Apostasy In These Last Days

As we watch biblical prophecy unfold before our eyes in the Middle East today, the subject of the rapture is on the forefront of many believer’s minds.  That is exactly as I believe it should be considering all of the times we are warned to watch and be ready according to the Word of God.  Yet despite these commands to watch, the subject of the rapture is hardly ever taught by the majority of churches today.  I came across the following article by Jonathan Brentner this past week and wanted to share it with you as I found it to be an amazing commentary on this very subject.

The Rapture Has Become The Object Of Scorn In Many Churches. What Lies Behind The Scoffing?

One of my favorite Peanuts cartoons pictures a troubled Charlie Brown seeking Lucy’s five cent psychiatric help. After Lucy provides several cautions about worrying, she says, “If you have to worry, you should worry about this very moment.”

In response, a puzzled Charlie Brown asks, “This moment? Why this moment?” It’s then that a soccer ball comes flying through the air, bonks him in the head, and sends him flying to the ground. 

Lucy then explains her diagnosis, “I saw this ball heading this way, see, and . . .”

In his second letter, the Apostle Peter warns us about people who, unlike Lucy, fail to properly diagnose the moment in which they live. They see the same signs of the approaching Tribulation that we do, but interpret them far differently. Not only do they reject our diagnosis, but they also ridicule our hope.

2 Peter 3:3-4 KJV – “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

The apostle’s words accurately depict our day. The Rapture has become the object of scorn in many churches, even where it was once taught as a core belief. And of course, those outside of Christ give us much grief regarding our hope in Jesus’ imminent appearing, but that’s to be expected.

What lies behind the scoffing of our day? As the apostle explains, it stems from a wrong interpretation of the day in which we live. Unlike Lucy, our mockers fail to recognize the imminent danger of the rapidly approaching Tribulation period.

They misdiagnose our day by ignoring . . .The Words Of The Apostles

Before Peter warns his readers about the scoffers, he urges them to “remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles” (2 Pet. 3:2). The term he used for “predictions” in the original is rhema, which denotes words.

I find it more than a little coincidental that at the end of 2 Peter, the apostle equates the “letters” of Paul with Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). He is the one that provides us with the most details of the Lord’s appearing in passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, Philippians 3:20-21, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:10. These passages, along with many others, form the basis for belief in the Rapture.

Our hope is firmly grounded in the words of the apostles contained in the New Testament. The scoffers fail to consider the words that form the basis for our biblical expectation of Jesus’ appearing. Instead, they wrongly accuse us of relying on John Darby for our beliefs. Such a claim exemplifies their abject failure to understand the clear meaning of the passages cited in the preceding paragraph, which form the sole basis for our expectation.

Biblical Warnings Of Judgment

The second mistaken diagnosis is that of overlooking the certainty of Gods’ judgment.

2 Peter 3:4-7 KJV – “And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

Though many of our critics deny the worldwide scope of the Genesis 6-8 flood, most simply “overlook” it as being an aspect of God’s character to judge sinful humanity. They see the same wickedness, lawlessness, deception, and bloody violence of our day, but fail to conclude that these things will bring God’s wrath. They either spiritualize the words of Revelation chapters 4-18, tell us they were a code for first century believers, or claim that the Lord fulfilled them in the distant past. They mistakenly ignore the biblical prophecies regarding God’s judgment of sin in the current realm.

The assertion that today is no different than any other time in history lies at the heart of their shocking miscalculation of the times in which they live.

This question remains a mystery to me: “Why is it that those who cannot see the signs of the rapidly approaching Tribulation period seem to be equally blind to the fact that the Lord must soon judge America and the world for its extreme wickedness?” The denial of the Rapture along with the nearness of God’s judgment on this world characterize many, if not most of those who ridicule our hope.

The Fact That God Views Time Much Differently

Another errant misdiagnosis of the times is that of a failure to grasp that God sees time much differently than we do:

2 Peter 3:8 KJV – “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

The Lord has a vastly different perspective of time than we do. He exists apart from time, which is something we cannot fully comprehend.

The scoffers see words such as “soon” and “quickly” in the book of Revelation and errantly insist that the Lord has already fulfilled all its prophecies. Their misdiagnosis stems from not understanding the suddenness of these future events and from the spiritualization of events that clearly haven’t happened at any time in history.

God’s Patience

The errant verdict of those that scorn our hope also stems from a failure to understand the Lord’s patience in waiting for people to repent before He sends the horrific judgments of the tribulation.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV – “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

When we grasp the full extent of the death and destruction that will take place on the earth after the Rapture, it helps us better understand God’s wanting as many to come to Him as possible before the Day of the Lord begins (2 Thessalonians 5:1-10).

