Why the End Times (A family History part 7)

"Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out My hand against you, and make you a desolation and a waste. And I will lay waste your cities and you will become a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end..."

Ezekiel 35:3-5 NASB

We have so far examined the covenant that God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the Mosaic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and finally, the New Covenant. Understanding the covenants will give us a clear comprehension of the events leading up to, and including the return of Christ. These covenants are rushing to a fulfillment that will occur in those final days.

Another issue that will play big in end times events involves an ancient family. There are several things that occured among Abraham's family that created wounds that are still unresolved to this day. And they will play a major part in ushering in the great tribulation that will occur at the time of the end. I would like to look at these events that occured thousands of years ago, but have great relevance for today.

When we go back to the covenant that the LORD made with Abram we see that he was childless, yet God promised him a multitude of descendants after him ( Genesis 15:2-5). And to make things even more difficult, Sarai, Abram's wife was barren. 

Some time after God promised Abram an heir, his wife gave Hagar, her maid, to Abram, hoping that through her, God's promise would be fulfilled. So He went in to her, and Hagar conceived and bore a son, who was named Ishmael. Hagar then despised her mistress, causing Sarai to become jealous, and this became a source of contention between them ( Genesis 16:1-16).

About 14 years later Sarah gave birth to a son, and Abraham named him Isaac. Abraham is now 100 years old at this time. A few years later, when Issac was weaned, they threw a great feast to celebrate. Sarah saw Ishmael mocking, and she demanded that Abraham drive out her maid along with Ishmael. Abraham was very distressed, he no doubt loved his son Ishmael, but God told him to send them away, because it was through Isaac that the covenant would be passed down.

God provided for Hagar and Ishmael, and God blessed Ishmael and made him a mighty nation. He was given an Egyptian wife, and settled in Paran, where he became the father of the Arab people (Genesis 21:1-21). The Bible records that the 12 tribes of Ishmael's sons settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes to Assyria (Genesis 25:18). This is thought to be the area from the Sinai peninsula into what is now Saudi Arabia, perhaps down south into what is now modern day Yemen.

Abraham's son Isaac went on to father twin sons, Esau and Jacob. During her pregnancy Rebekah, Isaac's wife, inquired of the LORD about the struggle in her womb. The LORD answered her that there were two nations in her womb, two peoples would come forth from her body. One would be stronger than the other, and the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:22-23). 

Esau was the first to be born, and ordinarily the birthright would belong to him. However God saw it differently. The covenant would pass down from Isaac to Jacob and his descendants.

Later on as the boys grew older, Esau came in from hunting, and he was famished. Jacob had cooked some stew, and Esau asked him for some. Jacob demanded that Esau sell him his birthright for a bowl of stew. The Bible tells us that Esau despised his birthright. He ate his stew and went on his way.

Isaac grew old and was almost blind. The day came when he desired to pass the blessing on to his eldest son Esau. However Rebekah heard him, and quickly got Jacob, and the two of them plotted to deceive Isaac. Jacob posed as Esau, and although Isaac was suspicious at first, He gave the blessing to Jacob. Just as he finished, Esau came in, but it was too late. Esau begged with tears for a blessing, but he was the elder brother who was to serve the younger. He bore a grudge, and swore that he would kill Jacob (Genesis 27:1-41).

After Jacob fled to Rebekah's family in Paddan-aram, Esau went to Ishmael, out of spite, and married his daughter, Mahalath (Genesis 28:5-9). 

Esau eventually settled in the hill country of Seir, where he became the father of the Edomites (Genesis 36:8-9).

Genesis 25:1-6 records that after Sarah's death Abraham took another wife named Keturah. She bore him children as well. Among them are Midian, who went on to settle in what is referred to as the land of Midian in Arabia, and Jokshan, who gave birth to Sheba and Dedan who also settled in Arabia. The Midianites were enemies of Israel, and oppressed them on numerous occasions during the days of the Judges.

When Abram left Ur of the Chaldees to settle in the land the LORD would show to him, his nephew Lot came along. They had too many animals and possessions for the land to sustain them both together, so they decided to part ways. Abram let Lot choose where he wanted to settle, and he chose the valley of the Jordan, which at that time was well watered, like the garden of the LORD. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, which was the land promised him by the LORD (Genesis 13:5-18). Of course we all know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, how they were destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven. The land which was once fertile and well watered became a destroyed wasteland (Genesis 19:24-28).

Lot fled to a cave in the mountains where he lived with his two daughters. In desperation to preserve their family line they got their father drunk and slept with him. They both conceived and bore sons. The older daughter named her son Moab. He became the father of the Moabites. The younger bore a son who she named Ben-ammi. He became the father of the Ammonites. These two nations also were bitter enemies of Israel and caused many problems for the ancient nation

If we were to take a modern map and place the territories of these ancient kingdoms over the nations that now exist there, it would look something like this. From the North going south you would have Ammon, Moab, then Edom over what is now present day Jordan heading south into Saudi Arabia with Dedan on the Northwest edge followed by the land of Midian, and Sheba where present day Yemen is located 

So what about the descendants of these ancient nations? To quote Bill Randles,

"Eventually the Edomites intermarried with the Ishmaelites, Midianites, and Moabites, and comprise much of the Middle Eastern Arabs." *

 The Bible has much to say about these nations in prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. The perpetual hatred of Esau has persisted into this present day among his modern day descendants. This bitterness has been carried throughout the Middle East and North African nations by Islam as it conquered those lands centuries ago. 

I would like to make something clear here. Islam is a false religion that rose up in the land of Ishmael's descendants roughly 1400 years ago. It has carried this grievance at the forefront of its message. The ultimate destruction of Israel is at its very core. When one studies their end time beliefs you will find the opposite of what the Bible teaches. Their Messiah (the Mahdi) is who the Bible portrays as the antichrist, and the Biblical Jesus is portrayed as their version of the antichrist (the Dajjal). The Muslim Jesus (referred to as Issa) comes to help the Mahdi eliminate the Jewish race and establish the golden age of Islam. The book of revelation would describe this individual as the "false prophet" (Revelation 13:11-18).

That said, I love Muslims. I am acquainted with many, some whom I consider friends. They need Jesus just as we all do. Instead of fear and hate, we must love them as Jesus would, and seek to reach those that we can. 

Isaiah speaks of a beautiful day when Jesus reigns on the earth in Jerusalem. All the nations will be coming into the city to worship. This includes Abraham's other grandchildren as well.

God blessed Abraham and multiplied all of his physical descendants, not just Israel. True, the land covenant went through Isaac and Jacob; it was through Israel that Jesus came, but the covenant made with Abraham declares that all the nations will be blessed through him.

The end does not just terminate at Armageddon. An age is coming where the wolf lies down with the lamb. Isaiah specifically mentions the Arab people coming into the millennial kingdom bringing offerings and gifts to worship Jesus the Messiah.

"Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you. A multitude of camels will cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah (Midian's descendants); all those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the LORD. All the flocks of Kedar (Ishmael's descendants) will be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth (another one of Ishmael's descendants) will minister to you; they will go up with acceptance My altar, and I shall glorify My glorious house." 

Isaiah 60:5-7 emphasis mine

A glorious day is coming  when the prince of peace will bring peace and restoration, not only to the family of Abraham, but to all the nations of the earth.

