Great Tribulation

Are You Really Rapture Ready?

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

[Revelation 1:7]

The past few weeks I have seen the usual chatter about the very predictable and highly irresponsible “rapture of the church” prophesies circulating on all the big social media platforms. It seems like these “predictions” happen every few years, creating an enthusiasm for Christians who are hoping to be translated out of this world without warning and escape the coming days of great trouble.

There is only one problem.

Every single pre-tribulation rapture prediction in my lifetime has been proven false, and these so-called prophets are left scrambling to justify their false prophecy and adjust their timelines one more time. If we haven’t learned anything over the last 40 years, it’s that sensational rapture claims without Biblical substance has become the boy who cried wolf one too many times.

This latest craze of rapture predictions have been connected to Yom Teruah — or the Day of Shouting — otherwise known as the Feast of Trumpets. Yom Teruah began yesterday (September 23) at sundown at the sighting of the new moon. The Feast of Trumpets is one of God’s divine appointments (Leviticus 23) that has been intertwined within the fabric of creation to bless all of God’s covenant people and point us to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

The irony is that I actually believe the Second Coming of Christ will almost certainly occur on or around a future Yom Teruah – just not this one. The difference is that I see the return of Jesus Christ and the rapture as being one-in-the-same event, not two separate events separated by a “7-year” tribulation period.

Defining our Terms — The Gathering

For clarity, when I speak of the “Second Coming” of Christ, the dispensational camp is thinking of a totally separate event, completely distinct from the pre-tribulation rapture. The pre-trib doctrine teaches the sudden, secret, invisible “return” of Jesus to whisk away the church to heaven before God unleashes hell on the world during the great tribulation.

Separating the Second Coming of Christ into two “phases” or “comings” has created confusion and an unhealthy preoccupation with the pre-tribulation rapture. At the same time, this doctrine has provided a convenient loophole to make a square peg fit into an otherwise round hole.

Just for the record, I believe the Bible clearly teaches a “rapture” event in the future. I just disagree with the conventional timing that is being proposed by the pre-trib camp. I believe a better description of this event is what the Bible calls the “gathering” of God’s people, which provides a more accurate interpretation of what happens at the end of this age when Christ returns to resurrect our mortal bodies and translate us into His glorious image to inherit the Kingdom.

Here are just a few Scriptures that describe the gathering (aka rapture). Notice the timing element.

“In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. 12He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” [Isaiah 11:11-12]

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 30At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.“ [Matthew 24:29-30]

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.” [2 Thessalonians 2:1-3]

He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest (gathering) is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. 42And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” [Matthew 13:37-43]

In other words, it’s not a matter of “if” the rapture takes place but rather “when.” And as I said earlier, the notion that there will some type of secret rapture for the “church” prior to the great tribulation is Biblically indefensible.

If only God’s people would take off their pre-trib rapture-colored glasses and read their Bibles with a fresh set of eyes and an open mind, they would see that not only is it careless and useless to predict the very day or hour of Christ’s return, but also that the pre-trib rapture is nowhere to be found in the pages of Scripture.

Top 3 Reasons the Gathering (Rapture) Cannot Be Pre-Tribulation

I have written extensively on the timing of the rapture, so I won’t belabor the point. Here are my top three reasons from Scripture that the rapture cannot be a secret, invisible event prior to the tribulation.

Reason #1 – Prophetic Signs that Precede the “Rapture” Must First Be Fulfilled

I could spend multiple blogs just discussing all the prophetic signs that must first occur before Jesus Christ Returns to gather His people. Here is just a sample size.

  1. Birth pains must rapidly increase in intensity and frequency, including war, famine, pestilence, natural disasters, cosmic phenomena, and overt persecution of God’s people.
  2. The rise of the final Beast empire and the revealing of Beast himself, who will blaspheme God, establish a global surveillance and economic system, muster an army, and martyr the saints.
  3. The reestablishment of some form of the Levitical priesthood in Judah and the resumption of the sacrificial system in Jerusalem.
  4. The abomination of desolation must take place in or on the holy place in Jerusalem (aka Temple Mount), where the Beast declares Himself to be the god of this world.
  5. The world is deceived by Satan with many false signs and wonders, and the mark of the Beast is required for everyone who surrenders allegiance to the Beast and rebels against God.
  6. The testimony of the Two Witnesses who call the world to repentance and who come working great wonders and with supernatural signs to validate their message.
  7. The siege of Jerusalem, when all hostile nations will surround her and trample the city underfoot, killing many and taking many into captivity.

I will share just one passage to prove that there are specific signs that must be fulfilled prior to the Return of Christ and the rapture.

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God … And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His coming.” [2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 8]

Reason #2 – The Rapture is a Supernatural, Public, and Universally Visible Event Connected to the Return of Christ to Earth

There is nothing secret or mysterious about the rapture. The Scriptures tie the rapture (gathering) to the glorious return of Jesus to the earth, which is described as the unique Day when heaven is opened, the elements melt in fervent heat, the earth will be shaken, the great trumpet blast of God is unleashed (aka Yom Teruah), the angelic army descends to fight, the archangel shouts and a cry of a command is given, and every eye will see Jesus riding the clouds in glory as He descends to earth to wage war against the Beast and all the forces of darkness that is gathered in Jerusalem to fight.

There is nothing secret or invisible about the Biblical description of this event. Just consider the most famous “rapture” passage used by the pre-tribulation camp to support their view and ask yourself if it fits the “secret rapture” profile?

