fall into deception. If you know the Truth from God’s Word, deception will crumble before your eyes.
Jewish Antichrist and Apostasy
If the view of a Jewish Antichrist is accurate it could potentially be dangerous to hold this view, leading those who don’t know what Yeshua said about His return to fall into the great deception. In this paradigm, we would see a man come on the scene, conquering Israel’s enemies and righting some of the wrongs done to Israel in history and modern times. He may point out that good is being called evil and evil good and present solutions to that end. He will come with lying signs and wonders and the man of sin is said to be unstoppable and the world will wonder at him and the great power he wields. It would be a very powerful deception indeed. I think if you go through the study on the fourth kingdom, you will see a hint at the coming political climate that will bring about the kingdom of the antichrist. We as Christians should not be expecting the Messiah on the Earth, but coming in great power and glory in the clouds to gather us to Him.
Matthew 24:23-27
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mark 13:21-27
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
These passages confirm 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, stating that Christ’s coming in great power and glory and the gathering up of His elect will come after the time of great tribulation, which is during this apostasy. However, Bible prophecy is not something the majority of the church deals with because it can be confusing, oppinionated with all kinds of different perspectives that can cause division with some. Given that we are warned so many times about deception though, there are some aspects that need to be clarified so we are not in darkness about what is to come. That is partially the goal of this site.
I wanted to share a podcast from Michael Heiser’s Naked Bible podcast from July 14, 2018 titled The Falling Away and the Restrainer. It covers the topic of the falling away and the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 from a more scholarly perspective and it really triggered a lot of thoughts in support of what I understand of the Jewish antichrist paradigm.
Global Governance: Consolidating Power Through Fear
This has no solid data to point to, but taking the contemporaneous view of Daniel 7 I expect to see some kind of consolidation of global power into four leaders or heads of governance in the world. In short Daniel’s vision sees four distinct beasts (kingdoms or authorities) from the sea, lion with plucked eagle wings, bear with 3 ribs devouring flesh, the leopard with four wings and four heads, and the dreadful beast with iron teeth and 10 horns (kings or rulers). We know these 4 are contemporaneous because Daniel 7:12 states that in the end when Christ comes that the three other beasts have their dominion taken away yet their lives prolonged. This means rather than a historical view of kingdoms to the final one as Daniel 2 does, this is a picture of the political climate at the end. This makes it important in watching the coming times. It is also interesting that Revelation 13 shows these same symbolic animals united in one beast, echoing that the world will give their power to the man of sin. So what is consolidated from all the nations of the world into four groups, is further consolidated to one until Christ returns in glory to defeat those gathered against Him.
It also seems that for power to be consolidated so quickly and elements like restricting the buying and selling for those without the mark of the beast during his reign, the would need to be further interdependence politically and finanically to accomplish this quickly and even things like a digital block chain currency replacing physical money so that social credit scores could be used to restrict access to anything in the modern financial system. This would cause those who reject the mark to resort to bartering to survive.
It would also mean the deminishing or elimination of those nations in the world today who are too independent, strong, and moral; who would stand up against what is perceived as fulfillment of this end times man of sin. We know the whole world will wonder after him, so leadership in the world will be oblivious or deceived to his identity and they will be willing to persecute any who don’t fall in line, and some are likely actively working to support his arrival. Therefore we should expect that traditionally Christian nations like America will have their moral foundation corrupted and destroyed, leadership will be corrupt and self-centered, and the unity on that common foundation that made America strong weakened in various way. All that is needed is a little chaos thrown into the mix of a confused and foundationless people. Remove all hope of a bright future or any semblance of sanity and rational thought, and work to bring about a nationless nation of which power can be transferred to outside forces through global governance.
A quick note on the point of America, I know it’s not a popular perspective to take, but I am a watchman. Knowing the time is short and seeing all these things fall together there are those who are angrily fighting back and trying to change things back to the way they were. I want nothing more than that, but at a certain point it’s time to realize that there is little time on the prophetic clock. Do you really want to spend your time and energy getting involved in political movements fighting against what God has clearly foretold to happen? Do you think you will change what He has already proclaimed will be? Do not forget that we are not of this world, but have been chosen out of it. We are a peculiar people in a strange land called out according to His will to do His will, which is bring as many to the kingdom before time is no more. It’s sad to see what the world has come to, but it’s not unexpected. You can’t change it, you aren’t meant to. These things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. We each have influence with those around us, let us else get our own house in order and spread the good news to those who will listen. Watch and pray!
How this ends up looking, whether these are political kingdoms with rulers or areas of control over governments more generically I’m not sure and I don’t expect we will know until it begins happening, perhaps some time after it happens. However it seems in these unsure times with the great reset, global warming, pandemic controls and other such areas the governments are using to coordinate more control over the population. As hard as it may be to believe it is possible that control of the earth’s population could end up in four heads of control, it seems to be getting easier to imagine as time goes on.
Rise of the Antichrist: Guard Against Deception of False Christs
There are many subjective signs, but because the unmistakable signs all center around the revealing of the man of sin at the abomination of desolation, the first glimpses we will start to see of that impending time will be surrounding the rise of the Antichrist.
Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
The first thing that Yeshua said to His disciples in regards to their question of the sign of His coming and the end of the world was to not be deceived by anyone coming in His name saying they are the Christ. There have been many who claimed the title of Christ through history, but there is a future personality that will come on the scene with great deception and the power of the dragon behind him. Revelation 13:2
Coming To Power
Daniel 7:20, speaking of the little horn that comes up, states that there are a total of ten horns are ten kings that will arise from this fourth beast, or kingdom, that is diverse from the other three. Daniel 7 This little horn would seem to be the eleventh coming up amonst the ten, a leader of another kingdom, perhaps that represented by the woman riding the beast. It also states that three of these kings will be plucked out by their roots and who fall before the little horn that comes up among the ten.
So politically, we should be looking for some kind of leadership of ten people where three of those leaders are eliminated politically or physically and amongst which a new leader comes onto the scene speaking with power and authority and making political waves. Given the events of October 7, 2023 and the resolve that echoes and resonates from the holocaust, I would imagine this leader will not be as tolerant in dealing with Israel’s enemies as his political and/or religious predecessors were. He will be Israel-first and willing to take the political hits to bring about the return to the Mosaic Covenant and commit to rebuilding of the temple, come what may.
