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Scripture documents that there will be two different reactions of the people in this world to the Second Coming of Christ.

One reaction is described in Revelation 6:12-17 and records the reaction of the unsaved at His appearing:

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.  And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.  Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.  

“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”

There is a second and totally opposite reaction recorded in Luke 21:25-28.  It is those who have been faithful to Christ despite the persecution of Antichrist:

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  

“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, LOOK UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, because your redemption draws near.”

One reacts by running and hiding at the Second Coming of Christ.  The other is bidden to “look up” into His face.

After the resurrection of Jesus, the only people privileged enough to gaze upon Christ’s resurrected form were His closest disciples.  These were the ones who had left all to follow Him.  They had been through the best and the very worst of times with Him.  They had seen Him suffer an ignominious crucifixion and death.  They had lost heart, feared for their lives, and scattered to hide from the authorities.

Their relationship with Him had cost them dearly.  Yet, they were richly rewarded when they were able to gaze upon Him, in His resurrected form.

At Christ’s Second Coming, the ones who will be able to lift up their heads and look upon Him will be those who have walked with Him, at great cost.  The purpose of the great tribulation of the Antichrist— or any tribulation for that matter— is to prepare us for His return.  As I Peter 1:6-7 puts it:

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the REVELATION (revealing) OF JESUS CHRIST.”

James tells us that the trials we undergo as Christians tests our faith, which in turn, produces a faith that endures:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (endurance)…Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him,”  (James 1:2,12).

In Revelation 3:10, Jesus addresses the faithful ones who have endured:

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

What is this “hour of trial” which is to come upon the whole world?  We already read about it.

The most fearful and trying period EVER to come upon this world will be when sinners are “in the hands of an angry God”— when God returns to bring His judgment upon earth!  Scripture calls this the “Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.”  It will be great for those who can lift up their heads and look upon His face.  It will be terrible for those who spurned His grace and mercy.  They will be wishing to be buried alive under rocks and mountains, rather than facing Divine wrath!

Paul the apostle gives us two SIGNPOSTS that this Day is approaching:

“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).

According to Paul, two things must take place before the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord can happen:  a falling away and the revelation of the Antichrist sitting as God in the temple of God.  The “falling away” or “apostasia” is a departure from one’s original position (of faith).  This signifies the willingness of some to accept Antichrist as the “savior” of the world.  They idolize a man as God.

Because of these two signs that must take place BEFORE the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord can occur, the believer in Christ will NOT be taken by surprise!  Though no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return, believers will NOT be caught unaware, “like a thief in the night.”  Paul the apostle taught in I Thessalonians 5:1-10:

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

“For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they shall not escape.

“BUT YOU, BRETHREN, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all sons of light and sons of the day.  We are not of the night nor of darkness…

…“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

How is it that believers are not in darkness, not caught unaware at Christ’s coming, which launches the Day of the Lord’s wrath?  “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path,” (Psalm 119:105).  We have been given “a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19) that will give us light, even while the world enters the darkest hour of all history.

There is a reason that the book of Revelation— the prophetic book of end times— repeatedly promises a blessing to believers who read, hear, and keep the things written in it. Prophecy will help you endure through until His return.  

God did not go to such detailing of a book just for our intellectual enlightenment.  God did not go to such great length, with such great warning to a Church who some feel will not even be present during the great tribulation of end times.  God gave it, because it would be necessary for the very survival of His church.

“I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive,” (John 5:43).

Jesus said that one day there would come a man— not as a Jew—but “in his own name”, who would be received by Israel as her great hope.

In Daniel 9:27, the final years of this age begin with a world leader who helps bring about a treaty “with many” countries (& involving Israel) for 7 years.  People will be saying, “Peace and safety.”  Also, inherent in this final 7-year period is a rebuilt Jewish temple, which is desecrated 3 1/2 years into the treaty.  The desecration of the temple occurs when the world leader enters the temple and declares himself, savior to mankind.

We are currently watching on t.v. a dramatic scene in the Middle East.  The most powerful man in the world is being embraced by both Israelis and Arabs.  There is burgeoning hope that a true peace agreement will be made in the Middle East.

At the same time, the Temple Institute, with its active Sanhedrin, has been preparing for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple.  They only lack official permission in order to build.  That permission could be part of a treaty.

The coming “prince” alluded to in Daniel 9:26-27 makes his appearance on the scene of world history when he enacts a 7-year treaty with Israel and “many” other nations. The book of Revelation IS the unfolding of Daniel 9:27.  Many Christians do not understand that.

With the breaking of the first seal in Revelation chapter 6, a rider on a white horse is released.  This rider is carrying a large bow, but no arrows.  He has the potential of great power, but comes peacefully.  In the Bible, a bow can be a sign of a covenant or treaty (see Genesis 9:13).

“A crown was given to him,” (Revelation 6:2).  The rider of the white horse is embraced by the world as the leader to solve the world’s problems.

