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PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 130

July 26, 2003

Zechariah Exposition 13:8 to 14:16

Part 1

There are many principles in prophetic writings of which one must be aware when attempting to interpret them. Perhaps the first, and most basic of these principles, is the awareness that all the chapter and verse divisions in the KJV were made by the King James translators. I am glad they made the divisions, but the awareness that Zechariah wrote it as a continuous narrative, without chapter and verse divisions, is a great help in analyzing a passage for the purpose of correlation with preceding and subsequent verses.

After graduation from seminary I changed my viewpoints, concerning the interpretation of a couple of verses in Zechariah 14, because of the continuous narrative principle. In point, I changed my mind on the time frame of Zechariah 14:4,5, which I had long believed referred to the 2nd Advent, that is, the coming of the Lord at the end of what is called the tribulation period. I believed it referred to the 2nd Advent because of the last phrase in verse five: “and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” I came to believe that this phrase belongs time wise to verse six. If so, verse six would read: “And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day that the light shall not be clear nor dark.” (See Birth Pang 20 for verses four and five, and Birth Pangs 9 through 11 for verses six and seven)

Zechariah 14:4-7 – And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst 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. [5] And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: [6] And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: [7] 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. (Verses 6 and 7 occur 1260 days after verses 4 and 5, and correlate with Matthew 24:29,30)

Matthew 24:29,30 – Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

A seminary teacher, whom I love and greatly admire, took me aside after he heard my first lecture 24 years ago, and pointed out to me the splitting of the Mount of Olives occurs some 1260 days before Armageddon. After considering what he said, I changed my mind, coming to the conclusion he was correct.

With all this in mind, please consider the following exposition of the book of Zechariah from 13:8 to 14:16.

Zechariah 13:8 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

“All the land” refers to Israel. Two-thirds of its population will perish. The remaining one-third will survive the vicious attack, and will remain in the southern Negev wilderness of Israel for some 1260 days. If the attack happens to occur at some point in time between 2005 and 2008, this would mean between 1.7 and 1.9 million Jews would make it into the Negev alive.

Lord willing I will continue a line-by-line exposition in our next whole numbered Prophecy Update.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 130A

July 26, 2003

Israel Due for a Big One

I have taught for the last 25 years that the great earthquake, found in Revelation 6:12 and Zechariah 14:5, are the same earthquake, and that it initiates the last 1260 days prior to Armageddon, which marks the time Israel will flee into the Negev and remain until the Lord returns. (See Prophecy Update Number 130 in our Archives.)

Revelation 6:12 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

This makes the recent release of earthquake probability in Property and Casualty Management Edition Online very interesting. The National Underwriter Online News Service has recently indicated Israel, which is known to average a big earthquake every 1,000 years, could be due for a big one soon. This is according to Risk Management Solutions of Newark California, a risk management firm that has currently developed a model for earthquake prediction in Israel. They claim to be the first to offer both high-resolution and aggregate analysis capabilities for the insurance and reinsurance risk management programs.

According to RMS, the biggest risk of a quake in Israel is along the Dead Sea Rift, and this makes it particularly relevant because of its proximity to major cities, and the high probability of generating a major quake.

Based on what they learned from historical records, the Jordan Valley segment of the Dead Sea Rift generates earthquakes with magnitudes of seven or higher approximately every 1000 years. The last major quake on this segment occurred in 1033, increasing the current probability of a major earthquake in the near future.

RMS said it worked closely with the Geophysical Institute of Israel to compile a record of historical events spanning more than 2000 years. An industry seminar about the new Israel Earthquake Model was presented July 24th at the London Underwriting Center.

The great earthquake that occurred in the days of King Uzziah of Judah was produced along this fault, and it will also be along this fault that the earthquake and havoc of Isaiah 29:6 shall be experienced.

Isaiah 29:6 – Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

I believe this rift valley fault structure will undergo a massive structural readjustment during the last three and one-half years of this age of the Gentiles, culminating with the final battle of Armageddon. The quake introduces this period, and will be followed by several others, with the last one being the greatest of this age. It will divide the city of Jerusalem into three parts, and lift the land from Geba to Rimmon. The connecting fault structures extend northward into Turkey, and then east and west across northern Turkey with the western extension of the system passing south of Rome. Its effects will ripple through these areas, affecting many cities and nations. I have taught this for 30 years. You will find it over and over again in our Prophecy And Birth Pang Archives. I believe you will see the earthquake that sets it in motion when the antichrist attacks Israel, which I speculate likely to occur between 2005 and 2008. The final quake will occur some three and one-half years after the initial attack, and is described in Revelation 16:16-19.

Revelation 16:16-19 – And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. [17] 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. [18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. [19] 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 unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

The massive restructuring of many sections of Israel because of a series of earthquakes in the Jordan Valley rift is detailed in Scripture, and may be found in our Birth Pang Archives in Birth Pangs 18 to 32. All of the diagrams associated with 18 to 32 are found under Birth Pang Diagrams. The cross link on the Birth Pangs Menu is slow to react, so after you click on it, be sure to give it time to come up. And as you click back through the archives the reaction time is also often slow. Birth Pang Diagrams 23 to 48 apply to the rift valley for which the earthquake model is utilized in earthquake prediction probability. When the first Birth Pang appears, click on Birth Pang Diagrams, and give them plenty of time to appear. You many enlarge them by clicking on them individually.

Of course, the RMS is not, in any way, shape, form, or fashion, issuing a warning for an earthquake of horrifying proportions, which will produce effects like those shown in the diagrams, but the Scriptures do, and I am of the OPINION it will occur before 2008.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 130D

A SUPPLEMENT TO PROPHECY UPDATE 130

July 30, 2003

Fleeing Through a Valley to Safety

Zechariah 14:5 – And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah:

Zechariah 14:6 – And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:

In Prophecy Update Number 130 I gave my reasons for placing the last phrase in Zechariah 14:5 as the beginning of Zechariah 14:6, and noted that the events of the “day” in verse 6 pictured the Second Advent and the atmospheric conditions at the close of the battle of Armageddon. The atmospheric conditions associated with the Second Advent, and a full exposition of Verse 6, may be found in Birth Pang Archive numbers 9, 10, and 11. It would be most helpful to review Prophecy Update Number 130 and the three Birth Pangs in our archives before continuing.

The splitting of the Mount of Olives in verse 5 occurs some 1260 days before verse 6, and is what God does when he begins to fight for Israel at the fall of Jerusalem to the antichrist. It is the beginning of a protective action by God, which will continue until he delivers Israel by his power some 3 and ½ years later at Armageddon.

Zechariah 14:2-4 – 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. [3] Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. [4] And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst 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.

God begins his fight for Israel by providing the Jerusalem inhabitants a way of escape to the east through a wide valley he creates in the midst of the Mount of Olives. Jerusalem’s inhabitants flee through it, and then move southward through the north to south flowing valleys of the Judean Wilderness into the Negev Wilderness south of Beersheba. God continues to fight for Israel by protecting them in the Negev for the last 3 and ½ years of what is called the tribulation period.

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

I do not believe the word translated as “Azal” in Zechariah 14:5 is the name of a proper place. In all the archeological and Biblical searches for such a place in Hebrew literature, it has never been found. So why is it capitalized and, as such, commonly accepted to be an ancient city that once existed in Israel? The Catholic Vulgate, prepared by Saint Jerome in the fourth century, and which serves as the authorized version of the Bible by the Catholic Church, first started to identify the Hebrew word translated as “azal” as an appellative, a common noun, that is, as a place name, rather than what it really is, a descriptive term used to depict the wideness characteristic of the valley God will create for his people to flee through on their way to his place of safety.

The word translated as “Azal” in Hebrew simply means “side or sides.” So, simply stated, Zechariah 14:5 is meant to picture to the reader that this a very wide valley, not just a narrow slit, and the word translated as “reach” is meant to emphasize that point. It lets the reader know it will be wide enough for a large group of people to freely flow through, and that they will not have to squeeze through a narrow crack. It pictures a very wide, level valley floor that reaches to its north and south “sides,” which are steep bluffs.

Once the Jerusalemites have cleared the eastern side of the valley, it is quite likely that the diverted Jordan River will fill in behind them by the transformation process presented in Archive Birth Pangs 22 to 30, and thereby prevent the armies of antichrist from pursing them through the valley. In fact, this presents a scenario like God’s deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian Pharaoh, when they fled through two walls of water on a valley floor created between the two “sides.” Lord willing, I will lay this out in greater detain in Prophecy Update Number 131.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 131

August 1, 2003

Zechariah Exposition 13:8 TO 14:16

The Past Pictures the Future

The Exodus Revisited and Repeated

Part 2

Please read Prophecy Update Number 130 and Special Prophecy Update Number 130D in our Prophecy Archives before reading this Update.

Zechariah 14:4,5 – And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst 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. [5] And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah:

We are presented with a picture of God standing over a valley he has created beneath his two feet. The remnant of Israel will flee through the valley beneath his feet to a place of safety he has prepared for them in the Negev wilderness. Their Messiah is standing over them in a protective mode, as they flee through the two “sides” of the great valley he has just created.

I closed Special Prophecy Update Number 130D as follows: “Once the Jerusalemites have cleared the eastern side of the valley, it is quite likely that the diverted Jordan River will fill in behind them as described in the transformational process presented in Birth Pangs 22 to 30, and thereby prevent the armies of antichrist from pursuing through the valley God created. In fact, this presents a scenario like God’s deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian Pharaoh, when they fled through two walls of water on a wide valley floor created between the two “sides.”

With Updates 130 and 130D in mind, let’s take a look at the time when God first delivered the nation of Israel from bondage and death. He stood over them in a protective mode in “the cloud” as they fled from the Egyptian Pharaoh between two walls of water he spread before them, and the dry land extended to the “sides” of the valley he created between the waters of the Red Sea.

Exodus 14:29-31 – But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. [30] Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. [31] And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.

The Lord stood over the Red Sea and spread the waters apart with his feet, and held them open until the Israelites were across and in a place of safety.

When God parts the Mount of Olives with his feet, Israel will again see a great work that the Lord has done, and thereby begin to fear and believe that his Son, Jesus Christ, is the Messiah of Israel. They will not see the Lord standing there doing it, but they will see the Mount of Olives divide into two sections, just as they did not see the Lord doing it, but they did see the waters of the Red Sea divide.

