Prophecy 17 – www.TtibulationPeriod12.com

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PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 210

February 4, 2005

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 4A

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.

Since I believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, there has been no doubt that a time known as “Jacob’s Trouble” would indeed come on the nation of Israel, which would also affect both Jew and Gentile living on the same planet. And, as the Scripture indicated, Israel would be saved out of it after an interval of 1260 days had expired, at which time they would call upon God to save and deliver them, and he would once again identify them as his people.

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 Archive Birth Pangs 36, 38, & 41-43)

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. (See Archive Prophecy Updates 92 & 93)

It also seemed evident from Scripture that before this time of horrible trouble came upon them there would be a brief period of false peace, in which Israel would be lulled into a false sense of “Peace and safety,” but that God’s churches would not be lulled into the same sleep, and would recognize it for what it was, a false peace, the calm before the storm, before the lightening Jihad.

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. (See Archive Prophecy Update 12)

As I have indicated, on countless occasions throughout our Archive Prophecy Updates for the past four years, it is the timing that always poses the great difficulty. It is precisely WHEN it will be fulfilled that offers a great challenge. With the passage of time, as events line up, one can gain a better perspective of WHEN the time of fulfillment is on the immediate horizon. Concerning when the false peace would come in, which would be followed by a lightening Islamic Jihad, in Update 13 in our Prophecy Update Archives, I wrote the following: “There will be many other sessions, behind closed doors, between the leaders of the Islamic nations before the Jihad begins. Israel must be lulled into a false sense of security before a Jihad can be successful, and it must be well coordinated to insure success. The Arab leaders of the Islamic nations must carefully plan the Jihad, and part of that planning would include the gradual decline of all terrorist activities against Israel.”

At long last the events since December 9, 2004 have led me to believe that the negotiations, for what most of the world will come to believe is real peace, are coming into the initial stages of a process that will end in the words of I Thessalonians 5:3 being fulfilled, and a false peace will come to exist between Israel and the Palestinians. During the last two months, Bashar Assad of Syria has hopped to Moscow, to Iran, and to Jordan, while the Palestinian leader Abbas has hopped to Syria and to Moscow, and will soon bunny hop to Iran and the United States. This has paved the way for a summit meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, which is by the invitation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and will be held in Sharm e-Sheikh, Egypt on Tuesday, with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in attendance. United States Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice might also attend. Others could be added before the actual meeting.

After meeting with the Islamic Jihad’s terrorist group leader Ramadan Shalah in Cairo on Tuesday, Egypt’s Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman flew to Israel the next day and gave Mubarak’s invitation to attend to Sharon. Suleiman then flew back to Egypt to meet the Hamas terrorist group leader Khaled Mashaal in Cairo. There has not been this much action between Islamic leaders since the failed peace talks broke down in Egypt during the twentieth century, when Yassar Arafat turned down Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s offer, which was the best the Palestinians had ever received from Israel.

It does appear to me we are finally headed down the path to a false peace, which will eventually be followed by a successful Jihad attack by 10 Arab nations, one of which will be the newly formed Palestinian state inside Israel, and nine others from outside Israel’s borders. For almost 30 years I have consistently stated my belief that this attack would occur before 2008, and I am now more convinced of it than ever. The events of the next 12 months will either unravel or cement my enthusiasm for the initial stages of a false peace to be laid in Israel. As of now, I expect the false peace to be in place in 2006 and the Jihad to occur before 2008. I am hopeful that the current shuffling of the Arab leaders between one another, and their talks with the terrorist groups inside Israel, will be what is indicated in Ezekiel 38. I am hoping the “evil thought” is one that will be hatched in all these meetings between Islamic leaders, and brought to fruition when the Jihad is launched.

Ezekiel 38:10-12 – 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. (See Archive Prophecy Update 31)

Israel has materially prospered in the land since she became a nation. She is walling in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for placement of the Palestinians in their new state, but Israel is outside the walls and her borders with the other Islamic nations around her do not have walls, so she is a land of villages without walls. When Israel is attacked by the great armies of Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, non-participating nations will ask the rhetorical questions of Ezekiel 38:13. The questions show how well hidden the “evil thought” was kept from much of the world while 10 Arab nations were setting Israel up to be taken by surprise when their forces launched the Jihad from within and without her borders. The Palestinians will attack across the wall border from within, and the other nine nations will attack across Israel’s outer borders. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan will be among those nations surprised by the attack. (See Archive Prophecy Update 71)

Ezekiel 38:13-15 –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? [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? [15] And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (See Archive Prophecy Update 32)

God asks Gog a question that begs an answer already known by God, which is used to make this point – you most assuredly know they dwell safely, because you caused them to believe it by a covenant of peace and safety.

Mark 13:34-37 – For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Colossians 3:23-25 – And whatsoever ye DO, DO it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

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.

Revelation 22:12 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as HIS WORK shall be.

Revelation 22:14 – 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

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 210B

February 9, 2005

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 5

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.

Throughout the history of Israel a pattern of turning to the countries around her, like Egypt and Syria, to save it from other enemies, rather than repenting of her sins and turning to her God for deliverance, is documented in the Old Testament. Jeremiah indicates a time of great tribulation called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” will be experienced in the last days as a culmination of his judgment on Israel for the rejection of his Son. There will not be a single “lover” nation around Israel that she can turn to for deliverance, but she will turn back to her God as the only hope while trapped in the Negev. Israel has been chastised by its God for almost 2000 years.

JEREMIAH 30:14 – All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.

Because Israel turned to the “nation lovers” around her for deliverance, and rejected God’s Messiah he sent to deliver her, God has laid siege against Israel, wounding her as one would wound a cruel enemy. Israel grew worse and worse in her conduct toward God with the passage of time. The events surrounding her deliverer’s birth, rejection, and return were foretold by Micah.

Micah 5:1-3 – Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. [2] But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. [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 Archive Prophecy Updates 62 to 65)

Isaiah 66:6-10 – A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies. [7] Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. [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. [9] Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. [10] 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:

[66.6A] “A voice of noise from the city,” – I believe that verse 9 in Matthew 21:4-9 is the fulfillment of the noise created by the voice of the multitude when the Lord made his triumphant entry as Messiah into the old city of Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:4-9 – All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, [5] Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. [6] And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, [7] And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. [8] And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. [9] And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

[66:6B] “A voice from the temple,” – I believe this was fulfilled by Christ’s “voice from the temple” when he cried out to those who had defiled his Father’s house.

Matthew 21:12,13 – And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

[66:6C] “A voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.” – I believe the voice of Jesus speaking to the fig tree, which represented Israel, represents the fate of that nation because of its rejection of him as the king who was sent to bring in the kingdom. Israel was to be cut off, and would be dried up from its roots, and would not be restored until Messiah’s Second Advent.

Matthew 21:19 – And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

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.

Isaiah 66:7 – Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. [8] Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things?

The Jews had not had it so bad under the Romans. It was a prosperous time for them. They had not undergone the great tribulation associated with the birth pangs of child birth. Yet their Messiah had come before the great tribulation prophesied by most of the prophets of the Old Testament. Who ever heard of a woman giving birth to a child without any pain, and many years later suffering the birth pangs of it? And who have ever seen such a thing as this, as well as what was going to be foretold next, which was that Israel was to be born, restored to God as a nation, on a single day?

Isaiah 66:8 – 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. [9] Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. [10] 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:

Israel and its capital city of Jerusalem will soon go into a period of great tribulation for some three and one-half years, and at the end of her travail will bring forth her believers in Christ as the brethren of the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. God says to Israel, just because I made your temple spiritually desolate and physically destroyed it, does not mean your womb is not the womb of the Messiah – He will come forth unto you, and you will be restored on that one day when you call upon the name of Jesus to save you. And when he does it will be a great time of rejoicing for all of us, both Gentile and Jew who have long waited for it.

The Scriptures with follow describe Israel suffering in the Negev, her calling upon her God to save her, God’s punishment upon those who are afflicting her, the final complete return of all Jews to Israel by the command and action of God, and Israel established in the midst of all nations as the nation of nations in whom the King of all kings sits on the throne of David.

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.

JEREMIAH 30:15,16 – Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. [16] Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

Isaiah 66:15-20 – For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. [16] For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. [17] They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. [18] For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. [19] And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. [20] And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. [21] And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord.

JEREMIAH 30:17 – For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Isaiah 66:23,24 – And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. [24] And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Malachi 4:1-3 – For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

Ezekiel 39:27-29 – When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; [28] Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. [29] Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 211B

February 16, 2005

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 5A

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.

GOD WILL PROVIDE IN GREAT TRIBULATION!

OUR GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR HIS FAITHFUL CHILDREN IN PERIODS OF PAST TRIBULATION, AND WILL ALSO PROVIDE FOR THEM DURING THE LAST THREE AND ONE YEARS OF GREAT TRIBULATION ON THIS EARTH.

Israel has become a largely secular government and a lip serving people to their God of the Old Testament. The bulk of its population is as guilty of materialistic idolatry as were their forefathers in the days of King Ahab and his wicked foreign wife Jezebel.

I Kings 16:29-33 – And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. [30] And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. [31] And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. [32] And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. [33] And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

God’s judgment came on the children of Israel in the days of King Ahab and Jezebel, and Israel passed into a period of three and one-half years of famine, but God provided for the faithful of Israel during that period of tribulation judgment. Soon God’s judgment is coming on this present generation, and famine is mentioned as one of the judgments it will experience, but God will provide for the faithful during that period of three and one-half years. First, let’s examine the provision of God to the faithful in the three and one-half years of famine in Elijah’s day.

James 5:17 – Elias (Elijah) was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

I Kings 17:1-24 – And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. [2] And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, [3] Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. [4] And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. [5] So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. [6] And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. [7] And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. [8] And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, [9] Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. [10] So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. [11] And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. [12] And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. [13] And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. [14] For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. [15] And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. [16] And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

Jesus discussed this time of tribulation by famine in the days of Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah, and made the point that God provided for those affected by it on the east side of the Jordan River and on the other side of Israel’s northern border. He also made the point that he saved a Syrian from death, but left some Israelites as lepers. This infuriated the Jews when he reminded them that God helped outsiders rather than the descendants of Jacob. During the coming tribulation period God will provide for both Jews and Gentiles who faithfully trust in his Son.

Luke 4:24-30 – And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. [25] But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; [26] But unto none of them was Elias (Elijah) sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. [27] And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus (Elisha) the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. [28] And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, [29] And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. [30] But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

God provided for those faithful few in the times of his judgment on all of Israel and he will provide for his faithful ones in the time of judgment on the generation of humanity that now occupies this planet.

Psalm 37:25,26,28,39,40 – I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. [26] He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. [28] For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. [39] But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. [40] And the Lord shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

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. (See Archive Prophecy Updates 5 through 11)

The MAN CHILD is Jesus the Israelite, the WOMAN is Israel, and the “THEY” in verse 6 refers to a precedent word, “NATIONS,” in verse 5. When the initial attack occurs against Israel, Armageddon is three and one-half years away, and not all the NATIONS will be involved in the attack, just 10 Islamic nations. Nations such as the United States, England, and Australia will supply Israel in the Negev as instruments of God, just as the ravens supplied Elijah as airborne instruments of God in Israel’s three and one-half years of famine. They will airlift life giving mercenary supplies to Israel during the last three and on-half years of the tribulation period.

Revelation 12:14,17 – 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. [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. (See Archive Birth Pang Numbers 43 and 41)

The WOMAN is Israel. The Woman’s Seed is the Seed of ISRAEL, the man CHRIST JESUS.

The 144,000 are the REMNANT of the Seed, JEWISH believers who have their faith in the Seed, 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.

The 144,000 believing Jews go into the Negev as a small part of a larger remnant of unbelieving Jews. They witness to the larger remnant of unbelieving Jews which survive the attack of Zechariah 13:8,9. At the end of the great tribulation period, all of the Jews that survive will have believed in the Negev.

Many Jews and Gentiles will be saved during the time known as the tribulation period.

Acts 2:19-21 – And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: [20] 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.

The saved and the Lord’s local churches will suffer trials and persecutions during the tribulation period. But the wrath of God is reserved for unbelievers.

I Thessalonians 5:9 – For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

II Thessalonians 1:4-10 – So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: [5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: [6] Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; [7] 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: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [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.

So what was the testimony of the man who wrote the second epistle to the church at Thessalonica?

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

It is acting upon this testimony in belief that causes God to give us the new birth from above, which lasts forever.

I Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

We are saved by faith that comes from hearing God’s word, and then believing it enough to act on it.

Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

What does the saving faith not say, and what does it say? There are two things it does not say. There are two things it does say.

Romans 10:6-9 – But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) [7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [9] 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.