God is exceedingly patient, which is good because He has endured so much with me as He waited for me to mature in my faith. The Father knows when He will send His Son to fetch us, and we can be sure that His timing will be perfect.

The Temporary Nature Of Their Lives

The normalcy bias in the U.S. is exceedingly strong, which I believe causes the detractors of our hope to assume that what we see will last for the foreseeable future. They fail to fully recognize that this life is temporary, and that God’s judgment is on the way.

In the verse below, Peter looks beyond the Rapture, Tribulation, Second Coming, and Millennium to the culmination of the Day of the Lord:

2 Peter 3:10 KJV – “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

Just before the start of the eternal state as described in Revelation chapters 21-22, the Lord will destroy our current world by fire. He does this to remove all the remnants of the past as well as to prepare for a new heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:13).

Though certainly not true of all, many attack the Rapture out of a love for their current lives. They fail to grasp that regardless of their circumstances, what’s coming will be far superior to anything they will experience in this life.

It’s ironic that the scoffing of our hope fulfills Peter’s prophecy of what will happen in the last days before the Rapture becomes a reality. Their behavior reveals the nearness of the very event that they mock and it’s a common response for those who speak or write about our joyous expectation of meeting Jesus in the air.

Lucy saw the imminent danger for Charlie Brown even though she did not warn him. The detractors of our hope see the same dangers and signs as we do, but they misdiagnose them and as a result remain unaware both of the threats to their wellbeing and the forthcoming joy of meeting Jesus in air.

Jonathan Brentner is an author, writer, and Bible Teacher with a passion for encouraging believers with a sound biblical worldview and the nearness of Jesus’ appearing.

https://harbingersdaily.com/the-rapture-has-become-the-object-of-scorn-in-many-churches-what-lies-behind-the-scoffing/

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Coincidence Isn't Kosher

 

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”   Genesis 6:5-7  NKJV

A question which has become all too common since the war in the Middle East has exploded is if the time has finally arrived where God will once again choose to judge the world as He has promised.  I believe that is a fair and logical question to ask considering where we find ourselves today and quite possibly even more so when you examine where we are on the calendar in regards to historical biblical events.  As one of my favorite bible teachers, Chuck Missler, often said, “rabbi’s tell me that coincidence isn’t a kosher word”.

The story of the flood of Noah is one of, if not the, most recognizable story related to mankind in the Bible.  Surveys have shown over the years that virtually everyone, believer or not, are familiar with the account of a worldwide flood which destroyed mankind with the exception of Noah and his family.  As I recall, even as a young child first hearing this story, it surprised me that the world could reach a point where God would choose to judge mankind so completely and powerfully.  I also was left with the lasting impression that quite obviously, mankind deserved exactly what they got.

At this time of the year, when the rest of the world is preparing to celebrate Halloween, I am always reminded of the flood because the Bible tells us it occurred on the seventeenth day of the second month on the Jewish calendar. That puts it around the same time of the year as Halloween, also known as All Hallows Eve, The Day of the Dead, and many other names it has gone by throughout history. Of course, this particular holiday being celebrated at the exact same time of the year that the flood occurred, which was God's judgment on the world that resulted in the death of all mankind, seems just a little too coincidental to me.

The second thing that came to my mind as I studied the account in Matthew was a phrase we find in verse thirty-eight. If you look closely at the passage, notice something Jesus said. He said that people in Noah's day went about their lives doing what they did "until the day that Noah entered the ark".  After reading that statement, I believe we would benefit from looking more closely at the passage in Genesis that talks about that day.

"Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth. For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made."     Genesis 7:1-4 NKJV

What these verses tell us is that God told Noah to go into the Ark because in seven days the flood was going to begin. Matthew tells us that the normal, everyday life of the unbelievers of Noah's day continued until "the day" Noah entered the Ark. If the flood did not begin until seven days after Noah entered the Ark, what happened on that day that got their attention to the extent they changed what they had been doing? Since Noah had been going in and out of the Ark for 150 years while he built it means something different had to have happened on this particular day which garnered the attention of those left outside. Considering this, the only answer I could come up with is found in the following verse. 