Just as God was over them when they crossed the Red Sea between two “sides” of water, and protected them, so will it be when Messiah splits the Mount of Olives. Messiah was with them, over them, and above them as a part of the God Head when they went through the Red Sea on dry land, and he followed them throughout their Sinai experience.

Exodus 13:21,22 – And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: [22] He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

But how do I know their Messianic Rock was with them in all their Old Testament experience?

I Corinthians 10:1-4 – Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; [2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; [3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat; [4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

When Israel flees through the Mount of Olives to its prepared place of safety in the Negev wilderness, a growing number of Israelites will begin to believe that Jesus was, and is, their Messiah, and this ever growing number of Israeli believers will be the seed of the woman, who is Christ. That Jewish remnant of 144,000 sealed believers will continually testify to all the Israelites that Jesus was, and is, the true Messiah of Israel. Their testimony will lead to the conversion of a nation in a single day at the Second Advent.

Revelation 12:6,17 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [17] 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.

Isaiah 66:8 – Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Matthew 23:38,39 – Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Zechariah 13:9 – And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Romans 9:26-29 – And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. [27] Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: [28] For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. [29] And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

Matthew 24:21,22 – For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Zechariah 12:9,10 – And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. [10] And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Revelation 1:7 – Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 131

August 2, 2003

Quite a Coincidence!

My family physician, Dr. Wesley Thomas, who is a good friend, and is of like faith and order, pointed out something to me this week I had failed to notice. It involved the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament, and similarities associated the blowing of a seventh trumpet in both the Old and New Testaments, as it relates to the Ark of the Covenant being a part of the scenario. It also, in both cases, involved children of God possessing a kingdom or kingdoms of this world. Israel blew seven trumpets each day for seven days as they circled the kingdom city of Jericho. And on the seventh day of the seven trumpets blowing, the walls of Jericho were to fall flat, and God’s children were to ascend straight up and take the kingdom of Jericho.

Joshua 6:1-7 – Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. [2] And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. [3] And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. [4] And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. [5] And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. [6] And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord. [7] And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.

Joshua 6:13-16 – And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. [14] And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. [15] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. [16] And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.

So, on the seventh day of the blowing of seven trumpets, the children of God ascended up, and the Kingdom of Jericho became the Kingdom of God’s children. Now, let take a look at a New Testament appearance of the Ark of the Covenant, and the blowing of a single seventh trumpet.

Revelation 11:15,18,19 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. [19] And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple THE ARK OF HIS TESTAMENT: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Is the last trump in I Corinthians 15:51,52 the last of seven trumpets that sounds in Revelation? Does the seventh trumpet in Revelation finish the mystery that Paul showed in I Corinthians? Is the voice of the Archangel with the trump of God in I Thessalonians the same angel in Revelation?

I Corinthians 15:51,52 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] 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.

I Thessalonians 4:16 – 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:

Revelation 10:7 – But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

There is something else about these coincidences worth mentioning. The name Joshua in the New Testament is Jesus. The children of God led by Joshua followed the instructions God gave them precisely, just as God gave them. So, what happened? They entered into the city God had told them he would give them,

Joshua 6:16 – And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.

They were already his children, so what would have happened if they had not followed his instructions?

There are many born again believers on this earth today who are failing to follow the teachings their leader Jesus gave them in the N. T.! So what will happen if they do not follow his N.T. teachings? Do they go to Hell? No! Where will they live in heaven?

Revelation 21:23,24 – 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. [24] And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

What about those born again believers who do follow the N.T. teachings of Jesus?

Revelation 22:12-14 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [13] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. [14] 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.

Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

II Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Regardless of whether or not this is by coincidence or design, they are certainly interesting parallels.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 131B

August 4, 2003

Before the Battle of Armageddon Occurs!

Every time some event occurs in the Middle East, such as the recent Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, I receive a series of calls from a few who are not well versed in the overall sequence of events that must occur before Armageddon. These calls are usually from those who don’t attend church anywhere, and have a tendency to believe that the battle called Armageddon is suddenly going to break out in the Middle East, a great worldwide atomic war will accompany it, and then Jesus will come after most of the human race has been wiped out by a great World War III. Armageddon, in their minds, comes on us without warning, and in a very short period of time, atomic, biological, and chemical weapons have wiped us out. Since there are a lot of things that must occur before the final horrible battle of Armageddon, I thought I would simply list a few of them in this Update, which you might share with those who don’t know much about prophecy. In order to be in a mode of “watching” for something, one should be aware of the events prior to that event which indicate it is near. Israel is the fig tree of God. Israel’s interaction with the Gentile trees around it can tell us a lot about how fast Armageddon is approaching,

Luke 21:29-31 – And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; [30] When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. [31] So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

THE THINGS THAT MUST HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THE FINAL BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON!

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE FIG TREE AND THE OTHER NATIONS AROUND IT – KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE FIG TREE, ISRAEL!

Luke 13:5-9 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon and found none.[7]Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? [8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

When Jesus was crucified, after laboring to get the fig tree to accept him for more than three years as the Messiah of God’s vineyard, God cut it down from his spiritual presence in his earthly vineyard, and about 40 years later he pulled it up from its Jerusalem physical roots, using Titus and his Roman Legions as his Gentile instrument.

Matthew 23:37,38 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Luke 21:24 – 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.

Before Armageddon, a false peace must come to Israel!

Romans 9:1-3 + 11:32 – I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, [2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. [3] For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for MY BRETHREN, MY KINSMEN according to the flesh: [32] For God hath concluded THEM all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For WHEN THEY shall say, PEACE and SAFETY; then sudden destruction cometh upon THEM, as travail upon a woman with child; and THEY shall not escape. [4] But YE, brethren, are NOT in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Before Armageddon, the false peace must be broken by an attack against the Israel fig tree from the north by 10 other Gentile trees around it.

Ezekiel 38:8-13,17 – After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt 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. [9] Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. [10] Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: [11] And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are AT REST, that dwell SAFELY, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, [12] To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. [13] Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? [17] Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

Revelation 17:12,13,17 – And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. [17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Before Armageddon, the Antichrist must prevail against the fig tree for a period of 3 and ½ prophetic years.

Daniel 7:21,25 – I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Before Armageddon, the fig tree must be driven into the Negev wilderness, where it will remain for 3 and ½ years of 360 days.

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Before Armageddon, two thirds of the figs must be cut off and die in the attack, but one-third of the figs must be kept physically alive in the Negev wilderness. They will repent and turn back to their God by belief in his Messiah, receiving him as their God at His Second Advent.

Zechariah 13:8,9 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Before Armageddon, Jerusalem must fall to the armies of the Antichrist.

Zechariah 14:1,2 – Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [2] 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.

Before Armageddon, Jerusalem must be under Gentile control for 3 and ½ prophetic years.

Revelation 11:1,2 – But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Before Armageddon, the two witnesses must testify to Israel for 3 and ½ prophetic years.

Revelation 11:3 – And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Before Armageddon, there must be a sealing of 144,000 Israelites by angels sent by God.

Revelation 7:1-4 – And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. [2] And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, [3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. [4] And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Acts 2:20,21 – The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 131C

August 6, 2003

Smite the Shepherd of the Flock

Since we have been expositing on Zechariah 13:8 to 14:16 in our regular weekend whole numbered Prophecy Updates, I felt it appropriate for an exposition of the verse that leads into it to be included. So 13:7 follows:

Zechariah 13:7 – Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

AWAKE, O SWORD, AGAINST MY SHEPHERD,

Simeon, a very old Jerusalem resident, had been promised by the Spirit of God that he would not die until he saw the Shepherd of Israel, God’s Messiah, with his own eyes. Simeon was led by the Spirit to the Temple area when Mary and Joseph brought the Messiah to be circumcised eight days after his birth, according to the law of Moses. Simeon prophesied what Mary would feel in her heart when the Shepherd of Israel died for our sins at Golgotha, and since his death and resurrection, the thoughts of many hearts have been revealed by profession or non-profession, of the Shepherd as Savior.

Romans 10:9,10 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Luke 2:34,35 – And Simeon blessed them, and said unto MARY his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; [35] (Yea, a sword shall PIERCE through thy own soul also,) THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS MAY BE REVEALED.

John 19,25,30,34 – Now there stood by THE CROSS OF JESUS HIS MOTHER, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. [30] When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. [34] But one of the soldiers with a spear PIERCED his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

And Jesus personally identified himself as the good shepherd of God, his Father.

John 10:11,14-16 – I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

AND AGAINST THE MAN THAT IS MY FELLOW, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS.

The Hebrew word used for “fellow” is AMIYTH, and has a root meaning of “companionship,” i.e., a kinsman, in our context the kinship would be as a son. So, in John 10:27-31, when the Jews wanted to stone him for claiming to be God’s Son, this shows him to be the shepherd of Zechariah 13:7. And Philippians 2:6-10 leaves no doubt of this relationship.

John 10:27-31 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and my Father are one. [31] Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Philippians 2:6-10 – Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

SMITE THE SHEPHERD

There can be no question that this smiting of the shepherd is the same one prophesied some 200 years previously in Isaiah’s writings.

Isaiah 53:5-4 – Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED

And, exactly as prophesied, there was an immediate scattering when the Shepherd was arrested, and an eventually scattering of the sheep across the face of the Roman Empire and beyond. The quoting of Zechariah 13:7 by the Shepherd leaves no doubt it refers to what I just stated.

Mark 14:26,28,46,50 – And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. [27] And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. [28] But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. [46] And they laid their hands on him, and took him. [50] And they all forsook him, and fled.

As the little flocks were eventually scattered across the known world by persecution and missionary work, they were strangers to the places in which they found themselves, but many of these local places soon became the recipients of a local, visible church of little ones in their midst.

I Peter 1:1 – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the STRANGERS scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

I Peter 2:10,11 – Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. [11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as STRANGERS and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

I WILL TURN MINE HAND UPON THE LITTLE ONES.

This is not God using his hand in an unfavorable way to punish the little ones of the flock of Israel. It is God’s hand of favor turned from the main flock of Israel to the very small remnant of “little ones” who were his first church that he organized during his earthly ministry of some 3 and ½ years. Throughout the history of Israel God had consistently held out his hand to Israel, but when they rejected his Shepherd, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and his new flock of little ones was to eventually become many little small flocks of little ones scattered across the earth in individual places, many local, visible, assemblies of those who follow the Shepherd’s New Testament teachings, known today as local, visible churches made not of mortar and stone, but of obedient believers that practice the ordinances of the faith once delivered to the members of the first church, and the New Testament churches that followed it.

