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Road to Jerusalem – Next 7 Years
Contents
* Road to Jerusalem – Next 7 Years
o The Last Generation
o The Rise to Power
o Is the Antimessiah Among Us?
o Is the Exile of the Nations About to End?
o Jerusalem at the Center
o God’s Measurements for the Last Years and Days
o The Future Combination that Fits
The year 2010 is now upon us. While the world is still recovering from 2009 and the hype for 2012 has just started, I have a whole different perspective of the future. Let me come right to the point of this article. There is a set of seven years before us that seems to fit so many end-time concepts that must be considered very seriously. I am referring to the set of seven years beginning now through 2016. Are these the seven years that lead us to Jerusalem and Messiah’s kingdom?
In May of this year, Israel will celebrate its 62nd anniversary as a modern state. For most in the world the 62nd anniversary of anything would not be significant in the slightest, but for those who know Biblical prophecy, the number 62 is a milestone in the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel.
The prophet Daniel is one of the leading end-time prophets. One cannot properly interpret nor understand the book of The Revelation without understanding the book of Daniel. Daniel is the prophet who prophesied about the Persian Empire being defeated by Alexander the Great. He spoke of Alexander’s short-lived kingdom being ruled by his four generals, leading to rule by the Roman Empire. It is out of the remnants of the Roman Empire that the antimessiah is to appear and dominate the world at the end of the ages. Daniel is the prophet who spoke of the Messiah being “cut off” (suffering death) and the future destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. He is the prophet who spoke of the emergence of the antimessiah “in the middle” of a week (a seven year period) coincidental with the “abomination of desolation” resulting in a 3 ½ year period referred to by the Messiah as the Great Tribulation. The Messiah in Matthew 24:15 specifically said that we must understand the prophet Daniel’s writings of these times and measurements.
Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place.
Daniel 9:24
Before we go any further we need to understand Daniel’s use of the word “weeks” to understand his counting method.
The Hebrew word used for weeks is “shavuim.” It means “sevens.” The traditional method to interpret this prophecy: 70 times “sevens” equals 490 years. They then say that historically the first 69 of the 70 has been fulfilled before the Messiah’s first coming and the 70th week is the last seven years of the ages leading to the Messiah’s return.
Interestingly, there is another definition for the “weeks” used by Daniel. It is part of the Feasts of Israel. As you know, God gave seven feasts to Israel through Moses beginning with Passover, Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of First Fruits in the spring. We then count seven weeks after First Fruits to celebrate the Feast of Weeks. The Feast of Weeks is also called the Day of Proclamation. This is the day that God proclaimed the Torah from Mount Sinai. This is also the day that God gave the Holy Spirit and the “Gospel” was first proclaimed in Jerusalem. The fall feasts are Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, which are the foretelling of the resurrection, the Day of the Lord, and our gathering to Him in the kingdom. But let us go back to that one-day festival in late spring/early summer. The Feast of Weeks in Hebrew is Shavuot. It is the word “sevens” in the feminine gender. All of the feasts of the Lord, including Sabbath, are in the feminine gender because they are gifts from the bridegroom (the Messiah) to the bride (Israel).
However, the word "weeks" used in Daniel is the same word as the holiday, but is in the male gender shavuim. It is in the male gender because the bridegroom is making the proclamation.
Look again at the proclamation being made by Daniel.
Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place.
Daniel 9:24
Daniel’s prophecy is saying that seven things will be proclaimed at a future Day of Proclamation – the 70th “weeks.” Those seven things are:
1. To finish the transgression
2. To make an end of sin
3. To make atonement for iniquity
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness
5. To seal up vision
6. To seal up prophecy
7. To anoint the most holy place
This is the definition of the Messiah’s kingdom; this is His proclamation given at the first Feast of Weeks in His kingdom!
Therefore, Daniel’s prophecy begins with the Feast of Weeks in the kingdom and he begins to give us a count of the 69 “weeks” leading to the 70th “weeks.”
