DANIEL'S 70 WEEKS; PART 5

By Alice Childs

In this final part of our study of Daniel 9, I'd like to conclude by jumping ahead for just a bit to the New Testament book of Matthew chapter 24, which is a parallel to the passage of Daniel chapter 9. This passage in Matthew is referred to as Jesus' Olivet Discourse in which He is speaking about this same period of time, the 70th week of Daniel. This same Olivet Discourse is also covered in Matthew 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21, all of which are specific to Israel. In this discourse, Jesus is addressing the very events that will take place during the 70th week of Daniel at the "end of the age."

 

At this time, Jesus was speaking to His disciples. He was addressing Israel and the Jews specifically. He was NOT addressing the Church at all in Matthew 24, Mark 13, or Luke 21. We need to keep this foremost in our minds as we move from the Old Testament to the New to gain further insight into what will be occurring on earth with regards to Israel during this last seven years.

 

We begin with a discussion of the Olivet Discourse from Jesus to His disciples and recorded in Matthew 24. In this passage, Jesus gives a summation, an OVERVIEW of events that both lead up to the Tribulation, as well as giving an overview of events that will occur DURING this final 70th week. Again, the Olivet Discourse was written specifically to the Jews. These are clear dispensational distinctives that must be kept in mind.

 

Although all scripture is written FOR our edification in this church Age, not all passages are written TO the Church. We must keep in mind the three (3) classes of people to whom the Word of God speaks:

 

(1)The Jews,

(2) The Gentiles, and

(3) The Church of Jesus Christ.

 

"Give none offense neither to the Jews (1), nor to the Gentiles (2), nor to the church of God (3)" (1 Corinthians 10:32).

 

In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus is addressing the Jews, first with regards to the coming destruction of the Temple and of the ensuing worldwide dispersion of the Jewish people, which did indeed occur in 70 AD, and then later on in these passages to the Jews who will be living in Israel in "that day" - i.e. the Time of Jacob's Trouble (reference Daniel 9).

 

Who were Daniel's people? The Jews. There was no Church in existence when this prophecy was given to Daniel. At the time that Daniel lived, there were only two classes of people: Jews and Gentiles.

 

God gave to Daniel specific and detailed prophecies regarding His (God's) plan for the ages for the Jews. Earlier in chapters 2 and 7 of the book of Daniel, God revealed the rise and fall of the great Gentile empires that would affect the people of Israel from that time on through to what is right now becoming the revived Roman Empire. These prophecies were given with astonishing detail and precision.

 

How do we know that Jesus was also speaking to a still future Jewish audience here in Matthew? For one thing, the Church was not even in existence until her birth at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 after Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ascension back to the Father.

 

Stay with me here because things do get a bit tricky to keep up with.

 

Although the Church is NOT the entity being addressed by Jesus here in the Olivet Discourse, in the verses relating the events that will be occurring and what the state of the world will be like BEFORE the Tribulation BEGINS, we can know from both history and current events that even though the CHURCH is not addressed at all during the Olivet Discourse, up to a certain point, we who are living during the Dispensation of Grace (the Church Age) ARE in fact living during the "birth pains" portion of the end times right now.

 

Even though Jesus' target audience was Jewish, up to a point, even though we are not DIRECTLY addressed, the Church IS part of certain events that LEAD UP TO the beginning of the actual "Day of the Lord."

 

For example, in Matthew 24, verses 1-8, Jesus is giving a GENERAL OUTLINE of what the world will be like LEADING UP TO the actual beginning of The Tribulation. And since scripture clearly teaches a pre-tribulation rapture, then although the Church is not addressed, we are clearly here during the time preceding the rapture but gone before the Tribulation begins.

 

Although Jesus is addressing the Jews specifically in this entire passage, these first 8 verses also encompass ALL who are living on earth (including the lost Jews, the lost Gentiles, and the redeemed Church who, at this point, ARE ALL STILL HERE ON EARTH during this run-up time before the actual event occurs that will initiate the start of the Tribulation. Up until this point, all three classes of people (the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Church) are still here TOGETHER even though we are not addressed or even hinted at as being here.

 

However, beginning in verse 9, events from here on out shift from the "birth pain" times in which the Church IS still here on earth, to the time AFTER what would become known as the rapture of the Church, to the moment when the final seven-year countdown begins.

 

In other words, between verses 8 and 9 of Matthew 24, several things not mentioned here at all but which are significant pieces of the entire end-times puzzle that are found in other books of the New Testament, will have occurred. Between verses 8 and 9 of Matthew 24, the following events will have taken place:

 

(1) the rapture of the Church ( as recorded in the books 1 and 2 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians)

(2) the rise to global prominence of the "man of sin" - the Antichrist

(3) the confirmation of a covenant between Israel and "the many" (many other nations) brokered by the Antichrist

(4) the global rise to power of the Antichrist

(5) the rebuilding of the Jewish temple on its ancient site

(6) the acceptance of the Antichrist as their Messiah by national Israel

(7) the midpoint BETRAYAL of the nation of Israel by that same false messiah three and one half years into the last seven years when the Antichrist turns on Israel and begins his full on persecution of the Jews

 

Many of these events not mentioned in Jesus' discourse take place BETWEEN verses 8 and 9. Jesus here is not giving a blow-by-blow account of these last seven years, but rather a generalized overview, a synopsis if you will, of what ISRAEL can expect to happen during the "end times," which encompass both the time BEFORE the Tribulation begins - i.e. the "birth pains" time in which the Church (until the moment of the rapture) is also living, AND the events that will transpire after The Tribulation begins and onward to the end of these last seven years.

 

He is giving a summary, answering the disciples' questions regarding the end of the age as it pertains to ISRAEL. Jesus was answering in a general way questions posed to Him by the disciples who were JEWISH and whose questions pertained to what would happen to ISRAEL at the end of the age. This is yet another reason (besides the fact that the Church had not yet been birthed) why Israel alone was the focus of the Olivet Discourse.

