TRIBULATION REMINDERS

 By Daymond Duck 

 

It might be good for us to remember some Tribulation Scriptures and past events as we discuss some of the current events.

 

In his sermon on Pentecost, Peter referenced Joel's message from God as saying, "And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come" (Acts 2:19-20).

 

It is a fact that the moon turned to blood with a tetrad of blood moons on the Feasts of Passover and Tabernacles in 2014 and 2015; that the sun turned to darkness with a total eclipse of the sun on Aug. 21, 2017; that there was a wonder in heaven above called the Rev. 12 Sign on Sept. 23, 2017 (Rev. 12:1-2); that there has been smoke on earth with a record number of volcanoes erupting in 2016-2017; that there has been fire on earth with the worst wildfires ever in California in 2017, etc.

 

Some people will disagree, but others believe these events could be some of the things that God said would happen before the Tribulation Period arrives. If these people are right (and they may be), perhaps we should expect these signs to be accompanied by a birth-pang increase in natural disasters.

 

I am not smart enough to know that it was birth pangs, but on Aug. 24, 2017 (three days after the total eclipse of the sun) tropical storm Harvey became a hurricane. Harvey was followed by Hurricanes Irma, Jose, Katia and Maria. The catastrophic flooding caused by some of these disasters was unprecedented. It looked like the days of Noah had arrived in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

 

Sept. 21-22, 2017 was the Feast of Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets; New Year's Day on the Jewish Civil Calendar). Some people believe the Rapture will happen on the Feast of Rosh Hashanah, and a handful of people were wrongly predicting that the Rapture would take place. They were firmly convinced that the total solar eclipse, the tetrad of blood moons on Jewish Feast Days, the Rev. 12 wonder and the fact that Israel was almost 70 years old were signs from God.

 

During that time, many started talking about "Jubilee years" and "Jubilee cycles." A Jubilee year is the 50th year of a Jubilee cycle. The concept comes straight out of the Bible (Lev. 25:8-11).

 

Briefly stated (because this article is longer than usual), some of those that understand Jubilees were saying that something significant happens every 50th year. They predicted that something significant would happen in 2017 and it could be the Rapture. Something significant happened. It wasn't the Rapture, but we will come to it.

 

Others believe God will deal with humanity for 6,000 years and then Jesus will come back and rule for 1,000 years (Psa. 90:4; II Pet. 3:8). They believe it has been about 6,000 years since God created Adam, and it is time to restore the kingdom.

 

Jesus met with His disciples one last time before He ascended into heaven. "When they therefore were together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power" (Acts 1:6-7).

 

Jesus didn't say the kingdom will never be restored. Jesus said it wasn't for the disciples to know the times or the seasons. The times and the seasons are in the Father's hands. But if the kingdom is going to be restored to Israel, the kingdom needs a capital. It has one. We are coming to it.

 

As Rosh Hashanah was approaching, some people that study Bible numbers (gematria) were saying Israel is in the year 5777 on the Jewish calendar. When Rosh Hashanah arrives in 2018, Israel will be in the year 5778. They said the 8 in 5778 means there will be a new beginning for Israel when the Feast of Trumpets arrives.

 

On Dec. 6, 2017, Pres. Trump recognized Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. John Hagee said he told Pres. Trump he needed to do it this year because 2017 is a Jubilee year. One must wonder if Pres. Trump's decision represents a new beginning for Israel.

 

In 1917 the Balfour Declaration established a homeland for the Jews. In 1967 (one Jubilee or 50 years later) the Jews gained possession of East Jerusalem, but no one would recognize East Jerusalem as Israeli territory (the world called East Jerusalem "occupied territory"). In 2017 (one Jubilee or 50 years later) Pres. Trump proclaimed that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel.

 

So, Israel got part of the Promised Land in 1917. They got East Jerusalem in 1967. And they got the right to all of Jerusalem in 2017.

 

God said, "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it" (Zech. 12:2-3).

 

Pres. Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel troubled and burdened most of the world's leaders. They quickly arranged for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council; and, when that failed, they arranged for an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly.

 

The capital of God's coming Millennial Kingdom has now been recognized by the U.S. as the undivided capital of Israel.

 

Prime Min. Netanyahu addressed the emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly. He called the UN a "house of lies." His choice of words seems appropriate because the UN will choose a liar (the Antichrist) and Satan worshipper (Satan is the father of lies) to rule over them.

 

The EU voted against Israel, and that is not surprising because the Antichrist will rise to power over that godless entity.

 

Before the vote, the newly established Jewish Sanhedrin released a Declaration for the UN General Assembly. They reminded the UN General Assembly (wannabe world government) that God promised to bless those that bless Israel and to curse those that curse Israel (Gen. 12:2-3).

 

They added that each nation's vote was an expression of that nation's attitude toward God. Each nation's vote was actually a request to be blessed by God or a request to be cursed by God. He can and He will do it. His threat to cut in pieces those that gather against Israel will be carried out.

 

It is interesting that God turned to Jewish rabbis instead of the sleeping Church to remind the nations of what the Scriptures say and possibly to let each nation determine its own destiny. After the Rapture, He will use 144,000 Jewish evangelists and the Two Witnesses (Rev. 7 and 11).

 

By the way, King David said, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee" (Psa. 122:6). Pres. Trump is now recognized as the first and only U.S. Pres. to pray at the Wailing Wall and he is being hailed as one of the greatest friends Israel has ever had.

 

Whether there is a relationship or not, I want to remind everyone that the Dow set about 90 new record high closings in 2017. The Word says those that bless and love Israel will be blessed and prosper.

 

That is good. But woe be unto America if Pres. Trump's new peace Proposal calls for the division of Israel (Joel 3:2).

 

One last reminder: Iran is having financial trouble; the people are rioting and calling for the overthrow of the government. Iran has been financing Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, Syria, etc., instead of investing in jobs, roads and agriculture. The Iranian government is threatening to crack down on the people, but at some point, it will have to come up with some money for its citizens or it will be toppled. God can use this like a hook to ultimately drag Russia, Iran, etc., into Israel to seek a spoil and a prey (Ezek. 38:12).