* Quote taken from A sword on the Land. © 2015 Pastor Bill Randles

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Why the End Times (A Panoramic View part 6)

Revelation chapter 12 gives us a picture of time. From Israel's beginning all the way through its history up until the tribulation is covered through symbols that tell the story of what is to come.

I will break this into sections to make it a bit simpler to explain.

 1. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 

2. and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

Revelation 12:1-2

The woman is Israel. Think back to the story of Joseph found in Genesis where he dreamed that the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to him. The sun and moon represented his father and mother, and the eleven stars represented his brothers (see Genesis 37:9-11). 

The symbolism found in these first two verses represent Israel, the twelve tribes descended from Jacob. It was through Israel that the Messiah was to be brought into the world. Israel was in labor to bring forth the one who was to crush the serpent and reverse the curse of Genesis 3:13-19.

3. Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold,  

a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

Revelation 12:3-4 

The dragon is Satan, the serpent of Genesis chapter 3. The seven heads represent seven different kingdoms that he has used in history against Israel, in an effort to thwart the coming of the one who will destroy him. The ten horns represent the ten kings who will unite in the last days under the antichrist in Satan's final attempt to overthrow the rule of Christ (see Daniel 2:31-45, 7:7, 23-27). In this sign, the crowns are on the seven heads. Later in Revelation 13 we will see them on the ten horns at the time of the end. 

The seven kingdoms can be identified as 

1. Egypt

2.Assyria

3. Babylon

4.Medo-Persian 

5. Greece

6. Rome

7. Ottoman Empire *

The first six of these ancient empires are more recognizable to most people. It is plain to see from Scripture the ways Satan used these kingdoms against Israel in his attempt to stop the coming of Jesus. The seventh, a united Islamic empire might be a lesser known kingdom, and one not talked about as much by Bible teachers,  but it can be backed up by Scripture, something I will do as I progress with these posts.

I have written about this in previous posts on the end times as well.

The dragon swept a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. This could refer to the fallen angels who sinned (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6) when Satan rebelled, or it might refer to the angels who are defeated along with Satan, and cast to the earth prior to the great tribulation. We will get to that in a few verses. It is interesting to note the similarity in Daniel 8:9-12, where the little horn (the Antichrist) magnifies himself to the host of heaven and causes some of the host and stars to fall to the earth. 

5. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and His throne.

6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Revelation 12:5-6 NASB 

This child is Israel's Messiah, Jesus. He is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, the one who is to rule from Jerusalem forever. Psalm 2:7-9, speaking of Jesus, records this,

"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ' You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.' "

Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and ascended up to God, where He now sits at the right hand His Father waiting for His time to reign (Psalm 110:1-7). 

The passage now jumps to future for Israel. Jesus warned them that when they saw the "abomination that causes desolation" they were to flee to the mountains. This is the event that starts the great tribulation, a time of distress that is unequaled to anything the world has ever experienced (Matthew 24:15-21). This time period is to last 1,260 days or three and one half years. 

7. And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,

8. and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.

9. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who decieved the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 

It is a surprising fact to ponder that Satan now has access to heaven. But we do read of this in Job, where Satan comes and presents himself before the LORD and accuses Job of serving God for his own personal benefits (Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7). 

The book of Daniel describes Michael the archangel as the one who stands guard over the sons of Israel. At some point he will arise, and the great tribulation will begin (Daniel 12:1-2). It seems that this occurs in conjunction with the casting out of Satan, along with his angels. Again, Daniel records that the Antichrist causes some of the host of heaven as well as some of the stars to be cast down to the earth (Daniel 8:9-12). I firmly believe that these events are all occuring at the same time: the casting out of Satan by the archangel Michael, and the revealing of the Antichrist. This is the beginning of the three and one half years time of great tribulation. 

10. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

11. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony,and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 

12. For this reason, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."

Revelation 12:10-12 NASB

Things have changed in heaven now that Satan is cast out. He is no longer accusing the saints before God, like the example in Job. We are getting close to the second coming of Christ to put down evil and to reign over the earth. There is great rejoicing in heaven, yet it will be a time of great distress for those who are alive on the earth in those days. How do we overcome? By the blood of the Lamb, boldly proclaiming our testimony, and our absolute willingness to die for Jesus. In fact, that is how most will escape the tribulation (see Revelation 6:9-11, 7:9-17). 

13. When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 

14. But the two wings of the great  eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time from the presence of the serpent.

15. And the serpent poured out water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.

16. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.

17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 12:13-17 NASB

One more time Satan goes against Israel as he has in times past. Chapter 13 in Revelation describes a beast with seven heads and ten horns rising out of the sea as the dragon stands waiting. The crowns are now on the ten horns. This is the final empire that Satan will use in his attempt to thwart Christ's coming to destroy him. If he can eliminate Israel from being a nation then the covenant that God made with Abraham is broken, and if God breaks his covenant is he God?

Israel is invaded. Those who can will flee to the mountains. Zechariah states that two thirds of the nation will perish, while one third will be refined. They will call on the LORD and He will deliver them (Zechariah 13:8-9). Here we see the time period written as a time, times, and half a time. This again is referring to the same thing as before, three and one half years, of tribulation.

This will also be a time when those who follow Jesus will be persecuted well. The other children of the woman mentioned here are Christians. They are the ones who keep God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. They have been grafted into the New Covenant promise that was made with Israel (Romans 11:17).

This is not meant to be an in depth study of the end times events, but an overview, something to paint a picture of what is yet to come. As I continue to make these posts I will attempt to go into more details of these events.

Why the End Times? (The Davidic Covenant part 4)

At the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zacharias, uttered this prophetic word,

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant -as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-SALVATION FROM OUR ENEMIES, AND FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; to show mercy toward our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you child will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God. With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luke 1:67-79 NASB

Around one thousand years previously, God made a covenant with a king named David. It starts with the ultimate establishment of Israel in their land, and the final overthrow of their enemies.

"I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be removed again; and the wicked will not waste them anymore as formerly, even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies."

1 Chronicles 17:9-10 NASB

Up to this point Israel had  experienced times of conflict with various enemies, but had yet to experience removal from the land.

By the time of Zacharias, the Assyrian captivity, followed by the Babylonian captivity, had occured, and now although they were back in their land, they were subject to the Roman empire. So this is looking to a time yet future.

"Moreover I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you. When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father and he shall be My son;and I will not take My loving kindness away from Him, as I took it from him who was before you. But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever."

1 Chronicles 17:10-14 NASB

The day is coming when Israel will be delivered from all who seek to destroy them, and be established in their own land in peace and security. The LORD will be their God, and they will be His people. One is coming to set up His kingdom in Jerusalem and reign over them forever. He is the Son of David, Jesus the Messiah.

Matthew's gospel begins by tracing the genealogy from David to Jesus, establishing the fact that Jesus is indeed Israel's Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17).

At the birth of Jesus the angels announced that a savior, Christ (Messiah) the Lord had been born in the city of David (Luke 2:10-11).

Peter, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, went back to the Psalms to show that David prophetically spoke of the day that Jesus would rise from the dead and be exalted, the fulfillment of the covenant that God had made with him (Acts 2:22-36).

