Awake, Bride: We Are in The Great Tribulation
Awake, Bride: We Are in The Great Tribulation
Awake, Bride: We Are in The Great Tribulation
Contact Author
My e-mail address is also at the above website. Please be courteous. I did not force you to
read my book; I will not force myself to read or respond to e-mails which are rude. I will
do my best to answer honest questions in a timely manner.
Contents
Page #
Foreword
vii
CHAPTER TITLE
1. Jewish Calendar
2. Spring Feasts
25
3. Fall Feasts
41
55
69
6. 70 X 7 (Daniel 9)
85
99
113
127
145
161
179
197
215
229
245
261
285
303
20. Conclusions
323
343
Appendix
345
Foreword
Jesus wants His Bride to be ready for His coming. His Bride is composed of all who
believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Bride continues to love God and others
while patiently waiting for Jesus' return (2 Thessalonians 3:5). Jesus wants His Bride to
understand the prophecies regarding His return. He gave us His Words in the Holy Bible
and His Holy Spirit to reveal His future plans to us.
However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for
he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and
he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)
The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
(Psalm 119:130)
The simple can understand prophecy even though prophecy is a complex subject. Just
as Jews had difficulty separating prophecies regarding Jesus' first and second comings as
Redeemer then King, so we have difficulty compartmentalizing prophecies into those
pertaining to Hebrews (Judah and Israel), those pertaining to pagan Gentiles, and those
pertaining to the one new man composed of both. We have disagreements on which
prophecies have been fully or partially fulfilled, and in which order they will be fulfilled,
and how they relate to current events. One passage of scripture can contain several
prophecies pertaining to different circumstances. So we need to keep our focus on Jesus,
and worship Him; "for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10).
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach
good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To
proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to
comfort all that mourn; (Isaiah 61:1-2)
When Jesus announced who He was in a synagogue, this is how He read the passage:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to
the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19)
Jesus then stated, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." From a parallel
passage, Jesus inserted Isaiah 42:7 (the underlined portion). Jesus combined two passages
into one scripture which He fulfilled. Jesus also stopped mid-sentence prior to "and the
day of vengeance of our God," which was not yet time to be fulfilled. Jesus set precedent
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of combining similar prophetic passages into a single prophecy, and being able to
differentiate between prophecies in the same sentence. This necessitates our reliance on
God's Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.
I approached this end-time prophecy study asking God to show me what the Holy Bible
really taught about the subject. I was shocked when my long-held beliefs about end-times
dissolved under the light of scripture and history. Human interpretation of Scripture is
faulty, but God's Word remains true. Jesus told of great tribulation prior to His coming.
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.
Then if any man shall say to you, See, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For
there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and
wonders; so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have
told you before. Why if they shall say to you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not
forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning
comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so shall also the coming of the
Son of man be. (Matthew 24:21-27)
Jesus will return from heaven with the clouds in the same manner in which He ascended
(Acts 1:9-11), and there will be much lightning and signs in the sky (black sun, red moon,
fallen stars) making His return obvious to the whole world. DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE
ON EARTH CLAIMING TO BE JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH, regardless of what
amazing and miraculous signs he might perform.
Many more Christians will be martyred for their faith. A religious economical system
will be imposed upon the world, preventing people from buying or selling unless they
receive the mark of allegiance to that religious system. DON'T TAKE THE MARK OF
THE BEAST! It would be better to starve to death or be beheaded than to endure the
plagues of those who worship the Beast and be thrown into lake of fire with them.
There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying,
Where is the promise of his coming? (2 Peter 5:3b-4b)
DO KEEP BELIEVING IN JESUS' PROMISE TO RETURN.
I wanted to share my discoveries to better prepare Christians for their amazing future.
To understand prophecy regarding the Son of God who was crucified for being the "King of
the Jews" you will need background on the Hebrew people (ch. 1-3). In order to recognize
prophecies which have already been fulfilled, you'll also need some world history (ch. 4, 612). Be patient; it will all come together wondrously, and the book of Revelation will make
sense (ch. 13-19).
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Hebrew Calendar
Hebrew Calendar
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good:
and God divided the light from the darkness.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
And the evening and the morning were the first day.
(Genesis 1:3-5)
Jesus was born a Jew, lived as a Jew (and learned Hebrew and Aramaic), and will return
as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah". Those who wrote the Bible were Hebrews, descendants
of Eber, whose great-grandfather was Shem (Genesis 10:11-14, 21), and so they are also
called S(h)emites; and Hebrew is called a Semitic language. The Bible is about Hebrew
history, and most of it was written in the Hebrew language using Hebrew idioms and
calendars. The more Hebrew understanding Gentiles (non-Hebrews) gain, the clearer the
Bible will become. Gentile believers have been grafted into the marvelous Hebrew stock
through the blood of Jesus Christ. All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are members of the
Bride of Christ. Brides want to understand the culture of their groom, especially to know
what is pleasing and acceptable in that culture. As such, we seek to understand Hebrew
culture and to understand the last days we are living in so as to prepare for our Groom's
return.
Awake, Bride
And he said to them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. (Mark 2:27-28)
Clearly the Hebrew week has seven days, with the seventh being "set apart", sanctified
and made holy.
Hebrew Calendar
The ancient months and days did not have names associated with them, but were simply
numbered. After Noah's flood, the people populated the land of Shinar (Sumer). The
Sumerians, Noah's descendants, had a calendar that divided the year into 30-day months,
divided the day into 12 periods from dusk to dusk, and had a sexagesimal (base 60)
numbering system. They had no official names for their months, but referred to them
according to agricultural or local events. After they built the tower of Babel and God
confused their languages, the Babylonian empire eventually ruled Mesopotamia. The
Babylonian month names were in the following order beginning with spring: Nisanu,
Ayaru, Simanu, Du'uzu, Abu, Ululu, Tashritu, Arakhsamna, Kislimu, Tebetu, Shabatu, and
Adaru. The end of the Babylonian empire was called the Chaldean Era, into which Abram
was born, six generations from Eber (Genesis 11:17-28). Abram married Sarai and traveled
to Canaan and miraculously gave birth to Isaac, who was the father of Jacob (renamed
Israel by God), who had twelve sons from whence we get the twelve tribes of Israel.
Because of famine, Jacob's family emigrated to Egypt, where his son Joseph was governor.
One hundred and thirty years later the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, and Moses was born
to deliver them. The Egyptians used three calendars, one of which was close to the
Babylonian calendar, but called Nisan the seventh month. When God brought the Hebrews
out of Egypt, He corrected their calendar, clarifying Nisan as the first month (Exodus 12:2).
The Hebrew month names were in the following order beginning with spring: Nisan (also
called Abib in Exodus 13:4), Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev,
Tevet, Shevat, Adar I, and Adar II (for 'pregnant' years to realign their lunar calendar with
the solar year). The similarity with the Babylonian names is to be expected, since that's
what Abraham used and passed onto his family.
New Moons
It takes the moon about 29.5 days to go through its phases as we observe from the earth.
When the moon is between our line of sight on the earth to the sun, it looks like a black
disc, and is called a 'new moon'. When just the tiniest sliver of the waxing (growing) moon
appears, it is also still called a 'new moon,' and was considered so by the Jews who would
establish the declaration of a 'new moon' after two eye-witnesses concurred.
Though God clearly told Moses the date to start their calendar, further direct
information on how to keep it accurate is absent from Scripture. When God created the
sun, moon, and stars, He stated their purpose "for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and
years" (Genesis 1:14). Astronomical calculations were expected, but God specifically
instructed the Hebrews against worshiping the heavenly bodies (Deuteronomy 4:12-35).
Instead they were to celebrate the beginning of their months when the tiniest sliver of the
moon was observed.
And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be
to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. Also in the day of
your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, you
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shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of
your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am
the LORD your God. (Numbers 10:8, 10)
A Hebrew Generation
After Noah's flood, a generation was established as forty years (Job 42:16); time for a
man to mature and have children.
And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the
wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the
LORD, was consumed. (Numbers 32:13)
12
Hebrew Calendar
Passover: Nisan 14
Speak you to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month
they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a
lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his
neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man
according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be
without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or
from the goats: And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month:
and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And
they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper
door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that
night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
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Awake, Bride
Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his
legs, and with the entrails thereof. And you shall let nothing of it remain until the
morning; and that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire.
And thus shall you eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your
staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover. For I
will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute
judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token on the houses
where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall
not be on you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be
to you for a memorial; and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your
generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." (Exodus 12:3-14)
The feast of Passover required preparation. On the 10th of Nisan a family would select
an unblemished, undamaged lamb and take it home and care for it for four days. God
wanted to create an attachment to this sacrifice unlike any other. At twilight at the
beginning of the fourteenth day all of these lambs were to be slain and their blood applied
with hyssop to the doorpost's sides and top (and as the blood dripped from the top to the
ground, the four points of a cross are made). The lambs were to be roasted whole, likely on
a spit, which would take between three to four hours. If twilight was about 7:00 pm, then
the family would have been eating their meal between 10:00 pm and midnight. Unleavened
bread and bitter herbs accompanied the meal which they were to eat quickly in their
traveling clothes. The lamb's bones were not to be broken (Ex. 12:46), and any uneaten
lamb was to be burned.
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of
Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne to the firstborn of the
captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose
up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a
great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he
called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from
among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as
you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone;
and bless me also. And the Egyptians were urgent on the people, that they might
send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. And the
people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound
up in their clothes on their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to
the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels
of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the
Egyptians, so that they lent to them such things as they required. And they spoiled
the Egyptians. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about
six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude
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Hebrew Calendar
went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And they
baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it
was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry,
neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. Now the sojourning of the
children of Israel, who dwelled in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it
came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day
it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It is
a night to be much observed to the LORD for bringing them out from the land of
Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in
their generations. (Exodus 12:29-42)
Not long after midnight the Hebrews were given word to go to the houses of the
Egyptians who were grieving the losses of their first born to ask them for gold, silver,
polished brass mirrors, clothing, tents, cookware, swords and armor ("harnessed" is armed
for battle in Exodus 13:18), and whatever else they desired to put into their carts and
wagons as they left; now that's a miracle! The Egyptian people didn't kill them, spit in their
faces, or send them away empty handed, but "lent" them whatever they wanted because
God gave His people favor in their sight. Wow.
They traveled that night for a few miles and camped at Rameses. The 430 years refers
to when Abram first entered Egypt because of a famine after God had promised him his
seed would inherit the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:6-10 and Galatians 3:16-17). The day of
Passover was also to remind the Hebrews of God's covenant with Abraham to give his
descendants the land of Canaan; a very special celebration indeed as Passover is the catalyst
to the fulfillment of that promise.
Awake, Bride
leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he
be a stranger, or born in the land. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your
habitations shall you eat unleavened bread. (Exodus 12:15-20)
If they did not put the blood on the doorposts, a physical death would ensue; but if they
ate any leaven during this seven day feast, they would be excommunicated from Israel and
suffer a spiritual and relational death. So after selecting the lamb on the 10th of Nisan,
women would have been cleaning their homes of any leaven crumbs, so that their children
would not mistakingly eat leaven from the 14th to the 21st of Nisan and be parted from
them. This seven day feast was to remind them of God bringing their "armies" out of
Egypt; it was a seven day journey from Goshen to the crossing of the Red Sea. By the end
of the feast they would retrieve weapons of the defeated Egyptian army (Exodus 14:30).
The word used for "armies" can also mean a host prepared to worship, which would also be
fulfilled after they crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-21).
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. And on the
fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD: seven
days you must eat unleavened bread. (Leviticus 23:5-6)
A distinction is made in the seven day feast: the fourteenth is the LORD's Passover,
and the fifteenth and five following days are the feast of unleavened bread, because it was
on the fifteenth that the Hebrews actually left Egypt with unleavened bread dough in their
kneeding bowls (Numbers 33:3). Yet their is another holy day in connection with the feast
of unleavened bread with a special name and purpose which can occur after the fifteenth,
depending upon when the Sabbath comes after Passover.
Hebrew Calendar
Since the feast of unleavened bread occurs over a period of seven days, a sabbath must
occur sometime during it. Sabbath is from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday on our
calendars, so the "morrow after the sabbath" would be from sundown Saturday to sundown
Sunday. It is not specified as an evening offering, and gives an injunction not to eat until
bringing this offering "the selfsame day," which makes it Sunday before sundown.
Regardless of which day of the week Passover begins, the feast of first fruits would always
be during the light of day on Sunday. The Hebrews celebrated the first Passover on a
Sabbath, making the dawn after safely crossing the Red Sea during the night the "morrow
after the sabbath" or First Fruits.
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18
Hebrew Calendar
thousand years, King Jesus will rule over all the earth and marry His Bride. Jesus is "the
bread of life" (John 6:48). One translation of Zaphnathpaaneah is 'living bread man' since
he was to store the grain to provide bread that would sustain life in Egypt. In one day God
took him from the prison to the palace, gave him a wife, and gave him an empire to rule.
Though the scripture here does not mention trumpets being blown as Joseph was paraded
through the streets; it is clear in Psalms.
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast
day. For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. This he
ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt:
where I heard a language that I understood not. I removed his shoulder from the
burden: his hands were delivered from the pots. (Psalm 81:3-6)
This is a clear reference to the holy day on the 1st of Tishri. The Hebrew word for
'testimony', ayduth, can also mean witness, and its root means 'prince'. The Jews call this
holiday Rosh Hashanah, which literally means 'head of the year' or new year. The blowing
of the shofar was also associate with the inaugurations of king Solomon (1 Kings 1:34) and
king Jehu (2 Kings 9:13).
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Hebrew Calendar
you came out from Egypt. And you shall observe the feast of weeks, of the first fruits
of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. Thrice in the year
shall all your male children appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel.
(Exodus 34:18, 22-23)
The "first fruits" is an agricultural term related to those fruits and grains which mature
first, and is not to be confused with the feast of First Fruits (of barley) which occurs after
Passover. The middle feast (of wheat) is Weeks or Pentecost. When this command was
given, there was no permanent place for God's tabernacle, so they would go wherever it
was located. After the building of Solomon's temple, then Jerusalem became the place
where God set His Name. The three feasts in which the Hebrew males are required to go to
Jerusalem are the feast of Unleavened Bread (14th-21st of Nisan), the feast of Weeks
(around 6th of Sivan), and the feast of Booths (15th-23rd of Tishri).
These feasts and their prophetic meanings will be explored in the next two chapters.
Awake, Bride
19th years of the cycle started in the fourth century. 2008 was the 11th year in this
metatonic cycle. Though this calendar began correctly, it occasionally drifts a month out of
sync with the spring equinox. Rabbis know this but are unwilling to change it because they
believe only a modern Sanhedrin or the Messiah has the authority to do so.
A modern Jewish calendar will place the holiday name on the day and sometimes note
it begins the prior evening. According to the contemporary Hebrew calendar, Rosh
Hashanah will occur on September 17, 2012; so it actually begins at dusk on September
16th. The new moon will be visible earlier, around 2:00 am on September 16th, so that
pious Jews could declare Tishri 1 begins at dusk on September 16th. This date is key to the
rest of the book.
Hebrew Calendar
Hashanah. It's clear Jesus used this feast to declare Himself to be "the light of the world"
(John 9:5).
Summary
The Biblical Hebrew day goes from sundown to sundown because the first day in the
creation in Genesis begins in darkness. God established a pattern of six days of work
followed by a day of rest as one week. Hebrew months at the time of Noah's flood had
thirty days each. Hebrew years typically contained twelve months of thirty days each
which equaled 360 days. The Hebrews had a combined lunar-solar calendar which
included a 13th month every six years until reaching the 36th year when an extra month
was added to the 40th year as well. Every forty years this ancient Hebrew 360-day
calendar was in sync with the modern 365.25-day calendar. Forty years is equivalent to a
Hebrew generation. Every seventh year the land was given rest from farming, and the
fiftieth year was a year of Jubilee when all debts were canceled and slaves were freed, and
it was celebrated on Yom Kippur.
When God delivered the Hebrews from bondage in Egypt, He reoriented their religious
calendar to begin in spring with the first of seven feasts they were to hold throughout the
year. The spring feasts are Unleavened Bread, Passover, and First Fruits. The early
summer feast is Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost in Greek due to its counting of
'fifty' days. The fall feasts are Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Booths.
Two additional Jewish holidays which celebrate victories over their enemies are Purim and
Hanukkah.
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Spring Feasts
Spring Feasts
O Judah, keep your solemn feasts, perform your vows:
(Nahum 1:15b)
Taking and Renewing Betrothal Vows
The Spring feasts not only commemorate the historical deliverance of the Hebrew
people, they also portray the betrothal of God to His people. During the Spring feasts,
God's people renew their vows as His Bride to love and obey Him. God gave them gifts,
promising a Groom. In America, Spring brides and June weddings continue to persist.
Hebrew Marriage Traditions
Fulfillment in Scripture
Exodus 24:3-12
Exodus 24:16
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Awake, Bride
Brides want to understand the culture of their groom, especially to know what is
pleasing and acceptable in that culture. I am indebted to Edward Chumney who wrote of
the Hebrew marriage traditions and their Biblical fulfillments in "The Seven Festivals of the
Messiah" which was published by Treasure House in 1994.
The father chooses a bride for his son and approaches with an offer of betrothal. The
bride's responsibilities were in the betrothal covenant, shitre erusin, (Law on Mt. Sinai); the
groom's responsibilities were in the wedding covenant, ketubah, ("new covenant" Jeremiah
31:31-37 fulfilled at Pentecost).
Spring Feasts
a trap. Instead, God sent them south to Nuweiba beach at Pihahiroth, which was about a 50
mile trip and likely took them two days; totaling seven days to reach the Red Sea.
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast
to the LORD. . . . And you shall show your son in that day, saying, This is done
because of that which the LORD did to me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it
shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that
the LORD's law may be in your mouth: for with a strong hand has the LORD
brought you out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:6, 8).
The Hebrews were to eat unleavened bread for seven days to commemorate the seven
days it took them to flee Egypt, 'eating on the run'. ["In 1967, Moshe Dyan marched his
troops from Nuweiba (the crossing site) to Suez City (near ancient Tharu/Succoth) in six
days. And they camped at night." www.wyattmuseum.com]
At Nuweiba beach there is an engraved column, and ten miles away on the opposite
shore there is a matching engraved column. According to John Wyatt, these two columns
are memorials placed there by King Solomon to commemorate the miraculous crossing of
the Red Sea. There is a 7 to 10 mile wide land bridge in shallow water connecting the two
shores. All night of Nisan 21, God's column of fire kept the Egyptians at bey, and God's
wind blew the sea floor so the people could walk across on dry ground at dawn and be
safely across by dusk. In "the morning watch" on Nisan 22, three hours before dawn, the
Egyptians pursued them; but God removed their chariot wheels and closed the Red Sea
over them so that not one of them was left alive (Ex. 14:24-31). So, that first Passover
began on a Sabbath, with the "morrow after the sabbath" (First Fruits), eight days later on
the morning of Nisan 22. The dead pharaoh was most likely Rameses I.
Awake, Bride
clothes to prepare themselves to hear the audible voice of God. The traditional date for the
feast of weeks is the 6th of Sivan, fifty days after the Hebrews left Egypt on Nisan 15.
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and
lightning, and a thick cloud on the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding
loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth
the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of
the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD
descended on it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace,
and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded
long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a
voice. And the LORD came down on mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the
LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. (Ex. 19:16-19)
The underlined are also characteristics of God's throne in heaven as portrayed in
Revelation. Mere mortals met with God Almighty as Mount Sinai quaked and smoked. A
mountain in ancient Midian, now Saudi Arabia, is called Jebel el Lawz. It is roughly forty
miles away from the Red Sea crossing point, and twenty miles from Jethro's home (now Al
Bad). The top of it is burnt. At its base are the remains of twelve pillars and an altar.
Spring Feasts
oxen to the LORD. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half
of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and
read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD has said will
we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people,
and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you
concerning all these words. Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu,
and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was
under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body
of heaven in his clearness. And on the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his
hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. (Exodus 24:3-11)
. . . Return, you backsliding Israel, said the LORD; and I will not cause my anger to
fall on you: for I am merciful . . . Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have
transgressed against the LORD your God, . . . you have not obeyed my voice, said
the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, said the LORD; for I am married to you: .
. . (Jeremiah 3:12-14 edited)
Moreover, brothers, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our
fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized
to Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And
did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that
followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well
pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our
examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
(1 Corinthians 10:1-6)
During a betrothal a couple is considered to be married and are called husband and wife
even though the marriage won't be consummated until the wedding.
Awake, Bride
months it was completed and erected on the 1st of Nisan (Exodus 40:1), completing the
first year of the Hebrews under their new calendar with Yahweh.
Spring Feasts
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or
of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but
the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)
The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the spring feasts and the early summer feast in His
death, resurrection, and sending His Holy Spirit at His first coming.
Awake, Bride
therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying;
who can hear it? . . . From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no
more with him. (John 6:4-66 edited)
The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God,
which takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7b)
Scripture is clear that Jesus is our Passover Lamb. We apply His blood to the door
posts of our life in faith that when the angel of death comes our way, we will not die
spiritually but passover into eternity with Jesus. We commemorate this by taking the
Lord's Supper, or communion, which is actually a part of the Passover service.
Spring Feasts
The Hebrew traditions which flowed from God's heart are full of meaning to His Bride,
and do not counter God's written Word but affirm It. There were other traditions which
conflicted with God's Word which Jesus condemned (Mark 7:7-14). The Jews later added a
hard-boiled egg to their passover meal. In 197 AD, the Christian Council at Edessa had lost
connection with its Jewish roots and the facts of Christ dying on Passover and rising on
First Fruits, and the correct day to celebrate Christ's resurrection began to be debated. By
the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, laws and attitudes against celebrating Jewish feasts rose as
did the number of pagans in the church, and so the 500 bishops mixed Christ's resurrection
with the pagan celebration to Ishtar, the fertility goddess; hence the reproductive symbols
of rabbits and eggs. Christians do not celebrate Ishtar/Easter, but the resurrection of their
Passover Lamb, Jesus.
Now let's see how the Passover Seder dovetails with the traditions of a Hebrew
wedding.
Hebrew Marriage Traditions
Washing of hands
Marriage is consummated.
Awake, Bride
Nisan 11, Sunday night to Monday: Jesus cursed the fig tree and cleansed the Temple
from the leaven of the money changers (Mark 11:11-19).
Nisan 12, Monday night to Tuesday: The fig tree was withered from its roots. Jesus
said, "You know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is
betrayed to be crucified" (Matthew 26:2).
Nisan 13, Tuesday night to Wednesday: Jesus tells Kingdom parables and prophesies
future events (Matthew 24-25), including "Behold, your house is left to you desolate. For I
say to you, You shall not see me from now on, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in
the name of the Lord" (Matthew 23:38-39). Jesus sent the disciples to prepare the passover
meal, because His 'appointed time' was near. "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened
bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where will you that we prepare for you to
eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, The Master
said, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples. And the
disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover" (Matthew
26:17-19).
Nisan 14, Wednesday night to Thursday: "Now when the even was come, he sat down
with the twelve" and ate the Passover meal (Matthew 26 20). Then they went to the Mount
of Olives to pray, and were betrayed by Judas and the temple guards. Peter denied Christ
before the cock crowed.
"When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took
counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him
away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor" (Matthew 27:1-2) The soldiers
scourged Him and then crucified Him at noon. "And it was about the sixth hour, and there
was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the
veil of the temple was rent in the middle. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he
said, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the
ghost" (Luke 23:44-46). This darkness was not an eclipse, but akin to the darkness when
Egypt's first-born were slain. Jesus died at three o'clock. The soldier had no need to break
His legs to hasten His death (Ex. 12:46). Joseph, a rich man like governor Joseph of Egypt,
arranged for Christ's burial a new tomb; and he and Nicodemus inter Jesus' body before
sunset. "And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also,
which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his
body was laid." (Luke 23:54-55)
Nisan 15, Thursday night to Friday: Recall that the fifteenth is specifically the feast of
unleavened bread celebrating the day the Hebrews departed from Egypt. The Pharisees, the
majority of the Sanhedrin in Jesus' time, considered the fifteenth a holy convocation in
which no work was to be done; a sabbath, for which a Jew would be excommunicated if he
or she violated it.
Nisan 16, Sabbath, Friday night to Saturday: "And they returned, and prepared spices
and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment" (Luke 23:56).
Nisan 17, Saturday night to Sunday: "Now on the first day of the week, very early in
the morning, they came to the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and
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certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And
they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were
much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as
they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why seek you
the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spoke to you
when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of
sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his
words," (Luke 24:1-8) While Christ's disciples were verifying the fact of Jesus'
resurrection, other Jews were taking their first sheafs of barley to the priests for his blessing
on the harvest in accordance with the feast of First Fruits. Jesus appeared to Mary and
later to Peter.
Nisan 18, Sunday night to Monday: Jesus revealed himself to Cleopas and another man
in a village on the road to Emmaus. They ran back to Jerusalem to tell the eleven disciples,
and while they were speaking, Jesus stood among them and ate some fish. "And he said to
them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things
must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the
psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand
the scriptures" (Luke 24:44-45). This was the second day of appearances Jesus made in a
total of forty days (Acts 1:3). Using the 30-day month, 360-day calendar, the next seven
sabbaths are Nisan 23 and 30; Iyar 7, 14, 21, and 28; and Sivan 5. So Sivan 6 would be the
Feast of Weeks (shavuot).
Iyar 29, Saturday night to (Ascension) Sunday: Jesus gives final instructions to His
disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they receive the promise of the Father, saying, "For
John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many
days hence" (Acts 1:5). Then Jesus ascends into heaven. The 120 men, women, and
children faithfully remained in prayer in the upper room for the next seven days.
Sivan 6, Saturday night to Sunday, Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost (3+40+7=50):
Father-God sent His promised Holy Spirit as a mighty wind Who appeared as tongues of
fire resting upon each disciple on Sunday morning. The disciples began proclaiming the
wonders of God in foreign languages, and left the upper room and went to Solomon's porch
at the Temple in which foreign visitors understood them (Acts 2).
Awake, Bride
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they
pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16)
And I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the
spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look on me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be
in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)
God prepared the Hebrews at each Passover to be looking for Him as a suffering savior
who would be striped (whipped), bruised, and pierced. Traditionally at the beginning of the
Passover meal, three matzah are placed in a cloth, representing the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. The middle one is removed, covered in another cloth and hidden. Toward the end
of the meal it is 'found', broken, and the pieces are considered as the desert (afikomen) to be
eaten with the third cup of wine, known as the 'cup of redemption'; these are the elements
of communion.
Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the
old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ
our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old
leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:6b-8)
The first believers in Jesus were Hebrew and continued to celebrate the feasts, but even
the Gentiles in the cosmopolitan church of Corinth were celebrating the feast of
Unleavened Bread. What former idolater wouldn't want to party for a week, but they had to
learn to party with purity.
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Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the
Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he
must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be
destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:20-25)
The order of resurrection of the dead is as follows: 1) Christ, who is the first fruits, 2)
those who belong to Christ at His coming; and, after His millennial reign on earth, 3) the
unbelieving dead who will be judged at the great white throne and cast into the lake of fire
with death and Hell (Rev. 20).
Awake, Bride
the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). After Peter
explained the gospel, 3,000 men got saved. The Old Covenant of the Flesh that was
performed at Mt. Sinai was the Bride's vows to God. The New Covenant of the Spirit was
the Groom's vows to His Bride, about which Jeremiah prophesied.
Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I
made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of
the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was an husband to
them, said the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house
of Israel; After those days, said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts,
and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And
they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother,
saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the
greatest of them, said the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will
remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:31-34; and see Hebrews 8:7-13)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the [new covenant] law of the Spirit
of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the [old covenant] law of sin and
death. (Romans 8:1-2; text added)
The Hebrew wedding covenant was a written agreement, or contract, which set the
bride price the groom would pay the father of the bride. [God is our Father, and Jesus
paid with His life-blood.] Then the prospective groom would pour a glass of wine. If the
intended bride drank it, that sealed the covenant, and they were considered 'betrothed'.
[The disciples, representing the Bride, received from Jesus "the cup after supper, saying,
This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20), and the
Bride became engaged to Jesus.] The bride would undergo a ritual immersion [baptism].
After the Hebrew wedding contract was accepted, the groom returned to his father's house
to begin building an addition called the bridal chamber. Only when the father deemed the
bridal chamber finished would he allow his son to leave at sunset to go get his bride.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
(John 14:2-3)
Abraham had two sons, the one by a female slave, the other by a free woman. But
he who was of the female slave was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman
was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the
one from the mount Sinai, which engenders to bondage, which is Agar. . . . But
Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:22-26)
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The place which Jesus is preparing for us is the new Jerusalem which comes out of
heaven (Rev. 21:2).
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Awake, Bride
Mordecai relayed the plot to Esther who requested three days of fasting before she
approached the king unbidden to appeal for her people and possibly be slain right then.
(Esther 4:14-17)
Nisan 14 was the first day of the fast.
[Jesus was tried, beaten, crucified, and placed in a tomb on the Feast of Passover.]
Nisan 15 was the second day of the fast.
Nisan 16 was the third day of the fast, and Esther approached the king uninvited,
but was accepted by the king who was ready to grant her any request, but she arranged a
banquet with Haman. (Esther 5:1-4) This allowed time for Haman's pride to escalate to his
own ruin.
On Nisan 17, Esther held a second banquet with Haman and the king in which
Haman's evil plans for Mordecai and the Jews are both turned around for their good and
Haman's destruction. (Esther 7-9)
[Jesus rose from the dead on the Feast of First Fruits.]
The original letters could not be revoked, so King Xerxes sent a second dispatch
which encouraged the Jews throughout his Persian empire to defend themselves against
their enemies on Adar 13. In Susa they were allowed to continue on Adar 14 as well. The
Jews defeated their enemies and they held great festivities on Adar 13 and 14 and called it
the feast of Purim.
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Fall Feasts
It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: you shall
celebrate it in the seventh month. (Leviticus 23:41b)
Jesus' Betrothal and Wedding to His Bride
Hebrew Marriage Traditions
Fulfillment in Scripture
Awake, Bride
Jesus, the first born Son of God, gave His blood as the 'bride price' of the "new
covenant" on Passover, He rose redeeming all who trust in Him from sin and death on
First Fruits, and Jesus sent the gift of His Comforter with tongues of fire on Pentecost.
Jesus left to "prepare a place" for us called New Jerusalem, and promised, "I will come
again, and receive you to myself" (John 14:2-3). Jesus will return when Jews receive Him
as Messiah and say, "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord" (Matthew 23:39).
Jesus will come with the clouds and trumpet and a shout like a "thief in the night" for His
Bride (1 Thess. 4:14-18; 5:2). Then He will take us to the heavenly New Jerusalem for the
wedding feast for seven days (Rev. 21:9-27).
The feasts were instituted by God; they are the moed, the 'appointed times' of the Lord.
They are holy and set apart for the Lord's purposes as convocations and 'rehearsals',
wedding rehearsals. They rehearse Israel's past, but they are also shadows of future events
which will find their complete fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:16-17).
The Lord Jesus Christ completely fulfilled the spring feasts and the early summer feast in
His first coming. Jesus partially fulfilled the fall feasts during His first coming, and will
completely fulfill the fall feasts in His second coming when He judges the wicked.
Yes, the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times [moed]; and the turtle and
the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not
the judgment of the LORD. (Jeremiah 8:7 with addition)
Fall Feasts
people. Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. .
. . And you shall know that I am in the middle of Israel, and that I am the LORD
your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come
to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall
see visions: And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days will I
pour out my spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood,
and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon
into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come
to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in
mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in
the remnant whom the LORD shall call. (Joel 2:1, 12-13, 15-16, 18, 21, 27-32)
Beginning on Elul 1 the people would have heard broken staccato blasts each day to
help remind the people to break with evil by repenting. During the month of Elul the shofar
was blown to prepare people to meet Messiah, except for the last day of Elul when it
remains silent. So there was a day of silence prior to Rosh Hashanah, in which a special
midnight service called Selichos (repentant prayers) was held to prepare people.
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." (Revelation 8:1-2)
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Awake, Bride
Fall Feasts
inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood,
and shall no more cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:17-21)
Before Jesus returns He will hide a remnant of His people during the "indignation". His
Bride will go through the Great Tribulation as He punishes the wicked. "For in the time of
trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he
shall set me up on a rock" (Psalm 27:5) The day of Tishri 1 itself is also hidden. Since
they had to wait for the signal fires to begin the celebration, they did not know the day or
hour; so it was determined to celebrate for two days which were considered one long day.
To not know "the day nor the hour was a tip to Hebrews who celebrate Rosh Hashanah,
because it's the only feast on a new moon.
Awake, Bride
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was
granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen
is the righteousness of saints. And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are
called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true
sayings of God. (Revelation 19:6-9)
Fall Feasts
When King Jesus returns and He gathers His Bride unto Himself, we will defeat the
armies of the Antichrist at Armageddon, and then we will rule and reign with Him a
thousand years (2 Tim. 2:11-12 and Rev. 20:6).
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a
name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a clothing
dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which
were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the wine press of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he has on his clothing and on his thigh
a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:12-16)
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Awake, Bride
The Hebrew Tanach refers to the books as the book of the righteous (Book of Life),
book of the wicked, and the book of remembrance (Exodus 17:14; Psalm 112:6). The Jews
have the ten days of awe to make sure they're in the book of the righteous before the books
and gates are closed on Yom Kippur. The common greeting on Rosh Hashanah is "May
you be inscribed in the Book of Life."
He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot
out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father,
and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)
Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened,
and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that
feared the LORD, and that thought on his name. And they shall be mine, said the
LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a
man spares his own son that serves him. Then shall you return, and discern between
the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him
not. (Malachi 3:16-17)
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose
garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne
was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and
came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered to him, and ten
thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books
were opened. . . .I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man
came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought
him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,
that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall
not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:10-14 edited)
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great
and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall
call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in
Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in the remnant whom
the LORD shall call. (Joel 2:31-32)
The day of Christ's coming will be a great day for the righteous and a terrible day for
the wicked. But at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed to deceive
and foment one last rebellion stemming from Gog and Magog which Jesus will destroy
with fire. Then Jesus will sit on His great white throne and open the books and judge those
who are not written in the Book of Life and cast them into the lake of fire along with Satan
(Revelation 20:6-15).