But, what starts out as “peace and safety” rapidly unravels into war (seal 2), famine & inflation (seal 3), death over 1/4 of the earth (seal 4), and martyrdom (seal 5).

During the economic breakdown that accompanies these seals, a new system of the “mark” will be instituted.  This is a sign of allegiance to the world leader, by accepting a “mark” in one’s right hand or forehead.  This mark will be tied into the ability to buy and sell.  In all likelihood, it will be a computer chip.

Buying and selling with a computer chip inserted into the hand is a fact of life in some countries today!  And the rest of us carry that exact, same chip in our debit and credit cards or smart phones.  The technology of the “mark” is already in operation in our world!

We may be watching the beginnings of something unprecedented in the Middle East:  a decision to cooperate in some type of peace initiative between Israel and the Arab countries.  The current peace talk is being brought about by a powerful world leader, while plans for a Jewish temple are nearing completion, and the technology of the mark is already operating.

I find myself in the peculiar position of having voted for a man, who could usher in the fulfillment of end time prophecy.  Or not.  But, if caught between two allegiances, I choose the One who came in His Father’s name.

A car can have a huge windshield with side and rear windows allowing for excellent visibility, but as any experienced driver knows, there can also be an area called a “blindspot.”  This is an area of the vehicle where it looks clear and safe, but in reality, where true visibility is suspended.  And that can be dangerous.

There are two blindspots in the church today regarding the nation of Israel.  Both blindspots are birthed in anti-Semitism!  One arrogantly dismisses Israel as no longer important.  The other feigns concern for Israel, but would desert her during her greatest hour of need.  Neither view is Biblical.

1)  ISRAEL AS NO LONGER IMPORTANT – Part of the church today believes Israel no longer matters.  They believe the church has replaced Israel in God’s affections.

In the Old Testament, there were hundreds of prophecies given about the coming Messiah.  Of the prophecies concerning Christ’s birth, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection, all were literally and historically fulfilled. The remaining prophecies concerning His second coming, judgment, and millennial kingdom will also be literally and historically fulfilled.  The blindspot ignores the fact that these prophecies revolve themselves around the nation of Israel. 

A serious study of the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 reveals a remaining 7-year period of significant Jewish history yet to be fulfilled.  Jesus Himself referred to Daniel’s prophecy in Matthew 24:15-31.  Read this passage carefully.  It has not yet been fulfilled.  We know this, because Jesus ties it into His second coming!

In order for the final 7-year period of Daniel’s prophecy to run, the Jews have to be in their land as a nation; Jerusalem must be their capital; and a temple must be standing.  The prophecy is “determined upon” these things being in place.

From 70 A.D. until 1948, it looked as though Daniel’s prophecy needed a re-interpretation, because there existed NO nation of Israel.  For almost 2000 years, Israel had been dead.  She was long dead, as the dry bones of Ezekiel’s prophecy.  But, on May 14, 1948— just as Isaiah prophesied— Israel became an official nation “in one day” on the scene of history.  In 1967, Israel regained Jerusalem as her capital.  And today, she stands on the cusp of rebuilding her temple!

During the nearly 2000 years when Israel was gone off the scene of history, Christian theologians began to theorize that Israel had been replaced by the church.  Once that idea took root, then the difficulty of explaining the book of Revelation happening only to the bride of Christ, was dealt with by spiritualizing or allegorizing the events of end times as just spiritual struggles Christians encounter in life.  Armageddon became a battle between good and evil fought within one’s heart and not on a literal battlefield on the plains of Jezreel in Israel.  Some major denominations embraced this view and still espouse it to this day.

But when the Jews’ restoration to the land of Israel actually started taking place (beginning in the late 1800’s), it forced a more literal re-interpretation of end times among evangelicals.  Since it was Israel who figured significantly in end times, where did that leave the church?

2)  THE CHURCH WILL NOT UNDERGO THE END TIMES WITH ISRAEL-  The pretrib rapture theory emerged as a theological explanation for what happens to the church during the end times.  It teaches a triumphant, empowered church, bringing the kingdom of God to this fallen world, and then being miraculously removed just prior to the ax falling on Israel.  This is the viewpoint of many evangelicals.

BOTH BLINDSPOTS ARE SCRIPTURALLY FLAWED.

The Bible teaches a literal unfolding of the events of end times, centered around the resurrected nation of Israel.  But, the church will also enter the 70th week with Israel, just as the Gentile Ruth entered the land of Israel with her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi, during a season of hardship for them both.  It was only when the Jewish kinsman-redeemer, Boaz, took note of Ruth’s faithfulness toward Naomi that salvation came to both women.  To Ruth, she became the bride of Boaz.  To Naomi, she became the adoptive mother of Ruth and Boaz’s offspring.