Let me give you another way of understanding Daniel’s counting method. Let’s say that it is decreed that you will have 70 “birthdays” in your life. How long would you live? Given that the day you are born is your first birthday, we would count 69 “birthday” celebrations after that. It the same way Daniel’s 70 “weeks” are given to us. The 70th will happen the first year in the kingdom. How then do the other 69 “weeks” play out leading to the kingdom?
So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
Daniel 9:25
Daniel’s prophecy counts the other 69 weeks backwards in time from the Messiah’s Proclamation. “Seven weeks” precede the Messiah Prince. “Sixty –two weeks” precede the “seven weeks,” and a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem precedes both of the other time periods. He continues this counting backwards method to explain other events prior to the 70 weeks.
Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
Daniel 9:26
Historically, this is what has happened. The Messiah did come early in the Common Era and He was cut off (died) at approximately 30-33 A.D. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 A.D. We are looking for a “decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” after those events that will start the 70 weeks time count. We will address this in a moment, but let us see what else Daniel says about the seven years that precede the Messiah’s proclamation of the kingdom.
And he [the prince of the people who comes to destroy Jerusalem] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.
Daniel 9:27
The week spoken of here is the Hebrew word Shavuah. It is the word “seven” (singular).
This verse is saying that the antimessiah is going to be part of an agreement with other leaders during this seven years and in the middle of the seven years the Great Tribulation will begin with the Abomination of Desolation event. The last 3 ½ years of the seven will be the days of the Great Tribulation.
As I said, Daniel presents the prophecy to us from the perspective of the 70th “weeks” when the Messiah Prince proclaims His kingdom. He tells about the times and events preceding the kingdom, but from our perspective, leading to the kingdom, how do we see these events and times?
As I said before, we have historically already seen the Messiah being cut off and Jerusalem with the temple destroyed in the days of the Romans. The prophecy then says that the 70 “weeks” would begin with a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem with plaza and moat.
In November of 1947, the UN made a decree to establish a Jewish homeland in the Middle East alongside other nations. Israel declared itself a state in May 1948 once the British left. Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks) occurred immediately thereafter. That was the first “weeks” counting toward the 70. The prophecy says that there will be a period of 62 “weeks” and then 7 "weeks." In May 2010, Israel will celebrate its 62nd anniversary. In that same month, Israel will celebrate the 63rd Feast of Weeks since becoming a nation. If this understanding of Daniel’s counting method is correct, then there will be a distinction between this Shavuot (the first of 7 "weeks") and the previous 62 Shavuots. Given the confirmation of the counting method we will truly see the day approaching. We will be able to anticipate when the Great Tribulation begins and ends and the first year of the kingdom.
What can we look for in this year of 2010 that will confirm this counting method of “weeks?” According to the prophecies there are three things.
First, the antimessiah is going make some kind of agreement with nations (strong leaders). We don’t know exactly what the agreement is but other prophecies seem to suggest that the antimessiah will also break the same agreement later.
The second thing we are looking for is a war in the Middle East, a war spoken of by the prophets Ezekiel and Joel.
Thirdly, we are looking for a wonderful event immediately following the war. God has promised to pour out His Holy Spirit on the House of Israel and upon all mankind who will prophecy of the end. Let’s review these three things more closely.
1. The antimessiah confirms an agreement with many leaders. Presently, Israel is negotiating with the Palestinians and other nations for the Two-State solution. This involves declaring a Palestinian state and the possible division of Jerusalem. Whether we like it or not some kind of agreement is being worked on right now! Could this be the agreement that is referred to in Daniel’s prophecy?
2. Tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel, the Palestinians, and nations to the north are building. Everyone knows that Iran and Syria have formed an alliance against Israel. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza are surrogates for Iran. Even if the Palestinians make an agreement with Israel, those elements will balk at the agreement. Ezekiel and Joel speak of an end of the age war with a “northern” enemy that is slaughtered by God. This will be a significant moment in history. So great will be the slaughter that Israel will bury the dead for seven months and spend the next SEVEN years (Eze 39:9) burning the weapons of war. Ezekiel says that God will be making a statement to Israel and the world.
And My holy name I shall make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I shall not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.