"So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in."    Genesis 7:16 NKJV

Putting it another way, after everybody went in, God shut the door! Now when I began to think about the door, the first thought which occurred to me was "just how big was it"?  Obviously, it had to be big enough for the largest animals on the earth to walk through, so it follows that it must have been quite large. With a background in construction, my next thought was how was it engineered? Hinges? Sliding? Let's not forget the weight either. Made of wood thick enough to withstand the pressures it would face from the sea, and treated with pitch which would make it even heavier, it would have taken a massive effort on the part of Noah and his sons to put that door in place, much less close it.

The Bible tells us, however, that God shut the door. What exactly did the people outside see and hear when God shut it? Did they see it closing seemingly all by itself? Did it close slowly or slam shut with a loud noise? Maybe a little thunder and lightning thrown in for good measure?  I'm willing to wager as well that the door, up until this point, had never been shut.  Whatever happened, because we are told that life changed after the door shut, the obvious conclusion is that when the door closed there must have been a message that they heard loud and clear. What might that message have been? I wonder if it was the realization that no matter if they changed their minds or not, they had lost their chance to get in? Thinking about this led me to a couple of other passages where God talks about closing a door.

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' "   Matthew 25:10-12 NKJV

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' "     Luke 13:24-25 NKJV

Taking a good look around right now, especially at the war which has begun between Israel and its enemies,, do you think it is possible that we are approaching a similar time in the world’s history where God will once again choose to judge man for his actions?  We as believers know from the Word that this going to occur again, so the obvious question is when?

“For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”  2 Peter 3:5-7  NKJV

I think the message God intends for the world is clear. In order to escape the judgment that is coming, you must enter before the door is shut. In Noah's day, I believe the people of the earth had a good idea what was coming when they saw the door shut, and realized they had lost their chance to escape the coming judgment. When the world sees the church disappear in the rapture, they will know just as the people of Noah's day knew, that the door which leads to deliverance from God's judgment is shut. My prayer is that you have made the choice to enter in before that door closes. The same day that Noah entered the Ark, the tenth day of the second month on the Jewish calendar, will occur this Thursday October 26, and the anniversary of the flood seven days later on November 1. Have you made your choice? Jesus said this;

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."    Revelation 3:20 NKJV

I pray you have asked Jesus to come into your heart, and have given your life to Him. If you have, we will walk through that door together and hopefully soon. Many of us believe we are fast approaching the day of the rapture of the church. As you can see, we are also fast approaching the anniversary of the time God judged the world the first time. Will something the world does not expect occur this coming week?  With everything going on in the Middle East right now I certainly would not be surprised.  If you consider all the examples throughout history of God choosing to use anniversaries of events in Israel's history to do other things, is it possible we will see the next judgment of God on this earth begin at the same time it did back in Noah's day?

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Labor Pains or Contractions?

“Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us.”  Isaiah 17:14  NKJV

Did you know that labor pains, or contractions, are more likely to occur at night rather than during the day? Now don’t ask me why because I am not a doctor, but I do recall being awakened at night with those memorable words; “it’s starting”. Anyone familiar with what Jesus taught about the end of the age understands that He compared what many of us believe is about to occur with the onset of a woman’s labor pains. If you have followed my thoughts for any length of time, you probably understand that I believe the next major prophetic event on Israel’s calendar is the fulfillment of the Destruction of Damascus that we find in Isaiah 17.

“The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap.”  Isaiah 17:1  NKJV

The horrific events of the past week have shown the world the level of evil many are willing to direct towards the nation of Israel.  What many have expressed to me this week surrounds the reaction by many in this country to support Hamas and completely overlook the barbaric slaughter of innocents.  This should be a sign to all that anti-semitism is much more prevalent than many believed and certainly helps us understand why the Word of God makes it plain that in the events leading up to, and during the seventieth week of Daniel, Israel receives no support from anyone.

The question on everyone’s mind today though is are we seeing the run up to the Isaiah 17 destruction of Damascus.  The past few days have seen threats and probing attack by Hezbollah in the north and Israel has already made it clear what they will do if they are attacked from that direction.  This past week the IDF bombed the main airport in Damascus, reportedly just before a plane carrying the Iranian foreign minister was scheduled to land, forcing it to turn around and land in Iraq.  It would appear that just about everyone agrees Iran is behind all of these events and is supporting, if not outright planning the attacks we have witnessed.

One cannot help but wonder if we are seeing the beginning of an escalation which will culminate in the events foretold in Isaiah 17.  If we consider the times we are living in, especially the presence of Russia in the Middle East, it would appear the stage is being set for all that the Word of God tells us will happen before the time of the end.  After all of this, you might be wondering if I believe that the destruction of the city of Damascus is the beginning of the actual labor, as opposed to just another sign.  Truthfully, I suppose I would have to confess that for quite some time I have thought exactly that. You see, while there are many signs for nine months or so that a woman is pregnant, it is the painful contractions which signal the onset of labor.  So the question we should ask is what event could be the first contraction?