In Romans 11, Paul unfolds God’s wise and unsearchable plan for both Jew and Gentile.  And that plan was this:  out of Israel would come a Redeemer for the whole world.  But, Israel would experience a partial blindness in accepting this Redeemer, in order that the fullness of the Gentiles could also come in.  Once that fullness was accomplished— with the gospel going out to “all nations”— then the end of this age would wrap up.  Redemption will come full circle, back to Israel once again!  The final seven years of this age will once again center upon Israel, whose blindness concerning Messiah will be taken away during this period! 

And what will Israel’s acceptance of Christ mean for the church?  “Life from the dead,”  (Romans 11:12-15).  Read this passage carefully, so you can grasp the correlation Paul lays out between Israel’s actions on one hand, and its benefit to us on the other.  

Like Ruth and Naomi, the church will enter the final seven years with Israel.  The true church will be a faithful companion to Israel during her great tribulation.  Then things suddenly change for both when Israel’s Messiah and the church’s Bridegroom appears in the clouds.  At that point, Israel will look upon Him whom they pierced and repent.  And the church will be taken into the presence of her Groom.  Israel’s enemies will then undergo trumpet and bowl judgments that resemble the ancient plagues poured out on Egypt.  Satan will, once again, be forced to “let My people go.”  Then the triumphant Groom, His bride, and His people will travel to Armageddon to dispatch Israel’s great enemy, Antichrist and his forces.

In the story of Ruth, the Jewish mother, Naomi, had a second daughter (in-law) named Orpah.  Like Ruth, Orpah expressed her love for Naomi in a willingness to accompany her back to the land of Israel.  But, when faced with a bleak picture of the future with Naomi, Orpah chose to leave.  Orpah is not heard of again.

Yet, the faithfulness of the Gentile daughter, Ruth, will forever be celebrated in eternity:  

“Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” 

May the church remain as faithful to Israel as Ruth was to Naomi.

Jesus’ response to a man who had just lost his father, but wanted to become a disciple of Jesus:  “Follow Me and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus’ comment to His own disciples, caught in a raging storm and fearing for their lives:  “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”

Jesus’ instructions to His disciples concerning cities and towns that reject Him:  “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

Jesus’ view on bringing “peace” to this present world:  “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Jesus’ words on the place of family in our affections:  “He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Jesus’ view on God’s “wonderful plan for your life”:  “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Jesus’ words to Peter after Peter faltered in walking on water:  “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Jesus’ opinion of the religious leaders of the day who had gotten away from scripture and were “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men”:  “They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Jesus’ words to one of His closest friends after that friend expressed deep horror that Jesus should suffer and die:  “Get behind Me, Satan!  You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Jesus’ comment to His disciples after they failed to heal an epileptic boy:  “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?”

Jesus’ comment to a man who had suffered for 38 years with an infirmity:  “See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Jesus’ comment to a woman who had been living with a guy:  “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,” for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband.”

We are living in a generation of politically-corrected speech.  The truth is watered down, so as not to offend.  And lies are represented as half-truths.  No where is this more apparent than in our social media today.  And it is being practiced by some who have become so divorced from actual Bible teaching that a new gospel has come about.  That is the gospel of non-offensiveness, “Luv, luv, luv.”  We’ve become the generation of John Lennon instead of Jesus Christ.

Jesus would not receive a “like” today on Facebook even from some Christians!  He is too blunt, too honest, and always, always, holds His people to a high standard.

We have become a generation that is more concerned about feelings than truth.  “Speak the truth, in love,” one is always taught.  Yet, if truth be told, Jesus managed to offend even His closest friends and family on occasion.

God’s truth can hurt at times.  If it offends, it is because there is something in us that doesn’t like what He is saying.  Facebook would throw out the truth to spare the feelings.  God proclaims the truth and bids us to be crucified with Christ.

In the garden of Eden, God gave man one blunt command:  “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.”

But, Satan the serpent was cunning.  Satan saw an opportunity to deceive God’s people by appearing kinder and more sympathetic to them and questioning God’s motives.  “And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” 

The generation of today is one with pleasures and material possessions in abundance.  We have become narcissistic.  God has become an add-on to our lives and not the center of our lives.  Other things have usurped His place.  Our technology has puffed us up.  We are making the fatal mistake of equating intellect with wisdom; man’s teaching with the word of God.

We are seeing a different gospel being touted today.  It is the gospel of facebook.  A mindset that sees the old way as the wrong way; that sees the Bible as needing a radically new interpretation and presentation.  We have swallowed the lie of the garden, in its 21st century package.

It is becoming increasingly apparent to those who actually read the Bible and take it at its word, that Bible truth is being squelched in our society today.  Even some church services starting out with scripture are tending to launch out far, far away to the sea of man’s theology and his “hip” take on things.  A word of warning to all pastors and teachers out there:  One day you will stand before Almighty God and account for what you fed the sheep.  With all diligence, you’d better be sure you are preaching what the Bible actually says.