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Awake, Bride
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:14-16)
Fall Feasts
At the end of Genesis, 70 nations are listed in the world; 70 bullocks are sacrificed
during Tabernacles. Seventy people of Jacob's family met Joseph in Egypt, and millions
came out 215 years later. Moses descended Mount Sinai on Yom Kippur after his 2nd fast
of 40 days for the second set of stone commands, which represented God's forgiveness of
the people's idolatry. This brought relief and great joy. The next day Moses gave them
instructions to build the tabernacle for God's Presence. The Feast of Tabernacles is 5 days
after the Day of Atonement. Solomon dedicated the first temple during Sukkot.
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of
the land, you shall keep a feast to the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a
sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. And you shall take you on the
first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick
trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God
seven days. And you shall keep it a feast to the LORD seven days in the year. It
shall be a statute for ever in your generations: you shall celebrate it in the seventh
month. (Leviticus 23:39-41)
Sukkot is celebrated for 7 days. It's like a community camp-out as they party and
fellowship together. They march carrying a lulav consisting of three different types of tree
branches and a citrus fruit (like a lemon). In ancient times they would wave their lulavs
and march around the altar once each day and seven times on the seventh day, praying
"Hosanna" ('Jah save'). The 7th day, the priests blew trumpets and the people sang God
'praises' from Psalms 113-118 (the Great Hallel).
After Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem, the people celebrate Sukkot for the first time in
1,000 years. On Rosh Hashanah, Ezra read Torah from a tower for six hours, while other
teachers helped explain it to the people in the crowd. The people wept, worshiped, and
celebrated. On the 15th day they made lulavs and made booths to live in for seven days,
and on the eighth day had a solemn assembly. (Nehemiah 8:14-18)
Jesus is our Covering (Sukkah) and the Holy Spirit is our "Living
Water"
The 8th day celebrates having crossed the Red Sea under God's protective covering to
safety on the other side. On the 8th day of the feast, the high priest drew water from
Siloam, which means gently flowing waters," with a golden vase. Flowing waters are also
called living waters because you can safely drink from them. Another priest had a silver
pitcher of wine. A flute player, called the pierced one, led the procession. After the
other priests have sacrificed the required animals for the day, the high priest would pour the
water onto the altar, and the other priest would pour the wine. This represented Christ's
pierced heart gushing water and blood together to atone for our sins. Jesus is a 'covering' or
sukkah to those who believe.
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Awake, Bride
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man
thirst, let him come to me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke he of the
Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not
yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39)
The future temple of the Lord given in Ezekiel 40-44 has a river flowing from its throne
with healing water and healing trees on either side of it.
Jesus will pour out Judgment upon the Wicked at His Coming
During Sukkot Ezekiel 38-39 and Zechariah 14 are read which concern Christ's second
coming. More on "that day" in the chapter on the 'Day of the LORD'.
For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day
there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and
the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that
creep on the earth, and all the men that are on the face of the earth, shall shake at
my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall
fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him
throughout all my mountains, said the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be
against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood;
and I will rain on him, and on his bands, and on the many people that are with him,
an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify
myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and
they shall know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 38:19-23)
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that
come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:9)
Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in
the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day on the mount of Olives, which
is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall split in the middle
thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley;
and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the
south. And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the
mountains shall reach to Azal: yes, you shall flee, like as you fled from before the
earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come,
and all the saints with you. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall
not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD,
not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of
them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and
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Fall Feasts
in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day
shall there be one LORD, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:3-9)
King Jesus will Rule the Nations in Peace during the Millennium
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, see, I come, and I will dwell in the middle
of you, said the LORD. And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day,
and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the middle of you, and you shall know
that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD shall inherit Judah his
portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. (Zechariah 2:10-12)
At the end of the 1,000 years, after the Great White Throne judgment when Satan and
death and all wicked are cast into the lake of fire, then eternity without rebellion begins. It
is the 8th day of Tabernacles when God's Spirit covers the globe and righteousness, peace
and joy never end.
Daniel's History
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Ten Persecutions
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Nero 64-68
Domitian 95-96
Trajan 100-115
Aurelius 168-171
Severus 203-210
Maximin 235-237
Decius 250-256
Valerian 257-260
Aurelian 276
Diocletian 303-310
These ten caesars ("kings") are the ten toes of the statue in Daniel 2 who "break in
pieces and bruise". They correlate with the "ten days" or periods of tribulation prophesied
for the Church in Revelation 2.
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things said the first and the
last, which was dead, and is alive; Fear none of those things which you shall suffer:
behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you
shall have tribulation ten days: be you faithful to death, and I will give you a crown
of life. (Revelation 2:8, 10)
Notice there is no mention of a little toe rising up and claiming anything in
Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the statue. There is no end-time antichrist character in this
dream, though these kingdoms and the ten toes were definitely against Christ and God.
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For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries,
and will bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24)
The ten-horned monster is a Muslim conglomerate which has persecuted Jews. PLO
(Palestinian Liberation Organization) attacks, or intifadas, began in the 1970's. Muslims
control one fourth of the earth and have a quarter of the world's population. And a "little
horn" will arise to lead them.
On September 11, 2001, even Americans had to recognize the rising power of Islam;
and by September 2008, America ceased to be the world power. Though Russia seeks to
be large and in-charge again (and it does still have a large Muslim population even after all
the -'istan' secessions); it will be the Muslim nations which will dominate. But Russia,
Britain, and Germany will still have roles to play.
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with just five on Hinduism and one on Sikhism (Jerome Taylor for the Independent on
September 8, 2008).
The beast of the sea has seven heads, but it still has ten horns with crowns signifying
ten kings. With the understanding that the prophecy regarding the ten toes of the Roman
Empire was fulfilled, and the clue that the whore who rides the beast is called "mystery
Babylon" (Revelation 17:3-5), it is likely the seven heads of state and ten kings of the beast
will be found in Muslim countries located in the ancient Babylonian empire.
The beast has seven heads, but ten horns. The seven heads of nations could be Egypt,
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria. These countries, in part or in whole,
were in the Babylonian empire. The extra three horns could be the Muslim leaders of
Hamas, Hezbollah, and the PLO. But there are other possibilities.
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The Shia, predominantly Iran with large populations in Iraq and Afghanistan, believe
the descendants of Mohammed (Imams) have special political and religious power over the
people. The Sunnis believe Mohammed's generals and their descendants hold such power.
They also believe Allah does not resemble his creation in any way, and to imagine him in a
form is idolatry. Yet they pray to saints to aid their prayers, which the Wahhabis consider
idolatry. The Sunni sect is the largest with dozens of national adherents. The little horn
has several possible groups of three nations to uproot.
But a more likely group of three Muslim nations the little horn would have to remove,
are those who have peace treaties with Israel. Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979, and
Jordan did in 1994. The third most likely candidate is Syria. On December 18, 2008, Ehud
Olmert said that "a peace treaty between Israel and Syria is feasible." Olmert told a
conference of the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, "A peace
treaty would lower the possibility of war, break the strategic ties between Damascus and
Teheran, lead to the expulsion of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas headquarters from Syria, and
would stop the cash flow to Hizbullah." Syria might use 'peace' as a ploy to invade Israel.
The children of Lot are Edom and Moab from Lot's incestuous relations with his
daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sisera and Jabin were located in
Hazor (Judges 4:2), on the southwest tip of Hula Lake which is due north of the Sea of
Galilee. Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna were Ishmaelite kings of Midian (Judges 8:3-5)
located in the Arabian Peninsula. When Asaph wrote this psalm, the city of Assur was the
capital of the waning Assyrian empire; "the Assyrian" was equated with an antichrist in
prophecy. This Muslim confederation of nations attacked Israel in 1967, and God shamed
them in the Six-Day War. The main aggressors were Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, but the
following nations contributed troops and arms: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia,
Morocco, and Algeria.
The movie Against All Odds documents how the Arabs in the Six-Day War were
"confused and troubled" by supernatural occurrences such as freak "winds" and "storms" or
of seeing angels and hearing voices which either paralyzed them or caused them to run in
fear. Psalm 83 has been fulfilled, and it gives clarity to the immediate goal of the beast, as
well as to the foundation of its worship.
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delivered us from the hand of Midian. And Gideon said to them, I will not rule over
you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. And Gideon
said to them, I would desire a request of you, that you would give me every man the
earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
(Judges 8:21-24)
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about
their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon (Isaiah 3:18)
Zebah and Zalmunna's ornaments are sah-har-one'; a round pendant for the neck, a
round tire like the moon. Most Muslim flags contain a waxing crescent moon and the
morning star (Venus); the root of their religion. Midian is now Saudi Arabia, and the heart
of moon worship is Mecca. Nimrod, a mighty hunter against the LORD built the cities
of Assur and Babel from whence came the Assyrians and Babylonians. The religious
system he implemented was that of worshiping the moon and stars with the aide of cult
prostitutes. In Isaiah's prophecy against the king of Babylon, he refers to him as heilel benshachar which is translated "morning star, son of dawn" or "Lucifer, son of the morning"
(Isaiah 14:12). Heilel can also be translated as brightness. Hilal, an Arabic term, refers to
the bright waxing crescent when it becomes visible to a normal observer by the naked-eye;
which is how they determine their lunar months.
How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut
down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! For you have said in your heart,
I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
(Isaiah 14:12-13a)
Worship of the moon-god was always the dominant religion of Mesopotamia. The
moon-god was worshiped by praying toward Mecca several times a day, making an annual
pilgrimage to the Kabah (the black cubic structure in Mecca) which was a temple of the
moon-god, running around the Kabah seven times, caressing an idol of a black stone set in
the wall of the Kabah, making animal sacrifices, fasting for the month which begins and
ends with the crescent moon, gathering on Fridays for prayers, etc.. These were pagan
rites practiced by the Arabs long before Mohammed was born. The black stone is a
meteorite, a "fallen star" much like Satan "fell" from heaven (also Revelation 12:3-4).
A temple of the moon-god in Babylon was excavated in Ur (Abram's birthplace) by Sir
Leonard Woolley. Besides moon symbols, Woolley also found the symbols of bulls and
tripods (pyramids) used in moon worship. Harran (in Turkey) was also noted for its
devotion to the moon-god. In the 1950's a major temple to the moon-god was excavated at
Hazer in Palestine and at Marib in Yemen. Two idols of the moon god were found. Each
was a statue of a man sitting upon a throne with a crescent moon carved on his chest.
Several smaller statues were also found which were identified by their inscriptions as the
"daughters" of the moon-god. The moon-god's name 'Sin' is a part of such Arabic
geography as 'Mt. Sinai' and the 'wilderness of Sin'. Though the name of the moon-god was
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Summary
Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue consisting of 4 metals (Daniel 2) and Daniel's
vision of 4 beasts representing world empires (Daniel 7) were written to and about Gentile
empires. The 4 metals of the statue represent those Gentile empires which persecute the
Hebrews until Christ's first coming. The 4 beasts represent those Gentile empires which
persecute Jews prior to Christ's second coming.
The 4 metal empires were Babylonian (gold), Medes/Persian (silver), Greek (brass), and
Roman (iron and clay). The ten caesars are the ten toes of the statue which each led a
historically documented persecution against Christians. That statue was completely
destroyed by Christianity, and the entire prophecy fulfilled. There will be no revived
Roman empire.
The 4 beast empires were Britain (lion), Russia (bear), Germany (leopard), and the
Muslim confederation (a ten-horned monster). Daniel's fourth beast correlates with John's
"beast of the sea" which retains aspects of the prior three beasts. The body of the Muslim
confederation is like Nazi Germany, determined to extinguish the Jews. It receives arms
and armored transport from Russia (feet), and the BBC (mouth) promotes the cause of
Islam over the airwaves.
The beast has seven heads, but ten horns. The seven nations which founded the Arab
League were Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. The extra
three horns could be the Muslim leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the PLO. When a "little
horn" arises to lead the Muslim confederation for 1,260 days during the Great Tribulation,
he will uproot three of the horns; likely those who have peace treaties with Israel. Egypt
signed a peace treaty in 1979, and Jordan did in 1994. The third most likely candidate is
Syria.
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The Biblical and archaeological religion of Israel's enemies in the middle east is moon
worship. Allah is the revised name of the moon-god, Sin. God prophesied through Asaph
that a group of ten tribes which surrounded Israel would attack but be confounded by God,
and Psalm 83 was fulfilled during the Six-Day War in 1967. Near the end of the 3 1/2
years Israel will be surrounded by enemies again, but Jesus will come to her rescue.
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Martha had the typical Jewish mindset that the resurrection would occur on the last day.
But since Jesus is the resurrection, He brings back to life at any time He chooses. And He
chose to resurrect Lazarus on that day. The followers of Jesus who have His resurrection
life within them have the power to resurrect people as God chooses (John 14:12 and Mark
16:15-20).
But there is also a resurrection on the last day. "They that have done good" (John 5:29)
and those who believe in Jesus, the Christ (anointed one, Messiah), the Son of God will
share in His life now and in His resurrection. And those that live to Him never cease living
to Him. And those who are counted worthy will obtain the edenic world that is to come in
an immortal body.
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Paul uses the analogies of our death and resurrection in Christ as being buried with Him
in baptism and raised up, being like a seed planted in the ground and sprouting up, being
naked then fully clothed, and several others.
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we
shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. (Romans 6:4-5)
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they
come? You fool, that which you sow is not quickened, except it die: And that which
you sow, you sow not that body that shall be, but bore grain, it may chance of
wheat, or of some other grain: But God gives it a body as it has pleased him, and to
every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of
flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There
are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one,
and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another
glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another
star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is
raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in
weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual
body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The
first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening
spirit. However, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and
afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second
man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy:
and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne
the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I
say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does
corruption inherit incorruption. (I Corinthians 15:35-50)
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a
building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this
we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed on with our house which is from heaven:
If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this
tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but
clothed on, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that has worked us
for the selfsame thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the
body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present
with the Lord. Why we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted
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Order of Resurrections
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them: and I
saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word
of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had
received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the
thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he
that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the
dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those
things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave
up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were
in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and
hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whoever was not
found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
There is good reason to be in the first resurrection, even if it costs you your life to
obtain it.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.
(Hebrews 11:35)
Paul puts these resurrections in order for us beginning with the First Fruits harvest at
the end of Christ's first coming, and then the resurrection of the dead saints and the rapture
of those alive at the beginning of His second coming (also in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18).
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But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are
Christ's at his coming. Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the
kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all
authority and power. For he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. . . . Behold, I show you a mystery;
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of
an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Cor. 15:23-26, 51-53)
There is just a blink of an eye in time when the dead are raised and the living saints are
changed, not years. The only separation is in the order, and the resurrection comes before
the rapture. Putting it all together, the following is the order of resurrections:
The original resurrection at Christ's 1st coming
Jesus Christ, on the day of First Fruits
Those saints in graves in Jerusalem
Christ's 2nd coming
The 1st Resurrection of dead saints
Rapture (change) of those saints alive
2nd Resurrection after Millennial Reign
Great White Throne Judgment
2nd Death
Rapture
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades
not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through
faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you greatly rejoice,
though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold
temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory
at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-7)
Saints go through temptations and trials until the appearing of Jesus Christ. The saints
go through the Great Tribulation, and then when Jesus appears, the resurrection and rapture
occur in that order. "Inheritance incorruptible" is the resurrection. The rapture is the
"salvation ready to be revealed". To place the rapture before the resurrection is to twist
what Paul clearly wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica.
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And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a
whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. . . And the sons of the prophets
that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, Know you that the LORD
will take away your master from your head to day? And he said, Yes, I know it; hold
you your peace. . . . And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to
Elisha, and said to him, Know you that the LORD will take away your master from
your head to day? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold you your peace. . . . Elijah
said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And
Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be on me. And he said,
You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you,
it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still
went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of
fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
(2 Kings 2:1-11 edited)
A whirlwind may or may not have clouds associated with it, but when Christ returns to
rapture His Bride, there will definitely be clouds.
The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, Son of man, prophesy and say,
Thus said the Lord GOD; Howl you, Woe worth the day! For the day is near, even
the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.
(Ezekiel 30:1-2)
"Taken" to Jesus
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as
in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until
the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two
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For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the
presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have
confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28)
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16:6 And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of the appearance in
heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the
dead
16:7 -- not of all, but as it has been said, The Lord shall come and all his saints
with him;
16:8 then shall the world behold the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven.
Eusebius quotes the Didache in 324 AD. Most scholars believe it was written in the
first century and truly contains The Teaching of the Apostles. The Didache is not inspired,
but is valuable as an early church document which showed what the apostles taught. But
we have a "more sure word" (2 Peter 1:19-21).
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Summary
The doctrine that the Church will not go through God's wrath poured out upon
unbelievers on the earth is a false teaching; both the Old and New Testaments state
otherwise. The resurrection of the dead occurs seconds prior to the rapture of those still
alive at Christ's coming. There is only one second coming of Christ, and hence, only one
rapture. There is scriptural precedence for knowing the exact day of rapture.
I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the
quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant
in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and
doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. But
watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full
proof of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
Correct doctrine is vital. If you really care for someone, you will put your relationship
at risk in order for them to understand the truth of God's Word and Christ's coming
judgment. Christians may lose their faith when they find themselves going through the
Great Tribulation. They may give up hope in the promise of the Lord's coming, and choose
to worship the Beast instead, especially when choosing not to worship the Beast will mean
their death. That's when belief in a physical resurrection with Jesus is really put to the test.
And Scripture promises that those martyred during the Great Tribulation will reign with
Christ 1,000 years (Rev. 20:4-6).
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70 X 7
70 X 7
(Daniel 9)
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but,
Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21-22)
In Greek, seven and seventy just refer to the numbers. In Hebrew, seven is sheh'-bah,
meaning the number, or seven times; but by implication, a week, and a sacred full period.
A related word for taking an oath, shaw-bah' means to be complete, to seven oneself, that
is, to swear as if by repeating a declaration seven times. Shib-eem' is seventy in Hebrew.
"Seventy times seven" and seventy weeks refer to the prophecy regarding the forgiveness
of Israel's sins through the coming Messiah in Daniel 9. Jesus used the prophetic number
of "seventy times seven" to let Peter know He was the fulfillment of punishment for sins.
To better understand that prophecy, we need to look at what Daniel was studying.
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was
made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel
understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came
to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations
of Jerusalem. And I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and
supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. (Daniel 9:1-3)
The first year of Darius, the Mede, as ruler of the city of Babylon was 538 BC. Daniel
and his friends had been deported to Babylon in 606 BC as teen-agers, so 68 years had
passed since Jeremiah's prophecy in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was in his
seventies or eighties and came to realize there were only two more years left until
Jeremiah's prophecy was fulfilled. He might live long enough to go home to Jerusalem.
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Daniel kept praying and studying and seeking truth. After reading the scroll of
Jeremiah, he opened the Torah scrolls, the first five books of the Bible.
Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even by departing, that they might not
obey your voice; therefore the curse is poured on us, and the oath that is written in
the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. And he
has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges that
judged us, by bringing on us a great evil: for under the whole heaven has not been
done as has been done on Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this
evil is come on us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we
might turn from our iniquities, and understand your truth. (Daniel 9:11-14)
By reading the oath that was written in the law of Moses, he understood God's people
were being punished for their sins. And on behalf of his people he repented. Like much
prophetic understanding of today, one has to look backward in order to see forward.
70 X 7
heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: And your strength shall be spent in vain:
for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield
their fruits. (Leviticus 26:18-20)
For three and a half years (half of seven) Elijah prayed that it would not rain (James
5:17) to demonstrate God's power and authority to king Ahab (I Kings 17-19). God proved
his point on Mount Carmel when He sent fire from heaven to consume Elijah's soaking wet
offering. Elijah later found Elisha and discipled him.
And if you walk contrary to me, and will not listen to me; I will bring seven times
more plagues on you according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among
you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you
few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate. (Leviticus 26:21-22)
Some children were mocking Elisha, and he cursed them, and a bear came out of the
woods and ate 42 of them (2 Kings 2:23-24). Plague, nega, can mean a blow (infliction) or
a spot (leprosy).
And if you will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary to me;
Then will I also walk contrary to you, and will punish you yet seven times for your
sins. And I will bring a sword on you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant:
and when you are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence
among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
(Leviticus 26:23-25)
God brought Shishak (Sheshonk) from Egypt to humble king Rehoboam who had
forsaken Jehovah (2 Chronicles 12:5-9). Shishak conquered the outlying cities, and took
away the treasures of Jerusalem and made them a vassal state.
And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in
one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and you shall eat,
and not be satisfied. And if you will not for all this listen to me, but walk contrary to
me; Then I will walk contrary to you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you
seven times for your sins. And you shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of
your daughters shall you eat. (Leviticus 26:26-29)
Syria attacked Israel during the days of Elisha. They laid siege to Samaria creating
such a famine that women boiled and ate their children, but the lepers of the gate were the
first to discover God had vanquished their enemies (2 Kings 6-7).
And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your
carcasses on the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. And I will
make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not
smell the smell of your sweet odors. And I will bring the land into desolation: and
your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you
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among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be
desolate, and your cities waste. Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it
lies desolate, and you be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and
enjoy her sabbaths. As long as it lies desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in
your sabbaths, when you dwelled on it. And on them that are left alive of you I will
send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a
shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they
shall fall when none pursues. And they shall fall one on another, as it were before a
sword, when none pursues: and you shall have no power to stand before your
enemies. And you shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies
shall eat you up. And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in
your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away
with them. (Leviticus 26:30-39)
Even before there were any sanctuaries (plural, not just one) in Israel, God foretells they
will be built and destroyed due to Israel's sins. Israel was not obedient in allowing the land
to rest each seventh year. Trusting God to provide double manna on the 6th day for the 7th
day was a easier than trusting God to double the harvest in the 6th year and not sow in the
7th year.
Assyria attacked the northern tribes of Israel and deported them. Tiglath-Pileser III
deported Israelis to northern Assyria during 734-732 BC. Shalmaneser V and Sargon II
deported Israelis to the areas surrounding Gozam (and the river Gozan) and Nineveh during
729-724 BC. Sargon II deported another wave of Israelis to Persia (Media) during 716-715
BC. Shalmaneser V deported a final wave of Israelis to the cities of Halah and Habor, the
river Gozan, and the cities of Media in 702 BC (2 Kings 17:6). Then in 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's armies deported choice children of Judah and Benjamin to Babylon
along with Jehoiakim's family.
734-702 Ten tribes deported to Assyria
606 Choice children and Jehoiakim's family deported to Babylon
597 Babylonian siege of Jerusalem; Ezekiel & 10,000 deported
586 Jerusalem & Temple burned
538 Babylon surrenders to Cyrus
If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their
trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary
to me; And that I also have walked contrary to them, and have brought them into
the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they
then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant
with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham
will I remember; and I will remember the land. (Leviticus 26:27-42)
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70 X 7
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of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show you; for
you are greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
(Daniel 9:19-23)
In response to Daniel's humble confession regarding Jeremiah's prophecy of 70 years of
punishment, God sent the angel Gabriel to encourage him and give him a new vision of 70
weeks which would fulfill all of Israel's punishment.
70 X 7
Awake, Bride
70 X 7
the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her
sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill three score and
ten years. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD
spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the
spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his
kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus said Cyrus king of Persia, All the
kingdoms of the earth has the LORD God of heaven given me; and he has charged
me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you
of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
(2 Chronicles 36:20-23)
Darius Hystaspes I
Ezra (4:24; 6:1-12) records a divine decree was issued by God in the 2nd year of Darius
I (519 BC) commanding Joshua and Zerubabbel to restart construction on the Temple and
Jerusalem. These divine commands were witnessed by the two prophets Haggai (Haggai
1:1 - 2:9) and Zechariah.
Therefore thus said the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house
shall be built in it, said the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth on
Jerusalem. (Zechariah 1:16)
Artaxerxes Longimanus
Ezra (7:12-26) records a decree by Artaxerxes Longimanus in his seventh year (467
BC) to provide articles for the Temple. Nehemiah (2:4-9) records a decree to rebuild
Jerusalem by Artaxerxes Longimanus in his 20th year (454 BC). Thucydides stated
Artaxerxes began to reign with his father in Xerxes' 12th year, when Artaxerxes was 16
years old. [See Hengstenberg's Messianic Predictions in the Prophets, p.222-240.]
Rulers of Persia
Cyrus 539-530
Darius, the Mede 538
Cambyses II 529-522
Darius I Hystaspis 521-486
Xerxes 486-465
Artaxerxes 474-424
(9 years as co-king with Xerxes)
Darius II Nothus 423-404
Leaders in Jerusalem
Zerubbabel, governor 535-515
Haggai, prophet 535-513
Zechariah, prophet 535-513
Jeshua, high priest 515-483
Joiakim, high priest 483-458
Ezra, governor 467-455
Nehemiah, governor 454-443
Ezra, priest 454-443
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Nehemiah and Ezra worked together with the people to "rebuild" Jerusalem. In only 52
days the wall was completed (Neh. 6:15). For twelve years (Nehemiah 13:6) they labored.
In the thirteenth year Nehemiah returned and gave many commands in order to "restore"
the proper function of the city. It may have been another 36 years until the roads ("street")
of commerce were reestablished, for a total of 49 years ("seven weeks"). Then after another
434 years (62 weeks), for a total of 483 years, Messiah the Prince is baptized.
Artaxerxes decree in his 20th year to Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem was in
the year 454 BC, and 483 years later comes Messiah the Prince. It is not unreasonable
for man's decree and God's commandment to coincide. [Using Hebrew regnal years from
Tishri to Tishri would begin each reign in the seventh month of the previous year. Hence
Artaxerxes' reign would be 475/474 to 425/424. His 20th year would be 455/454. Then
483-455=28 and then add a year because there was no zero year, and come to 29 AD.]
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70 X 7
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Awake, Bride
Of the Temple buildings, not one stone was left on another because the fire which
destroyed the buildings also melted the gold, and so the gold was removed from each of the
stones. Jesus used the phrase "all these things" to include the Temple buildings and the
Temple's destruction and desolation upon that generation. For people born after the flood
and the tower of Babel, a generation was forty years (Numbers 32:13). Jerusalem and the
Temple were destroyed in 70 AD, and Jesus was crucified in 33 AD (70 - 33 = 37); which
was within that generation to whom He spoke. [See the time-line in the Appendix.]
70 X 7
And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the
desolation thereof is near. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains;
and let them which are in the middle of it depart out; and let not them that are in
the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things
which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to them that are with child, and to them
that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath
on this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away
captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. . . . Truly I say to you, This generation shall
not pass away, till all be fulfilled. (Luke 21:20-24, 32)
The word for 'vengeance' is ekdikesis which means punishment. These desolations of
war upon the Jews and Jerusalem were determined as punishment because of their sins.
The desolations of war of the last half of the 70th week was from March/April 67 when
Vespasian's troops fought against the Judeans in Galilee to the Temple's destruction on (9th
of Av) August 10, 70 AD. This Temple's destruction was on the same exact day the first
Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Thus was the punishment for past
sins completed and the 70 week prophecy of Daniel fulfilled, including a notable detail.
Awake, Bride
Summary
Daniel recognized he and his people were enduring a prophesied seventy years of
banishment for their sins, and that it was almost over. As he studied about this in Jeremiah
and the Torah, and repented on behalf of his people, God gave him a new prophecy of a
period of seventy weeks for His people and Jerusalem to complete all punishment and
forgive all sin. God's command to start the 490 year period corresponds with king
Artaxerxes decree in his 20th year to Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem. After 483 years Jesus
is baptized and declared to be God's anointed Son, the Messiah and Prince; and the Lamb of
God, the new covenant. Jesus ministered during the first half of the 70th week, and then
was "cut off" as the new 'covenant'. The last half of the 70th week occurred within that
generation, beginning with Vespasian troops attacking Israel's northern coast and Galilee in
the spring of 67 AD, and ending with the siege and destruction of Jerusalem and its
Temple in the summer of 70 AD. The entire 70 weeks prophecy has been fulfilled,
including its clue regarding the prince that shall come being Syrian.
Therefore, Christ's Bride should not be anticipating any seven year treaty with Israel nor
a seven year period of tribulation.
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609 BC
605 BC
605 BC
538 BC
538 BC
Daniel understood from Jeremiah's prophecy that three years were left.
535 BC
519 BC
467 BC
454 BC
453 BC
405 BC
Roads of commerce from Jerusalem restored "seven weeks" after 454 decree.
29 AD
29 AD
"Messiah" Yeshua, the Son ("Prince") of God, was baptized and announced.
33 AD
"Messiah" Yeshua was "cut off" 3 1/2 years into the seventieth week.
67 AD
70 AD
Awake, Bride
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Antiochus III
But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and
one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and
be stirred up, even to his fortress. And the king of the south [Ptolemy IV]shall be
moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of
the north [Antiochus III]: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude
shall be given into his hand. And when he has taken away the multitude, his heart
shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be
strengthened by it. For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a
multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with
a great army and with much riches. And in those times there shall many stand up
against the king of the south: also the robbers of your people [Tobias] shall exalt
themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. So the king of the north shall
come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the
south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any
strength to withstand. But he that comes against him shall do according to his own
will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land
[Israel], which by his hand shall be consumed. He shall also set his face to enter
with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do:
and he shall give him the daughter of women [Cleopatra I], corrupting her: but she
shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. (Daniel 11:10-17 edited with
additions)
Ptolemy IV gathered 73,000 men and 73 elephants. However the army of Antiochus III
was even greater -- 72,000 infantry, 6,000 horsemen and 102 elephants -- and at first gained
the advantage, but too soon abandoned caution and sought to plunder an enemy not fully
conquered and the Egyptian king was victorious. However as Ptolemy was so much
addicted to luxurious living, it was of little concern to him to utilize his success to the full
and he was not "strengthened" by his victory.
About fourteen years later, Antiochus III the Great raised a greater army, and securing
better equipment, attained some of the success of his first efforts because the king of Egypt
offered no opposition, and after his death various uprisings materially weakened the
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Egyptian power and broke it by internal dissension. In Daniel 11:15-16 Antiochus III
drove the Egyptians back to Sidon, defeating "the most fenced cities". Liberating the Jews
from Egypt, he released them from all taxes for three years, and afterwards from one third
of the taxes.
Antiochus III gives his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V for peace, but instructs her
to destroy Egypt (but she didn't). Antiochus III proceeds to attack Greece, but is
encountered by Roman armies and defeated in 190, and dies in 187 BC. Cleopatra gives
birth to Ptolemy VI and VII and Cleopatra II. [It is Cleopatra VII who has a fling with
Marc Antony.]
After this shall he [Antiochus III] turn his face to the isles, and shall take many: but
a prince [Scipio] for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to
cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn on him. Then he
[Antiochus III]shall turn his face toward the fort [Magnesia]of his own land: but he
shall stumble and fall, and not be found. Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of
taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither
in anger, nor in battle. (Daniel 11:18-20 edited with additions)
Not content with acquiring Egypt, Antiochus III next sought to gain control of the
Greek islands. By 196 BC he had a foothold in Thrace which called forth the active
resistance of Rome. Lucius Scipio defeated his attack on Thermopylae, beat his
commanders in two naval battles as he retreated, and beat him at his own fort in the Battle
of Magnesia (190 BC). Scipio administered such a sound defeat that the "reproach" or
presumptuous boastings of the Syrian were silenced once and for all. Yet Scipio achieved
his victory without repaying Antiochus with like boasting -- "without his own reproach".
In his humiliation, Antiochus turned to "the fort of his own land" where no trouble or
defeat could befall him. So disheartened did he become, in fact, his end was still more
ignominious: he "shall stumble and fall and be found no more". History once again
vindicated God's foreknowledge of what will be, and constituted sure proof He could also
control what He foreknew.
Seleucus IV Philopater (187-176 BC) succeeded Antiochus. Only what bears upon the
fortune of Israel is told about this Syrian king who had to pay Rome an enormous annual
tribute of 1,000 talents. To this end he sent a "raiser of taxes", probably Heliodorus (II
Maccabees 3), to appropriate the rich treasures of the Temple at Jerusalem.
[I have found the historical books of 1 & 2 Maccabees most helpful in filling in
historical details. They are included in the Apocrypha in Catholic Bibles, but since the
Apocrypha also includes fanciful stories, it is rightly excluded from the Protestant Holy
Bible. Christians and non-Christians both agree the books of Maccabees are historically
accurate. The author of the books is unknown, but was likely a Jew who lived through the
events described or had primary sources available.]
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Antiochus IV
And in his estate shall stand up a vile person [Antiochus IV], to whom they shall
not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the
kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflowed from
before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant [Jason, the
high priest]. And after the league made with him [Ptolemy IV] he [Antiochus IV
and for the next six male pronouns] shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up,
and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even on the
fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done,
nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches:
yes, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. And
he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great
army; and the king of the south [Ptolemy IV and next two male pronouns] shall be
stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for
they shall forecast devices against him. (Daniel 11:21-25 edited with additions)
Jason was the high priest of Jerusalem (175-171 B.C.) who encouraged his countrymen
to accept Hellenistic ways of life. He allowed Antiochus IV the privilege of authorizing the
appointment of future high priests. He allowed the building of a gymnasium in Jerusalem.
The next two paragraphs were gleaned from the Bible commentary (1831) of Adam
Clarke. Antiochus IV was at Athens, on his way from Rome, when his father died;
and Heliodorus had declared himself king, as had several others. But Antiochus
came in peaceably, for he obtained the kingdom by flatteries. He flattered Eumenes,
king of Pergamus, and Attalus his brother, and got their assistance. He flattered the
Romans, and sent ambassadors to court their favour, and pay them the arrears of the
tribute. He flattered the Syrians, and gained their concurrence; and as he flattered
the Syrians, so they flattered him, giving him the epithet of Epiphanes-the
Illustrious. But he was a vile person, for Polybius says of him,"He ate and drank
with the meanest fellows, singing debauched songs."
