TRIBULATION NEAR
The Day of the Lord (The Tribulation)
As a student of the Bible and one that has always been deeply blessed by bible prophecy and prophetic ministry, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are extremely close to the time when Jesus will appear for His Church. I discern very deeply that what I (and many others) have been shown is through His anointing and is not vain speculation but rather a further fulfillment that in the last days: “knowledge shall be increased.” There are some Christians who are seeing and understanding these prophecies more clearly as His coming draws near. I don’t believe that many will accept the prophetic interpretation of this book prior to these events. I now know that I am writing this down primarily for those that are left behind and survive the coming war and chaos, to instruct them in the power and prophetic plan of Almighty God and to cause even more to trust and follow Jesus, who is the only Way, Truth and Life. (If you have found this book and realize that you were “left behind”, do everything to let people know that God, in His mercy, had showed many Christians His exact plan prior to His return but that people would not listen. His salvation, mercy and love are still available to you but you must live by faith alone in Jesus. Do everything you can to share this book with people especially the Jews in Israel! They are still His first chosen people! Give your life to Jesus, He is the only answer!)
You will find this message “brazenly dogmatic” or it will inspire you to pursue Jesus and worship Him. I am simply writing what God has put on my heart, or I am in gross error. I certainly don't claim that I’ve not gotten it 100% correct and I am open to reproof and correction. Putting your faith in a particular doctrinal scenario is not what I’m espousing. Our salvation does not hinge upon whether we are pre, pre-wrath, mid or post-tribulationists. However, the Rapture will be a total surprise and will happen “unexpectedly...like a thief” but it will not catch “unaware,” those who are ready, watching and waiting. There are also distinct promises in the word that assure us that He will not pour out His wrath and judgment upon His Bride. That fact precludes us from being present during His intense, wrathful judgment, which will happen during most, if not all of the Tribulation period. (Our faith must not rest on theories or guesswork but I do rest upon God’s word). The church may however, go through some intense persecution in the western church. It has already begun but it is not God’s wrath that Christians are now experiencing nor will experience. “He has not destined us (Christians) for His wrath.” The church will experience His judgment however, because judgment first comes to the house of the Lord in order to bring repentance. The flurry of natural disasters that the world is now experiencing, is the result of fallen mankind. These current cataclysms (birth pangs) are due to the grievous increase of evil in the world and the work of the devil, which is on the increase because man has sought out the devil’s power and invited his presence instead of seeking the Lord. I don’t know the timing or the exact sequence of events but God has enlightened a large portion of scriptures that I believe pertains to an imminent major fulfillment of prophecy.
Israel, is God’s time clock. When it became a nation under it’s own flag and autonomous rule back in 1948, the clock moved past the 11th hour concerning prophetic destiny for Israel, the church, and the world. Israel had not been an autonomous nation for nearly 2500 years. Israel and Jerusalem is the key in understanding why it is that we are standing on the threshold of Christ’s return, to begin what is known in the scriptures as “the Day of the Lord.” Jesus foretold that “Jerusalem would be trodden under foot by the gentiles until the times of the gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24) My interpretation and many bible scholars agree that part of this interpretation means that when the “church age” is over and Christ has removed (raptured, 1 Thess.4:16,17) the church from the earth, His primary focus on this earth will be upon Israel and particularly, Jerusalem. (Anyone left that calls on the name of Jesus will be saved for eternity but will go through the hell of the “tribulation” [Matt. 24:21, Rev 7:14]) David the Psalmist foretold that the Lord would “rebuild Zion and appear in His glory there.” (Ps.102:16) We are told by Jesus; “now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, (His coming) at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” (Matt. 24:32-34)
Israel is often depicted as the “fig tree” in bible prophecy. There is no doubt that Jesus was not speaking of His generation but of a future generation, when Israel would once again “bloom and set forth its leaves.” Could it be that this is that generation? There are many other prophecies that confirm that as fact.
“While they are saying peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.” (1Thess.5:3) “Peace and safety” happens to be the slogan that a recent former Prime Minister ran upon (Netanyahu ‘96). This slogan appeared on his political banners en masse! The Bible says that Jerusalem would become a “cup of trembling” to the nations and a “rock of offense” to any nation that would dare lift it. (Zech 12:2,3) God have mercy on any nation that tries to destroy Israel, but of course, that is exactly what the nations of the world are now preparing to do. Any nation that tries to touch the "apple of God's eye" will face God's judgment. Any nation who blesses Israel will receive God's blessings. America has long been Israel's most important ally against its dangerous neighbors. President Bush won his presidency by swaying Christian conservatives and Jews by proclaiming his utmost concern for Israel. But eight months into his presidency, Mr. Bush is being influenced by bad advisors who now want to implement the evil Mitchell Plan that will impose drastic steps upon Israel. It includes statehood for the Palestinians, which would be the death knell for Israel. President Bush is now pursuing the same evil plan that the Clinton administration instigated against Israel. Mr. Bush wants to appease racial and religious, Arab hatred of Israel by punishing Israel. Mr. Sharon proclaimed that Israel "would not be treated like 1938 Czechoslovakia." In other words, he believes that the US may be offering up Israel as a sacrifice to the Arabs. Soon after George Bush began to embrace the Mitchell Plan in August 2001, we endured the worst attack ever upon our country. This was not God's judgment against us as Rev. Falwell gleefully proclaimed, but rather indicated that God has lifted His hand of protection over America, because of our treatment of Israel. Mr. Bush's reaction to the current Middle East climate is to mistreat Israel even further by pushing her into rushed negotiations with Arafat in order to achieve Palestinian statehood. This is tantamount to poking God in the eye after He warned us that we are on the wrong track. God will protect Israel, with or without the US! The Arab nations are being polarized against Israel and America. Their hearts are being hardened in exactly the same way that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. All those who attack Israel will be destroyed. The war of Gog and Magog could commence at any moment. It will be a flash war that will decimate Israel's enemies. God's primary reason for America's existence has been to help create and then protect and defend Israel. We were blessed in advance by God for this purpose, which is why GOD SHED HIS GRACE on us! When we cease to bless Israel, and actually sow seeds towards her destruction, we will lose God's hand of protection over our country!