 

We must remember when studying the Bible to keep clear the distinctions between national Israel (the Jews), the Church, and Gentiles who are non-believing, non-Jewish peoples. Unbelieving Jews are just that - unbelieving JEWS.

 

The New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were addressing Jews still living under the Dispensation of Law, since the new Dispensation of Grace under which we, the Church, are living right now had not yet begun. The Dispensation of Grace began at Pentecost with the birth of the Church (See Acts chapter 2).

 

In this present Dispensation of Grace, the entity known as the Church is made up of BOTH believing Jews and believing Gentiles who are, upon salvation, made ONE in Christ. Upon salvation, each Church-Age believer becomes part of the "body" of whom Christ is the Head - also called the Bride of Christ - of whom Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom.

 

This Dispensation of Grace will end with the resurrection of the "dead in Christ," which will occur a nanosecond before the rapture of the living saints; both the dead and the living who are "in Christ" make up the Church.

 

During the last seven years that are the final completion of Daniel's 70th week, the Church will not be on earth at all. The Church in her Immortal and now glorified bodies will be in Heaven during this time, seated around the throne of God (Revelation chapters 4-5). After the event of the resurrection /rapture, God's focus once again returns fully to national Israel to finish up her final seven years of the old Dispensation of Israel under Law.

 

The Jews will then have their seven years (the last "week" of years under the Dispensation of Law) to both finish and fulfill the entire 490 "weeks" of years that the Lord purposed expressly for the Jews, according to Daniel chapter 9. This particular time is also called THE Tribulation (to be distinguished from general tribulation, which we all endure).

 

The insight into what events will be like and the things which will happen to the Jews during this last seven years, after the ending of the Church Age at the rapture of the Church, are found in the 24th chapter of Matthew, verses 9-31 in particular, and in the book of Revelation chapters 6-19.

 

During this Discourse in verse 31 of Matthew chapter 24, Jesus pauses in His narrative of events that will be occurring on earth during the Tribulation and goes back to a time BEFORE the Tribulation begins.

 

In verse 31, the "elect" mentioned here are the believing (saved) JEWS (NOT the Church) whom Jesus sends His ANGELS to collect. (Bear in mind that at the rapture of the Church it is Jesus Himself who comes into earth's atmosphere, not to the earth, and it is Jesus Himself who calls His bride to "come up here" to meet Him in the air).

 

How do we know the elect referred to here are believing Jews? We know it because, in the context of the passage, all of this takes place at the end of those last seven weeks of the Tribulation period when Jesus is about to physically return to the EARTH to rescue and liberate Jerusalem from the gathering armies of the earth.

 

Remember, from AD 70 until Jesus returns, the Jews have been scattered among all the nations. And even though the majority of Jews worldwide have returned to the land of Israel, there are still Jews living in nations all over the world. In fact, the Gentile nations will be judged by how they as both individuals and as national entities treated the Jews, whom Jesus called these "my brethren" during the Tribulation (Matthew 25: 31-46).

 

The "elect" spoken of here in verse 31 are Jews. The believing Jews living in Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation are told to flee into Bozrah - to Petra, to be protected. The believing Jews worldwide will be either helped or betrayed by the Gentile countries wherever they may find themselves. This is why, at Jesus' return, He sends His holy angels to gather His believing "elect" from every point under heaven.

 

At the end, Jesus will have all the living, surviving believers gathered before Him. There, just prior to the beginning of the Kingdom, He will enter into judgment to divide the Gentile "sheep" - those who are believers, whom He will grant entrance into His kingdom along with the believing remnant of Israel - from the "goats." The "goats" are all those who survived but who are not believers in Him, who will be cast into outer darkness and who will NOT be granted entrance into His Millennial Kingdom.

 

In context, verse 31 of Matthew 24 is speaking of the elect "believing Jews" whom Jesus will gather unto Himself. He offered this "gathering unto Himself" to Israel once before when He lamented that He longed to gather them (Israel) unto Himself as a hen gathers her brood; but Israel was at that time unwilling (Matthew 23:37). However, at the end of the Tribulation, God will bring about the last gathering of the now-believing remnant of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:1-4; Isaiah 11:12).

 

Around the time of His return to earth at the end of the Tribulation, all believing Israel (the one third of Israel whom Jesus protects and preserves throughout the Tribulation) will be gathered to Him to go into the Millennial Kingdom under the leadership of their Messiah King, in order to receive ALL of the benefits of God's unconditional covenant made by God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

 

Remember, the Church and Israel are separate entities. The Church will have already been taken to Heaven at the rapture (Revelation 4:1).

 

In the next few verses, Jesus breaks the sequence of His description of Tribulation events, and goes back in time to give some insight into what will be the MAJOR end-times sign that will alert the Jews (and subsequently us too) that the time of the end is drawing near. Israel is always God's timepiece.

 

In verse 32, Jesus tells the inquiring disciples about what will be the "super sign" that alerts Israel (and the world) that the end times are getting close. That "super sign" is of course the rebirth of the fig tree, which symbolizes Israel.

 

Jesus was telling them about the coming destruction of the Temple and the subsequent worldwide dispersion of the Jewish people; so now He backtracks to the REBIRTH - the REGATHERING of the Jewish NATION back into her homeland of Israel AFTER Israel's worldwide diaspora has ended, but BEFORE the Tribulation begins (reference Ezekiel 37).

 

We now know from our vantage point of history looking backward that Israel was indeed "reborn" as a nation in her own ancient land of Israel on May 14, 1948. That was when the "fig tree" of Israel began to bloom.

 

Jesus then goes on in verses 32-33 to give a description of the attitude and general tenor of the times AFTER the rebirth of Israel but just BEFORE the Tribulation time begins (a period of time that is still in the "birth pains" era, leading up to the beginning of the Tribulation). Again, Jesus completely leaves out any mention of the Church because of the following:

 

(1) Jesus had not yet gone to the cross to fulfill His purpose to die for the sins of the world, to be the Savior of mankind, and

(2) the Church had not yet been brought into existence in her time.