"He shall stir up his power": Antiochus marched against Ptolemy IV, the king of
the south, with a great army; and the Egyptian generals had raised a mighty force.
But the Egyptian army was defeated. The next campaign Antiochus had greater
success; he took Memphis, and made himself master of all Egypt, except
Alexandria, (I Maccabees 1:16-19). Ptolemy Macron gave up Cyprus to Antiochus;
and the Alexandrians were led to renounce their allegiance to Ptolemy Philometer,
and took his younger brother, and made him king in his stead.
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Antiochus returned with great riches through Israel to Syria on his way home from
Egypt, but antagonistic against the covenant people and their destiny, he plundered the
Temple in passing (II Maccabees 5; I Maccabees 1:20ff).
Yes, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall
overflow: and many shall fall down slain. And both of these kings' hearts shall be to
do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet
the end shall be at the time appointed. Then shall he return into his land with great
riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits,
and return to his own land. At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward
the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. For the ships of Chittim
shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have
indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and
have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on
his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the
daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate. And such
as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people
that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand
among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame,
by captivity, and by spoil, many days. (Daniel 11:26-33)
The next three paragraphs were gleaned from the Bible commentary (1831) of
Adam Clarke. They who ate his meat betrayed him, so that he was defeated. When
Antiochus came to Memphis, he and Philometer had frequent conferences and
spoke lies to each other; Antiochus, professed great friendship to his nephew, yet in
his heart designed to ruin the kingdom by fomenting the discords which already
subsisted between the two brothers. On the other hand, Philometer spoke lies,
determined to join his brother against their deceitful uncle. Neither succeeded in his
object.
Ships from Chittim took a Roman Senator to Alexandria where he drew a circle
about Antiochus and curtly told him he must agree to withdraw his troops before he
stepped out of the circle, else meet the Romans in war. Antiochus agreed to
withdraw from Egypt immediately with great spoils. That circle became better
known as 'the line in the sand'.
En route, Antiochus brought a great army against Jerusalem; took it by storm; he
boiled swine's flesh, and sprinkled the temple and the altar with the broth; broke
into the holy of holies; took away the golden vessels and other sacred treasures, to
the value of one thousand eight hundred talents. This "abomination that makes
desolate is also referred to as the "transgression of desolation" in Daniel 8:13.
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heavy hand over the citizens, having a malicious mind against his countrymen the
Jews. He sent also that detestable ringleader Apollonius with an army of two and
twenty thousand, commanding him to slay all those that were in their best age, and
to sell the women and the younger sort: Who coming to Jerusalem, and pretending
peace, did forbear till the holy day of the sabbath, when taking the Jews keeping
holy day, he commanded his men to arm themselves. And so he slew all them that
were gone to the celebrating of the sabbath, and running through the city with
weapons slew great multitudes. (II Maccabees 5:21-26)
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After the battle of Beth-Horon: Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared,
and terror fell upon the Gentiles round about them. His fame reached the king, and
the Gentiles talked of the battles of Judas. When king Antiochus heard these reports,
he was greatly angered; and he sent and gathered all the forces of his kingdom, a
very strong army. (I Maccabees 3:25-27)
Antiochus headed east to Susa, hoping to plunder there as well, but meets his end.
40,000 of his troops under the command of Lysias pitch their tents (tabernacles) in
Emmaus, halfway between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea.
Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was filled with pride,
breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding to haste the
journey: but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently; so
that having a sore fall, all the members of his body were much pained. And thus he
that a little afore thought he might command the waves of the sea, (so proud was he
beyond the condition of man) and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now
cast on the ground, and carried in an horselitter, shewing forth unto all the manifest
power of God. So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and
whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell
was noisome to all his army. And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach
to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink. Here
therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his great pride, and to come to the
knowledge of himself by the scourge of God, his pain increasing every moment.
And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words, It is meet
to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of
himself if he were God. (II Maccabees 9:7-12)
Time-line of Antiochus IV
170: He killed 60,000 in Judah and sold 40,000 as slaves. He took all the gold and
silver from the Temple. He sacrificed a pig on the altar, boiled the meat and forced priests
to eat it; those who refused had their tongues cut out.
169: Antiochus built a navy (against the terms of the Peace of Apamea his father
signed) and conquered Cyprus and large parts of Egypt and presented himself as protector
of Ptolemy VI against his relatives Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II.
168: Roman pressure forced Antiochus to stop attack of Egypt. He sent Apollonius
with army of 22,000 to collect tribute from Jerusalem. His army kill and capture many,
plunder the city and burn it.
167: Antiochus forbad sacrifices, circumcision and other Jewish laws; they were to
worship idols and eat pork, or be killed. An idol of Zeus was placed on the altar. Scrolls
were burned; their owners, killed.
165: Antiochus captured Artaxias, capital of Armenia.
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The Maccabees
Now when they [Syrians] shall fall, they [Jews] shall be helped with a little help
[Maccabees]: but many shall join to them with flatteries. And some of them of
understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to
the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. (Daniel 11:34-35 edited
with additions)
The Maccabees are a Judean family who stood up to the atrocities of Antiochus
Epiphanes. The father was Mattathias, and he had five sons.
Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one
people, And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to
the commandment of the king. Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his
religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath. . . . And whosoever
would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die. In
the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over
all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.
(I Maccabees 1:41-43, 50-51)
Then Mattathias spake with a loud voice, 'Though all the nations that are under the
king's dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their
fathers, and give consent to his commandments: Yet will I and my sons and my
brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.' Mattathias had five sons: Joannan,
Simon, Judas, Eleazar, and Jonathan." (I Maccabees 2:19-20)
Mattathias organized open resistance in 168-167, and with his son and successor Judas
the Maccabee (hammer) defeated two large and well-equipped armies of Antiochus.
Antiochus was busy fighting against the Parthians. He gave Lysias instructions to send a
large army against the Jews and exterminate them utterly. But the generals Ptolemus,
Nicanor, and Gorgias, whom Lysias dispatched with large armies against Judah, were
defeated one after the other (166-165), and compelled to take refuge upon Philistine soil.
Lysias himself (165) was forced to flee to Antioch, having been completely routed by the
victorious Jews. Antiochus died shortly thereafter in Persia in 164.
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Battles
Judas divided his 600 men into 4 groups and wiped out 2,000 men of Apollonia in Wadi
Haramia, and Judas took Apollonia's sword. At Beth Horon, Judas killed 800 men, and the
rest fled into Philistia.
After Beth-Horon, Then began the fear of Judas and his brethren, and an exceeding
great dread, to fall upon the nations round about them: Insomuch as his fame came unto the
king, and all nations talked of the battles of Judas (I Maccabees 3:25-26).
At the Battle of Emmaus, Judas and his men killed 3,000 out of the 27,000 men whom
Lysias sent under the command of Gorgias and Nicanor, and they dropped their weapons as
they fled unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia
(I Maccabees 4:15). Their weapons included javelins, spears, swords, shields, battering
rams, and ballistas.
Two years later at Beth Zur, Judas killed 5,000 out of Lysias' 65,000 men, and Lysias'
men dropped their shields and weapons and ran.
At Beth Zechariah, Lysias returned with 50,000 better trained mercenaries and 32
elephants which caused Judas to retreat.
When Judas went to Gilead, he killed 8,000 of the army of Timotheus, and killed all the
men in Bosora, Casphon, Maked, Bosor, and Ephron, and all the Arabians in Raphon.
While he was busy there, his brother Simon was defeating the enemy in the Galilee all the
way to Arbatta and the coast city of Ptolemais (Acco). Judas and Simon brought the
women and children back to Judah, and then took Hebron and Maspha (Mispah). Judas
died at Elasa.
The Hasmoneans
The prophet Micah takes up where Daniel left off after Antiochus IV, and foretells the
rulers of Judah until Christ is born in Bethlehem.
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Eleazar died in the Battle of Beth Zechariah valiantly attacking and killing an elephant
from underneath, but then was crushed to death. Jonnan was not the ruling type.
Alexander ruled from 103 to 76. Alexander reconquered much of ancient Israel which
had existed under King David's reign. But he had made the Pharisees his enemies, which
he sought to correct in his will with directions to his wife. Salome Alexandra abided by his
wishes and allowed the Pharisees to direct matters of state until Hyrcanus II took the
throne. He and Aristobulus appealed to Rome, and Rome restored Hyrcanus II to the
throne in 63. So it's actually 7 men, one of whom rules twice.
Herod, was not a Jew, He was Idumean (from Edom). Herod defeated Antigorus and
then married his teenage niece, Mariamne, which helped to secure him a claim to the throne
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and gain some Jewish favor because she was Hasmonean. However, Herod already had a
wife, Doris, and a young son, Antipater III, and chose to banish them both. King Herod
ordered boys aged two and under killed in 3 BC when Christ was born in Bethlehem. He
died in 1 BC (not 4 BC).
Summary
Daniel's amazing prophecy in chapter 11 reads like a docu-drama of the tug-o-war
between Egypt and Syria. They often used Israel as a battle ground or a means of quick
cash. The stronger of the kings is bold.
The Maccabees defeated the troops of Antiochus IV, and reasserted the sovereignty of
Judea. Their descendants, the Hasmoneans, continued to rule over Judea until Jesus was
born, though under empirical Rome.
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Biblical Astronomy
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament
of the heaven to divide the day from the night;
and let them be for signs, and for seasons,
and for days, and years: (Genesis 1:14)
Thus said the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the
signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. (Jeremiah 10:2)
God created the stars for signs and seasons, and for days and years. Just because the
heathen have corrupted their good uses doesn't mean we should discount them. The
original constellations proclaimed the glory of God and His plan for mankind including the
virgin birth (Virgo) and the Southern Cross. The zodiac is like a belt in the night sky upon
which twelve main constellations rest. Each zodiac constellation is associated with three
other constellations (decans) near it which help tell its story. Zodiac means 'the way', and it
proclaims the way of salvation. E. W. Bullinger wrote a book about the original meanings
titled The Witness of the Stars which can be read for free on-line at
http://philologos.org/__eb-tws/.
Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Can
you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?
(Job 38:31-32)
Job is considered the oldest book of the Bible, likely written during the ice age which
followed Noah's flood since it has so many references to snow and ice (Job 6:16, 9:30,
24:19, and 37:6). So the names of the Pleiades and Orion and other certain constellations
have been with us for millennia.
Beth Alpha is a 6th century synagogue located at the base of Mount Gilboa. Beth
Alpha's mosaic floor was created with three panels: the Holy Ark, the zodiac, and the story
of the sacrifice of Issac. In Hebrew, the zodiac is called mazzaroth. The Hebrew names
replace the Latin ones with which we are familiar. For example, instead of Sagittarius for
the archer, there is the Hebrew word for 'bow'.
This mazzaroth begins due east with the first month of the Hebrew year, Nisan. Aries,
a lamb, corresponds with this Spring month in which Passover is celebrated. Going
counterclockwise, Taurus represents the second month of Iyar. Continuing in order until
due west is the seventh month of Tishri, represented by Virgo, when the Virgin Mary gave
birth to the second Adam (Jesus). It is the birth of Jesus on September 11, (Tishri 1, Rosh
Hashanah), in 3 BC that this chapter will address.
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Lion of Judah
Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck
of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's
whelp: from the prey, my son, you are gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a
lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from
Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet [regel], until Shiloh come; and to him
shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal to the vine, and his ass's colt
to the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of
grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
(Genesis 49:8-11)
Regel in Hebrew means foot, and the star Regulus in the foot of Leo (Latin for 'lion') is
the brightest star of that constellation. Regulus means 'kingly' in Latin. In all ancient
documents it is known as the king star. King Jesus rode into Israel, the chosen vine, on
the "foal of a donkey". "From the prey" of wicked men who crucified Him, He ascended
into heaven ("you are gone up") three days later. Jesus will come down again and pounce
like a lion upon the wicked. And as "the Ancient of Days," King Jesus will judge those who
reject Him as King. Jesus is pure as milk in His bloody destruction of the wicked. "And he
was clothed with a clothing dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. . . .
and he treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Rev. 19:13,
15b). "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the
book, and to loose the seven seals thereof (Rev. 5:5b). Only the Judge of the earth has the
right to take the wedding contract and break its seals. Jesus was descended from Judah
through king David's line.
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Daniel's people, the tribe of Judah (the lion), and Jerusalem. If the Messiah was to come
onto the scene 483 years after the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem and be cut off
3 years later, they'd be wise to look for His birth at least a generation (40 years) earlier.
Jesus' Birth
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and
the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being
with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. (Revelation 12:1-2)
Of the twelve constellations in the zodiac, Virgo is the largest. The sun takes 44 days to
pass through Virgo, from late summer to the autumn equinox. Many of the stories
associated with Virgo involve a king or male god who dies and is reborn again in the
spring. In Egypt, Virgo was called Aspolio, which means 'the Seed'.
In 3 BC the constellation Virgo clothed with the sun as it entered the mid-body in its
ecliptic course had the moon under her feet on one day only - Wednesday, September 11th.
This configuration was visible in the Palestine area between 6:18 P.M. and 7:39 P.M.
(sunset) on that day. During these 81 minutes, Jesus Christ was born" (Jesus Christ, Our
Promised Seed by Victor Paul Wierwille).
The 13 stars of Virgo include the bright star Spica ('Seed of wheat'). The constellation
of Coma is the crown of twelve stars above the virgin's head. Coma means 'The Desired
One', and shows a woman with infant: the desire of all nations shall come (Haggai 2:7)
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September 11, 3 BC fell on the first day of the month of Tishri - "Rosh Hashanah" or
New Year's Day. It is the feast day of blowing of trumpets to celebrate the king's
coronation. Since it is the only feast on a new moon, shouts of mikkodesh, 'it is
consecrated', would have been heard. It is a tradition that the first day of the first year was
the day that the first Adam was formed, and it was the birthday of the second Adam as well.
That first Adam sinned. Yet a Redeemer was promised who would crush Satan's head, and
so Hebrews would read about the miraculous birth of Isaac and how God redeemed his life
with a ram caught in a thicket. Therefore a ram's horn, shofar, is blown in memory of
God's past redemption looking forward to the hope of His final redemption of mankind.
There was a combined census and oath of allegiance to Caesar Augustus in 3 BC. This
corresponded with the 750th anniversary of the founding of Rome and with the 25th
anniversary of the reign of Augustus.
Jupiter and Venus were in conjunction in Leo, and the magi would
be noting their observations of the activity of Jupiter, the king planet.
Sept. 14, 3 BC
(Days of Awe) Jupiter and Regulus were in conjunction in Leo.
Feb. 17, 2 BC
(Purim) After stopping in its path on Dec 1, 3 BC and beginning its
annual retrogression backward, Jupiter and Regulus came into
conjunction in Leo.
May 8, 2 BC
(Pentecost) After once again heading forward, Jupiter and Regulus
were in conjunction in Leo.
June 17, 2 BC
Jupiter and Venus were in conjunction in Leo.
The Hebrew name for Jupiter is ssedeq, meaning righteousness. Melchizedek means
king of righteousness. Venus and Jesus are both called the morning star. Venus and
Jupiter are the two brightest objects in the night sky after the Moon. On August 12, 3 BC
the two planets almost seemed to touch. And on June 17, 2 BC again people in Babylon
would have seen the two planets merge into one in the west toward Judea. Because
Jupiter's orbital path is so far from ours, it appears to go backwards as we orbit the sun,
which is called retrograde. During the year between August 12th and June 17th, Jupiter
made an elliptical shape (a crown) around Regulus in Leo.
Aug. 24, 2 BC
The massing of planets Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury, with Venus in
Leo, are remarkable, but the conjunction of Jupiter and Mars resembled a scepter between
the feet of Leo. This culminated a year of royal signs, to the point the magi would leave for
Jerusalem to find the Messiah of Judah, King of the Jews.
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Revelation 12
Mary giving birth to Jesus
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and
the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being
with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared
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another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and
ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the
stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the
woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was
born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of
iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. And the woman fled
into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed
her there a thousand two hundred and three score days. And there was war in
heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought
and his angels, (Revelation 12:1-8)
The woman is the virgin Mary who gives birth to Jesus. Satan tried to kill Jesus as a
baby (Rev. 12:4b) through king Herod. We know that Joseph and Mary fled with infant
Jesus to Egypt. According to this scripture, they lived and were cared for in Egypt for
1,260 days, or 3 years using the 360-day calendar. There was a large Jewish population
in Egypt which likely took them in as the refugees they were. As a second fulfillment of "I
called my son out of Egypt," (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15) they returned and settled in
Nazareth. Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven ("caught up to God") and sits at
the right hand of His Father.
Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD
has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of me, and I shall
give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for
your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in
pieces like a potter's vessel. (Psalm 2:6-9)
Awake, Bride
Protestants held onto their faith in Jesus and Jews held onto their faith in Jehovah even as
they were exiled, tortured, and martyred. Sephardic Jews are those who lived in Spain and
Portugal. Ferdinand and Isabella made the Alhambra Decree on March 31, 1492 ordering
the conversion or expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of Spain by July 31st of that year.
Thousands were killed, hundreds of thousands left, and tens of thousands were baptized
into the Catholic church (conversos). This has been confirmed using Y chromosome DNA
testing which indicated that around 20% of Spanish men today have direct patrilineal
descent from Sephardic Jews (University of Leicester and Pompeu Fara University, 2008).
Christopher Columbus set sail for the New World three days after the Alhambra Decree
deadline, which has caused some to consider he may have been a converso.
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(at least until the 1900's). So Satan sought to destroy Christians and Jews elsewhere around
the globe.
Draco
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. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into
the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:7-9)
The seraphs around God's throne who cry Holy, holy, holy are serpentine in
appearance with wings and many eyes. (Isaiah 6:2-3). Seraph comes from a root word for
'burning' and the copper color; (figuratively) a fiery or poisonous serpent. With his long
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tail you can visualize him sweeping a third of the stars/angels away from God's Presence
with him.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the
earth. (Revelation 12:4)
Like the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor), Draco is always visible in the northern
hemisphere. It's a very long constellation, and its long body seems to enfold the Little
Dipper. Due to the precession of the Earth, Draco's brightest star Thuban was the pole star
approximately 4600 years ago. It would have seemed to ancient sky watchers that the Earth
revolved around Draco.
The Dragon/Satan, wants to be pre-eminent again, and seeks to destroy the One who
will rule and reign, Jesus, the man-child. But he missed Him as a baby, and thought he had
Him on the cross, so now he pursues and persecutes his people in an effort to wipe out the
Jews so none will be around to say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" to
hasten His return.
Hydra
There is another long serpent in the sky. It is a sea-serpent close to Virgo and capable
of trying to consume her with a flood. Draco missed his chance of destroying Jesus, so
now sea-serpent Hydra is going after His remnant on earth issuing a flood from its mouth.
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he
might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman,
and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast
out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:3-17 edited)
Hydra represents the "beast of the sea". Just above Hydra are the constellations Corax
with 7 stars and Crater with 10 stars corresponding to 7 heads & 10 horns. (Rev. 12:3b)
In Greek myth, the second labor of Heracles was to kill Hydra. It was no easy task
because the Hydra had 9 heads (but it is often pictured with only 7, one of which was
immortal). During the battle each time Heracles cut off a head two more heads sprouted in
its place. Heracles was losing the battle until he took a torch and burned each neck as he cut
off the head. Finally the Hydra only had its single immortal head remaining. Heracles cut it
off and buried it.
A beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns
ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy. . . . 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. (Revelation 13:1b-3)
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According to E.E. Bullinger, "It is pictured as the female serpent (Hydra), the mother
and author of all evil. Hydra has the significant meaning, he is abhorred!" The
constellation Crater (Cup) is connected to Hydra. Again, Bullinger noted, "The Cup is
wide and deep, and fastened on by the stars to the very body of the writhing serpent. The
same stars which are in the foot of the Cup form part of the body of Hydra, and are
reckoned as belonging to both constellations."
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit on a
scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten
horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with
gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of
abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And on her forehead was a name
written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:3-5)
Cetus (Leviathan)
According to Strong's Concordance, leviathan was a symbol of Babylon. The
constellation of Cetus is pictured like a gnarwhal. The brightest star in Cetus is is named
Menikar, and means 'the bound or chained enemy'. The star in its neck is named Mira,
which means 'the rebel'.
All that the enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the
middle of your congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. . . .They have cast
fire into your sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of
your name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together:
they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. . . .O God, how long
shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme your name for ever? . .
.You did divide the sea by your strength: you brake the heads of the dragons in the
waters. You brake the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gave him to be meat to the
people inhabiting the wilderness. . . .Remember this, that the enemy has
reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed your name. O
deliver not the soul of your turtledove to the multitude of the wicked: . . . for the
dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. O let not the oppressed
return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise your name. Arise, O God.
(Psalm 74:3-22 edited)
The foolish people who blasphemed Jehovah's Name in the past, continue to do so in
the present. They have cast down the Temple Mount and have erected their own insignia to
their god, Allah. The Muslims pursue the destruction of the Hebrew people and their
synagogues around the world.
Perseus, the breaker, is the constellation with the sword who cuts off the head of this
creature. A star in that head is called Algol, which means 'demon star'. Ancient
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skywatchers thought it was cursed because its brightness changes. That's because Algol is
the most famous eclipsing binary star.
Can you draw out leviathan with an hook? . . . his teeth are terrible round about.
His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. . . . Out of his mouth
go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out
of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his
mouth. . . . His heart is as firm as a stone; . . . He esteems iron as straw, and brass
as rotten wood. . . . He makes the deep to boil like a pot: he makes the sea like a pot
of ointment. He makes a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be
hoary. On earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. He beholds all high
things: he is a king over all the children of pride. (Job 41:1-34 edited)
Leviathan is a fire-breathing dragon who leaves a shining wake. Leviathan terrorizes
the world. Satan is proud of his beauty (Ezekiel 25:3; 28:12); he is the king of the prideful.
Serpens
Another snake constellation which plagues Virgo is Serpens. The constellations
Bootes, Virgo, and Serpens represent Joseph, Mary and Herod, as well as Adam, Eve and
the Serpent in Eden. "Satan, the deceiver of the whole world" (Revelation 12:9).
And the LORD God said to the serpent, . . . I will put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you
shall bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:14-15 edited)
There's also an ancient constellation called Serpentarius who destroys the serpent which
is striving for the crown (Corona). Today he's called Ophiuchus (the serpent held). And
being close to Virgo, he is also known as her Seed. Ophiuchus' foot is crushing the head of
Scorpio at the red star Antares, while it tries to sting his heel.
And he said to them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give to
you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:
and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:18-19)
The Judgment
Taurus and his decans provide the picture of final judgment in the sky. Taurus, the
rushing bull, is composed of over 100 stars, including the the Pleiades in its neck. Pleiades
means 'the congregation of the judge'. Jesus comes to judge the earth as victorious king
pictured as Orion stepping upon Lepus, a snake. To His sheep, Jesus is the shepherd,
Auriga; but the wicked will be cast into the fire of Eridanus.
For the indignation of the LORD is on all nations, and his fury on all their armies:
he has utterly destroyed them, he has delivered them to the slaughter. . . . And all
the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a
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scroll: and all their host shall fall down,. . . For my sword shall be bathed in
heaven: behold, it shall come down on Idumea, and on the people of my curse, to
judgment. . . . And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with
the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with
fatness. For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for
the controversy of Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the
dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It
shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever:
(Isaiah 34:2-10 edited)
Job said God made "Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south" (Job
9:9). Orion was spelled Oarion, from the Hebrew root which means 'light'. His Egyptian
name is Ha-ga-t, meaning 'this is he who triumphs'. Orion's brightest star is named
Betelgeuz, which means 'the coming of the branch' (Malachi 3:2). The next brightest star is
named Rigel which means 'the foot that crusheth'. The star called Saiph means 'bruised',
and is the very word used in Genesis 3:15. Like Ophiuchus, Orion has one leg bruised;
while, with the other, he is crushing the enemy under foot. The star called Bellatrix means
'quickly coming', or 'swiftly destroying'.
Summary
God created the stars and gave them names to help us understand His plan of salvation.
The twelve sons of Israel are represented by the constellations of the zodiac; most
importantly Naphtali which is represented by the lamb of Aries for the nation of Israel, and
Judah represented by Leo. Jesus was born of a virgin while Virgo had the moon under her
feet and Coma of twelve stars on her head, on Tishri 1, 3 BC. Daniel was an astronomer
who trained the astronomers of the east who passed on this knowledge so that their
descendants ("wise men from the east") recognized the birth of the King of the Jews during
very specific and spectacular astronomical events.
Jews and Christians have been protected in America for 350 years ("time, times, and
half a time"). The "short" 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation began when Michael
released Satan (2 Thess. 2:6-9).
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the
children of your 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 your people shall
be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them
that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to
shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness
of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and
ever. But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of
the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. . . .How long
shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard . . . that it shall be for a time,
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times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the
holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:1-7 edited)
Satan has many representations in the constellations, none of which are victorious.
And all the believers he kills "shall awake to everlasting life" when Jesus comes again.
Christ's Bride should watch the sky with hope, not fear.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and on the
earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's
hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on
the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son
of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin
to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws
near. (Luke 21:25-28)
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Israel
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you that lead Joseph like a flock;
you that dwell between the cherubim,
shine forth. (Psalm 80:1)
Israel's past, present and future are rich and deep and full of miracles. God calls
Himself their Shepherd and Husband as well as their Savior. Thousands of Messianic Jews
in Israel are crying out for the return of their Messiah, and He will answer their cry.
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In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your seed have
I given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:
(Genesis 15:18)
This land included the area known as the 'fertile crescent' west of the Euphrates. The
Fertile Crescent had to be conquered by every empire because it contained the travel routes
between Africa and Asia and the North. At this point Abram, age 85, and Sarai, age 75,
still had no children. Through Sarah's maid, Hagar, Abraham had a son named Ishmael the
following year. When he was 99, God commanded Abraham and every male in his
household to be circumcised, and He changed their names to Abraham and Sarah and
promised them a son. The next year (Abram, age 100, and Sarai, age 90) Isaac was born.
About twenty years later Abraham and Isaac go up Mount Moriah (what would become the
Temple Mount) and God provided a ram for the offering, but knows Abraham was willing
to give up his "only" son (Genesis 22). But the promise of land to his seed also came with a
prophecy of struggle and servitude.
Strangers in Egypt
And he said to Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land
that is not their's, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred
years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward
shall they come out with great substance. . . . But in the fourth generation they shall
come here again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. (Gen. 15:13-14, 16)
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, And to seeds,
as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the
covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four
hundred and thirty years after, cannot cancel, that it should make the promise of
none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God
gave it to Abraham by promise. (Galatians 3:16-18)
Isaac married Rebekah who gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Jacob wrestled with
the Angel of the LORD who changed his name from Jacob ('deceiver') to Israel ('prevailer'
or 'prince of God'). Jacob/Israel had 12 sons, including Joseph, who became the patriarchs
of the tribes of Israel. From God's calling Abram out of Ur to when Jacob takes his whole
family to join Joseph in Egypt is 215 years. From Jacob's move to Egypt until the Exodus
was 215 years. It was only about the last 100 years of their time in Egypt that the Hebrews
were enslaved and afflicted.
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Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred, . . . so that they cast out their young
children, to the end they might not live. In which time Moses was born, . . .
Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. And Moses
was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in
deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his
brothers the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended
him,. . . and smote the Egyptian: For he supposed his brothers would have
understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood
not. . . . Then fled Moses and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat
two sons. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the
wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. . . . and
as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the LORD came to him, Saying, I am the
God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob. . . . Put off your shoes from your feet: for the place where you stand is holy
ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I
have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I
will send you into Egypt. . . . He brought them out, after that he had showed
wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness
forty years. This is that Moses, which said to the children of Israel, A prophet shall
the Lord your God raise up to you of your brothers, like to me; him shall you hear.
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to
him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give
to us: To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their
hearts turned back again into Egypt, Saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before
us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not
what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to
the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave
them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O
you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space
of forty years in the wilderness? Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the
star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will
carry you away beyond Babylon. (Acts 7:17-43 edited)
The Exodus coincides with Passover, and the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai
coincides with Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). Though it was only an eleven day trip from
Mount Horeb/Sinai in Arabia to Kadesh-barnea in Canaan (Deuteronomy 1:2), their fear
and disobedience cost them forty years in the desert. But Moses foretold of a prophet from
whom they would hear God's Word. They resorted to worship of the moon-god bull so
popular in Egypt. The true God who created the moon, sun, and stars had brought them out
of bondage with mighty miracles, but it did not wrest their hearts from bondage to idolatry,
even that which demanded child sacrifice (Moloch).
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12 Tribes
After Moses died, God now had a miracle generation which had grown up living upon
manna and wearing clothes and shoes which never wore out, who had been trained to
worship Him alone. Joshua took them into the Promised Land of Canaan to destroy the
idol worshipers there. But first, God did another crossing of water miracle, over the Jordan
river at flood stage on dry ground, which would propel them into their new future. God
performed this miracle on the 10th of Nisan, which was the day of selecting the Passover
lamb. Joshua is the Hebrew form of the name Jesus, thus alluding to the future "Lamb of
God" who would miraculously and prophetically be "cut off" as the river had been, to
provide access to God's Promised Land of eternal life: "cut off [kawrath] before [in the
face of] the ark of the covenant [b'reeth]."
And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the
LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every
tribe a man, And command you them, saying, Take you hence out of the middle of
Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and you
shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where you
shall lodge this night. . . . That this may be a sign among you, that when your
children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean you by these stones?
Then you shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark
of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan
were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel for
ever. . . .On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they
feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. And the LORD spoke to
Joshua, saying, Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they
come up out of Jordan. Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come you
up out of Jordan. And it came to pass, when the priests that bore the ark of the
covenant of the LORD were come up out of the middle of Jordan, and the soles of
the priests' feet were lifted up to the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned to
their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before. And the people came
up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the
east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did
Joshua pitch in Gilgal. And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your
children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
Then you shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry
land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until
you were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up
from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might
know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that you might fear the LORD your
God for ever. (Joshua 4:1-24 edited)
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The twelve tribes had a bit of transformation when Jacob/Israel adopted Joseph's two
sons, Ephraim and Manasseh as his own (Genesis 48:5). Then God chose the tribe of Levi
as His possession, and gave them cities instead of a tract of land to inhabit. So the twelve
sons of Jacob morphed into the following twelve tribes of Israel when they came into their
land: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin,
Ephraim and Manasseh (Numbers 34-35).
Judges/Kings
But after Joshua and that miracle generation died . . .
there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the
works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight
of the LORD, and served Baalim: . . . And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal
and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered
them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of
their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their
enemies. . . . Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of
the hand of those that spoiled them. And yet they would not listen to their judges,
but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves to them: . . . And
when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and
delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it
repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed
them and vexed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they
returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods
to serve them, and to bow down to them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor
from their stubborn way. (Judges 2:10-19 edited)
For 450 years Israel was led by judges. Caleb's younger brother, Othniel, judged for 40
years (Judges 3:11) as did Deborah (Judges 5:31) and Gideon (Judges 8:28). Samson
judged Israel for 20 years (Judges 15:20).
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and you that
fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and
exalted the people when they dwelled as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an
high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he
their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the
land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave to
them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the
prophet. (Acts 13:16-20)
The last 'judge' was Eli, the priest, who judged Israel for forty years while Samuel
served in the Tabernacle (1 Samuel 4:16-18). Then God made another transition.
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You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite your hands together. and let the
sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great
men that are slain, which enters into their privy chambers. (Ezekiel 21:14 regarding
Babylon in v19 coming against Jerusalem three times)
Israel and Judah are in exile. Solomon's Temple and Jerusalem are destroyed by fire in
586 BC. Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian empire are large and in charge, but he
becomes proud, and God humbles him (Daniel 4:16-37).
Daniel
Daniel explains his deportation as a youth and how he learned the language of Aramaic,
the business language of the Babylonian Empire, in Daniel 1. Daniel 2-7 are written in the
language of the Gentiles because they deal specifically with the Gentiles; and Daniel 8-12
are written in Hebrew because they deal specifically with Israel. The book is not
chronological, but divided as to its intended audience. An outline of Daniel chapters 2-12
follows:
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Daniel 2-7 in Aramaic
2 Statue vision
3 Bow to gold statue
4 Great tree to stump
5 Writing on the wall
6 Darius / Lion's den
7 Four beasts
Daniel 8 prophesied the Medes/Persians (ram with two horns) would conquer the
Babylonians, but the description of the actual takeover with the writing on the wall is in
Daniel 5 (538 BC).
Leaders in Jerusalem
Zerubbabel, governor 536-515
Haggai, prophet 536-513
Zechariah, prophet 536-513
Jeshua, high priest 515-483
Joiakim, high priest 483-458
Ezra, governor 467-455
Nehemiah, governor 454-443
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became great. And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on
the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable
horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had
seen standing before the river, and ran to him in the fury of his power. And I saw
him come close to the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote
the ram, and broke his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand
before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped on him: and there was
none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. Therefore the he goat waxed very
great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four
notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. . . . The ram which you saw having
two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of
Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being
broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation,
but not in his power. (Daniel 8:3-8, 20-22 edited)
After Alexander's death in 323 BC, his four generals divided up the kingdom, and
Seleucus took Syria. Daniel 11 prophetically described the devolution of the Greek empire.
The Seleucids of Syria took over Israel in 198 BC. Syria was eventually ruled by
Antiochus Epiphanes. The Maccabeans led a successful revolt against his Syrian armies
and cleansed and rededicated the temple, which is commemorated in Hanukkah. The
descendants of the Maccabees ruled until Christ's birth under Herod the Great (who married
into their Hasmonean family). Within a generation of Christ's death, the Temple was
destroyed (70 AD) and the Jews scattered throughout the earth. Israel ceased to be a nation
even though many Jews remained in the land the Romans renamed Palestine. The Romans
placed a tax upon anyone performing Jewish rituals throughout their empire, so many Jews
traveled to other continents.