As Jesus was about to ascend back into heaven His disciples asked if this was now the time that He would restore the kingdom back to Israel. I have often heard various Bible teachers pass off these disciples as ignorant, as not really understanding Jesus true mission. However their question only shows that a major prophetic theme, found in the writings of the scriptures that they would have been thoroughly steeped in, was in fact the restoration of the nation, by an individual who would be their Messiah. It's interesting that Jesus did not rebuke them, or correct their "error",  He told them that it was not for them to know the "when", they must be His witnesses in the "now" (Acts 1:6-8).

One could go on, the scriptures are filled with passages proving that Jesus Christ is the one who will put down evil and reign in righteousness forever. 

I will finish this post with a fabulous passage found in Ezekiel 37, the "dry bones" chapter. The context is the regathering of Israel back into the land after being scattered among the nations. The two kingdoms will be united as one, and the nation as a whole will be born again.

"My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them. They will live in the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they and their sons, and their son's sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant with them, and I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."

Ezekiel 37:24-28 NASB

Why the End Times (The Blessings and Curses of the Law. part 3)

We have seen the choosing of Abraham as the one through whom the ultimate seed (Jesus) would come. God made a covenant with him, and through him, to his son Isaac, and then Jacob to multiply their descendants after them, and give them what is known as the "promised land."

 

The next covenant that needs to be looked at is the covenant God made with Israel at Sinai, the Mosaic covenant. 

'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

Exodus 19:5-6 NASB 

This covenant unlike the Abrahamic covenant required obedience from Israel if they were to be blessed by God. What I would like to focus on in this post is how Israel's faithfulness to the LORD would affect their ability to remain in the land. All of this is spelled out in a couple sections that pertain to the blessings for obedience, and the curses for disobedience. 

According to these passages Israel's ability to remain in the land promised to them in the covenant made with Abraham was contingent upon their faithfulness to the covenant God made with them at Sinai. Here is what many perceive to be a dilemma. If the land promise was an irrevocable promise, how can Israel's obedience or disobedience effect this promise?

Is God unfaithful?

There are several passages of scripture that show how this works out. Leviticus 26:1-13, and Deuteronomy 28:1-14 contain blessings that Israel can expect if they as a nation walk in obedience to the LORD.  And the consequences for disobedience can be found in Leviticus 26:24-39, and Deuteronomy 28:15-68. 

To briefly sum it up, if Israel turns from the LORD and falls into idolatry they will face various disasters and ultimately be driven from their land and dispersed among the nations.  Their ability to remain in the land hinges upon their obedience. Yet as we read on we find that if they repent of their sin God will forgive them, and bring them back.

"If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me-I also was acting in hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies-or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land."

Leviticus 26:40-42 NASB 

"So shall it be when all these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you, if your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the LORD your God will gather you and from there He will bring you back. The LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it, and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers."

Deuteronomy 30:1-5 NASB

God's covenant with Abraham remains in spite of the fact that Israel turns away from Him. The giving of the Law ( the Old Covenant) does not negate the covenant with Abraham (Galatians 3:16-18). They might not be able to remain in the land, but because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the land is still theirs. His judgement is not only punitive, it is the  means to bring them to the end of themselves, to the point of repentance. Then, the LORD will restore them to their land again.

We have seen this play out through history. The Assyrian empire took away the northern ten tribes of Israel followed by the Babylonian captivity of the southern kingdom of Judah years later. Yet we read Daniel's prayer of confession in Daniel 9:1-19, and then read of their release from Babylon. Israel was dispersed by the Roman government in 70 AD and for almost two thousand years scattered among the nations where they suffered times of immense persecution. Yet in more recent times they have returned to the land where they remain today. The Bible foretells of one more time of desolation that is to come. This is time of tribulation will be the event that brings Israel as a nation to the point of repentance. Read what is prophecied in Deuteronomy 4:25-31

"When you become the father of children and children's children and have remained long in the land, and acted corruptly, and make an idol  in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed. The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you. There you will serve gods the work of man's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.

For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you not destroy you not forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them."

Why the End Times? (The Abrahamic Covenant part 2)

To understand why, and how the events of the last days will play out we need to go back to the beginning. Last post we briefly looked at the fall of man and the resulting consequences that followed. People were now looking for one to come and reverse the curse (see Genesis 5:28-29).

God had foretold of one who would come and restore all things, and now this was being put into place one piece at a time.

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your fathers house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and  you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

Genesis 12:1-3 NASB

God chose a man through whom he would bring the Messiah, the one who would reverse the curse and destroy the serpent. He called Abram out of his country, and away from his family to become a mighty nation in a land that he would give him and his descendants.

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.

Genesis 12:7 NASB 

The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you."

Genesis 13:14-17 NASB

Now it needs to be mentioned that Abram, who was 75 when he departed from Haran, was childless. And Sarai, his wife, was barren. Imaging how Abram must have felt. A promise like this would be an incredible thing. 

In Genesis 15 we read of the actual covenant that the LORD made with Abram. The LORD took Abram outside and asked him to look at the stars and try to number them, and nd then told him that that was how numerous his descendants would be. Abram believed the LORD, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Gen 15:1-6).

The LORD had Abram bring a heifer, a female goat, a ram, and a turtle dove and pigeon. He cut the animals in half and laid them out opposit from each other. The birds he left whole. At sundown Abram fell into a deep sleep. Then what appeared as a smoking oven and flaming torch passed in between the animals (Gen 15:7-17).

In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite."

Genesis 15:18-21 NASB 

This covenant was made by God, to Abram, without stipulations on Abram's part. The LORD Himself walked through the pieces of the slain animals in making this covenant. What He was signifying by this act was that if He did not indeed fulfill this covenant by giving this land to the descendants  of Abram as an eternal possession, then may what happened to these animals happen to Him. Bear in mind that Abram did not pass between these animals, he was in a deep slumber. God has pledged this land to Abram's descendants. This chapter alone absolutely refutes the idea of "replacement theology", the teaching that God has rejected Israel, and now these promises are symbolically applied to the Church. If this false teaching is true, then a major part of end times prophecy makes no sense at all, and leaves a huge portion of Christians in the dark on the topic of the last days.

In Chapter 17, Abram is now ninety-nine years old. The LORD appeared again to him and reaffirmed this covenant. Again, Abram, whose name has been changed to Abraham, is promised to become a mighty nation, and the land was promised to him and his descendants after him as an eternal possession. God would be their God, and they would be His people (Gen 17:1-8). 

It is also at this time God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, as the sign of the coven between them. Any disobedient male, refusing circumcision, among them would be cut off from his people for breaking the covenant (Gen 17:9-14). So, an individual may fail to remain within the covenant, but yet the promise still remained for the nation. This is a major theme, and has ramifications for what will transpire in the last days. I will go deeper into this in a post discussing the Mosaic covenant given at Mount Sinai.

We also read in this chapter that Sarai, Abraham's wife will bear a son whom they will name Issac. It will be through Him that the covenant made with Abraham will be passed down (Gen 17:25-21).

In Genesis 26:1-5 we now read of the covenant made with Abraham being passed down to his son Isaac. 

"Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham."

