Saturday, August 24, 2013

EU Country Threatens Military Action on Syria

Western powers are considering the use of military force in Syria after a major chemical weapons attack that allegedly killed about 1000 civilians. France has recommended the use of airstrikes, while the U.S. is considering military options to punish Assad.

This follows on the heels of Western condemnation of Egyptian military's massacre of over 600 protesters. It seems, the EU and the West cannot stop thinking about Egypt and Syria. It's always Egypt this, Syria that. Egypt here, Syria there. "Egypt and Syria" to be on agenda for top diplomats meeting... on and on it goes.



Destruction of Damascus...and Civil War in Eygpt in the End Times

The Bible talks about Egypt and Syria in the end times. Isaiah 17 predicts the complete and total destruction of the city Damascus (the capital of Syria). Isaiah 19 seems to predict a civil war in Egypt, a dictatorship (possibly by the Antichrist), and the drying up of the Nile River.




Daniel 11 also states that Egypt and Syria will launch a military attack against the end times. Daniel 11 primarily discusses a historical figure called Antiochus Epiphanes. However, this prophecy transitions over to the time of the "end" in verse 35-36. Everything thereafter seems to refer to the Antichrist, and has no historical application. It says that the King of the North and King of the South will attack him. In the historical portion of Daniel 11 (verses 1-35), these terms refer to an empire in the Syrian region and Egypt. It seems this will also apply in the end times, since the same terms are used for them.

Egypt and Syria Attack the Antichrist

Daniel 11:40 describes how Syria and Egypt attack the Antichrist in his revived Roman Empire (the EU). The Antichrist then uses this attack as a pretext to counterattack and do a sweeping invasion of many other countries as well. He ultimately subjugates Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia and/or Sudan (Cushites). This is likely the "fierce king" that will rule over Egypt, prophesied in Isaiah 19.
“At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites[e] in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at[f] the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. (Daniel 11:40-45 NIV; emphasis added).

Egypt in Prophecy

So we can see how this all can fit together. Egypt is on the brink of civil war, and is angering the West, who is beginning to place small sanctions on them. Egypt is already having a water dispute with Sudan and Ethiopia, because Ethiopia is attempting to construct a dam over the Nile. Isaiah 19 seems to speak of a civil war in Egypt that ends with their subjugation by a fierce king. It also predicts the drying up of the Nile. It is interesting that the Antichrist subdues many of the nations that are currently in the water dispute. (Daniel 11:43) Furthermore, Egypt resents Western meddling in their internal affairs. This may give them a pretext for an invasion on the EU in the future.

Two Pronged Invasion of Daniel 11:40 
(Click to Enlarge)

Syria in Prophecy

The incumbent power in Syria's civil war (Assad), has very likely used chemical weapons on 1000 civilians. He also despises Western interference. Yesterday, an EU country (France) has recommended airstrikes on them, while the U.S. weighs options to "punish" Assad with a military strike. Hezbollah already works for Assad, which is severely stressing EU, because Hezbollah likes to fight Israel. Israel is not unusually aggressive, but they are particularly forceful in their retaliation. Isaiah 17 seems to imply that people leave the Syrian region because of the Israelites. Some suggest that the fulfillment of this prophecy will occur if Israel nukes Damascus.



Egypt and Syria Will Tire of Western Interference

The EU and US are both obsessed with Egypt and Syria. They are even considering military action against them.

But we prophecy watchers know that Syria and Egypt will hit first.... Egypt has the 10th largest military in the world. Syria doesn't have much of a navy, but it has a powerful ally in Russia and a very large air force.. So we can see how continuous Western interference would eventually cause them to strike first.

However, if Egypt and Syria strike first... this will unite the Common Foreign and Security Policy under the Lisbon treaty. 10 EU nations have already had a mutual defense treaty, but instead decided to transfer that power to the EU instead. This is very reminiscent of Revelation 17. After an invasion, the EU will have to coordinate the military response. The Antichrist will be in control, and use this invasion as justification to invade many other countries as well.


WEU Merger with EU (Click to Enlarge)

What Else is Happening?

Many theologians believe the Antichrist will come from a reborn Roman Empire in Europe. Just like Israel has to be reborn in the end times, so does the Roman empire. (This is what this entire website is about.)