Ezekiel 39:7
At present, the God of Israel and the people of Israel are the brunt of slander and lies. Ezekiel says that the end result of the war will change all of that. God’s name and His people will no longer be profaned. The prophet Joel speaks of the same war and same results…
And you [Israel] shall have plenty to eat and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who dealt wondrously with you; then My people will never be put to shame. Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is no other; and My people will never be put to shame.
Joel 2:26-27
3. God pours out His Holy Spirit. Both Ezekiel and Joel say that this incredible event follows immediately after the war. Ezekiel says that this war paves the way for the House of Israel (the northern kingdom) and the Jews to return to the land of Israel. If the enemies of Israel are defeated, there will be plenty of land for them to inhabit. God specifically pours out His Spirit upon this returning group (Ephraim and the House of Israel).
And I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.
Ezekiel 39:29
The prophet Joel says that God will also pour His Spirit upon all mankind.
And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
Joel 2:28-29
If the counting method of “weeks” is correctly understood for Daniel’s prophecy, if we see an agreement about Jerusalem this summer, with a war, with the prophesied aftermath of that war, then we will have something to prophesy about. We will see the day approaching. We will even know that the Great Tribulation will begin in the winter of 2013 and the Messiah’s kingdom will begin with the fulfillment of the fall holidays of 2016 and the Messiah’s pronouncement of that kingdom on Shavuot 2017. We will know that we are SEVEN years away from the Messiah’s kingdom.
There is another reason why 2017 needs to be the year of the Messiah’s kingdom. It is the last possible year to count the Biblical year 6,000. The great seven-day story of creation (six days of creation and a day of rest – Sabbath) is also a prophetic picture of the end. The Apostle Peter reminds us of this in his last letter.
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
II Peter 3:8
Peter is reminding the end-time believers to hold onto this fact to avoid the confusion at the end of the ages when others mock the idea of the Lord returning. There is a defined time limit as to when the kingdom MUST be established. The Lord is to labor six days (six thousand years) and then the Messiah establishes His kingdom on the last day (one thousand years). According to Bible chronologists, we are very close to the Biblical year 6,000 and the beginning of the last day (sometimes called the Sabbath of millennia). According to those Biblical counts the year 6,000 is to occur somewhere between 1994 and 2017. 2017 is the last possible year to fit this prophetic pattern.
It wasn’t in 1994 nor 2000, nor 2007. Simply said, if the Lord does not return on or before 2017, then we have a serious problem with our understanding of ALL end-time prophecy and God’s plan for the ages.
Let me say this in unequivocal terms. I believe God has planned His return. I do not believe it will be happenstance nor random. I believe God has planned it and He WILL DO IT. I say this with the same boldness that God Himself has said.
Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure”; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.
Isaiah 46:8-11
God declared the end to us in the beginning (the creation story). The end is the “last day” – the Sabbath of millennia. God also said we would see that day (the last day) approaching.
The Last Generation
Before you can take any end-time teaching seriously, that is, take it in a personally serious way, you must believe that we are living at the end of the ages and that we are the Last Generation. If you are not convinced of that, then the subject of eschatology is just a mental exercise with very little benefit. In fact, it could be construed as a waste of time.
Some people do look at prophecy and eschatology as a waste of time. They don’t believe that we are the last generation. They believe events have been happening and will continue to happen based on circumstance, fate, and luck.
I believe that we are the last generation based on specific prophecies characterizing the last generation that makes us completely different from all previous generations. On this subject alone I could write multiple articles, but let me give a summary.
1. No other generation has ever had the number of people that we have today. In fact, population wise, we are the greatest generation in the history of the world. In October of 1996 we crossed the 5 billion people mark in the world. At that moment we had more people in this generation than have ever existed in the history of the world going back to the creation. Presently, we are more than 6.5 billion and are expected to exceed 7 billion in 2012. Truly we are the “many” that Daniel spoke of.
But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”
Daniel 12:4
2. Our generation travels back and forth like no other generation has ever done. We are the generation of jet airplanes, rockets to the Moon and back, and travels around the world. No other generation has ever experienced anything like our travel. It is so common in our generation that it is no longer noteworthy.