Special Prophecy Update Number 213A

February 27, 2005

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 5B

It appears that terror groups in Lebanon and Damascus have finally been able to extend their tentacles well across the southern borders of Lebanon and Syria into Israel, and have been successful in carrying out a terrorist bombing in Tel Aviv. Israel, through its great intelligence network, has successfully prevented numerous attacks just like this one during the last few months, the vast majority of which were instituted from across the border by Hizbullah in Lebanon and Islamic Jihad in Syria, both of which receive the necessary funds supplied by Syria and Iran. Unfortunately, this one slipped through the cracks. Hizbullah has been attempting to find in-country renegade terrorist fanatics to carry out their dirty deeds “south of the border, down Israel’s way,” to use a phrase from an old Gene Autry song, so it was first believed Hizbullah was the major perpetrator. It now appears that another out-of-country terror group based in Damascus, Islamic Jihad, was the major player, with Hizbullah being the cheerleader of the attack. The only thing not clouded at this time is that it was orchestrated from terror headquarters outside Israel, with approval of Syria and Iran, even though the actual terror bomber was a renegade from a terror group in Israel.

Poor ole Jacob has had trouble in long and short spurts ever since Titus overran the Temple Mount in 70 A.D., but the worst burst of 3 and ½ years is yet to come when he is attacked from the north by the forces of Islam. The most recent intermittent shot of trouble was the terrorist act of blowing up a group outside a night club in Tel Aviv. The number of dead stayed in single digits and the number of wounded went just over 50. I do not expect this to drastically upset the false peace process. All three major terrorist groups in Israel have denied involvement, the Palestinian Authority is trying to get those involved in it, and the man who did the bombing, Abdullah Badaran, was apparently a renegade from the Tulkarem Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigates terrorist cell, and did it acting on orders from a terrorist group headquartered outside Israel. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad terrorist groups based in Israel have all officially denied involvement in the Tel Aviv bombing, and none of them have placed the customary posters of congratulations outside the dead bomber’s home. The two leaders of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, one speaking from Ramallah and the other from the Balata Refugee camp near Nablus, stated they turned down the out-of-country request, fearing being targeted by the Israeli and Palestinian Security forces. So, because it appears Islamic Jihad, the out-of-country based organization in Syria, was the main sponsoring terrorist group, and since the Palestinian Authority made an effort to find and arrest the perpetrators, plus the known fact that Israel does desire to continue the false peace process, it appears that this will not drastically affect peace negotiations. But it will slow them down, and Israel will not surrender control of West Bank cities to the Palestinians as rapidly as previously scheduled. However, it will be interesting to see how Israel responds to Islamic Jihad facilities in Syria for the bombing, and how Syria and Iran are affected. This bombing by Damascus based Islamic Jihad could be the catalyst that causes Iran and Syria to temporarily call off both Hizbullah in Lebanon, and Islamic Jihad in Damascus. It could happen because Syria is currently having so much trouble about its troops remaining in Lebanon after the assassination of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister, and also because Iran is having trouble with the UN, EU, and US over its attempt to acquire nuclear weapons. They both need a nice breathing spell and will not get it with Hizbullah on the loose in Lebanon and Islamic Jihad in Syria.

The “bottom line” in all this is very clear on one point – the bombing was directed to be carried out by Damascus based Islamic Jihad, with Hizbullah cheerleading, and Syria, already in trouble because of her Intelligence Service, has jumped from the frying pan into the fire. It is likely that Palestinian Authority’s arrest of some of those suspected in the bombing may keep them in the good graces of Israel, and allow the false peace process to continue by negotiation. So the Palestinians will be allowed to continue the process, but they will be walking on eggs, and a major terror attack could turn Israel back to a policy of bringing in a false peace by direct force. At the moment it is Hizbullah, located in southern Lebanon, and Islamic Jihad, headquartered in Damascus, which are feeling the heat of fire from Israel, not the Palestinian Authority and the in-country terror groups.

Since there is no question that the purpose of the Tel Aviv terror attack was to stop the peace process, and that the Palestinian Authority was as much a target of Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, and other put-of-country based terrorist groups as were the Israelis, I do not believe it will affect the false peace negotiations to any great degree. Now what about Jacob’s future 3 and ½ years of really intense trouble?

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.

Daniel 12:1 – And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

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.

In JEREMIAH 30:15 the Lord tells the nation of Israel he is bringing the time of Jacob’s trouble on them because they deserve it.

In JEREMIAH 30:16 the Lord tells the nation of Israel of the trouble he intends to bring on her enemies when he saves her out of the trouble he accomplished on her.

Israel had been living in the relatively peaceful time of the Roman Empire. It would have been described as a time of the “green tree” associated with prosperity as opposed to a “dry tree” associated with famine. Israel rejected her King Messiah in the time of a “green tree,” and because of this rejection they were going to enter a time of the “dry tree” some 40 years later. From the time that the temple of Herod was destroyed until June of 1967 they were in the period of the “dry tree.” In 1967, with old Jerusalem restored to them, they have again entered a “green tree” period, which I believe is likely to abruptly end and be followed by the tribulation period. All this has, and will be, done unto them by the God whose Son they rejected and crucified.

JEREMIAH 30:15 – Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

In Mathew 23:29-38 Jesus describes the hypocritical religious veneer the Jews are faking on the outside while being filled with inner spiritual adultery. He tells them the affliction from which they will soon cry out to God, asking why it is happening, is well deserved, and that he is the one orchestrating it.

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.

Luke 23:27-31 – And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. [28] But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. [29] For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. [30] Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. [31] For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

JEREMIAH 30:16 – Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

God, after telling them why he has done this to them, in verse 16 tells them what he is going to do to the nations that afflicted Israel. And Isaiah describes what God has in mind to do in Isaiah 66:16-20.

At the Second Advent of Jesus the Messiah, when he comes to end the final battle Of Armageddon, the few survivors of the many nations that came against Israel will return to their home countries in flight, telling those that remain alive there what they have seen in Israel, and these nations will carry the Jews back to Israel on whatever transport that is available after the fantastic shaking of the vials of wrath. God will return Israel to a much greater status than it has ever experienced, and the memorial sacrifices of the millennium will begin. All the nations of the earth will come to Jerusalem to offer worship to King Messiah.

JEREMIAH 30:17 – For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

These are the burnt remains of the armies of the beast and his false prophet. They will be ashes under the feet of restored Israel under the wings of Messiah, the Sun of righteousness.

Revelation 19:19-21 – 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.

The greatest worldwide gathering of Israel will follow Armageddon, and Israel will forever know who is the Lord their God.

Ezekiel 36:24-28 – For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. [25] Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. [26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. [28] And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Before Jacob’s trouble begins we would do well to heed the words of Peter in Acts 2:40.

Acts 2:40-42 –And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. [41] 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.

John 1:11-13 – 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.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 213B

March 2, 2005

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 6

Exposition of Jeremiah 30:18-22 – “He is saved out of it.”

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.

Because Israel loved the captivity of sin rather than the captivity of God’s spirit, almost 2000 years of trouble has fallen on them, which will be culminated by a final three and one-half years of which it is said: “that none is like it.” But God indicated when this final greatest tribulation of all was finished, Israel would be “saved out of it” and returned to his captivity as the merciful God of Israel.

JEREMIAH 30:18 – Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

The city of Jerusalem will be reduced to a rubble heap during the time of Jacob’s trouble, but will be rebuilt in the millennium, and the temple and palace will be built after the manner of the first temple, but following the instructions of Ezekiel 40 to 43.

Revelation 11:13 – And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The city of Ezekiel 40 to 48 will be built on the old heap of ruins left after Armageddon and, when completed, will appear as described in the two following Scriptures.

Ezekiel 40:2 – In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.

Ezekiel 48:35 – It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.

And God’s sanctuary will set in the midst of the city in the midst of his children he has gathered from all across the earth.

Ezekiel 37:21-26 – And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: [22] 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.

After the temple is completed, Jesus the Messiah will enter it in the Glory of Shechinah.

Ezekiel 43:2-7 – 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. [6] And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. [7] And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever,

He will rule over his people from the midst of them for 1000 years on the present earth, and forever on the new earth that follows it. They will multiply during the 1000 years and be thankful and full of joy for all eternity.

JEREMIAH 30:19 – And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

Ezekiel 39:21-25 – And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. [22] So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. [23] And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. [24] According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. [25] Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;

JEREMIAH 30:20 – Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.

Micah 5:8,9 – And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. [9] Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

JEREMIAH 30:21,22 – And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord. [22] And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Luke 1:32,33 – 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 214A

March 6, 2005

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 7

An Exposition of Jeremiah 30:22-24

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.

The first phrase in this verse refers primarily to the last three and one-half years of the tribulation period, but the last phrase refers to the end of tribulation, when the God of Israel would again call himself their God, and reinstate them as his children. This same scenario is found in Zechariah 13:9, and the last phrase in 13:9 correlates with the beginning of JEREMIAH 30:22.

“BUT HE (ISRAEL) SHALL BE SAVED OUT OF IT”

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.

JEREMIAH 30:22,23 – And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. [23] Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.

Israel will again be God’s people when he delivers her from her enemies at Armageddon and he will comfort her in Jerusalem after he has saved her from her many enemies. He will come against her enemies with fury like a great tornado swirling around them, in the midst of his fiery vengeance, as attested by both Jeremiah and Isaiah. Then he will comfort her.

Isaiah 66:13-16 – 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. [15] For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. [16] For by fire and BY HIS SWORD will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

God will destroy the enemies of Israel at Armageddon with his fiery showering upon them, which is in accord with the prophetic words from the lips of his Son.

Revelation 19:15-21 – And out of his mouth goeth A SHARP SWORD, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. [17] And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; [18] That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. [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.

Ezekiel 39:17-22 – And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. [18] Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. [19] And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. [20] Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord God. [21] And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. [22] So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.

Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

JEREMIAH 30:24 – The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in THE LATTER DAYS ye shall consider it.

The latter or last days of the tribulation period will be the most horrible time mankind has ever experienced.

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.

Luke 21:25-38 – 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.

Acts 2:20-24 – 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. [22] Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: [23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: [24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Philippians 2:9-11 – Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 10:9 –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.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 214B

March 9, 2005

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 8

An Exposition of Jeremiah 30:14-16

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.

What happens after the descendants of Jacob are saved out of the great tribulation period?

Israel is saved out of it at the battle of Armageddon and restored to God as his chosen people, then the promise of the “good thing,” which is to follow their being saved out of it, is fulfilled for both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.

JEREMIAH 33:14 – Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that GOOD THING which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

One has to be very careful in interpreting the writings of the Old Testament prophets, because the Babylonian captivity, and Israel’s promised deliverance, is referred to quite often. One must consider the context and the description of the prophesied event very carefully, or a gross misinterpretation will be made. In the case of Jeremiah 33:14-16, the prophet breaks from what he has been discussing, and states “Behold the days come,” referring to a more distant event, and begins to cover the events of the latter period. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel were contemporary. They had access to Isaiah and Micah’s writings, who had prophesied about a hundred years before them. All five spoke of the “good thing” God planned for them. The one kingdom, which divided into two following the reign of King Solomon, would again be one kingdom of Messiah for 1000 years as part of the “good thing” that God was going to do for them. God was going to put them back together as one kingdom with his Son as their king. The northern kingdom of Israel was sometimes called the kingdom of Ephraim, who was the son of Joseph. It was to be put back together with the southern Kingdom of Judah as one kingdom under the Messiah.

Ezekiel 37:15-22 – The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, [16] Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: [17] And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. [18] And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? [19] Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. [20] And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. [21] And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: [22] 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:

And the King of this new Kingdom was to be Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, and the Branch out of David.

JEREMIAH 33:15 – In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

It will be a beautiful and glorious reign of a thousand years of the Messiah setting on David’s throne. It will follow the time of judgment and the burning of God’s fury at Armageddon.

God will restore Israel and wash away the sins of Israel by the blood of their returned Savior and Messiah. He will first judge them with the spirit of burning, and at his Second Advent will arise with the brightness of the sun to gather them under the wings of his righteousness, in which they will put their faith. During the Messiah’s reign of a thousand years, the people of Israel will walk upon the ground containing the ashes of those who rose up against Israel at Armageddon.

Isaiah 4:2-4 – 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.

Malachi 4:1-3 – For, behold, the day cometh, that shall BURN as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

Israel will finally acknowledge that righteousness did not come by the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, and they will trust in his righteousness to save and keep them by his power, and not by the works of the flesh.

Galatians 3:24 – Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 2:21 – I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:26 – For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

JEREMIAH 33:16 – In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall BE CALLED, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Ezekiel 34:13-15,23-31 – And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. [14] I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. [15] I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 34:23-31 – And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. [24] And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. [25] And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. [26] And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. [27] And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. [28] And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. [29] And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. [30] Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God. [31] And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.

Christ himself is Ezekiel’s “plant of renown” and will feed his flock from the throne of David.