World opinion is increasingly against Israel. Syria is “saber rattling” worse than ever and is baiting Israel to respond. Syria is sponsoring the present wave of terrorist bombings in Israel and the “peace process” is now terminal. This is the gravest moment yet in Israel’s history and Damascus is about to be destroyed. The complicity of the Palestinians and the Syrians against Israel has signed the death warrant of Syria and of the Palestinians. Although the Palestinians have sworn the destruction of Israel, the U.N. and the U.S. are holding Israel accountable for all of the trouble in the Middle East. They are pressing Israel into a corner from where they must either strike out or acquiesce to world pressure. Someday soon there will be a 7-year treaty signed that will mark the beginning of “the great tribulation”. The antichrist himself will preside over this agreement and it will be obvious to Christians then, (if we are still here) who he is. Will this happen during a window of vulnerability and weakness for Israel, perhaps just after a major Mideast war that destroys Israel’s enemies and nearly devastates Israel, or will it happen just before a major war due to confusion and vulnerability? Israel is presently being “brow beat” into a corner by our current presidential administration (Clinton) and by world opinion. (Is our president the “one” who by “peace would destroy many?” Clinton is definitely gifted in using “flatteries” [Daniel 11:21,32,34, lies] to conquer the American public). In such a weakened state, Israel may welcome such a leader as a Messiah for the purpose of “protection and security”. (2Thess.2: 3-9) But a “remnant” of at least 144,000 will not! (Will Clinton be given another chance by the U.N. to negotiate the final Middle East peace accord, since he came so close during his presidency? Will Clinton become the "President of the world?")
Any nation that comes against Israel or tries to cause her harm will eventually be destroyed! The war of Gog and Magog is case in point. The war of Gog and Magog isn't likely to be the final war of Armageddon, which will take place at the end of the tribulation, at least 7 years or more after the first major war. However, the invaders called “Gog and Magog” are listed clearly in Ezekiel 38, they are NOT ALL of the nations of the earth, as is described in Zechariah 14. This leads me to believe that Ezekiel is prophesying about a major war that will precede Armageddon. This future war is brewing right now as Israel is facing extreme threats from within and without. (At this writing, Oct. ‘00, it seems clear to me that America will probably be out of the prophetic picture during the last war, possibly due to a pre-emptive strike against her, such as a massive, terrorist campaign).
Armageddon will host all of the remaining countries in the world at the time, under the leadership of antichrist. “For I will gather ALL the nations against Jerusalem to battle...then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations...In that day (second coming) His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives...split in it’s middle from east to west...then the Lord will come and all the Holy Ones with Him (dead in Christ, the raptured and the angels)...and the Lord will be King over all the earth.” (Zech.14:2-9) Is there a chronology to the last few chapters of Zechariah that intimate something truly astounding? Does chapter 12 reveal the sequence of events, of Jesus in the air and clouds, coming to reveal Himself to Israel and the world well before the battle of Armageddon? Will He come in glory and power in the heat of that first battle, over Israel’s very existence, to protect her from annihilation? Will Jesus then resume His role as the “Angel of the Lord,” who dwelt in a pillar of fire and smoke, after the “church age” is over (Raptured)? Will He temporarily return as the 'Captain of the Hosts', to protect His remnant from complete destruction during the time of 'Jacob’s Trouble'? The answer is a trumpet-like YES!