 

Finally, Jesus goes back to what is happening where He left off in verse 31. He picks up again the narrative of events that will happen in verses 38-39. In context, these verses are referring to the days of both Noah and Lot, when the WICKED were taken away in judgment while the righteous were kept in safety.

 

In the following verses, still staying within context of the judgment imposed by God upon the wicked of both Noah's day and the wicked of Sodom and Gomorrah of Lot's day, the "one taken and one left, " IN CONTEXT, is referring to those taken here as being the wicked taken away in judgment.

 

This is the position of scholars such as Dr. Thomas Ice; and this writer is also in agreement with this position. The entire context of Matthew 24 is of a SEPARATION being made between the righteous and the wicked at the time of the end of the Tribulation.

 

In verses 40-51, Jesus is here describing events that MAY have a double or parallel fulfillment both BEFORE the Tribulation begins (in the time we are living in now - the time BEFORE the rapture occurs), and a parallel description of events that may still be in play AFTER the Tribulation begins.

 

The verses referring to people "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" certainly describe life going on as usual BEFORE the rapture and the subsequent Tribulation - life events such as we see occurring now.

 

However, (and this is ABSOLUTE CONJECTURE and SPECULATION on my part, so let's get that established up front) there MAY also be a far more sinister meaning of Jesus' comment regarding the "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" statement that applies to the time DURING the Tribulation. After all, in context, the passage of the Olivet Discourse is recounting events that will take place during Daniel's 70th week, which pertains to Israel, not the Church. Keep that in mind.

 

We know from scripture that once the Tribulation commences (beginning in Revelation 6 when the Lamb of God in Heaven breaks the first seal, which begins the Tribulation period on earth), the relative normality of life on earth devolves quickly into anything but normal LIFE lived as usual.

 

So, since the bulk of the Olivet Discourse from verse 9 onward of Matthew 24 is describing events that will be taking place DURING Daniel's 70th week, what could Jesus be referring to regarding the "they" who will be "eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage" during this time of utter global destruction?

 

Let's take a SPECULATIVE look at what Jesus' statements regarding these things MIGHT mean in light of what conditions will be like on earth during the Tribulation and of the attitudes of the Antichrist lovers and followers - the reprobates who will be on earth during the Tribulation.

 

Might it not be possible that, DURING the Tribulation, the reprobates who will follow the Antichrist will be fully engaging in the same type of diabolical behavior involving the same types of forbidden deeds that the Nephilim of Noah's day were involved in, hence the reference to the "days of Noah and Lot?"

 

We know from scripture that, during the antediluvian or pre flood time, all flesh (except for Noah) had been corrupted by the group of fallen angels who "left their first estate" and "took" all of whom they desired from among human women in order to procreate with them. The offspring of such an unholy and forbidden union between fallen angels and human women were the Nephilim - a hybrid race whom God absolutely abominated, and whom He destroyed in the flood (Genesis 6; Jude).

 

The tampering with God's created order by the fallen angels and the further tampering with animal kind by their offspring, the Nephilim, were rampant in pre-flood times. These non- human offspring of fallen angels and human women were involved in the same types of abominations that modern-day reprobates are involved in now.

 

The reprobates of today are also tampering with human genetic structure through the corruption of both human and animal DNA. The modern-day scientists and geneticists are working to produce human/animal chimeras - the "marrying" of corrupted flesh with humanity through genetic engineering. They're not only attempting to create human/animal chimeras, but also to "marry," as it were, humans and machines by interfacing human biology with machines through the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

 

The modern-day reprobates, whose religion is science, hope to one day soon merge machines with humanity in order to create human/AI that will "become "gods" themselves.

 

These modern-day reprobates, who are even now on the cutting edge of technology in both genetics and robotics, will be the acolytes of the Antichrist system during the Tribulation. Even now, right this minute, in our present-day time before the rapture, these people are already mimicking, trying to surpass the abominations that were done during the antediluvian time when fallen angels "left their first estate" and "took" human women and mated with them, producing the Nephilim of Genesis 6.

 

These aforementioned atrocities, along with the rabid "marrying" of Sodomites, transgenders, and every other ungodly perversion that was prevent in Lot's day as well, are exactly what we are seeing repeated now. These ungodly things will undoubtedly continue on into the Tribulation.

 

This behavior will likely continue by the Antichrist followers during the Tribulation as well as becoming more widespread and more vile, with all of the diabolical and evil passions in which they want to indulge in now.

 

As I stated earlier, this idea of the "eating and marrying" as pertaining to the lifestyles and appetites of the reprobates during the Tribulation is simply conjecture on my part, and must be examined in light of what scripture actually states. Conjecture must always be admitted and treated as such. We dare not be dogmatic on that which scripture does not fully explain, and we dare not go past and state as truth those things upon which scripture is silent.

 

Suffice it to say that right now in the time in which we are living, the time BEFORE the rapture occurs, we certainly are witnessing a deceptive "life as usual" appearance, even though every perversion known to man is being passed off and indulged in as "normal." It is even now bearing the putrid fruit of depravity that will explode into full, vile bloom during the Tribulation once the Church along with the restraining hand of the Holy Spirit is removed.

 

The events Jesus speaks of next in this passage reveal what will be happening at the end of this seven-year period, at the time when He returns bodily to earth (not in the air as in the rapture). At the rapture, Jesus Himself appears in the air and calls the Church up to meet Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). In contrast to the rapture, the "gathering" in Matthew 24:40-51 is when Jesus sends His ANGELS to gather the WICKED from the earth to remove them to certain judgment. Again, the Church is NOT referenced in the Olivet Discourse.