This Antichrist will rise to power after the existence of a ten-nation confederacy in Europe (Daniel 7:24) . He will use an invasion from Egypt and probably Syria as a pretext to invade many other countries, and ultimately attack Israel (Daniel 11:40-42) He will make a contract with Israel for 7 years. (Daniel 9:27) Halfway through this contract, the Antichrist will idolize himself in the end times temple with the "abomination that causes desolation" mentioned by Jesus and the book of Daniel. (2 Thess. 2:4; Matthew 24:16)

Western European Union (Full Members in Red)

Meanwhile...

The European Union has a ten member alliance that recently consolidated into the greater European Union (called the Western European Union). Furthermore, the European Union establishes its bilateral relations with Israel and many other nations on a 7 year contract.

...And the EU has a terrible relationship with incumbent powers in Egypt and Syria.... Just as expected.



Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Why EVERY Christian Should Care about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Often, major news stories are not necessarily aligned with prophecy, even though they may appear to. This is why I like large, long term trends in prophecy. However, EU-Israel relations in the past 10 years or so have been very significant for prophecy, and alarmingly so.

But first, some quick background. Then some Bible verses. Then it will all make sense. Please bear with me:



What's An "Illegal Settlement"... And Why Should I Care??

You may see repeated complaints on Google news that the Israeli's are building "illegal settlements" in East Jerusalem and West Bank.

The Palestinians, numerous political pundits, and most of the whole world consider these settlements to be illegal under international law. The topic of settlements especially comes up when the Palestinians and Israeli's sit down for "peace talks." Many countries, news editorials decry the settlements as an obstacle to final peace negotiations. A great many of news articles about Israel in the past 5 years, relate in some way, to settlement construction.


But what is a settlement? And why does anyone care where Jews are building them? Here's why:

"Settlements" are constructed when the Israeli government approves the construction of apartment complexes for Jews in East Jerusalem and West Bank. East Jerusalem is the half of Jerusalem that contains the "Old City"...where Jesus walked. Furthermore, "West Bank" is just a fancy term for the Biblical locations of Judea and Samaria.

On the map above, you will see a map of West Bank inside Israel. The upper half of West Bank above Jerusalem is Samaria. The smaller half below Jerusalem is Judea.




The West Bank is the area that Palestinians consider to be their rightful territory. They claim they are occupied by Israel. The "Green Line" is the West Bank border line. It encloses Judea and Samaria, and cuts Jerusalem right in half (remember this: very important!).

The Green Line is the original 1949 agreed to after the Arab-Israeli war. All the surrounding Arab nations immediately launched an invasion of Israel when it was born as a nation. They failed at this, and Israel fought them back. The war ended along the "Green Line" which is the line that separates West Bank from the rest of Israel.

Israel took over the West Bank area after the 1967 "Six Day War." This is also when they seized the other half of Jerusalem, and the rest of West Bank, which was the historical homeland. This war was very justly fought by Israel, so the fact that they took territory from their opponents is not morally objectionable.

Six Day War - 1967

Bored yet?

Trust me, all this boring geographical info about Israel is critical when it comes to end time prophecy, because those prophecies very much relate to geography.

Here's why all this matters:

All Nations Fight At Jerusalem...and Exile Half the City

The Bible predicts that one day, all of the world will attack Jerusalem. They will exile half of the city. This is very strange and has no historical parallel.

Jerusalem is Cut in Half by the "Green Line" 

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. (Zechariah 12:1-3 NIV; emphasis added)


Remember what I said above: It is considered against international law for Jews to even live in half of Jerusalem.

Very Recent Developments

Relative to Israel's history, this focus on Israeli settlements appears to be very recent. Ten years ago, discussion about Israeli settlements was much more sparse. In the last 10 years, it has become one of the forefront issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, in the last five years or so, international organizations, President Obama, and especially the European Union have been increasingly irritated that Israel builds houses for Jews in East Jerusalem. International organizations repeatedly condemn the construction of apartments for Jews in East Jerusalem. This used to be all just talk...

EU Just Launched 7 Year Boycott of Settlement Organizations

However, the EU just started a 7-year boycott on Israeli organizations in the West Bank. And every time the Jews build houses in the "wrong" half of Jerusalem, it makes world news...