“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.” [1 Thessalonians 4:14-17]

Reason #3 – The Rapture Is Simultaneous With the Resurrection of Dead

There is no way to dispute the fact that in every single passage of Scripture that describes the “rapture,” or gathering of God’s people, it is always connected to the resurrection of dead – specifically the first resurrection. Scripture is replete with references that remind us that the resurrection of the dead occurs at the end of the age, when Christ returns to earth in glory. This one reason alone is enough to debunk any notion of a pre-tribulation rapture.

If you notice in the passage above (1 Thessalonians 4), the catching up of believers coincides with the resurrection of the dead – except the dead in Christ are raised first, and then those who have survived the great tribulation and remain will receive their immortal bodies.

Allow me to leave you with a few more passages that demonstrate the timing of the resurrection, which is the same as the timing of the final gathering (rapture) of God’s people.

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” [John 6:39-40]

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. 24Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.” [1 Corinthians 15:22-24]

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” [1 Corinthians 15:51-53]

Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. [Revelation 20:4-6]

So when we ask the question, “Are you rapture ready,” we are asking an entirely different question than our pre-tribulation brothers. We are asking, “Are you ready to be Christ’s witnesses in a hostile world, to suffer persecution and tribulation for His sake, to resist the strong delusion of rebellion coming upon the world, and to faithfully endure to the end?”

Signs of the End Times — Part 3 — Spiritual Apostasy and Mass Defection from the Faith

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

[1 Timothy 4:1]

King Solomon once famously penned the words … “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” [Ecclesiastes 1:9].

Looking through that universal prism, I am inclined to believe that the battle for truth has pervaded all of human history to this very day. When one considers just how many competing belief systems exist and how many denominational differences we discover within Christendom itself, it becomes an overwhelming task to sort through the theological weeds of faith. We are forced to ask questions that define the parameters of the faith. In other words, how far from sound doctrine can one be to disqualify himself from the true ekklesia – the covenant people of God?

Couple that with outright false prophets and feel-good preachers who prey on the mentally and spiritually weak, especially the Biblically illiterate, and it is evident that many who identify with Christ, howbeit in name only, will be susceptible to mass spiritual deception in the last days.

Jesus warned us as much …

At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, 11and many false prophets will arise and deceive many. 12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. 13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come … For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. 23At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 25See, I have told you in advance. [Matthew 24:10-14, 21-25]

I have come to conclude and understand that the battle for truth is the fiercest of all and that a real enemy to truth exists — the evil one — who is the father of lies and the great deceiver of mankind. The Bible reminds us that the whole world is held under the sway of the evil one.

Couple this satanic system of mass deception with the proliferation of technology and artificial intelligence, and there is a recipe for disaster of historic proportions. As I said, there is nothing new under the sun. From the garden to Babel to Egypt to throne of Ahab and Jezebel, Satan’s most powerful weapon has been the distortion, perversion, corruption of the truth in exchange for the lie.

As Hitler himself is quoted as saying, “Tell a lie loud enough for long enough and people will believe it.” The prince of the power of the air is a master at blinding those in unbelief. This spiritual defection will be so great, this rebellious hardening toward God so defiant, that God will send them a strong delusion to believe Satan’s great lie. The world will sell its soul in exchange for a vain promise and the collective conscience will be seared past the point of no return.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. 9The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness. [2 Thessalonians 2]

Of course the technological revolution is a key component to this end times apostasy. Entire lives integrated with the beast system. As the human race becomes more reliant on technology, we find ourselves at a crossroads – a transitional point – where trans-humanists and technocrats are leading mankind to shed the image of God and clothe itself with the image of the Beast.

The more we give our minds to this demonically charged, artificially derived “intelligence”, we are one step closer to world-wide mind control, otherwise known as a hive mind. Every believer in Messiah, every loyal follower of Yeshua, will be forced to draw a line and soon deviate from the trans-human path and defect from this world system. Mind augmentation will devolve into mind control, which will lead to blind allegiance and worship of the Beast.

And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain … And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. 14Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. 15The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed. [Revelation 13:8, 13-15]

In one way, this separation will be an extreme disadvantage, insomuch that those participating in the beast system will have instant access to unlimited information at the speed of thought. Language will no longer be a barrier, as AI has already crossed the language threshold. Babel has reemerged.

In contrast, those faithful, set-apart believers who refuse to integrate with the Beast system will be outcasts in a hostile surveillance state. Not only will the remnant of God’s people be forced to flee to places of refuge in the wilderness, but also will be targeted enemies of the state, hunted and persecuted by a superior “race” of enhanced humanity 2.0

In another way, however, God’s faithful remnant will have the greatest advantage of all. We will have the presence of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Almighty, the protection of the angelic host, and the gospel of King Jesus. God will supernaturally provide and protect a faithful remnant in the wilderness.

We will see God’s display of power and glory again in the form of signs and wonders and miracles. We will experience God’s presence like the great saints of old, such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Daniel. Perhaps the Lord will once again provide manna from heaven and water from the rock to sustain His people in the last-days wilderness wanderings (see Revelation 12:6, 14].

Only those sealed with the Spirit of God will be able to withstand the schemes of the evil one.

The Spirit searches all things and leads us in all truth. The Spirit will speak on our behalf when we are taken captive and stand as witnesses before the rulers and kings of this world. The Spirit discerns truth from error and intercedes on our behalf through a groaning too deep for words.