Thus the empires in Nebuchadnezzar's metal statue (Daniel 2) took their turns at
persecuting the Jews prior to Messiah's first coming: Babylonians, Medes/Persians,
Grecians, and Romans. Jews continued to be persecuted in the lands to which they fled,
and so many became crypto-Jews, or hidden-Jews. But God provided a safe haven for Jews
in America for 350 years (1650-2000).
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wrested from the Turks and given to their natural owners. Does not Palestine as
rightfully belong to the Jews?
Theodor Herzl, a Jew in Hungary, wrote a book titled Jewish State in 1896, and
promoted the concept of Zionism, the reestablishment of a homeland for the Jewish people.
When WWI began, Europe was already looking at how to carve up the Ottoman Empire.
In 1917, a key letter from the British Foreign Office was sent to Lord Rothschild, a leader
of the British Jewish community, known as the Balfour Declaration.
"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a
national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to
facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing
shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing nonJewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by
Jews in any other country."
The international community, including the emerging Arab nations, recognized
Israel at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, which was held by the victorious Allies
in order to settle international questions after the 1918 armistice ended World War I.
The head of the Arab delegation, Emir Feisal, great-grandfather of Abdallah, the
future king of Jordan, agreed that 'Palestine' would be the Jewish homeland. Feisal
accepted the British Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917, which afforded
recognition to a Jewish national homeland, and agreed with the Zionist delegation,
stating, "All such measures shall be adopted as we afford the fullest guarantee of
carrying into effect the British Government's Balfour Declaration." Emir Feisal
confirmed this determination in a March 3, 1919 letter to Harvard Law Professor,
and later US Supreme Court Justice, Felix Frankfurter, to whom he wrote: "Our
deputation here in Paris is fully acquainted with the proposals submitted by the
Zionist organization to the Peace Conference, and we regard them as modest and
proper. We will do our best, insofar as we are concerned, to help them through. We
will wish the Jews a most hearty welcome home." In exchange for Arab recognition
of Israel, the Allied powers, in 1919, agreed to the eventual sovereignty of almost
20 Arab states, covering vast oil-rich lands, after a period of mandatory oversight by
European powers. The Europeans would proceed to draw the borders of their
respective mandates and, in essence, create the system of Arab states that would
emerge out of the remnants of the old Turkish Ottoman Empire. In 1922, a couple
of years after the Conference, in a land for peace deal, the British would split
Mandatory Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish Mandate using the Jordan River as
the line of demarcation. The Arabs were granted East Palestine, or Transjordan,
which would later become Arab Jordan while West Palestine, or Cis-Jordan, would
become the Jewish National homeland of Israel. (by Chuck Morse April 14, 2006)
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The League of Nations made Palestine a British mandate in 1922. The Jews were
called Palestinians then, and they accounted for 11% of the population. Later in 1922, the
British made the TransJordan an Arab State. So the world already provided an Arab state
from Jewish lands; it's called the nation of Jordan. It was the king of Jordan who kicked
out Arafat and his violent troublemakers, who then eventually moved to Palestine and
began to call themselves Palestinians, trying to convince the world to give them yet another
state carved out of Israel's lands.
During WWII the British ruled Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital. Jews came to
Israel by droves. But the Temple Mount was controlled by the Muslims.
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Germany began its persecution of Jews in 1933 and killed six million Jews by the end
of WWII. Germans regarded the panther as an exceptional animal, which is also called a
leopard. After Hitler's defeat, Germany was divided into four sectors ("wings") which
were controlled by four commanders ("heads"). The Four Power Agreement on Berlin was
signed September 3, 1971 by the allied powers: United States, Soviet Union, United
Kingdom, and France. A Russian general controlled the Eastern zone, a British general
commanded the Northwestern zone, a French general ran the Southwestern zone, and an
American general administered the western zone.
Again, many Jews fled to Palestine. God may have been using these beasts to drive His
Hebrew children home to Israel.
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries,
and will bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24)
Aliyahs
The Hebrew word aliyah means 'ascent', and refers to the return of Jews to their land.
The first, second, and third aliyahs were mostly Jews coming from Russia; the fourth aliyah
was mostly Jews coming from Poland and Hungary. The fifth aliyah of the 1930's brought
over 250,000 Jews from Germany. Then the British made it illegal for the Jews to
immigrate as a concession to Germany, but still many came.
1881
1904-1914
1919-1923
1924-1929
1929-1939
First Aliyah
Second Aliyah
Third Aliyah
Fourth Aliyah
Fifth Aliyah
40,000 Jews
50,000 Jews
50,000 Jews
250,000 Jews
From 1940-1944 Aliyah Bet secretly brought in Jews during WWII. By the end of
WWII, Jews accounted for 33% of the population of Palestine. In just 22 years Jews had
tripled their population in Palestine.
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and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation
toward his enemies. (Isaiah 66:7-14 edited)
The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947, and photographed in February 1948.
Arab protests erupted in March. On May 14, 1948, one day before the end of the British
Mandate, the Jewish Agency proclaimed independence, naming their country Israel. She
became a nation, and then "her pain came". The next day five Arab countries invaded
Israel: Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. The Arab-Israeli War lasted a year. The
1949 Armistice Agreements created temporary borders. Jordan annexed the West Bank
and East Jerusalem, and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip. There was rejoicing and
mourning specifically over Jerusalem; the Muslims controlled the east side including the
Temple Mount.
In 1948 the Soviet Union immediately recognized the new state of Israel. The
population of Israel rose from 800,000 to two million between 1948 and 1958. During that
period, Israel was frequently attacked by Egyptian-sponsored Muslims in the Gaza Strip,
and no nation cared. But when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956, France and the
United Kingdom secretly created a plan with Israel to recapture the Sinai Peninsula which
was successful, but then the United States and the Soviet Union required Israel to retreat
from it for guarantees of shipping rights. Egyptian President Nasser began to call for Arabs
to unite and plan Israel's destruction.
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kingdoms (Syria) will emerge a king of fierce countenance, a "little horn" when the
transgressors come to the full.
Muslims now control one fourth of the earth and have a quarter of the world's
population. According to Revelation 6:8, the rider of the pale horse is given power "over
the fourth part of the earth" to kill, and his name is Death. Muslims are quoted saying,
"We love death like you love life." The transgressors have come to the full, and it's time
for the "little horn" to emerge and lead forth the beast in the Great Tribulation.
The fullness of transgressors is not to be confused with the fullness of the Gentiles,
though I believe both have reached their fullness. Within the last two decades, thousands
of Jews have come to believe Jesus is their Messiah, and now there are dozens of Messianic
groups in Israel.
For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is
written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away
ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:25-26)
Awake, Bride
whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the
purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will: That we
should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom you also
trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in
whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:10-14)
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face from them. Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the
captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous
for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses
whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelled safely in their land,
and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and
gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of
many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused
them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them to their
own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face
any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit on the house of Israel, said the
Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 39:17-18, 22-29)
After the battle of Megiddo, God will restore all Hebrews to their land. ". . . blindness
in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel
shall be saved" (Romans 11:25b-26).
Summary
After Noah's flood, Shem's descendants settled in Mesopotamia. God chose Abram and
promised him the "whole land of Canaan" between the Nile and the Euphrates, but the
promise of land to his seed also came with a prophecy of struggle until the iniquity of the
Amorites was full (Genesis 15:16). [There is a pattern of the promise withheld until the
transgressions of others have reached fullness.]
Israel, the prince of God, married Leah and Rachel (and two concubines) and had 12
sons, who became the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel. The eleven jealous brothers sold
Joseph into slavery for twenty pieces of silver to Egypt, but he became their redeemer
during the famine, and the entire clan moved to Goshen. About four generations later God
gave the Hebrews another deliverer named Moses.
The Exodus from Egypt coincides with Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea with First
Fruits, and the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai with Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). After
Moses died, Joshua took the Hebrews across the Jordan river into the Promised Land of
Canaan to destroy the idol worshipers there. But they did not eradicate all the idol
worshipers.
After Joshua and that generation died the people of Israel were led by judges for 450
years. The people rejected God as their King, and God used prophets and kings to lead His
people. The kingdom of Israel was divided into two after 120 years. The northern house of
Israel was taken into exile by the Assyrians from 734 to 715 BC in three waves, and the
southern house of Judah was taken into exile by Babylonians from 605 to 588 BC also in
three waves. Solomon's Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed by fire in 586 BC.
Daniel recognized the exile was punishment for sin, and that it was almost over. The
Jewish exiles returned in waves to Judah from 536 to 454 BC by Persian decrees. Daniel
also knew through visions that after the Persians would come the Greeks. Alexander the
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Great conquered Darius III of Persia in 333 BC. Daniel predicted the decline of the
Grecian empire (Daniel 11) until it was conquered by the Romans (Daniel 2). Daniel's
seventy week prophecy (Daniel 9) predicted the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem
after Messiah was "cut off". Jews dispersed and time passed.
In the late 1800's people began to seek a future state for the Jewish people. In 1917 the
British Balfour Declaration brought it closer to reality. The League of Nations made
Palestine a British mandate in 1922, and Jews accounted for 11% of the population. Many
Jews fled to Palestine to escape Russian and German pogroms against them. By the end of
WWII, Jews accounted for 33% of the population of Palestine, tripling their population in
22 years.
Israel miraculously became a Nation in 1948. The next day five Arab countries began a
war which lasted a year. The population of Israel rose from 800,000 to two million
between 1948 and 1958. During that period, Israel was frequently attacked by Muslims
which escalated until the 1967 War. In just six days Israel regained the Sinai Peninsula,
Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and West Bank; but most importantly, they took back Jerusalem
and the Temple Mount. Under pressure Israel returned all the land it had won except the
West Bank. Israel was attacked by Muslim nations again on Yom Kippur in 1973.
Daniel's fourth beast represents a Muslim conglomerate which continues to tread upon
Israel. Muslims have reached their "fullness" of a fourth of the earth in which they have
power to kill, and a "little horn" (caliph) should soon arise to lead the beast and begin the
Great Tribulation. Prior to this God will seal 144,000 Hebrews with His Holy Spirit.
Nations will continue to pressure Israel to divide its land and its capital, and to give
away more land for false peace. Israelis can't have peace with people who want to
exterminate them. Israel will eventually stand up and defend itself in a way that so
incenses the other nations that they will all come against Israel at the battle of Armageddon.
After the battle in the valley of Mount Megiddo, God will restore all Hebrews to their land.
The Gentile church does not replace Israel; instead, Gentile believers in Yeshua are
placed into Israel, adopted into God's family. Israel is often referred to as an olive tree.
And we Gentiles "were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and
fatness of the olive tree" (Romans 11:17).
For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted
contrary to nature into a good olive tree: . . . that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be
saved: . . . As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as
touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. For the gifts and
calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:24-29 edited)
The fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and the blinders have been removed from
Hebrew people who are coming to faith in Jesus as their Messiah by the thousands. There
is yet time for many Jews and Gentiles to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation,
so we should be about our Father's business.
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Abominations
Abominations
And you have seen their abominations,
and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold,
which were among them. (Deuteronomy 29:17)
There are several words translated as 'abomination'. The one in the verse above is
shikkoots, meaning disgusting, filthy, detestable, and especially idolatrous. Our God is a
jealous God. Jesus paid our bride price with His life-blood; thus He requires and deserves
our complete affection. We are not to go whoring after other gods or idols.
When people talk about the "abomination of desolation" you should ask them, which
one? God prophesied several desolations upon the Hebrews for their disobedience in the
wilderness (Leviticus 26:21-43). 'Desolation' is shamem meaning to stun or stupefy,
devastate or be astonished, be destitute, destroyed, or laid waste. Jesus specified, "When
you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
stand in the holy place" (Matthew 24:15). But again we need to ask, "Which one?"
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Note the differences of pronouns or lack thereof between the three. Taken out of
context they are rather difficult to understand. In the first verse it is 'because of' or 'due to'
the over-spreading of abominations that he will make it desolate and an individual is
referenced. In the second, an army pollutes the sanctuary, takes away the daily sacrifice,
and places the abomination that makes desolate. In the third verse, an abomination that
makes desolate is set up. We'll begin with the army that pollutes the sanctuary, takes
away the daily sacrifice, and places the abomination that makes desolate, because it's also
responsible for a fourth "transgression of desolation".
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
In one of Daniel's visions, he sees Alexander the Great as the great horn of the goat of
Greece.
Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn
was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great,
toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. And it waxed
great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars
to the ground, and stamped on them. Yes, he magnified himself even to the prince of
the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the
sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by
reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced,
and prospered. Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said to that
certain saint which spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily
sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the
host to be trodden under foot? And he said to me, To two thousand and three
hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. (Daniel 8:8-14)
'Transgression' is pesha which means revolt, rebellion, or trespass. 'Host' is tsaba
which means a mass of people or an army. 2300 days = 6 1/3 years (6.38) using a 360 day
year.
After Alexander's death in 323 BC, his four generals divided up the kingdom, and
Seleucus took Syria. The Seleucids of Syria took over Israel in 198 BC. Syria was
eventually ruled by Antiochus Epiphanes ('shining one'), but the Jews called him Antiochus
Epimanes ('mad one'). This "little horn" invaded Egypt with his Syrian army in 170 and
again in 168 BC (each time going through Israel). He had a pig sacrificed in the temple to
Zeus on Kislev 15, 167 BC, and tried to get the Jews to eat the meat; they were tortured for
refusing and burnt on the altar (II Maccabees 6 and 7).
"Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one
people, And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to
the commandment of the king. Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his
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religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath. For the king had sent
letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow
the strange laws of the land, And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink
offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:
And pollute the sanctuary and holy people: Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of
idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts: That they should also leave
their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of
uncleanness and profanation: To the end they might forget the law, and change all
the ordinances. And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the
king, he said, he should die. In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole
kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of
Juda to sacrifice, city by city. Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to
wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land; And
drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.
Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they
set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars
throughout the cities of Juda on every side; And burnt incense at the doors of their
houses, and in the streets. And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law
which they found, they burnt them with fire." (I Maccabees 1:41-56)
Josephus states Antiochus held Jerusalem for 3 years. He decided to exterminate the
Jews, but mysteriously died en route in November/December of 164 BC after writing letters
of apology to the Jews for his plans to do so. Antiochus IV had been terrorizing Jerusalem
for 6 1/3 years. The Maccabeans led a successful revolt against his Syrian armies and
cleansed and rededicated the temple, which is commemorated in Hanukkah and foretold in
Ezekiel.
Therefore say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among
the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be
to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Therefore say,
Thus said the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you
out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of
Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable
things thereof and all the abominations thereof from there. And I will give them one
heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of
their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes,
and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be
their God. But as for them whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable
things and their abominations, I will recompense their way on their own heads, said
the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 11:16-21)
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Therefore the second 'abomination of desolation' verse (Daniel 11:31) was fulfilled
before Christ was born by the armies of Antiochus Epiphanes. To understand the first one,
we need more background information.
Abominations
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. (Daniel 9:2,
13-14, 24-27 edited)
When Messiah came, it was to complete their punishment and desolations, and then to
be cut off for their salvation. Jesus taught this punishment would be completed within
forty years (a generation).
And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the
desolation thereof is near. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains;
and let them which are in the middle of it depart out; and let not them that are in
the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things
which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to them that are with child, and to them
that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath
on this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away
captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. . . . Truly I say to you, This generation shall
not pass away, till all be fulfilled. (Luke 21:20-24, 32)
The word for 'vengeance' is ekdikesis which means punishment. These desolations of
war upon the Jews and Jerusalem were determined as punishment because of their sins back
when the Hebrews refused to go into the promised land (Leviticus 26). The desolations of
war of the last half of the 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27) was from March/April 67 when
Vespasian's troops fought against the Judeans in Galilee to the Temple's destruction on (9th
of Av) August 29, 70 AD. Besides Leviticus and Daniel, this destruction was also foretold
in Psalms using similar wording (in bold):
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels [supplanters or
enemies] shall compass me about? (Psalm 49:5 edited with additions)
Titus tried to protect the Temple, but a fire started in adjoining buildings which
eventually destroyed the Temple and melted its gold. The stones were cast down and
picked apart to retrieve the gold. This destruction of the second Temple was on the same
exact day that Solomon's Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Thus was
the first punishment of 70 years prophesied by Jeremiah for past sins linked to the 70 week
prophecy of Daniel.
The second Temple's destruction fulfills the Messiah's prophecy as well as the
completion "for the overspreading of abominations" in Daniel's 70th week (Daniel 9). The
first 'abomination of desolation' verse in Daniel was fulfilled by Jesus within a generation
of His being the covenant "cut off" on the cross.
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The Temple Mount is Holy because Jehovah Placed His NAME There
Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his
name to dwell there; thither shall you bring all that I command you; your burnt
offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and
all your choice vows which you vow to the LORD: . . . Take heed to yourself that
you offer not your burnt offerings in every place that you see: But in the place
which the LORD shall choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt
offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. (Deut. 12:11, 13-14)
And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the
LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,
That the LORD appeared to Solomon . . . And the LORD said to him, I have heard
your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me: I have hallowed
this house, which you have built, to put my name there for ever; and my eyes and
my heart shall be there perpetually. (1 Kings 9:1-3 edited)
People and places are holy because God has set them apart for His special use. And
Jehovah has chosen Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 6:6; 33:4). Thayer's Greek definition of
Jerusalem is set ye double peace. But because of sin, God removed His people and the
Temple for a season (2 Kings 21:7; 23:27). Daniel prophesied the holy people would be
completely scattered from Jerusalem.
It shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to
scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
(Daniel 12:7b)
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How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? . . . and swore by him that lives
for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be
finished. (Daniel 12:6b and 7b)
Hadrian fulfilled this prophecy regarding the "time, times, and an half . . . to scatter the
power of the holy people." Even after the siege and burning of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Jews
still returned to their beloved capital and the remains of the Temple. After Hadrian, the
Jews stayed away for hundreds of years. Hadrian did "set up" an abomination on the
Temple Mount, and the war did last three and a half years in seeming accordance with
"time, times and half a time" which is used in Revelation, but he was just an antichrist, not
the Antichrist. The reasons are as follows: the years given regarding the Antichrist's
abomination being "set up" are given at the end of the Daniel 12, the phrase in Revelation
correlates to 350 years, not 3 1/2 years; and Hadrian was more interested in worshiping his
dead homosexual lover than in seeking worship for himself.
Abominations
Lift up your feet to the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy has done
wickedly in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the middle of your congregations;
they set up their ensigns for signs. . . . They have cast fire into your sanctuary, they
have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of your name to the ground. They
said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the
synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet:
neither is there among us any that knows how long. O God, how long shall the
adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme your name for ever? . . .Remember
this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have
blasphemed your name. (Psalm 74:2-18 edited)
'Set up' is soom/seem, meaning call [a name], change, charge, commit, determine,
disguise, dispose, hold, impute, mark, name, paint, place, preserve, purpose, rehearse,
reward, tread down, and overturn. 'E nsigns' and 'signs' are oth, meaning a signal as a flag,
beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, mark, or token. 'Desolations' is mashshuah
meaning destruction (Ps. 73:18). The Muslims have changed the name and purpose of the
Temple Mount and placed their golden dome as a beacon of the destruction of Jehovah's
presence there.
After Israel turned Nablus (Shechem) over to the Palestinians, Muslims began to
desecrate Joseph's tomb in 1999 with hammers, then they painted its dome green (for
Islam), and they eventually destroyed it by fire in 2001 to erect a mosque in its place.
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the beginning and completion of the Dome of the Rock is from 685 to 692 AD. But many
view 687 as its first year of construction. 687 +1,290 = 1977
1977 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat recognizes Israel. In November, Sadat visited
Israel and began talks with Begin, resulting in the Camp David Accords and the EgyptIsrael Peace Treaty. Earlier in the year Menachem Begin stated, "If I become the Prime
Minister, I will open the Temple Mount to Jews. I will not fear the reactions of the
Christians and Moslems" (but he did not). 687 + 1,335 = 2022.
2022 Messiah Jesus begins His kingdom reign of 1,000 years.
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host to be trodden under foot? And he said to me, To two thousand and three
hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. . . . And he said, Behold, I will
make you know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time
appointed the end shall be. The ram which you saw having two horns are the kings
of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn
that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood
up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And
in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a
king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And
his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the
holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand;
and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall
also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: why shut you
up the vision; for it shall be for many days. (Daniel 8:1-26 edited)
Note the similarities between the wording of this passage and Daniel 12:11-12.
The possible start dates for the 2300 years ('days') within this chapter are as follows:
538 BC the ram became great, and one horn, Darius the Mede, is now king of Babylon;
333 BC the goat conquered the ram; Alexander conquered Darius III Codomannus;
323 BC when four notable horns came from the goat; Alexander dies suddenly
and his four generals rule fourths of his kingdom; and
167 BC when the little horn stopped the daily sacrifice;
Antiochus Epiphanes stopped Temple sacrifice.
Subtracting the above dates from the 2300 years we arrive at the following:
2300 - 538 = 1762 which was too early for end-time prophecies regarding Israel
because it hadn't been made a country again until 1948.
2300 - 333 = 1967 Jews recaptured Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in the 6-day war.
2300 - 323 = 1977 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat recognizes Israel; the first Arab
head of state to do so. In November, Sadat visited Israel and began talks with Begin,
resulting in the Camp David Accords and the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. Earlier in the year
Menachem Begin stated, "If I become the Prime Minister, I will open the Temple Mount to
Jews. I will not fear the reactions of the Christians and Moslems" (but he did not).
2300 - 167 = 2133 and some future event in Israel.
The year 2133 seems too far in the future considering the four horsemen have already
galloped across the globe. Using 323, the year of Alexander's death corresponds with the
beginning of construction on the Dome of the Rock in 687 from Daniel 12, but it leads to
little of significance in 1977 in Israel and certainly nothing of importance with the Temple
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Mount. But using 333 when Alexander conquered the Persians yields the important year of
1967, and it corresponds with the "setting up" of the first Muslim abomination on the
Temple Mount in 677 from Daniel 12. [See the appendix for the time-line.]
Mayans
Yes, I know 2012 is the same year of the Mayan doomsday on the winter solstice, Dec.
21, 2012. I did not try to find scripture which would support that date. I place Jesus' return
on the evening of His birth on the Feast of Trumpets, which would be September 16, 2012,
because of Daniel's prophecies in chapters 8 and 12. Astronomers from the east correctly
ascertained the year of Christ's first coming, so it is not unreasonable that astronomers in
the west correctly predicted the year of Christ's second coming. But since neither group
was aware of the importance of Hebrew feasts, they did not know the correct day.
From the feast studies you see why Jesus will return on Rosh Hashanah in 2012.
Counting backwards, 1260 days prior is April 6, 2009. So I would expect the final
abomination of desolation soon after by "a king of fierce countenance, and
understanding dark sentence" who "shall stand up". "He shall also stand up against the
Prince of princes." Both times 'stand up' in Hebrew is amad, meaning appoint, arise,
confirm, place, raise up, remain, or stand fast. 'Ahmad' in Persian means Mohammed or
virtue; Ahmadinejad means Mohammed's race or virtuous race.
Awake, Bride
also on the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Now we beseech you, brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together to him, That you 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 away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he
is God. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. For the
mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets 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 delusion 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. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
The Temple in Jerusalem was known as hieron, which is a word built upon the first part
of the city's name Jerusalem, which means 'to teach peace'; salem being peace. This word
is used in the Gospels and Acts and once in 1 Corinthians 9:13. A common word for
dwelling or tent, naos, was also used to refer to the Temple as well as other places, like the
shrine of Diana (Acts 19:24). It is this more general word, naos, which is used in this
passage. 'God' is Theos, which is also used for pagan gods. So the "temple of God" he sits
in could be either of the Muslim shrines on the Temple Mount.
The Muslims are waiting for their savior called the Mahdi, whom the Bible refers to as
the "little horn" and "mouth" of the Beast, and Christians call the Antichrist. This
Beast/Mahdi will be supported by the False Prophet who will perform miraculous signs and
proclaim himself god on the Temple Mount in one of the shrines. At the end of the Great
Tribulation, Jesus will destroy this False Prophet with the 'brightness' (epiphaneia) of His
coming.
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Summary
Three times Daniel mentions the abomination of desolation.
Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city . . . And after
threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the
people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and
the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined. 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. (Daniel
9:24-27 edited) Jesus was "cut off" in 33 AD, and Titus destroyed the Temple and
Jerusalem in 70 AD. Antiochus Epiphanes IV of Syria was the "prince that shall
come"; he came in 167 BC.
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,
and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that
makes desolate. (Daniel 11:31) Antiochus Epiphanes IV and his Syrian army
fulfilled this in 167 BC.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the
abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred
and ninety days. Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred
and five and thirty days. (Daniel 12:11-12 edited) This is the passage referred to by
Jesus as to be fulfilled in the Great Tribulation. These numbers coupled with the
numbers from Daniel 8, lead to the year 2012 for Christ's second coming.
333 BC the goat conquered the ram; Alexander conquered Darius III Codomannus.
From Daniel 8 we get the following: 2300 - 333 = 1967.
677 The date for the completion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is between 674 and 679.
I chose 677 because it yields the 1967 year. 677 + 1,290 = 1967.
1967 Jews regain control of Jerusalem after 6-day war. Though the Jews recaptured
Jerusalem, the abomination of the Muslim structures on the Temple Mount remained.
677 + 1,335 = 2012.
2012 Those waiting and "looking for that blessed hope" will see "the glorious
appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13) on His birthday, Tishri 1, Rosh
Hashanah.
Three and a half prophetic years is 1,260 days. Remember that Rosh Hashanah begins
at sundown on Sept. 16, 2012 with the rest of the 'day' following on the 17th. Counting
backwards from Sunday, Sept. 16th we arrive at Monday, April 6, 2009 for the beginning
of the Great Tribulation.
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Little Horn
with a Blasphemous Mouth
And there was given to him a mouth
speaking great things and blasphemies;
and power was given to him to continue
forty and two months. (Revelation 13:5)
The blasphemous "mouth" is already in power and will "continue" to lead during the
Great Tribulation. We will look at past 'little horns' and the Great Tribulation 'mouth'.
Though John is the only Bible writer to use the word 'antichrist', he doesn't use it in the
book of Revelation. An antichrist is opposed to Christ, and against Him. An antichrist is
also a substitute instead of Christ. We will look at both: the Antichrist ("little horn") and an
antichrist ("false prophet"). John referred to a future Antichrist as "the antichrist".
Antichrists
Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that [the] antichrist shall
come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they
would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made
manifest that they were not all of us. But you have an unction from the Holy One,
and you know all things. I have not written to you because you know not the truth,
but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that
denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.
Whoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: he that acknowledges the Son
has the Father also. . . . These things have I written to you concerning them that
seduce you. (1 John 2:18-23, 26 [original Greek word omitted by translator])
These "antichrists" came from the church denying that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son
of God the Father. In the past, many have taught that the pope was the Antichrist.
Catholics believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Though some of their doctrines are
anti-Bible, they are not against Christ nor do they substitute a false Christ. Much of our
eschatology (end-times doctrine) was derived from the early Christian fathers who were
oppressed by the Roman Empire, and later oppressed by the Catholic church officiated
from Rome. Park what you've learned previously to the side, and open your mind and spirit
to what the Scriptures actually teach. You have "an unction from the Holy One" to discern
who is an antichrist ("false prophet") as well as the Antichrist ("little horn").
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their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of
uncleanness and profanation: To the end they might forget the law, and change all
the ordinances. And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the
king, he said, he should die. . . . Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the
hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the
altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side; And burnt
incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets. And when they had rent in
pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire. And
whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the
law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death. Thus did they
by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the
cities." (I Maccabees 1:41-51, 54-58)
Antiochus IV took all the gold and silver from the Temple, so he "practiced and
prospered". Antiochus IV did boast he could reach the stars of heaven, but he did not cast
them down. Though he was killed "without hand", both of those prophecies regard the
future "Little horn". Antiochus did think he was God, but God humbled him before his
death. Antiochus IV bragged he would make Jerusalem a graveyard of Jews but during his
painful, stinky bowel disease, he repented, and sought to restore to the Jews all he had
taken, and to let them worship God freely.
Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was filled with pride,
breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding to haste the
journey: but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently; so
that having a sore fall, all the members of his body were much pained. And thus he
that a little afore thought he might command the waves of the sea, (so proud was he
beyond the condition of man) and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now
cast on the ground, and carried in an horselitter, shewing forth unto all the manifest
power of God. So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and
whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell
was noisome to all his army. And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach
to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink. Here
therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his great pride, and to come to the
knowledge of himself by the scourge of God, his pain increasing every moment.
And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words, It is meet
to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of
himself if he were God. (II Maccabees 9:7-12)
Antiochus IV began terrorizing Jerusalem's Temple in spring 170, and died in Nov/Dec
164: a period of 6 2/3 years in accordance with Daniel 8:14. 2300 days = 6 2/3 years (6.66)
using the 360 day calendar. The time period for this "little horn" to terrorize Judah is
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The Assyrian
And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name
of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great to the ends of
the earth. And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our
land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven
shepherds, and eight principal men. And they shall waste the land of Assyria with
the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us
from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land, and when he treads within our
borders. (Micah 5:4-6)
Hundreds of years before Alexander the Great, Micah and other prophets referred to
this little horn as "the Assyrian". The Assyrians ruled the northern Mesopotamia before
the Babylonians conquered them. The preceding passage specifically refers to Antiochus
IV and the seven Maccabees that humiliated him by defeating his armies, and then eight of
their relatives, Hasmoneans, who continued to keep them at bay.
For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote
with a rod. (Isaiah 30:31)
This verse refers to the future "little horn" "whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit
of his mouth" (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Isaiah and Micah prophesied to Judah while Amos
and Hosea prophesied to Israel during the reign of the Assyrians. Many of the
characteristics attributed to "the Assyrian" by these prophets are similar to those of the
little horn and future Antichrist. Today the people who still occupy a great deal of the
ancient Assyrian lands are called Kurds, and they would like to restore their own identity
from Lebanon, Syria, eastern Turkey, and northern Iraq and Iran. Ezekiel prophesied to
Judah during the Babylonian captivity, and again you can see prophecies for a "little horn"
and a future satan-possessed Antichrist.
The Assyrian shall be his king, because they [Israel] refused to return [repent].
(Hosea 11:5 with additions)
And it came to pass . . . that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Son of man,
speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom are you like in your
greatness? Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and
with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick
boughs. . . . All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his
branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his
shadow dwelled all great nations. || Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length
of his branches: for his root was by great waters. The cedars in the garden of God
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could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees
were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like to him in his
beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees
of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. Therefore thus said the Lord
GOD; Because you have lifted up yourself in height, and he has shot up his top
among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;|| I have therefore
delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal
with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness. And strangers, the terrible of
the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: . . . and all the people of the earth
are gone down from his shadow, and have left him. . . .Thus said the Lord GOD; In
the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: . . . and I caused
Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. I made the
nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that
descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all
that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. They also went
down into hell with him to them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his
arm, that dwelled under his shadow in the middle of the heathen. To whom are you
thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shall you be
brought down with the trees of Eden to the nether parts of the earth: you shall lie in
the middle of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is
Pharaoh and all his multitude, said the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 31:1-18 edited)
The beginning of the passage refers to an Assyrian antichrist. The verses between the
double bars refer to the satan-possessed Antichrist, but the rest of the passage seems to mix
the two together. Rulers of the great world empires have dealt with Satan's pride of feeling
equal to God. Satan doesn't just want people to be subjugated to him, he wants people to
worship him as God, as Antiochus Epiphanes IV did.
Awake, Bride
manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and my
anger in their destruction. And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a whip for him
according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was on the
sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. And it shall come to pass in that
day, that his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder, and his yoke from
off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
(Isaiah 10:12-14, 24-27)
'Stout' is godel from a root meaning to twist, enlarge and promote. He twists who he
really is so that others believe in the larger image he promotes. He might begin to believe
his own PR ('public relations') like Antiochus IV did. The Assyrian enslaved God's people,
but God breaks their "yoke" of enslavement "because of the anointing" (which could also
be translated "by the face of anointing" referring to Christ). The future Assyrian will be
destroyed by the brightness of the coming of Jesus, the anointed (Christ).
Awake, Bride
Ali ibn Abu Talib (656-661) - He was considered the first imam by Shias.
Hasan ibn Ali (661-669) - He was considered as "rightly guided".
Muawiyah I (661-680)- He was the first caliph of the Umayyad dynasty.
Umar ibn AbdulAziz (717-720)- Umayyad was the sixth, true legitimate caliph.
Harun al-Rashid (786-809)- Abbasid caliph during whose reign Baghdad
became the world's prominent trade center. Harun is the subject of many stories
in One Thousand and One Nights.
Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) - Early Ottoman Sultan during whose
reign the Ottoman Empire reached its zenith.
Abdul Hamid II (1876-1909) - The last Ottoman Sultan to rule the caliphate.
The Shia call their expectant end-time caliph the twelfth imam (religious leader) and the
Mahdi ('guided one', savior of the world). Their twelfth, and last, imam was born in 869
but apparently never died, and will return and arise from a dry well ("bottomless pit" in
Rev. 17:8) in Iran and appear with "Jesus" to bring peace to the world. The Muslim Mahdi
is the Christian Antichrist.
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And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast,
and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire
burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)
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'Fierce' is az, meaning strong, vehement, and harsh. 'Countenance' is pawneem,
meaning a face as the part that turns (two-faced), from a root that includes lying.
'Understanding' is bene, meaning cunning, intelligent, and eloquent. 'Dark sayings' is
kheedaw, meaning puzzle, trick, conundrum or riddles. 'Be mighty' is awtsam, meaning to
bind fast, to close (the eyes), to make numerous; or to crunch the bones. To destroy
wonderfully includes destruction via miracles; this is an aspect of the False Prophet.