Genesis 26:3 NASB 

And from Issac we see the same covenant pass down to his son Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob had a dream. In it he saw a ladder reaching up to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it (Gen 28:10-12).

And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

Genesis 28:13-14 NASB 

As one reads through the Old Testament numerous references are made to God being faithful to the covenant made with Abraham and the fathers. God chose a people through whom a deliverer would come, fulfilling prophecy, destroying the serpent and reversing the curse. God has sworn an oath, and He will fulfill that oath. That plays a huge part in the events that unfold in the last days. 

It must also be mentioned that Abraham had other son's. In fact his eldest, Ishmael was sent away. The covenant was not to pass to him. And Jacob had a twin brother named Esau. The covenant went through Jacob and not Esau. Tragically Jacob relied on trickery to gain Isaac's blessing, and it created a rift that exists to this day. These two events play a significant part in what is to come in future days. 

These are topics for future posts as I lay out a case for the how and why the end time events will play out.

 

Why the End Times? (Intro part 1)

The end time events portrayed in scripture seem daunting to so many people. Many find the symbolism found in much of prophecy confusing, others avoid it out of fear. Many theories exist, based primarily upon denominational bias, to exactly why and how all of these events will unfold, if at all, as some even hold.

However I believe it is pretty important, even necessary to get into these texts and study it out. These prophetic passages have been written into our scriptures under divine inspiration, not to confuse us, but to prepare us and give us hope.

It all starts at the beginning with the fall of man. As a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience, death entered the world, and a curse was placed upon the woman, increasing pain in childbirth, and upon the ground that Adam must now work for food (Genesis 3:16-19). This curse extends throughout the generations, and today we also feel the effects of it in our lives which are also fleeting. We are not immortal, and our days are spent in toil.

The serpent was cursed as well (Genesis 3:14-15). The part I want to focus on is found in verse 15.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.

 This verse is speaking about one who would come and ultimately defeat the serpent who is none other than Satan,  reversing the curse on all of mankind, and restoring things back to how it was in the garden, where man had unhindered fellowship with God his creator.

In Numbers 24:17 we read a similar prophecy about one who is to come and bring judgement to His enemies in the last days.

"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down the sound of Sheth."

In Psalm 74 we read a Psalm lamenting the destruction of Israel's temple and the affliction of the people. While this no doubt was written in the immediate context of the Babylonian captivity during the time of Nebuchadnezzar, it telescopes out to the future, when something similar but yet more cruel will take place in the land once again. Against this backdrop we read this,

Yet God is my king from of old, who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth. You decided the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as good for the creatures of the wilderness.

Psalm 74:12-14 NASB

And in Isaiah 27:1, a verse found within the context of end time prophecy concerning the great tribulation, God's judgement against His enemies and ultimate restoration of all things. 

In that day the LORD will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, with His fierce and great and mighty sword, even Leviathan the twisted serpent; and He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.

This is speaking of the same things that we have seen in the previous verses. A day is coming when the promised seed, who we know as Jesus the Messiah, will destroy the seed of the serpent as well as the serpent himself. 

In Revelation 21:1-5 we read of a new heaven and a new earth without any death, pain, or tears. All things are now made new again

 Revelation 22:3 adds that there will no longer be any curse, and God's people will see Him face to face in eternal fellowship.

To get from Genesis 3 and the fall of mankind to the restoration of all things found in the last few chapters of Revelation we must go through a time of intense tribulation, where evil reaches its ultimate intensity in a man empowered by Satan, who is often referred to as the antichrist. 

This is where we need to study, we need to find the truth, and we need to prepare. 

I have written many posts on this sight concerning these events.  I have tagged them, so feel free to search them out and prayerfully contemplate them. I plan to continue this topic over the next several posts the Lord willing, as I feel we need to be grounded in these things.

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The Great Falling Away

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron...

1 Timothy 4:1-2 NASB

The Bible is clear, it is a prophetic certainty, that a great falling away from the faith will occur in the last days. This is something that every believer should take to heart. It deserves our utmost attention, yet I fear that the average Christian doesn't spend much time on a topic like this.

Consider the following verse taken from 2 Timothy 3:1-5,

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these. 

When one reads these verses it's hard to imagine that people whose lives are marked by sins such as these would consider themselves Christians at all. However, we read that they hold to a form of godliness, but without the power. It's like Jesus said, "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me." (Mark 7:6)

But look around you, we are seeing this coming to pass even now. A large segment of the professing church fits this description perfectly.

Again, the very fact that scripture foretells of a great departure from the faith occurring in the last days, should cause us to seriously consider our lives and faith in Jesus Christ. We dare not be careless about this. What if we fall away? It is a possibility that we must be diligent to avoid.

I believe that even now we are witnessing a falling away, that will only progress until it reaches its climax during the time of tribulation that will come upon the world prior to Christ's return.

Paul adresses this issue in his second letter to the Thessalonian Church. It seems that they had heard a report that the day of the Lord had already come. In his correction of this misunderstanding he says this,

Let no one in any way decieve you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB

And it gets worse. As we read on we find that those who have no regard for truth will be easy prey for deception. In fact we find that God, in an act of His judgement, sends a delusion on those who reject truth.

Then that lawless one, will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

2Thessalonians 2:8-12 NASB

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.

2 Timothy 4:3 NASB

It matters how we receive truth. Do we accept it, and act upon it, even when it might be hard? Or do we take the easy things, and ignore the rest? 

We hear so much these days of popular Christian figures who are "deconstructing" their faith. What happened to them? Or what about what about "pop star Christianity", you know those famous people who claim to be born again, but their lives are always embroiled in the same sinful turmoil that they have always embraced?

The danger is real. A dumbed down Christianity where grace is proclaimed to the exclusion of commitment, repentance, the crucified life of following Jesus etc. Teachers are gathered to tickle our ears, but sadly provide us with no foundation to weather the storms of life.

It isn't just the popular people in the news who are prone to fall. We are all faced with the real possibility of apostasy. A Christian faces trials and temptations daily. We are constantly in danger of deception. Persecution is guaranteed for one who follows Jesus. All of these things work together to destroy our faith. We must be on guard, and by God's grace confront them diligently if we are to persevere to the end. It was Jesus who said that the love of many would grow cold in the last days. He also warned that endurance to the end is required.

"At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved 

Matthew 24:10-13 NASB

Coming Like a Thief

"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will 

Matt 24:43-44 NASB

Jesus exhorts us to be alert and ready for His appearing. While it is true that we do not know the day or hour of His coming, this statement does not stand alone by itself. Jesus has just finished foretelling the signs and events leading up to His return, so we must take this passage as a whole. We have been given distinct things to watch for. His coming will be unexpected for many, but those who are awake and watching will be ready as they see the signs fulfilled.

Now as to the times and epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not if night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 NASB

In a similar fashion Paul admonishes his readers to be on the alert as well. While the return of Christ will be a sudden unexpected event for many, those who are alert and watching will not be caught unaware. 

We see two groups listed in this passage. Those who are of the light and day, and those who are of darkness and the night. From this we can see that the unsaved world will be taken by surprise when Jesus appears in judgement. They will not be ready, all of the signs of His soon appearance will go largely unoticed. Just like the people in the days of Noah were oblivious to what was about to occur, so too, those who are living in darkness will be caught by surprise.