 

As stated before, the Olivet Discourse is a general overview given in answer to the disciples' questions regarding the end times and the Kingdom that belongs to Israel, not a blow-by-blow chronological recounting of all of the events that will take place during the last seven years. For a more in depth chronology of events during The Tribulation, read Daniel 9 and Revelation chapters 6-19.

 

In contrast, the Church - Christ's "body/bride" - is "not appointed" to endure God's wrath. In the verse below, the Apostle Paul is explicitly addressing the Church.

 

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

 

We, the Church, are to always be looking forward to our "blessed hope," which is the pre-Tribulation rapture spoken of in the books of Thessalonians and Corinthians. The rapture of the Church ends the Dispensation of Grace (the Church Age).

 

All throughout the final seven years of "The Time of Jacob's Trouble," the redeemed Church in our glorified, immortal bodies will be in HEAVEN, while on EARTH God will protect and preserve a remnant of national Israel. He will bring this Jewish remnant through the Tribulation (one third of them - Zechariah 13:8-9) so that, by the end of that last seven years, "ALL of Israel" (that is the entirety of Israel that will be left alive at the end of these last seven years) will be saved (Isaiah 63; Zechariah 13:8-9).

 

The (then) believing one-third Jewish remnant alive at the end of the seven weeks of "Jacob's Trouble" will have recognized Jesus as having always been their true Messiah, and will have finally acknowledged Him, accepted Him, and will have called out to Him to rescue them.

 

These one third remnant Jews, then rescued and reborn, will follow their King into His earthly kingdom still in their mortal bodies and will at last receive all of the covenant blessings that the Lord had made with their ancestor Abraham millennia ago.

 

They, along with the few surviving Gentile believers, will all enter into the Kingdom still in their mortal bodies. These two groups (believing Jews and Gentiles) will procreate and populate the Millennial Kingdom. Thus, God's purpose for the Tribulation period will have been accomplished when He returns at His Second Coming to bring justice and set up His earthly Kingdom.

 

God's ultimate goal for the Tribulation is not merely purposed for the Jews alone, but to also deal with ALL of the aftermath of sin that has for millennia wrecked and ruined His perfect creation. Part of the purpose for this seven years will be to put an end to ALL rebellious mankind. In short, these are God's end purposes for the Tribulation:

 

(1) to bring an end to ALL sin and rebellion

 

(2) to fulfill ALL of the covenant promises to the at-last believing remnant of Jewish people with regards to the LAND that God Himself covenanted to Abraham and his physical descendants regarding the land of Israel

 

(3) To eventually (at the end of the Millennium) deliver ALL of the redeemed of ALL ages and dispensations to the Father, along with everything completed at the end of the 1,000-year Kingdom on this earth when Time finally merges with eternity.

 

Always keep in mind the clear distinctions between Israel and the Church. Each are separate entities both loved and used by God for His purposes, but each having differing purposes and differing roles in God's Plan of the Ages. The Church never has and never will replace national Israel.

 

Though the Church is "not appointed to wrath" (that is the wrath of God that is in full effect during the Tribulation), this does not mean that the Church is now, or ever has been, spared PERSECUTION. The Church has always, since her beginning at Pentecost, suffered tremendous persecution in this world. The collective body of the true Remnant Church will continue to suffer persecution ranging from mild to severe, right up until the instant that the rapture occurs. However, persecution is NOT the same thing as the "wrath of God."

 

A clear distinction between Israel and the Church will clear up all confusion. "Rightly dividing" the Word of God also demonstrates the incredible precision dovetailing seamlessly together both the Old Testament and the New.

 

I hope you have enjoyed traversing the 9th chapter of Daniel with me, and that we all now have a clearer understanding of the distinction between Israel and the Church, and that we now have come to a better understanding of WHY God is most definitely not finished with national Israel.

 

God bless you all, and let's keep studying the Word until Jesus calls us Home. MARANATHA!

OUR TWO MINUTE WARNING

 By Steve Meehan -

 

In football parlance, to those of us who enjoy watching the NFL, a two-minute warning is given to both sides of the contest to inform the combatants that the battle is reaching its conclusion, and to take this one last respite from the heat of the game to catch a breather, to re-hydrate one last time, and to plan your last minutes' strategy against your opponent before retaking the field for the final push to secure the victory.

 

Of course, the first two-minute warning is given nearing the halftime intermission, but it is the final one, after 58 minutes of play have transpired, that lets you know, okay this it; the end is drawing near and the teams have to muster the strength and will to prepare for the final onslaught before things wrap up and the final whistle is blown.

 

It is in these closing minutes that the team with the ball, if they are trailing in the game by a touchdown or less, will go into a hurry-up mode or a two-minute offense, to drive down the length of the field and put themselves into a position to either kick a 3-point field goal to snatch a victory over their enemy in the closing seconds of a tight, hard-fought battle,  or be faced with having to go all the way into the end zone, past their opponent, to steal a victory from the jaws of defeat.

 

For those of us who are Christians, who belong to Christ's church, who have been commissioned to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and are informed about Bible Prophecy and Last Days events, one has to wonder if we are indeed in a two-minute warning period when we consider the condition of the world and the way things are lining up prophetically.

 

Are we seeing the summation of the Church Age and only have a brief time remaining before Jesus comes back for us and snatches us out and off to Heaven? Nobody knows the day or the hour when the Lord will return for His body of believers, but warning flags and whistles are dotting the landscape and sounding an alarm that the end may indeed be close.

 

What are these indicators that things may be wrapping up?

 

The Rapture of the Church is a sign-less event; but the subsequent seven-year Tribulation period that occurs after the removal of the saints from Earth has many visible indicators that lets one know that the time is upon them or about to get under way. If we are seeing preludes of the signs of this final "week" of years enveloping us, then we know that the Rapture is even closer.

 

It is hard to look around and see what is befalling the world presently and not come to the conclusion that the onset of the Tribulation hour is soon upon us.