There are important and distinct differences that transpire between Zech. 12 and Zech. 14 that indicate to me two different wars. It indicates a first war and then the arrival of Jesus at Armageddon. Zech. 12, prophesies a restored Israel that has become “a cup of trembling to all the peoples all around,” which it has become right now. The second part of that verse prophesies the “siege against Jerusalem.” I believe that this context refers to Jerusalem in a future siege, when it has been in the hands of the Jews, which means it refers to the present age, not prior to Israel being restored. God promises in verse 3 to “make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; ALL THAT LIFT IT SHALL BE SLASHED. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” I believe that we have been seeing this happen with growing intensity since Israel became a nation, but Israel is presently in the process of fulfilling the next few verses: “I will strike every horse with panic and his rider with madness. (There was intense panic while Sadaam Hussein was bombing Israel with nerve gas and biological agents) And I will open My eyes on the house of Judah...And the leaders of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be strengthened in Jehovah of Hosts, their God.’ In that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a hearth of fire among cut grain. AND THEY SHALL DEVOUR ALL THE PEOPLES ALL AROUND.... AND JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED AGAIN.... IN THAT DAY JEHOVAH SHALL PROTECT AROUND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM...LIKE THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH BEFORE THEM.” (vv4-8) The early stages of this are happening right now, and actually some of this could pertain to the history of Israel since it’s rebirth in 1948. The destiny of these modern Philistines, (now called Palestinians), is completely documented in the Bible. The prophet Obadiah reveals the exact destiny of the “children of Esau,” whom the Palestinians are descended. “The House of Jacob shall be a fire and the House of Joseph a flame; BUT THE HOUSE OF ESAU SHALL BE STUBBLE, THEY SHALL KINDLE THEM AND DEVOUR THEM, AND NO SURVIVOR SHALL REMAIN OF THE HOUSE OF ESAU.“ (OBADIAH 18). I pray for the Palestinians, that many will see that they are being used by the other Arab nations as a thorn in Israel’s side. These Arab nations will sacrifice the Palestinians in order to carry out a concerted “holy war” against Israel. In a battle for its very existence, Israel will be overrun, but will respond with deadly force. Israel recently obtained several submarines. At least one of which carries nuclear weapons, possibly in the form of accurate cruise missiles, which we refused to sell them. They also now have an accurate anti-missile missile, the Arrow. Barak’s foolish leadership and insane offers to Arafat actually inflamed the Palestinians because those concessions were taken as admitting that Israel was in the wrong. Stronger, hawkish leadership will soon be in place and hateful Palestinians that are religiously insane are instilling the Israeli resolve because of the suicidal attacks. Earlier suicide bombings helped to elect a “hardliner,” (Netanyahu, ‘96) and Israel, although polarized, is getting more guts not to give into terrorists. Since this terrorism is sponsored and encouraged by Syria and Iran, Palestinian terrorism may in fact be the Syrian “axe” that is going to be used to provoke and quicken Israel into a pre-emptive strike against Syria, and a massive annihilation of Palestinians. “And it shall be in that day; I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (v.9) There are other major portions of scripture that confirm the awesome and victorious arrival of Messiah to intervene on behalf of Israel in a future moment in history when Israel would once again exist and be in a state of siege. The entire 3rd chapter of Habakkuk, although written in past tense, is confirmation of the exact same appearance of Jesus prophesied in Zechariah 12!
Habakkuk 3:2 “.... O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
3 God came from Teman (Sinai), The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.
4 His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden.
5 Before Him went pestilence, and fever followed at His feet.
6 He stood and measured the earth; (also in Zech. ch. 2) He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; the curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
8 O Lord, were You displeased with the rivers, Was Your anger against the rivers, Was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation?
9 your bow was made quite ready; Oaths were sworn over your arrows. Selah You divided the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw You and trembled; The overflowing of the water passed by. The deep uttered its voice, And lifted its hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; At the light of Your arrows they went, At the shining of Your glittering spear.
12 You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger.
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah
14 You thrust through with his own arrows The head of his villages. They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret.
15 You walked through the sea with Your horses, Through the heap of great waters.
16 When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. ¶To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.
Habakkuk was given a vision not of the past, but of the distant future! Yes, this is written as though the writer personally experienced it because he did! He saw all of this but it was a “revival of His work in the midst of the years.” The coming of the Lord will be comparable to the way He protected and fought for ancient Israel! This is a prophecy of the Lord coming to the atmosphere of this earth in glorious intervention. He is coming to “measure the earth” (v. 6). This measuring by the Angel of the Lord, is also a major theme in Ezekiel 40 in which the Lord is coming to measure His temple and prepare it for His eventual rule and Kingdom. These scriptures all refer to a chronology that precedes His glorious appearing with His saints and angels, these scriptures refer to a visitation of the Angel of the Lord (Jesus), at the time of the war of Gog and Magog which is also confirmed by Ezekiel 38. When Jesus comes to the atmosphere of the earth, His righteousness will shake it to it’s core and every soul will be “measured.” “Every valley shall be exalted and every hill made low.” It will mark the beginning of the time of the tribulation. Whether or not Jesus reveals Himself to the whole world, He will reveal Himself to Israel and it will be like when Jesus, as the Angel of the Lord, was present in the mighty pillar of fire and smoke.
I will venture to proclaim that any physical or bodily appearance of God in the Old Testament, was the pre-incarnate Jesus! (Many that believe that Jesus was a mere creation of God will be prone to disagree. JESUS IS GOD!) The Lord “looked down” through that mighty pillar of fire and destroyed the armies of Pharaoh and will do somewhat the same to all of Israel’s current enemies! The last few verses of Habakkuk 3 is a prayer that laments the effect of the calamity but confirms the spiritual rebirth and strength of the remnant of Israel!
The book of Zephaniah also confirms the same fulfillment of God being found “in her midst,” that is, in the midst of Israel after a time of great conflict- a time when God has poured out His wrath of His indignation, (Zephaniah 3:8) upon the nations. It is a time when God has purified His remnant and set them apart in Israel. This may be referring to the millenium but perhaps it is revealing a time during the Tribulation when God will restore, protect and once again dwell among His people:
3:14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.