Isaiah 53:1,2A – Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? [2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 214C

March 11, 2005

THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE – Part 8a

COUNTDOWN TO TIME OF HIS 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.

I have been waiting for more than 37 years for certain events to finally line up in the Middle East for an Arab attack against Israel that would push her into the Negev and begin the tribulation period. I realized when Israel took back the old city of Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights in June of 1967, the ingredients were in place for the time of Jacob’s Trouble to begin at some later date. I have believed, and consistently stated ever since, that I believed Israel would be attacked from the north by 10 Arab nations at some point in time before 2008. However, I have always consistently repeated that I might be wrong, and that it could occur at some point in time shortly after 2008. I am still making the same assessment of the Middle East situation. Before any consolidated, behind-closed-doors, secretive, Jihad can be pulled off against Israel there must be a false peace in place. It must be a peace that Israel can feel it has sufficient control of the situation to actually say and believe “We now have peace and safety.” I was in the National Security Agency when Yigal Allon came up with the plan to fence it the West Bank in 1968, so it came as no great surprise when this idea was revived and implemented in the administration of Ariel Sharon. Only the completion of the security barrier between the Israelis and Palestinians can produce the scenario of the psychological sense of “peace and safety” that Scripture indicates must be in place before Israel is attacked. We have been consistent on this Web Site in emphasizing the two things necessary for psychological acceptance of any type of “peace and safety” are: (1) The in-country terrorist groups had to be brought to a state where the Israelis thought the Palestinian Authority had control over them, and would exercise that control favorably, and (2) the security barrier wall had to be completed. You may read the first discussion of Yigal Allon’s plan in our Archives on Prophecy Updates 62D and the diagram I provided as to how I thought it would look when it was finally completed on Archive Update 65C.

It now appears that the security barrier will be finished in 2006 and that, by 2007, the Palestinian Authority will have an established state enclosed within the barrier. When this occurs, it will have fulfilled the qualifications Paul laid out in I Thessalonians for Israel to actually start to believe it finally has “peace and safety.”

I gave a full exposition of this verse in Prophecy Update 12 in February of 2001, which follows, and I believe the situation outlined in it will be in place in 2007.

BEGIN ARCHIVE PROPHECY UPDATE 12

The Apostle Paul had a deep spiritual burden for his own people, the nation of Israel. His born again heart longed for them to forsake their unbelief by turning to Jesus as their Messiah. He expresses this desire in Romans 10:1 as he states: “Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” There is no question that Paul saw Israel as being in unbelief. But he knew that some future day they would believe, and consequently be grafted back into God’s olive tree, from which they had been broken off because of their unbelief. He stated this principle in Romans 11:20, as he wrote: “Well, because of unbelief they were broken off.” But he goes on in verse 23 to indicate they will one day believe, and thereby restored to being part of God’s olive tree. He writes, “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.” I said all this to explain the words “they” and “them” in I Thessalonians 5:3, where Paul states: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh on them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” Paul, in his use of “they” and “them,” is referring to the nation of Israel in unbelief. However, it would also in part apply to all unbelievers in the last days. So why have I given this discourse? The word translated as “safety” is “asphaleia,” which means “the security one experiences when standing on something that is firmly fixed. It gives the one standing on it a sense of “not falling.” The last four leaders of Israel have worn out the following expression: “We must have a peace with security.” We have heard it used hundreds of times on the media, and it has been printed over and over again in countless articles. Why is this important? God indicates a time will come when Israel actually believes she has “a peace with security.” Why is it so important that we understand this prediction? Because we can know that the final war, involving Israel’s Islamic neighbors, will not occur until it is fulfilled! Israel must be lulled into a false sense of security before any united Islamic attack against her can be successful. Until this happens, and it will, I merely wait for it to come to pass. Then, when peace and security for Israel does appear to arrive in the Middle East, you can know that the final war of this age is about to occur. Don’t believe all these terrorist attacks will suddenly cause the final war of this age to begin. It is only when they cease that you can know the last war, which finally produces Armageddon some 3 and ½ years after it begins, is imminent.

END ARCHIVE PROPHECY UPDATE 12

As I indicated in Archive Prophecy Update 120C, the determining factor as to “when” the false peace would be allowed to come in, would be tied to when Syria and Iran called off the terror groups long enough for it to settle in.

BEGIN ARCHIVE PROPHECY UPDATE 120C

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 120C

May 20, 2003

Determining Factors in Peace – True or False

Ever since President Clinton, desirous to make the bringing in of peace to the Middle East the crowning achievement of his presidency, brought the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and the Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat, together at Camp David to negotiate such a peace, it has not been possible for it to occur because of a single factor – YASSAR ARAFAT IS NOT IN CONTROL OF THE TERRORIST GROUPS IN ISRAEL OR ALONG ITS NORTHERN BORDER. From a biblical prospective I can definitely state: TRUE PEACE CAN NEVER COME ON THE SCENE IN THE MIDDLE EAST UNTIL JESUS ESTABLISHES IT AFTER HIS SECOND ADVENT. From a Biblical prospective I can also state with certainty: THE ONLY TYPE OF PEACE THAT CAN COME IN BEFORE JESUS ARRIVES IS A FALSE PEACE. From an analytical prospective I can positively state: UNLESS THE IN-COUNTRY ACTS OF TERRORISM CEASE A FALSE PEACE CANNOT COME IN. And, after a period of long observation in the Middle East, I can also say with great confidence and assurance: THE LEADERS OF SYRIA AND IRAN ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE THE ATTENTION OF THE TERRORISTS IN ISRAEL TO A DEGREE SUFFICIENT TO GET THEM TO TEMPORARILY STOP THEIR ACTIVITIES LONG ENOUGH TO BRING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF FALSE PEACE.

The long term goal of both Iran and Syria, since 1948, has always been to drive the Israelis out of the land from Dan to Beersheba. Whatever will best accomplish their goal is what they will support. They are beginning to realize that terrorism will never allow them to reach their objective. So, I am hopeful they will begin, behind the scenes, to unveil a plan of cunning deceit to the terrorist groups, which will be designed to lull the Israelis into a false sense of security. I believe they will be able to cause the terrorist groups to see the wisdom in stopping their activities long enough for a false peace to come in, followed by a brief period of relative tranquility, just long enough in duration to allow Israel to believe it has finally found peace in its own land. The terrorist groups would agree to this sort of plan because, in the end, it would result in a lightening Jihad from the north, and the slaughter of the people they have so long wanted to butcher. The recent travel of the Iranian President to Lebanon and Syria, where the headquarters of the terrorist groups are in place, lead me to believe that such a plan is now being hatched. I will be surprised if the terrorist activity does not cease within the next 18 months. The false peace in the Middle East cannot come in as long as the terrorist activity continues, and it will continue until the terrorists are convinced that a future Jihad will drive Israel out of the land. I believe Syria and Iran will convince them this will be the case if they hold off their acts of gore until such a Jihad can be launched. Israel has torn the infrastructure of the terrorist groups to shreds, but small pockets still exist. These small pockets are growing weary and smaller and smaller in number, so such a plan from Syria and Iran would not be difficult to get them to readily accept. WATCH THE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES! WHEN WE SEE THEM CEASE, THEN YOU MAY REST ASSURED – THE FALSE PEACE IS ABOUT TO COME IN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD BEFORE THE STORM.

END ARCHIVE PROPHECY UPDATE 120C

For the first time there are signs that the pressure being placed on Iran and Syria may be sufficient to force both countries to temporarily call off the terrorists until the false peace of I Thessalonians 5:3,4 can come in. One of the reasons Syria has been, and is, so slow in pulling her troops out of Syria, was the desire of Islam to see the Shiite Revolutionary Army in southern Lebanon gain the political control of all of Lebanon, which it has been attempting to do since it came into existence. Hizvullah is controlled primary by Iran, and partially by Syria. My views, on the hookup between Syria, Hizubllah, and Iran, along with the development of their long historical relationship, was outlined in Archive Prophecy Update Number 177B.

BEGIN ARCHIVE PROPHECY UPDATE 177B

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 177B

June 23, 2004

Hizbollah Will Eventually Trigger An End Time Jihad!

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.

Alexander the Great, the “notable horn” in Daniel 8:5, which was “broken” and replaced by four other horns in Daniel 8:8 that represented the four generals who would divide his kingdom among themselves after his death, was still very much alive when he captured Israel in 332 B.C., only to fall dead nine years later in 323 B.C.

In the division of his kingdom into four parts, Egypt and Israel were given to Ptolemy I, and his descendants ruled over Israel until 212 B.C., when Antiochus III conquered Israel from the north, and the Seleucids ruled over Israel until 167 B.C. The many Seleucid kings that ruled over Syria were individually identified as the “king of the north” by Daniel, and he called the individual Ptolemaic kings that ruled over Israel and Egypt the “king of the south.”

Daniel prophesied Alexander’s death some 268 years before it occurred. In Daniel’s prophecies from Daniel 11:5 to 11:45 he refers to two types of kings, kings of the north, who would rule as Syrian kings to the north of Israel, and to kings of the south that ruled over the territory that made up the Ptolemaic kingdom to the south of Syria. So the king of the south in Daniel 11:40 is the ruler in Israel “at the time of the end,” while the willful king of the north is the ruler in Syria. For a more complete outline of this, and what will cause the king of the south to push against the king of the north “at the time of the end,” please read Prophecy Update 174A in our Archives, which contains extracts from Updates 74D, 79D, and 114B. I firmly believe that it will be the terrorist army known as Hizbollah, under the directions of Syria and Iran, that will deliberately perform an act designed to get Israel to push north into Syria and Lebanon as an act of retribution, which will give international justification for 10 Arab nations, led by the Syrian ruler, to rumble south into Israel in a lightening surprise Jihad. I have watched the rise of the Hizbollah terrorist arm for some 22 years, and observed a weaving of its tentacles across many nations in an ever increasing involvement in the amazing recent growth of worldwide terrorism. I think it worthy of giving a brief history of the movement, and an outline of its current activities, because I believe it will be the catalyst used by Islam to lure Israel into the “end time” push into the territories of Syria and Lebanon. And I believe this push is likely to occur at some point in time between 2006 and 2008. I have stated for the last thirty years that I believed this attack would occur prior to 2008, but at the same time, realizing the tremendous difficulty in predicting the occurrence time of a prophesied Bible event, I have made this statement, “If I am still alive in 2008, and the attack has not occurred, then I will simply admit I was wrong, but will continue to believe such an event is in the immediate future.”

Much of the information which follows was taken from a report by Lewis Lipkin, which was listed under the title “HIZBOLLAH INTERNATIONAL.”

Hizbollah was officially inaugurated in June of 1982. At that time the Sunni Syrian government allowed the Shi’ite Iranian government to send a specialized group of 1000 into the north-south oriented Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, a long valley that had been occupied by some 60,000 Syrian forces. The group of 1000 was made up of military and religious teachers, who were members of the Ayatollah Khomeni’s Revolutionary Guards, and whose primary function was to establish a connection with Lebanon’s Shi’ia revolutionists. The first year of activity by this group was directed toward staying out of the limelight, during which time it could grow into a structured operational army of terrorists dedicated to the destruction of Israel and, eventually, when it grew sufficiently, to the destruction of all nations outside the protection and approval of its god Allah. It grew rapidly from its onset, recruiting the young Lebanese Shi’ites to its mission. Its military wing swelled due to abundant Iranian funding from huge oil revenues and the Syrian permissive attitude, which grew as long as western and Israeli forces stayed in Lebanon to promote a fragile peace. By late 1983, the Hizbollah terrorist army had risen to almost 10,000 in number, and then it came out of the international terrorist closet forever by the truck bombing of the U.S. Marine headquarters in Beirut. The ruthless slaughter of 241 of the 300 sleeping marines, as well as 56 France paratroopers in a separate incident, led to the withdrawal of the multilateral peace keeping force from all of Lebanon, with the exception of Syria, which then, for all practical purposes, took over Lebanon, at times referring to it as “greater” Syria. The loss of American marines was officially denounced by Islamic governments while their people celebrated wildly in their streets. Hizbollah had been so cleverly kept under wraps by Syria and Iran, that the attack was attributed to some vague “Shi’ite militant group.”

The Iranians succeeded in gaining the most control over Syria’s Shi’ite group, the Amal militia. They expanded from the Bekaa valley and became dominant in all of Lebanon’s southern Shi’ite villages, such that now, in reality, this area is both the territory and stronghold of Hizbollah. The growth of the Hizbollah military wing has been marked by many car-bombings, kidnappings of some West Europeans and Americans, kidnappings and murders of Israelis, many intermittent outbreaks of the shelling of Israeli communities in northern Israel, and, by the close of the twentieth century, more than 4,000 rockets of the Katyusha series had been fired at the single town of Kiryah Shemona. Recent shifts in Syria toward a more militant policy toward the U.S., has caused it to change some of its playing second fiddle to Iran in the control of Hizbollah, and this trend will continue until the aforementioned Jihad against Israel occurs. Syria is currently in control for when, and how, long shelling of Israel attacks will be conducted, but the real control of Hizbollah still lies in the hands of Iran.