 

We know that an antichrist and his globalist rule must arise at the very kickoff of the final seven-year period. A globalist push has been well underway for a number of years now. Secularists, and even the Vatican, have long been pushing for the establishment of such a worldwide government rule. Their goal to achieve this seemed to be going along methodically and gaining momentum until Brexit occurred and the election of Donald Trump in the USA stalled the movement in its tracks.

 

The former occupant of the White House, anti-president Obama, did all he could do weaken the United States and to foment worldwide instability to create the conditions necessary for the establishment of a worldwide rule and dictator - and it probably will take something of such enormity or cataclysmic severity to usher in the man who has a plan for global peace.

 

Obama didn't waste an opportunity in the US mainland to stoke the fires of civil unrest in his and his attorney general's meddling in perceived white on black racial injustice. His involvement in the "Arab Spring" in North Africa and the Middle East did anything but bring about peace and stability in those countries that were adversely affected by his prodding and manipulative schemes. He did all he could to thwart the re-election of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but God had other plans - including seeing to it that his groomed for president protégé, corrupt Hillary, would not step foot in the White House (How do you like Trump now, Obama?!).

 

Perhaps the most blatant and most despicable thing that Obama got away with was his so-called nuclear deal with Iran. How and why would the US Congress go along with the anti-president's traitorous actions in nullifying sanctions that were working just fine, and then giving them millions to continue their pursuit of not only nuclear ambitions, but to further their reach in state-sponsored terrorism?

 

We know that Iran hates Israel and will do all they can in their effort to destroy the Jewish State, so it only seems fitting that Obama would support any regime that has that goal foremost on their agenda. Obama's loathing of Israel was only all too apparent. What a stain he left on the American presidency. If nothing else, I enjoy watching Trump repeal all that the former clown-in-chief sought to accomplish in the Republic that he hated.

 

Anyway, venting over.  We know that in the end an antichrist figure and his global rule will arise, in spite of apparent momentary setbacks like Brexit and the Trump presidency. The Bible warns us of it, so it will happen. There are more than likely a few candidates waiting in the wings.

 

A few personalities have gotten some exposure lately in Europe; so when the time comes - after the Rapture of the Church - Satan will pick his man, and this "beast" figure will confirm a seven-year covenant with Israel, only to break it halfway through the Tribulation Period.

 

It is looking more and more like the Rapture could be the single event that propels this man forward. The desire to entrap Israel into a so-called "land for peace" deal with the occupying "Palestinian" Arabs has long been underway, and it is only a matter of time until the aforementioned man steps forward to ink his "covenant with Death and Hell" with the Jewish State.

 

We also know that a global religion will encompass the earth, and it will be used by the antichrist to further secure and establish his rule.

 

I don't have any doubt that the Vatican will be the nucleus of this false worldwide religious system, and they are the only entity on the face of the planet that is trying to usher in all other faiths into their fold, under the leadership of the Roman pontiff. Their "Come Home to Rome" campaign is a clarion call for all former Catholics to reunite with her, and their ecumenical tentacles reach far and wide to grab in any and all who will bend the knee to their "Holy Father."

 

Their alluring siren call has already tempted and deceived many a victim onto the rocks of her false religious system, and those numbers will only increase exponentially after the catching away of the true church. Her cheap perfume and garish mascara will only be too enticing not to lure in unsuspecting victims, after the Rapture has taken place. They will be instrumental in the promotion and advancement of the one who will rule the world.

 

Rumors of nuclear war are all about us in these end times.

 

North Korea is hell-bent on acquiring nukes, and their bellicose rhetoric by their "Dear Leader" directed at the United States is almost a daily news item. The people of South Korea, Japan, Guam and Hawaii are concerned about his threats to launch a nuclear-tipped missile in their direction.

 

We all know now about the false warning issued in Honolulu last month, so folks are alarmed that this sad example of a country's leader will follow through on his threats. He has tempered his tone recently, due to the ongoing Olympics, but it is only a matter of time until a misstep occurs, either by his actions or in a preventative measure taken by the USA.

 

Is God holding this back only until after the Rapture happens? It sort of seems that way, which means the Rapture of the Church could be oh so close.

 

Perhaps the biggest indicator to me that we are in a final two-minute warning period of the Church Age is what is going on in the Middle East and, in particular, events that are encompassing Israel, which is Ground Zero for Bible Prophecy and End-Time events. Israel finds itself buoyed in the middle of a tempestuous sea of those surrounding her that long to bring about her demise.

 

Hamas to the West never ceases in their quest to infiltrate Israel via their clandestine tunnel operations, in order to carry out terrorist activities. We occasionally hear of the Jewish State finding these tunnels and destroying them; but in this ongoing effort by these terrorists, Israel has to be ever vigilant and not allow those bent on terror from accomplishing their goals. They also continue to lob rockets into Israel, which brings about a swift retaliatory IDF air attack on the areas that launch those weapons.

 

To the South, for the time being, it seems that Israel and Egypt are cooperating, to a degree, to stop the rise of terrorism in the Sinai. ISIS or any other groups of radicalized Islamic subversives are more of a threat to Egypt's existence than the State of Israel could ever be to them, and they realize that. Both countries have a shared desire in stopping the spread of Islamic terrorism on the peninsula, so the combined effort to quell the violence in that region benefits both countries. The Isaiah 17 prophecy will eventually put an end to that cooperation.

 

Jordan, on the East, occasionally mouths words of contempt directed towards Israel, especially when they feel slighted or wronged by some of the actions taken by the Netanyahu government. Donald Trump's recent acknowledgment of Jerusalem being the eternal capital city of Israel was one such declaration made that gave Amman heartburn, and the usual tongue lashing followed from the country's leader.

 

Militarily, they have never been a serious threat to Israel. They like to play it both ways: in a desire to curry favor with their Muslim brothers, King Hussein will utter the usual vindictive rhetoric at Israel when a perceived affront to the Islamic cause has taken place; but then, in order to appease the West, and the US especially - since they desire our military aid and protection, to an extent - they will usually cool their heels after a short period of venting their rage.