So it's very easy to see, how a political leader, when he launches his invasion of Israel from Europe, could use international law as a pretext to exile half the Jews from Jerusalem. Only very recently in world history has the concept of "half" of Jerusalem even had any political relevance. And even more recent the complaint that Jews are illegally living in half of Jerusalem.

God is Angry Because...Why?

As most people know, world leaders (especially U.S. leaders) repeatedly try to negotiate peace between the Israeli's and Palestinians. This always fails. The "two state solution" is the prevailing idea for how negotiations are supposed to turn out. This essentially means dividing up the historical land of Israel, and giving half of it to "Palestinians." Palestinians were never considered a distinct ethnic group until Israel came along.

Fence Between West Bank and the Rest of Israel

A "two state solution" sounds like a good plan for peace, doesn't it? Except God is very angry about this plan...
In those days and at that time,    when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,I will gather all nations   and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial    for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,because they scattered my people among the nations   and divided up my land. (Joel 3:1-2 NIV; emphasis added)
The book of Joel is about the "Day of the Lord," which is the end times period where God judges the world. In this time, God will judge the nations who divided up his land. Frighteningly enough, the prevailing plan by world leaders today is to divide up Israel into two nations in a final set of negotiations.

"Peace and Security"

World leaders annoyingly repeat the mantra that Israel and Palestinians should live "side by side in peace and security." The video below shows how repetitive they are about saying this. Recall that God is already not happy about the fact that they want to divide the land of Israel. However, there's something even more ominous going on here. 

for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; emphasis added)
If you look up the Strong's concordance, the word for "safety" here is the same word for "security." Now, watch the video.... 


World leaders repeatedly talk about "Peace and Security," especially when it relates to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The very fact that they are repeatedly saying this exact phrase, over and over. is itself a clear sign of the end times.

But as believers, we know that this is a very false sense of security that will end with the coming of the Lord Jesus and his wrath on mankind.

After you watch the video, then go to Google News and type in "Peace and security" (with the quotes). Watch how much stuff about Israel and dividing God's land comes up!


"Let Those Who Are In Judea Flee to the Mountains"

Recall that the Jews building apartment complexes in the Judean Desert is also considered against international law. Some day, Jesus predicts that an idol will be in the temple immediately prior to his return. Upon seeing this idol, Jesus warns the residents of Judea to flee to the mountains without taking anything with them, not even a coat.

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. (Matthew 24:15-17)



Many theologians believe the Antichrist will come from a reborn Roman Empire in Europe. Just like Israel has to be reborn in the end times, so does the Roman empire. (This is what this entire website is about.)

This Antichrist will rise to power after the existence of a ten-nation confederacy in Europe (Daniel 7:24) . He will use an invasion from Egypt and probably Syria as a pretext to invade many other countries, and ultimately attack Israel (Daniel 11:40-42) He will make a contract with Israel for 7 years. (Daniel 9:27) Halfway through this contract, the Antichrist will idolize himself in the end times temple with the "abomination that causes desolation" mentioned by Jesus and the book of Daniel. (2 Thess. 2:4; Matthew 24:16)

10-Nation Brussels Alliance Just Completed Merger with EU

The European Union has a ten member alliance that recently consolidated into the greater European Union (called the Western European Union). Furthermore, the European Union establishes its bilateral relations with Israel and many other nations on a 7 year contract. And we have seen before, the EU really hates it when Jews live in Judea.

So Jesus' warning to flee makes all that much more sense today, when the European Union repeatedly condemns Jews for merely living in apartments in Judea.

So What? People Have Been Predicting the End for Years"

The very fact that Israel even exists as a restored nation is predicted by end time prophecy. This happened in 1948. We also have a corresponding end times Roman empire that is a confederacy (the European Union). Furthermore, we have many political circumstances in Israel that would have made no sense at all 200 years ago, but are completely anticipated by prophecy. 
 After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land. (Ezekiel 38: 8-9)





Jews Will No Longer Thank God For Bringing Them Out of Egypt

As you can see from the passage, the Jews who are restored to their land will thank God, not because He brought them out of Egypt, but because he brought them out of the "land of the north."
“So then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23:7-8)  
1 Million Russian Jews Move to Israel

From 1989 to 2002, 1 million Jews moved from Russia to Israel.......