Hizbollah has been steadily spreading its terrorist cells across the surface of the earth. It has organized cells in Europe, the United States, and South America. They are named “The Party of God,” and the following quote from Martin Kramer’s book, “Hizbollah’s Vision of the West,” makes plain their future intentions and bonding with Iran.

“We are the sons of the Nation of Hizbollah, whose vanguard God made victorious in Iran, reestablishing the nucleus of a central Islamic state in the world. We abide by the orders of the sole and wise and just command represented by the Supreme Jurisconsult who meets the necessary qualifications, and who is presently incarnate in the Imam and Guide, the great Ayatollah Ruhallah Al-Musawi Al-Khomeini, may his authority be perpetuated, enabler of the revolution of Muslims and harbinger of their glorious Renaissance.”

The Iranian–Hizbollah program for WORLD conquest was set forth by Khomeini while he was still in exile. He stated: “There are two kinds of war in Islam: one is called jihad (holy war), which means the conquest of other countries in accordance with certain conditions. The other type of war is to preserve the independence of the Muslim country and the repulsion of foreigners. Jihad, or holy war, which is for the conquest of other countries and kingdoms, becomes incumbent after the formation of the Islamic state in the presence of the Imam or in accordance with his command. Then Islam makes it incumbent upon all adult males, provided they are not disabled or incapacitated, to prepare themselves for the conquest of other countries so that the writ of Islam is obeyed in EVERY country in the WORLD.”

The planned conquest of Israel by Islam is not the end of Islamic fanaticism generated out of Iran. This is the pure religious zeal that drives men and women to pay the ultimate price of their lives to bring the religion of Allah to all nations of the world through conquest. This religion represents the joy of physical death in Jihad as a rare privilege that gives one a position of eternal joy in the heaven of Allah.

The day after September 11, 2001, President Bush was quick to declare that a war on terror would be directed against ALL terrorist groups of “global reach.” The Party of God is just as much a terrorist group as the Al Queda, but does not arouse the same degree of reaction or concern in the American media and government, most likely because it has not yet struck at America’s heartland. Rest assured that in time it will soon do so at the command of Syria and Iran.

Last week’s article by Haaretz Correspondence Nathan Guttman stated that Hizbollah has been moving many fighters to Iraq to battle American troops and those who favor the new Iraqi government. The transfer has been carried out through Syria, following an Iranian initiative. The transit through Syrian territory is being permitted by Damascus along its lengthy porous border with Iraq. Lebanese Hizbollah fighters are part of a broader force of pro-Iranian militants that operates in Iraq to destabilize the country and undermine the intent of the Americans to formulate an independent country with civil liberties. Both Syria and Iran are anxious to see the Hizbollah establish solid operational units in Iraq before the new government is in place next week. The Congressional bipartisan commission, in its interim report, indicated its inquiry into the 9/11 event showed that cooperation between Hizbollah and Al-Qaida is extensive.

The local Hizbollah “specialty,” the occasional shelling of northern Israeli towns, is now almost certainly under Syrian control. The timing and intensity of such recent shelling has been taken as a barometer of Syria’s choice of Iraq as its bedfellow as it pulls ever further from any meaningful relations with the U.S. and Israel. One of these days, likely between 2006 and 2008, Hizbollah will launch a particularly heavy shelling into some of the northern Israeli cities, which will be intended to be the straw that breaks the back of Israel’s patience. The Syrians and Iranians will have a massive force lying concealed in the long, deep NE-SW Palmyra fold valleys of southwestern Syria, poised and waiting for the push north into Lebanese-Syrian territory by Israel, the king of the south, in retaliation for the shelling. Israel will be stunned at the massiveness and effectiveness of the force repulsing them, and the following Scriptures will be fulfilled in quick order. The king of the north will drive south in Israel to Beersheba and conquer all of Egypt.

Daniel 11:40-43 – 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. [41] 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.

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.

END ARCHIVE PROPHECY UPDATE 177B

As I have emphasized in numerous Prophecy Updates, the important thing to be stressed in all this is not the “exact” time the attack against Israel will occur, but the fact that Scripture indicates it “will” occur. In the last century, in the sixties, I thought it was likely to occur in the late eighties or early nineties, but by the mid eighties I perceived it likely to occur around 2003. Well, my speculations of “likely” were wrong, and my “likely” of 2007 may be wrong. I was trained as an analyst and, as such, I naturally speculate on all information I collect. I try to correlate “when” from what I know eventually is stated as having to occur from what Scripture presents. I will say this, for the first time in history, everything is in place in the Middle East to eventually jell into a false peace, which must be followed by a sudden attack from the north on a people who think they finally have peace they can control. I speculate that this attack is likely to occur in 2007.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 215B

March 18, 2005

THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE – Part 10

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.

The actual time of the worst of Jacob’s Trouble will be the last three and one-half years of the tribulation period, sometimes referred to as 42 months, or 1260 days, or a time, times, and half a time. It will begin as the antichrist attacks Israel from the north, and end when Jesus returns to end the battle of Armageddon at his Second Advent. Since there will be a small remnant of believing Jews living in the midst of a much larger remnant of unbelieving Jews in the Negev during this time the Scriptures call Jacob’s trouble, and since the smaller remnant will be sealed from spiritual death and also from physical death, I intend to discuss these two types of sealing in this last article on Jacob’s trouble.

To receive the eternal spiritual sealing of the soul by the Spirit of God, a person must trust in Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of the soul and the future redemption of the body it occupies. What can be said of a soul after it has trusted in Christ – What led to the soul trusting in Christ – How did it happen – How about an instant TV replay? (1) The soul hears the word of truth, the gospel it must believe to be saved, (2) The soul believes in Jesus that the gospel declares was crucified for its sins, and is alive to hear its call to save it, (3) The soul trusts in him enough to ask him to save it, and (4) The Spirit saves and eternally seals that soul in accordance with all the promises that are in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:12-14 – That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. [13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

II Corinthians 1:22 – Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

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

(1) This is the gospel the soul hears and believes.

ICorinthians 1:17,18 – For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

(2) The soul believes Jesus is alive to hear its prayer!

I Corinthians 15:20-22 – But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. [21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

I Corinthians 15:14 – And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Galatians 2:21 – I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

(3) The soul trusts in him enough to call on his name for salvation.

Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Romans 10:9,10,13 – 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.

(4) The Spirit seals the soul eternally, with a promise he will redeem the body at the first resurrection.

Ephesians 4:30 – And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.

Luke 21:11,28 – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for YOUR REDEMPTION draweth nigh.

Since I believe THE DAY OF REDEMPTION is drawing near for all believers, let’s take a look at a group of 144,000 believers who will also be sealed against physical death during the last 3 and ½ years of the tribulation period.

Revelation 7:2-4 – 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.

Just as three physical elements of God’s creation, earth, trees, and water, were sealed against physical harm for a period of time, so will also these physical believing Jews be sealed against physical death. They will be the remnant of believers in the Seed of the woman Israel, and will be in the midst of unbelieving Jews driven into the Negev wilderness during the tribulation period by the antichrist. The woman is Israel, and the Seed of the woman is Jesus Christ. So the Seed of the woman are the believing remnant of Jews in the midst of her who testify of Jesus and keep the commandments of God. The woman’s Seed is the man child, Jesus Christ, who she brought forth in a Bethlehem manger.

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.

The woman Israel is represented by the remnant that God brings through the 1260 days of tribulation in the Negev wilderness, which will be represented by one-third of Israel’s population when the antichrist attacks her. Depending on when the attack occurs in the future, it should total between 1.7 and 2 million Israelites that will make it into the Negev wilderness, and the other two-thirds will perish.

During the tribulation period, up to the time of the first resurrection, there will be a remnant of 144,000 Israelis that are believers imbedded within the larger remnant of 1.7 to 2 million unbelieving Jews. The 144,000 are the Seed of the man child Christ Jesus, who have the testimony of Jesus and keep the commandments of God, and they will witness to the much larger unbelieving remnant that engulfs them.

Revelation 12:5,17 – 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. [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 144,000 will be sealed to begin their ministry about a month and a half before the antichrist attacks Israel and their ministry will continue up to the sounding of the seventh trumpet in Revelation. They are the remnant that gives glory to God at the time the earthquake occurs in Jerusalem immediately following the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses in Revelation 11.

Revelation 11:11-13 – And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. [12] And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. [13] And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and THE REMNANT were affrighted, and GAVE GLORY to the God of heaven.

The seventh trumpet sounds immediately after the great earthquake and the rapture occurs. For the first time all the saved are in heaven, and it may be stated with certainty that “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord.” The 144,000, along with all the saved of all the ages, are caught up to heaven to be judged for rewards at Christ’s judgment seat.

Revelation 11:15,18 – 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.

The 144,000 are found in heaven in Revelation 14 after being judged by the Lamb in Revelation 11:18.

Revelation 14:1-6 – And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. [2] And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: [3] And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. [4] These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. [5] And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. [6] And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

The everlasting gospel, which the two witnesses and the 144,000 they led proclaimed to the unbelievers while still on earth, will resonate down from heaven to the memories of those who heard it, and some will believe it after the rapture has occurred. They will go into the 1000 year reign of Messiah as born again believers in sinful bodies of flesh, going into it with joy to enjoy the bountiful harvests of its bounty.

Isaiah 55:11-13 – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. [12] For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. [13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Let’s take a look at the earlier rapture that placed the 144,000 and all the saved in heaven when the seventh trumpet sounded. The word used for “shew” means “to lay out before.”

HAS THE MYSTERY BEEN LAID OUT BEFORE YOU?

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

ARE YOU READY FOR THE MYSTERY TO BE FINISHED?

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.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE VOICE & TRUMP OF ANGEL 7?

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:

ARE YOU READY FOR HIS KINGDOMS ON THE 7^TH TRUMP?

Revelation 11:15 – 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.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE LAST TRUMP IN A SERIES OF 7?

I Corinthians 15:52 – 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.

ARE YOU READY TO BE JUDGED AFTER THE 7^TH TRUMPET?

Revelation 11:18 – 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.

HIS VIALS OF WRATH COME ON THEM AS WE ARE JUDGED!

I Thessalonians 5:9 – For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

HIS WRATH IS ON EARTH WHILE HE JUDGES US IN HEAVEN!

Revelation 16:1 – And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Matthew 11:28,29 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Will those Israelites left behind at the rapture in the Negev believe the witness the 144,000 left behind before they were caught up? Will their works follow the 144,000 into heaven for rewards because many will believe after they are caught up? Will some of those left behind die in the Lord after the 144,000 go up? Will some of them endure to live through it and go into the millennium as born again Jews?

Revelation 14:4-6,12,13 – These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. [5] And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. [6] And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Revelation 14:12,13 – Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. [13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

SUMMARIZING THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS FROM THE TIME THE 144,000 ARE SEALED TO THE END OF THE TRIBULATION!

(1) The 144,000 are sealed about a month and a half before the attack by the antichrist.

(2) The antichrist attacks, Jerusalem falls, and Israel is driven into the Negev wilderness, where she remains for 1260 days.

(3) The total number of Jews driven into the Negev is between 1.7 and 2 million, including 144,000, who are believers sealed against spiritual and physical death.

(4) The smaller remnant of 144,000 believing Jews witness to the larger unbelieving Jewish remnant until the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

(5) The seventh trumpet sounds and all the saved are caught up to the kingdom of God in heaven to be judged by Christ.

(6) The seven vials of wrath are poured out on all unbelievers left on the earth following the blowing of the seventh trumpet.

(7) The prior testimony of the 144,000 is believed by many not taken at the rapture, and all who believe it are spiritually saved. Some believers will die in the Lord before the return of the saved from heaven with the Lord, and other believers will go into the millennium in bodies of carnal flesh covering a saved, sealed soul.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 215C

March 19, 2005

THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE – Part 11

I have long believed that antichrist would come out of the area once controlled by the ancient Assyrians to the immediate north of Israel, and that the most likely place of his origin would be Syria. (Please Consult Whole Numbered Archive Prophecy Updates 62 to 69).

It is for this reason that I have watched the political, military, and religious changes in Syria for the last 30 years, and I closed Archive Prophecy Update Number 143B, October 26, 2003, I with the following statement: “I expect the military, political, and religious situation in Syria to become increasingly unstable beneath the surface, and would not be surprised if a Sunni led Baath coup replaced Bashar Assad in the next few years.”