Those who are of the light, the faithful, will be alert and ready. They will see the signs, and know that Christ is about to come. They will be ready to meet Him. 

So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Revelation 3:3-4 NASB

 Revelation records for us many events and signs that will occur prior to the thief-like appearance of Jesus Christ. Their are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls of judgement that all culminate together at the final moment when the sky splits and Christ returns in power and glory. The last warning we read in relation to His sudden appearance is found in the context of the gathering of the armies for the battle of Armageddon.

 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and it dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, do that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.") And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon

Revelation 16:12-16 NASB

Any Christian alive at this point in history has lived through the most intense three and one half years of time. They have witnessed the signs that have occured over the previous seven years and are looking up because their redemption is drawing near. 

Take note of the fact that this is not an event that happens before the tribulation! Popular dispensational theology teaches that Jesus comes like a thief to gather the saints in a secret rapture, removing them from the earth before the tribulation begins. What we have just read contradicts this erroneous teaching. As the armies of the world are gathering for the final battle, the warning still stands. Jesus has not yet come like a thief, we must remain vigilant.

The rest of the world will be eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. They have taken the mark. They can buy and sell. No one is persecuting them, in fact, they worship the beast that is persecuting Christians. They will cheer as the antichrist invades Israel. Yes, as these events all unfold they will be caught by surprise when Jesus unexpectedly appears. By the time dread overtakes them it will be too late.

"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:28 NASB

What things are Jesus referring to? The events leading up to His return. The things He has just mentioned in the previous verses (Luke 21:10-27).

"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all  those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Luke 21:34-36 NASB

We must be prayerfully alert. Our strength comes from God. Many do not expect to see these days. They believe that they will be long gone, taken up when Jesus comes like a thief to rapture them. But here we see that we must have the strength to endure, to hold fast without giving in, as the events of the last days unfold around us. Our focus must be on Christ, we must look up expectantly, waiting for His sudden appearance. How tragic for one to be this close, only to give up under pressure.

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 6, Covenant and Controversy).

The seventieth week of Daniel is set to resume with the confirming of a covenant by a coming ruler,

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the over spreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured out on the desolate.

                                     Daniel 9:27 KJV

The Middle East has been boiling with controversy for nearly 4,000 years now. It all comes down to who owns a piece of land given by God to a man named Abraham. This controversy will come to its ultimate end at the conclusion of the final seven year period of this earths present existence. It will take the return of Jesus Christ to settle this once for all time, after a three and one half year period of tribulation unlike anything the world has ever seen (Daniel 12:1, Matt 24:21-22).

To understand what will drive the nations who will gather against Jerusalem in the latter days we must look at the history of this controversy. In so doing we will discover events that set the stage for what is coming, and find out who the primary aggressors will be. 

1. Keep not silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3. They have taken crafty council against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

4. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee. 

6. The Tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 

7. Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8. Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

9. Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison.

11. Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.

11. Make their nobles like Oreb, and Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zeba and Zalmunna:

12. Who said, let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

                             Psalm 83:1-12 KJV

Yahweh, the LORD, made a covenant with a man known as Abram (Abraham). This covenant gave to Abraham and his descendants a piece of land then known as the land of Canaan (see Genesis 15:1-21). This covenant was initiated by God, with no conditions placed upon Abram. In fact, he was out, in a deep sleep, as the LORD passed between the divided carcasses of a three year old heifer, a female goat, a turtle dove, and a pigeon.

This might seem strange to us, but in that culture in that day, by this act, the LORD God was saying to Abram that if He (the LORD), failed to fulfill this covenant, let what happened to these animals happen to me. Read that again. God was making an unconditional promise to Abram upon pain of death to fulfill His word. Elsewhere the Bible assures us that it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:13-18). Again, the context of these verses concerns God swearing an oath to Abraham (see Genesis 22-16-18).

Now Abraham's first born son was named Ishmael. God had promised Abraham an heir, but his wife Sarai was barren. In an attempt to make things happen, his wife Sarai, gave him her Egyptian slave Hagar to wife. From this union was born Ishmael. However, Ishmael was not through whom this covenant was to pass. God had a miracle in store, a child of promise, who was to be born to Abraham and Sarah when it looked utterly impossible (Genesis 17:15-19).

At the proper time, Sarah bore Abraham a son whom they named Isaac. He was the promised heir, and the covenant passed on to him and his descendants after him (see Genesis 26:1-5).

From Isaac, the covenant promise initially given to Abraham, passed on to his son Jacob (Genesis 28:3-4, 12-14). However, Jacob had a twin brother named Esau. At the urging of his mother, Jacob received the blessing of the firstborn through deception (Genesis 27:1-46).  The covenant was Jacob's according to God's sovereign choice: Jacob did not need to resort to deception to review it. As a result, a great rift arose between Jacob and Esau that remains today.

This covenant is an eternal covenant that extends to Abraham's descendants through Isaac and Jacob. The land has been given to Israel through an unbreakable covenant. As I have previously stated, their ability to abide in the land is regulated by their national obedience to God. However, their ownership of the land remains the same. Whether in the land or not, the land remains theirs through God's covenant with their forefathers. In the words of David when he brought back the ark of the LORD,

15. Be ye mindful always of his covenant: the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

16. Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;

17. And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

18. Saying, unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.

                   1 Chronicles 16:15-17 KJV

We have two individuals, who although they were descendants of Abraham, were not those to whom the covenant passed. Ishmael, Abraham's eldest son, and Esau, the son of Isaac. Esau, bitter over what had transpired with Jacob and the stolen blessing, marries the daughter of Ishmael to spite his parents (Genesis 28:8-9), and becomes the father of the Edomites, and dwelt in mount Seir (Genesis 36:1-8). Ishmael, whom Abraham sent away, settled in the Arabian desert (Genesis 25:17-18).

The Bible records for us that Esau, and his descendants up to this very day harbor an everlasting hatred for the descendants of Jacob.

1. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me saying,

2. Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,

3. And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.

4. I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

5. Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end.

9. I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

10. Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there.

15. As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

              Ezekiel 35:1-5, 9-10, 15 KJV

Most commentators place this in the past, and no doubt the Edomites participated in cutting off the escape routes of the Israelites fleeing the assault of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian armies, and years later the invading Roman army in 70 AD (see Obadiah 1:10-14). However, notice that this prophecy points to the calamity the nation of Israel goes through at the time their iniquity has an end. This refers to the end of the tribulation, at the return of Christ, when as a nation they repent and receive their coming Messiah. This is the fulfillment of one of the purpose statements found in Daniel 9:24. I would imagine the events spoken off in Obadiah 1:20-14 would have a dual fulfillment as well, with history repeating itself again in the last days.

So we read in these verses of a perpetual hatred that has gone on for thousands of years. A hatred that causes "rejoicing" at the calamities that have confronted Israel in the past, and yet to come, ultimately leading to participation in the violence against Jacob. At the core of this hatred sits the issue of the land. In a prophecy yet to be fulfilled at the return of Christ, we see this,

4. Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, here the word of the LORD GOD; Thus saith the LORD GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;

5. Therefore this saith the LORD GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.

                                 Ezekiel 36:4-5 KJV

Idumea is another name for Edom, the dwelling place of Esau's descendants. Notice the surrounding nations are involved as well. It would do us well to identify these nations. For that, let's go back to the passage in Psalm 83.