Jude 3 – Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

God kept on holding his hand out to his flock of Israel for thousands of years, but they killed his prophets and all those he sent to them.

Isaiah 5:25 – Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

This is when God turned his protective hand covering from over his flock of Israel, and placed it on the little ones of the little flock that followed him. That same hand is still over his small flocks of little ones scattered across the earth.

Jesus quoted Zechariah 13:7 to his little flock of little ones just before the first part of it was fulfilled.

Matthew 26:31 – Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

And the kingdom he had preached to Israel, was taken from unbelieving Israel because they that did not believe he was the Messiah, and extended to both Jew and Gentile through the promise he had already made to his first small flock of Israeli little ones, his first New Testament church.

Luke 12:32 – Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

We have been living in the time period between Matthew 23:38 and 39 for almost 2000 years. It is the age of the local church, and many have come out of the first one that Jesus called out and organized during his earthly ministry.

Matthew 23:38 – Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Matthew 23:39 – For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

God has turned his hand favorably upon the little ones of his flock for almost 2000 years. Soon the tribulation that ends this age of many little flocks will begin, and when it ends God will again favorably turn his hand back to the flock of Israel.

Romans 9:25-29 – As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. [26] And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. [27] Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: [28] For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. [29] And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

Romans 11:24-28 – For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? [25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [26] 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: [27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. [28] As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 132

August 8, 2003

Zechariah Exposition 13:8 TO 14:16

Part 3

Please look back at the following Prophecy Updates before reading 132: 130 (Part 1), 130D, and 131 (Part 2).

Americans are accustomed to read the account of an event found in the straight line, progressive style of writing. But the prophetic writers, at times, hopped back and forth between prophetic events separated by as much as a thousand years, and chronology is often difficult to maintain in interpreting them. When writing about end time events they would write about the beginning of the tribulation period, then jump over to the 2nd Advent and into the millennial reign, then spring backward to what led up to the tribulation period, then rush to the end of it and the final battle of Armageddon, etc., etc., etc. So, at times, it is not easy to separate the events they describe, especially within the chapter and verse divisions in the Scriptures supplied by the King James translators. So, with this in mind, please look at Zechariah 13:9.

We are advised they will be severely tried by the fire of the last 1260 days of tribulation in the Negev, but they will eventually cry out to their God, and he will deliver them. This whole event lasts some 1260 days, and then continues for a thousand years thereafter. Now, as we move into the next verse of the continuous narrative, the writer backs up in time, and tells us of an event associated with the beginning of the tribulation.

Zechariah 14:1 – Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

Jerusalem sets “in the midst” of Israel, and its spoils shall be divided among the 10 conquering nations. Once again, in the prophetic style of writing, in the next verse, in the last phrase, he jumps to the end of the 1260 days, and assures Israel that God will preserve a remnant in the Negev, which will return some 1260 days after Jerusalem falls.

Zechariah 14:2 – 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.

The word KARATH is translated “CUT OFF.” There are several words translated “cut off” in the KJV. KARATH means “TO BE CUT OFF FOREVER.” The other Hebrew words translated “cut off’ usually provided a way for the offender to be restored to fellowship with Israel, but KARATH implies BEING CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY CHANCE OF BEING ALLOWED TO RETURN. The word translated RESIDUE is the Hebrew word YETHER, which is translated as REMNANT in Micah 5:3. (See Prophecy Update Number 64)

Micah 5:3 – Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the REMNANT of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (See Prophecy Update Number 64)

In the last phrase of Zechariah 14:2, God is assuring the tribes of Israel that even if they will be driven out of Jerusalem, they will return some 1260 days later. He does this by the use of the word “NOT.” The residue (REMNANT) of the people (ISRAELIS) shall NOT be CUT OFF from the city.

When Jerusalem falls, God begins to fight for Israel, and it begins a period of 1260 days, through which he will extend his protective shield over them in the Negev wilderness.

Zechariah 14:3 – Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Lord willing, I will pick up on this Scripture in the next whole numbered Prophecy Update.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 132A

August 9, 2002

God’s Kingdom Hand Switches Flocks!

I discussed Zechariah 13:7 in Special Prophecy Update Number 131C. I will now continue to discuss this passage because its implications are very far reaching, and of great prophetic significance.

The Shepherd of Israel, the Messiah of Israel, the living Son of God was rejected by the massive proportion of Israelites, and his small flock of the little ones of Israel, who had followed him for more than three years, were indeed scattered as I laid out in detail in 131C in our Archives.

John 1:11 – He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Matthew 23:29-38 – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, [30] And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. [31] Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. [32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. [33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? [34] Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: [35] That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. [36] Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. [37] O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

When the flock of Israel rejected their Messiah, God’s hand of favor was turned upon the little ones of the small flock that followed him, and it rests upon many small flocks across the world that still continue the teachings he gave that first flock in the church commission given in Matthew 28:18-20.

Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Zechariah prophesied that God’s hand of favor would be turned upon the little ones when Israel rejected Messiah, the Shepherd who God was to send to lead them.

Mark 14:26-28 – And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. [27] And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. [28] But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

The first “sheep” he chose were the first “little ones” he called out, and they were his first “little flock,” his first “little church.” They grew into a very large church after they were empowered at Pentecost, and were eventually scattered by Herod and Saul’s persecutions across the face of the Roman Empire. Since that time, many “little flocks” of “little ones,” like the one at Jerusalem, who still teach and practice what Christ taught the first “little flock,” have come into being across the face of the earth.

Acts 2:41,42 – Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. [42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Today’s “little flocks” teach the same practices of the New Testament. I identify these “little flocks” by the name “New Testament churches”, meaning they teach and practice the faith once delivered to the saints.

Christ came to the flock of Israel as Messiah to bring in the kingdom promised to Israel, but they rejected him. John, Jesus, and his disciples preached that the kingdom was nigh. But the flock of Israel rejected both the king and the kingdom, and God’s hand turned upon the little ones, the little flock, to whom he offered the kingdom.

Matthew 3:1,2 – In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, [2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17 – From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luke 10:9 – And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

The flock of Israel would not receive the king and his kingdom, but the little flock, the first N.T. church that he called out and then taught for more than three years, did receive it. And out of that first flock of little ones have come many other little flocks of little ones, little temples, little local churches, that have accepted the kingdom he offered.

Luke 12:32 – Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

There are a vast multitude of children of God, who make up the family of God, that are not seeking the things of the kingdom. But there are a few little ones in little flocks, in local churches, who still are following the teachings of Jesus he passed on to them through the New Testament.

Revelation 3:4 – Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

They are the ones who are seeking the kingdom he said he was going to give to the first flock of little ones who followed him, and in so doing were seeking the kingdom.

Matthew 6:33,34 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

These little ones in local churches still fight the daily fight against the sinful nature in their flesh, knowing they will not always submit to the indwelling Spirit of Christ, but exercising I John 1:8,9 when they fail. I am thankful to God that I am delivered from the body of this physical death by Jesus Christ, rather than by my ability to keep every jot and tittle of the law.

Romans 7:23-25 – But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I John 1:8,9 – If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Before Jesus came, and while he was conducting his ministry, the nation of Israel represented God’s chosen people, and there was only one temple on earth that he accepted as the place he would receive assembly worship, the Temple in Jerusalem. There were some acts that the Lord considered to defile the Temple to the extent the offender paid with his life. When the 10 northern tribes broke away to form the northern kingdom of Israel, they eventually tried to form a worship center separate from Jerusalem, but God never accepted their worship in it. The Samaritans were a mixed breed of Jew and primarily Assyrian, and the place where they were still attempting to worship God is revealed in the following passage, at the time Jesus was passing through Samaria, and conversing with the Samarian women at the well.

John 4:20-24 – Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. [21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. [22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. [23] But the hour COMETH, and NOW is, when the TRUE worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jesus made it plain that the little flock, the little church, which he had organized, was correctly worshipping God as a church at that time, and that others like it would continue to do so in the future. And just as the Spirit had dwelt in the Jerusalem Temple, so does the Spirit dwell in each one of his local churches today.

Ephesians 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Each one of his local flocks, his local temples, his local churches, are the places where glory is received by God by his Son.

Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

And the penalty for spiritually defiling on of his local churches, his local temples, is also, as it was in the Jerusalem temple, at times punishable by loss of life.

I Corinthians 3:16-17 – Know YE not that YE are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth IN YOU? [17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple YE are.

All of the pronouns in caps are plural, and “IN” means “AMONG.” This refers not to the body of one man or woman, but to a church member who defiles the entire local body of Christ, which is the local temple of God at that location, made up not of mortar and stone, but of properly baptized believers who are built “together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”

I Peter 2:5 – Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

The temple in Jerusalem was the house of God. Each local church is a local temple, God’s husbandry, God’s building.

I Timothy 3:14,15 – These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: [15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

I Corinthians 3:9 – For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

The word used for “husbandry” means “God’s tilled ground.” It is in the local church that the plow of God’s truth tills the ground, and waters the seed that he has planted in us.

Ephesians 5:26,27 – That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

It is in the midst of such an assembly of believers, in a local church, that praises are to be sung to God.

Hebrews 2:12 – Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

There is no substitute in God’s plan for a local church. Salvation is not in the local church, but the ones who are saved are supposed to serve in a local church. Why?

Ephesians 3:10 – To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Ephesians 1:22,23 – And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 132B

August 12, 2003

The Kings of the North and South

A Current Preview of Coming Attractions

The latest flurry of military activity from Lebanon against Israel, by the Hizbollah terrorist army, is a dramatic preview of what I have stated, in many previous Prophecy Updates, must eventually happen to induce the king of the south to push against the deceitful king of the north. And, in Special Prophecy Update Numbers 74C and 74D, I presented the reasons why a push by Israel against Syria is inevitable, and that Syria would in turn respond with a lightning southward Jihad as a preplanned scenario. I am still convinced this scenario is likely to occur at some point in time between 2004 and 2008. I elaborated on this fully in Prophecy Updates 79C, 79D, and 85A. The coming plan of treachery will involve the large, well-organized terrorist army in southern Lebanon known as Hizbollah, which is often spelled Hizbullah. It will be the catalyst in the plan that will lead Israel into a trap waiting to be sprung on them when they push north. They will expect an easy victory over Hizbollah, but will suddenly meet with the full might of the Syrian and Lebanese Armies. And these two foes will be directly supported by the Palestinians bursting out of the Security Wall in all directions to attack Israel from within, along with immediate logistical support from seven other Islamic nations. Israel will be driven into the Negev Wilderness for what is referred to in Scripture as time, times, and half a time, or 1260 days, or 42 prophetic months, or three and one-half prophetic years. A prophetic year is 360 days. A time is one prophetic year, times two prophetic years, and half a time is 180 days. A prophetic month has 30 days.