I feel confident that such a coup will occur before 2007. It will be very interesting to see who takes over as the new ruler after a lot of internal conflict and jockeying for position.

This will be the last in the Series titled “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble.”

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble and the Joy of Its Ending!

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.

This Scriptures refers to what Matthew describes in 24:21,22 and what Daniel outlines in 12:1.

And, if we check the context before Jeremiah 30:7, we find that he describes the terror of the period much as Matthew and Daniel describe it, and graphically shows its effect on the outward appearance of the descendants of Jacob who are experiencing it in Israel during the latter portion of the tribulation period.

JEREMIAH 30:4-6 – And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. [5] For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. [6] Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness.

Continuing to check the context that precedes Jeremiah 30:7, we discover that, following this period of great tribulation, Israel will be returned to the captivity of the loving arms of her God, and he will return them to the land of Israel, and possess Abraham’s land grant, along with the millennial blessings of their God.

JEREMIAH 30:1-3 – The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, [2] Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. [3] For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. 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:

The context following Jeremiah 30:7 speaks of this time when God will break the yoke of captivity their enemy, the antichrist, has held them under during the time of great tribulation, and Jacob (Israel) will no longer be taken advantage of by the Gentiles in being forced to serve them.

JEREMIAH 30:7,8 – 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. [8] For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

Micah 5:4 describes the Messiah during this millennial reign of peace in Jeremiah 30:8 that follows the time of Jacob’s trouble. Messiah will return a the final great battle of Armageddon as the man who brings the peace.

Micah 5:4 – And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. (Consult Whole Numbered Archive Prophecy Updates 62 to 69)

And Micah 5:5 describes what happened to cause Jesus to return to bring the peace of Jeremiah 30:8. Jesus comes to end the oppression of the Assyrian who comes into their land to put a yoke on Jacob’s descendants. It is the Assyrian who is the antichrist.

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. (Consult Whole Numbered Archive Prophecy Updates 62 to 69)

And this is the peace that Christ brings into the land of God’s promise to Abraham.

Micah 5:6-9 – And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. [7] And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. [8] And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. [9] Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. (Consult Whole Numbered Archive Prophecy Updates 62 to 69)

JEREMIAH 30:9 – But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

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.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 215D

March 23, 2005

Tectonic Chaos – Chapter 29 – Two Kingdoms and Two Princes

(Chapters 1 to 28 may be found in our Prophecy Update Archives)

Ephesians 6:10-12 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We are surrounded by an invisible kingdom where Satan dwells with the angels who chose to follow him. He is the prince of this kingdom of evil, and his demonic hoards assist wicked physical rulers in their evil designs against the children of God. But Michael, the great prince of God’s people, does stand up, as God’s directs, to defend God’s people against the fallen angels that abuse them. There have been times in the Old Testament that God, upon request, has allowed individuals to view this kingdom, as was the case with the servant of Elisha.

II Kings 6:8-17 – Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. [9] And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. [10] And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. [11] Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? [12] And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. [13] And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. [14] Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. [15] And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? [16] And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. [17] And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

There is coming a day, in the latter portion of the tribulation period, that the Archangel Michael will stand up and deliver the Israelites in the Negev wilderness from the armies of the antichrist, everyone that is written in Malachi’s book of remembrance, and they will go into the millennial reign as the children of God.

Malachi 3:16 to 4:3 – Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. [17] And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. [18] Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. [1] For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

Many do not believe there is a devil or a spiritual kingdom around the physical earth where mankind dwells, and most of them have been very successful in fighting off the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, such that the devil has already taken away the convicting seed of God out of their hearts, and thus swallowed them alive spiritually.

Luke 8:11,12 – Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. [12] Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

The word translated “devour” in the following verse means to “swallow whole,” much like an anaconda swallows its prey and then digests it.

I Peter 5:8,9 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

A local church, that teaches the faith once delivered to the saints, is the refuge of God where one is supposed to resist the devil steadfast in the faith.

Jude 1:3 – 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.

Acts 2:42 – And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

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

Matthew 28:20 – 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.

We live on an earth that has two kingdoms existing on it, a physical kingdom of flesh and blood humans, who can see, taste, touch, feel, or smell each other and all the material things of which it consists, but do not have the capacity to sense the spiritual beings and scenery by the five human senses. However, the fallen angels of God not only have the ability to see and speak to one another in the kingdom invisible to us, they have the ability to see us and hear all that we say, as well as all the things of our physical kingdom. In Old Testament times, and in the New Testament times prior to the completion of the New Testament, angels appeared to, and often had communications with, flesh and blood humans. They appeared as flesh and blood men to those who actually saw them, and the Scriptures did not picture them as being women or having wings. There is no scriptural evidence that men and women saw them after the first century, and if they do still manifest themselves as flesh and blood men, we would not be aware of it.

Hebrews 13:2 – Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

So, what do we have today on this earth? We have two kingdoms.

(1) A spiritual kingdom made up of Satan with his fallen angels, Gabriel with his messenger angels, and Michael with his mighty angels. And it is a kingdom that contains both good and evil. Sin exists in this kingdom due to the presence of the Devil and his angels.

(2) A flesh and blood kingdom composed of saved and lost men and women. The only good about it is Jesus living in the hearts of those who have been born from above by his Spirit. Sin exists in this kingdom in the flesh of all man, and in the souls of the unsaved.

Now, what will we have on this earth in the millennium after the Devil and his angels are cast into the prison of the bottomless pit for a thousand years? We will only have one kingdom and one king on the earth’s surface. It will be made up of two different sets of occupants on the same planet surface, physical as opposed to spiritual.

(1) A kingdom made up of Christ, all his saints, and all of the angels of God. It will have no sin in it, and all of its occupants will be fully visible and able to speak to one another. They will also be able to see and hear all that is going on in the other kingdom, and will also be able to influence its occupants without their awareness.

(2) A kingdom made up of saved and lost men and women. Even those possessing saved souls will still have sin in their flesh, but the Devil and his demonic hoards will no longer be able to work on them through the flesh from the prison of the bottomless pit. However, the 1000 year era will make one thing abundantly clear: that while the Devil and his influence on us has certainly been a real problem, the greater problem has always been our old sin nature, for which Christ paid the full price of redemption on the cross. Just as we are unable to see the inhabitants of the great invisible kingdom around us, neither will they be able see us in the invisible kingdom existing on the same planet with them.

And Jesus Christ will be the King of kings reigning over both physical and spiritual beings.

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.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 216B

March 28, 2005

THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE – PART 12

We are approaching the beginning of “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” and can expect a continuing increase in natural disasters as the earth groans in travail as it awaits the visible manifestation of the sons of God. God’s creation was cursed because of man’s sin, and it groans in travail while it awaits the time when God’s sons and daughters will be standing on it, appearing in glorified bodies. Look for more earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis over the next three years, but their frequency during this period cannot be compared with their acceleration which will occur when the sixth seal is opened in Revelation.

Genesis 3:17 – And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Romans 8:22 – For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:19 – For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Please allow me, after twice stating I was going to end this series in Parts 10 and 11, to finally close it out with Number 12. I have been concerned for some time about a situation involving the second coming of Christ. I stated the situation in Archive Special Prophecy Update Number 122A, June 2, 2003, under the title “WHEN – The Major Problem,” as I closed it with the following paragraph.

BEGIN QUOTE FROM 122A

There are a vast majority of believers waiting for the false peace to come in so they can be whisked away at the rapture some three and one-half years before the antichrist attacks. Those left behind can then count down the time of peace that is supposed to occur during the so-called first three and one-half years of the tribulation period. The “age of the great prophecy revisionists” was from 1770 to 1900, with the major part of the revisions occurring between 1820 and 1840. These revisions have created an antichrist out of character with the Scriptures, a rapture before the tribulation period, a period of three and one-half years of peace that is more than three years too long, and the antichrist leading a European army of 10 nations against Israel. I would strongly recommend that you take a look at whole numbered Prophecy Updates 27 to 36, 55 to 58, 62 to 69, 71 to 76, 77A, 77B, 77C, 78A, 82A, and whole numbers 80 to 85. Many preachers have never looked at what was taught in the field of prophecy before 1800. I believe that much of what they taught is more correct than what the revisionists came up with in the 19^th century. Most of our prophetic teaching on television today is based on the revisionist teachings of the 19^th century.

END QUOTE FROM 122A

If you would like to see a brief outline of the how the pre-19^th Century prophetic teachings were revised, please consult the Archive Prophecy Updates 123B, 124A, 144F, and 147D.

Many churches today are filled with members who believe that the time of Jacob’s trouble refers strictly to the Jews, the descendants of the man Jacob, to whom God gave the new name of Israel. And many believe God’s judgment is not going to come on the churches of the end times because of their departure from the faith once delivered to the saints. These churches, like the church at Sardis, have not remembered to practice the faith as it was once delivered to the saints, and indeed do possess the name of Christ as their head, who has a name that continues to live forever, but they themselves are dead bodies professing his name, but not following his teachings. They are not “watching” for Christ, but are waiting for signs of a peace treaty to be signed between Israel and a man, who will arise as antichrist to eventually dominate the more than 200 nations that make up the world as we know it today. Since there appears to be no such scenario that could suddenly come to pass in the immediate future, knowing it would take time for such a man to gain the control over all the nations of the world, churches have stopped the practice of “watching” for Christ because the possibility of a sudden arising of antichrist appears to be in the far distant future. I have been told that they believe in the eminent return of Jesus, believing he could appear at any moment, but they believe the rise of antichrist will take time to gain control of the world’s 200 plus nations. So, in reality, they really don’t believe he could come today, and are “watching” for the beginning of scenario that would show the eminence of his coming for the saved. Most of the world’s churches are in the same spiritual fix as the church at Sardis, and when the Lord does come suddenly, they will be caught in the same spiritual condition as the membership of Sardis.

Revelation 3:1-5 – And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. [2] Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. [3] Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. [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.

I will openly confess that most of the interpretations I present are based on what most theologians taught before 1742. And, most assuredly, I am acutely aware that they do not agree with the teachings being put forward by the vast majority of prophecy experts of these last days, but I assure you they would be quite orthodox if one compared them with the pre-1742 offerings of prophetic teachers. If you want to know what I teach, consult our Archive on the following subjects.

1. HOW MUCH OF THE WORLD WILL ANTICHRIST CONTROL?

Archive Updates 73A, 77, 77A, 77B, 77C, and 135A

2. THE “HE” OF DANIEL 9:27 AND HIS 70 WEEKS OF YEARS.

Archive Updates 55, 56, 57, 58, 123D, and 124A

3. THE NATIONALITY AND ORIGIN OF THE ANTICHRIST.

Archive Updates 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75

4. THE RAPTURE OF THE SAVED.

Archive updates 73D, 74A, 78A, and 82A

5. THE TEN TOES AND 10 HORNS OF DANIEL’S PROPHECIES.

Archive Updates 54, 78, 121C, and 125C

6. THE FINAL 1335 DAYS OF THE AGE OF THE GENTILES.

Archive Update 102

7. “WATCHING” FOR HIS COMING.

Archive Updates 118A, 118B, 118C, 118D, and 122A

GEOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING 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.

THE GEOLOGICAL CHANGES WILL OCCUR SUDDENLY WITH LITTLE WARNING, AND THE EARTH’S POPULATIONS WILL BE STUNNED TO ABRUPTLY DISCOVER THEMSELVES LOCKED IN A TIME OF WORLDWIDE SHIFTING ALONG THE THOUSANDS OF MILES OF TECTONIC PLATE BOUNDARIES STRETCHING ACROSS THE ENTIRE PLANET. THE SEALS AND TRUMPETS ARE GOD’S JUDGEMENT, BUT THE VIALS ARE HIS WRATH ON ALL UNBELIEVERS.

IT BEGINS QUICKLY WITH REVELATION’S 1ST EARTHQUAKE!

Revelation 6:12a,14b – 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; [14b]And EVERY mountain and island were moved out of their places.

IT ENDS WITH REVELATION’S LAST EARTHQUAKE!

Revelation 16:17,18,20 – 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. [20] And EVERY island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

ALL THE EARTHQUAKE AND GEOLOGICAL TERROR OCCURS BETWEEN SEAL 6 AND WRATH VIAL 7!

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.

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.

Isaiah 26:21a – For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: Isaiah 13:13b – The earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

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.

Isaiah 41:14-25 – Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. [15] Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. [16] Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. [17] When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. [18] I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. [19] I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: [20] That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Non-believers do not think this time of Jacob’s Trouble is true, and that there will be no great shaking. Many believers have taken the fact it has not occurred for more than 2500 years since Jeremiah predicted it, to teach that it is still in the far distant future, and others simply don’t pay any heed at all to it. But it is on our doorsteps!