Just like God said.

Many Jews are well known for being from Russia. One famous Russian Jew is the co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin

Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin, A Well-Known Russian Jew

All of This is Very Recent

Keep in mind, all of these are relatively recent developments in world history. Many of these prophecies would sound utterly senseless 500 years ago, or even 200 years ago. Now, they make a lot of sense.

Peace negotiators, like John Kerry, George Bush, and Bill Clinton may sound well meaning when they try to negotiate an Israeli-Palestinian peace. However, we know that in the end times, God puts all the nations of the world on trial for scattering the Jews and dividing up his land. We know in the end times the Jews in half of Jerusalem will be forcefully exiled from their homes.

But what about the Palestinians? Don't they have a right to land?

Do Jews Have A Right to Live There?

"Palestinians" are very different from other occupation situations in the world. For example, Kashmir had its own nation, own king, and own people, but now are very repressively occupied by the Indian government. This is an example of a real and very unfair occupation situation.

Palestinians have never had a nation of their own. "Palestinian" was never considered to be a distinct ethnic group from Arabs...until Israel came along. Some Jews and Arabs have lived in Judea and Jerusalem continuously for about 2000 years. So the fact that people want Judea and Jerusalem to be "Judenrein" (Jew free) is silly. Only until recently have Jews received the right of self-determination to their own nation.

They are now drawing up plans to divide God's land like never before. And now is the time to keep watch. So keep watch, because you do not know the exact day Jesus is coming...

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The "Rapture"

The "rapture" is an issue that has emerged in the church recently and has been a source of much prophetic debate. Nevertheless, the Bible does provide a very clear answer to the rapture question in my opinion and certainly does teach one. 


However, I think the word "rapture" is a bit of a trick. If we read Paul in 1 Thessalonians, it is synonymous with "the coming" or the "day of the Lord." As we all know, the day of the Lord is more than one day. Furthermore, the Second Coming is not inaugurated by the battle of Armageddon. Some have equated the term "Second Coming" with the final Armageddon assault itself. I disagree with this, and think that "Second Coming" launches at the rapture, when God makes his presence known to everyone, and removes us from this earth for a short time to protect us from his wrath. 

Jesus did many things at his first coming, over a period of many days and weeks. Same with the "Second Coming." It will have a very definite beginning and will continue for many days/weeks/months and maybe years.



The Rapture Event


In 1 Thessalonians 4:12-5:13, the apostle Paul describes an event in which the following things take place. He refers to it as the "coming of the Lord" so this is the term I prefer.



  • Jesus physically descends out of heaven
  • His dead followers raise
  • His living followers go up into the sky with the resurrected to meet Christ in the sky
  • His followers continue to be with Jesus for the rest of forever

This event in which Christians fly up into the air with Jesus is the "rapture."




The Rapture and God's Wrath


Nevertheless, Paul in the next chapter provides more information about this event



He goes on to refer to this rapture event as the "Day of the Lord," saying that it will be extremely unexpected. He also elaborates on what happens to the people on earth once the day of the Lord begins. He says that they will be saying "peace and safety," but they will get "sudden destruction" instead. So, he is basically saying that once the rapture happens, the people on earth will suddenly face God's wrath during the Day of the Lord. This is reinforced by the fact that the Old Testament teaches that the "Day of the Lord" is the time of God's wrath on earth. Paul says that the really cool thing is that Jesus rescues us from this wrath.


What Happens Before the Day of the Lord Begins


Nevertheless, the Thessalonians were very confused about the second coming, so Paul had to write them another letter. They had thought the Day of the Lord had already come and they were in the time of God's wrath. Paul had already defined the Rapture event in 1 Thessalonians by referring to it as the "Day of the Lord."

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:1; emphasis added)
However, in 2 Thessalonians 2, he says this Day of the Lord cannot happen until two events take place.



Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; emphasis added)


Since Paul defines the rapture event as the "Day of the Lord," he is saying that the rapture cannot take place until two events occur first.

  • The "rebellion" happens (the greek "apostasia" is a word that means falling away, or defection)
  • The man of lawlessness is revealed (he does this by setting himself up as God in the temple

Christ's Parallel Teachings in Matthew 24


Jesus description of his second coming in Matthew 24 very much parallels the order of events described by Paul.