Daniel 11:40 – And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

Revelation 17:12,13 – And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

Daniel 4:24,25 – And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Revelation 12:14 – And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Revelation 11:2 – But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Revelation 11:3 – And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 133

August 15, 2003

Zechariah Exposition 13:8 to 14:16

Part 4

Please review Parts 1, 2 and 3, which are the last three whole numbered Updates, before reading Part 4.

Zechariah 14:3,4 – Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. [4] And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst 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.

God begins to fight for Israel when Jerusalem falls by providing them a protective shield in the Negev wilderness for some 1260 days

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (See Prophecy Updates 5 to 11)

The first action God takes to assure their escape and safe passage to the Negev is to spread apart the Mount of Olives. This opens an escape path through the valley created by his power, and they flee through it into the valley on its opposite side. They then continue their flight through the Judean wilderness into the Negev. (See Birth Pang Number 20)

The expression “His feet shall stand” is used to figuratively show his might and power, as one who stands supreme in all power. He divides the Mount of Olives by his power. I do not believe this is the time of the 2nd Advent of Christ. The following Scriptures also picture the Lord, or the Angel of the Lord, or a mighty Angel standing on God’s creation, and declaring the power to affect or change it.

Nahum 1:3 – The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Revelation 10:1,2,5 – And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: [2] And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, [5] And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

Daniel 12:7 – And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth 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.

Time = 1 yr times = 2 years half a time = ½ year — 3 and ½ prophetic years of 360 days or 1260 days or 42 prophetic months.

God will scatter the power of Israel, allowing only a third of them to survive in the Negev, but after the time, times, and a half, he will have finished his work, and Israel will turn to the power of their God. Now Israel trusts in its own power and the power of the United States, but at the end of the time, times, and a half (1260 days) in the Negev, they will turn back to their God and his power.

I believe Zechariah 14:5 pictures the Lord standing on the Mount of Olives when Jerusalem is conquered by the antichrist, and providing a way of escape for this people to the Negev, where he will try them for the final 1260 days of the tribulation period.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 133B

August 18, 2003

Jerusalem Prophecies – Two finished – Four to Go!

Number 1 Was Fulfilled in A.D. 70

Luke 21:5,6,24A – And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, [6] As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. [24A] And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations:

Number 2 Was Fulfilled in June of 1967.

Luke 24B – And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Number 3 Is Likely to Begin Fulfillment Before 2008.

Zechariah 14:2 – 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.

Revelation 11:2B,3 – The Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. [3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Number 4 Will Be Fulfilled at the Close of Number 3.

Revelation 1:7 – Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Number 5 Will Be Fulfilled After His Return for 1000 Years.

Isaiah 66:10-13 – Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: [11] That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. [12] For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. [13] As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

Number 6 Is the Eternal New Jerusalem After the 1000 Years.

Revelation 21:1-7 – And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. [5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. [6] And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. [7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Revelation 21:22-24 – And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. [23] 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. [24] And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Revelation 22:3,4,20-22 – 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: [4] And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. [22] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 133C

August 20, 2003

How Can One Look Forward to Luke 21:25,26?

Luke 21:25,26 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] 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.

By Having Been Redeemed Before it Occurs!

Luke 21:27,28 – And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

From What Must One Be Redeemed and Who Does It?

Galatians 3:13 – Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Why Was the Law a Curse to All Mankind?

Romans 7:7,14,21 – What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. [14] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

It Was a Curse in that Fallen Man Could Not Keep It!

James 2:10 – For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Christ Is the Only Man Who Kept Every Point of It!

Matthew 5:17,18 – Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

And He Finished His Redemptive Work at Golgatha!

John 16:33 to 17:5 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. [1] These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: [2] As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. [3] And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. [4] I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [5] And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

John 19:30 – When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

He Redeems All Who Believe Jesus Paid Their Sin Debt!

I Peter 1:18,19 – Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Romans 3:23,24 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:6,7 – To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. [7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:14 – In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Hebrews 9:12 – Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Saved Souls Accepting His Blood Wait for New Bodies!

Luke 21:28 – And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Ephesians 4:30 – And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Romans 8:22,23 – For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Titus 2:13 – Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 134

August 22, 2003

Zechariah Exposition 13:8 TO 14:16

Part 5

Please look at Parts 1 through 4, which are the last four whole numbered Updates, before considering Part 5.

In Zechariah 13:8,9 we were advised of the initial attack of antichrist against Israel, and by the last phrase in 13:9 we were told what would happen some 1260 days later.

In Zechariah 14:1-5, we were told about the initial fall of Jerusalem, and in the last phrase of verse 5 were advised what would happen some 1260 days later, namely, the Second Advent of Jesus, the last phrase being “And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” This last phrase correlates with Matthew 24:29,30.

The first phrase in Zechariah 14:4 – “And his feet shall stand in that day on the mount of Olives,” corresponds to the first great earthquake in the book of Revelation. (See Birth Pang Number 2)

Revelation 6:14 – And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

The last phrase in Zechariah 14:5 – “And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee,” correlates with the last great earthquake in the book of Revelation. (See Birth Pang Number 2)

Revelation 16:17-19 – 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. [18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. [19] 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 unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

The next two verses tell what has happened to the earth’s atmosphere when he returns with all the saints at the end of the tribulation period. (For a full exposition of these verses see Birth Pangs 9 through 11)

Zechariah 14:6,7 – And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: [7] 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.

Verse eight tells what the splitting of the mount of Olives, some 1260 days prior to his Second Advent, will have made possible in a transformation of Israel for the millennial reign of Christ. (See Birth Pang 28)

Zechariah 14:8,9 – 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 in winter shall it be. [9] And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

Verse nine describes the kingship of Jesus from Jerusalem during his millennial reign.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 134A

August 23, 2003

Are You at Rest With Matthew 24:21,29,30?

Matthew 24:21,29,30 – For THEN SHALL BE GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, NOR EVER SHALL BE. [29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Does Matthew 24:21,29,30 Trouble You?

II Thessalonians 1:7,8 – And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Who Gives Rest From the Troubles of Matthew 24:21?

Matthew 11:28 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Does He Give a Permanent Rest From Matthew 24:21?

John 5:24 – Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 10:27-30 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and my Father are one.

Does Paul Testify How This Rest May be Obtained?

Acts 20:21 – Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do You Believe the Testimony of The Disciples?

II Peter 1:16-19 – For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. [18] And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. [19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Then You Should Have No Fear of Matthew 24:21!

Matthew 24:21 – 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 You Should Not Fear II Thessalonians 1:8,9!

II Thessalonians 1:8.9 – In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Why Not? Saints Believed the Disciple’s Testimony!

II Thessalonians 1:10 – 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.

Have You Obeyed the Gospel by Faith in What It Says?

Romans 10:16,17 – But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (How Does One Obey It?)

Believe Isaiah’s Report and Call on Jesus to Save You!

Isaiah 53:1,4-6 – Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 135

August 29, 2003

Zechariah Exposition 13:8 TO 14:16

Part 5

Please review Parts 1 through 4, which may be found in the four whole numbered Updates preceding Part 5.

Zechariah 14:10 tells what has happened to the city of Jerusalem during the pouring out of the vials of wrath during the last portion of the worst part of the tribulation period. It is what has occurred during this portion of the tribulation period, coupled with the splitting of the mount of Olives some 1260 days before Armageddon, that has created the scenario laid out in verse ten.

Zechariah 14:10 – All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.

The splitting of the mount of Olives occurs when the antichrist conquers Jerusalem to begin the last 1260 days before Armageddon. It occurs in conjunction with the great earthquake found in Revelation 6:14, which is the first earthquake reported in Revelation. The final transformational phase, involving a great lifting of the land from Geba to Rimmon, occurs primarily when the last great earthquake ends the tribulation period in Revelation 16:17-19. All of the transformational changes, which begin when Jerusalem falls, and end at the pouring out of the last vial of God’s wrath, will produce a millennial Jerusalem pictured in verses eight and eleven. (See Birth Pang Figure Number 48)

Zechariah 14:8 – 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 in winter shall it be.

Zechariah 14:11 – And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

For a detailed description of these changes, and other phenomena that are associated with this 1260-day period, please see Birth Pangs 24 to 28 and 20, and the Birth Pang Diagrams associated with them.

In verses twelve and fifteen, Zechariah describes the effects of the Lord’s actions on some of the humans and animals that inhabit the land from Dan to Beersheba during the latter portion of the tribulation period. For a full discussion of these two verses, please consult Birth Pang 16.

Zechariah 14:12 – And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Zechariah 14:15 – And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.

When the fantastic calamity, described in Birth Pangs 16, 20, and 24 to 28, comes upon the multi-national armies of antichrist, there will be such mass confusion between the different ethnic groups at the final battle of Armageddon, that they will be killing one another by “friendly fire.”

Zechariah 14:13 – And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 135A

How Large is the Antichrist’s Kingdom?

August 31, 2003

I am repeating Birth Pang Number 33 from our Birth Pang Archives because several have been asking me a lot of things that are directly tied to my answer to the question: What will be the size of the antichrist’s empire? If I am correct in my belief concerning it, then most of the prophetic interpreters will fail to recognize him when he comes on the scene. My advice to you is to be aware of two quite different possibilities. I am ready to accept the popular view, but until I see it come into place, I will continue to believe that many have taken the Spirit’s use of the hyperbole in prophecy to a conclusion based on an invalid assumption in it’s prophetic usage. You will also find this subject addressed in our Prophecy Archive Reviews as Prophecy Update Number 73A, 77, 77A, 77B, and 77C.