Several nations and people groups are mentioned in these verses. Walid Shoebat, a former Palestinian terrorist turned Christian, writes this,

"With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you" (v. 5). The nations of this coalition or alliance are the following:

Edom- which extends from Jordan to Saudi Arabia (see Ezekiel 25) Edom is described as extending from Teman to Dedan (Arabia).

Moab, Ammon, children of Lot - Jordan

Gebal- According to the Unger's Bible dictionary, this is in Lebanon, 25 miles north of Beruit

Tyre- Again in Lebanon, today center for Hezbollah 

Philistia- Gaza, today the center for Hamas

Ishmaelites and Hagarites- Arabs in general

Assyria- these are Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. At it's height it included Egypt and Iran as well.

Amalek- Jordan, southwest of the Dead Sea (Genesis 14:7)

He goes on to write that we have a coalition of Muslim nations consisting of Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine at the very least who are bent on Israel's destruction. 

(GOD'S war on terror 

© 2008 Top executive Media

Walid Shoebat with Joel Richardson 

pp 242,243)

The Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of Abraham's nephew Lot. Remember back in Genesis when Abram and Lot separate? Lot picked the land to the east, the plain of Jordan, which was lush and well watered (Genesis 13:10-12). This was ultimately destroyed at the destruction of Sodom. Again, could jealousy have something to do with the hatred of Lot's children? We read of a shared hatred that the Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites have toward Israel in Ezekiel 25.

Speaking of Ammon,

6. For thus saith the LORD GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;

And of Moab,

8. Thus saith the LORD GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;

And of Edom,

12. Thus saith the LORD GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them.

                          Ezekiel 25:6, 8, 12 KJV

Again, this hatred that existed in biblical times, exists yet today in the same nations.  The nations today might have different names, but the enmity remains. The Ishmaelites, as well as the Midianites, another descendant of Abraham (Genesis 25:2-6) all settled in the Arabian desert. In time the term Ishmaelite and Midianite became interchangeable (Genesis 37:25-28). These, along with the descendants of Esau are the Arab people. 

After the rise of Islam centuries later, the nations that once comprised empires such as the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Greek who had afflicted Israel in the past were now conquered by invading Arab Muslims. These nations today are Muslim majority nations, and all hold the same ideology. The destruction of Israel is at the core of their beliefs. And again, the modern equivalent of these ancient nations are Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, as well as the North African regions of Libya, Egypt, and Sudan. When one looks at a map of the Middle East it is not hard to see that Israel is indeed surrounded by her enemies on every side 

However, as I have been careful to state previously, I do not wish to promote any fear or hatred of Muslims. I am aquatinted with many Muslims, several of whom I consider friends. Like everyone, they are born into sin and need a Savior. Sadly, their eyes are blinded to the truth of the gospel message. It is up to us to pray for them, and try to reach them for Christ, especially as we see the last days approaching.

So this brings us to the start of the seventieth week, which starts with the confirming of a covenant. All that is found within this covenant can only be speculation at this point in time, but scripture gives us a pretty fair idea of what to expect.

We do know that something happens to bring about a sense of security in Israel. Ezekiel 38:8-11 records that Israel, in the latter years, has just recovered from war. They are now living securely without walls or gates. Up until now we have not seen anything like this. What happens to bring about this sense of security? Today there are checkpoints and fences. People live in a heightened sense of danger from terrorist attacks. Somehow, Israel is convinced that there is no longer a threat from the nations that surround her.

The other thing we find in scripture is the start of the sacrificial system and the building of a third temple. Daniel fortells of the taking away of the sacrifices, so by necessity they must be allowed to start at some point (Daniel 8:11-12, 9:27, 11:31). As for a temple, we read of a future temple possibly sharing the temple mount with the Al Aqsa mosque and the dome of the rock, two sacred places in Islam (Rev 11:1-2). And of course there has to be a temple in place for the man of lawlessness to desecrate as Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

All of this seems impossible today. Something will happen, and this man will emerge out of the middle east and confirm something with the enemies of Israel that perhaps recognizes Israel's right to the land, gives them the right to worship on the temple mount, and guarantees them a peaceful coexistence among their neighbors. However it plays out, when we see this happening we can know that we are now entering the final seven years before the return of Christ.

The next event will be the breaking of this covenant at the final invasion of Israel.

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 3, The Jubilee Cycle)

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,

2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD.

3. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;

4. But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

5. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.

6. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee,

7. And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat. 

8. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.

9. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 

10. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

                            Leviticus 25:1-10 KJV 

In the same way that God gave man six days to work, and then a sabbath day of rest, He also gave the land a rest from normal planting and harvesting. Six years were given for normal agricultural use, with the seventh year set aside as a sabbath of rest. 

This practice allowed the land to replenish nutrients in the soil as it lay fallow for a year. But more than that, it was a recognition that all we have comes from God. He owns all, and we are stewards of what He entrusts us with. Something like this would demand faith. 

God would be faithful to provide enough in the sixth year to last through the seventh and eighth years until that harvest came in. 

20. And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:

21. Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.

22. And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.

                       Leviticus 25:29-22 KJV

This is reminiscent of the wilderness experience, when they relied upon the manna that God sent down every morning. They were to take enough for each day, but the day before the sabbath they were to take enough for two days. Therefore they would not have to gather on the sabbath (Exodus 16:23-25).

After seven sets of seven year periods, or forty-nine years, the trumpet was to be blown on the tenth day of the seventh month of Tishri, the day of atonement. A fiftieth year of jubilee was hallowed. This fiftieth year was technically still the forty-ninth year not a consecutive one. This line of thought is referred to as inclusive numbering. A similar concept to that of Jesus' resurrection after three days. Placed in the tomb Friday before sundown, in the tomb all of Saturday, risen early Sunday morning. I have also seen it explained as the fiftieth year is also the same as year one in the beginning of the next seven year sabbath cycle. At any rate the seven year numbering remains the same. Seven cycles of years equal forty-nine years, ten jubilee cycles equal 490 years.

During this year of Jubilee,  land leased out to others reverted back to the ancestral line of ownership. Individuals who due to unfortunate circumstances were now in servitude to another were released and could return home. The year of Jubilee was a time for the releasing of debt. The law carefully lays out a system meant to take care of the poor, or one who had encountered hardship. People had to be honest and fair with one another. The valuation of a sale of land, or the redemption of one who had sold himself into servitude was based on the number of years unto the Jubilee. Again, this was a system meant to take care of someone in need. To take advantage of someone in their hardship was forbidden. (Leviticus 25:13-55).

The land was central to this. Released slaves returned to their own clans and ancestral possession. Land sold (this is probably more like a lease agreement) was restored to its ancestral line of ownership. One could not "buy up" land for the sake of owning more property. This is soundly condemned in Isaiah 5:8-10, where we read of individuals joining "house to house and adding field to field."

The LORD, speaking of this in the passage we are looking at, has this to say,

The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.

And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.

                       Leviticus 25:23-24 KJV

Although the land spoken of here is that which was given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as an eternal inheritance, the LORD God was still owner, and had the sole right to determine what was done with it. This piece of land has been  the center of controversy for thousands of years, and it will all come to a head during the final week of Daniel's prophecy.