 

They still have a peace agreement in effect with Israel; but again, with the sudden occurrence of the Isaiah 17 prophecy unfolding sometime soon in the future, they will side with those lined up against the Jewish State.

 

Up to the North, Israel faces a variety of threats - more insidious and extremely more lethal.

 

Hezbollah, to the northwest, has been allowed to flourish along the southern tier of the nation of Lebanon. Through the support of the rogue state of Iran, they have amassed quite an arsenal of rockets, numbering in the tens of thousands. Israel does all they can to stop the shipment of those weapons from Syria into Lebanon, with forays into Syrian airspace to launch missile strikes at the convoys transporting those weapons of war.

 

Hezbollah has also been operating in the confusion taking place in Syria, along with other enemy combatants in that ongoing quagmire. It is only a matter of time until those rockets north of Israel get launched into the Jewish homeland. Something or someone must be holding that event back, for the time being.

 

The greatest threat, by far, to Israel has to be what is taking place in Syria. It is totally out of control - at least from a human perspective.

 

God is always in control, so prophesied events to occur will only happen at their appointed time. Who could have foreseen the circumstances that transpired to allow for the ingathering of all the forces that are now occupying what is left of the country of Syria? Assad may still be in charge in name only, but certainly the country has become a multi-front shooting gallery, and disaster looms on the horizon for its capital city.

 

Russia has been entrenched in the country of Syria now for a couple of years, for the supposed intention of propping up Assad and his regime. Putin doesn't care a whit for Assad; he just wants his warm water port on the Med and to further along his expansionist goals. Assad is a willing dupe, and under the protection of the Ruskies, he gets to maintain control of the country [har har].

 

Obama tried to exert his will in Syria [another har har moment] by supporting the rebels that wanted to overthrow the Assad regime, and by his placement of disappearing red lines for Syria not to cross when it came to their use of chemical weapons against the rebels and civilians. It was all pretty much downhill from there.

 

Russian forces are fighting; Assad's forces are fighting; the US-backed rebels are fighting; Hezbollah moved in to fight; and now, the most troubling aspect of the war, as far as Israel is concerned, is that Iran has troops directly involved in the country that are in position to launch attacks against the Jewish State.

 

Netanyahu met with Putin to warn the Russians, and to the others involved by extension, that Israel will not allow Iranian forces to operate within 40km or 25 miles of the Israeli border, and that serious repercussions would ensue if Israel was not heeded in this regard.

 

There can be no mistaking of what Iran's desires are for the Jewish State. They have said repeatedly, for quite a while now, that they intend to destroy the Jewish State or drive them into the sea, as their bluster goes. Israel has been warning the world for years of the Iranian threat, and it has, to a large extent, fallen on deaf ears. Iran and the world should take seriously what Israel intends to do with Iran in order to safeguard their own country's existence.

 

Will the world heed? No. Not until disaster strikes.

 

Now with Iran on the doorstep of Israel, things have ratcheted up rather quickly in the shadow of Bible prophecy. An Israeli fighter jet, conducting operations to take out Iranian drone-launching sites after one of the drones had infiltrated Israeli airspace over the Golan Heights area, was shot down by a Syrian missile defense system. The IDF responded by taking out a battery of the Russian-built missile defense systems that were positioned near the Israeli border.

 

So, there are now ongoing operations directly involving Iran and Israel, and not through proxies like Iran had been doing in the past. This can only escalate; and where it ends, students of Bible prophecy have an idea.

 

There are two prophecies of significance that have yet to occur and could be extremely close to their fulfillment. Some subscribe to the notion of a third prophecy happening - a Psalm 83 war - but I don't believe that Psalm speaks of an actual war, but instead is a plea for help.

 

Isaiah 17 foretells of a future destruction of the city of Damascus. It seems to indicate that the city will be standing in the evening; but, by morning time, it has been obliterated. Only a nuclear device or a series of nuclear attacks could level a city that quickly.

 

Another prominent end-time prophecy is the so-called Gog/Magog invasion of Israel by a horde of nations that seem to point to Russia, Turkey, Iran and others confederated with them, into the land of Israel.

 

This is an ill-conceived attack against the Jewish people, and the Ezekiel 38 and 39 description of this account says that God Himself will intervene and wipe out 5/6ths of the invading forces. It is interesting that not all the forces will be decimated, but that 1/6th of them will survive. Nevertheless, it will be a huge invasion into the mountains of Israel, and it will cover the land like a cloud, according to the verbiage used by Ezekiel in this prophecy.

 

How close are we to that? Those three nations - Russia, Iran and Turkey - are confederated now and operating within the next-door neighboring country of Syria, just on the doorstep, so to speak, of Israel. Ezekiel talks of "hooks" being placed into Gog's jaws by the Lord and turning him around and drawing him into Israel to begin the annihilation of these forces that wish to destroy the Jewish State.

 

I personally believe that Gog is a spiritual entity and is a chief prince, or a demonic fallen being, that has influence over that region of the Middle East. Much like in the book of Daniel, where it speaks of a chief prince over Persia and another one influencing the nation of Greece, I think this demonic entity could be an upper- echelon general of Satan's forces. And quite possibly, like Satan entered Judas Iscariot to betray the Lord and Satan will eventually enter into the coming antichrist, this chief prince could enter into a guy like Putin and drag all those forces down into Israel.

 

Putin, being a human, will eventually succumb to death; but, in the Book of Revelation, we see this character Gog fighting again, after the 1,000-year reign of Christ on Earth. I don't think that Vladimir Putin will be around or resurrected to fight again, after a time period of over 1,000 years has elapsed. Human beings will perish during this invasion of Israel, but spiritual entities will live on to fight another day.