But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. 20For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [Matthew 10]

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time. 4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception. [1 John 4]

I find it practically impossible for anyone truly sealed by and united with the Spirit to renounce Christ, serve the Beast, sell his soul for the world, participate in the Beast system, take the mark, become genetically altered and mentally integrated with machine (AI), and revel in the spirit of lawlessness. The Spirit of God is essential to withstand the evil one, especially in these days of deep fakes and fake news and fake people and fake preachers and fake prophets and fake signs and wonders.

The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. [Romans 8]

We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies … 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. [Romans 8]

I realize there is tension with the text concerning those who fall away. It is not unreasonable to assume that one cannot fall away, or defect from the faith, if he first does not belong in the faith. This tension is felt strongest concerning the once-saved, always-saved debate.

As the argument goes, if an apostate walks away from the faith and Jesus altogether, then it implies he once was “saved,” only later to defect from the family of God. Therefore, the popular teachings of eternal security and the perseverance of the saints seem to be in contrast with these examples in the Scriptures. Obviously this confluence of ideas is much more nuanced than that.

The question that inevitably arrises concerns whether or not these “apostates” were ever truly obedient as faithful followers of Christ and regenerate children of God to begin with? In my studies, I see valid arguments on both sides; however, I see more Scriptural evidence in eternal security, where true repentance and faith in Messiah leads to the regeneration of the believer. As a result, he becomes a new creation in Christ, is supernaturally sealed by the Holy Spirit, awaits in hopeful expectation for the promise of future resurrection, will persevere to the end, and who relies daily on the supernatural provision of Spirit to walk in obedience to God’s commandments.

The Apostle John provides some clarity when it comes to this mass spiritual rebellion on the horizon. It seems that those with nominal affiliation with Christ will be separated from the true remnant of God’s children, especially when the refining fires of tribulation are burning the hottest. In other words, the wheat will be separated from the chaff in the end, revealing the nature of the true sons of the Kingdom.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. [1 John 2]

How can we survive the deceptive spirit of this age? Only with the presence and provision of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it will be impossible to have the spiritual eyes and ears necessary to overcome the evil one during the coming time of Jacob’s trouble.

And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. [Ephesians 1]

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. [1 Corinthians 2]

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. [John 14]

I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. [John 16]

Considering the convergence of these signs, it’s not a big leap to discern that we are living in a unique generation that is primed both for unprecedented spiritual deception and a supernatural witness for Christ to the world He so desperately wants to save. And the point of demarkation will be the witness and work of the Holy Spirit.

Did God Commit Genocide?

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes, together with all their kings—leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.”

[Joshua 10:40]

What does the flood of Noah, the conquest of the Canaanites, and those who take the mark of the beast all have in common?

God devoted all of them to total destruction, leaving no one alive.

This leads us to a more pressing question. Did God commit genocide?

Why would the God of the Bible commit genocide by directing the total annihilation of entire people groups, including the men, women, and little children? Does not this fly in the face of the true nature and character of God?

As a matter of fact, one of the most popular indictments against the God of the Bible is that He is a genocidal maniac, especially referring to the military exploits of the Conquest under Joshua, in which God commanded the utter destruction of certain Canaanite tribes. Skeptics and opponents of the faith use this argument to invalidate the Bible and disparage the character of the God.

Sadly, most defenders of the faith are ill prepared to answer this objection and provide weak and insufficient responses, further emboldening the atheist to remain justified in his unbelief and his hatred of God.

When posed with the question of how God could order the direct genocide of entire people groups, including “innocent” women and children, most apologists squirm in their seats and offer some unconvincing excuse about the sovereignty and justice of God, while ignoring the obvious conflict between genocide and the nature of God.

Genocide does not align with God’s nature. It is not in God’s character to arbitrarily devote certain ethnic groups to destruction while sparing others. So there must be a better explanation.

Fortunately there is, and we must go all the way back to the beginning to find the answer.

The Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman

There is a plausible answer to this apparent conundrum. There is a valid reason why God commanded the total destruction of certain people groups, including the global flood of Noah’s day. There is a clear and common thread that runs throughout Scripture that provides the answer behind the merciless and resolute judgment of God.

Sadly, most believers miss this thread because they are either ignorant or afraid of one of the most essential themes in all of redemptive history — a theme tracing all the way back to beginning.

I am talking about the the SEED WAR!

So the Lord God said to the serpent …
“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall crush your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

[Genesis 3:15]

Interestingly, the Hebrew word for seed is zera (זֶרַע), which literally refers to the genetic material contained within plants, animals, and men that God designed as the natural mechanism of producing offspring. In pronouncing judgement upon the Serpent in the garden, the LORD God predicted a cosmic conflict that would play out upon the stage of human history in which the genetic offspring (seed) of Satan would perpetually be at war with the godly offspring preserved by God through Israel. The Seed of the woman eventually would culminate in the virgin birth of the Chosen One — namely Jesus the Son of God.

What we discover in the gospel accounts is that the Holy Spirit supernaturally (not sexually) infused the “seed of God” with the seed of the woman (Mary), conceiving the One and Only (unique) Son of God. I am convinced that this supernatural conception involved the literal union of God’s genetic material — His divine DNA — with the human genes contained in the virgin’s 23 chromosomes. This implies that Jesus did not inherit the corrupted Y chromosome passed down from our first father Adam but instead received perfect and pure genetic material from God Himself, which is why Jesus is the greater Adam — the last Adam.

It is implied in Genesis 3:15 that just as the virgin supernaturally would conceive and give birth to God’s Son, the Serpent would also produce his own illicit genetic offspring, conceived in the image and likeness of the Dragon himself. Satan’s offspring is called the man of lawlessness — the son of destruction. The culmination of Satan’s seed, of course, will be realized at the end of this age when the Dragon finally is cast down to earth, only to concentrate all of his power, throne, and authority into one individual known as the Beast (Revelation 12-13).