Jesus described the end time condition of the church in no uncertain terms.  It is“rich, increased with goods, having need of nothing.”  Yet, in God’s estimation, it was “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”  The very generation that might see the great tribulation of Antichrist, is also the most unprepared for it.

How does the military prepare men and women for the rigors of war?  It is not through some non-offensive, easy-listening-music program.  The military toughens its soldiers up, both physically and mentally.  The military equips and trains its soldiers how to survive and how to do damage to the enemy.  But, when was the last time you heard a really good sermon on sin, Satan, or the great and terrible Day of the Lord?  For the most part you won’t, because the facebook generation has blocked it.

The early Christians faced terrible persecutions, beginning with the crucifixion of their own Leader.  Both Jewish and Gentile believers faced imprisonments, arenas of wild animals, burnings, and crucifixions as they stood true to the Lord Jesus Christ— refusing to bow down to the emperor-worship that Rome required.

However, as has rightly been said, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.  Despite hundreds of years of persecution by the government of Rome, Christianity spread like wildfire.  Something had to be done.  Satan, who was the mastermind behind these persecutions, had to change tactics.

In 313 A.D., there was a sudden reversal of attitude of the Roman government toward Christianity.  Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus, better known as Constantine the Great, claimed conversion to Christianity.  Whether his conversion was genuine or not, the end result was that overnight, the persecuted church of Jesus Christ became the legitimate and favored religion of the Roman Empire.

However, this legitimatizing of the faith by the Roman Empire proved more successful in undermining the purity of Christianity, than centuries of outright persecution.  Satan had stumbled upon a winning formula.

The pagan religion of Rome with its Babylonian roots merged with the newly legalized Christian faith.  Idol worship flooded into the church.  Salvation by works and offerings of money became the rule.  Gradually the people became divorced from the pure word of Scripture as headship of the churches fell into the hands of a few, ambitious men.  Quickly, a separation became instituted between clergy and laity, with only the clergy able to teach and discern “truth.”

This compromise of the pure, early Christian faith with paganism would require multiple reformations later on.  Today, we are still reeling from this influence and some dross still remains.

Prior to the election of 2016, the church was the underdog in America.  For eight years we were assaulted with unjust laws, morals, and attitudes that were in opposition to our Christian beliefs.  The persecution helped to unite and purify us.  But a sudden reversal happened in November when a man,  openly supportive of Christianity, was elected into office.  Since Donald Trump’s election, the Christian has found itself back in favor in government, with some unjust rulings being turned back.

But, like Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 313 A.D., the church now faces some danger.  Because the good will and protection by the current administration obligates Christianity to other faiths. The religious freedom act of the Rose Garden was heralded by all faiths, pagan and otherwise.

In the President’s address in the Rose Garden, there was announced his first upcoming foreign trip.  On that trip, he will visit the capitals of the world’s major monotheistic religions:  Saudi Arabia, home of Islam’s Mecca and Medina; Jerusalem, center of Judaism; and Rome, headquarters of the Catholic church.  The President already has the full support and cooperation of evangelical leaders in the U.S.  The upcoming trip is a decided political move toward gaining cooperation among the major religions of the world.  Peace and cooperation among religions, which hopefully will help forge a peace in the Middle East.

The Bible says that this will happen one day.  If a 7-year treaty of peace for Israel results from these overtures, allowing for the rebuilding of Israel’s temple, then we will have just stepped over into the final seven years of this age preceding the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

If you are not being led and guided by the word of God, this treaty could fool you.  For it will start out looking like one of the greatest feats of negotiated cooperation among nations and religions in the history of the modern world.  But Paul the apostle warned concerning this:  “For when they shall say, ‘Peace and safety’; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape,” (I Thessalonians 5:3).  It behooves us, the Christian church, to be very discerning in this day and hour.

During the National Day of Prayer in the Rose Garden at the White House, President Trump signed into law a religious freedom act.  The ceremony was attended by many well-known Christian leaders who applauded the President’s efforts to renew and protect the religious liberties of Americans, including easing IRS rules on houses of worship.

Behind President Trump stood representatives of many faiths:  Christian, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and some Eastern faiths.  They were all assured that their religious liberties will continue to be protected by the U.S. constitution.

In the middle of his speech, President Trump made mention of his first foreign trip which would take him to the religious capitals of the world’s major monotheistic religions:  Saudi Arabia (home of Islam’s Mecca and Medina), Jerusalem (home of Judaism), and Rome (home of Roman Catholicism).  President Trump already has the full support and cooperation of evangelicals, who are headquartered in the United States.

The goodwill and cooperation of the religions of the world in the name of “peace” is a first step to a much greater goal.  President Trump hopes to garner support for his declared plan to bring peace to the Middle East.  It was just this week that Trump met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.  Abbas’ reaction to the meeting:  “Mr. President, with you, we have hope.”