17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
18 "I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, To whom its reproach is a burden.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes," Says the Lord. (Zephaniah 3:14-20)
Another extensive revelation of the Rapture and the Day of the Lord is found in the Psalms. There are some scholars that have found indicators in the Psalms that there is a prophetic correlation between many (if not all) of the the Psalms and the years of this century. What I have found, is a profound prophetic parenthesis (sign of Alpha and Omega) in relation to Psalms 45-50 and Psalms 95-105. Through these verses, I can see the Lord’s mighty hands like bookends in the timeline of eternity proclaiming: this fifty years (‘48-’98) are held for my people to again posess the land and to find Messiah and to rebuild MY Temple! We are presently in the last Jubilee year prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus! The Jubilee year in ancient Israel, was a year of the forgiving of debts and the restoration of the land back to the rightful owners. In this case, the land of Israel (original borders), back to God and the people of Israel and the people of Israel, back to God! God’s proclaimation for the Jews to return to Israel and the calling of the Bride to be at His side in Psalm 45, reveal His prophetic plan of the ages. Jesus is restoring Israel and going to rapture His Bride in the same epoch in time! The beginning of this glorious sequence begins with a prophetic picture of Jesus as king of Kings and Lord of Lords, coming in awesome power and glory. It is the same picture portrayed in Revelation 19 that prophesies His “Glorious Appearing” at the end of the tribulation:
Ps. 45:2 “You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.
3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty.
4 And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; The peoples fall under You.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
8 All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad. (the same anointing as mentioned in the Song of Solomon 4:14, 5:1, 5:5, 5:13, which is a love duet between the Bridegroom and the Bride)
9 Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir. (the Bride is with Him)
10 Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father's house;
11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
12 And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor.
13 The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold.
14 She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. (Could the “virgins” possibly be a reference to the Remnant of Israel which has been redeemed, sealed and brought through the Tribulation, now being brought unto the King of Kings)
15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King's palace.
16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.
17 I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.
So, this parenthetical set of chapters of prophecy (Ps. 45-50 & 95-105) begins with a revelation of the final gathering and harvest of the “Virgins, her companions who follow her,” (the “Royal Daughter” who will already be with Christ). Psalm 46 is written as if in retrospect, from the vantage point of having entered “the King’s palace.” (45:15) Psalm 46 is a remembrance of the strength that God provided His children that went through the Tribulation: “God is our REFUGE and our STRENGTH, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah (further confirmation of a great SHAKING of the earth because of His presence)
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah (This is a mighty prophecy of His coming intervention while “God is in the midst of her.”
This could apply to His glorious second coming at the end of Armageddon but I believe that the reference to “He uttered His voice” and the way in which it is written with a touch of retrospection and yet also in the present tense: “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge,” sets it at the war of Gog and Magog. Israel is under seige: “the nations raged, the kingdoms were moved...He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire”; is definitely written from the perspective of being in Israel while the Lord intervenes for Israel in the face of anihilation.
Psalm 47 is primarily a prophetic praise Psalm that is offered after the deliverance of God recorded in Psalm 46:
“Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.
3 He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet.
4 He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. (This is the confirmation that He has already won the first battle (Gog and Magog) and the coming victory is also His (Armageddon). The Lord’s voice will be like the “sound of a trumpet” and will be the sound that all Christians hear when He trumpets; “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,” Re.1:10
“ After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying,
Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” (Rev. 4:1)
Ps 47:6 “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
9 The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted. “
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God ( “He uttered His Voice”...the voice of Jesus...the Trumpet of God!). And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thess. 4:15-18.
“ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
1Cor. 15:51,52
“And He has exalted the Horn of His people, The praise of all His saints Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the Lord! Ps.148:14 (Jesus is the Horn of His people. It has several meanings; one is strength and the other major revelation is that Jesus is the Trumpet or Cornet of His people and at the sound of the Trumpet, “we shall be changed” ( and “caught up to meet Him in the air”) So many of these Old Testament prophetic scriptures contain alot of the same prophetic symbols and visions that also appear in the New Testament concerning the Rapture of the Church.
Is it a shear coincidence that Psalm 48 has so many prophetic pictures in common with what happened in Israel in 1948? Our God is not a God of “coincidences” but of purpose. Psalm 48 begins with praising God “IN the city of our God, IN His Holy Mountain” (which was finally reconquered and retrieved in 1967) 2 “Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
3 God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge.
4 For behold, the kings assembled, They passed by together.
5 They saw it, and so they marveled; They were troubled, they hastened away.
6 Fear took hold of them there, And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, (Israel being reborn returned conquered Temple Mount to Arabs)
7 As when You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind.
8 As we have heard, So we have seen In the city of the Lord of hosts, In the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah”
9 We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple.
10 According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, And go all around her. Count her towers;
13 Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; That you may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.
This is a promise and revelation of the ultimate coming Kingdom and rule of our Lord Jesus from Jerusalem. The “birth pangs” for the rebirth of modern Israel started back in the 19th century and God then brought forth the birth of modern Israel from the ruins and horrors of the Holocaust (“Glory for ashes”). The reference in v. 13 to “tell it to the generation following” is speaking of our generation! We are nearing the end of the previous generation, the one that saw Israel reborn out of the ashes of war.