While the emergence of the Beast may be Satan’s final desperate attempt to rule the earth through his own progeny, it certainly was not his first. The powers of darkness have a long history of attempting to corrupt the human race through unsanctioned and often grotesque genetic aberrations that the Bible calls the Nephilim. The Nephilim are the degenerate spawn of a forbidden union between rebel angels (or watchers) and human women.

These genetically modified hybrids — which also happened to be giants — once filled the earth in the days of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and David (i.e Goliath). Jesus further warned us that similar genetic corruption will be reintroduced in the last days. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be before the coming of the Son of Man.

To get the bottom of God’s apparent “genocide” of entire people groups, we must first understand the Nephilim connection. Each and every time God has been resolved to utterly destroy an entire “race” or “tribe,” it has always been connected to the eradication of the corrupt seed of the Serpent and the illegitimate hybrid race called the Nephilim.

“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.” [Genesis 6:4]

So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature. 33We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!” [Numbers 13:32-33]

“Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens. 2The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?’ 3But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.” [Deuteronomy 9:1-3]

God had good reason to exterminate the corrupt seed of Satan in ancient times, which also explains why Jesus will utterly destroy those who take the mark of the Beast when He returns at the end of the age.

Mankind Bears the Image of God

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it…”

[Genesis 1:27-28]

When God created mankind, He did so in His own image and likeness. Man bears the unique resemblance of God, which means that man is both spiritually and physically endowed by God with specific traits and genetic parameters that remain at the core identity of the human race. Any aberration or perversion of God’s original design is an abomination and automatically disqualifies hybrids from redemption.

Remember, only the human race is eligible for salvation, as Jesus did not come to redeem the angels who sinned, but only the offspring of Adam and Abraham (Hebrews 2). This is precisely why the Son of God became the Son of Man, permanently taking on human form to save mankind.

In other words, if you aren’t truly human, then you are no longer eligible for redemption.

Now we are one step closer to understanding why the LORD devoted the Nephilim and other giant clans to utter destruction. As unsanctioned hybrids, the Nephilim are the illicit offspring of angelic fathers who acted on their unnatural desire to procreate with human wives (Genesis 6:1-4, Jude 1:5-8). These giants were of strange seed and a violation of the created order. As an unholy mixture the Nephilim did not bear the image of God. Therefore, the Nephilim are not human but rather bastardized mutants imbued with a demonic spirit.

Not only are the Nephilim disqualified for redemption, but also they are inherently wicked and profane, whose sole purpose is to spread like a cancer and devour mankind, eradicating the sons of men from the earth — a feat they almost accomplished several times. Now we can begin to see why God was so resolute in the utter destruction of this corrupt “race.”

The Nephilim were a threat to the survival of the human race, and Satan’s primary means to prevent the birth of Messiah. There could be no remnant of the Nephilim left alive. All of them — even the children — had to be eliminated in order to prevent potential repopulation. So God was not committing genocide. On the contrary, He was saving the human race from the cancerous spread of Satan’s seed.

Transhumanism and the Mark of the Beast

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

[Revelation 14:9-11]

Finally, I would like to circle back to my initial question. What is the common denominator between the flood of Noah, the conquest of Canaan, and the destruction of those who take the mark of the beast?

All of these extreme cases of divine judgment are directed at genetically modified hybrids, who are not human and therefore ineligible for redemption. God does not deal with humanity in this way. He is dealing with something other than human, and therefore He is relentless in His judgment.

The only time in Scripture when God devoted entire populations to destruction is when genetically modified hybrids were in view.

Consider the flood of Noah’s day.

Right after describing the infiltration of Nephilim on the earth in Genesis 6, the Bible says that Noah was “blameless” in his generation. This is the Hebrew word tamim (תָּמִים), which means to be without physical defect or genetically pure. The implication is that Noah and his family likely were the only genetically uncontaminated humans left on the earth at the time of the flood. All of humanity had almost certainly been consumed by the giant Nephilim, which means that if God had not intervened to save Noah and his family, then no human life would have survived.

“Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.” [Genesis 6:8-9]

Now fast forward to the conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Moses and Joshua. Once again, the Nephilim show up in full view. These giant clans were deliberately planted in the Promised Land for one purpose. To destroy God’s covenant people Israel and thwart God’s plan to redemption.

So now it makes perfect sense that the LORD would have commanded Joshua and the Israelites to totally annihilate these giant clans that had established a stronghold in Canaan. They were not human! They were hybrids, and therefore devoted to destruction.

As a matter of fact, the LORD specifically told the Israelites to only treat the giant clans in the land of Canaan in this extreme manner; however, they were not to harm the women and children of other nations outside the land. This distinction is not without reason.

“But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city. 13When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword. 14But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you. 15This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby. 16However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. 17For you must devote them to complete destruction —the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, 18so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.” [Deuteronomy 20:12-18]

And finally, that leads us to the final battle at the end of the age when Jesus comes to wage war against the Beast and his armies and pour out His wrath in flaming fire upon those who have taken the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast is Satan’s final attempt to offer mankind the opportunity to genetically transition into something else altogether. Transhumanism is man’s attempt to use technology and genetic modification to evolve into a new species — humanity 2.0 and beyond.

The mark of the beast is the genetic signature of the Beast — the seed of Satan being given to mankind with the false promise to become as gods and be recreated into the image and likeness of Satan himself.