Virtually all prophetic teachers of today are certain that the kingdom of antichrist will cover “all the earth,” or “the whole world,” or “wherever men dwell,” or “the face of the whole earth,” or “all that dwell upon the earth,” or “the earth and them which dwell therein,” or “throughout the whole world,” or “in all the world,” or “Asia and the whole world, etc.” They may be correct, and I am prepared for such an event, but I really believe his kingdom will only affect those sections of the world known to the inhabitants of Israel when John wrote the Book of Revelation. Before I make my case in Scripture, please consider the following:

USE OF THE HYPERBOLE IN PROPHECY

THE WORD HYPERBOLE COMES FROM THE GREEK – IT MEANS “TO DELIBERATELY THROW OUTSIDE OR INSIDE A MARKED LINE FOR EFFECT, MAKING THE AREA LARGER OR SMALLER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS, EXAGGERATION FOR EFFECT, NOT MEANT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY, EXAGGERATING OR DIMISHING BEYOND THE FACT, EXCEEDING THE TRUTH.” IT IS USED AT TIMES IN PROPHECY TO IDENTIFY A SMALL AREA AS ONE THAT IS MUCH LARGER. IT IS NOT A LIE BECAUSE THE HEARER OR READER IS ACQUAINTED WITH THE USE OF HYPERBOLE AS AN EXAGGERATED STATEMENT. THE EXPRESSIONS “THE WHOLE EARTH, ALL THE WORLD, WHERESOEVER MEN SHALL DWELL ON THE EARTH, ETC. ARE, AT TIMES, NOT REFERRING TO THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE EARTH FROM POLE TO POLE AND AROUND ITS MAMMOTH EQUATOR. I BELIEVE THIS HAS CAUSED MANY TO EXAGGERATE THE SIZE AND STRENGTH OF THE FINAL EMPIRE OF ANTICHRIST. GOD USES THE HYPERBOLE ON MANY OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE.

Daniel 8:5,21,22 – [5] 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. [21] And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. [22] Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

(Since we know that the Empire of Alexander did not stretch across the FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH as we know it today, we know that God uses it here as a HYPERBOLE, referring only to the known world of 600 B.C. when Daniel wrote the prophecy)

Daniel 2:32-34,38,39 – [32] This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, [33] His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. [34] Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. [38] And WHERESOEVER THE CHILDREN OF MEN DWELL, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler OVER THEM ALL. Thou art this head of gold. [39] And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule OVER ALL THE EARTH.

(Since we know that the Babylonian Empire did not extend WHERESOEVER THE CHILDREN OF MEN DWELLED outside the known world of 600 B.C., and that Alexander’s Empire did not bear rule OVER ALL THE EARTH as we know it today, we know that God used it as a HYPERBOLE in both cases)

In these next verses we are going to see how God means for us to be able to delineate between the whole world as we know it today, and the whole world as it was know in prophetic times. We are certain the fourth beast was the Roman Empire, and we know it did not dominate THE WHOLE EARTH as we know it today, only the known world that existed at the time of its existence. However, we know for a certainty that Christ’s coming kingdom will dominate THE WHOLE EARTH as we understand it today. So when we examine God’s expression UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, we can say it represents the entire earth as we know it today.

Daniel 7:3,23-27,11-14 – [3] And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. [23] Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour THE WHOLE EARTH, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. [24] And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. [26] But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. [27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. [11] I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. [12] As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. [13] 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. [14] 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.

THE WHOLE EARTH = The world known to Israel when Daniel wrote his prophecies.

UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN = The entire surface of the earth under the whole heaven – the world as we know it today, and as it has always been know by its creator.

Now, as you read the expressions describing the size of the antichrist’s kingdom in Revelation, go back and forth to Daniel and compare his expressions concerning the world coverage of those kingdoms with John’s expressions of world coverage in Revelation.

Revelation 13:1,2,5-12,16,17 – [1] And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. [2] And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [5] And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. [6] And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. [7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over ALL kindreds, and tongues, and nations. [8] And ALL THAT DWELL UPON 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. [9] If any man have an ear, let him hear. [10] He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. [11] And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. [12] And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth THE EARTH AND THEM WHICH DWELL THEREIN to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [16] And he causeth ALL, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: [17] And that NO man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

ALL THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH = The known earth when John wrote his prophecies.

THE EARTH AND THEM THAT DWELL THEREIN = The known earth when John wrote his prophecies.

Revelation 17:12-18 – [12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. [14] These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. [15] And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. [16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. [17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. [18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over THE KINGS OF THE EARTH.

THE KINGS OF THE EARTH = The kings that were being reigned over in the known world when John wrote his prophecies.

Please note that both Daniel and John, when referring to the world as we know it today, used expressions marking it as being “under the whole heaven,” or “from one end of heaven to the other,” or “the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”

Daniel 7:27 + Matthew 24:31 + Mark 13:27 – [27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. [31] 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. [27] And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, FROM THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF HEAVEN.

But note as the New Testament writers used expressions which did not use HEAVEN as the measuring stick, such as THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD, IN ALL THE WORLD, ALL ASIA AND THE WORLD, and THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. They employed them to portray the known world of that day, not the whole world as we know it today.

Romans 1:8 + Colossians 1:5,6 + Acts 19:27 + 24:5 – [8] First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD. [5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; [6] Which is come unto you, as it is IN ALL THE WORLD; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: [27] So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom ALL ASIA AND THE WORLD WORSHIPPETH. [5] For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

When John uses THE WHOLE WORLD he means the known world of his day. When Daniel uses OVER ALL THE EARTH he means the known world of his day.

Revelation 12:9,17 – [9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth THE WHOLE WORLD: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [17] 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.

Daniel 2:39-44 – [44] And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule OVER ALL THE EARTH. [40] And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. [41] And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be DIVIDED; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. [42] And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be PARTLY strong, and PARTLY broken. [43] And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall MINGLE themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not CLEAVE one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. [44] And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

This final kingdom of antichrist does not sound like a kingdom that dominates the whole world as we know it today. It is to be a kingdom partly strong, and partly broken, and the individual parts don’t cleave together very well. It sounds like a bunch of the descendents of Ishmael, the six sons of Keturah, and the two sons of Lot mingling their blood lines together to form the Islamic world Israel now faces. They certainly have never gotten along with Israel, and they cannot get along with each other. But they will come together as a rag-tail empire to attempt to destroy Israel. I really believe most of the believers in this world are going to be waiting for an antichrist that will dominate every nation on this earth, and I don’t believe it will happen. He will arise in Syria, lead 10 Islamic nations against Israel, control the area once dominated by the Old Roman Empire, and that will fulfill all the prophecies written about him as dominating “all the world.” This has far reaching implications if I am right, such as the mark of the beast only being put on those sections where the Old Roman Empire once stood.

I strongly suspect that the man of sin will arise in Syria, come quickly to power, drive Israel into the Negev, conquer Egypt, dominate the known world of John’s day from his capital in Cairo, and put his mark on the Islamic world and most of Europe. He will eventually return to Jerusalem to issue a call to all the nations of the known world in John’s day to come to Israel for a final solution to the Jewish problem by the battle of Armageddon, after which he will finally be cast into a lake of fire by the returning Lord Jesus Christ.

I suspect a lot of believers won’t recognize him as being the antichrist because he does not take over the whole world as we know it today. In any case, I realize he may dominate the whole world as we know it today, so I am prepared for that possibility, and will simply gulp and swallow a lot of crow if I am wrong. In any case, I truly believe, but am not certain, that we will soon know which interpretation is correct, because I believe antichrist will manifest himself by 2008 somewhere in the area once occupied by the old Assyrian Empire of Micah’s day.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 135C

September 2, 2003

Anointed, Cut-off, and Not Yet Accepted as King!

Part 1

Daniel 9:24 – Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY.

The Son of David, who is the Son of God, has been anointed as king by the Spirit, but has not yet been accepted and crowned as king by his own people. John testified that his own people, the nation of Israel, did not accept him as their king.

John 1:11 – He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John 19:15 – But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

But Jesus finished the work he was sent to do as the one God anointed to be king of Israel. For more than three years Christ ministered to Israel, but they cut him off between the third and fourth year following the time of his anointing by God, and he has yet to be accepted by Israel as their king.

John 17:3,4 – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. [4] I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

John 19:30 – When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

In the same week he was cut off from the land of the living on the cross, he told them that his rejection as their king would result in their worship in the temple no longer being acceptable to God, because it would become spiritually desolate and all the sacrifices and oblations would cease to be accepted by the Spirit of God. However, he further advised them that one day he would return and, at that time, they would accept him as king, saying, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

Matthew 23:38,39 – Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Israel will eventually be driven into the Negev wilderness, and only one-third of its population will survive the fire of the last 1260 days of the tribulation period. At the end of the tribulation period Jesus will return with his kingdom and Israel will receive him as their King and God.

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Zechariah 14:9 – And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

It was many years, from the time that David was first anointed as king of Israel by God, before he was actually crowned as king by his own people.

Psalm 89:18-20 – For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. [19] Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. [20] I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

Jesus, the Son of David, and of God, was promised the throne of David as his descendant and, like David, many years have passed, and he has still not been crowned king on David’s throne.

Luke 1:31-33 – And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

The Spirit used Samuel the Prophet to anoint David as king when he was a teenager.

I Samuel 16:10-13 – Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. [11] And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. [12] And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. [13] Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

David’s own people did not crown him as their king for many years after Samuel anointed him. He had reached the age of 30 when he was finally crowned.

II Samuel 5:3,4 – So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel. [4] David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

Lord willing, in Part 2, of “Anointed, Cut-Off, and Not Yet Accepted as King,” I will deal with the anointing of the Messenger of the Covenant, who is to sit on the throne of David forever.

Malachi 3:1 – Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 135D

September 4, 2003

Anointed, Cut-off, and Not Yet Accepted as King

Part 2

In Daniel 9:24, in Part I, we were advised that seventy weeks, or seventy weeks of years, which equals 7 X 70, or 490 years, were to be experienced by Israel, and that during this time period the anointing of their expected Messiah would occur.

In Daniel 9:25 we are advised that from the time a certain proclamation was to be issued, until the Messiah was anointed, a period of 69 weeks or 483 years would pass. Daniel predicted this proclamation more than 140 years before it was actually issued.

Daniel 9:25 – Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

The Proclamation of Artaxerxes Longimanus, which allowed all classes of Jews to return to Jerusalem, was issued in 457 B.C., and the anointing of the Messiah the Prince from above occurred 483 years later in A.D. 26, at his baptism by John the Baptist. Jesus was born in 4 B.C., and was 30 years old when he was anointed in the sight of men.

Luke 3:21-23 – Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, [22] And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. [23] And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (Joseph was the son-in-law of Heli, who was the Father of Mary).

Mark 1:14.15 – Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 135E

September 4, 2003

Anointed, Cut-off, and Not Yet Accepted As King

Part 3

We closed Part 2 with an exposition of Malachi 3:1 and Daniel 9:27, and will continue this exposition after reviewing Daniel 9:26.

Daniel 9:26 – 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.