3. Our technology today is beyond the greatest imaginations of those in the past. There is no question that computers and cell phone technology have brought the world into a whole new age of information and knowledge. No other generation can compare.
4. Only in this generation is it possible for many of the supernatural prophecies of Revelation, only they are not supernatural anymore. Everyone understands now how all of the world could witness a single event happening in Jerusalem. Just turn on the TV, your Twitter, or YouTube from your cell phone or computer.
Therefore, if we are the Last Generation who will see the final events leading to the Messianic age, then we should be able to see the other elements of many end-time prophecies. For example, there is an antimessiah who will rise to power in the final 3 ½ years. We should see the Messiah preparing to gather His people from all of the nations and bring the ‘exile of Israel into the nations’ to a conclusion. We should be able to see Jerusalem becoming the focus of the conflict between God and His enemies, and we should be able to see specific elements of God’s plan for the Great Tribulation taking shape since there are more prophecies about the last 3 ½ years than any other prophesied time in the Bible.
Let’s examine some specific questions a bit more as examples of what we should be seeing as the last generation:
1. Do we see evidence of the governmental system that will launch the antimessiah to his leadership position?
2. Do we see a viable candidate that meets the prophetic requirements for the antimessiah?
3. Do we see the end of the exile for Israel scattered throughout the nations and the anticipation of God pouring out His Spirit in a powerful and mighty way?
4. Is Jerusalem becoming the center of conflict in the world, the cup of reeling, the rock that cannot be lifted by other nations?
5. How does God specifically measure the Great Tribulation, and is there a pattern that will fit only a specific combination of years in our future according to His perfect plan? Does God’s plan specify the years, seasons, months, days, and evenings and mornings precisely enough to truly see “the day approaching?”
6. Is there a set of foreseeable years (seven and 3 ½) that match with precision the prophesied combination?
The answers to these questions are available today. You probably already know much of this, but let me offer a bit more information about each.
The Rise to Power
One of the most extensive prophecies of the end times is the governmental system that is to launch the antimessiah to power. The prophet Daniel pictures the system as a fearsome beast having seven heads and ten horns. Imagery used in prophecy can be puzzling and open to interpretation for generations, and then as the time approaches the images start to become clear. The book of The Revelation adds a woman riding a beast and then interprets the woman and the beast in this way:
And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I shall tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.” Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast.
Revelation 17:7, 9-13
Europe is named after the goddess Europa. According to mythology Europa was a goddess that rides a beast and she was married to Zeus. There is a clear consensus among Bible scholars that the seven mountains on which the woman sits is the city of Rome. The Holy Roman Empire is historically remembered because seven ancient emperors all had the name Charles, beginning with Charlemagne. There is a riddle about the seven kings named Charles that is a clue to the identity of the antimessiah. The antimessiah is to rise to power in the midst of ten kings. According to the prophecy these ten kings rule with the antimessiah and give their power to him.
The prophecy explains that the antimessiah has no power of his own. He gets power from the ten kings. More specifically, he gets power from seven of them while three refuse. The antimessiah is to come to power by the selection of seven kings in the midst of ten. He is characterized as different from them in some particular way. He is given the authority to rule for 42 months. Furthermore, the antimessiah is called a Prince and he is to come from the people who destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.
The Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. Therefore the antimessiah is to rise to power out of the remnant of the Roman Empire. Today, we have the European Union, which was formed in 1993. The EU has formed its own currency, parliament, judicial system, and the structure toward an executive branch of government – the EU Council of Ministers. Currently, due to the 27 members of the EU, the council includes 27 persons; however, it is too unwieldy. There are too many members. On a rotating basis, the ministers take turns being the President of the EU, each for a term of only six months; but not much can get done other than to hold a cocktail party of congratulations and one for the farewell. Recently, the EU has tried to establish a longer term, something varying from three to five years for a President and a Foreign Minister. The key is to limit the council of ministers to ten. The EU constitution is still in draft stage and there are a couple of key elements – how to define the council of ministries that votes for the President and the powers of the President. At present, according to the prophecy, the EU is the only governmental system in the world defining its future office of the President exactly as the prophecy describes. The EU often uses the symbol of the woman riding the beast, the same symbol the Prophet John knew in his day when he wrote the book of The Revelation.