All of this sounds good on the surface. But it behooves the Bible-believing Bereans out there to be wary.  Why?

1. The Bible teaches that the final 7-years of this age begin with a treaty or covenant between Israel, a world leader, and other nations (Daniel 9:27).  Inherent in this prophecy is the existence of a rebuilt Jewish temple. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has everything ready to erect this temple in record time, including the training of the temple priests.  They only lack official permission to build.  This permission could be part of the treaty’s stipulations.  Revelation 11:2 seems to hint that a shared arrangement of the Temple Mount will be negotiated.  The area outside the temple will be “given to the Gentiles.”
2. The unity or cooperation of the religions of the world marries Baal with God Almighty.  Where in your Bible has this ever resulted in good for God’s people?  Co-existence has always necessitated compromise of one’s faith first.
3. In the end times, religious freedom will still be in place… for a time.  Reading ahead in Revelation 13, we see where there will eventually be some type of “mark” placed on or in the hand or forehead of people for the purposes of buying and selling.  This mark will be the world leader’s way of ensuring the cooperation of people.  The real game-changer will be economic control of people.  Many prophetic teachers see the computer chip being used as the mark of the beast, allowing for control of the world’s economic systems.  An implanted chip in the hand for the purposes of buying and selling is now a fact of life in several countries of the world.   The rest of us carry that same chip in a debit or credit card, or an iphone.
4. As I write this, Air Force jets have intercepted Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska, and North Korea has just fired a ballistic missile.  Syria is a mess.  And huge famines are wiping out populations of people in Africa.  The world is heating up.  The groundwork may be being laid for the necessary second coming of Jesus Christ, before mankind does himself in.
5. THE CHURCH— FOR THE MOST PART— IS CHOOSING TO IGNORE THE GATHERING STORM CLOUDS.  We should be proclaiming the Second Coming of Jesus Christ!  But, how many churches are?  And have any of President Trump’s ministers warned him of Bible prophecy concerning Israel?  Or are they even aware of it?

Many American Christians hope the USA has the same future as was said about the British Empire, with the sun never setting on us.  Yet, the Bible teaches that it will be events happening to the nation of Israel that determine the completion of this present age.

In Daniel 9:24-27 a prophecy of 70 7’s of years (or 490 years) is laid out.  Many students of Bible prophecy have studied this exhaustively.  Yet, there is something about the prophecy that most have failed to grasp.

This prophecy has a life of its own, provided 3 determinants are in place. 

In Daniel 9:24, God specifically states that the 490-year prophetic period is determined upon 3 conditions:

• “thy people” – the Jews must be back in their land as a people/nation;
• “thy holy” – there must be an existing Jewish temple;
• “city” – with Jerusalem as her capital city.

A careful study of this prophetic passage reveals that once all 3 conditions were met, the prophetic clock ran.  If one or more conditions were removed, the prophetic clock stopped.

In 536 B.C., Cyrus of Persia gave command for the Jews to return to their land as a people.  He also ordered the temple to be rebuilt.  Cyrus’ command put two of the conditions in place:  the Jews in their land as a people, and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple.

But, Cyrus’ command did NOT begin the prophetic countdown.  Cyrus’ command didn’t rebuild the city of Jerusalem, whose street and walls still lay in ruin.  It was not until 454 B.C. that Artaxerxes gave official permission or command for Jerusalem to be rebuilt.  It was actually this command which started the prophetic clock ticking, because it put into place the 3rd and final determinant.

For the next 69 7’s or 483 years, the prophetic clock ran without a hitch.  But on the day of Christ’s crucifixion, the prophetic clock stopped.  Why?  Because in crucifying Christ, the Jews, in effect, destroyed the True Tabernacle of God.  Jerusalem was no longer the holy city with a temple.  She had destroyed her real Temple.  Since that day, the prophetic clock has remained stopped!

Forty years after the crucifixion, the Roman army under General Titus completed the destruction of both Jerusalem and her temple building in 70 A.D.  The Jews were scattered or slaughtered.  Nothing remained of the 3 conditions to Daniel’s prophecy!  The prophecy remained suspended before its final 7 years could take place!

But in the 1900’s, things began to “wake up” prophetically.  In 1917, the Jews began returning to their land after the Balfour Declaration gave them back the land of “Palestine” as a homeland.  Then in 1948, Israel once again became an official nation after almost 2000 years of non-existence!  In 1967, Israel won back East Jerusalem as her capital…including the Temple Mount area.

The only determinant left to fall into place is the rebuilding of the Jewish temple!  Once that is accomplished, the final 7 years of this present age— the “end times”— can resume.  Once official permission to rebuild the Jewish temple is given, the prophetic clock will be free to resume ticking.

The best chance for Israel to gain peace and permission to rebuild her temple lay with the current U.S. administration in Washington!

Most American Christians are unaware of the significance of calling President Trump a type of Cyrus.  For the end time Cyrus who helps Israel rebuild her temple, will be laying in place the kick off for end times.