Luke 21:11,31 – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. [31] So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Isaiah 24:1 – Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

Isaiah 2:19 – And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Isaiah 24:6 – Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Malachi 4:1 – For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Currently there are more than five thousand ACTIVE volcanoes operating underwater, some larger than any we have on the earth’s surface. These volcanoes create thermal heating of the oceans which causes accelerated evaporation at the water surfaces, where the air rises and cools at the rate of one degree centigrade for every one hundred meters it is lifted to eventually produce the world’s precipitation patterns. The heating of the ocean generates pressure systems with wind circulations that are driven over the land areas due to the differential in temperature gradients. In the Pacific Ocean there are some 20,000 volcanic basins, both active and inactive, on the sea floor. Some of these form single mountains, while some join with other volcanoes to form seafloor ridges – The highest rises above the surface of the water as islands which in some cases, form linear groups such as the Hawaiian Islands. Such Island groups are simply the highest summits of ridges. Some of these ridges are more than 1500 miles in length.

During the movement of the tectonic plates between the sixth seal and the seventh vial, these volcanic ridges and underwater volcanoes, both active and inactive, are all going to come alive, and the oceans will be filled with islands lambasted by a fire sent down on them from above by the action of God using his own creation to pass judgment on sinful man. (See Archive Prophecy Update Number 180B)

Ezekiel 39:6 – And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

The seas and oceans of the world will be filled with many volcanoes breaking the surface for the first time – they will be filled with new fiery mountains appearing in rapid succession. And it will generate the scenario of the second trumpet’s sounding.

Revelation 8:8,9 – And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; [9] And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. (See Archive Prophecy Update Number 182B)

Never in the history of mankind will there be such a catastrophic upheaval in earth’s oceans and seas as will be experienced in the time of Jacob’s trouble. Tsunami will be charging across the oceans and seas of the world as weekly occurrences. And every ship caught in port will be destroyed. (See Archive Prophecy Updates 204C and 205A)

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.

The time of Jacob’s trouble will end with the appearing of the blessed hope, Christ Jesus.

Luke 21:27-31 – 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. [29] 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.

I have been told I do not believe in the eminent return of Jesus Christ, but that is simply not true for three reasons. First, I do not know what year the seventh trumpet will sound, and second, I could be wrong in the position I hold on when Christ will return in relation to the period of time known as the tribulation period, and third, all of those before 1742 and after 1742, right up to the moment of his coming, could be wrong. I know he is coming again, so I get up every morning hoping it will be the day of his coming, and try to live my life that day as if it were the day of his coming. I believe that is what he told us to do.

Matthew 24:42 – Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 217B

April 6, 2005

Tectonic Chaos – Chapter 31 – Millennial Preachers and Survivors

From among the one-third of Jews that survive the tribulation period, God will select ministers to proclaim the same Word of God to the lost during the millennium, which the Gentile age ministers preached before them during the Church age.

Isaiah 61:4-6 – And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. [5] And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. [6] But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

These Israelite ministers will, as we do today, preach the Christ of the Old and New Testaments, but they will also proclaim the Christ of the tribulation period and millennium as fulfilled. They will preach the book of Revelation through chapter 20 as we preach the Old Testament today – it will be history to them.

There will be a tremendous period of worldwide reconstruction of an earth devastated by God’s judgment on all mankind during the 7 seals and 7 trumpets, and by his wrath on the lost in the 7 vials of wrath that follow, and the Jewish nation will become most powerful nation in the world. A percentage of the Gentiles will also survive the tribulation period, which I suspect may all be under the age of 20, and I would guesstimate they might number about one-sixth of the current world population, say, one billion. However, I can only say for certain that “some” Gentiles will survive, as the following Scriptures attest.

Isaiah 61:6 – But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

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.

Zechariah 8:20-23 – Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: [21] And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. [22] Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. [23] Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

Micah 4:1-3 – But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. [2] And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. [3] And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

I do not know what criteria the Lord will use in bringing individual Gentiles through the tribulation period, but these Scriptures testify very loudly that he will do it. I am of the opinion that anyone who has heard the gospel before the end of the tribulation period, and failed to accept Christ as Savior, will not be one of the Gentiles in the millennium.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 219B

April 20, 2005

Can We Actually Know the YEAR of Christ’s Coming?

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.

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.

For a thorough exposition of what I believe concerning the time of the rapture in relationship to the tribulation period, please look in our Prophecy Archive Updates at Numbers 73D, 74A, 82A, 114A, and 144A.

When Jesus spoke to his first church during the Olivet Discourse, he made it clear that no one on earth, at that time, was able to know the season of the year, the month of the year, the day of the year, or the hour of the year he would establish his kingdom.

Matthew 24:36 – But of that DAY and HOUR knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 25:13 – Watch therefore, for ye know neither THE DAY nor THE HOUR wherein the Son of man cometh.

Mark 13:32 – But of THAT DAY and THAT HOUR knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Acts 1:6,7 – When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore AGAIN the kingdom to Israel? [7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know THE TIMES (phases of the moon that marked the months of the year in their calendar and the time of the feasts) or THE SEASONS (spring, summer, fall, and winter) which the Father hath put in his own power.

All of these Scriptures clearly state that we can never know the hour or day of Christ’s coming, the month of it, or the season of the year he would arrive. But the Greek word for year was “eniautos,” which simply means year, and this word was most assuredly well established, and commonly used by Jesus, at the time of the writing of the New Testament, but it was never used by Jesus when he referred to the time of his coming. It would have been madness for men to guess at the year of his coming until Israel came back into the land after the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, and there is no way under heaven it can be positively known at present. It can only be guesstimated at best. But when Israel is attacked from the north, and only one third of its population survives to flee to a place of safety, the year of his coming will be more than speculation, I believe it can be known at that time to occur at some point in the last 1260 days that follow the attack, most likely in the final year of that period. If I am still alive when Israel is attacked from the north to begin the last 1260 days of the tribulation period, and I am still on this planet in a body of flesh and blood, then I will believe the rapture will occur during the last year of that period, but until that time anything I guesstimate as to the year of his coming is pure speculation.

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 (1260 days).

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.

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.

God’s children are not to be completely unaware, shocked, or surprised when sudden destruction arrives to pre-herald the Lord’s coming. We are not children of darkness, we are children of light, but if we do not study prophecy or have no interest in it, we are unable to read the signs of his coming because we are not enlightened. Children of light will not experience the wrath of the seven vials of God’s wrath, but they will still be on this earth during the trumpets of his judgment.

I Thessalonians 5:4-9 – But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] 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. [7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. [8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. [9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Luke 21:34 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so THAT DAY come upon you unawares.

Revelation 3:1-4 – And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. [2] Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. [3] Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee AS A THIEF, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. [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.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 219C

April 20, 2005

THE FINAL UNIVERSAL ECUMENICAL CHURCH IS ARISING!

The Catholic Church has long considered protestant beliefs as schisms (heresies) that broke off the true church, claiming they alone are the true church, the bride of Christ. The ecumenical character of John Paul II is now being accentuated by Benedict XVI, leaving little doubt that an accelerated effort will be made to draw what they consider the “erring daughters” back into their ranks. The life and death of John Paul II has done more to set the stage for it than any Pope in church history. The massive media publicity coverage and full reverence afforded the pre-death, pre-funeral, funeral, and selection of a new Pope, has done more to draw the masses into the catholic belief than any single event in history, and they are, and will, take advantage of the situation to do so. About one out of every six people on this planet has a connection with the catholic belief, and this will cause that ratio to increase. The Catholic Church will not only seek to restore and/or strongly influence the protestant churches, but will reach out to Islam and other extremist forms of religion. There is no question that Pope Benedict will reach out to dialogue with other religions, according to an article by the Associated Press in the Jerusalem Post on April 20, 2005. The opening paragraph stated: “Pope Benedict XVI pledged Wednesday to work to unify all Christians, reach out to other religions, and continue implementing the Second Vatican Council as he outlined his goals and made clear his pontificate would follow closely the trajectory of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.” He went on to say: “My primary task will be to work without fail to reunify all Christians and that sentiment alone was not enough, Concrete acts that enter souls and then move the consciences are needed.”

Concerning other religions of the world he said: “I want to continue an open and sincere dialog with other religions, and will do everything in my power to improve the ecumenical cause.” The Jerusalem Post article by the Associate Press made this assessment of the new Pope’s address: “The message was clearly designed to show that Benedict was intent on following many of the groundbreaking paths charted by Pope John Paul II, who made reaching out to other religions and trying to heal the 1,000 year old schism in Christianity a hall mark of his pontificate.”

The 1,000-year-old-schism to which the article refers is known as the protestant break away from the Catholic Church. However, the real schism, the breaking away from the truth once delivered to the saints, actually began as a heretical doctrine much earlier near the end of the first century, when the current hierarchy of layers of rulers above catholic church members began with the planted seed of the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. They wanted to rule over the local church, and later over all the churches. The seed has brought forth the multilayered hierarchical levels of rulers over the catholic membership, which has been fully manifested in the beautiful pomp and ceremony of the last several weeks.

Revelation 2:6 – But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

Revelation 2:15 – So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

The word translated “Nicolaitanes” is composed of two Greek words, Nikao and Laus, Nikao meaning “To Conquer,” and “Laus,” meaning “People.” The doctrine of the Nicolatanes was to being the congregation into submission to their doctrine, their teaching, and their authority was not to be questioned. They would eventually become the rulers of the people by conquering their wills into submission to their doctrine. One of the ways to keep the masses under subjection is to teach them they can lose their salvation if they do not keep what the catholic rulers identify as the sacraments, which involve works on the part of the believer to keep the gift of salvation given to them by grace through faith in Christ. This teaching denies the power of the cross as being sufficient to maintain the salvation bought and paid for by the blood of Christ, shed on it as the full price for the sins of all believers. This doctrine denies the power of Christ to have given complete atonement for the sins of all believers, and adds many other additional requirements, which must be tacked on to his work of redemption and death on the cross for all sins, all of them involving additional works of the believer to be allowed into heaven. It denies the work of God in Christ fully reconciling the world to himself by the power of the cross. It denies the full efficiency of God’s grace in Christ alone.

Jude 1:3,4 – 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. [4] For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning THE GRACE of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 1:17,18 – For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Dr. Oliver Green said of the Nicolaitanes: “Ephesus hated the terrible doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, but Pergamos accepted them. Ephesus was troubled by their deeds, but by the time their doctrine reached the church at Pergamos, it held the corrupters to her bosom and permitted them to corrupt and poison the sources of purity and morality in the local assembly there.”

Galatians 3:1-3 – O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Romans 10:17 – So then FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, and hearing by the word of God.

Galatians 2:20,21 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Ephesians 2:8,9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NONE other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

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

Ironically, the word Nicolaitanes, means “to conquer the people,” and the seed of the Nicolaitanes came in full bloom some 200 years after they planted it. Dr. J.M. Carroll, the author of “The Trail of Blood,” who died the year before I was born, wrote: “By the beginning of the year A.D. 313, Christianity had won a mighty victory over paganism, and a new emperor had risen to the throne of the Roman Empire. He evidently recognized something of the mysterious power of this religion that continued to grow in spite of persecution. History identifies this man as none other than Constantine, who had a wonderful realistic vision. He saw in the skies a fiery red cross and on that cross written in fiery letters these words – BY THIS THOU SHALT CONQUER.” How ironic that this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes! Dr. J.M. Carroll went on to say, concerning what Constantine said he saw in the sky. “He interpreted it to mean he should become a Christian. And that by giving up paganism and attaching the spiritual power of the Christian religion onto the temporal power of the Roman Empire, the world could be easily conquered. Thus the Christian religion would in fact become a universal world religion, and the Roman Empire a universal world empire.” True churches of the Lord never surrendered to the early errors of the Nicolaitanes, nor did they follow those churches who later united to become the state religion of the Roman Empire, and there are still churches today that have remained true to the faith once delivered to saints from the time of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ called out, organized, and led the first true church for more than three years before he died for it. He died for all the other local, visible assemblies like it, which were to follow it, as well as for all the individual men and women who would put their faith in Christ alone for the salvation of their souls, and yet never unite with any church.

Special Prophecy Update Number 220A

April 24, 2005

Could this be the Year of Three Popes?

Saint Malachy End Time Prophecy

Pope Benedict XVI, in his comments to the cardinals immediately after his election, predicted a “short reign.” His prediction seems to be quite in order due to his age of 78 and his recent medical history, so we could soon have another repeat of what we have just seen over the past several weeks in Rome. The new Pope had a hemorrhagic stroke in 1991 along with other ailments, which raises questions about how long his reign will last. He is number 111 in a long line of Popes, and is the oldest one elected in 275 years. As has been reported in many articles since his election, many consider him to be an “interim” Pope, and that the next election will bring in a younger man. In the midst of all this current activity and stir in the catholic faith, one of their prophets, Malachy, made an interesting prediction in the distant past. He came to Rome in 1139 and presented his prophetic vision to Innocent II. It was placed in the archives of the Catholic Church, and was unknown until 1590. I am not presenting this information as fact. In fact, I am presenting it with “tongue in cheek,” and am only laying it out as a curiosity to those who enjoy this sort of end time rhetoric.