 

And who knows? Maybe even the prince of Persia, along with the prince of Turkey - if they have one, and maybe all countries do! - will be fighting alongside Gog in this huge push to destroy God's Chosen People. I'd be willing to bet also that Michael, the chief prince of Israel, will be in position on the other side of this battle as it rages on. Satan's forces and his generals doing battle against Michael and the God of Israel - and the outcome was foretold centuries ago.

 

Maybe the hook is required to be inserted into Gog's jaw by God, because the satanic forces know they can't possibly win this battle and want to opt out of it at the last minute; but God has other plans and wants to prove that, at this time, He is fighting on behalf of the Jewish people and He wants all to know that there is a God in Heaven watching out for His Chosen People. Just a thought...

 

From a human perspective, what could be the hook to draw in Putin and Russia, and the other forces allied with him?

 

Russia needs funds to continue their expansionist endeavors, and to acquire those recently discovered natural gas fields off the coast of Israel would go a long way in furthering his conquests. There is also the possibility of crude oil being found in Israel, so that would be alluring as well. Russia could also lay claim to the natural land bridge that Israel forms between Europe, Asia and Africa. Israel is also situated along the Med, is close to the strategic Suez Canal, and the Gulf of Aqaba to the south. That would be very desirous for Putin to have access to those waterways for his navy to operate.

 

For Iran and Turkey, who have ambitions of recreating an Islamic caliphate, the destruction of the Jewish State might be a big enough carrot to entice them into this invasion, to do away with the Zionist regime once and for all.

 

Then the question comes up: when will these two events - the Isaiah 17 and the Ezekiel 38/39 prophecies happen? Which will come first? Will they happen before the Rapture of the Church, or later? Will one immediately precede the other, or are they two separate events that are not interrelated?

 

Students of Bible prophecy have mixed ideas about when these two events might take place. Obviously, we can't be dogmatic on their timing. We don't know for sure. All we can do is stay immersed in the Word and to keep an eye on daily events.

 

We have the benefit, though, of knowing that there is more behind the scenes going on and what it will lead up to in regard to Bible prophecy, more so than does the casual observer who sees or hears of an Israeli jet being shot down in Syria due to operations against Iranian forces. We know that there are epic events going to take place along that front - in Syria and the land of Israel - that will have enormous implications to the combatants on both sides. They will be earth-shattering events, both in the physical human realm, as well as the spiritual.

 

As far as timing, the final seven-year period known as the Tribulation Period, or Daniel's Last Week of Years, is also referred to as the Time of Jacob's Trouble. And indeed, the final seven years will be a time when the Lord deals directly with and through the Jewish people again, since the Church has already been raptured out and off the planet.

 

Since this will be the Time of Jacob's Trouble, my belief is that the Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38/39 campaign will happen after the Rapture. With the True Church gone, the whole world will hate Israel, and they will be the prime target of Satan and his demonic cohorts. He will sway all the human governments to do his bidding against the Land and people of Israel.

 

There are a couple of reasons why I believe this. First, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit will be lifted at the removal of the Church, and any evil thoughts or motives will be more easily realized and affected without this restraining influence holding them back. North Korea could more easily launch a nuke, an evil dictator will be allowed to arise, Iran will be able to seek to destroy Israel, etc. Evil will abound.

 

Secondly, in the Ezekiel 38/39 verbiage, it seems to indicate that the US will be nothing more than a protesting nation sitting on the sidelines of this invasion, if they are indeed included as one of the "young lions of Tarshish," and most likely they are a part of this group. Others could include nations like Canada and Australia, nations who had their origins and roots in Great Britain. The Lion is the symbol for Great Britain, and so the "young" could refer to her offspring countries like the US, Canada and Australia who have only been nations for a couple of hundred years.

 

Why would the US, with all its military might, not come to the aid of our ally Israel during this invasion, especially now with Trump in office who seems to be very pro-Israel? And why would the UK, or Canada, or Australia and/or others just lodge a mild protest, probably in the halls of the UN, at the invasion of this large armed force into the country of our present ally Israel?

 

Even Saudi Arabia, as most believe that she is the Sheba and Dedan that Ezekiel references, is sitting out of this invasion and is voicing displeasure or concern. They certainly don't want to see Iran get any stronger and grow in their hegemony over the Middle East. For the time being, there is a quasi-cooperation going on between Jerusalem and Riyadh to limit the influence of Iran in the region.

 

Of course, the invasion could happen after Trump is out of office and is replaced with another anti-Israel, left- leaning stooge president.

 

Or, is it possible that - after the Rapture takes place - there will be a lot of chaos going on worldwide after such a momentous event has happened, where millions of people have vanished, and those particular countries' forces may have been drastically reduced by this event - so a protest is all they can muster?

 

It would seem that this would be a very good time for the enemy to seize the opportunity of worldwide panic and confusion to launch a somewhat sneak attack into Israel, while everybody else is befuddled and consumed by what has taken place. What better time would there be to attempt to try to wipe out the people of Israel?

 

The devil is aware of some of the events to unfold during the Tribulation Period, and that he only has about seven years to accomplish what he hopes to get done. Having been around for eons, he is more than likely well versed in Bible Prophecy; he did quote scripture to Jesus in the wilderness in his tempting of Our Lord, after all - and he knows how most of the Tribulation period will play out - but he doesn't know ALL of the details. In his thinking, maybe, why not seize the moment? Try to catch everybody off guard.

 

So, again, what will trigger these two events, causing them to take place?

 

To my way of thinking, I could see where the Isaiah 17 prophecy of the destruction of the city of Damascus could be the catalyst that sets off the chain of events leading up to the Gog/Magog massive invasion into Israel. The world will be extremely incensed at the action taken, apparently by Israel, in the leveling of this city. I mean, what other event could possibly bring about such a large invading force into Israel while the rest of the world seemingly looks on indifferently?

 

We've discussed the hook inserted by God, but still it seems that something so out of the ordinary has had to have taken place to mobilize such a huge response against the tiny nation of Israel. Obviously, lobbing a nuke or two at a city like Damascus will have the region and the world inflamed with rage.