Vice President Pence has been speaking out about the administration’s plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem (from Tel Aviv).  If this happens, Washington will be giving official recognition to Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city.  It will also lend credence to Israel’s right to rebuild her temple in East Jerusalem on the Temple Mount area.  

There is a large, open plaza on the Temple Mount’s farthest north side— next to the Muslim Dome of the Rock— where Israel could build her temple, without having to destroy any other edifices!   Do we see any hint of this taking place in scripture?

In the book of Isaiah, Lucifer’s proud, willful plans to replace God for himself are recorded.  In Lucifer’s own words, “I will also sit on the MOUNT of congregation on the farthest sides of the NORTH,” (Isaiah 14:13b).  Is this a future allusion to Antichrist sitting in the rebuilt Jewish temple on the North side of the Temple Mount?  Stay tuned.

The heart of God has always been to dwell among His people.  He walked with Adam in the cool of the evening and eagerly awaits time with us everyday.

When God first brought the Hebrew children out of Egypt, He desired to have His Presence among them.  Exodus 25:8 says, “And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.”  God commissioned a portable tabernacle that would carry the Ark of the Covenant with its mercy seat.  The presence of God would travel with His people.  Wherever they traveled, they could view His tabernacle among them.

After many years, the nation of Israel entered and conquered the Promised Land.  Under King David, the capital city of Israel was eventually established in Jerusalem.  At this point, David desired to build a permanent dwelling for the Ark.  It would be his son, Solomon, who would actually complete the First Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

But Solomon began to follow after the strange gods of his many foreign wives.  At some point, the Ark of the Covenant disappeared from the First Temple.  It was a physical sign that the Presence of God was departing as the apostasy of the nation continued into idolatry.

The nation of Israel split into two after the death of Solomon.  The northern ten tribes almost immediately plunged into open idolatry, while the southern two tribes experienced some revival.  But, eventually, both sections of Israel went into captivity due to their sin:  the northern 10 tribes around 722 B.C. and the southern 2 tribes around 586 B.C.  It was also in 586 B.C. that the destruction of the First temple by the Babylonians took place.

After 70 years in captivity to the Babylonians, Israel was freed and allowed to return to her land.  When she returned, she rebuilt her temple, the Second Jewish Temple.  The temple was built under the revival of Ezra/Nehemiah.  The temple itself was a modest one, but it was remodeled into a magnificent structure during the reign of Herod the Great.  This was the temple at the time of Jesus.

This second temple never contained the Ark of the Covenant!  Instead, the very Tabernacle of God’s Presence walked among His people in the form of a Man who visited the Second temple.  At the age of 33, He was crucified by Israel, urged on by her religious leaders.  Israel, in crucifying Christ, literally destroyed the Essence of her own temple.  The destruction of the temple building  by the Roman’s 40 years later was merely the completion of that destruction.

Yet, for Christ’s followers, there was given a great promise.  The Holy Spirit of God Himself would dwell within them (I Corinthians 6:19)!  Their own bodies became temples of the Holy Spirit.  And it continues today for everyone who believes.

So, where does that leave Israel?  Has God abandoned her for good?  Has the Church replaced Israel in the plan and purposes of God?

In Romans 11:11, Paul asked those same questions:  “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall?  God forbid:  but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” 

Paul goes on in verse 23 to declare about Israel:  “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in:  for God is able to graft them in again.”

As we can see, it is NOT God’s desire to abandon Israel for good.  His intent is to see her restored.  So, does Israel get restored back to God?  “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.  And so, all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, AND SHALL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB,” (Romans 11:25-26).  Jacob is the nation of Israel acting in the flesh, just like the patriarch, Jacob, did.  But, because of the mercy of God, Jacob was transformed.  The nation of Israel WILL be transformed also in the future.

When?

In Daniel 9:24, God revealed to the prophet, Daniel, that 70 7’s or 490 years “are determined upon thy people and thy holy city to finish the transgression.”  The people are Daniel’s own people, Israel.  The “holy city” is Jerusalem with its temple.  The “transgression” is Israel’s turning away from God into idolatry.

What God was saying here was that 490 years remained for Israel to FINISH her sin of rejecting God for another.  The prophetic clock got kicked off in 454 B.C. with the “commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:25) that was given by the Persian king, Artaxerxes.  From that point until the crucifixion, 483 years were fulfilled.  The prophetic clock then stopped, because Israel had literally destroyed her true Tabernacle, Jesus Christ.  Forty years later, in 70 A.D., the Roman army destroyed the building of the temple, the city of Jerusalem, and scattered the Jewish people.  Nothing was left for the prophetic clock to resume with— no nation, no city, no temple.