I believe the antimessiah will emerge and come to power shortly after the EU constitution is ratified with its new ten-member council of ministers electing him. We know the vote tally: seven will favor him; three will be opposed. Therefore, each member’s term of power of 6 months each will be given to him, totaling 42 months (7 × 6 months = 42 months).
Is the Antimessiah Among Us?
The antimessiah does not magically appear at the end of the age like a genie from a bottle. He must be born into the world, grow up, and come to power as the prophecy says. Just as the Messiah was born into the world, so the antimessiah comes when the world is in all of her glory at the end. Therefore, if we are the last generation, we should be able to identify candidates who fit the prophecies of the antimessiah and see some evidence of his coming to power.
The identity of the antimessiah is a high profile topic in eschatology. Everyone wants to identify him before he comes to power. It is very compelling evidence that we are at the end if we can identify him. By looking at his station of life, age, and position it tells us much about how close we are to the end. The clues to the antimessiah’s identity are also some of the most compelling mysteries in the Bible.
I believe there is a very viable candidate who fits the clues. From his birth and ancestry to this very day, the candidate I see stands far and away apart from every other speculation for who the antimessiah could be. Despite this, most believers dismiss him because he simply does not meet their expectation. However, the most symbolic of prophecies of the antimessiah in the book of The Revelation are literally true of this candidate. His name is Prince Charles of Wales.
Prince Charles was born in November of 1948, the same year Israel became a modern state. He is the heir apparent (next to be king) after his mother Queen Elizabeth. Let’s examine some of the identifying prophecies of the antimessiah. You are going to discover that comparing the identifying prophecies and Prince Charles of today are both striking and stunning.
Note: This is not a complete list of all identifying prophecies for the antimessiah, only some of the most commonly understood prophecies of him. (These verses are paraphrased.)
The antimessiah rises to power from seven ancient kings of the Holy Roman Empire. He is to be one of the seven, but he himself is to be the eighth. (Rev 17:11)
Prince Charles is a direct descendant of the sixth of the seven Charles’s of the Hapsburg line of the seven ancient Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. When he comes to power over the EU, he will become the eighth Emperor of the original Holy Roman Empire.
The antimessiah is to come to power through ten modern kings of his day ruling the reconstituted Roman Empire, which is symbolized by a woman riding the beast. (Rev 17)
When Prince Charles is elected to the Presidency of the EU he will hold the power of seven of the ten kings. He will be different from the other rulers since he will be a monarch.
The antimessiah must be a Prince on whom the honor of kingship has not yet been conferred. (Dan 11:21)
Prince Charles has been a prince from his birth. His mother, Queen Elizabeth, refuses to abdicate the throne and is planning her Diamond Jubilee (60 years) in 2012. Some believe that she will abdicate to Prince William, Prince Charles’ eldest son. This idea is fueled by many in Britain who consider Prince Charles to be “despicable” and not worthy of being the king due to his past behavior with Princess Diana (his former wife) and Camilla (his present wife).
The antimessiah will appear as a beast having the body of a leopard, the feet of a bear, and the head of a lion. (Rev 13:2)
The heraldic beast has been around for nearly 500 years symbolizing the past emperors of the Holy Roman Empire (leopard from France, the bear from Germany, and the lion from England). The heraldic beast is also called the leopard of England, the symbol of the monarchy of England. Prince Charles is the first monarch to have ten of these beasts in his coat of arms.
[HERALDIC BEAST IMAGE](click to enlarge)
A Red Dragon will give the antimessiah his power, throne, and great authority. (Rev 13:2)
Prince Charles was crowned Prince Charles of Wales (his official title worldwide) in 1969. The Red Dragon of Wales became one of his symbols. In fact, this specific title gives him his power, throne, and authority.