If the Psalms 45-50 are a promise of the revelation of the hand of God, the rebirth of Israel (1948) and His coming Kingdom, then Psalms 95-105 indicate our reaction to the fulfillment:
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Ps.95:1,2,6
“Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth..... For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth. Ps. 96:8,9,13.
“The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad! Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. A fire goes before Him, And burns up His enemies round about. His lightnings light the world; The earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory....Zion hears and is glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your judgments, O Lord. For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.” Ps. 97:1-6, 8-12.
“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity. Ps. 98
The buzz right now is about who should posess Jerusalem, as if there is any question. The U.N., the pope, the U.S., and the Arab countries, want to divide Jerusalem even further and make it an “international city.” This will never happen! After Israel has destroyed it’s threatening neighbors, the other Arab countries along with Russsia, will come against Israel! It is also in this context that we have a miraculous revelation of Jesus: “And they shall look on Me whom they have peirced; and they shall mourn for Him...” This is a revelation of the suffering Messiah that the Jews rejected. They must personally receive the suffering Messiah before they can receive Him as the King of Kings that they have always been expecting! A time of great mourning and repentance will sweep the land of Israel “and in that day a fountain shall be opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and impurity.” (Zech. 13:1) The entire chapter of Zech. 13, intimates a time of spiritual restoration in Israel: “I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall be remembered no more, says Jehovah of Hosts.” (v.2) Israel will go through a fight for it’s existance and survive against all odds but “two parts in it shall be cut off and perish, but the third shall be left in it.” (v.8) Two thirds of Israel will perish during that war of Gog and Magog but the Lord promises in verse 9 that “I will bring the third part through the fire, and I will refine them as silver is refined. And I will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, It is My people and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.” (v.9) It is clear that Zech. 12-14 is another graphic timeline of the Day of the Lord.
Many of the greatest prohecy experts agree that the war of Gog and Magog will precede the final battle of “Armageddon.” Many of these experts believe that this invasion and war is imminent, including: Hal Lindsey, Grant Jeffrey, J.R. Church, Zola Leavitt, the Lalondes, Jack Van Impe, Dave Hunt, David Wilkerson, Gary Stearman, Dave Breese, and many others. Syria is on manuevers and Israel has confirmed by satellite surveilence that Syria has new, and more deadly missles armed with biological and perhaps even nuclear warheads. Israel may soon be forced into a first strike against Iraq, Syria or Iran. When Israel destroys Syria it will fulfill the major prophecy about Damascus being made a “ruinous heap.” (Isaiah 17:1) Iraq (Babylon, Chaldeans), is also prophesied to be destroyed and “burn forever.”
If all of the nations that come against Israel are to see our glorified Christ, would He not need to be revealed from the heavens so that they all could “look on me (Jesus) whom they have pierced”? All of Israel will see Jesus and at least the “remnant” will realize that He in fact is Messiah, coming to defend Israel and to reveal Himself. Jesus Himself, will be the “sign of the Son of Man” prophesied by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24: 30 and His revelation will cause Israel to fall into deep repentance and mourning. “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet to gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:30, 31 “His presence alone will be enough to cause the enemy to run in mass confusion and pandemonium as in the battle of Gideon and the midianites. Many of the invading soldiers may even realize what is happening and who is attacking them (God Almighty). That would cause anyone to go into cardiac arrest! Zechariah chapter 14 declares the final arrival of the Lord to this earth with His raptured saints which will happen at least 7 years after His initial intervention and revelation! Does the actual touchdown of the Lord to the Mount of Olives in chapter 14, indicate that chapter 12 and 14 are two distinctly different revelations of Christ in His glory, or are they referring to the same time frame of the 2nd coming? I believe that chap. 12 and 14 both speak of the entire time frame of “the Day of the Lord.” The 12th chapter initiates the “time of Jacob’s trouble” and precedes the ultimate “Day of judgment” by several years and the 14th chapter is all about the final war and “Day of judgment,” what most Christians would call; the 2nd Coming of Christ to establish His millenial kingdom on earth. Chapter 12 is the “Alpha” (beginning) and chapter 14 is the “Omega” (end) of the Day of the Lord. There is a very strong case that there will soon be a war (Gog and Magog) in which Jesus will intervene and reveal Himself to the nations that will battle several years prior to Armageddon. The Bride will have been snatched up (raptured) before or perhaps even during the outbreak of this war in which Russia and it’s Arab hordes, will also launch a preemptive strike of nuclear or biological weapons on America. It is also very possible that America has become part of the powerful “Babylon” that is mentioned in the bible that will be destroyed. America’s response (submarine launch of nukes) may be the force used that will result in the destruction of Russia (almost complete, 5/6th’s) that is prophesied in Ezekiel. I don’t write this to incite fear but only what God has layed on my heart and to exhort the reader to put your complete trust in Jesus. I believe that there is great reason to believe that the antichrist’s “Roman Empire,” will be the predominant super power after this world war. The antichrist will quickly consolidate his power and broker a “security agreement” with Israel after this war. Israel will be in no shape to argue with him or negotiate a wise agreement. By the time that the antichrist has come to the temple mount (to declare himself God), it will be made clear to all surviving Israelis, that they have made a pact with the devil himself!