The reason there is no redemption for those who take the mark of the Beast is because they have made a conscious choice to transform themselves into something other than human, passing the proverbial point of no return. And once they are genetically modified with Satan’s DNA, there is no going back and no hope for redemption. They will have gained the whole world by losing their very own soul.

We are living in a day and age that for the very first time in millennia mankind has the technology to manipulate and engineer our genetic sequences, which means that the transhumanist movement to create a entirely new species altogether is not just possible but certain.

When Jesus comes in flaming fire, He is targeting the Beast and his followers. Not every human will take the mark, and we know that some will survive and enter into the Millennial kingdom as mortals (Zechariah 14:16-19).

God is no genocidal maniac.

He is the Creator of heaven and earth and the righteous Judge of the living and dead. And as Judge, God must purge all evil from this earth in order to establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness, just like He did with the flood and the conquest of Canaan.

Signs of the End Times — Part 1 — The Beginning of Birth Pains

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“A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. 22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.“

[John 16:20-21]

The most prominent and powerful illustration used in Scripture to describe the events leading up to the end of this present age is the analogy of labor pains. The Lord Jesus tells us that we will be able to identify general signs that will materialize and progress like birth pains. These signs include mass spiritual deception and counterfeit Christianity, ethnic division and conflict, revolutions, international wars and reports of wars, famines, and earthquakes.

The initial challenge in identifying current events as sure fulfillments of these “birth pains” comes with the obvious fact that these types of general signs have been present on some scale throughout all of human history. The enemy has always been sowing seeds of deception within organized religion. Historically, we are no strangers to racial tensions and international wars and revolutions. Famines and earthquakes are nothing new to the human experience.

We must be careful of using the modern news cycle as the primary source supporting our prophetic predictions. It is tempting to correlate every single war or major earthquake with a sure sign of the end times. So how are we to determine the difference between the commonplace and the prophetic birth pains associated with the last days?

In my opinion, it is imperative to let the illustration of labor pains speak for itself. The only way we will ever know if we are witnessing the beginning of birth pains will be if the signs themselves follow the natural progression of a pregnancy. When the time finally comes for a mother to give birth, we can be certain that a baby is coming soon, but she must first endure the birth pains.

Once labor begins, we can be sure of the following.

Using the natural process of labor as a guide, we should be able to quantify the visible intensification and frequency of these signs leading up to very end of the age and the return of Christ. So we can expect the birth pains to grow stronger and more intense the closer to the end we are.

Counterfeit Christianity

“Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.”

1 Timothy 4:1-2

I have always been interested to understand what Jesus meant when He warned against spiritual deception. He says, “For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” [Matthew 24:5]. One possible interpretation is that many will come claiming to be the Christ and deceiving the masses with astonishing signs and wonders. Of course this spiritual deception will culminate with the revealing of the man of lawlessness — the counterfeit Christ — and the false prophet.

Another possible way to read Jesus’ words is to expect many so-called Christian leaders to come in the name of Christ and claim that Jesus is the Christ, yet at the same time teach a perverted version of Christ so as to deceive the church with false doctrine.

Like so many prophetic mysteries, it is likely to be a both-and scenario. Either way, we should expect a massive defection of the true gospel that once and for all was delivered to the saints (Jude 1:4). Even as I right this, we are witnessing nearly every mainstream denomination adopt the doctrines of demons and endorse heretical teaching contrary to the Word of God. The likes of Southern Baptists and Catholics and Methodists and everything in between continue to compromise to satisfy the desires of a wicked and perverse generation.

It is only a matter of time before the entire world “will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires and so turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” [2 Timothy 4:3-4]

Wars and Revolutions

We are not waiting for random wars and conflicts. Near the very end, we will begin to hear international reports (rumors) of wars dominating the news cycles. Next we can expect to see a series of revolutions, insurrections, and regional wars that exponentially will intensify into another world war scenario. Eventually everything will culminate with the war that ends all wars — Armageddon.

Right now the two major conflicts of interest are the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas War, both of which likely could erupt into regional or world war scenarios. We must wait and see before we can confidently make a call.

Famines, Earthquakes, and Pestilences

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.”

[Romans 8:22]

In the years and months leading up to the end of the age, we can expect an exponential increase in famines and drought, pestilences and contagious disease, and tectonic activity, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. For these signs to qualify as birth pains, they must be more than random droughts, infrequent earthquakes, or even Covid-19 scenarios.

Scripture is clear that over the last 42 months, or 3 1/2 years, of human history there will be unparalleled famines and drought, apocalyptic plagues, and a series of major earthquakes culminating in the greatest shaking of the earth the world has ever seen [see Isaiah 24:17-23, Revelation 6:12-17 and Revelation 16:17-21].

It Gets Worse before It Gets Better

“Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. 8Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.“

[Isaiah 13:8]

The general signs of birth pains teach us one important lesson. Things must first get worse (i.e. great tribulation) before it will ever get better (i.e. the return of Christ).

My feeling is that when the world finally is in full-blown labor, we won’t have to guess. The beginning of birth pains may start somewhat slow, but there will be no way to mistake the intensity and frequency of prophetic signs that characterize the end of the age.

The good news is that once Christ returns, our sorrows will turn to joy and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Signs of the End Times — An Introduction

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While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” [Matthew 24:3]

What is a sign?

A sign generally is defined as an object or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the presence or occurrence of something else to come.