The information which follows was extracted from the 1913 Edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Malachy made 112 short announcements, which were to indicate some noticeable trait of the next 112 Popes who were to follow Celestine II, who was elected in the year 1130, during the time of Malachy. So far, as others have determined, all of the past 110 Popes have exhibited the trait of the mystical names assigned to them by Malachy. The mystical name assigned to John Paul II, number 110, was “de labore solis,” or literally, “from the labor of the sun.” It is interesting that Pope John Paul II was born during an eclipse of the sun. Benedict XVI has become number 111 in Malachy’s predictions of 112 Popes.

The mystical name for number 111 was given by Malachy as “glory olivae,” or literally, “glory of the olives.” Although Benedict XVI is German, born in Bavaria, his last three positions as a cardinal were in Italy at Velletri e Segni, Tiburtino, and Ostia, which is the land of the olives. Ostia is located by the estuary of the Tiber River and its ancient ruins were the Port of Rome.

I did not hear Malachy’s prophecy until 2003 and, quite frankly, do not have confidence in it, however, since it is floating here and there in the “strange and stranger” category, I am inclined to present it just for informational purposes. According to the predictions of Malachy, “The End” is to begin with Benedict XVI, who is number 111 in the long series of Popes, and the next Pope, according to Malachy, will be the last before Christ comes to rule and reign. Number 112 is to finish “The End.” The last Pope, according to the prophecies of Malachy, is to be “Petrus Romanus,” of whom Malachy states the following:

“In the final persecution of the Holy Roman church there will reign Peter the Roman (Petrus Romanus), who will feed his flock amid tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful judge will judge his people.” Oddly enough, I do believe the seven-hilled city of Rome will indeed be judged and destroyed by the wrath of God, because I do believe it is the great Babylon of Revelation in Chapters 16 to 18. At the time the Book of Revelation was written there was only one city that sat on seven hills and ruled over the known world – the city of Rome.

Rev. 16:19B –And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Revelation 17:3,9,5,6,16,18 – So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. [9] And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.. [5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [6] And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. [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.

I DO NOT believe Malachy was a prophet of God, but his prophecy is interesting, and it seems that the spirits not of God do always seem to be quite expert at mingling truth and error, so perhaps there is some truth in it. (See Archive Prophecy Update Number 16)

Revelation 18:18,19 – And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! [19] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

It is also interesting that the ruins of Ostia (the last area over which the new Pope had dominion as a cardinal), were the ancient port of Rome. About 35 miles southeast of Ostia off the coast of Pozzouli, completely submerged under the Mediterranean Sea, lays the great ancient Port Julius, which sank into the sea, in part due to the volcanic eruptions of crater Monte Nuovo and earthquake activity caused by tectonic plate movements. I believe the same thing is going to happen to Rome when the ancient volcano, known as 004, erupts just outside its southeastern city limits. The valley land from the Tiber River estuary eastward into the modern city of Rome will collapse to sink beneath the waters of the Mediterranean, never to be seen again on the surface of the earth.

Revelation 18:20,21 – Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. [21] And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

Revelation 18:4-8 – And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. [5] For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. [6] Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. [7] How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. [8] Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Could this be the year of three Popes and the year of the three frogs that eventually lead to “the end” at Armageddon? I certainly don’t know, but I do know that the events of 2005, 2006, and 2007 are going to be the most interesting prophetic years of this generation.

Revelation 16:13-16 – And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. [14] For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. [15] Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. [16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Malachy’s biblical name is Malachi. I seriously doubt the prophecies of Malachy, but believe every word of biblical Malachi.

Revelation 22:20 – He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

When he does come, he will most assuredly come quickly!

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 230A

July 3, 2005

Tectonic Chaos – Chapter 36 – The Final Judgment of Mankind

Have you ever wondered when those saved in the millennium will be judged by God? Please read this chapter very carefully. I am in complete agreement with the teaching that all the lost of all the ages will appear at this judgment and be cast into a lake of fire. But please check the chronological context very carefully, and then ask yourself some questions about what you have read. Please remember as you read this that I do believe all the lost will be judged at the great white throne of judgment, but the discourse has some interesting comparisons between verses 12 and 13 that are worth exploring.

Revelation 20:11-15 – And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The key to understanding this final judgment involves the consistent chronological pattern followed from Revelation 19:11 to 21:1, which begins with the return of Christ at the end of the tribulation period in Revelation 19:11 – “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.” He deals with the antichrist, the false prophet, and finishes off their armies in Revelation 19:19-21 – “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.” Then the old Devil is cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years in Revelation 20:2 – “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.” He is released when the thousand years are expired, leads a rebellion against the people of the Lord, has his armies devoured by fire out of heaven from God, and is cast eternally into the lake of fire and brimstone with the antichrist and the false prophet, as detailed in Revelation 20:7-10 – “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

Thus far, a pattern of perfect chronology has been laid out before us – not one break in it. And it continues to be picture perfect right up to Revelation 20:15 – “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Now, we need to carefully examine Revelation 20:11-15 in this sequence of chronological events that begins in Revelation 19:11, and then continues in perfect contextual chronology for 26 verses to Revelation 21:1.

Revelation 20:11,12 – “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I SAW the dead, small and great, STAND BEFORE God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

We see a group of men and women standing before God with the book of life and other books being opened, out of which they are judged according to their works. The book of life is open because the names of this group are in it – they are all those men and women saved during the millennial reign of Christ. They will be judged for rewards for their works, just as were the saved caught out more than a thousand years prior to this judgment. Following their judgment, they will be removed quickly from the great white throne locale. Then a second group will be collected from hell, the sea, and the grave and assembled before God

Revelation 20:13 – And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

The chronology has been perfect from Revelation 19:11 to 20:13, and it does not break down here. There must be two different groups judged separately at the Great White Throne! Why? (Verse 12 – “And I SAW the dead, small and great, stand before God”). (Verse 13 – “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:”). How could John have actually SEEN the group in verse 12 standing before God to be judged, if they were not resurrected until verse 13? The souls of all lost men and women are in hell. The souls of all saved men and women are in heaven. The bodies of both the saved and the lost are either in water graves (the sea) or in land graves (death). The particles of the bodies of the verse 13 resurrection, that historically held lost souls, are delivered from the dust or the liquid surface of the earth, and reunited with their souls that come up out of hell. But the first group in verse 12 represents those who were saved in the millennium, and their souls in heaven will be reunited with glorified bodies that were resurrected before those in verse 13. They will be judged separately from the lost. The lost of all the ages will appear before the white throne immediately after the millennial saved. All the lost of all the ages from Genesis through the millennium will be in the second group. All the names of the first group will be in the book of life. None of the names of the second group will appear there.

Revelation 20:11-15 – And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] (Group 1) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] (Group 2) And the sea (water) gave up the dead (physically dead bodies) which were in it; and death (physically dead bodies in land graves) and hell (abode of spiritually dead souls) delivered up the dead (all the spiritual dead souls and physically dead bodies) which were in them (water of the earth, dirt of the graves on land, and hell): and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 230B

July 6. 2004

From Now to the Beginning of Daniel’s 70 Weeks – Part 1

Dardanelle MBC began to issue Prophecy Updates some five years ago and, during that time period, I have been consistent in the chronological sequence of events I believe will transpire between now and the initial attack of the antichrist against Israel. They are found repeatedly in the hundreds of Updates we have issued over the past five years, and are as follows:

1. Israel will complete its security wall/fence barrier.

2. The Palestinian Authority and all internal terrorist groups will be put inside the barrier.

3. The Israelis will finally begin to say they have a peace and safety they can believe in, because they will think they can control it by a very tight monitoring of the barrier and its check points.

4. Antichrist will suddenly attack Israel, leading 10 Arab nations in a vicious surprise Jihad from the north out of Syria and Lebanon.

5. Two-thirds of the Israeli population will perish in the attack.

6. Jerusalem will fall to the Arab nations.

7. The Arab nations will take the land from Dan to Beersheba.

8. One-third of Israel will flee into the Negev Wilderness, where it will remain for some three and one-half years.

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. (See Archive Prophecy Update 93)

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. (See Archive Prophecy Updates 112 and 132)

Since I hold to the prophetic interpretation all the publications prior to 1760 put forth concerning the “he” in Daniel 9:27, I am concerned that a lot of believers are going to be in shock when all this suddenly begins to occur without a prolonged period of an antichrist arising in Europe, without a written peace treaty that lasts three and one half years, and a lot of other prophetic interpretations by TV prophetic experts that give the impression we have a long time before all this begins to happen. I am concerned about this to the extent that I am going to repeat what I believe about Daniel’s Prophecy of the 70 Weeks of Years. I hope you will consider it, even if you don’t believe it. If it is correct, then it would be beneficial to you when it happened. What follows is Part I of a four or five part series that will be coming on the Web Site during the next few weeks.

THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL’S 9:24-27 PROPHECY! Part 1

God revealed to Daniel that Jeremiah’s prophecy of seventy years of captivity, which would accomplish the desolation of Jerusalem, had a secondary interpretation involving a much longer period of time.

Daniel 9:1,2 – In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; [2] In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Then, from 9:24 through 9:27, Daniel unveils the events of a lengthy time period that would affect Israel and the holy city of Jerusalem for 490 years (7 X 70 years). He understands each year of Jeremiah’s prophecy to be equal to seven years, and identifies each period of seven years as one week.

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 contextual subject of this entire discourse involves the activity of “the Messiah the Prince,” Jesus Christ, up to the time of his cutting off in the midst of the last week, and the events which will again involve him as the last part of that week is set in motion when Daniel’s clock begins to tick again. The Holy City will again be overrun from the north by the troops of the antichrist, as it was by Titus in AD 70. I have never found any pre-1760 commentary on the Bible that identified the “he” of Daniel 9:27 as the antichrist. They were unanimous in identifying the “he” as Jesus Christ, and I am convinced they were correct.

During the prophetic period of 490 years, Daniel predicted the following events would be carried out by “the Messiah the Prince” of 9:25.

(1) Messiah finishes believer’s condemning transgression against God.

(2) Messiah ends believer’s condemning sins against God.

(3) Messiah completes believer’s reconciliation to God for iniquity.

(4) Messiah brings in everlasting righteousness.

(5) Daniel’s vision of 9:22-24, and its prophecies, would be completed as the 490 years ended at Messiah’s Second Advent.

(6) The Messiah’s anointing would end the period of 490 years.

Four of these events have already been fulfilled by Messiah the Prince, Jesus Christ, and the last two will be completed at his Second Advent. These events, and Scriptures associated with their fulfillment follow:

(1) Messiah finishes believer’s condemning transgression against God.

John 19:30 + Isaiah 53:12 – When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. [12] Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

(2) Messiah ends believer’s condemning sins against God.

I Peter 2:24 + Isaiah 53:10 – Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. [10] Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

(3) Messiah completes believer’s reconciliation to God for iniquity.

II Corinthians 5:19 + Isaiah 53:11 – To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

(4) Messiah brings in everlasting righteousness for believers.

Romans 4:3-8 + Isaiah 55:3-5 – For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. [3] Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. [4] Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. [5] Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

(5) Daniel’s vision of 9:22-24 will be completed as the 490 years end at Messiah’s Second Advent.

Daniel 12:1-4,8-10 + Revelation 11:15,18 & 16:16,17 – And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. [2] And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. [3] And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. [4] But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. [8] And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? [9] And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. [10] Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. [15] 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. [16] 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.

(6) The anointing of the Messiah, the most Holy One, ends the period of 490 years.

Ezekiel 39:7,9 – So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. [8] Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken. [28] Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. [29] Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

(7) And this is the anointing of the Holy of Holies by the most Holy Anointed One, Jesus Christ, as he enters the Millennial Temple.

Ezekiel 43:1-7 – 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. [6] And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. [7] And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

We will continue the exposition of Daniel 9:24-27 in future updates.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 231

July 8, 2005

THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL’S 9:24-27 PROPHECY – Part 2

According to the Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions, the Evangelical Protestantism Movement emerged in Britain in the 1730s. The conversion of John Wesley in 1738 is often regarded as the start of the evangelical movement. Wesley was forced to preach out of doors and to eventually develop an organization of his own. From 1740 to 1800 the evangelicals were drawn into the movement primarily from Wesleyan Methodists, Primitive Methodists, nonconformist Protestant bodies such as the Congregationalists, and from the Baptist groups. By 1800 the Evangelical Movement had spread to the Church of England.