There are perilous times ahead but I believe that the Bride of Christ will experience very little of it, at least not His judgment, for “He has not destined us for wrath.” Christians will be “snatched” before very much of this will transpire. I believe that the rapture will take place, “in the twinkling of an eye”. It will happen “in an instant” and will be an awesome, ecstatic surprise. Some are calling this an “escapist” mentality but if they want to hang around to experience the wrath and judgment of God, perhaps they will. The Bible tells us to “comfort one another” with the message of His coming and His preservation. The rapture will happen soon, I have no doubt, and we must get our lamps filled with the oil of the Holy Ghost and be shining brightly while we wait for Him. We must seek, wait on, abide in and worship Jesus. He has begun a mighty quickeningl because He wants all of us to be ready for His coming. The worship and love emanating from these believers, is beginning to have prophetic resemblance to the wedding supper that is soon to take place. Jesus is doing a deep and quickening work in those children that are called to the wedding feast. He is already pouring out the wine and the Fire and the mighty Wind of the Holy Ghost on His Bride, in further fulfillment of Joel 2 and many other bible prophecies. In the bible I see an increasing correlation between the church and the prophecies concerning Israel. The church does not replace Israel in any way. The church that will be raptured is a spiritual pre-fulfillment of what the Lord is going to do for Israel. (save her, bless her, fill her, come for her).
There is a very great probability that we will soon face the worst economic crash that the world has ever seen. This will mercifully show all that claim Christ as Saviour, in just whom or what they have put their trust. If you are depending on your bank account or 401k, and in love with riches and full of the pride of life, you will fall apart when the crash happens. I pray that you will fall to your knees and not get up until you have repented and know the forgiveness and presence of the Lord! Those that hold God in contempt for not shielding them from the all of the hardships of life, will fall away. The church may also face an hour of intensive persecution, perhaps even detainment. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “ This verse always comes to my mind when I sense that detainment or intense persecution may happen just prior to the Rapture. Thousands, perhaps millions of Christians have suffered intense persecution, torture and murder in our generation. Our only hope is Jesus! Hatred toward Christians world wide is growing. The onset of a massive natural catastrophe such as a volcanic eruption, earthquakes, and killer weather, may also soon shake our everyday lives.
Many of the orthodox Jewry in Israel believe that Moshiach (Messiah) is coming soon! They have even taken out billboard ads, declaring His coming. Most of them are still looking for a political deliverer and some will see the antichrist as this long awaited messiah. Others will know better and fully accept Yeshua as their Messiah. They are known as the 144,000 Jews that will be saved and sealed, (Rev. 7) during the tribulation. One very important fact about most of the Orthodox Jews is that they believe that Messiah must first come, in order for the temple to be rebuilt. My proposal, (a visible revelation of Jesus to Israel) will certainly cause them to want to build it. The newly born again Messianic Jews, will definitely want to build it for Him and they may even be the majority of Jews in that day. These new believers certainly will be the most passionate Jews of that day. It is doubtful that we will see the temple under construction before the rapture. However, there are numerous miraculous discoveries that indicate that Jesus is beckoning the Jewish people to rebuild the temple.
A few months ago a miracle that could result in WWIII, was born in Israel. The possible miracle was the birth of a ceremonial red heifer. It’s parents were white and black, under no circumstance should they have produced any kind of red heifer. The Rabbis are declaring it as a sign from God and the Arabs are more than on edge and afraid that the Jews will now try to rebuild the temple. The “ashes of the red heifer” are of utmost importance in the purification and consecration of the temple and it’s instruments of worship. It is truly a sign from God. The red heifer represented a rare purity in the Old Testament. Only 9 of them were ever sacrificed according to the scriptural and rabbinical record. This heifer, would be the 10th ever sacrificed. The number 10, is a number of completion in the Bible! These red heifers, needed to be sacrificed at the age of three years and without their ashes, temple worship and sacrifice is not possible. There has also been a twenty year old excavation in a cave in Israel, that was identified by an ancient copper scroll from the Dea Sea Scrolls of Qumran. This cave has already produced many temple treasures such as an ancient container of temple incense (1500 lbs.) and a clay bottle of the sacred anointing oil. The ingredients of the oil were confirmed as having all of the biblical ingredients, some of which are now extinct. Without the anointing oil, the priests could not anoint the many instruments of sacrifice and worship, nor the holy of holies. They are still searching for a container of the ancient ashes of the red heifer and I believe that they will soon find it if they have not already. There is good reason to believe that the miracle heifer is in great danger. An armed guard is posted, but the ramification of this red heifer to the Moslem world is grave indeed. To the Moslems, it causes fear of the rebuilding the Jewish temple and “desecrating” (in their minds) the temple mount. Whatever happens, there will be the ashes of some red heifer made available to the temple priests. The temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices will have commenced before the antichrist abolishes the sacrifice and declares himself to be God three and a half years into the tribulation. There could be a significant factor in the age of this miracle heifer, in that if it is to be used in temple rites, it must be sacrificed when it is three years old (1999), according to the scriptures.
I believe that “the Day of the Lord” chronology is delineated in the book of Joel. Chap.1 starts with a desolate Israel and then, war. (invasion?) In chap. 2, the trumpet of war is blown in the land and the Lord; “utters (trumpets?) His voice before His army; for strong is He who carries out His Word. The Day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, and who can endure it?” This will be the day when God destroys those nations that have blitzed Israel with destruction. In verse 16 there is a reference to the Bridegroom coming “out of His room” (heaven?) and “the Bride out of Her bridal chamber.” (earth?) In this context, is this verse a clue that before or during the invasion of Israel the rapture will take place?