If we were to take a poll, I am reasonably sure the vast majority would say that the attempted Gog, Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38,39 is the conflict which gives the antichrist his opportunity to assume power, and begin the seventieth week of Daniel.

“ ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: “You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—“to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.”  Ezekiel 38:10-12  NKJV

Although Gog might have a plan in place, it follows that it would help him immensely if he were to be given an excuse to exercise it.  As I have studied both the Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38,39 prophecies over the years it has become my firm belief that the destruction of Damascus by Israel is the excuse Gog is waiting for to implement his evil plan.  So it has been with great interest over the past few years that I have watched Russia begin to move into the Middle East and assume a position from which it could easily fulfill what many believe to be its destiny concerning the future attempted invasion of Israel.

Of course, what I have found to be truly interesting is that Russia has done this by choosing to actively support the regime of Bashar Assad of Syria, and also the terrorist organization Hezbollah.  Why interesting?  Since Israel is foretold to be the instrument of Damascus’ destruction, they would certainly need a compelling excuse to do so.  I have read on more than one occasion the opinion that the last person anyone would want to play a game of chess with would be Vladimir Putin.  I would certainly agree with that sentiment, and it is with that in mind that I look at his moves in the region of the Middle East and especially Syria with great suspicion in regards to the future of Israel.

Any conflict with Syria could easily escalate to the point where the fulfillment of Isaiah 17 could take place.  Assad of Syria and Nasrallah of Hezbollah have made it perfectly clear that they would like nothing better than to see a world without Israel or the Jewish people.  An attack on the nation of Israel which threatens their existence would provoke an overwhelming response, thus putting into motion the evil plan of Gog by giving him the excuse he needs. I believe too, that when it does occur (and we know it will), in hindsight it will be seen to be the beginning of the “labor” we are watching for. 

“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My fury will show in My face. “For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, ‘so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’ “I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. “And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. “Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” ’    Ezekiel 38:18-23  NKJV

While Israel wages war in Gaza, my attention right now is fixed on the north and watching to see if Israel’s enemies decide to open a second front and attack from that region.  If so, considering Israel’s state of mind at the present time, it would come as no surprise to me that they would respond exactly as Isaiah tells us they will.  

Only time will tell if what we are witnessing today is the lead up to the beginning of the labor pains Jesus taught about, but the one thing I believe all of us can agree upon is that the end is near.  The violence we are seeing, the moves nations are making, the alliances being made and the threats being offered, are simply too many to be explained away by any other reasoning.  We are at the point where the painful contractions which signal the onset of labor could occur at any time.

Have you made the choice to accept the gift of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ?  If not, if you are reading this you still have time to do so before the delivery of the Church to its eternal home occurs. Becoming a believer is simply accomplished by asking Christ to come into your life and help you live life as He directs.  If you want to do that today, just pray a prayer like this to Him;

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins.  I want to turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen." 

 

If you make that choice, we have God’s promise that we will be delivered from this world first, spared from the terrible time of judgment that is coming.

 

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https://www.newsweek.com/israeli-official-calls-doomsday-nuclear-missile-option-1833585

Looks Good on Paper

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”   Daniel 9:27  NKJV

Much of the news coming out of the Middle East lately has to do with the impending peace treaty between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Of course, this has occasioned questions within the watching community as to whether or not this is significant in light of the “covenant with many” that we are told about in the book of Daniel.  We of course, have no way of knowing, yet I believe it is certainly possible that it will in some way be a significant part of the process which produces the events which will occur as Daniel foretold.

While this proposal might look good on paper, my thought is just what actions will it produce from the countries who are committed to Israel’s destruction and will never accept any sort of peace.  As it relates to the passage from Daniel, I want to point out a few things which I believe we all need to be aware of.  Many have taught, and many think that the coming antichrist signs a peace agreement between Israel and its enemies.  While that position has often been inferred from verse 27, it certainly is not what it says.  What it does say is, “he shall confirm a covenant with many”.  The word “he” refers to the coming world leader also known as the antichrist.  “Shall confirm” is the Hebrew word “gabar” which literally means “to enforce”.  “A covenant” is the Hebrew word “bĕriyth” which is used over one hundred times in the Old Testament to refer to an agreement between either men, or between God and man.  The phrase, “with many” is the word “rab” which means “a great many, multitude”, and in the context of this passage is used as an idiom referring to the nation of Israel. 