Many Christians and Jews will continue to be slaughtered by Muslims through one-sided
"peace" accords. 'Craft' is meermaw, meaning deceit and craftiness. The Antichrist will be
an eloquent, vehement liar and trickster. He will defy Jesus, the Prince of princes, and lose.
In Islamic eschatology, Qiyama, Muslims believe their version of Jesus/Isa (False
Prophet), will return bodily to defeat the bad al-Dajjal (False Messiah), who leads Muslims
astray. Isa will tell people he did not die on the cross and Christianity is wrong, but Islam
is true. Isa will support the militaristic Mahdi (Antichrist) in his world conquest for Islam.
Muslim Mahdi
The Muslim savior, al-Mahdi, will be a direct descendant of Mohammed. He will unite
Muslims as one caliphate again and lead the army of black flags to conquer the Jews and
establish a base at Jerusalem, but have his headquarters in Iraq.
Mohammed is quoted as having said, "Armies carrying black flags will come from
Khurasan. No power will be able to stop them and they will finally reach Eela where they
will erect flags." According to Signs of Qiyamah, 'Eela' is Baitul Maqdas, the holy house
(Dome of the Rock) in Jerusalem. The land of Khurasan is the land of the Kurds which
stretches from northern Iran and Iraq into eastern Turkey. But according to Shia
eschatology, the Mahdi will arise from Khorassan, currently their north eastern province,
which historically once covered parts of today's Afghanistan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan as well.
Muslims believe the Mahdi will find the Ark of the Covenant and bring it to Jerusalem.
He is also supposed to "discover" ancient biblical manuscripts which he uses to convert
Jews and Christians to Islam. Muslims believe the Mahdi will have supernatural power
over the wind, rain, and crops; and he will distribute wealth and be loved by all people.
Awake, Bride
northern Iran, and Afghanistan. It would be no surprise if most Iranians had a link to Israeli
ancestry. Ahmadinejad has no verified link to Dan.
Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. has genealogical roots to the tribe of Dan on his mother's
side, and has possible roots to the tribe of Dan on his Kenyan father's side. A large remnant
of the tribe of Dan currently lives in Ethiopia, Africa (Kenya lies directly south). Barack
Obama attended both a Catholic school and a Muslim school for two years each as a child.
During an interview Obama made a verbal slip and referred to "my Muslim faith". Obama
is routinely called a messiah, and he has never denied being a messiah.
These three men are currently in positions of power and influence. The most likely
scenario is that Muqtada al-Sadr is the Mahdi/Antichrist who is assisted by Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, the False Prophet bent on destruction. Barack Obama is a False Messiah
(known as the al-Dajjal to Muslims) whom al-Sadr and Ahmadinejad seek to destroy.
Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by
the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall
backward. I have waited for your salvation, O LORD. (Genesis 49:16-18)
The first sentence could be translated, "Dan shall rule and overshadow his people,
united tribes; he will rule as God." 'Serpent' is nachash, a hissing snake, from the verb
meaning hiss, or whisper a (magic) spell generally used of enchanters. 'Bites' is nashak;
Strong's translation is "to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with
interest on a loan: - bite, lend upon usury." The word 'adder' is shephiphon, which is
nowhere else in the Bible; it was translated in the Vulgate as 'cerastes'. According to
Clarke's Bible Commentary, the "cerastes has its name from two little horns upon its head,
and is remarkable for the property here ascribed to the shephiphon." The root of the first
part of shephiphon is shuph which means to bruise; and the word 'heels', are also used in
Gen. 3:15 referring to satan, the serpent. 'Backward' can also mean behind or the West.
The last sentence has three Hebrew words: qavah yeshua yehovah, which can be translated
binding or twisting (salvation) Jesus, God. Jacob was prophesying an Antichrist and a
False Prophet would come from Dan; two snakes, one of which has two little horns (Rev.
13:11).
This prophecy indicates we may be looking for two leaders to arise from the tribe of
Dan which are deceptive talkers who seek to destroy the West (False Messiah): the
blasphemous "son of perdition (destruction)" (2 Thess. 2:3) who is the False Prophet, and
the "little horn" of the beast (Rev. 13:5), who is the Beast/Antichrist. Jeremiah and Daniel
were contemporary prophets both speaking about lying leaders. "Little horn" is the name
Daniel used for a future Antichrist; he also described the destroying False Prophet who
'stands up' (amad).
False Messiahs
For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom
a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as
many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nothing. After this man rose
up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after
him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
(Acts 5:36-37)
Jesus warned His disciples sternly that false Christs would try to deceive them.
Theudas (45 AD) claimed he parted the Jordan like Joshua did. An Egyptian prophet (5258) claimed to bring down walls of Jerusalem. An anonymous prophet (59) promised
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people freedom if they followed him into the wilderness. Theudas and the Egyptian and
the anonymous prophet and their bands were killed and dispersed by Roman procurators.
Menahem, the son of Judas the Galilean (66), used Roman weapons to defend Masada until
74 AD. He dressed as a king and entered the temple with his men to 'worship', but the
temple guard routed him and his men.
Summary
There are many antichrists; those who oppose Jesus and Father God. There have been
particular antichrists like Antiochus IV. Antiochus IV meets the criterion for being "the
Assyrian" and "the prince that shall come," and the "little horn" of Daniel 8:8-14.
Prophetic passages allude to the king of Babylon as a satan-possessed figure seeking to be
worshiped as God. Scriptures direct us to look for two individuals from the tribe of Dan:
the Beast, who is also called "little horn" and "mouth," and the False Prophet.
Daniel refers to the Antichrist as "little horn" and John refers to him as the "mouth"
who speaks great things against God. According to Daniel, he comes after ten kings (the
Muslim caliphs). According to John, he comes after seven moon-worshiping dynasties
(Sumerian through Ottoman). John clarifies that the Antichrist comes from the mystery
religion of Babylon: moon-worship. The Antichrist and the Muslim Mahdi (twelfth imam)
are the same character. John speaks of ten kings having power at the same time with the
Antichrist for "one hour".
Christian eschatology specifies an antichrist who will proclaim himself to be God on
the Temple Mount before Christ's second coming. Jesus will not return until after "the son
of perdition," "that man of sin . . . that Wicked be revealed." This False Prophet's work is
of Satan "with all power and signs and lying wonders." At the end of the Great Tribulation,
Jesus will destroy this False Prophet with the brightness of His coming on Sept. 16th, 2012,
and cast him and the Beast into the lake of fire.
Who will declare himself to be god on the Temple Mount? Jesus warned there would
be many false Christs and false prophets. Jesus commanded His disciples to pray that the
"abomination of desolation" (Matthew 24:15-22) wouldn't take place on the sabbath or
during winter. That means the date of the deity declaration on the Temple Mount is not set.
I think it will occur after the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Muqtada Sadr might declare
himself to be the Mahdi (the Antichrist), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might declare himself to
be god's voice on earth (False Prophet), and/or Barack Obama might declare himself to be
the Messiah (False Messiah). Together the three of them might gather at the Dome of the
Rock to declare Israel is now a Palestinian state. It will be interesting to see what binding
dates Obama's 'peace' plan establishes for Israel.
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Gog
(Ezekiel 38-39)
Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle
(Revelation 20:8b)
The purpose of this chapter is to show that Ezekiel 38 and 39 have been fulfilled and do
not have a future fulfillment. The battle of Armageddon is with all the kings of the earth
(Rev. 16:14-16), not just those countries listed in these two chapters of Ezekiel. Details of
events in chapter seven on Antiochus IV will be fleshed out here.
Gog is a person, then a place, then a person, and then a place. But whether a person or
a place, evil is associated with Gog.
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. (Revelation 20:7-10)
During the millennium, generations will be born who refuse to love and serve King
Jesus. Satan will be loosed at the end and gather these unfaithful ones to his old stomping
grounds of Gog and Magog and deceive them into attacking Jerusalem. Christ will destroy
them quickly with fire and then toss the devil into the lake of fire to join his former
comrades of 1,000 years prior. Knowing the final end of Gog, we will consider his
beginning.
Awake, Bride
inhabited to the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because
their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead. And in the days of Saul they made
war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelled in their tents
throughout all the east land of Gilead. And the children of Gad dwelled over
against them, in the land of Bashan to Salcah: . . . And they transgressed against
the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the
land, whom God destroyed before them. And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit
of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he
carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of
Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river
Gozan, to this day. (1 Chronicles 5:3-11, 25-26)
The tribes of Reuben, Gad (land of Gilead), and the half tribe of Manasseh settled on
this eastern side of the Jordan. Gog was of the tribe of Reuben. His descendants spread
from Gilead to the Euphrates River because of their vast herds of cattle ("the cows of
Bashan").
From 734 to 732 BC, Tiglath-pileser III deported northern tribes of Israel to
what is now Syria and northern Iraq. According to Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's
Commentary on the Whole Bible, the first wave of exiles were even taken into upper Media
(now Afghanistan). The year of "this day" in which the historian wrote was 450 BC,
signifying they hadn't returned to Israel.
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Assur was the city from which the Assyrian Empire derived its name. The Assyrian
Empire included lands beyond the Caspian Sea. In 732 BC Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser
took 13,520 from Gog to live amidst the descendants of Japheth's sons: Tubal, Meshech,
and Magog, between the Black and Caspian Seas [see map in Appendix]. Then he rebuilt
the old Egyptian fort at Megiddo to protect the lands he just conquered. Twenty years later,
Assyrian king Sennacherib, son of Sargon II, boasted of deporting 200,150 people from
Israel to Assyria. Somehow throughout all these deportations, the tribe of Gog maintained
its identity, and became associated with the ancient lands of Magog, Meshech and Tubal.
Ezekiel 38
About 100 years after the Assyrians deported the house of Israel, Ezekiel came on the
scene as a prophet of Judah. He prophesied from about 595-575 BC when Jehoichin was
king. He was deported to Babylon in 586 BC with thousands of others from the house of
Judah. He was familiar with the lands of Assyria, but instead used the ancient Biblical
names of the northern portions of it. Ezekiel named this future Assyrian leader, Gog. The
prophecies of Gog fit Antiochus IV Epiphanes who fought against Israel from 170-164 BC.
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Son of man, set your face against
Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy
against him, And say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against you, O Gog,
the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn you back, and put hooks into
your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all
of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and
shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of
them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of
the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with you. Be you prepared,
and prepare for yourself, you, and all your company that are assembled to you, and
be you a guard to them. (Ezekiel 38:1-7)
Japheth's son Gomer dwelled above the Black Sea. Gomer's sons Ashchenaz, Riphath,
and Togarmah, also lived around the Black Sea. A portion of Persia paid tribute to
Antiochus IV, (I Maccabees 3:31). Ethiopia and Libya were auxiliaries of Antiochus:
"The Libyans and Ethiopians shall be at his steps" (Daniel 11:43).
After many days you shall be visited: in the latter years you shall come into the land
that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against
the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of
the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. (Ezekiel 38:8)
From 605 to 588 BC, Babylon deported the house of Judah. In 538 BC, Persian king
Cyrus made a decree for the Jews to return to their homeland. The Jews were "brought
back from the sword, and gathered out of many people." But Gog would come upon them
during a time when the Jews were safe and prosperous.
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Gog
hidden treasures which he found. And when he had taken all away, he went into his
own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly."
(I Maccabees 1:20-24)
Antiochus boiled swine's flesh and killed an elderly scribe who refused to eat it (II
Maccabees 6). He sprinkled the temple and the altar with the pig broth; then he broke into
the holy of holies. So when Antiochus had carried out of the temple a thousand and eight
hundred talents, he departed in all haste unto Antiochia. (II Maccabees 5:21)
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earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the
steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:17-20)
God is linking this prophecy against Gog with much earlier prophecies about the
Assyrian. Ezekiel was contemporary with Daniel and Jeremiah. One hundred years earlier,
Isaiah called this intruder the Assyrian. Prophets Hosea and Micah were Isaiah's
contemporaries.
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. . . . He
shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because
they refused to return. And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume
his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. (Hosea 11:1, 5-6)
For thus said the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn
there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what have I
here, said the LORD, that my people is taken away for nothing? they that rule over
them make them to howl, said the LORD; and my name continually every day is
blasphemed. (Isaiah 52:4)
The prophet Ezekiel stated when Gog came against the land of Israel there would be a
great earthquake. Israel has several north-south fault lines. One of them along the Dead
Sea is called Serghaya. A paper published in 2003 in the Geophysical Journal
International attributes the date of 170 BC to one of the wedges in the fault. The forty foot
statue of Zeus and its temple collapsed in 170 BC in Olympia, Greece, even after surviving
the earthquake of 226 BC which toppled the Colossus of Rhodes. The effect of shifting
plates around the Mediterranean Sea is much like the "ring of fire" around the Pacific
Ocean; when one plate shifts, it often causes others to shift as well. Antioch, the capital of
Syria, did not start recording earthquakes until the one in 146 BC. It is likely the 170 BC
earthquake in Greece had a counterpart in Israel. But this is only a partial fulfillment of the
earthquake since "all the men that are on the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence"
which will be fulfilled at Christ's second coming.
Time-line of Antiochus IV
170: He took all the gold and silver from the Temple. He sacrificed a pig on the altar,
boiled the meat and forced priests to eat it; those who refused had tongues cut out. His
armies killed 60,000 in Judah and sold 40,000 as slaves.
169: Antiochus built a navy and conquered Cyprus and large parts of Egypt.
168: Roman pressure forced Antiochus to stop the attack of Egypt. He sent Apollonius
with an army of 22,000 to collect tribute from Jerusalem. They killed and captured many,
plundered the city and burnt it.
167: Antiochus forbad sacrifices, circumcision and other Jewish laws; they were to
worship idols and eat pork, or be killed. An idol of Zeus was placed on the altar. Scrolls
were burned; their owners, killed. (I Maccabees 1:41-56)
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165: Antiochus captured Artaxias, capital of Armenia.
164: Antiochus' attack on Susa failed. He got reports of Israel and bragged he would
make Jerusalem a graveyard of Jews and hastened his chariot driver, but became ill after
being thrown from his chariot. He repented, and sought to restore to the Jews all he had
taken, and to let them worship God freely. He died of a bowel pestilence.
"But the Lord Almighty, the God of Isreal, smote him with an incurable and
invisible plague: or as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the bowels that
was remediless came upon him, and sore torments of the inner parts; And that most
justly: for he had tormented other men's bowels with many and strange torments."
(II Maccabees 9:5-6)
And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, said the Lord
GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him
with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain on him, and on his bands, and on the
many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and
brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in
the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
(Ezekiel 38:21-23)
The sword God calls for against Gog is the Maccabees (hammers), a family in Judah
who put Gog's armies to flight. Through God's mighty deliverance from the Assyrian,
people will acknowledge Him as LORD.
The Maccabees
The tyranny of Antiochus IV aroused both the religious and the political consciousness
of the Jews, which resulted in the revolution led by the Maccabees. The family was led by
the father, Mattathias, who had five sons: Jonnan, Simon, Judas, Eleazar, and Jonathan.
Mattathias, of the house of Asmon, was a priest. He organized open resistance in 167-166,
and with his son and successor Judas the Maccabee (hammer), defeated two large and wellequipped armies of Antiochus. Antiochus was busy fighting against the Parthians. He gave
Lysias instructions to send a large army against the Jews and exterminate them utterly.
But the generals Ptolemus, Nicanor, and Gorgias, whom Lysias dispatched with large
armies against Judah, were defeated one after the other (166-165), and compelled to take
refuge upon Philistine soil. Lysias himself (165) was forced to flee to Antioch, having been
completely routed by the victorious Jews. Antiochus died shortly thereafter in Persia, 164.
Awake, Bride
166: At the Battle of Beth Horon, Judas killed 800 men, and the rest fled into Philistia.
At the Battle of Emmaus: Judas and his men killed 3,000 out of the 27,000 men whom
Lysias sent under the command of Gorgias and Nicanor, as they fled unto Gazera, and
unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, (I Maccabees 4:15). The weapons
they abandoned included javelins, spears, swords, shields, battering rams, and ballistas.
During this year, Judas Maccabeus led a successful revolt with 6,000 men; routing and
killing over 20,000 of the enemy and apostates.
165: Judas routed an army of 65,000, killing 5,000. Judas captured Jerusalem, and had
the priests cleanse and rededicate the Temple (the 25th of Kislev) and they celebrated for 8
days (Hanukkah).
164: Battle of Beth Zur: Judas killed 5,000 out of Lysias' 65,000 men, and Lysias' men
dropped their shields and weapons and ran.
Battle of Beth Zechariah: Lysias returned with 50,000 better trained mercenaries and
32 elephants which cause Judas to retreat. Judas' younger brother, Eleazar thrust his sword
underneath the lead elephant, killing the animal who then crushed him to death. Lysias
retook Beth Zur.
Battle Arabattine: Jews killed 25,000. Countries around Israel killed the Jews in their
lands. [In 164 alone, the armies of Judas killed 70,000 of their enemies.]
163: The Jews killed 26,000 who attacked Jerusalem. [For the last two years of the
war (162-161), the Jews killed 100,000 in other battles throughout Judah.]
161: Battle of Adesa: 3,000 Jews killed 5,000 enemy troops, and the rest fled to Gazera,
leaving their weapons behind them.
Battle of Capharsalama: Jews killed 5,000.
Battles in lands of Gilead and Galilee: Judas killed 8,000 of the army of Timotheus, and
killed all the men in Bosora, Casphon, Maked, Bosor, and Ephron, and all the Arabians in
Raphon. While he was busy there, his brother Simon defeated 3,000 of the enemy in the
Galilee all the way to Arbatta and the coast city of Ptolemais (Acco). Judas and Simon
brought the women and children back to Judah, and then took Hebron and Maspha
(Mispah).
From Adasa to Gazera, Jews killed 35,000. Judas died at the next battle at Elasa.
Some of these battles were on the travel route of the passengers. The Jews killed over a
quarter million troops sent against them from 167 to 161 BC.
Ezekiel 39
Therefore, you son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus said the Lord
GOD; Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
And I will turn you back, and leave but the sixth part of you, and will cause you to
come up from the north parts, and will bring you on the mountains of Israel:
(Ezekiel 39:1-2)
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The underlined portion could be translated "strike you with six plagues" as noted in
Ezekiel 38:22 as pestilence, blood, an overflowing rain, great hailstones, fire, and
brimstone. Or maybe the Syrians had 1.5 million troops prior to their engagement and were
reduced by a sixth.
And I will smite your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall
out of your right hand. You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you, and all your
bands, and the people that is with you: I will give you to the ravenous birds of every
sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field:
for I have spoken it, said the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 39:3-5)
It is typical of a right-handed person to hold the bow with his left hand and draw the
arrow with his right hand when shooting. It is interesting that Antiochus IV is pictured
reclining with a bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right on the back (reverse) of a
coin struck late in his reign.
The Syrian troops ("Magog") and their hired troops ("dwell in isles") fell in the
mountains and valleys. The Maccabees used guerrilla warfare, often dividing their small
numbers so as to surround a narrow passage in the hills and pick off the enemies, but they
also won in open field battles.
And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles:
and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the
middle of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more:
and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it
is come, and it is done, said the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
(Ezekiel 39:6-8)
Israel has longingly awaited the day they would throw off the oppression of their
enemies and live in accordance with God's laws in peace. And from 160 BC to 63 BC
when Roman general Pompey entered the Temple, that was how they lived.
Awake, Bride
(lib. xi., c. 24) he recounts that after the Spaniards had given that signal overthrow to the
Saracens in AD 1212, they found such a vast quantity of lances, javelins, and such like, that
they served them for four years for fuel.
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Valley of Passengers
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give to Gog a place there of graves
in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the
noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and
they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. (Ezekiel 39:11)
'Valley' is gevah, meaning a gorge with lofty sides, or a narrow. It could describe a
'wadi', a river basin, as well. 'Passengers' is abar, meaning to cross over; used of any
transition including over pass, pass over, or passage. 'Multitude' is Hamon (masc.) and
Hamonah (fem.).
When Ezekiel referred to the Mediterranean Sea, he called it the great sea (four times
in Ezek. 47, and once in 48:28). The writers of Numbers and Joshua also called it the
great sea. When Ezekiel used a word for the direction of east, he used qadim, but in the
above verse he used qidmah, meaning front or former. A former or an 'ancient sea' north
of the Sea of Galilee is now a very small lake called Huleh. The of the is added by the
editor, it's not in the original. The noses is also added, but could be conveyed by the
word 'muzzle' for "stop".
Recall there are three north-south routes through Israel: the Way of the Sea along the
Mediterranean coast, the Way of the Passengers through the foothills to Jerusalem, and the
King's Highway on the east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. The major crossroad
cities which connect the routes are Megiddo and Hazor. [see map in Appendix] Hazor is
just west of Lake Huleh and has a very broad valley which then narrows into a gorge along
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the Jordan through which is the Passenger's Way. Passengers could not avoid this crossing,
and rotting bodies from a battle would surely make them put their hands over their noses.
As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of Gennesar [Sea of
Galilee], from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to the plain of Nasor
[Hazor]. And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, who, having laid
men in ambush for him in the mountains, came themselves over against him. So
when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined battle, all that were
of Jonathan's side fled; Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except
Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of the host.
Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and prayed.
Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so they ran away. Now
when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned again unto him, and with him
pursued them to Cades [Kedesh], even unto their own tents, and there they camped.
So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand men: but Jonathan
returned to Jerusalem. (1 Macabbees 11:68-74, edited with additions for
clarification)
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Gog
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may
cleanse the land. Yes, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to
them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, said the Lord GOD. And they shall
sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the
passengers those that remain on the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of
seven months shall they search. And the passengers that pass through the land,
when any sees a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have
buried it in the valley of Hamongog. And also the name of the city shall be
Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land. || And, you son of man, thus said the
Lord GOD; Speak to every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble
yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do
sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat
flesh, and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of
the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them
fatted calves of Bashan. And you shall eat fat till you be full, and drink blood till
you be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus you shall be
filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of
war, said the Lord GOD. And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the
heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid
on them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that
day and forward. || (Ezekiel 39:12-22 with additions)
Again we have a dual fulfillment between the double bars: one during the time of the
reign of Antiochus IV, and another at the second coming of Messiah Jesus. Notice there
are no chariots mentioned in the future, though horses are.
And he has on his clothing and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND
LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a
loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the middle of heaven, Come and gather
yourselves together to the supper of the great God; That you may eat the flesh of
kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses,
and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both
small and great. (Revelation 19:16-18)
Awake, Bride
These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his
head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which
lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. (Zechariah 1:18-21 edited,
[omitted by translator])
Zechariah was born during the Babylonian exile, he wrote this after returning to
Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus, the Persian, and he later foretold of the Greek empire
(Zech. 9:13). So it is unlikely this prophecy is about the four Gentile empires prior to
Christ's first coming. 'Carpenters' is kawrawsh, meaning any workman who wields a tool in
his craft. The four sons of Mattathias known as hammers were Simon, Judas, Eleazar,
and Jonathan (Jonnan was not a leader). The four Gentile 'horns' or generals which they
frayed, or caused to fear, were Lysias, Gorgias and Nicanor, and Antiochus IV himself.
Isaiah particularly noted Galilee (where Simon and Jonathan obtained victories) and
spoils and "fuel of fire".
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first
he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did
more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the
nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell
in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined. You have
multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before you according to
the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For you have
broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his
oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused
noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:1-6)
The Maccabees broke off the burden of the Syrians much as Midian did by allowing
God to win miraculous battles with a few men by faith and cunning. After the seven
Maccabees, eight of their family line, the Hasmoneans, continued to rule Israel.
When the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our
palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in
the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes
into our land, and when he treads within our borders. And the remnant of Jacob
shall be in the middle of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers on
the grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men. And the remnant
of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the middle of many people as a lion among
the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go
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through, both treads down, and tears in pieces, and none can deliver. Your hand
shall be lifted up on your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.
(Micah 5:5b-9)
Maccabees
Mattathias 168-167
Judas 167- 161
Jonathan 161-144
Simon 144-135
Hyrcanus, Simon's son 135-104
Jonnan
Eleazar, killed in battle
Hasmoneans
Aristobulus 104-103
Alexander Jannaeus 103-76
Alexandra 76-67
Hyrcanus II 67-66
Aristobulus II 66-63
Hyrcanus II 63-40
Antigorus 40-37
Herod the Great 37-1
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them, and hid my face from them. Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; Now will I
bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel,
and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and
all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelled
safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again
from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in
them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their
God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have
gathered them to their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither
will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit on the
house of Israel, said the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 39:23-29)
This is part of the prophecy which wasn't fulfilled during the reign of Antiochus IV, but
is currently in the process of being fulfilled beginning a couple decades ago. That God
restored the nation of Israel after 1900 years was a major miracle. But now God is
revealing the crypto-Israelites (ten lost tribes) who have been hidden in the world for 2,700
years, and even returning some of them to the land of Israel.
The following information is from the Jewish Voice Ministries "Lost Tribes" poster.
Asher is in Tunisia, Africa.
Dan is in Ethiopia, Africa. In 1991 Israel transported 14,500 Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
Levi is in Zimbabwe, Africa. Many in the Lemba tribe have a Y chromosome match
for Cohanim (priests, descended from Aaron).
Issachar and Naphtali are in the -istans between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan.
The descendants of Naphtali have been found along the silk road all the way to
Kaifeng, China.
Reuben and Gad are in northern Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Ephraim and Simeon are in northwest Afghanistan.
Four hill tribes of Afghanistan are called Reuveni, Gadun, Efredi, and Shinwari.
Manasseh: They traveled to China like Naphtali, but they eventually moved to India
between what is now Myanmar and Bangladesh, and there are 1.5 million of them.
Whether King Jesus will return all of these to the land of Israel before or after He
returns is uncertain, but He will not leave anyone behind.
Gog
A further miracle is that 12,000 virgin men "who are without fault" are found among
these tribes. After they are sealed, an angel will proclaim the gospel to the people on earth,
again, prior to the first trumpet of judgment.
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are
they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among
men, being the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no
guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. And I saw another angel
fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his
judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:4-7)
Summary
The purpose of this chapter was to show that Ezekiel 38 and 39 have been fulfilled.
All the kings of the earth will not be using wooden weapons at the battle of Armageddon,
nor will there be seven years to burn them afterwards.
Gog was a Hebrew man of the tribe of Reuben. Because of his vast herds, his lands
spread to the Euphrates and became known as the land of Gog. During several campaigns
of Assyrian kings from 734-715 BC the ten northern tribes of Israel (including Reuben
which contained Gog) were sent into exile in Assyria and Media. Somehow the tribe of
Gog maintained its identity, and became associated with the ancient lands of Magog,
Meshech and Tubal.
About 100 years after the Assyrians deported the house of Israel, Ezekiel prophesied
about a future Assyrian leader named Gog. The prophecies of Gog fit Antiochus IV
Epiphanes who fought against Israel from 170-164 BC.
In 170 BC Antiochus took all the gold and silver from the Temple. He sacrificed a pig
on the altar, boiled the meat and forced priests to eat it; those who refused had their tongues
cut out. In 167 BC Antiochus forbad sacrifices, circumcision and other Jewish laws; they
were to worship idols and eat pork, or be killed. An idol of Zeus was placed on the altar.
Scrolls were burned; their owners, killed. In 164 BC Antiochus died of a bowel pestilence.
Ezekiel also prophesied the destruction of Gog's armies and the burial Gog's multitudes
(Hamongog) in Israel in "the valley of the passengers". This is located near Lake Huleh
and the city of Hazor; a crossroads for the "way of the passengers" through the foothills to
Jerusalem. Jonathan, one of the Maccabees, fought a battle against Syrian forces here. One
of several battles throughout Israel and beyond in which the Jews killed over a quarter
million troops sent against them from 167 to 161 BC, and burned the abandoned weapons
during those seven years. For seven months afterwards, people were still finding bones of
their attackers and marking them to be buried.
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After the seven Maccabees ruled Israel, eight of their family line, the Hasmoneans,
continued to rule Israel in accordance with the prophecy in Micah 5:5b-9. Herod, was not a
Jew, but he married his Hasmonean niece, which helped to secure him a claim to the
throne. Thus bringing us to the first coming of Messiah. (Herod ordered the slaughter of
the innocents in Bethlehem after Christ was visited by the magi in 2 BC.)
The last part of Ezekiel 39 contains prophecy about restoration of the "whole house of
Israel" back to the land of Israel. These "lost tribes" have been revealed in the last two
decades, and thousands have returned to Israel already. An angel will seal 12,000 faithful
men from each before God gives humans one last chance to receive the gospel of Jesus
before He begins the trumpets and vials of judgment which precede His second coming.
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(Matthew 13-25)
These things I have spoken to you,
that in me you might have peace.
In the world you shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
(John 16:33)
The "things" Jesus spoke to His disciples concerned His own death as well as theirs.
But Jesus had already chosen to be obedient to death on a cross, and so had already
"overcome" (nikao; gained victory over) the world. Believers have been suffering
persecution and tribulation since Jesus spoke this word to His twelve disciples, and we
should "be of good cheer" (tharseo; encouraged) that our choice to obey our Father, even to
death, has already given us the victory to endure any tribulation with grace and strength in
our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
(Acts14:22)
Tribulation (Romans 5:1-10) and persecution (2 Timothy 3:11-12) have been normal
aspects of the Christian life for most Christians in the world throughout history. America
and a few other places have been rarities. We should not be surprised when "fiery trials"
and suffering come (1 Peter 4:12-19). Suffering tribulations of this world is NOT suffering
God's wrath, as was concluded in the chapter of Resurrections and Rapture.
The purpose of this chapter is to present an overview of end-time events, particularly
from the book of Matthew, and to create a framework for a time-line with that information.
Jesus spoke of tribulation, great tribulation, resurrection and 'rapture', His coming in power,
judgment, and His kingdom in heaven and on earth.
Matthew Parable
Unbelievers
Understands Word
& bears its fruit
Good & just
Receives children
Forgiving
Like a child
Gives up possessions
Grateful for God's grace
Obedient
Accept the Son
Clothed with Christ
Some of these parables describe God's role and point of view, and others describe
man's. Some describe the effects of God's kingdom on earth. Some describe duties or
requirements for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. In the Mustard Seed and the Leaven
(Matthew 13:31-33), Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven beginning small and having
expansive growth. In the Treasure in the Field and the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew
13:44-46), Jesus speaks of giving all for the kingdom of heaven.
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Awake, Bride
of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the
earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the
wrath of God. (Revelation 14:14-19)
In Israel, barley is harvested in spring, but Jesus didn't use that crop in His end-time
parable. Wheat is harvested in late spring/early summer, and grapes are harvested in the
summer; both are eaten during the Feast of Tabernacles in Tishri, the month of Jesus'
return. With the wheat harvest, the tares are bundled first to await their destruction. With
the grape harvest, the good grapes are reaped first, and then the bad are cast into God's wine
press of wrath by the angel over fire. Either way, fire awaits unbelievers.
There is a correlation between suffering for God's kingdom through enduring
persecutions and tribulations now and obtaining glory later. Unbelievers will be punished
for all the misery they've caused believers in this world.
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith
in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure: Which is a manifest token
of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom
of God, for which you also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to
recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest
with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When
he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe
(because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thess. 1:4-10)
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Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's
doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I to you, The kingdom of God
shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And
whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it
will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his
parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. (Matthew 22:42-45)
Even the most hard-hearted Jews understood the meaning of His parables. Then Jesus
prophesied concerning Jerusalem and the unbelieving Jews therein, that God would send an
army to burn the city and kill those who rejected the Prince and the King's wedding
invitation for Him (Matthew 22:7). At the coronation feast of Prince Solomon there were
trumpets (1 Kings 3:39-41). Again, a wedding and a coronation point to Rosh Hashanah.
Though they rejected their Messiah and their Temple would be destroyed, Jesus left them a
promise of His return at their cry of acceptance of Him as Messiah.
Behold, your house is left to you desolate. For I say to you, You shall not see me
from now on, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.
(Matthew 23:38-39)
Psalm 118 was sung after the Passover meal and during the Feast of Tabernacles (again
pointing to His return in Tishri). It was the source for several of Christ's quotes during His
last days. 'Hosanna' (yashana in Hebrew) means 'save, now'. The opening of the gates to
the righteous is associated with Rosh Hashanah. "The right hand of the LORD" referred to
God's Son, the Messiah, the Cornerstone, the "light" who would be bound and sacrificed to
fulfill God's righteousness and provide mercy.
The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of
rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the
LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the
LORD does valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over to death. Open to
me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This
gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise you: for you
have heard me, and are become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused
is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in
our eyes. This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in
it. Save [yasha] now [na], I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send
now prosperity. Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have
blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which has showed us
light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar. You are my God,
and I will praise you: you are my God, I will exalt you. O give thanks to the LORD;
for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever. (Psalm 118:14-29 with additions)
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Singing Psalm 118 after the Passover meal and during the Feast of Tabernacles is a
Jewish tradition. Jesus taught the Jewish people using parables, scriptures, and their
traditions. The reason we Gentiles sometimes misunderstand Jesus' teachings, is because
we don't know Jewish traditions. In Matthew 24-25, Jesus tells the Jews three times that no
one knows the day or hour of His coming. Gentiles have misinterpreted that to mean we
cannot know the day or hour of Christ's return.
End-Times Overview
and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has 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. Why comfort
yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do. . . . Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the
very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul
and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is
he that calls you, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-24 edited)
'Perfectly' is akribos, meaning accurately, exactly, or diligently. The "thief in the night"
(2 Peter 3:10) refers to our Lord Jesus when He returns on Rosh Hashanah to wed His
Bride. It is the wicked who will be caught unaware at Christ's coming. Again, Christ's
Bride is not appointed to God's wrath, but is to live a holy and pure life until the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Those members who have already died, currently live with Christ in
their resurrected bodies, and we who are alive at His coming will join them.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that
day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. . . .
Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come. But know this,
that if the manager of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he
would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man
comes." (Matthew 24:35-36, 42-44)
Christians are to "watch" for Jesus in a way that we are not caught 'off guard' or
'overtaken' at His coming (Rev. 3:3). But it won't be at the early evening hour they
expect. Jesus then tells them the time plainly in the next few verses of the wedding
parable. "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight
there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him" (Matthew
25:5-6). So they were to expect Jesus to return at midnight on Rosh Hashanah. Why didn't
Jesus just say clearly, "I'm returning at midnight on Rosh Hashanah"? Likely for the same
reason He never corrected anyone who thought He was born in Nazareth. He didn't want to
provide His enemies with information to be used against Him or His Church.
Awake, Bride
False Christs
The Jews who did not receive Jesus as Messiah were ready to receive someone, and
several people obliged them. Theudas (45 AD) claimed he parted the Jordan like Joshua
did. An Egyptian prophet (52-58) claimed to bring down walls of Jerusalem. An
anonymous prophet (59) promised people freedom if they followed him into the wilderness.
These three and their bands were killed and dispersed by Roman procurators. Menahem,
the son of Judas the Galilean (66), used Roman weapons to defend Masada until 74 AD.
He dressed as a king and entered the temple with his men to 'worship', but the temple guard
routed him and his men. John of Gischala (67-70) began fighting Roman soldiers in
Galilee and northern Israel. There were certainly wars and rumors of wars prior to the
Temple's destruction, and Christ's disciples may have thought the world was coming to an
end, but He told them it was not yet the end.
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Awake, Bride
In the first verse of the above passage, Jesus is describing hundreds of years of history,
then makes a transition to "the beginning of sorrows" or travailing before a birth. The next
portion points to the Inquisitions and particularly the Holocaust prior to the birth of Israel.
Hitler considered himself a messiah who was ushering in the millennial reign (third reich).
Iniquity increased, and love (agape) decreased. Those who persevere to the end shall be
saved. God will make sure everyone has an opportunity to hear and to receive the gospel
before the Great Tribulation.
And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel
to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for
the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth,
and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6-7)
After the "abomination of desolation" Israel will have "great tribulation". The parallel
passage in Mark 13:19 described it this way, "For in those days shall be affliction." The
Great Tribulation of 42 months/1,260 days of which John wrote in Rev. 11:2-3, started on
April 6, 2009. The "great tribulation" Israel endures after the "abomination of desolation"
occurs during the 3 year Great Tribulation.
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In the chapter on Abominations, it was determined that the prophecy to which Jesus
refers here is the one in Daniel 12:11-12, which is associated with a false temple/shrine
'standing' on the Temple Mount which was part of the prediction of Christ second coming
in 2012. It was also concluded that another Temple does not need to be built for this
abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel to occur on the Temple Mount.
I don't expect the False Prophet and/or False Messiah to declare himself God until after
the US troops are pulled out of Iraq. So though the Great Tribulation has begun, and the
Muslims will continue to control the Temple Mount for its duration of 42 months (Rev.
11:1-2); the declaration of deity may not be for several more months.
Awake, Bride
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. (Matthew 24:26-31)
Even the elect must guard themselves from deception and following the False Messiah.
When Christ comes again, He won't be secluded as when He was a child. Jesus' second
coming will be as obvious as knowing a corpse lies beneath where vultures circle. Jesus'
appearance will light up the sky which has been darkened during the Great Tribulation, and
there will be a meteor shower. As Jesus told the high priest, He will come with clouds and
power (Matthew 26:64). The angels will sound trumpets and gather His elect, His Bride.
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with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for
him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint
him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Matthew 24:42-51)
Here the thief is used in the regular sense of someone breaking in to steal, and the
believer is represented as the house steward who knew which watch of the night the thief
would come. The ancient Jews had three night watches of roughly four hours each, but the
Romans instituted four watches of three hours each: dusk to 9 P.M., 9 P.M. to midnight,
midnight to 3 A.M., and 3-6 A.M.. But the Son of man would not come like a 'thief' for His
Bride from dusk to 9 P.M., as was expected of grooms. Continuing the steward analogy,
Jesus encouraged His people to attend the household faithfully, even though the Lord's
return seems delayed, and not give up faithful service and be unaware of the timing of the
Lord's coming and end up with unbelievers in hell. The parallel passage in Luke 12:35-40
refers to the second and third watches in the night (which contain midnight), and to the
Lord's return from the wedding in expectation that His servants will open the door for Him
immediately when He knocks. Christ's Bride will be prepared for His coming.
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themselves in the Great Tribulation, and to their dismay will discover they never had a
relationship with the Lord Jesus. These are like the seeds who did not take deep root or
who were choked out by the cares of this world (Matthew 13:20-22). There is an aspect of
the 'wise' (phronimos) virgins in that they also provided for themselves for the difficult
times ahead much like the unjust steward did in Luke 16:8, and was commended.
Believers in Israel have built bomb shelters and have bought gas masks. Christians
should have emergency supplies, including water, on hand to weather coming disasters.
More importantly, believers should prepare themselves spiritually to persevere through the
trials until Christ's return, and be ready to share the gospel with unbelievers who will be
drawn to their peace and faith in the midst of the fire-storms.
Fires
David Wilkerson is the pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. In obedience
to God's word to him, he had his church make hundreds of sandwiches on September 10,
2001 for which the rescue crews were very thankful the next day. On March 23, 2009,
David Wilkerson distributed his prophecy to prepare Christians for the judgment of God
which would come with fire [www.worldchallenge.org/coverletter/an_urgent_message].
Behold, all you that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk
in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This shall you have
of my hand; you shall lie down in sorrow. (Isaiah 50:11)
The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have
transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are
desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
(Isaiah 24:5-6)
The first three trumpets of judgment upon the world have to do with fire (Rev. 8:6-9);
during the sixth trumpet a third of men are killed by fire and smoke (Rev. 9:13-19). The
fourth vial has the sun scorching men with fire and heat (Rev. 16:8-9). The world is finally
destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:7-12). Jesus will Judge the world.
For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: . . . The
hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God:
and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given
to the Son to have life in himself; And has given him authority to execute judgment
also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the
which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that
have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the
resurrection of damnation. I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and
my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father
which has sent me. (John 5:22-30 edited)
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over in the millennium. It ends with Jesus saying, "But those my enemies, which would not
that I should reign over them, bring here, and slay them before me." Those who won't
submit to the grace of King Jesus now will have no place in His Kingdom on earth. But
those who followed Christ faithfully will be rewarded abundantly.
And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, That you which have followed me, in the
regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory , you also shall
sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that has
forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children,
or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred times, and shall inherit
everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
(Matthew 19:28-30)
"Regeneration" is paliggenesia meaning 'genesis anew', a renovation or restoration to
the way it was at the beginning. This is the millennial reign of Christ on the new earth.
God will restore abundantly those things which believers sacrificed for Jesus' sake.
Remember not to be jealous of God's generosity to others.
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of the least of these, you did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31-46)
The period of grace has passed, and King Jesus has been ruling for 1,000 years on earth.
The dividing line is how people treated "the least of these my brothers," most likely
referring to disadvantaged Israelis or Jews, since at the end of the millennium there will be
those who attack His beloved city of Jerusalem (Revelation 20:7-9). Those who mistreat
His people during the Millennium go away into everlasting punishment in fire. Those who
kindly treat His people enter life eternal.
Summary
The New Testament authors wrote about tribulation, but none of them specified a seven
year period of it. John did specify a 3 1/2 year period of Great Tribulation, and God's
chosen saints go through it.
Jesus' disciples asked Him two specific questions: when shall these things be? (referring
to the Temple's destruction), and what shall be the sign of your coming and the end of the
world? Jesus answered both questions in detail. The first was fulfilled within that
generation (70 AD).
In answer to the second question, Jesus referred to "the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet," and told them to pray it did not occur on a Sabbath or
during the winter; so it does not start the clock of the Great Tribulation. A "falling away"
must occur before the "son of perdition" is revealed, and there has been great apostasy
within Christendom since the lie of evolution in the 1800's. The ousting of our Creator has
ushered in lawlessness and violence. The last time the world was filled with corruption and
violence (Gen. 6:11), God took away the wicked with a flood, but rescued Noah's family
and the animals on the ark.
Jesus described the 'rapture' using an analogy to Noah, but in this case, the believers are
taken away from the wicked and received by Jesus. In the Wheat and the Tares He
described the angels as the reapers of the harvest. Jesus' parables of the steward and the
virgins encourage believers to understand the time and to be awake, prepared, and watching
for His return. Jesus described the signs in the sky preceding His return.
The parable of the talents depicts how King Jesus will reward faithfulness with
authority over cities during His Millennial reign. The parable of the sheep and the goats
depicts how King Jesus at the end of the 1,000 years will separate the wicked from the
righteous based upon their treatment of "the least of these my brothers." The wicked are
condemned to everlasting punishment while the righteous enjoy everlasting life with Jesus.
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a crown of life. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the
churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev. 2:8-11)
The ten days correspond to the "ten toes" of Rome in the statue of Daniel 2. There were
ten caesars who inflicted seasons of persecution upon believers. Nero and Domitian
persecuted Christians while the original apostles still lived. The atrocities they and the
others committed are documented in Foxe's Book of Martyrs:
"The first of the ten persecutions was stirred up by Nero about 64 A.D. His rage
against the Christians was so fierce that Eusebius records, 'a man might see cities
full of men's bodies, the old lying together with the young, and the dead bodies of
women cast out naked, without reverence of that sex, in the open streets.'"
Nero 64-68
Domitian 95-96
Trajan 100-115
Aurelius 168-171
Severus 203-210
Maximin 235-237
Decius 250-256
Valerian 257-260
Aurelian 275
Diocletian 303-310
This was the nineteenth year of the reign of Diocletian in Dystrus [March] when
the feast of the Saviour's passion was near at hand, and royal edicts were published
everywhere, commanding that the churches be razed to the ground, the scriptures
destroyed by fire, those who held positions of honor degraded, and the household
servants, if they persisted in the Christian profession, be deprived of their liberty.
And such was the first decree against us. But issuing [other] decrees not long after,
the Emperor commanded that all the rulers of the churches in every place should be
first put in prison and afterwards compelled by every device to offer sacrifice.
(Medieval Sourcebook: Diocletian: Edicts Against The Christians)
Jesus came to them as the resurrected Christ. He had no judgment against the believers
of this period, but promised the "crown of life" to those who remained faithful unto death.
Christian martyrs have no fear of the second death which is everlasting punishment in the
lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15).
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Truly the Dark Ages can be viewed as a time of "great tribulation" when truth was
shrouded from most people. The Black Death may have killed off half of Europe's
population. Was it a fulfillment of killing Jezebel's children? Overcomers will rule with
Jesus in the Millennium.
Reformation
In the 1380's, John Wycliff hand-wrote the first complete Bible in the English language.
Gutenburg invented the printing press in the 1450's, and the first book printed was a Latin
Bible. Erasmus published his Greek/Latin New Testament in 1516. In 1517 Martin Luther
nailed his 95 Theses of Contention to the Wittenberg Door. Luther translated Erasmus'
New Testament into German and published it in 1522. Luther began to preach the
priesthood of all believers and salvation by grace alone through faith (not by works).
William Tyndale translated the Greek New Testament into the plain English of the
ploughman, and only a few were printed in 1525 before Tyndale went into hiding from the
king's authorities the next eleven years. Myles Coverdale was Tyndale's assistant the last
six years of his life. Coverdale finished translating the Old Testament, and the first
complete Bible in the English language was published in 1535, and Tyndale was martyred
the next year pleading for God to open the king's eyes. In 1539 Myles Coverdale was hired
at the bequest of King Henry VIII to publish the Great Bible, a copy of which was chained
to every church pulpit. Reformers found refuge in Geneva, Switzerland. Myles Coverdale,
John Foxe, John Calvin, and John Knox produced the first English study Bible. The
Geneva Bible was published in 1560 and was the first Bible to add verse numberings to the
chapters which included extensive marginal notes. The Puritans and Pilgrims brought the
Geneva Bible with them to America.
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sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father
in his throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches.
(Revelation 3:14-22)
Laos is 'people'; dike is 'rights' (as self-evident) or 'justice'. Laodicea means 'people
judge'; a democracy. The final word of the Scrips' Spelling Bee in 2009 was Laodicean.
God has ways of knocking on our door. This city has aqueducts which provided cold water
from Colosse and hot water from Hieropolis, but by the time the water arrived at Laodicea,
it was luke warm. The Laodiceans judged by outward appearances which deceived many
of them into thinking they had a relationship with Jesus Christ when they didn't.
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have
cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
(Matthew 7:21-23)
The Laodiceans physical wealth blinded them to their spiritual needs.
Physical Reality
Luke warm water from aqueducts
Wealthy in gold and banks
Black wool garments
Curative eye salve
Christ left outside of church
Spiritual Reality
Luke-warm people make Jesus vomit
Wretchedly poor
Naked (white garment)
Blind
Christ will dine with individuals
"And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the
cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in,
choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good
ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty times, some
sixty, and some an hundred" (Mark 4:18-20). Those who maintain a sinful lifestyle are
unfruitful. Those who repent and renew spiritual zeal shall sit with Christ on His throne.
He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my
son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
(Revelation 21:7-8)
Crowns
When Jesus catches away His Bride, we shall rule with Him as His queen (Psalm 45),
but the type and number of crowns we have is up to each of us.
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he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(1 Corinthians 3:8, 11-15)
Our God is just and righteous in all His judgments. Even though our faith in Jesus
gives us eternal life with Him, our works will still be judged. Those done while
abiding in Him will be rewarded, but those done in our own strength will not.
Rewards
On Earth
Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you
have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. . . . But when you do alms, let
not your left hand know what your right hand does: That your alms may be in
secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly. And
when you pray, . . . enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray
to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward
you openly. . . . But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; That
you appear not to men to fast, but to your Father which is in secret: and your
Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly. (Matthew 6:1-18 edited)
Some of our rewards are given to us in this lifetime, and some in the next. Some
rewards are given here and have benefits in the hereafter.
And Jesus answered and said, Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left
house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands,
for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundred times now in this
time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with
persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)
In Heaven
Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)
He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's
reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall
receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever shall give to drink to one of these
little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he
shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:41-42)
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For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then
he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:27)
And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then
he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money,
that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the
first, saying, Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. And he said to him, Well,
you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority
over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five
pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be you also over five cities. (Luke 19:15-19)
At Jesus' second coming, He will reward His saints and then establish His faithful
servants as rulers over cities during His millennial reign.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men; Knowing that of
the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord
Christ. But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and
there is no respect of persons. (Colossians 3:23-25)
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judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is
coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come
forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil, to the resurrection of damnation. I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I
judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the
Father which has sent me. (John 5:22-30)
The dead did hear Jesus' voice and live: Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, and the widow's son.
At Jesus' death and resurrection, the First Fruit saints in Jerusalem came out of their graves,
but Jesus spoke of a time when "all" the dead would hear His voice.
The Father committed all judgment to the Son, yet Jesus judges according to what he
hears. It may be from what He hears read from the books regarding each person; whether
they are written in the book of life or not. Jesus spoke of two different judgments: first He
stated everlasting life is based upon belief in Him (at His coming), but then stated it is
based upon having "done good" (after His millennial reign).
But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasure up to yourself wrath against
the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render
to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well
doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But to them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and
wrath, Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first,
and also of the Gentile; But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good,
to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with
God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as
many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law . . . In the day when God
shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
(Romans 2:5-12, 16)
At His coming, Jesus will be judging the dead and rewarding the righteous. Newly
"clothed" (2 Cor. 5:1-8) believers will be busy with Jesus executing wrath upon the wicked.
And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that
they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and
should destroy them which destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:18)
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
To execute vengeance on the heathen, and punishments on the people; To bind their
kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the
judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise you the LORD.
(Psalm 149:6-9)
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And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the
dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those
things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave
up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were
in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and
hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whoever was not
found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-14)
He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my
son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev. 21:7-8)
The Great White Throne judgment is the final reckoning. At Christ's second coming,
the overcomers from the church age received specified rewards according to the age they
lived through, but to those overcomers from the Millennium are promised the inheritance of
all things in addition to continued relationship with Father-God.
Summary
Jesus Christ is the corner stone and we are living stones built upon Him comprising His
Church. The Church has been under the gracious chastening of the Lord for 2,000 years.
Those who receive the loving chastening of the Lord and repent, develop new spiritual zeal
and receive earthly and spiritual rewards. The seven churches in Revelation 2-3 represent
seven periods of history of Christianity; they are corporately the Bride of Christ.
30-67
Apostolic Age (Ephesus) Ephesus means 'desire'.
67-313
Ten Persecutions (Smyrna) Smyrna means 'myrrh'.
313-622 Constantine to Mohammed (Pergamos) Pergamos means 'mixed marriage'.
622-1522 The Dark Ages to Reformation (Thyatira) Thyatira means 'sacrifice'.
1522-1754 Renaissance to Enlightenment (Sardis) Sardis means 'escaping ones'.
1754-1844 Reason and Revolution (Philadelphia) Philadelphia means 'brotherly love'.
1844-now Evolution and Democracy (Laodicea) Laodicea means 'people judge'.
When Jesus catches away His Bride, we shall rule with Him as His queen (Psalm 45),
but the type and number of crowns we have is up to each of us. Those works we've done in
the flesh will burn. After Jesus has completed judging His Church, then He will judge the
world with Us at His side. Then Jesus will establish His faithful servants as rulers over
cities during His millennial reign. At the end of the 1,000 years, Jesus will judge people
based upon how they treated "the least of these my brethren" (Matthew 25:31-46). Then at
the Great White Throne judgment, those who are not written in the Book of Life will be
cast into the lake of fire.
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Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth,
and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:3-9 edited)
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smoke locusts on the earth: and to them was given power, as the scorpions of the
earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass
of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which
have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they
should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their
torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man. And in those days
shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall
flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like to horses prepared to battle;
and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the
faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the
teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the
sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like to scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their
power was to hurt men five months. (Revelation 9:1-10)
'Locust' is akris, meaning to alight on top, from a root akmen meaning point or extreme.
The "star" falling from heaven to earth could be a reference to Satan or an angel, or it could
refer to an asteroid strike and the debris in the atmosphere blocking the sun for a time.
These could be natural locusts or mutated ones, or demons or man-made vehicles like
radio-controlled planes or helicopters using the darkness as cover. Their "sting" is like a
scorpion's and causes people to seek death. Scorpion stings can cause severe local skin
reactions as well as neurologic, respiratory, cardiovascular problems, and death. But these
"locusts" are commanded not to hurt the 144,000 who were sealed, and only to torment
those who are not sealed for five months.
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name
in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue has his name Apollyon.
One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. (Rev. 9:10-12)
Both Abaddon and Apollyon mean 'destroyer'. It is a destroying demon from the abyss
who is the leader of the locusts. According to Thayer, Abaddon is " the minister of death
and the author of havoc on the earth," and the root of Apollyon is "to declare that one must
be put to death." This "king" is the 'messenger' (angel - aggelos) of the bottomless pit. It is
the False Prophet who "destroys" (Daniel 8:24); one of the two horns on the young ram
which kills those who refuse the mark of the beast on their foreheads (Rev. 13:11-18).
Ahmadinejad, as mayor of Tehran, stated, "Today our nations' great duty and prophetic
mission is to prepare for the formation of the the universal rule of the Mahdi." His speech
at the "World Without Zionism" conference in 2005 has been greatly amended and
retranslated, but the conference itself promoted an end to the Jewish State, and
Ahmadinejad also urged Muslims to imagine a world without the United States and to
prepare for the day when "our holy hatred expands" and "strikes like a wave". As the
president of Iran, Ahmadinejad declared in a speech on October 14, 2006 that he had a
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ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome
them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:5-7)
Real fire may come from Our mouths or at the command from Our mouths (2 Kings
1:10-12), or the Word of God from Our mouths may incense and devour Our enemies from
the inside out (Jeremiah 5:14). Elijah was a foreshadow of the Great Tribulation saints, for
he prayed it would not rain for 3 1/2 years, and it did not until he prayed that it would
(James 5:17-18). Though we may walk in God's great power, many of us will be killed.
For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and
all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up,
said the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But to you
that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;
and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And you shall tread down
the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall
do this, said the LORD of hosts. Remember you the law of Moses my servant, which
I commanded to 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. (Malachi 4:1-6)
John the Baptist partially fulfilled the last verse regarding returning the hearts of
children to their Father through repentance and baptism (Matthew 11:12-14), the rest of the
passage won't be fulfilled until Jesus' second coming. Believers should be full of God's
Spirit and walking in the same manifestations of Elijah during the Great Tribulation, but
that also assumes We are living in righteousness, obedience, and faithful prayer as Elijah
did. The Church should be restoring family relationships, especially healing the wounds
from abusive or absent fathers. Those who are still seeking a father figure to love and
approve of them will be more easily drawn to follow the Antichrist.
Moses and Aaron turned the Nile to blood, and foretold Pharaoh of the plagues about to
happen. Will it be the prayers of saints that surround the Arabian Peninsula with seas of
blood? Will the saints declare God's judgments like Moses and Aaron did? If so, how?
The Beast of Islam will war against Christians and be victorious and kill them.
Seven Angels
#1-3 Angelic Announcements
And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel
to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for
the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth,
and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the
wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with
a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in
his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the
presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and
whoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a
voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord
from now on: Yes, said the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their
works do follow them. (Revelation 14:6-13)
The first angelic announcement is the everlasting gospel to the world to worship the
Creator before He comes to judge His creation. Hour can mean one hour, or season (as I
think it is here). This may allude to the SkyAngel satellite and the myriad of Christian
broadcasts going throughout the world, or a real angel proclaiming the gospel around the
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globe with a loud voice. Jesus also spoke of the gospel being preached as a witness to all
nations before the end came (Matthew 24:14).
The second angelic announcement is Babylon is fallen because she made the nations
drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
The third angelic announcement is if anyone worships the beast or takes its mark, he
will also experience God's wrath. This announcement may precede or come shortly after
the beast requires the mark in order to buy or sell. But the saints are encouraged to keep
God's commands even if it means their death.
#2 Babylon is Fallen
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great
power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a
strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the
habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean
and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the
merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that
you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. . . . And a
mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying,
Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found
no more at all. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all
that were slain on the earth. (Revelation 18:1-3, 21, 24)
'Thrown down' is ballo, and can mean struck. The "great city" of Islam is Mecca.
Mohammed expunged hundreds of idols from their holy site, and later placed a meteorite in
the Kaaba, the black cube which Muslims are required to visit once in their lifetime.
Muslims are required to face Mecca 5 times a day and pray to Allah, the moon-god.
Located on the Red Sea 45 miles from Mecca is the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia,
Jeddah, which makes the merchants of the earth rich. It is interesting that the city which
worships a black stone from the sky may be destroyed by a great stone cast into the sea.
'Violence' is hormema (from horme, an assault), meaning an attack, a rash act. This word is
only used this one time in the Bible.
Osama bin Laden has let it be known that he is ready to attack oil cities in his home
nation of Saudi Arabia in order to crush the economy of the rest of the world. Would he
nuke Mecca? Could a group of ten (Rev. 17:16) Muslim terrorist leaders plan an attack that
would set all the oil fields and refineries of Saudi Arabia on fire? On June 3, 2009,
President Obama was in Saudi Arabia seeking the wise counsel of King Abdullah. Could
Obama's presence ignite jihadist furor?
During August, 2007, Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo said, "If it is up to me,
we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by
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smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before
God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of
the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunder, and
lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:1-5 edited)
This will occur at the opening of the seventh seal with all the shaking in heaven and
earth preceding our Lord's second coming and the fire of the destruction of the wicked.
This is in answer to the prayers of the saints who have cried out for deliverance from the
wicked and have prayed for Christ's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth.
The 7th seal is connected to the 7th angel.
Parallels
God's Team
Christ
7 Churches
Two Witnesses
Bride of Christ
Michael
other angels
Satan's Team
Antichrist (Mahdi)
7-headed Beast of Sea
2-horned Beast of Earth
Whore
Destroying Angel from Abyss
other demons
Summary
Angels are God's servants who do His bidding, and they are key players in the book of
Revelation. Michael is the archangel in charge of protecting Israel and withholding Satan.
Michael begins the Great Tribulation by casting Satan to earth at God's command; and
Michael ends the Great Tribulation by binding Satan for 1,000 years.
There are three angelic "woes" and other interactions which are time markers during the
Great Tribulation. There are four angels in charge of sealing the 144,000 at the beginning
of the Great Tribulation. The first woe is a five month period in which the destroying
demon from the abyss leads "locusts" to sting and afflict people. The second woe is at the
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beginning of the Armegeddon War. There are four demons bound in the Euphrates who
will help a two hundred million man army slay a third of mankind through the Armegeddon
war for one year, one month, and one day. The third woe is the 7th trumpet, the day of the
Lord's return when the heavens and earth will shake, and He will call His people to Him on
September 16, 2012.
Using the 360-day calendar, "a day, and a month, and a year" equals 391 days. The
year 2012 on our calendar is a leap year having one extra day. Counting backwards 391
days from the calculated date of Christ's return, the war of Armegeddon should commence
on August 23, 2011. Counting backward 150 days (5 thirty-day months) from that, the first
woe should commence on March 26, 2011.
There are seven special angels: three make proclamations near the beginning of the
Great Tribulation, three help reap the harvest, and one casts to earth his golden censer of
the prayers of the saints and fire from the altar right before Christ's coming. The first
angelic announcement is the everlasting gospel to the world to worship the Creator
before He comes to judge His creation. The second angelic announcement is Babylon is
fallen because she made the nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication. The
third angelic announcement is if anyone worships the beast or takes its mark, he will also
experience God's wrath.
The two witnesses are the Hebrew and Gentile believers during the Great Tribulation
who have been made "one new man" in Christ. Believers will be 'destroyed' and 'martyred'
by the 2-horned young ram (False Prophet) and given white robes (5th seal).
Believers will prophesy of Christ's coming for Us in powerful ways like Elijah before
We die. After We are resurrected or raptured, We will take vengeance upon the wicked
unbelievers with Jesus and His angels. God will burn the wicked and the earth with fire
and recreate a new heaven and earth. The saints will worship King Jesus as He rules and
reigns 1,000 years.
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Satan's Team
"Mystery Babylon"
Antichrist (Mahdi)
7-headed Beast of Sea (Sunni)
2-horned Beast of Earth (Shia)
Whore (Wahhabi)
Destroying Angel from Abyss
other demons
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The Beast of the Earth is referred to as as the economical/religious system and "the
false prophet" (or "voice"). The Beast of the Sea (which appears in Daniel 7 as the 4th
beast) is sometimes referred to as the political/religious system, and sometimes referred to
as the Antichrist leader ("little horn" or "mouth") who comes from it, and also correlates to
the Muslims' Mahdi. The Antichrist and False Prophet will relate to each other much as
Moses and Aaron did (Exodus 7:1, 10, 19; 8:5-6, 16-17), with Aaron performing the
miraculous signs at Moses' command; the Mahdi giving the orders, and the False Prophet
carrying them out.
Beasts are empires in prophetic scriptures. The two main religious empires of Islam are
Sunni (7-headed Beast of the Sea) and Shia (2-horned Beast of theEarth). The most
powerful sect of Sunnism is Wahhabism, which is the Whore of Mystery Babylon.
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a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to
continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against
God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and
power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell
on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:3-8)
Satan and the Beast of Islam will be worshiped, and its spread seemingly unstoppable.
According to Thayer, "worship (proskuneo) among the Persians means to fall upon the
knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; a
probable derivative of dog (kuon), meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his masters hand."
Islam is an enslaving religion which makes "converts" with the sword. Those who refuse to
convert must be enslaved or killed.
Although this beast already has the "mouth of a lion", another "mouth" is given to it.
This Sunni 'mouth' is Al-Jazeera which has close ties to Al-Qaeda, the Muslim
Brotherhood, and other terrorist Sunni groups. Al-Jazeera was started by the emir of Qatar.
In February 2008 Egypt and Saudi Arabia convened a meeting of the Arab League to
impose restrictions on all satellite channels in the Arab world. Qatar and Lebanon refused
to endorse it, so Al Jazeera continues to be a threat to Arab regimes.
The "Little Horn" chapter documented the seven middle-eastern empires which
worshiped Satan as the moon-god: Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Media-Persian,
Grecian, Roman, and Ottoman. The Ottoman Empire was dealt a death blow after WWI,
but has since revived. All Muslim countries have a large Sunni population except for Iran
and Iraq (Shia). The "Little horn" with the blasphemous mouth (Antichrist/Mahdi), arises
from the large sea of Muslims.
Muqtada Al-Sadr from Iraq descended from Mohammed and leads the Mahdi Army of
black flags while keeping connections with his father's social services network throughout
Iraq; a combination of combat and compassion which has done well for Hezbollah and
Hamas. He is currently a Shia cleric studying in Iran to become an ayatollah. Osama ben
Laden was/is a Sunni from Saudi Arabia who located his base, Al Qaeda, in Afghanistan.
If he is still alive, he might be considered a candidate for Antichrist/Mahdi, even though
he's Shia, because he has great wealth and has had many victorious battles against infidels.
If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leads into captivity shall go into
captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:9-10)
The Antichrist/Mahdi will be given power over the whole world to make war with the
saints and overcome them. Just as Muslims have captured and killed millions of Christians
in Sudan, Muslims will continue to be victorious throughout the world. Christians need to
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controls the land opposite the Straits of Hormuz from Iran; together they could blockade oil
tankers. The United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Lebanon have small Shia populations.
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her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a
woman sit on a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven
heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and
decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand
full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: . . . And he said to me, The
waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and
nations, and tongues. (Revelation 17:1-4, 15)
The whore is seated upon the waters (has a vast population) and is seated upon the
Beast of the Sea (Rev. 13:1; Sunni Islam). Wahhabis came from the Sunnis and consider
themselves superior to them. The judgment of the seven vials is associated with the whore
for seducing others with "the wine of her fornication". The "wine" of the Wahabbis which
lures nations into addiction to it is oil, but it also causes them to submit to her fornication
with the moon-god. President George W. Bush continued to blaspheme Almighty God by
equating the Muslim god to Him. President Jimmy Carter fully supports the Palestinians
against Israel. The U.S. is Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, and Saudi Arabia is the
largest U.S. export market in the Middle East. God has used Babylon as a golden cup to
make the nations drunk, but now she thinks she possesses the cup as a queen.
Wine of Wrath
Flee out of the middle of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in
her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance; he will render to her a
recompense. Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all
the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations
are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her. (Jer. 51:6-8a)
Quite often in scripture there is a past example of a future fulfillment to come; a
precursor which points to a similar prophecy. In both cases God commands His people to
flee from Babylon before He pours out His wrath upon her sins.
For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the
kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the
earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another
voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of
her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached to
heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:3-5)
And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the
wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Revelation 16:19b)
When God pours out His wrath upon the whore for leading people away from Him, the
angels encourage Him to "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double to her double
according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double" (Rev. 18:6).
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instruments; works of art; and arms and ammunition. Crude and refined oil account for
75% of Saudi Arabia's exports. Jeddeh held the first Islamic Trade Fair with over forty
countries in June, 2001.
'Thyine' means to sacrifice. It is a Mediterranean citron wood that the Romans used in
their sacrifices because of its sweet scent. It was very valuable and used to make expensive
furniture. Its bark yields a resin used in varnishes. The Bedouin call the thyine tree the
"cursed lemon" because it grows in the salt lands that surround the Dead Sea where Sodom
and Gomorrah once were.
Many Saudis are very rich. They hire foreigners for house servants who then find it
very difficult to leave the country. Saudi clerics say that Islam advocates slavery. They
also don't mind kidnapping foreign women (infidels) for their harems. "Many religious
leaders feel that it is a woman's place to provide pleasure to the male and bear children
without receiving pleasure themselves, especially if they are infidel women," according to
Egyptian Doctor Muzaffar who performs female circumcision on many concubines in
Saudi Arabia.
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her burning, saying, What city is like to this great city! And they cast dust on their
heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein
were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one
hour is she made desolate. (Revelation 18:7-19 edited)
Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly
desolate: every one that goes by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her
plagues. (Jeremiah 50:13)
Recall pictures of the oil fields of Iraq set on fire and belching black smoke across the
sky; the same may happen to Mecca and Jeddeh, and possibly the oil fields on the east coast
as well. Both Sunni and Shia leaders have threatened to burn oil fields in order to bring
down America. And there may be a different scenario.
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John wrote Revelation between 95-96 AD; he died in 99. During his lifetime Rome
ruled the world, which was the "one is". The five dynasties which were fallen were the
Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Mede/Persian, and Macedonian. The dynasty which had
not yet come was the Ottoman.
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leaders of the Arab League: Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman,
Sudan, Libya, and Egypt; which three kings might the little horn uproot?
Kuwait and UAE are both Wahhabi. Qatar is also wealthy and has allowed US soldiers
to launch attacks from its soil. All three are located on the Arabian Peninsula, and may be
taken out when the whore of Saudi Arabia is burned and made desolate.
Summary
Satan established moon-worship in the middle east. The current form of that religion is
Islam. Islam has two main branches: Shia and Sunni, which has a sect called Wahhabi. In
Revelation, Satan is the dragon, the Sunnis are the Beast of the Sea, the Shia are the Beast
of the Earth, and the Wahhabis are the Whore that rides the Beast of the Sea. The Shia and
the Sunnis despise the Wahhabis for their decadence in Westernizing themselves, and the
Wahhabis consider everyone else to be apostate.
The Beast of the Sea is a conglomeration of Nazi Germany (leopard) determination to
exterminate the Jews with the 'armament and transportation of Russia (bear), and the
communication broadcasting system of the BBC (lion). Each of these countries is aiding
the Muslim Beast, and each has a growing population of Muslims. This beast also has
seven heads which were past empires. It has ten horns with ten crowns which are ten kings.
This beast is given a blasphemous mouth to "make war with the saints and overcome them".
Daniel's "little horn" is the Antichrist to Christians; but to Muslims, he is their savior, the
Mahdi, who will create a new Muslim empire (caliphate) during the Great Tribulation.