Expositors of Daniel are agreed that the seven weeks (49 years) of Daniel 9:25 must be added to the threescore and two weeks (434 years) of Daniel 9:26, and that it would complete the 69th week (483rd year) of Daniel’s 70 weeks (490 years). So, this makes the word “AFTER” in Daniel 9:26 of immense importance in the interpretation of the narrative concerning “the Messiah,” which begins in Daniel 9:24 and ends in Daniel 9:27. It clearly teaches that Messiah was cut-off (crucified) AFTER the 69th week (483rd year), which means his crucifixion occurred at some point in time during the 70th week of 7 years. And, since Daniel 9:27 indicates that someone causes the sacrifices and oblations to cease in the “midst” of the week, it seems more than reasonable to believe it is talking about the last week, the 70th week, in which Messiah was cut-off. The “he” in Daniel 9:27 is not the antichrist, it is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, who is the contextual subject of the entire discourse that began in 9:24.

Daniel 9:27 – And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The messenger, who was John the Baptist, was the prophet sent by God to anoint his Son, the messenger of the covenant, to sit on the throne of his forefather David, to whom God had sent Samuel the prophet to anoint many years before David was accepted by Israel as their king. Jesus did confirm, by his baptism in water, and his immersion in the Spirit from above, that he had arrived to fulfill the gospel message of the kingdom, which he preached following his water and Spirit anointing. And, in the “midst” of the 70th week, between the 486th and 487th year, he fulfilled the covenant in his own blood on the cross. Daniel’s clock ceased ticking at Christ’s death. We do not have a full seven years (2520 days) of Daniel’s 490 years left to fulfill. I believe we only have 1335 days remaining once the clock begins to tick again.

Daniel 12:12 – Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

Messiah was anointed to be King of Israel many years ago, but he has yet to be accepted as King by his own chosen people. This will happen at his Second Advent, which will complete the 490 years of Daniel’s prophecy, and he will sit on his forefather David’s throne forever.

Ezekiel 37:22-28 – And I will make them one nation in the land upon 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: [23] 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 dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. [24] 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. [25] And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; 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. [26] 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 midst of them for evermore. [27] My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [28] And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Daniel 7:14 – 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.

Zechariah 14:9 – And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 136

August 6, 2003

Zechariah Exposition 13:8 to 14:16

Part 6

Please review Parts 1 through 5 in our Prophecy Archives, which are the last five whole numbered Prophecy Updates 131 through 135.

I closed Part 5 by stating: When the great calamity, described in Birth Pangs 16, 20, and 24 to 28, comes upon the multinational armies of the antichrist, there will be such mass confusion between the many ethnic groups assembled, that they will be killing one another in droves by what we call “friendly fire” today.

When Israel sees what God has done to her enemies, it will sweep north out of the Negev to retake Jerusalem, then drive as far north as Hamath in Syria, as far east as the Euphrates, as far west as the River of Egypt, and to the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea. Thus they will claim the Abrahamic Land Grant God has won for them at Armageddon, which is initially found in Genesis 15:18, and later has its northern and southern bounders defined in Ezekiel 47:17,19. Then Micah 5:9 will apply for a thousand years. (Please consult Prophecy Updates 66 and 67)

Zechariah 14:14 – And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.

Genesis 15:18 – In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Ezekiel 47:17 – And the border from the sea shall be Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the NORTH SIDE.

Ezekiel 47:19 – And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the SOUTH SIDE southward.

Micah 5:9 – Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

Verse 16 describes the beginning of the system of worship that will exist on this earth for a thousand years.

Zechariah 14:16 – 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. (Consult Prophecy Updates 86B, 86C, and 86D)

Messiah will enter the newly constructed millennial temple, which will be built after his Second Advent, as the bodily presence of the Glory of God.

Ezekiel 43:1-5 – Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: [2] And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. [3] And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. [4] And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. [5] So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 136A

September 7, 2003

Anointed, Cut-off, and Not Yet Accepted as King!

Part 4

In Parts 1 through 3 we established that “the Messiah the Prince” was the contextual subject of each verse in Daniel 9:24 to 27, which entails 490 years of events that would occur before he returned to rule and reign as the King of Israel. The three “he’s” in Daniel 9:27 are not antichrist, they are the Christ, the Anointed One, “the Messiah the Prince.”

“He” confirmed the covenant by beginning his earthly ministry at the close of the 483rd year of Daniel’s prophecy when he was anointed by God to begin his work as the messenger of the covenant. He was cut-off from fully completing the seven years by his rejection and crucifixion by his own chosen people between the 486th and 487th year of his ministry. But he confirmed the covenant in his own blood with as “many” as would put their faith in him as “the Messiah the Prince.” When he was cut-off in the “midst” of the last seven years of Daniel’s prophecy, God ceased to accept the sacrifices and oblations offered daily in the temple, which the Messiah declared to be spiritually desolate.

Matthew 23:38 – Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

He declared it spiritually desolate because he had to cleanse it when he started his ministry at the first of his three Passover Feasts, only to find it necessary to cleanse it again at his third, and final Passover. So, for the overspreading of abominations by the priests and moneychangers, he made it spiritually desolate. And it will remain spiritually desolate until the return of “the Messiah the Prince” as King of Israel.

Matthew 23:39 – For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

His coming will mark “the consummation” of this present Gentile age, and “that determined,” the wrath of God, will be poured out on all the spiritually desolate on this earth in seven vials of his great wrath, just before his Second Advent.

Luke 21:25-28 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] 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. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

I do not believe the hands on Daniel’s clock have moved since the death of “the Messiah the Prince.” I believe it stopped ticking with 1335 days yet to be fulfilled in the 490 years that were determined on Jerusalem and the Israelites. But when Israel actually believes it has attained “peace and safety,” then it will begin to tick again, and will not stop until the Second Advent.

The vast majority of God’s children on the earth today are waiting for a period of three and one-half years of peace in Israel, which will then be followed by a second period of three and on-half years of tribulation. If that happens, I am certainly willing to accept it. But I do not believe the first three and one-half years of peace are found in the Scriptures. I do, however, believe that the last three and one-half years of tribulation are found many times in both the Old and New Testaments. I am convinced that from the time that Israel actually believes it has “peace and safety,” until the time of the beginning of the last three and one-half years, there will only be a passing of some two and one-half months.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 136D

September 10, 2003

Headed for the Time of Jacob’s Trouble!

Jeremiah 30:7 – Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Matthew 24:21 – For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

In the War of 1812 many preachers believed the coming of the Lord was very near. The same was true with the Civil War, WW 1, and WW 2, but the Lord did not come. So many today mock anyone who believes the coming of the Lord is drawing near. So what makes this time different from all the other times? It is the presence of Israel, back in place in its land as a state for more than 55 years, and holding its Temple Mount for more than 36 years, that makes all the Scriptures concerning his arrival come to life. The descendants of Jacob, the man whom God gave the new name of Israel, have certainly had every type of trouble imaginable for more than 70 years in Israel. They fought guerilla warfare under the British Protectorate, three wars with their Arab neighbors, and several intifada’s with the Palestinians. But while all this has certainly been a time of trouble for the descendants of Jacob, the real time of trouble lies in the not too distant future when, following a brief false peace secured by force, they are viciously attacked from within by the Palestinians, and from without by an Arab confederation of nations, which will come upon them in the form of a surprise, lightning Jihad. I believe it will result in the slaughter of two-thirds of the Israeli population, and marks the start of Jacob’s trouble, which will last for three and one-half years before his descendants are saved out of it. The initial attack will be in the general time frame as the first earthquake reported in the book of Revelation. In the following Scriptures, please note that God promises Israel that the third part of it will be delivered.

The third = the woman = the remnant of Israel = 1.7 to 1.9 million Jews

The woman’s Seed = Jesus

The remnant of the woman’s Seed = 144,000 sealed Jews

Zechariah 13:8 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Revelation 6:12 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Joel 2:30-32 – And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. [31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. [32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Revelation 12:5,6 – And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. [6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Revelation 12:17 – 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 7:4 – And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were SEALED AN HUNDRED AND FORTY AND FOUR THOUSAND of ALL the tribes of THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

Special Prophecy Update Number 137

September 12, 2003

God Tabernacles with Man – Number 1

There is coming a day, which I believe is not too far in the future, when God will again tabernacle with Israel! Isaiah presents a picture of it during the millennial reign of the returned Messiah.

Isaiah 4:6 – And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

But before Messiah comes, Israel must pass through the period of 1260 prophetic days outlined by Daniel, John, and Zechariah. It is during this period Israel will be overrun by the ten nation kingdoms of antichrist, driven into the great Negev wilderness south of Beersheba, and remain confined in that area until Messiah returns. The “woman” of Revelation 12:6 is the “third” of Zechariah 13:8, and among the “third” are “the saints of the Most High” in Daniel 7:25, which represent 144,000 Israelis in Revelation 7:4 that are the seed of the woman Israel in Revelation 12:17. About one-third of Israel (1.7 to 1.9 million) will make it into the Negev. Among them will be the seed of the woman Israel, whose seed was Jesus, the Messiah, and they (the 144,000) will testify of Jesus as the Messiah, and keep his commandments.

Zechariah 13:8 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Daniel 7:24,25 – And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (time = 1 year, times = 2 years, and the dividing of time = ½ year).

Revelation 7:4 – And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Revelation 12:17 – 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.

The woman = 1/3 Israel = 1.7 to 1.9 million survivors.

The woman’s seed is Jesus, and the 144,000 are his seed.

At the end of the 1260 days of Israel’s confinement in the Negev, Messiah will return, defeat the antichrist and his armies, and destroy him, his armies, and false prophet.

Revelation 19:11-13, 19-21 – And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [12] 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. [13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [19] 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. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought 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. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

It is at this time that the Devil and all his angels are cast into the bottomless pit, and separated from mankind for a thousand years while the Lord of Hosts, the Messiah, reigns in Jerusalem.

Revelation 20:1-3 – And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Isaiah 24:21-23- And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. [22] And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. [23] Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

Special Prophecy Update Number 137B

September 14, 2003

The Messenger of the Covenant Messenger

Part 1

The Messenger, who announced the arrival of the Messenger who was sent to proclaim and fulfill the covenant of God with man, was John the Baptist. He began to announce that the Messiah, the Messenger of the covenant, was coming several months before he appeared to be baptized by John, which marked the beginning of his ministry of some 1185 days.

John 1:20-23 – And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. [21] And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. [22] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? [23] He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Of course, John was quoting from Isaiah, clearly identifying himself as the messenger who had come to announce the Messenger of the covenant.