Israel’s own leaders have recently said that war is imminent and probable during the next year (97/98). Syria, Iran, Iraq and Libya are all sabre rattling and saying ominous things. They are armed to the teeth with weapons of mass destruction and will not stop until Israel is destroyed. The Palestinians are demonically crazed and willing to start a war over anything. If there is a war, there is no doubt among orthodox Jews and bible believing Christians that it will be the war in which Russia will blitzkrieg Israel along with all of the Arab nations already in alignment with Russia. The Arab cowards, fearful of Israel’s nuclear arsenal, will enlist the biggest bully to try to control Israel’s nuclear threat. I predict that at least for a few weeks or days, Russia will bully Israel into nuclear submission. Syria will have been pre-emptively destroyed and this will cause the war of “Gog and Magog.” When it has been overrun, Israel will use it’s “Samson” weapon upon it’s own soil against the invaders. This will result in the obliteration of the Arab countries and 5/6ths of the Russian military. This war is not just a possibility. This will happen! The Israelis are said to have perhaps the worlds most “cleanest” neutron bombs of all the world’s arsenals, and also some of the smallest blast yeilds from some of their tactical theater weapons. This would enable them to explode numerous weapons over vast armies, even on their own soil with limited damage to structures, but devastation to all life. The fallout or radiation would also be short lived. Such weaponry could even be used over Jerusalem if it were overrun by intruders without much collateral damage, but the people would all be melted. These tactics seem to be confirmed in many places in the prophets. The outcome of this war, will also mean the consolidation of power by Europe and the antichrist. The Antichrist will rule the world in accordance to the 10 regional divisions of the globe as proscribed by The United Nations. (in existence) Europe will be the only “super power” in existence and it will be firmly in the hands of antichrist.
Israel will undoubtedly react with it’s arsenal of atomic weapons (Samson perogative) although there is every reason to think that the Lord Himself and His angels will obliterate the enemy. Russia and it’s hoards will be destroyed. (Ezekiel 38) “Set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, (rt. of Russia) Meschech, (rt. of Moscow) and Tubal (rt. for a region of Russia) and prophesy against him.”...I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out and all your army, horses and horseman, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; Persia, (Iran) Ethiopia....Gomer...Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north, with all it’s troops....in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, (modern Israel) whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but it’s people were brought out from the nations and they are living securely, all of them. You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land...you will say; ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages...to capture spoil and plunder....It will come about that I shall bring you against My land, in order that the nations may know Me when I shall be sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.... And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground... And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord...”
Ezek. 39:1; “THEREFORE, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel.... 4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. 6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles (America?): and they shall know that I am the Lord. 7 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.”
The chapters of Ezekiel that follow this explicit devastation of Gog and Magog, proceed to the next important matter on God’s time line; the temple. In the book titled “Entering His Presence,” I explore the significance of how “the Day of the Lord” in Ezekiel 38 and 39, is immediately followed by several chapters that deal with the Lord measuring His temple and then coming to dwell in it. This chronology of text and context, for consecutive chapters, only confirms what I will propose about “the Day of the Lord.”.
On “the Day of the Lord”, God is going to draw Russia and it’s Arab confederacy to it’s destruction. The most controversial interpretation that I have concerning “the Day of the Lord”, is the belief that; Jesus Himself, will be physically present to protect Israel and reveal Himself to the world. That it is what He means when He says that He shall be “sanctified through you before their eyes.” The “Day of the Lord”, will be preceded by the rapture of the church. Many prophecy experts believe that the church will be raptured out of this world in either days, months, perhaps even years before the war of “Gog and Magog” breaks out in the Middle east. I hope they are correct, MARANATHA! The rapture will happen at a time when many will be saying “peace and safety” and will not be expecting the supernatural disappearance of millions of people. The outbreak of a possible world war in Israel, would heighten expectations of the rapture and so I believe that the rapture will happen prior to that war, while it is still a complete surprise to believers. I believe that there is scriptural evidence to suggest that Jesus will appear in the heavens in glory and in complete revelation of Himself during this war; “...the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you ...the Lord shall be made known to His servants...” Is. 60:2,14. This scripture could also apply to the time of His “glorious appearing” with His Saints at the end of the tribulation. But, when Jesus comes to the atmosphere of this earth to take His church, will He also come to reveal Himself to Israel and protect His chosen people from annihilation? Or is it possible that He will He appear in the heavens three separate times, the first time for believers only? This interpretation may also be the fulfillment of Zech. 9:14; “Then the lord will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning; and the Lord will blow the trumpet...the Lord of Hosts will defend them.” This is further confirmation of the timing and the trumpet being blown, which is also a sign of the rapture; “For the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who remain will be [caught up] ( In Latin: Rapturos, rapture in English) together with Him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”1Thess.4:16,17. The Rapture will be like “lightning flashing from east to west.” The Saints, both living and dead will be instantaneously taken up to meet Jesus “in the clouds.” It is possible that only His children will hear the trumpet and see Him at this time. But there will be another subsequent arrival of the Lord, when He will reveal Himself to Israel and the nations that will come against her, to destroy her.