This caliphate will be supported by the Beast of the Earth, which is a Shia confederation
led by two horns/leaders from Afghanistan and Iran. The horn in Afghanistan was/is
Osama ben Laden, though he is Sunni. The horn in Iran is Achmajinedab. These Muslims
will deceive with miracles and wonders and their "fire"-power (nukes). The icon of Islam
is the crescent moon. People say, "money talks", so it may be that the Islamic Dinar
picturing a mosque with a crescent moon on top will be the icon of their economy. No one
can buy or sell without the mark.
The Whore which rides the Beast of the Sea is Wahhabism, primarily in Saudi Arabia.
The heart of Wahhabism is the Kaaba in Mecca. This is a shrine to the compassionate
prostitute, the goddess Har, who communed with men through her sexual rites with her
priestesses at the Har-em (temple of women). The judgment of the seven vials is associated
with the Whore for seducing others with "the wine of her fornication". For hundreds of
years Satan's seat of opposition to God was in Babylon, so the Whore is given the name
"mystery, Babylon the great". This religious whore is a great city which reigns over the
kings of the earth because it holds the wealth, oil, and the holiest city. The whore is Mecca.
The port city 45 miles west of Mecca is Jeddeh. It held the Islamic Trade Fair. The
religious center of Mecca combined with the economic trade center of Jeddeh make the
"great city" of Babylon which will be destroyed in "one hour". The ten horns/kings of the
Beast of the Sea will carry out God's will in burning this great city. Additionally, God will
wipe it out with a "natural" disaster.
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Book of Revelation
Apocalypse means 'lifting of the veil' or 'revealing'; hence 'revelation'. The revelation
is of Jesus Christ and His Bride; it is a positive word which has only been associated with
the tribulations which surround it. The book of the time of the end which Daniel, the
beloved prophet, was told to seal (Daniel 12:4) was revealed to John, the beloved apostle,
on the isle of Patmos. John used much of Daniel's imagery.
John was describing things in an orderly fashion, but some things are coupled to others,
and some things overlap or coincide with others. If John had hyper-linked text, he could
have written a linear time-line of what was to take place. John used the writing style of the
Bible in which an outline or overview is given, followed by details, which eventually come
back around to the time-line. With this Hebrew cyclical writing style in mind, the
prophecies can be grouped according to their timings and commonalities. The seals,
trumpets and vials are found in the following chapters of Revelation:
Revelation Chapters
5
Lamb to break seals
6
Six seals
8
7th seal & 4 trumpets
9
5th & 6th trumpets
11
7th trumpet
14-16 7 vials of wrath
The 7 seals are global in their impact, with the first four seals before the Great
Tribulation and the three remaining seals at the end. The 7 vials are poured out on Babylon
(Islam) and those who worship the beast, while the 7 trumpets are experienced by the rest
of the world; God making a distinction like He did between the Egyptians and the Hebrews.
The trumpets and vials are done in tandem. [Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy by J.
Barton Payne, p.598] The 7th seal, vial, and trumpet are simultaneous, culminating in King
Jesus' return to reign and lead His army to victory (Rev. 19).
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262
Fulfillment in Scripture
New Jerusalem
John 14:2-3 and Rev. 21:9-27
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elders said to me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of
David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. . . .
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell
down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of
odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, You are
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have
redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation; And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on
the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the
throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength,
and honor, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:1-12 edited)
'Redeemed' is agorazo, meaning purchased. After all the seals have been opened, Jesus
will receive His purchased possession, His Bride; and He will receive all power and
authority as King over the whole earth, and His saints will serve Him and bless Him and
give King Jesus the riches and honor He deserves.
When God delivered the Hebrews from Egypt and plagued the Egyptians and destroyed
the Egyptian army, it was in answer to prayers (Exodus 3:7-10). Similarly, Christians have
been crying out to God for deliverance from Muslim oppression. The cries of millions of
faithful martyrs have been heard and stored as fragrant aromas in 24 golden vials. In
Revelation 15:7, "one of the four beasts gave to the seven angels seven golden vials full of
the wrath of God." Whether these seven are from the twenty-four is not stated; nor does it
say golden vials full of prayers have now become vials full of God's wrath. But these
prayers may have been imprecations seeking God's destruction of their enemies like in
Psalm 83, or seeking temporary hardship of their enemy to bring repentance (Acts 13:8-12).
Or there may be plenty of gold vials/bowls in heaven for these various uses.
The 7th angel will cast his golden censer to the earth when the 7th seal is broken (Rev.
8:1-5). There is a special golden censer used in the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9:3-4) which
is patterned on the one used in heaven. It too is associated with God's wrath and the
prayers of the saints after the trumpets are handed to the seven angels.
Though there are seven each of the seals, trumpets and vials; the first group of four of
each object is a distinct grouping. The first four trumpets and vials parallel each other as
they make a distinction between those who worship the Beast of Islam, and those who do
not. Prior to them and the beginning of the Great Tribulation are the first four seals which
are also known as the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Scripture gives no indication these
four horsemen appear before the Great Tribulation begins, but our recent history does.
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Seal #1
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 to him: and
he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:1-2)
Though Islamic terrorists had bombed many embassies worldwide, it was the attack on
September 11, 2001 (Rosh Hashanah was a week later) which awakened the world to the
"peaceful" white horse of Islam attempting to conquer the world without "arrows" (nukes).
To view Islam's violent toll of conquest, visit www.thereligionofpeace.com which keeps
track of each Muslim attack worldwide.
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the United States with over eight million people, and it is the city with the largest Jewish
population outside of Israel (like Egypt housed the Hebrews for hundreds of years). It also
has a large homosexual community ("Sodom"). The two olive trees and two candlesticks
represent God's two anointed 'sons' (Zechariah 4:14), Jews and Gentiles. 'Witness' is
another word for 'martyr'. Those who died in the 9/11 attacks were martyred for living in a
Christian country which protected the Jews.
On September 11, 2001 Islamic terrorists flew planes into the Twin Towers, and almost
3,000 people from 90 different countries died. The Muslims in Palestine were shown
dancing in the streets and celebrating by passing out candy. This was the "white horse" of
the first seal. Muslims have been slaughtering Christians around the world and leaving
their corpses to rot. The "three and a half days" refers to the 3 years of the Great
Tribulation in which there will be more martyrs. The slaughter of believers will continue
and increase until Rosh Hashanah, September 16, 2012 when the heavens and earth will
shake at the Lord's coming, and He will call His people to Him.
The mastermind of the 9/11 attack, and many other Al Qaeda attacks, was Khalid
Sheikh Mohammed who was born in Pakistan but received his mechanical engineering
degree in the US. According to notes of his interrogation on the internet titled "Substitution
for the Testimony of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed," "Sheikh Mohammed said that the
purpose of the attack on the Twin Towers was to 'wake the American people up'."
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of
Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage
Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Proclaim
you this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men
of war draw near; let them come up: Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to
the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
(Joel 3:2, 9, 12)
The purpose of the first four seals is to get people to "wake up" and recognize God's
judgment is coming soon. That judgment includes how we have treated the Jews and the
land which God gave them.
"On September 11, 2008 US Consul General Jacob Walles admitted during an
interview with a Palestinian newspaper that there were secret negotiations taking
place to divide Jerusalem. The US State Department and Israeli officials were quick
to deny such negotiation. Consul General Walles is second in command under the
US ambassador to Israel and knows what is going on. I feel he let "the cat out of the
bag." Walles' statement was in perfect agreement with Secretary Rice's actions. This
admission by the Consul General was on Thursday, September 11. At the very time
of this admission, Hurricane Ike was rushing toward Texas. This was a massive
hurricane 600 miles wide! It struck late Friday and the eye went directly up
Galveston Bay. Entire towns were destroyed and Houston was crippled. The
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Seal #2
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and
see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him
that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another:
and there was given to him a great sword. (Revelation 6:3-4)
The red horse of Islamic terrorism has "taken peace from the earth". Not content to
just kill infidels, the Muslims also kill other Muslims ("they should kill one another").
According to Gunnar Heinsohn and Daniel Pipes, some 11,000,000 Muslims have been
violently killed since 1948, . . . over 90 percent of the 11 million who perished were killed
by fellow Muslims [Front Page Magazine, October 8, 2007]. For example, on September
11, 2006 a 12-year-old boy was among six people murdered by a suicide bomber at a
funeral for a previous victim of a suicide bombing in Afghanistan; thirty-six were wounded.
Seal #3
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see.
And I beheld, and see a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances
in his hand. And I heard a voice in the middle of the four beasts say, A measure of
wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not
the oil and the wine. (Revelation 6:5-6)
Again it was during the "days of awe" between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Sept.
29 and Oct. 9, 2008) that the black horse of economic ruin traveled the globe. (Was it just
Democrats causing runs on banks to create economic uncertainty to shift the focus off of
the war in Iraq so that their candidate would be elected? Or were rich terrorists making
large computer transactions hour before closing for twelve days?) One day's worth of
food for one day's wage is mere subsistence. There may yet come a blight on wheat and
barley until it gets to the point where "daily bread" will cost a day's wages (Rev. 6:6).
Seal #4
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 to them over the
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fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and
with the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8)
Then comes the pale horse of Death. Currently Islam has a majority in one fourth of
the world. Russia still has a large Muslim population even after all the "-istan" secessions.
Current Muslim world population is estimated between 21% and 27%. [Only 2% of US
population is Muslim.] And in those parts of the world in which Islam has power, it is
killing through war and famine. There is another form of world-wide death to consider.
The 1918 flu pandemic was mild in the spring but then mutated and returned in the fall
with a vengeance. It is estimated that 2% - 5% of the world population died. Twenty years
prior in Russia, a virulent flu followed the same pattern: mild in spring and devastatingly
deadly in the late summer and fall. The 1918 flu was an H1N1 type. Take wise
precautions in Fall 2009.
Babylon is Fallen
The second angelic announcement is the fall of the great city Babylon (Mecca), taken
out by a meteor or a bomb. According to "The Samson Option" written by reporter
Seymour Hersh, Israel may have 200 to 400 atomic warheads, ready to use as a last resort
to preserve the existence of the country. Osama bin Laden has denounced the house of
Saud and let it be known that he is ready to attack oil cities in his home nation of Saudi
Arabia in order to crush the economy of the rest of the world. Osama is a Sunni, but most
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of Saudi Arabia is Wahhabi (apostates according to Sunnis). Al-Qaeda might bomb Mecca
and its port city Jeddah. Osama means 'lion' in Arabic.
The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it
comes from the desert, from a terrible land. A grievous vision is declared to me; the
treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the spoiler spoils. Go up, O Elam:
besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. Therefore are my
loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold on me, as the pangs of a woman that
travails: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. .
. . And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the
daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, here comes a chariot
of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is
fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he has broken to the ground. . . . The
burden of Dumah. . . . The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall you
lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanim. . . .The inhabitants of the land of
Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him
that fled. For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent
bow, and from the grievousness of war. For thus has the LORD said to me, Within a
year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar,
shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel has spoken it.
(Isaiah 21:1-17 edited)
The Elamites lived in what is now the province of Khuzestan, Iran which borders the
Persian Gulf. The name "Persia" was not used until after Babylonian captivity. And Media
is the Medes (now Afghanistan). Though Persia has borders with seas, its desert is inland.
The Medes and Persians did besiege and conquer Babylon more than a hundred years after
this prophecy.
This burden or oracle also has a future fulfillment regarding Arabia. Dumah is now
called Dumat el Janda, located near Medina. Dumah and Kedar were sons of Ishmael.
Mohammed was of the lineage of Kedar. Mohammed first promoted his new religion in
Mecca, who cast him out. He fled north to Medina. [Continuing on the road north of
Medina are Hafirat al Ayda (where Dedan settled) and Tayma (Tema).] Medina accepted
his religion and authority, and Mohammed returned to Mecca with armed men from
Medina. Mohammed threw out all the idols from Mecca, except the Kaaba to the moon
god which he then proclaimed to be "The Deity" (Al-Ilah, which was shortened to Allah).
The Hebrew words for 'fail' and 'diminished' could also be translated to bring Kedar to an
'end' and to 'bring to nothing'. Arabian desert of the sea is prophetically connected to
Babylon and the Medes and Persians destruction of it, and it may also fall within a 360-day
year of the announcement of its destruction.
With the Wahhabis and Saudi oil out of the way, the Beast of the Earth (the Shia of
Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran), will then require all people to wear a mark of allegiance to
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It is unclear when in the first two years of the Great Tribulation these sets of four will
occur, or how much time is allotted to each or between each. Though between the second
angelic announcement and the actual fall of Babylon at the 2nd trumpet and vial may be a
period of one year. The Sea of Babylon is most likely the Arabian Sea surrounding the
Arabian Peninsula with its arms of the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. Thus,
the Whore of Babylon-Islam and its great cities of Mecca and Jeddeh will be destroyed.
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And the first went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome
and grievous sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which
worshipped his image. And the second angel poured out his vial on the sea; and it
became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. And the
third angel poured out his vial on the rivers and fountains of waters; and they
became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, You are righteous, O Lord,
which are, and were, and shall be, because you have judged thus. For they have
shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; for
they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God
Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments. And the fourth angel poured out
his vial on the sun; and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men
were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which has power
over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. (Revelation 16:2-9)
There is no statement that the people of "Babylon" repent from this time forward. Their
murderous acts have made them "worthy" of the judgment of a righteous God. Even
though one third of the sunlight no longer reaches earth, the sun still has the ability to
scorch with great heat. The sun's last cycle (23) of sun spots went unusually long and
demonstrated large solar flares; the scorching may be the result of solar flares.
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killed for following Jesus, but then their King will feed and comfort them. Since they only
wait a "little season", this seal occurs during the Armegeddon War before Jesus' return.
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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 slave, 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 sits 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? (Revelation 6:12-17)
Enter into the rock, and hide you in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory
of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men
shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day
of the LORD of hosts shall be on every one that is proud and lofty, and on 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 rises 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 rises to shake terribly the earth. (Is. 2:10-21 edited)
Just like Adam and Eve, sinners will seek in vain to hide from the LORD. The severity
of the global "earth shake" just prior to Christ's return is unimaginable. No one will be able
to stand physically but will all be brought to their hands and knees or faces, and they will
have to acknowledge the Creator of Heaven and Earth and humble themselves before the
majesty of His appearing.
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From the throne of God proceed lightning and thunder and voices. On the Day of the
LORD everyone will experience a glimpse of God's majesty from His throne in heaven as
His kingdom comes to be established upon the earth. The "great mountain" is the empire
of Babylon, which is called the "destroying mountain" in Jeremiah 51:24-25. Christ's
kingdom had "small beginnings" upon the earth, but Islam and the earth shall be leveled
before Him, and He shall build His temple and kingdom on earth with Himself as the
"cornerstone". Those of the seven churches of God throughout history will rejoice. The
following events are in very quick succession.
7th Vial
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the
seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. . . . And the temple was
filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able
to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
(Revelation 15:1, 8)
The seven 'last' is eschatos in Greek, meaning end of or final; from which we get the
word eschatology. These seven vials of plagues upon Babylon must be fulfilled and
concluded prior to the 7th trumpet. So the 7th vial precedes the 7th seal and trumpet.
And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice
out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were
voices, and thunders, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was
not since men were on the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the
great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great
Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the
fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not
found. And there fell on men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the
weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for
the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:17-21)
7th Seal
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the
space of half an hour. . . .And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a
golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with
the prayers of all saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the
smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before
God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of
the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunder, and
lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:1-5 edited)
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fire. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight
against her and her fortification, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a
night vision. . . . For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and
has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers has he covered. And
the vision of all is become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, . . . Woe to
them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the
dark, and they say, Who sees us? and who knows us? Surely your turning of things
upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him
that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it,
He had no understanding? Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be
turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? And
in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall
see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in
the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the
terrible one is brought to nothing, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch
for iniquity are cut off: That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare
for him that reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nothing.
Therefore thus said the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of
Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. But
when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in the middle of him, they shall
sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of
Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that
murmured shall learn doctrine. (Isaiah 29:5-24 edited)
Sadly, the Jewish rulers and prophets will not understand the prophecies regarding the
end-times in which they live. They will focus more on the oral traditions of the elders
(Matthew 15:1-20), the Mishnah, which caused them to be blinded to Christ's first coming.
But God, the Potter (Isaiah 64:8), will use His vessels according to His own plans (Romans
9:20-28; Rev. 2:25-27). The restoration of Jewish Israel was also a restoration of Christian
Lebanon (until the Shia Muslims took over). Christians began to understand end-times
better only after Israel became a nation again, and began to look for the "terrible one"
whom God will destroy. A person that "reproves in the gate" is a leader of the city. And
the Jews shall also come to understand their place in prophecy. Israel's prime minister
Netanyahu is going to have people come after him over trivial matters, and those within his
government will try to overturn his plans.
Behold, the day of the LORD comes, and your spoil shall be divided in the middle of
you. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be
taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go
forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in
the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day on the mount of Olives, which
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Seal #1 (Conquering white horse - 9/11/01 to 09/16/2012)
Seal #2 (Red war horse of Islam; from 9/11/01 to 09/16/2012 )
Seal #3 (Black horse of economic ruin; from Sept. 2008 to 09/16/2012)
Seal #4 (Pale horse of death; from 9/11/01 to 09/16/2012)
Great Tribulation began 4/6/09 (counting backwards 1,260 days
from calculated date of Christ's return on September 16, 2012)
Trumpets #1-4 (1/3 of world's trees, seas, and rivers are spoiled)
Vials #1-4 (all of Arabia's rivers and sea to blood; Muslims afflicted by sores and heat)
Vial #5 (Darkness/Pain) and Trumpet #5 ('Locusts' for 5 months; March 26, 2011)
Trumpet and Vial #6 (Armegeddon War 1 1/2 years; beginning August 23, 2011)
Seal #5 (Great Tribulation Martyrs during Armegeddon War)
Seal #6 (? 09/15/2012)
Vial #7 (09/16/2012)
Seals #7 (09/16/2012)
Trumpet #7 (09/16/2012)
Summary
Though there are seven each of the seals, trumpets and vials; the first group of four of
each object is a distinct grouping. The 7 seals are global in their impact, with the first four
seals before the Great Tribulation and the three remaining seals at the end. The 7 vials are
poured out on Babylon (Islam) and those who worship the beast, while the 7 trumpets are
experienced by the rest of the world. The first four trumpets and vials parallel each other as
they make a distinction between those who worship the Beast of Islam, and those who do
not, just as God made a distinction between the Egyptians and the Hebrews during the ten
plagues. The trumpets and vials are not done in succession, but in tandem. The 7th seal,
the 7th vial, and the 7th trumpet are almost simultaneous, culminating in King Jesus' return
to reign and lead His army to victory.
The seven seals are opened by the "Lamb who was slain" who purchased the right to do
so in preparation to retrieve His Bride. Israel became a nation again, and we have divided
its land. The Lamb of God has determined it is time to redeem and judge the earth, and the
first four seals wake up people to prepare for judgment (Joel 2 and Rev. 5). Al Qaeda
demonstrated to the the world what damage it could do without nukes on 9/11/01 (white
horse). By that act Muslim terrorists have "removed peace from the earth" and have
continued killing (red horse). Exactly seven years later the US entered secret negotiations
to divide Jerusalem, and a devastating hurricane and economic ruin (black horse) followed
a few days later. Currently Islam constitutes one fourth of the world population, and has a
majority in one fourth of the world's countries, where it exercises its power to kill through
war and famine (pale horse).
God started the Great Tribulation clock with commands to angels and with the removal
of the USA from world influence and interference in the middle-east. The destruction of
the great city Babylon (Mecca with its port, Jeddeh) will likely occur within a year of its
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6th seal
9/16/2012 (Day of the LORD) 7th Seal and Vial and Trumpet
The 6th seal is most likely broken within a few hours of the day of the Lord. The 7th
vial will be poured out over Babylon (Islam) completing God's wrath upon them. Then the
7th seal is broken and the 7th trumpet sounds over the world as voices, lightning, thunder,
hail, and a great earthquake are experienced around the globe. The sun will be dark and the
moon look like blood, but the brightness of Christ's coming will illuminate the world. Jesus
will bring the resurrected saints with Him and collect His living saints en route to Jerusalem
where we will fight for Israel and be victorious over the Antichrist and all nations gathered
against Israel.
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Midnight "The Brightness of His Coming" as "Lightning from the east to the west"
Resurrection and Rapture of Saints "in the twinkling of an eye"
Jesus, "the Breaker", destroys those attacking "Bozrah" (Petra)
Dawn
Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives, splitting it in two so Jews can escape.
Jesus and His saints destroy the wicked in Jerusalem.
Noon
Saints ride with Jesus to battle the wicked at Armegeddon (Rev. 19:17) and
the Antichrist and his armies are defeated and the fowls feast on their flesh.
Dusk
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Midnight "At evening time it shall be light." (Zech. 14:7)
Dawn
Antichrist and False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire.
Satan is bound for 1,000 years.
Noon
Jesus takes His Beloved to the Bridal chamber He made, the New Jerusalem,
while the earth is destroyed by fire.
Dusk
These are estimations. So much more is accomplished during the Day of the LORD
that entire books could be written, but this chapter will focus on the highlights in
Revelation 19. [Revelation 20 opens with Satan being bound.]
Jesus' Coronation
The Feast of Trumpets is a memorial of the day Joseph ascended to rule Egypt (the
world power of that time). The Hebrews calculated a king's reign from this feast on Tishri
1. Jesus was born on this day in 3 BC with shofars heralding the King of the Jews, and in
2012 He will return to fulfill His destiny as King of kings and Lord of lords.
There will be awe and silence in heaven for thirty minutes, as all of heaven
contemplates the coming events. The litany of "holy, holy, holy" from the seraphim will
cease; the harps be stilled. Father God will officially bestow upon His Son the crowns of
all the kingdoms of the earth, accompanied by many voices. These are the voices and
thunder heard on earth as the temple in heaven is opened. "And the temple of God was
opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were
lightning, and voices, and thunder, and an earthquake, and great hail" (Revelation 11:19).
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many
waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God
omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the
marriage of the Lamb is come . . . His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head
were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
(Revelation 19:6-7, 12)
This is the day King Jesus makes Himself known to the whole earth as King of kings
and LORD of Lords. He is ready to judge the nations. As the few remaining faithful Jews
on earth blow their shofars on Rosh Hashanah, 2012 in hope the King of the Jews will
appear to save them . . . He will!
Because the sun and moon will no longer be producing sufficient light at that time,
Jesus will be the light with the "brightness of His coming". The New Jerusalem will also be
a source of light in the sky.
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There is ample reason for the great despair because King Jesus has come to destroy the
wicked. It is the end of the world, and God will have His vengeance upon those who
refused to submit to Him. They loved the darkness and abhorred the light, and they will be
cast into "outer darkness".
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Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(I Corinthians 15:51-53)
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord. Why comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)
This is the 7th trumpet being blown after the 7th vial poured and the 7th seal opened.
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. . . As a Thief, so Watch
Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come. But know this,
that if the manager of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he
would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man
comes. (Matthew 42-44)
But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes on them,
as travail on a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are
not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You 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.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-4)
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. Seeing then that
all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all
holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hastening to the coming of the
day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:10-12)
Notice the "Thief" coming for His Bride is accompanied with a great noise and the
heavens dissolving with heat, and the destruction of the wicked. King Jesus makes us His
Warrior Queen, and immediately begins to take care of business. The resurrection and
rapture are important, but so is the deliverance of the Hebrew people and Jerusalem on the
Day of the LORD.
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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 executes his word: for the
day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? . . . 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.
(Joel 2:1-16 edited with addition)
Though 'am is translate 'people' over a thousand times, it is once made reference to the
conies (rabbits) as 'folk', and so commentators wrote that this passage was about locusts. It
does have similarities to John's description of locusts which plague men five months.
For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and
all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up,
said the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But to you
that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;
and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And you shall tread down
the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I
shall do this, said the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1-3)
Those preparing for marriage are called to sanctification, fasting, and the battle. The
immortal believers, Christ's Bride, will have strength and exuberance that defies gravity.
There is a combination of battle and burning which will take place upon the wicked.
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Syria and Egypt were constantly cutting through this trade route of Israel to war with each
other. King Josiah died trying to stop it, as many before him had.
For five millennia, the city of Megiddo stood at one of the most important
junctions in the ancient Near East, the Nahal Iron Pass. This pass was the only
means of traversing the Carmel-Gilboa mountain range on the road from Damascus
to Egypt. By controlling this route, Megiddo commanded the course of trade and the
march of armies in the Holy Land. Excavations suggest the city was repeatedly
devastated by some large force. (Ellen Licking, Stanford Report Online, 11/12/97)
But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: you shall not
be ashamed nor confounded world without end. For thus said the LORD that
created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has
established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the
LORD; and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the
earth: I said not to the seed of Jacob, Seek you me in vain: I the LORD speak
righteousness, I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come; draw
near together, you that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set
up the wood of their graven image, and pray to a god that cannot save. Tell you,
and bring them near; yes, let them take counsel together: who has declared this
from ancient time? who has told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there
is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. Look to
me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none
else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness,
and shall not return, That to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him
shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the
LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
(Isaiah 45:17-25 edited)
"All Israel shall be saved" (Jeremiah 23:5-6 and Romans 11:25-26) is a recurring theme
in Scripture, and it will be fulfilled "in that day". Also, every person will acknowledge
Jesus is God from every tribe and nation (ethnicity).
Why God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Valley of Jehoshaphat/Decision
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of
Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage
Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:2)
There is no actual "Valley of Jehoshaphat" in Israel. Jehoshaphat means 'Jehovah
judges'. He will judge the nations for scattering the Jews and dividing the land of Israel
which He gave them and He calls "My land". The word 'plead' is shaphat, meaning to
judge, pronounce sentence, or punish.
Assemble yourselves, and come, all you heathen, and gather yourselves together
round about: thither cause your mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the
heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit
to judge all the heathen round about. Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe:
come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is
great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is
near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the
stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter
his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD
will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall
you know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then
shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
(Joel 3:11-17)
God's voice caused the earth to shake when He wed Israel at Mount Sinai (Hebrew
12:18-29).
Now God's Son causes the earth to shake as the Lion of Judah roars from
Jerusalem with His Bride mounted on white horses.
The kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they
would not come. . . . And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them
spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he
sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
(Matthew 22:2-7 edited)
Awake, Bride
eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name
written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a clothing
dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which
were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the wine press of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he has on his clothing and on his thigh
a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)
Jesus is the Word of God, which is the "sword of the Spirit", and He is also able to
wield it in judgment (Hebrews 4:12-13). Jesus and His army of resurrected saints deal with
the wicked swiftly. Then an angel calls upon the birds to feast.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all
the fowls that fly in the middle of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together to
the supper of the great God; That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of
captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit
on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I
saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to
make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. . . . And the
remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword
proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
(Revelation 19:17-19, 21)
At this time angels are reaping the wicked into the "winepress" to be judged by Jesus.
When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In
flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come
to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our
testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:7b-10)
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried
with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle,
and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And
the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and
cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was
trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even to the horse
bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (Revelation 14:18-20)
Vengeance and destroying the wicked with fire seem to go together. God will destroy
the wicked and the earth with fire (2 Peter 3:7-13). And then Jesus will also judge the dead
to damnation.
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And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast,
and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire
burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)
This is talking about two individuals, the Antichrist and the False Prophet, who are cast
alive into the lake of fire. "That Wicked" and wonder-working liar is the False Prophet.
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. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-9)
Summary
According to calculations from Matthew and Daniel, the "Day of the LORD" will be
from dusk on Sunday, September 16, 2012 to dusk on September 18, 2012. It is the day
when King Jesus returns to earth with His resurrected saints, snatches His Bride still alive,
and conquers those who have attacked Israel, judging and destroying the wicked.
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censer to earth and the 7th angel sounds the trumpet. These all contain a similar list of
signs: voices and lightning, and thunder, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Dusk
Midnight "The Brightness of His Coming" as "Lightning from the east to the west"
Resurrection and Rapture of Saints "in the twinkling of an eye"
Jesus, "the Breaker", destroys those attacking "Bozrah" (Petra)
Dawn
Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives, splitting it in two so Jews can escape.
Jesus and His saints destroy the wicked in Jerusalem.
Noon
Saints ride with Jesus to battle the wicked at Armegeddon (Rev. 19:17) and
the Antichrist and his armies are defeated and the fowls feast on their flesh.
Dusk
Antichrist and False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire.
Satan is bound for 1,000 years.
Noon
Jesus takes His Beloved to the Bridal chamber He made, the New Jerusalem,
while He destroys the earth with fire.
Dusk
This is the day King Jesus makes Himself known to the whole earth as King of kings
and LORD of lords and Judge of the nations. It is also the day His Bride has been
preparing to welcome Him as King. First alone at "Bozrah", and then with His Bride at
Jerusalem and Armegeddon, Jesus will take vengeance upon the wicked.
The Jews will acknowledge Jesus as their Messiah, and "all Israel will be saved". And
every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord God (Phil. 2:9-11). The
angels will reap the living wicked into the "winepress" to be judged by Jesus, and Jesus will
also judge the dead to damnation. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast alive
into the lake of fire.
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They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(Revelation 20:4e)
A Thousand Years As One Day
Return, you children of men. For a thousand years in your sight are but as
yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:3b-4)
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 long-suffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:8-9)
Throughout human history, God has patiently waited for people to repent and return to
Him. According to Bishop Ussher, human history began in 4004 BC. John Eddy, a leading
solar astronomer, told a symposium on time that "we could live with Bishop Ussher's value
for the age of the earth and sun." [reported by Raphael Kazmann in the Geotimes on
September 18, 1978] Now, 6,000 years later, Jesus is about to begin His millennial reign
and we shall "enter His rest". When God created the heavens and earth He did it in six
days and then rested on the seventh as a pattern for us. The seven days of the week roughly
correlate to 7,000 years of earth history which was divided midway by Christ's first coming.
4004 BC Adam and Eve and their seed are redeemed by "the Seed",
the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world".
3017 BC God 'raptured' righteous Enoch.
2348 BC God rescued eight righteous people in an ark with animals.
1491 BC God ransomed the Hebrew people from Egypt at the cost of
lambs and first born sons.
3 BC - 33 AD King Jesus is born to die as the "Lamb of God which takes away the sin
of the world", and to resurrect as the "first fruits of them that slept".
1099-1291 AD Men fight eight crusades trying to restore Christianity to Jerusalem,
but God continued to redeem lives through His gospel in Jesus.
2012 AD King Jesus returns to rule on earth for 1,000 years.
3013 AD Great White Throne Judgment, and the righteous spend eternity with God.
So from an overview of God's plan of redemption over time, we now return to Christ's
redemption of His Bride and the heavens and earth during the "Day of the LORD".
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precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire ; and the fire shall try
every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he has built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
We all need to be more in love with Jesus than what we do for Him. Works motivated
by our love for Him will be rewarded later, but during "the day of the LORD" any works
not built upon the foundation of our love for Jesus will be burned up.
Awake, Bride
breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an
hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the
angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold,
like to clear glass. . . . And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and
the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the
moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light
thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:
(Revelation 21:9-24a edited)
Like any Jewish man of his time, Jesus went away to prepare a place for His Bride a bridal chamber which is called the New Jerusalem. It is a huge space cube. A third of the
day and night are gone at the time of His appearing, so it may act as an additional luminary
in the sky, since it is about one half the size of the moon. It does not reflect light, but God
emanates light from within it.
The base of the New Jerusalem would have been equal to 144 million square stadia. A
furlong or stadia is about 600 feet, thus the area of the base (and each face of the cube) is
roughly 1500 miles by 1500 miles, or a volume of 3.375 billion cubic miles. If resting
upon the Earth, its ceiling would be inside our current exosphere (the last layer before
space), and its base would cut a trench in the earth up to 70 feet deep near its center. John
says it comes down out of heaven, but he doesn't say it lands or rests upon the earth. Since
its base would take up half or more of any continent and would greatly depress the earth's
crust, and the nations walk by its light, it sounds much more like a small moon. Its
presence at Christ's 2nd coming allows Rosh Hashanah to have light at all hours.
There would be plenty of space for every believer in Yahweh since creation in it. God
chose to dwell in a cubical called the Holy of Holies on earth (1 Kings 6:20), so His Bride
will now dwell in holiness with Him in a space cube.
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The twelve gates have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve foundations
have the names of the twelve apostles. These correlated to the twenty-four elders around
the throne. Pure gold is soft and malleable, but God has tempered it in such a way that it is
clear and strong enough to walk upon.
Awake, Bride
We are aware of the power unleashed by single asteroids like the ones which devastated the
areas of Yucatan, Mexico and Tunguska, Russia. Russians spoke of a "deafening bang"
and seismic instruments recorded effects 600 miles away. Having several asteroids hit
simultaneously would certainly dissolve the elements with "fervent heat" and "great noise".
A team of scientists reported in the 1999 issue of Geo-Marine Letters that in earth's
distant past, undersea methane gas ruptures from the Yucatan asteroid (Chicxulub) impact
caused a firestorm on earth's surface and up into the atmosphere. According to Naval
Research Laboratory scientist Barton Hurdle, "The theoretical fire would have burned near
the ground and high into the atmosphere. The fire would have incinerated land creatures.
There was a lot of soot, and that soot has been found." After impact millions of tons of
rock were sent into the atmosphere, and re-entered the Earth's at high speed as "shooting
stars" igniting the trees and the methane gas. [Report by Robert Roy Britt on space.com]
This impact may have occurred just prior to Noah's flood, causing the earth's crust to crack
(oceanic trenches) and releasing the "fountains of the deep" and the "waters above" to
quench the fire.
Millennium
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he has chosen us
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love: (Ephesians 1:3-4)
God chose Christ's Bride, the Church composed of Jews and Gentiles, before creation.
Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; that
they may behold my glory, which you have given me: for you loved me before the
foundation of the world. (John 17:24)
Father God chose to give Us to His beloved Son, and established the 'Bride price'.