The First Seal: Daniel’s 70th Week
Revelation 6:1-2
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 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 conquering, and to conquer.
This passage doesn’t explicitly speak to a false christ, but it’s generally accepted to be speaking of the Antichrist. Given that he’s conquering, the bow is naturally taken to be a weapon used for that purpose. However, there could be additional meaning based on the word bow.
G5115 - a bow (apparently as the simplest fabric): - bow.
From the base of G5088; to bring forth, bear, produce (fruit from the seed)
And when looking in the Bible for where and how the word bow was used, I came across several uses in the Old Testament as well where it’s referred to in weapon form, but also this.
Genesis 9:12-13
And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
So this word used as a weapon and based on the word to bring forth is also used as a token of a covenant. Putting it all together with what I think this may be speaking to, we look to Daniel’s prophecy of the coming Antichrist.
Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
To this point I believe we’re looking at the first seal and Christ’s warning of deceiving false christs to be the start of the 70th week of Daniel. This is based on the idea that future prophecy revolves around the 70th week of Daniel and the big sign in the midst of that seven years being the abomination of desolation. Scripture is very clear that there will be a temple present during the end times. Revelation 11:1-2 In order to have an abomination of desolation, there must be a temple of some sort in which to perform it. In addition the daily sacrifice will be stopped, which is also dependent upon a temple, and as stated earlier, the red heifer is central to all of this being possible.
This also would speak to the beginning of the apostasy from a Jewish perspective. Whispers of Messiah would grow amonst the orthodox Jews as prophecies appeared to be fulfilled. While many would still be looking to a temple and return to the Mosaic Covenant, the seeds will be planted for 2/3 of Israel to accept a man who comes in his own name and become a spiritual whore going after another god. John 5:43
The Third Temple
In the paradigm of the Jewish Antichrist, the confirming the Mosaic covenant and and restarting the daily sacrifice would necessitate the building of the third temple in Jerusalem, or at least a tabernacle of some sort. I believe this will be the first clear physical sign that we are at the beginning of the end. There are already people building the temple instruments and searching for a spotless red heifer. This is probably the first clear sign that the time is upon us. Without the spotless red heifer, the sanctuary can’t be cleansed and so this is a critical piece to even being able to build the third temple. Numbers 19 Since that time, there have only been nine red heifers that qualified. As mentioned before, there has been recent news of several red heifers being found and shipped to Israel as discussed on the Faith & Friction podcast and elsewhere.
While this is a small group in comparison to much of the rest of the more secular nation of Israel, I think there are several factors that could start to grow the religious Israel over the secular such as the unearthing of the Ark of the Covenant or other events that make more real to the Jews of Israel their heritage and future.
Daniel 9:27 states that “he [antichrist] shall confirmH1396 the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” From the language of this sentence, it would seem then that the “strengthening” or “binding up of the broken” covenant, would have something to do with the later stopping of the sacrifices.
The theory that the antichrist will deceive the nation of Israel into believing that he is the long awaited Messiah plays perfectly into this. If you research what religious Jews are expecting in relation to the Messiah, you begin to see how primed Israel is for a false messiah. They have a lot of extra-Biblical writings that I think will deceive many if this is the case. The blind teachers are leading the blind people. Romans 11:1-12 Again, I highly recommend Chris White’s book False Christ. In the Jewish expectation of the Messiah, there are two different people. Messiah Ben Joseph, the suffering servant who is believed to build the temple and be killed and Messiah Ben David the conqueror.
“Rabbi Alshekh’s claim is true where it pertains to the last three verses of chapter 52. The Targum begins its paraphrase with: Behold my Servant the Messiah shall prosper. (15) The Targum continues into the 53rd chapter of Isaiah: And He will build the Temple that was polluted because of our sins. (16) This must be the Messiah, for no one else was to build the Temple according to Jewish religious tradition, but the Messiah. Additionally, several Midrashim take the threefold expressions contained within those scriptures, “exalted, and extolled and be very high,” (17) as an indication that “Messiah shall be more exalted than Abraham ... more extolled than Moses ... and be very high; that is, higher than the Ministering Angels. ...” (18)” | Menorah.org
“Jewish tradition alludes to four messianic figures. Called the Four Craftsmen, each will be involved in ushering in the Messianic age. They are mentioned in the Talmud and the Book of Zechariah. Rashi in his commentary on the Talmud gives more details. Rashi explains that Messiah ben Joseph is called a craftsman because he will help rebuild the temple.[3] Nahmanides also commented on Messiah ben Joseph’s rebuilding of the temple.[4][5] The roles of the Four Craftsmen are as follows. Elijah will be the herald of the eschaton.[6] If necessary, Messiah ben Joseph will wage war against the evil forces and die in combat with the enemies of God and Israel.[7] According to Saadia Gaon the need for his appearance will depend on the spiritual condition of the Jewish people.[8] In the Sefer Zerubbabel and later writings, after his death a period of great calamities will befall Israel.” | Wikipedia.org
“The mashiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The mashiach is often referred to as "mashiach ben David" (mashiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5). He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.” | jewfaq.org
The Messiah and the Temple
For many, the anticipation towards the building of the Holy Temple is linked to the arrival of the messiah. For under the harsh conditions of the exile, it had always simply been assumed that there could be no other way of returning to Israel and rebuilding the Temple. How else would the circumstances that would permit the rebuilding come about, the people believed, short of “Divine Intervention” and the messiah’s appearance on the scene?
Messiah in Biblical Sources
Let us begin by examining the Biblical foundation for the concept of messiah. We find that the concept of messiah first appears in the prophecy of Bilaam: “There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17).
The Hebrew word used here for scepter, shevet, is translated into Aramaic as “messiah.”
The idea of “messiah” is described in the various writings of the prophets with varying attributes.
In the book of Daniel, he is described as one who arrives with the clouds of heaven. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like a son of man came with the clouds of heaven...” (Daniel 7:13).
However, in Zechariah (9:9), the messiah is described as “lowly, riding upon an ass.”