For almost 2000 years, the nation of Israel was dead.  Israel was “dry bones.”  So dead and for so long that church leaders began to teach that the Church had replaced Israel in the plan of God.  This “replacement” theology was foundational to anti-Semitism and rationalized away Jewish persecution— even the Holocaust— as “deserved”, since the Jews were labeled “Christ killers.”

Yet, God was not done with Israel.  This same prophecy of Daniel ALSO said that within the 490-year period, Israel would “finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and ANOINT THE MOST HOLY,” (Daniel 9:24).

We Christians are waiting for the nation of Israel to wrap up this age.

The final prophetic piece— the last 7 years— will resume when the nation of Israel is in existence once again (FULFILLED, 1948), with Jerusalem as her capital (FULFILLED, 1967), and with her temple rebuilt.

The rebuilding of her temple stands its greatest chance yet with the Trump administration.    

Israel’s former temples were destroyed because of her transgression of turning away from her true God.  This transgression will continue into the final 7-year period with the upcoming Third temple.  The Bible speaks of a “falling away” or great apostasy that takes place during the end times.  Many in Israel will regard a mere man as their “messiah.”  This man— the Antichrist— will enter the Third temple and declare himself, God.

This “abomination of desolation” that enters Israel’s Third temple will trigger the greatest period of persecution in Israel’s history.  IT WILL BE WORSE THAN THE HOLOCAUST!  Rocked into wakefulness, Israel will cry out for her true Messiah.  And He will appear in the clouds to save her.  Messiah Jesus Christ WILL destroy Israel’s enemies once and for all.  Salvation will come to Israel.  She will make “an end of her sins, make reconciliation for her iniquity, usher in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and she will anoint the most Holy,” (Daniel 9:24).

So, what is God’s attitude toward the temples?  God loves the temple.  Whether a tent of tabernacle in the desert, a golden Ark of Covenant in a glorious temple, a body of a believer, or the crucified body of Messiah, God loves His temple.  It’s not the temple He has a problem with.  It is our unfaithfulness to Him that He hates.

The very next Jewish temple to be built will be the temple of the tribulation period.  And God may be using American Christians to help bring it about.

The Bible speaks of a literal, physical temple that will stand in the end time.  Into this temple will walk a man who will proclaim himself, God.  His declaration— and the statue he will erect— will be an “abomination” that desolates the temple.  Jesus cited this abomination as THE SIGN for Jews living in the area of Judea “to flee to the mountains.”  

This is not talking about a spiritual temple.  It will be a physical temple with an event that is witnessed by the world.  The introduction of this abomination will trigger what the Bible calls “the great tribulation,” the worst period of persecution the world has ever witnessed.

In the midst of this tribulation, the sun will suddenly grow dark.  The moon will not give its light and the stars will be seen falling in a spectacular meteor shower in the heaven.  And then “all the tribes of earth will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” (Matthew 24:30).

THIS EVENT HAS NOT YET HAPPENED IN HUMAN HISTORY.  The “abomination of desolation” that Jesus speaks about in Matthew 24:15 is in the future, and was not fulfilled during the temple destruction of 70 A.D.  Remember, this future tribulation is followed by the visible Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

However, it WILL happen in the very next Jewish temple to be built in Jerusalem.  This temple will be the THIRD Jewish temple.  And American Christian leaders, as well as the top Rabbis of Jerusalem, are joining together and pushing hard for it to be built!

The FIRST JEWISH TEMPLE was the temple of King David and Solomon.  This temple stood until 586 B.C., when it was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  The Bible is very clear that the reason for the destruction of the temple was the idolatry of Israel.  Beginning with the idolatry of the northern 10 tribes around 722 B.C. and then finishing with the southern 2 tribes in 586 B.C., the temple’s destruction was linked to the apostasy of Israel away from her one, true God, Jehovah.

The SECOND TEMPLE was the temple of Ezra/Nehemiah.  It was expanded and greatly remodeled into the magnificent temple of Jesus’ time by King Herod.  This temple’s doom was sealed when Israel rejected and crucified the very tabernacle of God, Jesus Christ.  The Roman army merely finished off the destruction of this temple by tearing down the building in 70 A.D.

The next THIRD TEMPLE will be the temple that is desecrated by Antichrist.  The desecration of this temple will take place after the great apostasy of Israel in accepting a mere man as her “messiah.”  Jesus said, “I have come in My Father’s name and you do not receive Me.  If another comes in his own name, him you will receive,” (John 5:43).  This prophetic statement was referring to the future Antichrist when some in Israel will accept and worship a man as their promised messiah, despite his lack of Biblical credentials.

So, there are THREE temples of Israel that are destroyed due to her idolatry.  Each temple’s destruction can be linked to blasphemy of the Three Persons of the Trinity:

1. The First Temple against Jehovah the Father;
2. The Second Temple against Jesus Christ the Son;
3. The Third Temple against the Holy Spirit who bears witness to the Son. “And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is the spirit of antichrist, of which you have heard was coming, and now is already in the world,” (I John 4:3).  In the end times, the spirit of Antichrist will be embodied in human form as a literal man, entering a literal temple.