[RED DRAGON IMAGE](click to enlarge)
The antimessiah will be assassinated, raised from death, but suffer a wound to his right arm and right eye. (Zec 11:17, Rev 13:3)
This has not happened yet but there have been assassination attempts on Prince Charles. In fact, Prince Charles is very much afraid of the possibility of being assassinated and has spoken directly to this fear.
The antimessiah will have a statue made of himself that will be “set up” at the abomination of desolation on the temple mount in Jerusalem. (Rev 13:4)
A statue of Prince Charles has already been made depicting him as an angel with wings spread, dressed in a loin cloth, standing on top of a globe covered with human bones, having the title “Prince Charles, Savior of the World.” The statue is presently in Brazil. The announcement of the statue’s presentation was made internationally several years ago with virtually no negative comment at all.
The antimessiah’s name must mean “man,” following the name of the seven ancient kings, and total 666 numerically. (Rev 13:18)
The name Charles means “man” or “manly.” Using the Hebrew gematria [a system of assigning numerical value to letters in an alphabet] on the first 22 letters in the English alphabet, ‘Prince Charles of Wales’ totals the value of 666. Prince Charles of Wales translated to Hebrew becomes “Nasich Charles Mem Wales.” This name in Hebrew also totals 666 by the same method. (See table). This is the ancient gematria system that the Apostle John was familiar with when writing the book of The Revelation.
[GEMATRIA TABLE](click to enlarge)
The antimessiah will not follow the God of his fathers. (Dan 11:37)
Prince Charles’ forefathers were known to be Christians, with one of their titles being “Defender of the Faith.” Prince Charles has already publically stated that he is not following in the footsteps of his fathers, instead choosing to change his title and become “defender of faiths.”
The antimessiah will not have the desire of women, nor desire the most desirable of women. (Dan 11:37)
Prince Charles married Lady Diana to dismiss growing rumors of his homosexual interests. He was quoted as saying of her later, “I have no desire for the woman.” Lady Diana was regarded as one of the most desirable women in the world.
The antimessiah will not have power of his own but will use influence. (Dan 8:24-25)
As a young man, Prince Charles specifically spoke to this point. “I have no power of my own, but I do have influence. You will have to see what I do with it.”
Only at the abomination of desolation, when the antimessiah is revealed to the world, and in receiving 42 months to rule will we see absolutely who the antimessiah is. But can we now see there is a viable candidate in the wings? The answer is yes, and this supports the contention that we are at the end of the ages. Could Prince Charles come to power in Europe in early 2013? Much stranger things have happened and no one can say that it is impossible.
Is the Exile of the Nations About to End?
Ezekiel’s 38-39 prophecy of a regional war has a very specific end result. God makes the land of Israel secure for the dispersed of Israel to return from the nations.
And I shall set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. And the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God from that day onward. And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them.
Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Now I shall restore the fortunes of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I shall be jealous for My holy name. And they shall forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. And I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.
Ezekiel 39:21-29
In the first paragraph, God states His purpose for defeating the enemies of Israel so the nations, and Israel itself, will know and recognize what God has done. In the second paragraph, God states His intention to keep His promise to bring back the scattered exiles, particularly of the House of Israel (the Northern tribes lead by Ephraim). This is particularly important as Ezekiel earlier wrote of a special unification of Judah and Ephraim.
And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, “For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions;” then take another stick and write on it, “For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.” Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
Ezekiel 37:16-17
It is necessary that this prophecy of reunification be completed prior to the antimessiah coming to power because the antimessiah is prophesied to be opposed to the brotherhood of Judah and Ephraim. Therefore, the joining of Ephraim to Judah must precede or immediately coincide with the start of the Great Tribulation and the antimessiah’s actions described by the prophet Zechariah and the false shepherd.
Then I [the false shepherd] cut my second staff, Union, in pieces, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Zechariah 11:14
Jerusalem at the Center
The prophet Zechariah spoke concerning the end when Jerusalem would be the center of controversy for the world.
Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. And it will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.