Our sages understand this seeming contradiction to indicate that both visions are essentially correct - and that anything is possible. Perhaps when the messiah arrives, grandeur and splendor will accompany his appearance. Alternatively, perhaps he will come in a quiet and unassuming fashion. The Talmud indicates that much of this depends upon Israel: If they are deemed worthy and deserving, he will arrive in a grand manner to befit their status; if not, the opposite is true (Sanhedrin 98:A). | templeinstitute.org
Now you may be thinking, “well you can’t base prophecy on non-Biblical sources or Jewish beliefs.” However, what I’m suggesting is that the great deceiver will fit in perfectly with the strong delusion so that those without an understanding of the Truth of God’s Word will be deceived. It seems that a lot of what Israel is expecting is open to interpretation to some extent. In fact, many Jews are encouraged to study the Rabbinic writings over the actual Tenach in order to gain a “proper” understanding of the interpretation of scripture. The Bible tells what happened and what will happen. It doesn’t always have to be because God said it should, sometimes God is just revealing the results of man’s actions as viewed from outside space-time. With all the adding to scripture and guestimation, how easy would it be to fall into deception?
2 Thessalonians 2:7-12
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God’s Word has given us plenty of warnings, if we trust it. The question is, just how many people of the world today actually trust God’s Word, let alone know what it actually says? Even for those that read God’s Word all the time but reject the fulfillment in Yeshua, is it possible to be deceived? What about those Christians who have faith, but don’t know His Word?
Malachi 3-4 speaks to the messenger to prepare the way for the Lord, the messenger of the covenant, whom they seek to suddenly come into his temple. Malachi 3:1
Malachi 4:3-6
And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
As a believer that Yeshua is the Messiah, He told us himself in Matthew 11:7-19 that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of this, but what if you believe the Old Testament scriptures but have rejected Yeshua as being the promised Messiah? This same prophetic word of Elijah is tied to remembering the law of Moses. To a culture unenlightened to the fulfillment in the New Covenant, the Old Covenant is all they know.
Imagine for a minute that this religious leader came on the scene and started to bring Israel back from their secular ways and back into line with the Mosaic law. He made sense of the Old Testament and connected many missing dots. Then some time after, a leader came on the scene and either started the process of building the third temple and/or successfully held back attacks from the surrounding nations. Do you sense a pattern here after the John the Baptist and Yeshua connection we know? Recall also that “a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” He didn’t have to take the crown, it was given to him.
Now from the perpective of the Muslims, this mere thought of an active plan to rebuilt the temple and start the daily sacrifice would be an outrage. It would most likely trigger all-out war with Israel, perhaps the Muslim nations mentioned in several end-times prophecies. And this leads to another potential apparent fulfillment that would be accepted by the Jews as a sign of the Messiah.
What is also interesting is that the Islamic prophetic perspective excpects a leader, the Mahdi, to come to power and unite Islam and fight a battle with their enemies. The Al-Masih ad-Dajjal, imposter Messiah, will gain power in the world and be defeated by Isa, a prophet believed to be Jesus. Many of these were written over 1,000 years after the New Testament was completed and seem to take portions and flip them 180 degrees so good guys are bad and bad guys are good.
What this reveals is the possibility that the great deceiver has been hard at work through time to develop his minions on both sides with different deceptions so that he can play out the narrative needed to deceive the world. The mystery of iniquity hides in the shadows, conspiring to accomplish control. We are not equipped to do anything about it and that’s why we are told that he will have power over the saints for 3½ years. Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:5-11, Revelation 13:5
The going forth to conquer is, I believe, revealed in Chris White’s presentation of Daniel 11:40-44, what he terms the wars of the Antichrist, which likely leads into the second seal and Christ’s warning of wars and rumors of wars. I believe the surrounding nations would take great offense to the rebuilding of the temple and trigger the wars of the Antichrist.
Daniel 11:40
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.
The Second Seal: Wars & Rumors of Wars
Matthew 24:6-7a
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
It really is a subjective thing to say wars and rumors of wars, but a study of the parallels of the Olivet Discourse, the seals of John’s vision and the idea of the wars of the Antichrist bring potential clarity and alignment to this that I would be remiss not to point out.
Daniel 11:40-44
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 also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians [shall be] at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
Note that many of the above mentioned nations could fit with the prophecied Gog Magog attack, who attack from the North, but include countries from all four corners including Libya, Ethiopia Persia to the East. Ezekiel 38 & 39 are part of the Old Testament and expected by the Jews. From their perspective, this would be a groundbreaking event, potentially fulfilling what they’re expecting from the Messiah. I recently changed my belief on when the Gog Magog attack would take place, I believe Ezekiel 38 & 39 are tied to Revelation 20:7-10 after the millennium is over. However, that doesn’t rule out the possibility that an attack looking somewhat similar would be perceived along with the lying signs and wonders as being that prophesied event.
Keep in mind also that both Elijah and the false prophet were known for calling fire down from heaven. 1 Kings 18:36-38 | Revelation 13:13 And Elijah is to prepare the way for the Messiah. Of course as Christians we have a different interpretation of many of these prophecies, but when it comes to deception, it’s about a little truth mixed with a big lie.
On a more global scale, it seems that polarization is already ramping up for many reasons and it’s not hard to imagine that conflict could break out all over the world as emotions snap and hopeless people turn against each other over real or perceived crisis, especially a religious one.
The Third Seal: Famine and/or Return to Mosaic Law
I used to hold solely to the more traditional view that at some point during the wars of the Antichrist there will be a lot of events that will cause famine, disease and earthquakes, which could still be the case assuming the parallel of the Olivet Discourse and the seals.
Matthew 24:7b-8
and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Revelation 6:5,6
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balancesG2218 in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
However there is also another possibility after looking more at the possible meaning of the balances, wheat, barley, oil and wine in the third seal. First we see the rider has a pair of balances, speaking to a yoke of servitude by law or obligation. Looking where else in the New Testament this word is used would seem to verify this. Christ speaks of taking His yoke on us to find rest and that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30 We also see in Acts 15:5-11 and Galatians 5:1 this “pair of balance” word used relating to the yoke of bondage that couldn’t even be borne by their fathers not being put back on believers.