During the millennial reign of Christ, there will be a FOURTH TEMPLE built on this present earth.  It is described in great detail in the book of Ezekiel.  This will be superseded by the “Lord God Almighty and the Lamb” of Revelation 21:22, who dwell with us forever as our eternal Temple!

But, let’s get back to the upcoming Third Jewish Temple.  In a prophecy found in Daniel 9:24-27, the final end time period of 7 years begins with a treaty or “covenant.” This treaty could include an arrangement for the rebuilding of the temple!

Until the recent presidential election, Israel had little hope of being able to rebuild her temple.  Deserted by the former U.S. administration, she had little clout to work with.  But that is changing.  Strongly legitimatized by a Trump presidency that is attempting to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, Israel now has a much stronger expectation of building her Third Temple.    

The man who has had towers erected to himself all over the world, could be the one to enable Israel to erect her Third Temple.  If so, he will be assisted by an alliance of Jewish and Christian leaders who have promised to create a “tower” of protection around him.

A widespread prophecy concerning Donald Trump was given by a young man who called him, God’s trumpet, and a type of Cyrus.  Who was Cyrus?

Cyrus was the Persian king who ended the 70-year captivity of the Jewish people in Babylon.  Along with that, Cyrus ordered that the Jewish temple be rebuilt, even financing part of its rebuilding out of his own treasury.

Sounds good so far.  A Gentile king raised up by God to release His people and rebuild the Jewish temple.  In that, we as Christians rejoice.  It has been hard for many of us to see the disrespect and lack of support for Israel under the former administration.

But, if we take those same actions of Cyrus and hopefully attribute them to Mr. Trump, we may be in for a jolt.  For if he were a Cyrus and be instrumental in Israel’s peace, allowing for her third temple to be rebuilt, then he could be the trigger for the final 7 years of this age, known as endtimes.

In Daniel 9:24, God delivered a prophecy of a 490-year period of time or 70 7’s of years.  That prophecy was determined upon three things.  Or, in other words, the prophecy could not run unless three things were in place:  the Jewish people back in their land; Jerusalem restored; and the temple which makes Jerusalem “the HOLY city.”

Cyrus’ decree allowed for two of the determinants to be in place:  the Jews’ return to their land and the temple rebuilt.  However, the city of Jerusalem itself lay in ruins.

In 454 B.C., another Persian king, Artaxerxes, gave the command for the “street and the walls” of Jerusalem to be restored.  It was this command that triggered the prophecy to go forth, because the third determinant was now in place.

This prophecy ran uninterruptedly for the next 483 years, or until 30 A.D.  Then the prophetic clock stopped at the crucifixion.  Why?  Because in crucifying Christ— the true “tabernacle” of God— the Jews, in effect, destroyed their own temple.  So the prophetic clock stopped.  In 70 A.D. the Roman army completed the destruction by destroying the temple building and the city of Jerusalem.  The Jews themselves were scattered, slaughtered, or enslaved.  Israel was no more for almost 2000 years.

But, in 1948, miraculously, Israel became a nation once again.  And in 1967, Jerusalem was regained.  And now, Israel is ready to rebuild her temple.  She is all ready.  She has everything prepared for it.  But she has been hindered so far from accomplishing that.

As of today, two of the three determinants to resume the prophecy are in place:  the Jews are back in their land with Jerusalem as their capital.

When Israel rebuilds her temple— the only thing holding the prophecy up— the final 7 years of the prophecy can commence.  Daniel 9:27 tells us of a “prince” who will make a 7-year treaty with Israel.  This treaty may include the right to rebuild her temple.  How do we know Israel WILL rebuild her temple?  Because Daniel 9:27 also tells us that in the middle of these 7 years, this “prince” will cause the “sacrifices and oblations (of the temple) to cease.”   Instead, he will enter the temple, declare himself God, and allow an abomination or idol of himself to be set up.  Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 24:15-16 when He said:  “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.”

Cyrus was significant for setting two determinants of the prophecy in place:  the Jews’ return to their land and the rebuilding of the temple.  There is also an endtime Cyrus who will be significant for allowing the rebuilding of the temple, the third and final determinant to relaunch the prophecy.  He will come in as a peacemaker for Israel.  And people will be saying “peace & safety” when he comes.

As the people of God, we may or may not have unknowingly voted in a man who could be the endtime Cyrus.  But, one thing we must do…KEEP OUR EYES ON BIBLICAL PROPHECY!  For it is currently batting 100% in its accuracy.

There are two simultaneous, yet seemingly conflicting movements in Christianity today.  One says, we will rise up and usher in the greatest move of God in our nation and our world.  The other says, repent for the kingdom of God draws near.  Both are correct.  But, the greatest move of God may take place within the final 70th 7 of Daniel’s prophecy.