Zechariah 12:2-3
This prophecy has already taken shape in our day and generation—another evidence that we are the final generation. No matter who tries to force Israel and the Jews from Jerusalem, they do not prevail. In fact, harm comes to them, whether it is a national leader or a nation. We have watched the United Nations and their prejudice displayed against the Jews and Jerusalem. This is a fact. The Palestinians want Jerusalem because the Jews want it. The world of Islam does not care about Jerusalem. Yassar Arafat’s interpretation of the Koran with Mohamed reaching the “farthest mosque” is a contrived excuse to put Jerusalem in contention. The world has bought into a lie and now the world of Islam is like a poison to the western nations.
Recent political moves to isolate Israel and make them give up some of Jerusalem will result in disaster for the world. Israel will never yield on this point; Israel can’t yield on this point. Jerusalem is not a Jewish settlement. Jerusalem is not negotiable. Jerusalem is the City of the King. Jerusalem is the center of the world, the bull’s-eye of end-time Bible prophecy. This is the city that the Messiah returns to. It is the reason why the Messiah returns to destroy all nations. The more the nations try to divide Jerusalem and the land of Israel, the closer we get to the Day of the Lord.
And it will come about in that day that I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:9
Late last year, the new EU President from Sweden passed a resolution by the EU calling for the division of Jerusalem based on the 1967 borders, meaning that the Old City including the Jewish quarter and the Kotel (Western Wall) will fall under Palestinian control. There is simply no way that this decision will stand.
God’s Measurements for the Last Years and Days
God’s units of measurement for the end-time prophecies include years, seasons, months, days, and even the measuring of evenings and mornings. Once all of these timed prophecies are laid out together, a specific pattern emerges. First, the 3 ½ years called the Great Tribulation comes in the middle of seven specific Hebrew years. The Great Tribulation must begin in the late winter and conclude with the resurrection and gathering of the saints (Trumpets), the Day of the Lord (Atonement), and the physical return of the Messiah to join us (Tabernacles) in the late summer/ early fall. This is why the Apostle Paul said that we no longer needed any instruction concerning the return of the Lord and years and the seasons.
Now as to the times [3 ½ years] and the epochs [seasons of winter and summer], brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
I Thessalonians 5:1-2
The Messiah Himself warned us that the Great Tribulation would begin near the season of winter and that His return would be in the summer.
The beginning of the great tribulation…
Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath; for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.
Matthew 24:15,20-21
The return of the Messiah…
But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;
Matthew 24:29-32
Did you notice that Sabbath was also to be connected to the day that the flight begins? But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath… The prophecy is so specific that the right combination of years places the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) precisely when the prophecy is fulfilled.
The prophet Daniel tells us exactly how many days the Great Tribulation will last – 1,290 days. He tells us that the blessed day comes, when the Messiah returns to Jerusalem, is on the 1,335th day after the Great Tribulation begins. Therefore, we know that the days immediately after the tribulation are 45 days (the difference of 1290 and 1335). We know that the ministry of the two witnesses is 1,260 days, and those in Judea who flee, when the abomination is set up, are protected for the same 1,260 days. We know that darkness will fall upon the earth in the final days of the great tribulation exactly 2300 evenings and mornings (sunsets and sunrises), or 1150 days after the abomination of desolation begins, resulting in approximately 5 months of darkness. We know this date will coincide with the plague of darkness that fell upon ancient Egypt. We know that the antimessiah will come to power in an April and 42 months later be cast down by the Messiah in an October. For those of you who want to know more about these specific prophecies, we offer a DVD teaching entitled Time Will Tell, which includes a timeline that outlines all the events of the Great Tribulation.
For now, let me conclude this article with this.
The Future Combination that Fits
The late winter of 2013 (February and March) to the late summer of 2016 (September and October) match the time prophecies precisely. This is no small thing. There is no other combination of years in our generation that match with such precision.
Hopefully, you will consider what I’ve presented here and pray for the mind of the Spirit. Some of you may want to call me a false teacher or a false prophet, but consider – am I prophesying here? No. I am comparing modern history and current events with the written prophecies. Others are looking at the next seven years also. For example, at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this past December 2009, Prince Charles announced in essence that the world had better accomplish something at the conference since “the nations have only seven years left before they lose the levers of control.”
Monte
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