So in the first half of the 70th week of Daniel, could this be pointing to a time before the Antichrist declares himself to be God where the nation of Israel is returning back to the Mosaic law and the related edicts to the daily sacrifice once the third temple is completed? And would this be about the time we would expect God’s two witnesses to show up at the temple to set the record straight?
The Two Witnesses
The two witnesses are going to prophesy for 3 1/2 years in Jerusalem. Since they are killed sometime between the first and second woe (5th and 6th trumpets), their ministry must start sometime in the first half of the 70th week of Daniel.
Revelation 11:3-14
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
They are likely present during the time of great deception speaking the Truth of God’s Word for those who have ears to hear it and punishment to those who don’t. With the timing above, they would come on the scene some time after the covenant is confirmed and perhaps during or immediately after the rebuilding of the temple, perhaps coinciding with the completion of the temple and the start of the daily sacrifice. They would be prophesying through all the wars of the Antichrist and all those in Jerusalem would know them and perhaps some would believe them over the great deception of the Antichrist.
None will be able to stop them until their ministry is over during the wrath of God. I believe this is another example of God’s desire to still have the Truth spoken in the midst of great deception and darkness so there will be no excuse.
With the emergence of a powerful leader involved in the rebuilding of the temple and defeat of Israel’s surrounding enemies, by the time of the two witnesses arrival, those watching should have surety that the end is very near.
The Fourth Seal: Death
Assuming the parallel of the Olivet Discourse and the seals, the Antichrist is given power over 1/4 of the earth to kill with sword, hunger and the beasts of the earth as stated regarding the fourth seal.
Revelation 6:7,8
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 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.
In his presentation linked below, Chris White makes an interesting connection that would seem to point to this time just before the abomination of desolation. He believes Daniel 7 is a view of the overall global political power around the time of the end. The wars of the Antichrist then follow and after the abomination of desolation in the mid-point of the 70th week of Daniel, we see a unified beast in Revelation 13 with all the charactersistics of Daniel 7’s beasts merged into the Antichrist kingdom.
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- Daniel 7 - How to Find the Antichrist 101 - A Pre-Wrath Commentary
In addition, if the parallel holds true, it is also during this time that persecution of believers will start to skyrocket, especially against those calling out the events they are seeing for what they are. And if all this is happening suddenly at once with increased frequency, the selfish nature of much of the earth will cause increased hatred.
Matthew 24:9-14
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Assassination of the Antichrist
Keep in mind that at this point in time, events are going to start happening very quickly. From this time to the wrath of God starting is likely a matter of a month or so. That same person who confirmed the covenant, rebuilt the temple and pulled together a great army and destroyed Israel’s enemies enters into Israel to the West of Jerusalem, something the Jews are expecting the Messiah to do. It is here Daniel says he comes to his end and none help him.
Daniel 11:45
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Resurrection of Messiah ben Joseph
There are several places in Revelation 13 where we see the Antichrist, the seventh head that becomes the eighth, prophesied to have a mortal wound that is healed.
Revelation 13:2-5
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 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 there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Revelation 13:12
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Revelation 13:14
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Examining what’s expected according to Rabbinical tradition, there is a parellel here because Messiah ben Joseph is expected to die and be resurrected by Messiah ben David. Could God’s intervention in this resurrection be the strong delusion that God sends that much of Israel and the world would believe this lie, rejecting the true Messiah for this man of sin? John 5:43
There is a possibility too that the false prophet, who is pretending to be Elijah, appears to be the cause of the resurrection by God of the man of sin. Elijah was known for resurrecting a boy as well during his ministry and taking credit for a resurrection, unseen in modern history, would certainly be a strong delusion causing the world to believe a lie. 1 Kings 17:17-24
2 Thessalonians 2:6-12
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Michael the Archangel Heads to War in Heaven
It should be noted that there are really no chapter breaks and Daniel 11:45 is directly related to the first in the next chapter. The wars of the antichrist are completed and he has pitched his tents at Jerusalem where he comes to his end.
Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
There’s a very interesting study on the Restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2 I would recommend looking at. I believe that the restrainer that must be removed prior to our gathering to meet the Lord in the harpazo is Michael. We also see him in Revelation 12 casting the dragon out of heaven.
Revelation 12:7-8, 12-13
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.... Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child].
The woman of Revelation 12 is Israel and I believe that when the restrainer has allowed the revealing of the man of sin and cast the dragon to the earth for a short time, that it coincides somewhat with the resurrection of the Antichrist and whether he is posessed by the dragon or is just given power by him, this triggers the stopping of the daily sacrifice and him declaring himself to be God in the temple.
The Fifth Seal: Abomination of Desolation and Time of Jacob’s Trouble
Following the resurrection comes the event that Daniel places in the midst of the 70th week and Yeshua warns of an unparalleled time of great tribulation unlike any other in history. It is when those in Judea see this event that they should immediately flee Jerusalem into the mountains. How long after the resurrection this will take place we don’t know, but given that he’s camped just West of Jerusalem and has just been resurrected and the dragon knows he has little time, I expect it to be almost immediate.
In keeping with the parallel order of Daniel and Matthew, the time just after the resurrection of the Antichrist and the abomination of desolation will begin an unparalleled time of great tribulation. Because of Jeremiah 30:7 and Revelation 12:13-17, I believe this time of great tribulation is split into two parts, the focus of the dragon’s wrath on God’s people, to the Jews in Judea first and then to the remnant and those that hold the testimony of Christ.
Matthew 24:15-22
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Speaking of our gathering to Christ at his coming, we’re told that it won’t happen until the man of sin is revealed by sitting in the temple claiming to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
If the parallel holds we see in the fifth seal a vision of martyrs asking when they will be avenged and are told to wait as there are more that must be killed.
Revelation 6:9-11
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 they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 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.
Throughout history believers have been killed and I think this fifth seal seems well placed at the time of great tribulation where all those killed for Christ’s sake will be joined by those during the time of great tribulation.