This concept of release finds a deeper meaning in the writings of the prophets. Moving beyond a system mandated to ensure Israel's stability as an agrarian society, we read of a time of Spiritual transformation. A time of redemption from all enemies, physical, material, and spiritual.

1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the LORD hath annointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2.To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God...

                                      Isaiah 61:1-2

The day is coming when this will find it's literal fulfillment in the Millennial age. Not only will the scattered Jewish remnant be set free at the second coming of their Messiah, but they will find spiritual freedom as well. Everlasting righteousness will be brought in on a national level, and the nation will now fulfill their calling to be a light to the Gentiles,

2. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

3. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

4. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be called married.

                                   Isaiah 62:2-4 KJV

And ultimately the return to the land, never to be uprooted again,

25. Therefore this saith the Lord God; Now I will bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and be jealous for my holy name;

26. After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.

 

27. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;

28. Then shall the know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.

29. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

                          Ezekiel 39:25-29 KJV

This is the ultimate Jubilee, at the end of seventy sabbath cycles. 490 years to bring about the salvation of a nation.

The law prescribed blessing for obedience and judgement for disobedience. Yet in the midst of exile on account of sin there was room for repentance and mercy,

32. And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.

33. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

34. Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.

35. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when you dwelt upon it.

                      Leviticus 26:32-35 KJV 

Israel spent seventy years as exiles in Babylon. One year for each of the seventh year sabbaths they neglected. That was 490 years of disobedience (2 Chronicles 36:21). Now, they will face 490 years again, this time the intent is to bring about restoration, the final Jubilee, when Jesus Christ dwells among them as their God forever.

39. And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

40. If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespass against me, and that also they have walked contrary to me.

41. And that I also have walked contrary to them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

                      Leviticus 26:39-41 KJV 

To sum this up, Daniel's prophecy of seventy weeks is calibrated to the ancient cycle of seven year periods: six to work the land with a seventh year of rest. In this prophecy we have three periods of time mentioned. Seven weeks or 49 years. Then sixty-two weeks ending with the arrival of the Messiah. Now we are at 483 years. There have been sixty-nine cycles to this point. Then there is a week of seven years yet to come culminating with the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom. 

The term used to describe the seventh year of rest in this cycle is Shemitah. I hesitated to use this term, as there are some who teach that the Shemitah is a warning of God's judgement against America.

Now I believe that America is no doubt a candidate for God's judgement. One does not need to look far to see that we are on a slippery slope of immoral practice in this country. That said however, the Shemitah was part of a covenant between God and Israel. No other nation on earth is in a covenant with God. We are not expected to observe the yearly cycles that Israel as a nation were commanded to observe. 

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel are markers of time based upon the Shemitah cycles that are intended for Israel's final redemption. Gabriel was sent to Daniel to explain what would happen to his people. This is who this decree is for, the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:31-24). 

Again, while America is going down a dangerous path, we should not look at this as a sign for us as a nation. All nations in a sense will be affected by Daniel's final week, as it will contain the great tribulation and the return of Christ. However, to try to determine what years are Shemitah years, and then look for disasters that have occured in America during these years stretches this prophecy farther than God intended, and gets our eyes off of what we should really be focusing on as Christians. Things like this don't go away. Instead, they generate hype and sell books. 

In the next part to these posts I plan to examine the events that were foretold, namely, the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah.

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 2, The Purpose Statements)

Continuing from my previous post which you can read here, I would like look at the six purpose statements found in Daniel 9:24.

"Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to annoint the most holy place."

Daniel has just finished interceding for his people and city, Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been left desolate, the temple destroyed, and the people carried into exile on account of their departure from the Lord God.

As I stated previously, Jeremiah, as well as other prophets, had repeatedly warned the people to repent and obey the Lord. Their refusal to listen had finally brought God's judgement upon them as prescribed in the covenant between God and the people of Israel.

Daniel, recognizing that Jeremiah had prophesied a seventy year captivity, and knowing the time had come, seeks the favor of God on His people once again.

Scripture records for us that when Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian empire, Cyrus, king of Persia, allowed the Israelites to go back, as foretold in Isaiah 44:21-45:7. The fulfillment of these prophetic words are recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, and Ezra 1:1-4.

However, God's dealings with His people were not complete. Although they had suffered much, and many returned humbled and obedient, as a nation the root of unbelief had not been "pulled up" and destroyed.

Imagine Daniel's surprise when instead of seventy years, which were coming to a close, Gabriel announced seventy weeks were yet to come before Israel would be transformed as a nation into the people God had called them to be.

This is not seventy weeks in the literal sense of seventy, seven day weeks. Just like we would say there are 52 weeks in a year so add 18 more weeks and you have a year and roughly 4 months to go. No, this is speaking of seventy weeks of years which total 490 actual years. 

There is biblical precedence for this use of the term "weeks"  found in other passages of scripture. 

We see this in the story of Jacob (see Genesis 29:18-28). Jacob meets Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and agrees to work for Laban seven years for her to be his wife. When the time was up he assumed he was getting Rachel, but ended up being deceived, and woke up to Laban's daughter Leah instead. He confronts Laban, and is told this,

27. "Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years."

28. Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

                      Genesis 29:27-28 NASB

So we see here the term week used interchangeably with seven years. We see a similar thing in Leviticus and the law of the jubilee cycle,

8. 'You are also to count off seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven sabbaths of years, namely, forty-nine years. '

                             Leviticus 25:8 NASB

This is the same concept as in the above example of Jacob working a seven year week for Rachel.  Every seventh year was considered a sabbath. Therefore seven sabbaths of years would constitute forty-nine years. The Amplified version puts it like this,

8. And you shall number seven sabbaths or weeks of years for you, seven times seven years, so the total time of the seven weeks of years shall be forty-nine years.

                                  Leviticus 25:8 AMP

This differs from our western way of thinking, and it pays to understand that the scriptures that we read and love were written by men centuries ago with a middle eastern mindset. To understand this can go a long way in understanding and applying the word of God in our own lives today. I would like to come back to this concept of the jubilee cycle later.

We have these six purpose statements in this verse that must come to pass before Israel as a nation can be restored to permanence in the promised land, find restoration with God, and enter the millennial age. Again, a humble people returned from exile in the days Daniel, but they yet as a whole have not returned to the LORD. These six things must be accomplished in and by them on a national level.

1. Finish the transgression.

2. Make an end of sin.

3. Make atonement for iniquity.

4. Bring in everlasting righteousness.

5. Seal up vision and prophecy.

6. Annoint the most holy place.

Ultimately, the failure of the nation of Israel to remain faithful to the Lord their God was rooted in unbelief. This was the basis for their refusal to enter the promised land in the days of Moses (see Numbers 14:1-45). 

The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?"

                                    Numbers 14:11

And the author of Hebrews, referencing Psalm 95:7-11, states this,

15. While it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." 

16. For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 

17. And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

18. And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?

19. So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

                        Hebrews 3:15-19 NASB

Although the Bible makes mention of godly men and women found within the nation Israel, as a whole, the nation remained in this unbelief, which found its ultimate fulfillment in the rejection of their Messiah, Jesus.