Isaiah 40:3 – The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

And John’s preaching was clearly the proclamation of the need for the entire nation of Israel, both collectively and individually, to repent of its sins in anticipation of the coming of its King, the Messiah, the Messenger of the covenant, who was to bring in the kingdom.

Matthew 3:1,2 – In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, [2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And when the King, the Messenger of the covenant, the Messiah, began to preach, he preached the same message of the kingdom that John had preached.

Mark 1:14,15 – Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

John, the messenger, proclaimed the Messenger of the covenant was soon to arrive, and Jesus did come quickly to his Father’s House, the temple, which had long been filled with pictures of him in its many sacrifices and rules of worship. And, after his baptism and temptation, he came quickly to his temple, cleansing it by driving out the corruption he found in it during his first visit as Messiah.

But Israel flatly rejected both the messenger and the Messenger of the covenant.

John, the messenger, was beheaded by Herod to satisfy his illegitimate wife in her hatred for John, who had rebuked her for being married to Herod while she was the wife of Herod’s brother.

Matthew 14:10,11 – And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. [11] And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

Jesus, the Messenger of the covenant, was delivered by his own nation to be crucified by Gentiles.

Luke 23:20,21 – Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. [21] But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

Matthew 27:25 – Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

John 19:14,15 – And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! [15] But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Matthew 27:37-39 – And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [38] Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. [39] And they that passed by reviled him wagging their heads.

The Messenger of the covenant came to confirm the beginning of Daniel’s seventh week of seven years at the time of his baptism by John, but was cut-off by his crucifixion some 1185 days into it, leaving 1335 days to be completed before he returns to be crowned King at his Second Advent. He fulfilled the covenant at his crucifixion, sealing it in his own blood, and with his own death in the flesh. He was cut off AFTER the 69th week some 1185 days, or 3 plus years into the last 7 years, in the midst of the last week of Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks of years. He was not cut off for his own sins, for he had none. He was cut off for the sins of all other men.

Daniel 9:25,26 – Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [26] 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.

Some forty years after he was cut off, the Roman soldiers of Titus, the Prince of Vespasian, the Emperor of Rome, destroyed the city and its sanctuary, with the end coming when they finally broke through the inner wall and roared in like a flood. And determined desolations were brought on the Jewish people thereafter, until the war ended some three years later when Masada fell in 73 A.D., and the temple mount will remain desolate in God’s eyes unto his Son returns, and is crowned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 23:37-39 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Jesus spoke of these desolations that would come upon Jerusalem and the Jewish nation, and they came exactly as he had prophesied.

Luke 21:23,24 – But woe unto 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 upon this people. [24] 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.

The times of the Gentiles for complete control of the temple mount ended in June of 1967, but they will regain control for a 42-month period before Christ’s Second Advent. The fullness of the Gentile age will end with the Second Advent, and Israel will be restored for a thousand years along with the temple mount and the millennial temple on it.

Romans 11:25 – For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

He was cut off for the sins of all men, and as “many” as received him, to them he gave the right to become the sons of God.

John 1:11,12 – He came unto his own, and his own received him not. [12] But as MANY as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Daniel 9:27 – And he shall confirm the covenant with MANY for one week: and in the MIDST of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The sacrifice and the oblation ceased to be acceptable to God when his Son was cut off in the midst of the week because the temple was declared to be spiritually desolate. And they will not be accepted again until his Son’s Second Advent, which marks the consummation of this age. At that time the determined horrors of the seven vials of wrath will pour out on the spiritually desolate as determined in Revelation.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 137C

September 16, 2003

The Messenger of the Covenant Messenger

Part 2

We covered the first phrase of John 1:23 and Isaiah 40:3 in Part 1 of Prophecy Update 137B. We will deal with the second phrase in Part 2, which follows.

John the Baptist was the first Elijah to all those who put their faith in the covenant messenger Jesus, of whom he testified, because John was the messenger sent before him. But Herod, the King of Israel, cut off the head of the messenger, and Israel cut off the covenant messenger on the cross. The second Elijah will be one of the two witnesses in the Negev, and will be the Elijah of all who believe his message that the messenger of the covenant is about to appear again at his Second Advent.

John 1:23 – He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Isaiah 40:3 – The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert A HIGHWAY for our God.

Malachi 4:5 – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

There will be a literal HIGHWAY formed through the wastelands from Assyria (northern Iraq) into the land of Egypt, with Israel sitting between Iraq and Egypt as the ruling nation among all nations. The creation of this HIGHWAY will be made possible by the great geological upheavals, which are vividly described in Birth Pangs Numbers 21 and 22 in the Birth Pang Archives, and give graphic details of the events associated with these great transformational changes. All of the massive topographical changes in Israel are produced totally by the power of God during the tribulation period. Pictorial Diagrams of these changes may be found under Birth Pang Figures on the Menu of our Cover Page. The description in detail of each one of the prophetic changes may be found in Birth Pangs 14A to 32 in our Birth Pangs Archive.

Isaiah 11:15,16 – And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. [16] And there shall be AN HIGHWAY for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (See Birth Pang Numbers 21 and 22 located in the Birth Pang Archive)

Isaiah 19:23-25 – In that day shall there be A HIGHWAY out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. [24] In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: [25] Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

Isaiah 27:12,13 – And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt and ye shall be gathered one by one O ye children of Israel. [13] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

This will be the time of God’s tabernacling with Israel for a thousand years on this present earth. This series on a tabernacle subject began with Prophecy Update 137, and is programmed to continue for some time, being issued normally every Thursday or Friday Night.

Isaiah 4:2-6 – 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. [3] And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: [4] When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. [5] And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence. [6] And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Amos 9:11-15 – In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: [12] That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this. [13] Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. [14] And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. [15] And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God. (See Birth Pang Number 32 in the Birth Pang Archives)

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 137D

September 17, 2003

The Messenger and the Covenant Messenger

Part 3

We covered Isaiah 40:3, as quoted in John 1:23, in Parts 1 and 2 of Prophecy Updates 137B and 137C. Because Herod, the king of Israel, beheaded the messenger, John the Baptist, and then Israel delivered Jesus, it’s only true king, the covenant messenger, to be crucified by Roman Gentiles, there have more than 1900 years of trouble and warfare for Israel, which continues to this day. By the time Israel endures through what warfare is left for it, it will have received double for all its sins, and during this time of horror there will be great topographical changes in the valleys, hills, and roads of Israel.

Isaiah 40:2-4 – Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. [3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

The Scriptures, which follow, vividly describe the period of great tribulation that will come upon Israel in the near future. This “little moment” of God’s great tribulation indignation will cover a period of some three and one-half prophetic years.

Isaiah 26:20,21 – Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. [21] For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

God’s fight against the enemies of Israel will not be with weapons forged by man, but will be with the burning and fuel of fire from his own creation, and, when the war is finished, his Son will sit upon the throne of David.

Isaiah 9:5-7 – 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. [6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

God will unleash the elements of his own creation upon the unbelieving during the tribulation period. This is the way he wages war.

Isaiah 29:6 – Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Matthew 24:21 – For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Revelation 16:16-21 – And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. [17] 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. [18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

Matthew 25:31 – When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Luke 1:30-33 – And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. [31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Special Prophecy Update Number 138

September 19, 2003

God Tabernacles with Man – Number 2

(Susan & David Plus 3 – Please see end of Update)

The O.T. Hebrew word for “tabernacle” or “tent” is OHEL. The N.T. Greek word for “tabernacle” or “tent” is SKENOO. The word SKENOO is translated “dwelt” in John 1:14. God pitched himself in the tent body of his only begotten Son, and lived among us, ministering to mankind as the Messiah for more than three years.

John 1:6-14 – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. [8] He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. [9] That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. [11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not. [12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and DWELT among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Messiah will soon come again, and will pitch himself as a protective tabernacle over believing Israelites, shielding them from any earthy thing or element that is harmful.

Isaiah 4:6 – And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

In Tabernacle Relationship Number 1, an exposition of numerous Scriptures was given regarding the events that must occur before Isaiah 4:6 will be fulfilled during the millennial reign of Messiah. Please review Number 1 before continuing with Number 2. The terrible prophecy of Zechariah 13:8 will come upon Israel prior to the return of Messiah, and only one-third of its population, or about 1.7 to 1.9 million Jews, will still be alive after the horrific pre-Messiah event outlined in Number 1. But, in Zechariah 13:9, we are advised that the one-third will be protected by God, and that when the Messiah does come at his Second Advent, he will pitch the tabernacle of his bodily presence among them.

The fantastic loss of male lives, during the fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 13:8, will have created a situation, in the early stages of the millennial reign, such that males will exceed the proportion of females by a seven to one ratio. A major thrust of Israel will be to repopulate the Abrahamic land grant they have received from Messiah, and women will feel their role to God is to have children to meet that need. But, during the millennium, a man can only have one wife, so women will be very anxious to marry, and the supply of men will be limited. Many men will die in the war, Jerusalem will fall, and even after it is retaken when Messiah returns, its gates will mourn those men who will never again pass through them.

Isaiah 3:25 to 4:3 – Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. [26] And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. [1] And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. [2] 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. [3] And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:

Zechariah vividly describes Jerusalem rejoicing during the millennial reign of God pitching his bodily tent as Messiah among them, as do many of the other prophets.

Zechariah 14:11 – And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

Isaiah 66:13,14 – As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. [14] And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

Special Prophecy Update Number 138A

September 20, 2003

From Now to Armageddon Series

Headed for a False Peace

Phase 1A

In Prophecy there are many things that involve, at best, pure speculation, based largely on the opinion of the one doing the speculating. However, there are certain things that leave little to the imagination, and are based upon the occurrence of events in specified chronological order, with the actual time of fulfillment being the element still based on speculation. In this series, which begins with Phase 1, I plan to cover the chronological sequence of the events that will occur from the time the false peace in the land of Israel begins until the Second Advent of Christ at the end of the battle of Armageddon.

The Scriptures are very clear that a false peace must come to Israel before the attack of the antichrist from the north. Paul classified himself as a Pharisee of the Pharisees, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, circumcised the eighth day of the tribe of Benjamin, and he studied at the feet of the Jewish Sage Gamaliel. So, in point, he was not ashamed of his lineage, and loved his people dearly, at one point in Scripture expressing the willingness that he himself was willing to be cursed that this people might be saved.