Signs grab our attention. Provide information. Give us direction. Warn us of danger. And perhaps most importantly, signs compel us to take decisive action. Signs can be heeded or missed. Obeyed or ignored. All depends upon whether or not we are looking in the first place.

For those who operate on a spiritual plane and value Biblical knowledge and understanding, it is imperative to identify and discern signs as they apply to God’s personal revelation, prophetic prognostication, and ultimate intervention in the affairs of mankind.

So signs can be of tremendous value to those who are able both to clearly perceive and properly interpret them.

Before delving into God’s intended purpose for providing signs to His people, it must be said that sign seeking should never be the foundation of our relationship with God, but rather the sufficiency of truth as revealed in Scripture itself. Obsessive sign seeking can become a fruitless distraction and cause many to waiver in their faith. Jesus condemned the leaders of His generation for demanding a sign on their own terms, while at the same time willfully denying the self-revelation of God in their very presence.

Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

[Matthew 12:39]

Those seeking and discerning signs, therefore, must be grounded in Scripture, attuned with the Holy Spirit, and walking closely with Christ to avoid being deceived and deluded. For we also are commanded to guard our hearts from being enticed by the convincing and dangerous appeal of false signs and wonders generated by the powers of darkness [see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12].

As you can see, properly understanding the signs of the times is vitally important for the body of Christ, which is why I have been compelled to dedicate an entire series to this topic. Consider just a few passages that admonish God’s people to identify and interpret the prophetic signs associated with the last days.

“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you in advance.“

[Matthew 24:24-25]

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door.“

[Matthew 24:32-33]

“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. 36Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns.”

[Luke 12:35-37]

‘Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. 2For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. 5For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.‘

[1 Thessalonians 5:1-6]

Most would agree that we are living in troubling times. Many feel a sense of heightened awareness and a spiritual heaviness unlike any in recent memory. More so, it is impossible to survey the current spiritual, cultural, and geopolitical landscape without recognizing signs of Biblical proportions.

Before we can accurately interpret the signs of the times, we first must be able to identify them. Once we properly identify and interpret Biblical signs, then we must acquire the godly wisdom to take decisive action.

So what should we expect to see if we indeed are the generation living at the end of the age? Fortunately, the Bible has revealed specific signs that are unique to the last days.

“Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.”

[Matthew 24:34]

Birth Pains and Beyond

Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.“

[Matthew 24:4-8]

In the most comprehensive and authoritative message about the end times, our Lord Jesus provides the foundational teaching describing the distinct signs that will precede His return. Popularly known as the Olivet Discourse, this teaching forms the central framework upon which all other end-times prophecies can be interpreted.

When His disciples asked about what signs will define the days prior to His return, Jesus answers without a hint of ambiguity. He obviously wanted all disciples of every generation to be certain about what to expect so that we neither would be in darkness nor surprised, but rather awake and ready.

Jesus first provides a general description of events that he calls “the beginning of birth pains,” and then he proceeds to reveal more specific signs in detail. My goal is to start this series by first examining the general birth pains and then dive deeper into more specific signs.

For now, I have compiled a working list (though not exhaustive) to serve as a guide. We can be certain, that the following signs will characterize the conclusion of this present age and precede the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Birth Pains

  1. Spiritual Deception
  2. Counterfeit Christs and Christianity
  3. Real time world-wide reporting about geopolitical conflicts
  4. Ethnic and social unrest
  5. Kingdoms at war
  6. Famine
  7. Pestilences
  8. Natural Disasters — Earthquakes, Floods, Hurricanes, Tsunamis, Volcanic Eruptions

Top 50 Signs

  1. Return of the House of Judah (aka Jews) to the Promised Land
  2. The Reestablishment of a Jewish Nation/State
  3. Resurgence of Jew Hatred Around the World
  4. Spiritual Apostasy and Mass Defection from the Faith
  5. Unrestrained Sexual Immorality and Lawlessness
  6. Intensification of Violence and Bloodshed
  7. Extreme Persecution of Christ Followers
  8. Genetic Engineering and Manipulation — Hybridization of Species, Cloning, Transhumanism
  9. Advent and Acceleration of Artificial Intelligence and Human Integration with Machines
  10. Explosion of Technology — Digital Currency, 24 Hour Surveillance, Cybernetics, Virtual Reality
  11. The Covenant with Death and Sheol
  12. The Rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem
  13. The Reinstitution of the Levitical Sacrificial System
  14. Supernatural War in Heaven
  15. The Dragon (Devil) and 1/3 of His Angels Being Expelled from Heaven and Confined to the Earth for
  16. The Emergence of the Beast and His Empire of a 10-King Coalition
  17. The Abomination of Desolation Set Up in the Holy Place
  18. The Wise Living in the Land will Flee and Find Refuge and Supernatural Protection in the Wilderness of Sinai
  19. A Chosen Remnant of 144,000 Faithful Youth (Possibly Boys) Representing All 12 Tribes of Israel Supernaturally Empowered to Serve God
  20. Mass Concentration Camps
  21. The Creation of the Image of the Beast
  22. The Development and Implementation of the Mark of the Beast
  23. The Supernatural Deception and Sorcery of the False Prophet
  24. The Ministry of the Two Witnesses
  25. Meteoric Impacts of the Earth — Wormwood
  26. Fresh Waters Poisoned
  27. Waters Turned to Blood
  28. Massive Ecological and Environmental Cataclysms
  29. Massive Wild Fires Consuming 1/3 of Vegetation
  30. Earth Knocked off Its Axis or Its Orbital Course Disrupting the Normal 24-Hour Day Cycle
  31. Satan Opens the Bottomless Pit and Unleashes the Gates of Hell
  32. Immense Columns of Smoke Darken the Sun and Turn the Moon to Blood
  33. Hybrid Army of 200 Million Manticore Beasts Emerge from Hell and are Commanded by Apollyon the Destroyer and His Four Commanding Angels
  34. Those who Take the Mark of the Beast are Plagued with Boils and Sores
  35. Solar Flares Scorch the Earth
  36. The Beast Empire is Plunged into Darkness
  37. The Euphrates River Dries Up for the Passage of the Kings of the East
  38. All Nations Surround Jerusalem and Gather for the Final Battle Against the Lord Jesus and His Armies
  39. The Earth is Shaken with the Greatest Earthquake Ever
  40. The Mountains Fall, the Islands are Moved out of Their Place, The Towers of all the Cities Fall
  41. Great Hail Stones Rain from Heaven to Crush the Ungodly
  42. The Great City of Babylon Falls and is Burned with Fire
  43. The Heavens are Opened and the Sky Recedes Like a Scroll, Dissolving the Veil between the Heavenly Realm and the Earth
  44. Last Trumpet is Sounded with the Battle Cry of the Archangel
  45. The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead
  46. The Gathering (Rapture) of Those who Survive and Remain to the End — Restoration of Both Houses of Israel (Joseph and Judah) into One Nation
  47. The Return of Christ Leading His Angel Armies to Battle
  48. A Second Exodus Event
  49. The War Path of Christ from Sinai to Zion
  50. The Battle of Armageddon — aka The Battle of Gog of Magog