 

It could also be that Isaiah 17 happens concurrently at the very onset of a large invading force getting ready to sweep into the land, and an opening salvo of the war could be a nuclear strike at maybe the heart of the area where this invading force is plotting and getting ready to make a move.

 

Some of the language used by Isaiah in this chapter 17 prophecy could provide some of the answers to the instigation of this massive response against a neighboring capital city by Israel.

 

Verse 4 reads: "And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean."

 

This almost sounds like those conditions that occur after a chemical weapon attack and the accompanying photos of people whose flesh looks gaunt.

 

Verses 5 and 6 talk about how that time will be compared to a reaped corn field and empty olive trees, how empty and barren they are in this prophecy. Does this foretell of a massive assault on Israel where large numbers of casualties have taken place, and then such a massive response by Israel would then be warranted? It is cryptic language, no doubt, but something huge must first have occurred in the Jewish State in order for the Israeli government to launch a nuke at Damascus, if that is indeed what Isaiah 17 would seem to indicate.

 

If they did level Damascus, then again, that would certainly infuriate the world enough, and especially the combatants listed in Ezekiel 38/39 to launch an all-out offensive against Israel. But then again, why wouldn't Russia just respond in kind against Israel by launching a few nukes of their own towards the Jewish State, but instead opt for a land invasion?

 

After all, since Russia is involved in Syria, it only stands to reason that they would lose some countrymen in an attack by Israel on Damascus. Does the Lord render Russia's nuclear capability useless? Are they then forced to retaliate by air and ground forces? They would want the land intact and radioactive free, it would seem, if they are coming in to take the country, the gas fields and maybe oil to be found there. That could be a reason.

 

And then again, Israel still has more nukes. Why aren't they being used against the invading forces' home countries? Or, will they be? Might an EMP be deployed by either side to prevent the additional nuclear devices from being implemented in the theater of operations?

 

I tend to think that these two prophecies may be co-related. It might be a wrong assessment, but I think one triggers the other or happens in conjunction with the other. Another interesting verse, at least to me, is found in Isaiah 17 that sort of gets me thinking that Is.17 happens at the onset of Eze. 38/39.

 

In Isaiah 17, verses 12 and 13, it says: "Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind."

 

Doesn't that sound like the beginning of the Ezekiel 38/39 campaign, when Russia, Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan (maybe) and many peoples with them, coming rushing into the country and cover the land like a cloud? It certainly does to me!

 

The very next verse, the last one of the Is.17 prophecy warns: "And behold at evening time trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us."

 

Those nations, according to Ezekiel, are coming for a spoil, to plunder the land. Isaiah also refers to those that come to spoil. Then the ominous words: they are coming in the evening, and by the morning he is not - still a reference to the destruction of Damascus and the closing of the prophecy of the burden of that city.

 

Will Israel launch a nuclear attack at Damascus, at the very beginning of the Ezekiel 38/39 Gog/Magog invasion by a huge horde of peoples, coming to take a spoil, and only after Israel has already suffered massive casualties to make it easier for this invading force to enter the Glorious Land? Hmmm...interesting. I think, thought provoking.

 

Obviously, we don't know for sure. But I think they are more than likely linked and could happen in rapid succession, or are taking place at the same time. Isaiah 17 could trigger a massive response like Ezekiel 38 and 39, or the Gog and Magog war begins, and Israel retaliates by launching a series of nukes at maybe the headquarter city of where the plans are drawn up to invade the Jewish State. Time will tell.

 

So, are we in the closing minutes, hours, days, months of the Church Age and only have a brief time left before the shout and trumpet blast and the Church's mission on Earth is over?

 

With Iran now in Syria and the Israeli's launching attacks into the country to stop the advancement of the encroaching Iranian forces, it would seem that we could be on the brink of a major escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran.

 

Any attack on Israeli soil or forces by the Iranian troops in Syria will be met by a measured counterattack by the IDF on the mullah's henchmen now carrying out operations in Syria. One escalation could lead to another. Things could quickly spiral out of control. It would seem that the burden of Damascus as foretold by Isaiah could be coming into clearer focus, or that the Ezekiel 38/39 prophecy could soon be realized.

 

This indeed could be a two-minute warning, that we only have so much time left to accomplish all that the Lord commissioned us to do: take the gospel to the far corners of the globe and make disciples of all men. In these closing minutes, we don't need to ask the coach to send us in; the moment we said yes to Jesus, we have been in. The world has no idea what is about to befall them.

 

As in the analogy of the football game, we can see that the clock is winding down. There is only so much time left before it is over. Opposing forces are lined up against us, trying to render us ineffective. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option. Many souls hang in the balance, and soon they will be thrust into a time never experienced before in human history - and beyond that, an eternity spent in a lake of fire.

 

Many of us sense that the end is near. Knowing what we know of end-time events and watching just those two future prophecies develop before our very eyes, it is inescapable that we are reaching the very end. Could this be an aberration and we are not approaching the time that we think we are in, and that those events may happen later in another timeframe? That is possible but seems highly unlikely.

 

We see the headlong rush to establish a one-world rule and a one-world religion. Those things have been on a fast track for quite a while now. The threat of a nuclear war and a huge loss of life are ever present with us now, and more rogue countries are in the process of acquiring these mass means of destruction.

 

Evil in this world has reached epidemic proportions with school shootings; the wholesale slaughter of unborn babies worldwide; radical Islamic extremists and their terrorist activities; all the transgender and homosexual abominations; the garbage taking place in America to destroy the current president; and again, all of the prophesied countries lined up in Syria just awaiting the hook to draw them into Israel to do battle with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They'll never know what hit them...well, not until that first moment in the afterlife.

 

How much longer can things devolve in the world before the Lord exercises His wrath? Not too much longer, I would conclude.

Hurry, line up and advance the cause. Keep your eyes on the goal. The clock is running! Our time is just about out.