Romans 10:1 – Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Romans 9:3 – For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

And there is no question that Paul believed all Israel to be considered in unbelief by God. It is for these reasons that I believe I Thessalonians 5:3 is referring primarily to Israel. I acknowledge that it can be applied to all who are in unbelief, both Jew and Gentile, but I believe his basic intent was its application to Israel. While I do not believe it is possible to be certain of the exact time of the coming of Jesus for the saved, we are not the children of darkness, and it should not be a complete surprise if we are “watching” for it. And a part of “watching” for it entails watching the prophetic events being fulfilled in Israel.

I Thessalonians 5:5,6 – Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Mark 13:36,37 – Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

“That day” cannot come until Israel actually believes it does have “Peace and safety,” and there is no way under heaven that Israel will ever believe it does until it thinks it can control the maintenance of it. Israel will complete their security fence, wall, and trenches around the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and then a false peace will be forced upon the Palestinians. Israel will confine them within this great wall enclosure, and let them have their own state on Israel’s terms. With all the terrorist groups inside the security zone, Israel will then believe it can have “Peace and safety.” If the terrorists should be able to penetrate the security zone, or exterior borders of Israel facing its Arab neighbors, then Israel would retaliate with air strikes again suspected terrorist zones inside the security zone. With its own population on the safe side of the wall, it would not have to fear the reaction of terrorists within it, and it would not take long for the Palestinian Authority to finally take direct action against Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades, for the self-defense of its own population.

This would indeed lull Israel into a false sense of safety. Israel really has little fear of an outside attack from its Islamic neighbors, having soundly defeated them in three wars in 1948, 1967, and 1973. However, it would create a most favorable military situation for the Arab nations. For the first time, Israel would have hostile nations both within and without. The security fence would keep the terrorist groups from their deadly work, but I assure you that it could not stop a planned massive breakout by all the Palestinian forces. Any military commander would tell you that an enemy without is one thing, but having one within and without is a military nightmare.

I am convinced we are headed for a “forced” false peace in Israel. Any negotiations are going to be on terms that will be largely dictated by Israel. In Phase 1B I will be discussing the antichrist’s mindset to this period of time when Israel truly believes it has “Peace and safety.”

Ezekiel 38:10 – Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

Special Prophecy Update Number 138B

September 21, 2003

From Now to Armageddon Series

Headed for a False Peace

Phase 1B

In Phase 1A I elaborated fully on I Thessalonians 5:3, presenting a scenario of how Israel would be led into a sense of false security by a forced peace it would place on the Palestinians by confining them behind am encircling security wall.

I Thessalonians 5:3 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But it will be a false peace, which the antichrist will end by a lightning surprise jihad attack from the north. The Scriptures which follow describe his mindset, and plan of deceit he will employ in launching the attack that causes a “sudden destruction to come upon” Israel like lightning from a southward moving tornado, which heads toward a land that believes it dwells in safety.

Ezekiel 38:8 – After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt 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.

Israel will have the Palestinians walled in, but Israeli cities will be outside the wall, unwalled cities vulnerable to a planned Jihad from the north. The planned Jihad will be a direct result of his own evil thoughts.

Ezekiel 38:10,11 – Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: [11] And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

Based on this evil thought of the antichrist, the Lord has Ezekiel ask him this rhetorical question, which begs an obvious answer, giving assurance that the antichrist will most certainly know Israel dwells safely, because he has been instrumental in lulling them into a false sense of safety.

Ezekiel 38:14 – Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?

The second rider on the Red horse in Revelation is most certainly a symbol of war and bloodshed by weapons of war. When Israel finally presents a scenario, regardless of how it is reached, such that the rest of the world sees what it believes to be peace in the Middle East, then it will be taken away by the rider on the red horse, and will not come again until Jesus returns to end the battle of Armageddon, and bring true peace to the earth for 1000 years.

Revelation 6:4 – 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 unto him a great sword.

The bloodiest and most horrific effects of the tribulation period will be felt across one-fourth of the earth, which I believe will be the known world at the time John wrote the book of Revelation. “Them” in Revelation 6:8 does refer back to three of the riders, namely, the red horse rider (sword), the black horse rider (hunger), and the pale horse rider (death), and indicates that they will be affecting one-fourth of the earth. Several writers have declared this mean one-fourth of the world’s population, which now stands in excess of six billion, but the Greek word translated “earth” is “ges,” and is used to mean an area of the earth, not the population of the earth. By the time the battle of Armageddon is finished, much more than one-fourth of the world’s population will have been depleted.

Revelation 6:8 – And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

In Phase 2A we will cover the character and initial attack of antichrist against Israel as the willful king of the north in Daniel 11:36.

Daniel 11:36 – And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

Special Prophecy Update Number 138C

September 22, 2003

From Now to Armageddon Series

Initial Attack of Antichrist Against Israel

Phase 2A

In Phases 1A and 1B I exposited on “Heading for a False Peace,” the false peace itself, and how it would end with the attack of the antichrist from the north. He is the willful king of the north, who dominates Daniel 11:36-45, and some sections of Daniel 7, as the eleventh little horn, who rises out of the revived southern flank of the ancient Roman Empire. He will attack the saints of Israel, who were the “saints” at the time of Daniel’s writings, and will prevail against them.

Daniel 11:36 – And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

Daniel 7:20,21 – And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. [21] I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

Antichrist will prevail against Israel for three and one-half prophetic years. A “time” equals one year, “times” equals two years, and the “dividing of time” equals half a year, for a total of three and on-half prophetic years. A prophetic year has 360 days.

Daniel 7:25 – And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

He will enter into the glorious land of Israel from the north and conquer it from Dan to Beersheba, bypassing Jordan, and then head southwest to take over Egypt and the Suez Canal. He will subdue, or being into subjection, other countries around Egypt.

Daniel 11:41,43 – He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. [42] He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. [43] But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

He will drive the Israelis to Beersheba, and southward into the Negev, which extends to the Gulf of Aqabah, and makes up more than one-third of the total land area of present day Israel. It will be a terrible slaughter, with two-thirds of the Jewish population being killed, but the remainder, some 1.7 to 1.9 million, will flee and/or fly into the vast Negev Wilderness, and will be “left therein” for some three and one-half prophetic years, which is 1260 days, or a time, times, and half a time.

Zechariah 13:8 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Revelation 12:6,14 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [14] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

I will continue to elaborate on antichrist’s initial attack against Israel and other countries in Phase 2B of this series.

Special Prophecy Update Number 138D

September 24, 2003

From Now to Armageddon Series

Initial Attack of Antichrist Against Israel

Phase 2B

I closed Phase 2A of this series by stating that I would continue to elaborate on antichrist’s initial attack against Israel and other countries in Phase 2B.

The King of the North from Daniel 11:36 to 45, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal in Ezekiel 38 and 39, the Assyrian in Micah 5, the beast in Revelation 17:12,13, who leads the 10 toes of Daniel 2:42, and the eleventh horn of Daniel 7:20-22, are all one and the same person, namely, the antichrist. His attack will be sudden, and his advance to the south will be swift. His armies will sweep southward to cover the land from Dan to Beersheba like a rapidly moving thunderstorm cloud.

Ezekiel 38:3 – And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (See Prophecy Updates 27 & 28 in Archives)

Ezekiel 38:9 – Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

Micah 5:5 – 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. (See Prophecy Updates 67 to 69 in Archives)

Daniel 2:42 – And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Daniel 7:20-22 – And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. [21] I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [22] Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (See Prophecy Update 54 in Archives)

The antichrist will lead a coalition of nine Arab nations that will attack the northern border of Israel, and one which will attack Israel from within its internal border with the newly created Palestinian state. The loss of life among the Israelis will be staggering, with only one-third of the population, about 1.7 to 1.9 million, being able to make it to the safety of the Negev war contingency area of evacuation. They will remain there for some three and one half years then, as Daniel indicated in 7:22, they will pass through God’s judgment, and possess the old land grant promised to Abraham. They will again be God’s people, and he will be their God.

Zechariah 13;8,9 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

The ten horns on Daniel’s fourth beast, on the first and second beasts of Revelation, the dragon of Revelation, and the ten toes of Daniel’s statue, all represent ten Arab nations that will attack Israel, and pin them down in the Negev wilderness for three and on-half prophetic years.

The next Update in this series will cover the fall of the city of Jerusalem, and associated events.

Special Prophecy Update Number 138E

September 25, 2003

From Now to Armageddon Series

The Fall of Jerusalem

Phase 3

The city of Jerusalem has fallen to many foreign troops throughout the centuries of its existence. The Messiah prophesied it would fall to the Romans, and remain in Gentile hands for the period of time known as the “times of the Gentiles.” The prophecy referred solely to the city and its temple mount, and how long both would remain under Gentile control.

Jerusalem did indeed fall to the Roman Army of Titus in 70 A.D., but Gentile military control, “the times of the Gentiles”, was ended for it in June of 1967, when it was taken from Jordan by the armies of Israel. However, the Scriptures indicate it will again fall to the antichrist for a period of some 42 prophetic months, or 1260 days, after which it will be retaken at the end of the final battle of Armageddon by the power of the returning Messiah.

Revelation 11:2 – But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The actual conquest of Jerusalem will be sheer horror for its Jewish inhabitants, and many will be led away for torture and slaughter, but the Lord gives the assurance that a remnant will escape, and will not be permanently cut off from the city, but will one day come back to drive out those who drove them out. Jerusalem, which sets in the midst of the land of Israel, will be the place where the conquering armies divide the spoil. The slaughter of two-thirds of the population will include the citizens of Jerusalem, but some of them in the city will escape and become a part of the one-third that makes it into the Negev. They will return 42 months later as the residue (remnant) of Jerusalemites that retake their city, and God shall be their God, and they will be his people, for a thousand years on this present earth.

Zechariah 13:8 to 14:2 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. [1] Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [2] 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.

There are several different words translated as “cut-off.” This one is “karath,” which means, “utterly cut off, cut off forever.” It is telling the Jewish inhabitants of the city they will NOT be cut off forever, but will return, when God beings them back some 42 months later, from the Negev, as a conquering people led by the power of their God. Israel is indeed going to be put through fiery testing like refined gold and silver, but when its testing is finished it will take Jerusalem by the power of its God, the returned Son of God, their Messiah.

Zechariah 12:8,9 – In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. [9] And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Revelation 16:16 – And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

This will be the time when “the fullness of the Gentiles” iniquities finally runs over the brim of the tolerance of God, and he turns back to Israel when they see the light of his Son coming in glory.

Luke 21:27 – And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.