The antichrist, now claiming to be the promised Messiah, will have many very fervent followers. The dragon, who is wroth with Israel will use the man of sin and his followers to kill all who reject this freshly minted messiah. This is why Christ said to run to the mountains when they see the abomination of desolation. As mentioned above, there is a possibility that the apostasia is specifically that of Israel, by accepting the false messiah, rejecting finally the true Messiah, Yeshua. It may also be that in Zechariah 13:8-9, the cutting off and dying of 2/3 of Israel is more in the vein of Romans 11, where upon rejection of Messiah and acceptance of the antichrist, those who do now become part of the synagogue of Satan and will die the second death. They may be the instrument of death for those in Israel who do not accept the false christ and who don’t run to the mountains at this time.
Joel 2:1-9
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for [it is] nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, [even] to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land [is] as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them [is] as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and [when] they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
It may be that this time just before the day of the Lord we see a great people, who seem to have a supernatural strength where nothing will escape them and when they fall on their sword they aren't wounded, running to and fro in the city and climbing walls and entering houses like a thief is tied to the time of Jacob's trouble. Those of Israel who have been deceived will have a fervent worship of the man of sin, whom they view as the messiah, and become a great army of his followers. They are cut off from the root in unbelief awaiting the second death for their rejection of God.
Day of the Lord
The next event is actually a group of events that will likely happen around the same time, coming suddenly and unexpectedly to those not watching and aware. I’m calling this next phase the Day of the Lord, but I believe this “day” actually lasts for around 1,000 years.
2 Peter 3:8-10
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
This would seem to be placing the passing away of this heaven and earth to make way for the new heaven and new earth within the Day of the Lord. So the millennial reign of Yeshua on the earth following the events of the 70th week of Daniel would be “...one day which shall be known to the LORD...” Zechariah 14:7-9
Having said that, under this heading I’m just focused on the start of the Day of the Lord, it will be a busy time of great turmoil for the world and great hope for the bride of Christ.
The Sixth Seal: Signs in the sun, moon and stars
Revelation 6:12-17
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Here we see unmistakeable signs in the heavens recognized as God’s wrath and the people of the earth hide underground. This is tied
Isaiah 2:12, 17-21
For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: ... And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Joel 2:10-11
The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp [is] very great: for [he is] strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD [is] great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Christ’s Return For His Bride
Coinciding with the signs in the heavens, and part of them is the Day of Christ. This is the same unknown day or hour of the Day of the Lord, but the Christian version of it. While the Day of the Lord in scripture is tied to God’s wrath, woe and destruction, the Day of Christ is something to look forward to. You could almost call it a blessed hope. Titus 2:13 | 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Matthew 24:29-31
Immediately after the tribulation of those days 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: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Here we see the harpazo, the catching away of the bride of Christ, immediately after the tribulation and before the wrath of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The wording of this clearly promises we will neither be in darkness if we are sober and watchful, but also that we are not appointed to God’s wrath.
Revelation 6 ends with the sixth seal and the 7th seal is not mentioned until Revelation 8. There is a break to address a couple other events before the progression of seals, trumpets, thunders and bowls continues. I’m going to jump to the second part of Revelation 7 before the first part because this is the result of the catching away of the bride before the wrath of God is unleashed on the earth.
Revelation 7:9-17
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Sealing of the 144,000 of Israel
The remnant of Israel who ran for the mountains at the abomination of desolation and was saved from the dragon for 3 1/2 years are now protected from the dragon in the wilderness. However God makes a point of holding back the coming destruction until 144,000 of Israel are sealed.
Revelation 7:1-4
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Note that these are of the 12 tribes of Israel. We get a little more detail on them 7 chapters later.
Revelation 14:1-5
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
I know of only one type of people who fit this description, young men. They are virgins, male because they aren’t defiled with women, their mouth has no guile and they are without fault before the throne of God. In Jewish tradition, a Bar Mitzvah is held at the age of 13. The term means “son of the commandment.” It is at this age that Jewish children are obligated to observe the commandments. This would be the age of accountability. I believe these will be 144,000 Jewish boys who understand and love the Lord their God with all their hearts and minds. I believe God will use them as a witness among their parents in the wilderness to bring them to understand after the blindness of Israel has been lifted.
Joel 2:12-17
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye [even] to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth [if] he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; [even] a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where [is] their God?
Affirming this combination of salvation of the bride of Christ and the escape of the woman to the wilderness, Revelation 12:13-16, we see a call for repentance and the vision of the bridegroom going forth from his chamber and bride from her closet. I believe if you study the moedim, or appointed times, given to Israel in Leviticus 23 and elsewhere, you will see that Yeshua’s first coming was fulfilled in the spring moedim and His second coming will be fulfilled in the fall moedim. And is it coincidence that the spring moedim and fall moedim are 6 months apart? I don’t think so. I think the 70th week will start during Passover/Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits most likely, and so will end in that season as well. Christ fulfilled the spring moedim in His first coming, will we see the fall moedim fulfilled in His second? A quick preview of the fall moedim:
- Yom Teruah - Idiom: the day and hour no one knows, because it's the only moedim tied the beginning of a month, which begins based on sighting of the first sliver of light after the new moon
- Yom Kippur - Day of atonement, afflict your souls and whatever soul is not afflicted, “he shall be cut off from among his people.”
- Sukkot - Tabernacles in the wilderness, “Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
There is also the season of Teshuvah, or repentance, that starts 40 days before Yom Kippur. If this is the case, then 30 days before Yom Teruah, the day and hour no one knows, Israel will be in a season focused on repentance while the antichrist is killing any who don’t accept him as their messiah. Those who do accept the antichrist are cut off in unbelief, destined to die the second death. These who the dragon already has turn against neighbor and family to fulfill the command of their messiah.
The faithful of Israel flee to the mountains with the Christians in Judea, and are doing so during the season of repentance when the sixth seal and the sign of the Son of Man appears. The Christians, who were likely warning them the whole time leading up to this along with the two witnesses, are suddenly caught up while Israel are left behind, provoking them to jealousy during the season of repentance. The days of awe, or repentance, between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur is when I view the period between the sixth and seventh seals where the wrath of God is held back those 10 days to seal the 144,000 and protect them in the wilderness. It is during this time the fulness of the Gentiles has come in and the remnant faithful Israel are unblinded to the reality and repent during the days of repentance leading to Yom Kippur.