Perhaps Zechariah is prophesying the same event when he says......” In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be magnified above Judah. And it will come about in that day that I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem......they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” (Zech.12:8-10) Will Jesus visibly reveal Himself in power and glory, nail prints and all!? There will be no doubt as to whom He is for; “BEHOLD HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, AND EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM; EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM; AND ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN OVER HIM. (Rev. 1:7) I believe that this may be a reference to the time of that first war when He will reveal Himself to Israel and the world. Wouldn’t this scenario be the ultimate in power, love, boldness, mercy, deliverance and GLORY! Will it be His very presence that will cause the earth to shake and the hills to “melt like wax” at that time?(Ps.97:5) His appearance, will have both wonderful and catastrophic effect upon the world. I believe that His presence will have a quickening affect on all mankind. For the short while that He reveals Himself, the world and all it’s inhabitants will be made extremely aware of their sinful condition. I believe that most people still on the earth, will continue to deny and even hate the Lord, despite this vivid revelation of Jesus. They will reason it away as some sort of hoax. I believe that the devil will rush in with his deceptions and his explainations as well. The devil is already spreading enormous lies and conditioning the masses to accept an occultic explanation of “aliens and space ships” that will undoubtedly “invade” the earth even seconds after the rapture. These “aliens”, are nothing but demons that have been invited by people through the occult. Holy Ghost filled Christians have nothing at all to fear of such defeated little demonic worms unless through ignorance or disobedience they have invited demonic activity. Even then, repentance and deliverance will send them on their way. The presence of the Holy Spirit in so many tabernacles, (believers) is what makes the devil’s worldwide coup; impossible. But as soon as the restrainer (the Holy Spirit in us) has been removed (Saints raptured), the devil will have free reign on this earth, until we come back with Jesus to lock up the destroyer at Armageddon.
I will further develop the possibility that the book of Joel is the outline for “the Day of the Lord.” Could it be possible that after the invasion of Israel by “Gog and Magog”, and Gog’s consequent destruction at the hand of Jesus and the heavenly hosts, that either during that war or afterward, the Lord will physically reveal Himself as the Redeemer of Israel? If after this earth shaking revelation, many in Israel accept Yeshua Ha ’Mashiy- ach, would it not cause the Lord to “pour out His Spirit upon all flesh” ? Especially upon the Jewish remnant that will receive Jesus. Thousands of Jews are receiving Jesus as their Messiah even now. Will His supernatural appearance during the war of ‘Gog and Magog’, be the reason that the 144,000 chosen remnant Jews turn to Jesus during the early part of the tribulation?
After “removing the northern army” (Joel 2:20,) and after promising them the “new wine and oil” (v.19) Joel says that they “will be satisfied in full”, (v.19) the Lord goes on to proclaim that “the fig tree (Israel) and the vine ( raptured Christians?) have yielded in full.” ( v.22) The Lord goes on to declare victory and command His children to “rejoice, O sons of Zion, and be glad in the Lord your God; for He has given you the early rain (at Pentecost, and His divine protection and outpouring of His Holy Spirit as they turned to Jesus during the tribulation) for your vindication....The early and latter rain as before.” (v. 23,24) “As before”, refers to the first outpouring on Jews of His Holy Spirit, at Pentecost; “the early rain”. The church is experiencing it’s “Latter Rain”, right now, that will bring in the ultimate harvest. This current “Latter Rain” started sometime in the 19th century in conjunction with the Jewish return to Israel, and it is becoming a deluge! I believe it to be obvious that the Lord has a plural ramification and meaning in the “rain and latter rain.” I think that to be rather obvious because part of the fulfillment started on the day of Pentecost when Peter quoted Joel about the outpouring of His Spirit. That is when it started for the church! The pouring out of His Spirit which is the return of the “rain and latter rain”, indicates the shear joy that the Lord will have in the remnant of His chosen people, finally realizing who He is, and accepting Him as their Messiah! Will it be like the first Pentecost? I believe that at the end of that war, Jesus, having supernaturally revealed Himself, will begin to bless those Jews that accept Him with overwhelming protection and spiritual and physical abundance. “Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” (Hosea 6:3) “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 2:27) After this the Lord promises to “POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND”, ( v. 28) There will be a spiritual restoration for the “remnant” of Israel during the “time of Jacob’s trouble. It will be a return to the days of spiritual greatness. The 144,000, will be supernaturally protected by God! They will proclaim Jeremiah’s prophecy of the coming kingdom of Messiah and His wedding supper: “The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the Bridegroom and the voice of the Bride...the voice of them that shall say; ‘Praise the Lord of Hosts: for the Lord is good; for His mercy endureth forever: and of them that bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord, For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 33:11)
The Lord goes on to say that awesome things would happen on earth before the ‘Day of the Lord” comes. (is fulfilled) It sounds like there will be a lot more to happen after He reveals Himself to the nations. Chapter 3 of Joel goes on to speak of the ultimate “gathering of all the nations” (3:2) The nations are “roused” to come to the “valley of Jehosaphat”, where the Lord “will sit to judge all the surrounding nations” (Armageddon)(v. 12). The Lord will again “utter His voice” but this time it will be “from JERUSALEM” (v. 16) “Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion My Holy
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