The World is Not Worthy of Us

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They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

[Hebrews 11:37-38]

If there is one consistent thread that runs throughout all of church history, it is the thread of suffering for the sake of Christ. From the very first generation of believers who were driven out of Jerusalem leading to the death of the Apostles, the story of God’s people has been the story of martyrdom.

Of all the promises that God has given to the saints, the promise of suffering is the most sobering of all. As followers of Jesus Christ living in the West, the concept of persecution and tribulation is mostly abstract and largely absent from our lives. But for the overwhelming majority of Christians throughout history and among those alive today, the call to follow Jesus Christ is the call to come and die.

The price to follow Jesus Christ in many parts of the world is costly, and the Lord told us as much. The plague of prosperity preaching has infected the church like a cancer, leading millions astray into a pseudo Christianity that does not reflect the true teachings and mission of Jesus Christ.

The truth is that God has not promised to bless His people with riches, comfort, pleasure, and popularity in this life. No! On the contrary, God has promised that all who identify with Jesus Christ and seek to live a godly life will suffer persecution in this world — our rewards being stored in heaven for the day of judgment.

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

[2 Timothy 3:12-13]

Just this week, over 100 farmers — most of them Christians — were slaughtered by the Muslim militants, Boko Haram, in Nigeria. Unfortunately these headlines seem to be more and more common in this evil age. Our brothers and sisters all over the world are being targeted and killed for one reason and one reason alone — faith in Jesus Christ. Whether it be in China, North Korea, Africa or the Middle East, the demonic rage against God’s people is growing more and more intense in these last days.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.20Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 

[John 15:18-20]

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

[1 Peter 4:12-13]

Preparing for the Great Tribulation

Jesus Himself promised His followers that in this world, we will suffer tribulation [John 16:33]. This promise has held true for nearly 2,000 years and seems to only be getting worse. If tribulation and suffering is guaranteed for God’s people of every generation, then it only stands to reason that the last generation of believers will be forced to go through the time of great tribulation as well.

The great tribulation is that unprecedented time of trouble and distress that will encompass the whole earth just prior to the return of Jesus Christ and the Day of the LORD. The Bible makes a distinction concerning this period of immense suffering as being unlike any before or after it. It will be the final 3.5 years of this present, evil age, and God’s people must be prepared to face it and go through it just as every other generation of Christians has gone before us.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved … For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

[Jesus Christ — Matthew 24:9-13, 21-22]

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

[Revelation 6:9-11]

And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

10If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

[Revelation 13:5-10]

Despite what many Christians have been taught, the great tribulation will be the most comprehensive and systematic persecution of God’s people the world has ever seen. The great tribulation will reveal the final generation of true witnesses and faithful followers of Jesus Christ and lead to the greatest display of martyrdom in human history. In other words, it is impossible to have the great tribulation without God’s people because the great tribulation is the final refining and testing of God’s people!

As a pastor and preacher of the gospel, it is my obligation and responsibility to prepare the church for what is coming. Anything less would be cruel and cowardly. We must wake up to the reality that the days are evil and the time is at hand. Tribulation is already here for many of our brothers and sisters around the world, and the great tribulation is coming.

We must be ready.

We must remain faithful.

We must endure to the end.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.

Types and Shadows — The Long Day of Joshua

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At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”


13And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.

Joshua 10:12-14

When it comes to typology, the character of Joshua emerges as one of the most pronounced figures of the Messiah in all of Scripture. Not only does Joshua share the very same Hebrew name as the Lord Jesus (Yeshua), but he is the commander of the armies of Israel who is commissioned by God to conquer His enemies and lead His people into the land of promise.

Joshua deserves several separate posts in and of himself, but today I want to focus on just one of his exploits that directly provides one of the clearest foreshadowings of the day of the LORD and the return of Jesus Christ.

I am speaking of the day the sun stood still — Joshua’s long day.

An Evil Alliance of Kings

Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.