Calm Before the Storm
Revelation 8:1-2, 6
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. ... And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
Here we see 1/2 hour of silence in heaven when the seven angels are given their trumpets, each triggering disaster for those that dwell on the Earth.
The Fourth Kingdom, The Only Kingdom: The Hour of Temptation
As mentioned previously regarding the rise of the antichrist and the four beasts of Daniel 7, the man of sin will not initially rule the whole world. I don’t believe that happens until after the abomination of desolation. Because the exact day prophetic framework seems to juxtapose Israel’s protection from the dragon in Revelation 12:14-16 with the power the dragon gives to the beast in Revelation 13:5, Daniel 7:25 and Daniel 12:5-11, I believe from the abomination of desolation will only be a period of 30 days or so for the duration of Jacob’s trouble and right after that is the beginning of the wrath of God. As mentioned above, it makes sense that the season of Teshuvah would encompass the 30 days of Jacob’s trouble and the 10 days between Christ’s coming and the wrath of God beginning on Yom Kippur.
So we have four kingdoms in the world essentially having control over the population of the world before all these things start happening at the abomination of desolation. Later in Revelation 13:1-3, we see these four characteristics combined into a single beast from the sea and tied to a time after one of its heads was wounded to death. Given the short period of time and the remaining words of Revelation 12:17, I believe it will be after the disasters begin to destroy the earth from God’s wrath that all global control will be consolidated under the antichrist and for the next 41 months or so will be the time of the mark of the beast, image of the beast and the global persecution of those left behind that hold the testimony of Christ. I call this the hour of temptation.
Great Tribulation and Beyond
This is basically a list of Bible studies from other pages in the order in which I believe they will happen according to my understanding of the Bible. Because each of these studies are much more involved, it seemed better to refer to them in the order of events and allow you to dig into the details of each study. This will also keep the site more consistent if there are any changes to be made in these studies in the future.
As already covered, Paul gave a couple signs in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 that would precede our gathering to Him. The second was the revealing of the man of sin. When the disciples asked Yeshua on the Mount of Olives what the signs of the end would be, Yeshua first warned them not to be deceived and then listed several pre-signs. (Matthew 24:3-14) According to Christ, “the end” comes at the abomination of desolation, which begins the time of great tribulation.
-
Great Tribulation (3 ½ years [1260 days] Daniel 7:25) The time of
great tribulation is split into two unequal parts as seen in Revelation
12:13-17. As a whole, the great tribulation
represents Satan’s wrath against Israel and those holding the
testimony of Christ.
- Abomination of desolation - This is the beginning of the great tribulation. The antichrist will enter the holy of Holies in the rebuilt Jewish temple, and declare himself God to the world. This is the abomination of desolation. He will establish worship of himself and idols of himself. This will start the great tribulation that Christ spoke about in Matthew 24:15-22.
-
The time of Jacob’s trouble ~ Revelation 12:13-16 (~30
days long: The dragon is only after the woman [Israel] until
she is protected from him for 1260 days. Revelation 12:14 In Daniel
12:11 it says from the abomination of desolation is 1290 days, so
the first 30 days or so are focused on Israel, the time of Jacob’s
trouble. About the same time, the 1/3 remnant of Israel will be
taken to the wilderness away from the dragon for 3 ½ years. Revelation
12:14-17) Jeremiah 30:4-7 talks of this time as unparalleled
in all of history where 2/3 of Israel will be killed by the antichrist
and those that follow him. Zechariah 13:8,9 This is the time that
if it weren’t shortened, no flesh would be saved. This unparalleled
time is also written of in Daniel 12:1 and Matthew 24:15-21. It’s
key to understand that Matthew 24:29 is speaking about this unparalleled
time when it places the sixth seal “immediately
after the tribulation of those days.”
This would be taking place during the season of teshuvah, or repentance.
-
The 6th seal (Revelation 6:12-17) takes place, marked by a great
earthquake, sun black as sackcloth, moon as blood, stars fall from the
sky. It is this point that “the great
day of his [God’s] wrath is come;
and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:17 (See also:
Joel 2:31)
- Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets)
- Great Tribulation Transition
~ Revelation 12:17 is the part of the great tribulation that the church
of Thyatira is warned they will be cast into in Revelation 2:22. It
is also the time that the church of Philadelphia is promised to be kept
from in Revelation 3:10. This transition has several events tied together.
They may not occur at the same time, but I have a feeling they do. Remember
that Israel is blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles. That is the
day and hour nobody knows. When the Gentiles are removed, Israel will
be unblinded.
- Israel taken to wilderness - Revelation
12:14
- Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) technically happens 5 days after Yom Kippur, but this transition of Israel being taken into the wilderness on two wings of a great eagle out of spiritual Egypt will likely take from Yom Teruah until after Yom Kippur at the start of Sukkot for the remnant to be settled in the wilderness.
-
Catching Away (harpazo) - Sometime after the revealing of the
antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5) and before the
6th seal, during or just after this time of great tribulation
in Judea, the
bride of Christ heads to the marriage of the Lamb (Revelation
19:7) when the harpazo takes place. Anyone is welcome to be taken,
but only those watching for His return with the Holy Spirit will
be taken. Matthew 25:1-13 We are not appointed to God’s wrath,
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, and are promised to escape that time and
stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:34-36 This is why I believe
in a
pre-wrath harpazo of the bride of Christ.
- Israel taken to wilderness - Revelation
12:14
-
Day of the Lord Begins with
The Wrath of God - (Isaiah 13:6-11) There is silence in heaven
for ½ hour at the 7th seal before God’s
wrath begins to be poured out. During this time, Israel is in the wilderness
being refined through fire. Zechariah
13:9
- Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
- During this time, the 7 trumpets, 7 thunders, and 7 vials/bowls are poured out on the earth. This is God’s wrath on the children of disobedience. These are poured out over the course of the final 1230 days from the sixth seal until Christ returns in glory.
- Also during this final almost 3 ½ years, this beast, the great diplomat, will demand worship and his people will behead anyone professing Christ or refusing to worship him. He will also have his false prophet doing miracles along with him to deceive the world.