This transgression, and the sin that flows out of it must be put away, not only on a personal level, but on a national level as well. As people who have been, and remain in covenant with God on a national level it must be this way. Although Israel is a secular nation by and large today, and by their departure from God have broken the covenant, it still remains in effect today, and Israel remains under God's judgement until they give up their unbelief and sin. This is something the Bible says they will do in the last days as a nation, not a few individuals here and there, but on a national level. 

Ultimately the issue of Jesus is at the core of the transgression. Jesus Himself had this to say,

37. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

38. "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 

39."For I say to you, from now on you will not see me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! ' "

                      Matthew 23:37-39 NASB

The day will come when Israel receives their Messiah as a nation. At the return of Christ they will look on Him whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns the loss of a firstborn son (Zechariah 12:10-14). At this point they will enter into what we know as the New Covenant. As Christians, do we realize that this covenant has been offered to the Jew first, and those of us who are Gentiles are grafted in?

31. "Behold days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,

32. not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.

33. "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

34. " They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD, ' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

                   Jeremiah 31:32-34 NASB

Keep in mind that the larger context of these verses concern the time of Jacob's trouble or great tribulation. Although the New Covenant has been in effect since Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, and millions have entered into it through the new birth, the Jews for the most part have not. The first believers in Messiah were Jews, but for the last two thousand years it has been primarily Gentiles who have entered in through the blood of Jesus. Again, the Bible assures us that the day is coming when all Israel shall be saved (Romans 12:26).

Zechariah tells us that at the close of the final tribulation a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants ofJerusalem for cleansing from sin (Zechariah 13:1). This is the point of Christ's return. Every eye will see Him, and those who are left of Israel, who have survived this terrible time will look upon Jesus, the one they pierced, and grieve for Him. Zechariah records the time of national repentance that occurs at this time (see Zechariah 12:1-14). The sin of the nation will be removed in one day (Zechariah 3:8-11).

At this time the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:22-29 will take place. The nation scattered throughout the nations will be gathered back to their land for good. They will be cleansed from all of their iniquity, and they will be God's people, and He will be their God. 

Isaiah tells us that "A redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD (Isaiah 59:20). 

If we read on we see the Spirit poured out upon the nation for good, never to depart. Again, we are talking about the return of Christ in the last days. If we read on into chapter 60 we come to the millennial kingdom, a time of peace and righteousness on earth. The dilemma of disobedience and the ability to remain in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be forever removed as the people will now be righteous, not only in right standing with God, but in faithfulness as well,

"Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified."

                                Isaiah 60:21 NASB

14. 'Behold, days are coming, ' declares the LORD, 'When I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

15. 'In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.

16. 'In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness. '

                       Jeremiah 33:14-16 NASB

 The apostle Paul tells of the certainty of this in Romans 12:26-27, and so all Israel will saved; just as it is written,

"THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM , WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."

What does it take to bring an individual to the end of themselves? Our pride is what keeps any of us from yielding our lives to God. This pride is what must go if we are to surrender to Him in true repentance. We have touched on the end of transgression and sin, and the bringing in of everlasting righteousness. Now I would like to share some thoughts on making atonement for sin. 

The concept of atonement is one of reconciliation. We understand that Jesus has made atonement for sin on the cross. Through His death and resurrection we have forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God. This is what most of us probably think of when we hear the word atonement. 

There is another aspect to atonement or reconciliation however, and this is what Daniel 9:24 is referring to in the statement "make atonement for sin."

Again, Jesus is the one who has provided atonement for sin, and there is no other way to receive forgiveness for our sin, no way to earn it or pay for it. However, this is something Israel has to go through to reach the point of brokenness. It is a judgement brought on by disobedience, ultimately meant to sift, refine, and bring a nation to the point of repentance. 

A purging of sin is a necessary part of this process. In Ezekiel 20:33-38we read that God will take severe measures to bring Israel back into covenant relationship with Him. It will be with a mighty hand and outstretched arm and wrath poured out (Ezekiel 20:33). They will be brought out into the wilderness where God will enter into judgement with them (Ezekiel 20:35-36 compare Jeremiah 31:1-2).

37. "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

38. and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. This you will know that I am the LORD."

                          Ezekiel 20:37-38 NASB

This purging of the rebellious from the land will bring forth a humble people who find grace in the wilderness,

This says the LORD, "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness-- Israel when it went to find it's rest.

                               Jeremiah 31:2 NASB

8. "It will come about in all the land," declares the LORD, "That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it.

9. "And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people, ' and they will say, 'The LORD is my God."'

                           Zechariah 13:8-9 NASB

And finally the idea of atonement entails the removal of guilt and punishment as we see in Isaiah 40:1-2,

1. "Comfort, comfort My people," says your God.

2. "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare had ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."

This passage articulates these points perfectly. This time of warfare or tribulation has achieved its goal. The nation had suffered much for its iniquity, but through a purging process the nation has been brought to a place of repentance and restoration. The time of tribulation is over, God has forgiven their unbelief and sin, their guilt has been erased, and the time of punishment is over, never to occur again.

This is in answer to Daniel's pleading on behalf of his people Israel, and his holy city Jerusalem. The restoration needed has to be accomplished. The Babylonian captivity did not do a thorough job. Although a people returned to the land, they were not yet as a nation living within the bond of the covenant. This will be the purpose of what is known as the time of Jacob's trouble or great tribulation (see Daniel 12:1-7).

At this point vision and prophecy will have reached it's fulfillment. What has been prophecied concerning these days will have come to pass. Imagine what the Old Testament prophets wrote, what Jesus foretold, John's revelation all coming to fruition. The world is now entering the millennial age. The Kingdom has been restored to Israel (Acts 1:6) with Jesus, their Messiah ruling from Jerusalem. 

This brings us to the final purpose statement, the annointing of the most holy place. Yes, there will be a temple in Jerusalem in the days of the millennium. This is something that may be hard for some of us to fathom, but passages such as Isaiah 2:1-5, 60:1-7, Ezekiel 40:1-43:27 confirm this. 

In Daniel we read of the cleansing of a temple after the time of tribulation.

13. Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?"

14. He said to me, "For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored."

                              Daniel 8:13-14 NASB

This refers to the abomination of desolation, which is placed in a temple yet to come. When this event occurs we are 3.5 years into the final seven years of the seventy weeks (more to come on this). This marks the start of the great tribulation. We can know from these verses that once the sacrificial system begins in Jerusalem there will be 2,300 days until the restoration of the holy place. This event is likely to take place shortly after the return of Christ. Somewhere around the 1,290 to 1,335 days mentioned in Daniel 12:11-12. This would place the start of the sacrifices just before the end of the first year of Daniel's 70th week. 

It's my belief, that the temple that is defiled by the Antichrist is not necessarily the temple that will exist during the millennial kingdom. The description given in Ezekiel is not of something that would fit alongside the Al Aqsa mosque today on the temple mount (see Rev 11:1-2). Right now with the Dome of the rock, and Al Aqsa occupying the temple mount there is little room for a larger temple. Also, the temple mount is under Muslim control presently, so we will have to wait and see how this all plays out. 

As we look at the timeline presented in the next two verses of our passage we will gain more understanding, especially as it deals with the events of the latter days.