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot: Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:19-20)
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the
King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:33-34)
Prior to creating the heavens and earth, God knew He would have to recreate them to
present as a wedding gift to His Son and His Bride.
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And you shall number seven sabbaths of years to you, seven times seven years; and
the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty and nine years. Then
shall you cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh
month, in the day of atonement shall you make the trumpet sound throughout all
your land. . . . A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be to you: you shall not sow, neither
reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of your vine
undressed. (Leviticus 25:8-9)
It may be that the year our Lord returns is also a jubilee year to be celebrated on Yom
Kippur. If so, we will not sow that year, but eat the fruit of the trees. On Yom Kippur the
curse is removed from the earth and the Adamic sin nature from the human race. Truly the
slaves have all been set free, and the land has returned to its rightful Owner and Creator.
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be
remembered, nor come into mind. But be you glad and rejoice for ever in that which
I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I
will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be
no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more there an
infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days: for the child shall die an
hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and
eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant,
and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and my elect
shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring
forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their
offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer;
and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed
together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the
serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, said the
LORD. (Isaiah 65:17-25)
God may adjust our memories, or just allow the past to fade away much like the ark of
the covenant did (Jeremiah 31:16). Our future labor in planting and reaping will no longer
be "in vain" struggling against thorns (Genesis 3:17-19). Also God's curse on limited
human years of life is removed (Genesis 6:3), and our telomeres will no longer unravel.
People born will have the ability to live for hundreds of years like the people before Noah's
flood before we die. The fear of man will no longer be upon the animals (Genesis 9:2-3;
Isaiah 11:6-9), and we and the animals will return to a more vegetarian diet.
Infants are mentioned. Those raptured believers (who did not die) will return to the
new earth. Those who were married will remain married (it's legally binding until death; 1
Cor. 7:39). They will have sex and produce children, and their children will be able to die
during the millennium. Although those born on the new earth no longer have the Adamic
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sin nature, they still have free will and can choose to sin. But God promised His Spirit and
Word would be in His people and their "seed's seed for ever" (Isaiah 59:21).
Resurrected immortals will also be on the earth, specifically those who were martyred
during the Great Tribulation will reign with Christ (Rev. 20:4-6). They shall be like the
angels and neither marry nor have sex.
Awake, Bride
fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I
will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is
the second death. (Revelation 21:5-8)
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of
the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of the street of it, and on either
side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and
yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the
nations. . . . Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to
the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are
dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever
loves and makes a lie. . . . And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that
hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever will, let him take
the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:1-2,14-15,17)
Those who sin in the millennial kingdom of Christ can be cleansed by drinking from the
river of the water of life which issues as a fountain from the throne of God. Jesus will be
physically present with the scars in His wrists and side; His crucifixion an uncontested fact.
Instead of a dead wooden cross, there will be a tree of life which produces fruit of life and
leaves for healing, but only those who obey Christ's command may eat of it. Sadly, there
will be those who refuse to submit to King Jesus and drink of the water of life which flows
from His throne in earthly New Jerusalem, and so they will not be allowed to enter the city.
Feast of Booths/Tabernacles
Back to our first week on the new earth: from Yom Kippur we will have a few days to
make latrines and simple shelters for ourselves in which to celebrate the Feast of Booths.
You shall bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the
heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought
low. And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make to all people a feast of fat
things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees
well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over
all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in
victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke
of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD has spoken it.
And it shall be said in that day, See, this is our God; we have waited for him, and
he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and
rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:5-9)
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Mountains refer to empires, and here it refers to Christ's kingdom on earth. This feast
follows the Day of the LORD in which He destroyed the "terrible ones" and brought forth
salvation and resurrection. There are three feasts which will be celebrated during the
millennium: the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of the early harvest of Pentecost, and
the feast of the latter harvest of Tabernacles (Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16; 2
Chronicles 8:13). It will still be required to go to Jerusalem, or at least send a
representative from your country, during these feasts.
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came
against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the
LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoever
will not come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King,
the LORD of hosts, even on them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not
up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, with which the
LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This
shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not
up to keep the feast of tabernacles. In that day shall there be on the bells of the
horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be
like the bowls before the altar. Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be
holiness to the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of
them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in
the house of the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 14:16-21)
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go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge
among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords
into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come you,
and let us walk in the light of the LORD. (Isaiah 2:2-5)
Again, the New Jerusalem will be elevated above the hills. The new tabernacle/temple
will be the LORD's dwelling and throne and classroom, and will radiate with His glory.
They will no longer "learn war" (Zechariah 9:10).
In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of
the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it
shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remains in Jerusalem,
shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall
have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the middle thereof by the spirit of
judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the LORD will create on every dwelling
place of mount Zion, and on her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the
shining of a flaming fire by night: for on all the glory shall be a defense. And there
shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of
refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. (Isaiah 4:2-6)
"When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion" was Jesus'
first coming. During His second coming He will have "purged the blood of Jerusalem from
the middle thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning". Then King Jesus
will establish His glorious kingdom and His tabernacle/temple.
New Temple
Only the righteous written in the book of life have access to the heavenly New
Jerusalem. Because it is illuminated by the glory of the LORD, it is always bright and
never night.
Just as the heavenly New Jerusalem (Hebrew 12:22) was constructed by Jesus and
comes down from heaven, so does the earthly New Jerusalem, as a fully built city.
Regarding the heavenly New Jerusalem, John stated: And I saw no temple therein: for the
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." (Revelation 21:22) But there is
definitely a temple/tabernacle in the earthly New Jerusalem, which Jesus has built
(Zechariah 6:12-13) and it is described in Ezekiel 40-47.
To the overcomers from the church of Philadelphia, Jesus promised, "Him that
overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I
will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new
Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write on him my new
name." (Revelation 3:12)
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And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel; and one
king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall
they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Neither shall they defile
themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any
of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein
they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be
their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have
one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and
do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant,
wherein your fathers have dwelled; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and
their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be
their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall
be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and
will set my sanctuary in the middle of them for ever more. My tabernacle also shall
be with them: yes, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen
shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the
middle of them for ever more. (Ezekiel 37:22-28)
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O clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with the voice of triumph. For the
LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue
the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our
inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. God is gone up
with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing
praises: sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth:
sing you praises with understanding. God reigns over the heathen: God sits on the
throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the
people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong to God: he is
greatly exalted. (Psalms 47:1-7)
Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD
has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of me, and I shall
give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for
your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in
pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you
judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the
Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a
little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalms 2:6-12)
That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of
our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and
only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (1 Timothy 6:14-15)
But the LORD shall endure for ever: he has prepared his throne for judgment. And
he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people
in uprightness. (Psalms 9:7-8)
There are many scriptures which refer to Christ reigning and pronouncing judgment
over all the earth. The fulfillment of His Kingdom on earth is what the last 6,000 years
have been building toward, and it will soon become a reality.
Awake, Bride
God's promise to His suffering saints is that they will reign with Him.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them: and I
saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word
of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had
received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the
thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he
that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be
in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name
shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no
candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall
reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:3-5)
Only the righteous dead are resurrected at Christ's second coming, which is called the
"first resurrection" here. There is a distinction of suffering, enduring faith, and martyrdom
in order to reign with Christ. Those who specifically suffered for refusing to worship the
beast or receive his mark will have the name of the Lamb in their foreheads. We are all
kings (Rev. 1:5-6) and priests (1 Peter 2:9) by His Spirit in this life, but not necessarily in
the next.
Millennium
to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he
commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money,
that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the
first, saying, Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. And he said to him, Well,
you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority
over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five
pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be you also over five cities. . . . But those my
enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring here, and slay them
before me. (Luke 19:12-19, 27)
The American Colonies began with many people who truly sought to live in a manner
which pleased Jesus in accordance with the Bible. After two hundred years, many still
upheld those values, but after 400 years less than half could truly be called Christians, and
the government and its institutions became anti-Christian. So during 1,000 years, even
though Satan is bound, there will be those who no longer enjoy being ruled by King Jesus.
And at the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released and lead many to rebel.
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Millennium
during the millennium who are not written in the book of life are also judged according to
their works because they did not treat His brethren kindly. But believing overcomers shall
not be hurt by the "second death" (Rev. 2:11b).
He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my
son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
(Revelation 21:7-8)
Eternity
After all have been judged and judgment has been carried out, then those who love
Jesus and His righteousness will live in eternity with Him without wickedness ever
intruding again. Eternal life is knowing and being with Jesus.
The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart: and merciful men are taken
away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He
shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his
uprightness. . . . For thus said the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose
name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the
contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the
spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
(Isaiah 57:1-2, 15-16)
And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
Awake, Bride
book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book. He which testifies these things said, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so,
come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
(Revelation 22:7-21 edited)
The book of Revelation is also precious to the angels who "keep its sayings". It is
something to treasure and hold closely, and not to be flippant or haphazard about. Saints
for almost 2,000 years have hoped in the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Truly,
He will now come quickly.
Summary
Tishri 2, 2012 (Rosh Hashanah, Last portion of the "Day of the LORD")
Satan is bound for 1,000 years.
Believers' unloving works are "burned".
Jesus takes His Beloved to the Bridal chamber He made, the New Jerusalem,
while He destroys the earth with fire.
The Wedding ceremony
Tishri 3-9
The seven day Wedding Feast, "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" convenes.
God restores the Heavens and terra-forms the Earth again in six days.
Tishri 10 (Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement)
Fasting in holy awe of the Creator of a new heaven and new earth.
Tishri 11-14
Bride returns to earth with Jesus, and begins building "booths".
New boundaries for the tribes of Israel established.
Tishri 15-23 (Succoth, Feast of Booths)
Curses are removed. Longevity of human life is restored.
Beasts are now vegetarian and no longer fear nor harm man.
Jesus places the earthly New Jerusalem and Temple which He's constructed.
Over the years cities are built and the faithful rule over them. Jesus and other saints
reign over the earth; Jesus judges in righteousness and truth with a "rod of iron", but there
will be sinners who need to be imprisoned. Many sinners will gather in the ancient lands of
Gog and Magog. After 1,000 years, Satan will be released and will compel these people to
attack Israel. God will consume them with fire and throw Satan into the lake of fire where
others, who were not written in the book of life, will join him. Then the righteous will
enjoy eternity with Jesus.
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Conclusions
Conclusions
The Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show
to his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps
the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
And I John saw these things, and heard them.
(Revelation 22:6b-8a)
As we read the prophecies of Revelation and keep watch over them, we are truly
blessed as we await our Lord's arrival. God desires to show "His servants" (plural) those
things which "must shortly be done" (tachos). And Jesus says He comes "quickly" (tachu)
or 'suddenly'. When we begin to see and hear the things which the apostle John did, we
know Jesus will return soon. Our Lord God wants to reveal Jesus Christ and His future
plans to us, so we will be ready for His coming. God is not being secretive. Understanding
God's future plans is not relegated to a few prophets, but is available to all who serve the
Lord Jesus.
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret to his servants the
prophets. The lion has roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD has spoken, who
can but prophesy? (Amos 3:7)
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may
prophesy. . . . But he that prophesies speaks to men to edification, and exhortation,
and comfort. He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that
prophesies edifies the church. (1 Corinthians 14:1, 3-4)
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not
commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that
prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which
the LORD has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the
thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not
spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of
him. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22)
The prophet Jonah was given a word from the LORD for Nineveh's destruction, "Yet
forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown" (Jonah 3:3b). This was not a conditional
statement; yet because of their repentance, God relented (Jonah 3:10). According to Moses'
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command, Jonah should have been killed because his prophecy did not come to pass, but
Jonah sought death out of anger at God (Jonah 4:3). God taught him compassion instead.
There have been many prophets predicting Christ's return in the last 100 years: some
"presumptuously" (pridefully), and others humbly; some for gain, while others spent all
they had to proclaim it. Since God reveals what He's about to do to His prophets,
eventually some will get it right for the right reasons. Prior to Christ's first coming, regular
people were anticipating His arrival: unbelieving Jews (John 10:24), seeking Samaritan
woman, (John 4:25), and believing Martha (John 11:27). Several false messiahs led people
astray during and soon after Christ's life (Acts 5:36-37). The same is true today.
People around the world are clamoring for a messiah to put an end to corruption (sin)
and to establish peace throughout the world. Currently, a vast majority are expecting
Barack Hussein Obama to be that messiah. Newsweek's Evans Thomas said on MSNBC,
"In a way Obamas standing above the country above the world, hes sort of God" [June
5, 2009]. Obama is neither Father God nor Jesus, but a false messiah. The true Messiah
Jesus will return to earth from heaven at the end of the Great Tribulation, after the sun goes
dark and the moon turns red, with the resurrected saints and voices and lightning and
thunder and hail and a world-wide earthquake. Jesus warned His "elect", 'chosen' ones, not
to be deceived by false Christs and false prophets (Matthew 24:24)
The "Church" contains all His chosen ones from Hebrew and non-Hebrew ancestry, as
His Chosen Bride for Jesus. The word "church" was used by Jesus in Matthew 18:17 to
refer to a 'gathering' of Jews. It was a common non-religious term used for civil affairs (1
Kings 12:3), for war (1 Samuel 17:46-47), and for God's gathering of the Hebrews at Mt.
Sinai (Acts 7:38). Gentile believers have been grafted into the marvelous Hebrew stock
through the blood of Jesus Christ. The knowledge of Hebrew culture helps the Bride of
Christ understand the last days we are living in.
Hebrew Marriage Traditions
Fulfillment in Scripture
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Conclusions
And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near
to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should
immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country
to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and
delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:11-13)
There are several other corrections needed to understand Christ's return for His Bride.
Daniel 11 and Ezekiel 38-39 were fulfilled in the centuries before Jesus was born. The ten
toes of Nebuchadnezzar's statue and the 70th week of Daniel were fulfilled in the first
centuries after Christ.
Awake, Bride
the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the
interpretation thereof sure." (Daniel 2:42-45)
The kingdoms of the statue (including Rome) were consumed by the kingdom of
Christianity after Constantine declared it the state religion. The kingdom of Christ "shall
stand for ever". But do look for ten kings to give their power to the "little horn" (Daniel
7:7-27) for "one hour" (Rev. 17:12).
Conclusions
same progression in Didache 16. Jesus will remain in heaven until His "appearing" (Acts
3:20-21). The 2nd Coming of Christ, His "glorious appearing" (Titus 2:13; 2 Tim. 4:1-8),
will be at the end of the Great Tribulation; that appearing is also known as "the day of the
Lord" (Zechariah 14:1-21).
The separation of Christ's one appearing into two episodes was done by Catholics
around 500 AD to keep Protestants from calling the pope the antichrist. They deduced if a
rapture of the church occurs before the antichrist declares himself diety in the temple, they
could no longer accuse the pope of being "that Wicked" one. The author of the often used
Catholic quote was Psuedo Ephrem (the original Ephrem lived 306-373 AD). These two
appearings of Christ were later popularized among Protestants by John Darby in the early
1800s. Pre-tribulation rapture is a false doctrine. Saints miraculously living through God's
judgment of the wicked is Biblical: Jesus gave Noah and Lot (Luke 17:24-37) as examples.
The resurrection of the dead occurs prior to the rapture of those still alive at Christ's
coming. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. " (1
Corinthians 15:52). "And with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).
In a blink of an eye the dead saints are raised first and then the living saints are caught up
(raptured) with them and Jesus in the clouds.
Abominations
Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city . . . And after
threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the
people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and
the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined. 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. (Daniel
9:24-27 edited) Jesus fulfilled His part by His sacrifice on April 3, 33 AD which
rent the veil in the Temple, and the Syrian troops of Titus fulfilled their part by
destroying the Temple and Jerusalem within a generation in 70 AD.
Three times Daniel mentions the abomination of desolation. Jesus made the Temple
"desolate" because of the overspreading of Israel's "abominations" (Daniel 9:27), and the
"seventy weeks" prophecy was completely fulfilled by 70 AD, and provided a clue
regarding the the people of the prince that shall come would be Syrian, referring to
Antiochus IV and his army's abomination of desolation. Antiochus Epiphanes IV with his
Syrian army fulfilled Daniel 8:8-14 and 11:31, leaving the last one of Daniel's
"abomination" prophecies to be fulfilled (Daniel 12:11-12).
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And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,
and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that
makes desolate. (Daniel 11:31) Antiochus Epiphanes IV and his Syrian army
fulfilled this in 167 BC. Thus, "the people" - Syrians, "of the prince that shall
come - Antiochus IV, destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the
abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred
and ninety days. Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred
and five and thirty days. (Daniel 12:11-12 edited) This is the passage referred to by
Jesus as to be fulfilled prior to the Great Tribulation. These numbers (1, 290 and
1,335) coupled with the numbers from Daniel 8:7 and 14 (2,300 and date of 333
when goat conquered ram), lead to the year 2012 for Christ's second coming.
333 BC the goat conquered the ram; Alexander conquered Darius III Codomannus.
From Daniel 8, we have 2300 - 333 = 1967.
677 The date for the completion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is between 674 and 679.
I chose 677 because it yields the 1967 year. 677 + 1,290 = 1967.
1967 Jews regain control of Jerusalem after 6-day war. Though the Jews recaptured
Jerusalem, the abomination of Muslim structures on the Temple Mount remained.
677 + 1,335 = 2012.
2012 Those waiting and "looking for that blessed hope" will see "the glorious
appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13) on His birthday, Tishri 1, Rosh
Hashanah; which is September 16, 2012.
In answering the disciples' question of "what shall be the sign of your coming, and of
the end of the world?" (Mat. 24:3b), Jesus replied in verse 15, "When you therefore shall
see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,
(whoever reads, let him understand:)". 'Understand' is noieo, which means to 'exercise the
mind'. "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a
matter" (Proverbs 25:2). The treasure of the truth of the year of Christ's second coming has
been waiting in Scripture for those willing to search for it.
Conclusions
And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given to him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth
in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them
that dwell in heaven. And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to
overcome them: (Revelation 13:5-7a)
Now we beseech you, brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together to him, . . . 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 opposes and exalts himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3-4)
Though the Antichrist will blaspheme against God and His Name and tabernacle, the
False Prophet and/or False Messiah exalts himself above God and sits in the place of His
Temple. Our gathering to Jesus at His coming will not occur until after the False
Prophet/False Messiah declares himself deity. Because this announcement will have
immediate devastating consequences for Israel, Jesus told them to pray it might not happen
on a sabbath or in winter (Matthew 24:20).
In Islamic eschatology, the distorted Jesus (Isa) of the Quran will return bodily to defeat
the bad al-Dajjal (False Messiah), who leads Muslims astray. The Muslim savior, alMahdi, will be a direct descendant of Mohammed. He will unite Muslims as one caliphate
again and lead the army of black flags to conquer the Jews and establish a base at
Jerusalem, but have his headquarters in Iraq. Iran's Ahmadinejad believes causing world
chaos will hasten the arrival of the Muslim Mahdi, and that he will come before the end of
his presidency (election is June 12, 2009) [Ahmadinejad: The Secret History of Iran's
Radical Leader by Kasra Naji in 2008, p92]. Ahmadinejad is already acting as the False
Prophet, preparing to welcome and support the Mahdi. The Mahdi will likely be a Sunni
Muslim from the ancient lands of Assyria.
Awake, Bride
God's Team
Jerusalem
Jesus Christ
7 Churches
Two Witnesses
Bride of Christ
Michael
other angels
Satan's Team
Babylon
Antichrist (Muslim Mahdi)
7-headed Beast of Sea (Sunni)
2-horned Beast of Earth (Shia)
Whore (Wahhabi)
Destroying Angel from Abyss
other demons
The Beast of the Earth is referred to as economic/religious system and "the false
prophet"; and the Beast of the Sea is sometimes referred to as the political/religious system,
and sometimes as the Antichrist leader ("little horn") who comes from it. The False
Prophet will perform miraculous signs of bringing fire down from heaven (nukes?) and
beheading those who do not worship the Beast of the Sea (Rev. 20:4).
Beasts are empires in prophetic scriptures. The two main religious empires of Islam are
Sunni (7-headed Beast of Sea) and Shia (2-horned Beast of Earth). The most powerful sect
of Sunnism is Wahhabism, which is the Whore that rides the 7-headed beast. The 7 heads
represent the seven moon-worshiping empires over time based from Babylon, just as the 7
churches represent Christianity in history.
The Sunni sect is the largest with dozens of national adherents. The Shia are
predominant in Iran with large populations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Wahhabis control
Saudi Arabia and most of the Arabian Peninsula. Shia and Sunnis despise the house of
Saud and Wahhabism for their decadence and opulence in Westernizing themselves.
Four Horsemen
Three and a half prophetic years is 1,260 days. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on
Sept. 16, 2012 with the rest of the 'day' following on the 17th. Counting backwards from
Sunday, Sept. 16th we arrive at Monday, April 6, 2009 for the beginning of the Great
Tribulation. Prior to this, the four horses of the first four seals came first to wake us up.
September 11, 2001 was the day the world woke up to the four horsemen, and the
description of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City was included in
Revelation 11:8-12 to verify the timing. The 'wake up' period is roughly seven and a half
years (2,665 days); could they have included the "seven thunders" (Rev. 10:3-4)?
Though Islamic terrorists had bombed many embassies worldwide, it was the attack on
September 11, 2001 which awakened the world to the "peaceful" white horse of Islam
attempting to conquer the world without "arrows" (nukes). This leads us to the red horse
of terrorism which has "taken peace from the earth." Not content to just kill infidels, the
Muslims also kill other Muslims ("they should kill one another"). On September 11, 2008
the US was involved in secret negotiations to divide Jerusalem as Hurricane Ike headed
toward Texas. The black horse of economic ruin was acknowledged a few weeks later on
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Conclusions
September 29th, 2008. The pale horse of Death controls a quarter of the world. Currently
Islam has a majority in one fourth of the world and comprises one fourth of the population.
Great Tribulation
April 6, 2009 was the first day of the Great Tribulation. On that day a unique sign in
the heavens was reported by Fox News: "In a new image from NASA's Chandra X-ray
Observatory, high-energy X-rays emanating from the nebula around PSR B1509-58 have
been colored blue to reveal a structure resembling a hand reaching for some eternal red
cosmic light."
Your hand shall find out all your enemies: your right hand shall find out those that
hate you. You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger: the LORD
shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shall
you destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For
they intended evil against you: they imagined a mischievous device, which they
are not able to perform. Therefore shall you make them turn their back, when you
shall make ready your arrows on your strings against the face of them.
(Psalms 21:8-12)
Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me: you shall stretch forth
your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me. The
LORD will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O LORD, endures for ever:
forsake not the works of your own hands. (Psalms 138:7-8)
God has begun the process of destroying those who hate Him and delivering those who
love Him. I pray that the terrorists are unable to secure or produce a nuclear weapon
("mischievous device") before Christ returns. God may use Israel to stop them.
Awake, Bride
chief declared to the Muslims in Turkey that we are not a Christian nation and are not and
will never be at war with Islam. President Obama announced the withdrawal of troops
from Iraq by the end of August, 2010. Each demonstration of American weakness and
withdrawal emboldens the jihadists. After troops have left Iraq, I expect the Mahdi and his
army to arise. The best candidate is Muqtada Sadr who stood down his Mahdi army in Iraq
in August 2008, but could revive it easily.
Conclusions
saints with Him and collect His living saints en route to Jerusalem where the Bride fights
for Israel and is victorious over the Antichrist and all nations gathered against Israel. ["All
kings" are enticed to the battle of Armegeddon, not just those listed in Ezekiel 38.]
Midnight "The Brightness of His Coming" as "Lightning from the east to the west"
Resurrection and Rapture of Saints "in the twinkling of an eye"
Jesus, "the Breaker", destroys those attacking "Bozrah" (Petra)
Dawn
Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives, splitting it in two so Jews can escape.
Jesus and His saints destroy the wicked in Jerusalem.
Noon
Saints ride with Jesus to battle the wicked at Armegeddon (Rev. 19:17) and
the Antichrist and his armies are defeated and the fowls feast on their flesh.
Dusk
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Midnight "At evening time it shall be light." (Zech. 14:7)
Dawn
Beasts of Sea and Earth are cast into the Lake of Fire.
Satan is bound for 1,000 years.
Believers' unloving works are burned.
Noon
Jesus takes His Beloved to the Bridal chamber He made, the New Jerusalem,
while He destroys the earth with fire.
Dusk
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Conclusions
Awake, Bride
The fulfillment of this "great day" in the Millennium will be when Jesus brings down
His new city of Jerusalem with its Temple and places it upon the earth, and the Temple
Mount spring gushes forth living water from the throne in the Holy of Holies which brings
healing (Ezekiel 47).
Conclusions
meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring
forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the
sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
(Ezekiel 47:7-12)
"Healed" water means drinkable, fresh water as opposed to salt. En Gedi is on the
southwest shore of the Dead Sea, and Eneglaim is on the northern shore. In addition to
fruit and grains, we will also eat fish.
Over the years cities are built and the faithful rule over them. Jesus and other saints
reign over the earth; Jesus judges in righteousness and truth with a "rod of iron", but there
will be sinners who gather in the ancient lands of Gog and Magog. After 1,000 years, Satan
will be released and will compel these people to attack Israel. God will consume them with
fire and throw Satan into the lake of fire where others, who were not written in the book of
life (Great White Throne Judgment), will join him. Then the righteous will enjoy eternity
with Jesus (John 17:3).
For thus said the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I
dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble
spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
(Isaiah 57:15)
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Yet in this freedom, the Bride is to fast while the Bridegroom is away. The Hebrews
fast thirty days during the month of Elul prior to Rosh Hashanah, and another ten days until
after Yom Kippur for a total of forty days. They are days of repentance, teshuvah, when
the trumpet is blown in repetition. Moses and Christ physically fasted forty days, and there
may be those who chose to follow their example. Elul 1 will occur on August 21, 2009;
August 11, 2010; August 31, 2011; and August 19, 2012.
Cry aloud . . . lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their
transgression . . . you shall not fast as you do this day . . . Is not this the fast that I
have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to
let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to deal your
bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house?
when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from
your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health
shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you . . . Then
shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I
am. If you take away from the middle of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger,
and speaking vanity; And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the
afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the
noon day: And the LORD shall guide you continually . . . and you shall be like a
watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. . . . But your
iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his
face from you, that he will not hear. . . . We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like
doves: we look for judgment, but there is none . . . For our transgressions are
multiplied before you . . . and the LORD saw . . . that there was no man, and
wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation to
him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a
breastplate, and an helmet of salvation on his head; and he put on the garments of
vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. . . . And the Redeemer
shall come to Zion, and to them that turn from transgression in Jacob . . . this is my
covenant with them, said the LORD; My spirit that is on you, and my words which I
have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth . . . Arise, shine; for
your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen on you. . . . the darkness shall
cover the earth . . . but the LORD shall arise on you . . . And the Gentiles shall
come to your light . . . For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall
perish . . . and you shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer .
. . The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon
give light to you: but the LORD shall be to you an everlasting light . . . and the days
of your mourning shall be ended. Your people also shall be all righteous: they shall
inherit the land for ever . . . that I may be glorified. . . . (Isaiah 58-60 edited)
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Conclusions
Our fasting and mourning will end when our King arrives. In the Song of Solomon,
the Bridegroom is called the 'Beloved', and His Bride is called a 'garden' and a
'dove' among lilies. Psalm 45 foretells of King Jesus' wife, the queen, praising Him
and raising children to be princes.
Upon Shoshannim [white trumpets like lilies]. . . a song of the Beloved. . . . You are
fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into your lips: therefore God has
blessed you for ever. Gird your sword on your thigh, O most mighty, with your
glory and your majesty. And in your majesty ride prosperously because of truth and
meekness and righteousness . . . Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's
enemies; whereby the people fall under you. Your throne, O God, is for ever and
ever: the scepter of your kingdom is a right scepter. You love righteousness, and
hate wickedness: therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of
gladness . . . your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory
palaces, whereby they have made you glad. . . . on your right hand did stand the
queen in gold of Ophir . . . her clothing is of worked gold. She shall be brought to
the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall
be brought to you. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall
enter into the king's palace. Instead of your fathers shall be your children, whom
you may make princes in all the earth. I will make your name to be remembered in
all generations: therefore shall the people praise you for ever and ever.
(Psalm 45:1-17 edited with addition)
Awake, Bride
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and on the
earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's
hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on
the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son
of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin
to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws
near. (Luke 21:25-28)
'Look up' is anakupto, meaning to unbend as in a reversal. Don't be hunched over in
grief, but rise up and stand tall. 'Lift up' is epairo, meaning to be lifted up with pride or to
exalt ones self. Be proud of your relationship with Christ and invite those around you to
join the sweet fellowship you have in His Spirit by submitting to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
'Redemption' is apolutrosis, meaning to ransom in full. Jesus, our Groom, has paid the
bride price, and He is coming to claim His purchased possession -- Us.
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Awake, Bride
Beloved, believe not every spirit, . . . Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, . . . You are of
God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the
world, and the world hears them. We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he
that is not of God hears not us. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. . . . God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that
we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our
sins. . . . Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given
us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be
the Savior of the world. Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God
dwells in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God
has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world . There is no fear in love; but
perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made
perfect in love. (1 John 4:1-18 edited)
Muslims don't believe Jesus is the Son of God. Do not be drawn into their worship of
the Antichrist. Muslims worship a false god and especially seek to destroy those who
worship the true God. Muslims seek to convert or destroy Christians who believe in
Messiah Jesus, and Jews who await Messiah 'Salvation' (Yeshua). When Messiah Jesus
comes to judge the world, we have nothing to fear because we have received His love and
grace. Hold onto your faith in Jesus, the Son of God; your faith will overcome the world
even if it means being martyred in the process. Our bodies may be tortured and killed, but
we will have eternal life with Jesus in immortal bodies.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that
overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he
that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? . . . And this is the record, that God has
given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and
he that has not the Son of God has not life. These things have I written to you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal
life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the
confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he
hears us: And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have
the petitions that we desired of him. . . . And we know that the Son of God is come,
and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are
in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal
life. (1 John 5:4-20 edited)
342
Books
Archaeological Study Bible - NIV, Zondervan, 2005.
Berry, George R., Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, Baker Book House, 1981.
Bullinger, E.W., The Witness of the Stars, 1893. [http://philologos.org/__eb-tws/]
Chumney, Edward, The Seven Festivals of the Messiah, Treasure House, 1994.
Cooper, Bill, After the Flood, New Wine Press, 1995
[ http://ldolphin.org/cooper/index.html]
Dougherty, Haskew, Jestice, and Rice, Battles of the Bible, Metro Books, 2008.
Elad, Amikam, Medieval Jerusalem and Islamic Worship, Brill, 1994.
Ferguson, Clyde, The Stars and the Bible, Exposition Press, 1978.
Finegan, Jack, Handbook of Biblical Chronology, Hendrickson Publishers, 1964.
Fleming, Kenneth C., God's Voice in the Stars, Loizeaux Brothers, 1981.
Foxe, John, Foxe's Christian Martyrs of the World, Barbour Books, 1989.
Hoerth, Alfred J., Archaeology & the Old Testament, Baker Books, 1998.
Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown's Commentary on the Whole Bible, Zondervan, 1999.
Lubenow, Marvin L., Bones of Contention, Baker Books, 1992. Solar neutrinos and
John Eddy's statement, page 205.
Payne, J. Barton, Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy, Baker Books, 1973.
(trumpets and vials in tandem)
Perry, Richard H., Of The Last Days, Guardian Books, 2003.
Perry, Richard H., The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Last Days, Alpha Books, 2006.
Richardson, Joel, Antichrist: Islam's Awaited Messiah, Pleasant Word of
WinePress Pub., 2006.
Rosenberg, Joel C., Epicenter, Tyndale House Publishers, 2006.
Rosenberg, Joel C., Inside the Revolution, Tyndale House Publishers, 2009.
Scarlatta, Robin and Pierce, Linda, A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays,
Heart of Wisdom Publishing, 1999.
Shoebat, Walid, Why I Left Jihad, Top Executive Media, 2005.
Thiele, Edwin, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings,
Kregel Publications, 1983.
Ussher, James, The Annals of World History, Master Books, 2003.
Ussher, James, The Wall Chart of World History, Third Millennium Trust, 1997.
Wierwille, Victor Paul, Jesus Christ, Our Promised Seed,
American Christian Press, 1982.
Zubair Ali, Mohammed Ali, Signs of Qiyamah, Islamic Book Service, 2000.
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Awake, Bride
Websites
www.wikipedia.org
www.360calendar.com on Hebrew calendar
www.hebcal.com Hebrew/Gregorian calendar converter
IDEA www.webexhibits.org on Sumerians
http://bsimmons.wordpress.com/2006/11/14/netanyahu-its-1938-and-iran-is-germanyahmadinejad-is-preparing-another-holocaust/
http://www.globalpolitician.com/23370-russia Report on weaponry be Natalya Hmelik
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-hoole.html
http://www.yeshua.co.uk on archaeological moon-worship artifacts
www.wyattmuseum.com Exodus to Mount Sinai
www.christianmedianetwork.com/lastdays.html
Lion=England, Bear=Russia, and Leopard=Germany
http://philologos.org/__eb-tws/ E.W. Bullinger's The Witness of the Stars
http://www.prophecyinthenews.com/articledetail.asp?Article_ID=238 on Obama
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.israel/2006/04/msg00915
.html report by Chuck Morse, April 14, 2006, on modern Israel's beginnings
www.jewishvoice.org Information of the lost tribes of Israel
http://johnmcternansinsights.blogspot.com
http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/1maccabees.html
http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/2maccabees.html
http://news.stanford.edu/news/1997/november12/nurearthquake.html
Ellen Licking report
Software
Open Office, a free program at www.openoffice.org
e-sword by Rick Meyers, a free program at www.e-sword.net.com;
contains Strong's Concordance among others.
The Sword Project, a free program at www.crosswire.org; contains the
American King James Bible, and Barnes and Clarke's Bible Commentaries among others.
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