- The beast and false prophet gathers the armies of the beast to the
Jezreel Valley where Armageddon takes place. Revelation 16:13-16
- Armageddon: Christ Returns in glory
- 1260 days after the abomination of desolation, Christ returns in glory
from the marriage with His bride. We know to the day because Revelation
13:5 says the dragon gives the beast his power for 42 months. (Daniel
12:11 minus Revelation 13:5)
See the charts below
- He wipes out the gathered armies and throws the beast and false
prophet into the lake of fire. Revelation 19:20
- He wipes out the gathered armies and throws the beast and false
prophet into the lake of fire. Revelation 19:20
- Lucifer Bound in the bottomless
pit - Revelation 20:1-3
-
Resurrection at the end of the 70th week - 30 Days after
Christ returns in glory, at the end of the 70th week, the
resurrection of Revelation 20:4-5 takes place.
-
The marriage supper of the Lamb - 45 days later after Christ returns
in glory
- The millennium
- Yeshua rules from Jerusalem for 1,000 years!
- After the millennium, Lucifer will be released for a short time
and the world of Christ’s perfect and just rule will be polluted
by Satan’s evil. He will deceive many people and gather an
army that comes at Jerusalem. There are still those on the earth
who don’t like the new ruler or His ways. God wipes them out
completely. (There is a reason for everything that happens. This
span of about 7,000 years of earth history will be a testimony for
all eternity of God’s vast love for His creation. Even the
angels are watching expectantly! Romans 8:18-25)
- After the millennium, Lucifer will be released for a short time
and the world of Christ’s perfect and just rule will be polluted
by Satan’s evil. He will deceive many people and gather an
army that comes at Jerusalem. There are still those on the earth
who don’t like the new ruler or His ways. God wipes them out
completely. (There is a reason for everything that happens. This
span of about 7,000 years of earth history will be a testimony for
all eternity of God’s vast love for His creation. Even the
angels are watching expectantly! Romans 8:18-25)
- The great white throne judgment takes place and all the dead that have not been resurrected are. They stand before Christ and are judged by the books. Anyone without the blood of Christ covering their transgressions from God’s Law will be found guilty under the law and separated from God’s presence forever. This will be based completely on their choice to either accept or reject Christ since only by accepting Him are our sins covered and we are then not under the law. This is GehenahG1067 the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. There is no love there because God is love and He does not inhabit this place. It was made for the fallen angels and all things who oppose God’s perfect rule. You don’t want to go here. God loves you and He doesn’t want you to go there either. 2 Peter 3:8-10. He desires your presence for eternity with Him. That’s why we were created, for communion with Him. You must ask Him into your heart though, because He doesn’t break laws and He made free will and gave it to each of us. He will not interfere with that. If you don’t know what it means to believe and be a Christian, pick up a Bible wherever you can and start reading the New Testament, about the God who became flesh so He could die for our sins and we could be with Him for all eternity, Yeshua the Christ. May His name be glorified in all things.
For these charts below, click on them to jump to a version with links to relevant scriptures and studies.
Coming Times Narrative
Here a kind of guess at the scenario, so take what I say with the grains of salt contained within many salt shakers.
Watching now
Before getting to identifying any suspect individual, I think we should be watching the news as related to any kind of peace process in Israel with more intensive focus on such news tied to the rebuilding of the temple and the requirements to do so. I’m just starting to watch this again with a more focused watching of Israel. I created a google alerts for the words “Temple,” “Abraham Accords,” and “Caliphate” and will be posting whatever I find on seemingly relevant news surrounding Israel in the news blog.
The Temple Institute has been working for years to get everything ready to build the temple I would imagine they will be at the center of any movement in this direction so they might be a good resource to keep an eye on as well. There’s some intriguing work done around where the actual temple stood if you want to go down that rabbit hole. It may be entirely possible that the Temple Mount was actually fortress Antonia and the memory of the Jews over 2,000 years has lost the original location in the City of David.
I am keeping an eye on how financial collapse or change to accomodate integrated digital currencies could further consolidate power and additionally use that system to later control what can be bought and who can buy it, a kind of ESG monetary policy. This kind of power consolidation may also be coupled with climate politics, and given how God will use nature in His wrath to destroy the earth, there may be legitimate things seen to be coming that will require more cooperation politically and financially.
This can further lead to consolidation of power through global governance, where alliances will essentially be divided into four power heads, quartering control of the earth, like Daniel 7 mentions. Here are some candidates:
- NATO: Intergovernmental military alliance between 31 member states - 29 European and two North American
- BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa
- Some kind of alliance of 10 related to Israel
- EUROMED: (EU ROMED) A Union of the EU Member States and 16 Southern Mediterranean countries built on cooperation agreements that aims to promote economic integration and democratic reform across the EU’s neighbours to the south in North Africa and the Middle East.
- Abraham Accords: in progress... Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan... See Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN speech addressing the UN in 2023
- Future Islamic Nation Alliance: The most likely interpretation of the ten horns that the little one comes up in is that it’s an alliance between Islamic nations surrounding Israel. If the little horn is a leader of Israel bringing the nation back to the Mosaic Covenant, then there is a reason to expect three of the ten kingdoms to attack Israel and fail. Given Islamic eschatology has their Mahdi, we may see someone rise to prominence that brings the Sunni and Shia branches together.
From this alliance, I’m watching for three political leaders or member nations to be supplanted by another who will speak with power and authority as a natural leader that will be unstoppable as all the stars align for him. If the Abraham Accords continue to gather steam and Egypt and other nations join against all odds, it will have my full attention. Daniel 11:40-45 speaks to the time of the end and the wars of the antichrist where Egypt will not escape and Ethiopia and Lybia will be at his steps.
Heading into the 70th week
A leading Rabbi comes to prominence in Israel, teaching and interpreting Torah with a focus on Israel turning back to God. He will begin to bring the hearts of Israel out of secularism and focus once again on returning to the Mosaic Covenant. Whispers of Elijah among the Jews will increase as he then points to a leader rising to prominence.
It would make sense looking at things politically now, that the antichrist would show up as a strong man with a very Israel-first focus and a return to the ways of their ancestors. Calling out all the hypocrisy since Israel was re-formed of the Jews being kept from practicing their religion in the land that is clearly theirs while having rocks thrown at them from the temple mount as they pray at the Western Wall, etc.