Understanding that the text tells us this covenant will be enforced, many scholars and teachers have come to believe it is not a new agreement, but rather an existing one, and as God has an “everlasting covenant” with the nation of Israel concerning the land, many believe this verse is telling us that the antichrist will enforce an agreement giving Israel the permanent borders it has never had since being regathered as a nation.  I believe this makes perfect sense considering permanent borders has been the sticking point between Israel and its enemies since 1948. 

I imagine most of us are familiar with the old expression, “no deal is better than a bad deal”, and I for one think that the situation Israel is soon to find herself in will be a perfect example of that saying.  In the very near future, after the War of Ezekiel 38-39,  Israel will  acknowledge the supernatural intervention of God to defend them and rebuild the Temple in order to return to the Levitical system of worship.  However, it is the antichrist which brings this to pass and as a result, they accept the man of sin as their messiah which sets the stage for all that is to come.  You see, the antichrist does not allow Israel to rebuild the temple solely for themselves, but also because he needs it for an event he has planned for the future.

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.      Matthew 24:15-21  NKJV

How many of you have seen the classic old western movie “High Noon” starring Gary Cooper?  The entire movie revolves around the climax, which is a confrontation between the town marshal and the outlaw and his gang who will arrive on the train at high noon.  When the nation of Israel signs a treaty with the antichrist the clock begins on the seventieth week of Daniel.  This is a period of time which the Bible teaches is seven years of three hundred and sixty days each for a total of two thousand five hundred and twenty days.  Unfortunately for Israel, their “High Noon” will occur at the midpoint, or three and one half years into this period of time.

What we are told will happen at that time reveals exactly who the antichrist is, and what his plan has been all along while allowing Israel to rebuild their Temple.  The phrase “abomination of desolation” is found several times in the scriptures and is spoken of  specifically by both Daniel and Jesus.  What it refers to is an event which has occurred once before, and will happen once again at the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week.  In 168 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a Greek king that had conquered Israel, erected an altar to Jupiter Olympus in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

Most all scholars agree that what Jesus is telling us in this passage from Matthew is that at the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week, this scenario will be repeated when the antichrist stands in the “holy place” and proclaims himself to be god.  We also find in the book of Revelation that he erects a statue there and commands all to worship it.

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”     Revelation 13:11-15  NKJV

This is the “sacrilegious object” Daniel refers to in the passage above, and it is at this point, after just three and a half years, that in Jesus’ own words a time of “great tribulation” begins, all because what the antichrist has been after all along is to be accepted and worshipped in place of the true God.

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”    2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  NKJV

Obviously the “Great Tribulation” begins because there are those on the earth who see the antichrist for who he really is, and refuse to worship him.  He will then begin a persecution the likes of which this world has never seen. 

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”       Revelation 13:16-17  NKJV

What we are told about this time is very clear, either you take the mark and worship the beast or you will be hunted down and killed. 

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”  Revelation 13:6-10  NKJV

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”     Revelation 20:4  NKJV

Do you notice how black and white this time of Great Tribulation will be?  There are only two sides to this conflict; those who choose to worship the beast, and those who reject his claims and chose to have their names written in the Book of Life by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior.  How terrible will this time of persecution be?  Consider what Jesus had to say about that question.

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”    Matthew 24:22  NKJV

Unless God chose to intervene, eventually all would be killed.  So in His infinite wisdom, God chose to limit the length of the Great Tribulation to only three and one half years.  Then what will occur is something the entire world has been waiting for since Jesus ascended to Heaven forty days after His resurrection.  So far the order of events as I see it are the Rapture, The destruction of Damascus, the Gog/Magog conflict, the confirmation of a peace between Israel and its enemies which begins the Seventieth Week of Daniel, and the Abomination of Desolation after twelve hundred and sixty days. 

If the proposed peace treaty with Saudi Arabia and others comes to fruition, will it prove to be the spark that begins the events leading to the seventieth week of Daniel? So much is happening right now in this world that many find it hard to believe the Church will be here much longer.  As there are no preconditions for the rapture, coupled with the signs we are seeing fulfilled before our very eyes, it certainly seems time is definitely running out.  If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Keep watching.

This article was written and posted before I was aware of the attack on Israel by Hamas which is now being labeled a war by the Israeli government.  Please join me in praying for the peace of Jerusalem.