He says that his coming is sudden, unexpected, and unknown.  He even uses the same comparison, to a thief breaking into a house.


Nevertheless, before Jesus describes his second coming, he describes a series of events that occur that are very similar to what Paul does:

  • a time of falling away from the faith due to persecution
  • the "abomination that causes desolation" (this is a technical term for an idol being placed in the temple)
So here, we see Jesus put the order of end time events in the same order that Paul does. The second coming happens on an unknown date, but will not happen until the falling away happens first and the Antichrist desecrates the temple.


Seven Year Deal Between Antichrist and Israel


Nevertheless, the book of Daniel very clearly places this "abomination that causes desolation" as occurring halfway into a seven year deal between the Antichrist and Israel. So, we can know when the Antichrist is revealed, but we cannot know when Jesus comes back.





How Close Together?


We have already seen that Jesus comes back on an unspecified day after the Antichrist is revealed. However, the question inevitably raises, how long after that event will we have to wait? Do we have any approximate idea on how long this will be?


The answer is yes.


The first thing we can know is that it will not exceed about 3.5 years from abomination of desolation until the second coming. Daniel 9:24-27 seems to indicate that the time of Messiah's rule on earth will have started by the time the seven years have ended.


Nevertheless, God's wrath takes at minimum, 5 months. This is the case because the 5th trumpet involves demonic locusts torturing those who aren't on God's team for 5 months.





This takes us down to about 3 years. But can we get any more specific?


Yes we can.

(The following is my personal theory, though I have run into others with the same theory. I am most confident of a "prewrath rapture" (as I described above). However, this theory of mine is more tentative.)


Can We Be More Specific?

Jesus says that as soon as the abomination of desolation occurs (i.e. the Antichrist desecrates the temple), the Jews should flee to the mountains.


"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. (Matthew 24: 15-18; emphasis added)


However, in Luke 17, Jesus makes a very similar statement, but applies it to the second coming.


"It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. (Luke 17:30-31; emphasis added)


So Jesus uses extremely similar wording in both passages. He uses the same language about fleeing the abomination of desolation and applies it to the day of the second coming. This is basically implying that on the day Jesus comes back, it is a still relevant command to flee the abomination of desolation. This implies that the second coming and abomination of desolation are extremely close, perhaps within days or weeks of each other.




The book of Zechariah describes a similar event. Here all the nations gather together to fight Jerusalem and the Jews flee. However, God himself arrives, creating a valley in which they are able to flee.


I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 12:2-5; emphasis added).


(I realize that Zechariah may speak about separate, time-separated, prophetic events in the same passage, but in my opinion, the passage gives the feeling that God at least might intervene in short order after the assault on Jerusalem). 

In Revelation 12, it describes the Jews fleeing from Satan and hide in the desert for 1,260 days. The above passage shows that, even before this fleeing is complete, the second coming takes place.

Further Support?

Many of us hold that the two witnesses preach during the 2nd half of Daniel's 70th Week. This means that they prophesy in the last half of the final 7 years of Israel's history of Gentile domination. However, these witnesses have a very terrifying characteristic:
They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. (Revelation 11:6)
For those of us who believe we are absent during the time of wrath, these activities sound very wrathful to me!!

But Wait?
But wait....

It says the beast rules for 42 months. It says this occurs after Satan falls to capture Israel as she flees to the desert. This means the 42 months do not even begin until Israel has completed her flight. Furthermore, many believe the prophetic ministry of the two witnesses is concurrent with the 42 month reign of the beast. This means they do not start their ministry until the Jews have made safe haven in the desert. 

This means there is a very short period of time from the abomination of desolation (revealing of the Antichrist), where the Jews flee to the desert, and the Second Coming subsequently takes place. 

How long would this be? We have already seen that it is a very short period of time. 

Daniel might give us a clue. 
“From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. (Daniel 12:11)
Perhaps there is a short 30 day window before the 1260 days of protection begin. Perhaps this is the window of time when the Jews flee to the desert, and God intervenes and makes His presence known.

Reservations

I still have a lot of my own personal reservations about this viewpoint. In my mind, it is much more tentative. However, I hope it might give some insight as to how long it will be between the revealing of the Antichrist and the Second Coming/Day of the Lord/Rapture.