70th week of Daniel begins
Not putting up with it anymore, he will find some way to make it happen and the temple will be rebuilt, chaos will ensue with some of the neighboring nations and his leadership of Israel will be solidified as the more orthodox Jews view him more and more as a messiah figure. The secular Jews may take some time and the non-Jewish Israelis will likely mostly be up in arms about it (except for the Christians there) because it will be seen as another Nakba. (disaster, tragedy, cataclysm)
Temple is rebuilt
While this leader is dealing with that fallout, the temple is built and the daily sacrifices restart. There are some logistics that will need to happen even if everything is ready to go, this could take a year or more. I think many will be fully intending to go back to Old Testament practices according to the Torah. Whether accepted by God or not is not really relevant, but it seems to me at this point talk of Yeshua will be more and more pushed out of the public square in Israel, especially as this strong man continues to win battles for Israel.
In certain corners of Israel, whispers of messiah will grow watching the strong leader conquer Israel’s enemies. Study of Old Testament prophecy will spike among once secular Jews as comparisons are made between the prophecies and the strong leader.
In other corners of Israel, whispers of the antichrist will grow watching the strong leader conquer. Study of the Old and New Testament prophecy will spike as these same comparisons are made. The warnings of Yeshua, Daniel, and Paul regarding the man of sin declaring himself to be god and the great tribulation following will be reverberating throughout the Christian/Messianic Jewish community. They will be warning whoever will listen and whether Christians or not, many in Israel will hear this warning and eventually heed it whether they believe in Yeshua at the time or not.
The Two Witnesses
My best guess is that about the time the temple is completed and the daily sacrifice restarted, two men will come on the scene, teaching at the rebuilt temple. They will be revealing the prophecies fulfilled by the True Messiah, who came almost 2,000 years ago fulfilling the foreshadows of the spring feasts and bringing in a new Covenant. They will be warning those coming to the temple of the impending doom to befall Judea and the man of sin currently conquering Israel’s enemies. They will speak with power and authority and may or may not yet perform the miracles they’re foretold to at this time. But many visiting the temple will be swayed by these two while more yet will be annoyed with them as street preachers around the world today.
Many in Israel may still be viewing the temple with an Old Testament lens. However, at some point the strong leader and his armies will return to Jerusalem in victory. Convinced himself that he is the messiah and filled with pride, he will begin to publicly accept the mantle of messiah being thrust upon him, which will enrage some Jewish sect that views this as blasphemy and they will kill the strong leader.
Tribulation Part 1: Time of Jacob’s Trouble at Abomination of Desolation
At God’s command Michael the archangel will stop restraining and go to heaven to cast the dragon to the earth. As part of a strong delusion meant to tempt and test the people, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, God will raise this strong leader from the dead and heal his wound. An enraged little dragon with great power, as we would perceive it now, will give the man of sin filled with pride his power and use him as the dragon proxy.
He will stop the daily sacrifice and stand in the temple declaring that he is god and demanding worship from his people. Some in Israel will be caught off guard and reject this man in their temple declaring himself god, meanwhile the Christians and the Jews who have heeded the warning will leave Judea immediately. Matthew 24:15-22 Those who accept the false christ will do anything for him and at his command will turn on their own people who reject with great religious fervor. Those blindsided who reject him will either capitulate or die.
If Zechariah 13:8-9 is related to this, about 1/3 of Israel will escape and 2/3 will be cut off and die. I should note that I’m beginning to think the 2/3 doesn’t necessarily have to be killed at that time. Some of that 2/3 may be, but it could be that their acceptance of the man of sin who comes in his own name could very well permanently break those natural branches off the root, Romans 11, thereby solidifying their second death. I think the dragon is perfectly willing to use those who worship him as puppets knowing their fate is sealed with him apart from God. Those who don’t worship the antichrist and are killed would be the souls under the altar at the fifth seal and those who escape are protected from the dragon for 3 1/2 years.
Tribulation Part 2: Global Persecution
Upon the escape to the wilderness of those in Judea, the dragon through his proxy puppet will expand his destruction of God’s people globally. It is during this time I believe the institution of the mark of the beast will start and last for the duration of his 1,230 days or so. But before that can begin in earnest or perhaps even at all, there will be a great earthquake and the sun will become black and the moon like blood and the stars falling from heaven. Lightning will flash across the sky.
Christians around the world who have been watching these events unfold will have an intense sense of anticipation of what is coming and the redemption that will forever change how they view the world they’ve lived in their whole lives. As the world begins to deal with the impending destruction that will come from what is happening, the sound of a great trumpet will reverberate in the atmosphere and the dead in Christ will be raised and in a flash, probably like the flash that burned the image in the fibers of the Shroud of Turin, those alive will all be changed into our incorruptible bodies and find ourselves heaven with the Lord.
Hopefully they have done what they could, not to try and explain all these things to their unbelieving friends and family, but to foster for them a personal relationship with Christ themselves so when this day comes they can join in it together. Bible prophecy is what I would consider the meat of the Word, requiring a larger breadth of understanding God’s Word and I think is only revealed in relationship with His Spirit. Those who don’t believe won’t understand and don’t necessarily have to as long as they are seriously seeking the Lord and in relationship with HIm. This information is important to understand and as I’ve felt called to be a watchman and warn about this information, not everyone can hear it and can even push them away from the Lord if they see it as kookiness. It’s more important for those that the Gospel is the focus and they can learn these things after or in heaven when we all learn where we were wrong about all this information. This has weighed heavy on my heart as of late. The absolute excitement I feel imagining this time is sweet in my mouth (initial reaction) but bitter in my stomach (digesting what it means for those who haven’t accepted Yeshua) to borrow a feeling from John.
The remnant of Israel will be protected in the wilderness and the wrath of God is held back while 144,000 Jewish boys are sealed from the 12 tribes with the seal of God. These are the only ones protected from the demon locusts of the coming fifth trumpet judgment. Revelation 9:1-6
After all the events of the sixth seal, heaven is quiet for 1/2 hour and the seven angels are given their trumpets. A censer filled with the fire of the altar is cast to the earth with thundering, lightning and an earthquake. The wrath of God has come, woe to the people on the earth!
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