Within the Evangelical Movement a different viewpoint arose in the teaching of Prophecy, particularly in the interpretation of Daniel 9:27. I have diligently searched for any commentary published before 1740 that indicated the three “HE’S” in Daniel 9:27 were the antichrist, and have not found a single one. I am not saying one does not exist, but I have been looking for years, and have never found one. All publications before 1740 clearly identified the three “HE’S” as Jesus Christ, “the Messiah the Prince.” It has stunned me as to how much of our teaching today about the antichrist is all tied back to the belief that the antichrist is the one referred to in Daniel 9:27. I beg of you to take a good look at the series on the 70 Weeks of Daniel exposition I am now presenting in 7 parts. Even if you think it is hogwash, please carefully read Parts 1 through 7. If it is correct, it will help you to understand what is going on when the antichrist does not follow the pattern currently taught in most religious circles. If it is wrong, it will have done you no harm, but please read it. I have no ulterior motive for gain in presenting it to you. My motive is a simple one. I am an old man who is three years past his allotted threescore and ten years, and I am very concerned that many are going to be confused when prophetic events suddenly conclude in a manner quite different from what they expect. For better or for worse, I believe the religious world took a wrong turn in prophetic teaching in 1740, and that many believe what is erroneously tied back to antichrist representing the three “HE’S” in Daniel 9:27.

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.

I fully exposited on Daniel 9:24 in Special Prophecy Update 230B, establishing how Daniel had learned, from Jeremiah’s writings, that seventy weeks of years were determined upon the people of Israel and their holy city Jerusalem. Under Daniel’s formula for the period, each one of Jeremiah’s seventy years was equal to seven years, and he identified each seven year period as one week of years (So 7 X 70 = 490 years or 70 weeks of years). In verse 25 he gives us a starting point for his prophetic clock to begin ticking toward a countdown of 490 years or 70 weeks of years.

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 490 year time clock would start ticking when “the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” was issued. However, there were four different proclamations issued by three Persian kings:

1. The Decree of Cyrus in 536 B.C.

2. The Decree of Darius Hystaspes in 519 B.C.

3. The first Decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 B.C.

4. The second Decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in 445 B.C.

The Scripture indicated that FROM the time the commandment (decree) was issued UNTIL the Messiah the Prince arrived, would be 69 weeks of years or 483 years (7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks of years) ( 7 X 69 = 483 years)

Now, some problems arise in the establishment of historical dates that begin at “FROM” and end at “UNTIL” – Are these prophetic years or calendar years – How are they affected by corrections to the Gentile calendars by Rome – And how are they affected by the lunar calendar used by the Hebrews? All these things make it difficult to decide which one of the four decrees applies to Daniel 9:25. Was Daniel indicating solar years of 365.25 or prophetic lunar years of 360 days? Most likely he meant years of 360 days.

Which one of the four decrees was the one that Daniel indicated in his prophecy? The decree of Cyrus in 536 B.C. was limited to the building of the Temple. The decree of Darius Hystaspes was also limited to the building of the Temple. The first decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 B.C. demonstrated a larger range of granting authority to carry out all that needed to be done, much more than the two decrees before it. His second decree in 445 B.C. is also very specific in its instruction and authority to rebuild Jerusalem. So, we are able, because of the lack of reference “to restore and to build Jerusalem” in the first two decrees, to say that it must be one of the two issued by Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 B. C. and 445 B.C.

If Daniel’s prophecy is based on our present calendar year, which I doubt, then FROM the time Artaxerxes first decree was issued in 457 B.C. until the baptism of Jesus the Messiah in 27 A.D., would be 483 years or 69 weeks. This was the viewpoint held by the great Baptist Bible expositor B.H. Carroll in the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds. But Dr. Carroll makes this statement in his writings on Daniel 9:25, when dealing with prophetic years of 360 days: “”Hengstenberg, on the other hand, while agreeing with the second decree of 445 B.C., controverts the theory of a year of 360 days, and contests the date usually accepted (445 B.C.). By an elaborate historical argument of great plausibility he seeks to prove that the 20^th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus falls on the date 455 B.C. and then, by adding 483 years, Hengstenberg puts Christ’s acknowledgment by His Father, at His baptism, as the true coming of Messiah the Prince.” Sir Robert Anderson has two books on Daniel, “The Coming Prince” and “Daniel in the Critic’s Den.” He uses the usually accepted debt of 445 B.C. and articulates a strong time sequence to prove his conclusions.

Now, please allow me to state my conclusions. I was taught certain things about Daniel 9:24-27 by many old preachers who are now at home with the Lord. Many of them were born in the 19^th century and lived into the thirties, forties, and fifties of the 20^th. In northern Arkansas where I was raised, these old fellows read after the leading Baptist theologians of their day from books they had procured from old book stores or the libraries of older preachers when they died. Some of these books were written in the late 18^th and early 19^th century, and they finally just worn out and fell apart from constant use. They didn’t have opportunity to attend a seminary, but they were diligent in reading the works of the Baptists who did. These are the men who first taught me prophecy many years before I graduated from seminaries, colleges, and universities. In the weeks to come, Lord willing, I am going to pass on to you what they taught me, and you may be surprised. Now, in all honesty, before God and man, I believe it was 483 years “FROM” the decree “UNTO” the baptism of Jesus, when he began His earthly ministry. I accept it by faith in God’s word. The problem is not with the Word of God, it is with the human setting of the time of the proper decree.

My main reason for writing such a lengthy discourse was to show how difficult it is to absolutely fix the precise date the proclamation was issued to which Daniel referred. BUT I AM DELIGHTED TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT CAN BE PROVEN BY A SINGLE WORD, THE WORD “AFTER” IN DANIEL 9:26A.

Daniel 9:25,26A – 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: (The 7 weeks is understood in Hebrew literary style to also be added to the 62 in verse 26 so as to avoid redundancy in a flowing chronological sequence of events, i.e. AFTER 69 weeks. Otherwise, Messiah would have been cut off before he was born.)

The Hebrew word used for “AFTER” is “ACHAR,” which means, in context, “AFTERWARD.” This same word “ACHAR” is used in the following Scriptures.

Jeremiah 31:33 – But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; AFTER those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Joel 2:28 – And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Hosea 3:5 – AFTERWARD shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.

Hosea 6:2 – AFTER two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

The vast majority of prophetic expositors today claim that Messiah was cut off, crucified, to END the 69^th week, bringing the hands of Daniel’s clock to a standstill, and that we have a full week of seven years waiting to be fulfilled when it begins to tick again, but that cannot be true since Christ was crucified AFTER the 69^th week during the 70^th week, leaving less than seven years to be fulfilled.

The significance of the placement of “AFTER” in Daniel 9:26A cannot be overemphasized. Why? Because it definitely states that Messiah would not be cut off to END the 69^th week, but would be crucified “AFTER” it, at some time in the 70^th week. The clock of Daniel stopped ticking at some time in the final 70^th week. So when was Jesus cut off by crucifixion in the 70^th week? The answer is of the utmost importance. I know we have less than seven years once the clock starts to tick again, but how much less do we have? It has to be less than 2520 days, but more than 1260 days? We will proceed into verses 26 and 27 in a future update to find the answers to these questions, Lord willing.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 231A

July 10, 2005

THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL’S 9:24-27 PROPHECY – Part 3

Daniel 9:24-27 – 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. [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. [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. [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 SUBJECT of this entire discourse in Daniel is not “the people of the prince that shall come,” nor is it “the prince that shall come.” They are both subordinate to the subject. The contextual subject of these four verses can only be the Messiah the Prince, who is Jesus, the anointed holy one, the Christ of the living God.

Prior to the Evangelical Movement of the mid 18^th century, the belief among Bible expositors was that the three personal pronouns signified as “he” in Daniel 9:27 referred not to the sub-topical prince in 9:26, but rather to the main topical subject of each verse, that is, the Jewish Messiah who was to come. We were advised in verses 25 & 26 that, AFTER 69 weeks of years (483 years), that is, DURING the final 70^th week of seven years, the Messiah would be cut off (crucified). Please allow me to exposit these verses as they were exposited by mainstream prophetic teachers up to the mid-18^th century. After doing extensive research, I was not able to find anything published prior to 1760 that indicated the “he” in Daniel 9:27 was the future antichrist. Most taught that the “he” in Daniel 9:27 was the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and some thought it had already been fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC, but I have been unable to find any prior to 1760 that believed it was the antichrist we are awaiting today.

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.

It was generally accepted that Jesus began the confirmation of the Abrahamic covenant by offering the Davidic Kingdom promise to the nation of Israel. He began to offer it to them after his baptism by John. His baptism marked the beginning of the 70^th week. We know that his offering of the Kingdom lasted more than three years, but less than three and one-half. So he was cut off (crucified) in the MIDST of the final 70^th week. In reality, we are not waiting for the 70^th week to start, we are actually waiting for the later part of it to be fulfilled. Let’s take it verse by verse, phrase by phrase.

Jesus arrived as the Messiah the Prince, and was baptized by John 483 prophetic years after one of the decrees of Artaxerxes Longimanus. His Father’s approval at his baptism marks the beginning of his ministry of three plus years.

Matthew 3:16,17 – And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

John was preaching that the Messiah was coming to bring in the Kingdom of David, which would confirm the Abrahamic seed covenant. Then Jesus came to him, and John identified him as the Messiah. Then, when John was imprisoned by Herod, Jesus began to preach the same message of the Davidic Kingdom.

John 1:32,35,36 – And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. [35] Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; [36] And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

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.

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.

Christ came to fulfill the Davidic Covenant as the Son of David and the seed of Abraham through the virgin Mary, the daughter of Heli. Mary had a double lineage from David through the man Zerubbabel, whose lineage on both sides was from David.

Genesis 15:18 + 22:17,18 + Galatians 3:16 – 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: [17] That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; [18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. [16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Then the covenant was expanded through God’s mercies to David to all the nations. The covenant of Daniel 9:27 was first confirmed, and then fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the Messiah. It is the kingdom covenant found two chapters before 9:27.

Daniel 7:13,14 – 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.

Messiah the Prince Confirmed the Davidic Covenant of the Kingdom!

II Samuel 23:1-5 + Psalm 89:2-5,27-29 + Romans 4:6-8 – Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, [2] The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. [3] The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. [4] And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. [5] Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an EVERLASTING COVENANT, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. [2] For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. [3] I have made A COVENANT with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, [4] Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. [5] And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. [27] Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. [28] My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and MY COVENANT shall stand fast with him. [29] His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Malachi 3:1,2 – 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. [2] But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ sope:

John was the messenger of the Messiah, and Jesus was the Messiah, the messenger of THE COVENANT.

And this is THE COVENANT Jesus confirmed for seven years, but was cut off in the MIDST of the seven years, between the third and fourth year.

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.

Jesus completed more than three years into the fourth week, and was crucified to eternally confirm the sacrifice of sinless blood and flesh for the sins of all who will receive him. His final cleansing of the temple in righteous indignation against a nation that had turned His Father’s house into a house of merchandise, rather than a holy house of prayer, was the final “overspreading of abominations” that made it spiritually “desolate” toward God. Messiah’s act caused God to abruptly “cease” honoring their “sacrifices and oblations” until the consummation of this present age, at which time those desolate of God’s Spirit, because of unbelief, will experience a time of trouble like man has never known.

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.

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.

Jesus was cut off (crucified) for the sins of others because he possessed none of his own. As predicted in Luke 21:24, Titus, a Roman Prince, showed up 40 years later with his army and destroyed the city and the sanctuary. In the final attack his troops came in like a raging flood, overrunning and setting fire to the Temple Mount. The war raged on for almost three years after that, during which determined desolations were carried out by the legions of Rome. They are recorded in the writings of Josephus, the Jewish historian. It could well make you sick at your stomach to hear the grisly desolation details. The final battle was for Masada, where the encircled Jews committed suicide rather than be carried into slavery.

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.

The early church fathers, followed later by noted theologians such as Theodotion, Havernick, Hengstenberg, Barnes, and B.H. Carroll, held that the three personal pronouns (HE) in Daniel 9:27 referred not to the prince of verse 26, but to the subject of all the verses, that is, “the most Holy” (v.24), “Messiah the Prince” (v.25), and “Messiah” (v.26), who is Jesus Christ, the Messiah the Prince.

As you have observed, I do not believe we have a full week of years left in Daniel’s final 70^th week. So how much time do we have left when Daniel’s clock starts ticking again? When the security wall/fence barrier is completed, and the Palestinians with their associated terrorist groups are put behind it, then the Israelis will begin to say they finally have “peace and safety,” and Daniel’s clock will soon begin to tick again for Israel and Jerusalem.

In a future Prophecy Update, I will verbally lay out the scenario of the 1ast 1335 days of the Gentile Age, and present charts and graphs which picture what I verbalize.