Joshua 10:5

Upon entering the Promise Land, Joshua and the Israelites had been tricked into making a covenant with the Gibeonites, which placed them on terms of peace. It wasn’t long before the wicked kings of the Amorites made an alliance and declared war against Gibeon, forcing Joshua to honor his commitment and to come deliver Gibeon out of their hands.

I find it fascinating that the leader of this evil alliance was Adoni-zedek — King of Jerusalem. When we consider that the final end-times Beast also will form a Middle-Eastern alliance of 10 kings and lead a brutal campaign against Jews and Christians (Revelation 13:1-10, 17:12-14), the typology cannot be denied. Furthermore, the final Antichrist will invade Jerusalem and will set up his throne in the Temple, declaring himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Matthew 24:15). In this final act of defiance, the Beast will claim to be the king of Jerusalem.

Joshua’S Surprise Attack

So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.

Joshua 10:7-9

The next distinct similarity is found in Joshua’s surprise attack. By marching all night up into the mountains, the army of Israel caught the Amorites off guard, as they weren’t expecting such a sudden response. You could say that Joshua slipped up on the Amorite kings like a thief in the night. The element of surprise, of course, is one of the primary characteristics of the Day of the LORD.

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:42-44

Unfortunately, many have misinterpreted the “sudden” coming of Jesus like a thief in the night to mean that no one can know when the return of the LORD is near. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The Scriptures are clear that the sudden destruction of the Lord’s return will come upon the ungodly and wicked, who remain blinded in spiritual darkness. Those who belong to Christ, however, are children of light and will not be surprised at His coming but rather will be fully aware of the signs preceding His return (see Matthew 24:32-35).

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

1 Thessaloninas 5:2-5

The Signs in the Sun and the Moon

And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.

Joshua 10:13-14

One of the most distinct signs of the Day of the LORD and the return of Jesus will involve celestial anomalies in the sun and moon. There is no mistake that exceptional cosmic activity accompanied Joshua’s campaign against the Amorites. This has become known as the long day of Joshua. The extra daylight distinctly allowed Israel to route its enemies, making a full end of their armies.

For a fascinating theory on the celestial mechanics of Joshua’s long day, I highly recommend Chuck Missler’s presentation. You can access his teaching here.

And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 

Joel 2:30-31

Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. 10For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.

Isaiah 13:9-10

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,

Revelation 6:12

The Outpouring of God’s Wrath

And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

Joshua 10:10-11

Once again, many fail to understand what God’s word means when it says that His people are not destined to suffer His wrath. In no form, shape, or fashion will believers in Christ Jesus experience the wrath of God, but that does not mean that God’s people must be removed from the earth during God’s judgments. This episode of Joshua’s long day is a perfect example.

Joshua and the army of Israel attacked the kings of the Amorites in battle, but it was the LORD Himself who did the most damage by directly casting large hailstones upon the enemy armies, while at the same time protecting Israel from His wrath. God is quite capable of directly targeting the wicked and ungodly in wrath, while at the same time removing, sheltering, and preserving His own.

How else can one explain the precision of these massive hail stones that were cast from heaven on Israel’s enemies? Surely both armies were fighting hand-to-hand and in close proximity to each other, and yet only the Amorites were crushed by the stones.

Severe hail is another primary sign of the coming Day of the LORD, and just like the long-day of Joshua, the LORD will shelter His people from His wrath while directly targeting the Beast and his armies.

But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. 19For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. 21I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. 23So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 38:18-23

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

Revelation 16:17-21

Hide us from the Wrath of the Lamb

“These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17And it was told to Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah … And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”

[Joshua 10:16-17, 24-25]

Finally, we see the fate of these evil Amorite kings once confronted with the wrath of God Almighty. Not only did they hide themselves in the caves to try and escape the wrath of God, but by placing his feet on their necks, Joshua was symbolically putting the seed war on display.

As we know, the very first prophetic passage in Scripture is Genesis 3:15, where the LORD promises a coming Savior who ultimately will crush the head of the Serpent and tread His enemies under the winepress of His wrath.

We see this identical language once again in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

[Revelation 6:15-17]

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Revelation 19:15-16

What an amazing foreshadowing of the coming Day of the LORD! May we not be surprised like those in darkness, but as we begin to see all these things take place, may we lift up our heads for our redemption is near!

Maranatha!

Types and Shadows — The Plagues of Egypt

Marcus Walker Van Every1 Comment

So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 

Exodus 10:22-23

One of the greatest mistakes many people make is trying to study the book of the Revelation of the Jesus Christ without being well read and rooted in the Old Testament. Every image, symbol, pattern and event in Revelation already has been established for us in the Scriptures. This is the key to understanding the prophetic word.

When it comes to understanding the end-times events described in the book of Revelation, one of the first places to begin is the Exodus. The parallels are astonishing. Let me show you what I mean.

The Primary Players on the Stage

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Romans 9:17

The Exodus account is filled with prophetic typology, starting with the main characters at the heart of the story. Notice the obvious similarities to the players who will be involved during the great tribulation.

Pharaoh is a clear type of the Beast, or antichrist

Pharaoh was an evil pagan king over a Middle Eastern empire but also with world-wide influence. He was a defiant tyrant and cruel master over God’s people. The Egyptians historically recognized their Pharaohs as a one of the “gods,” which is precisely what the end-times ruler, the Beast, will claim to be.

Moses and Aaron represent the two witnesses from Revelation 11

We like to give Moses all the credit as the deliverer of Israel, but we often forget that his brother Aaron was right there with him the entire time. Actually, Aaron was the main one doing the talking on behalf of both the LORD and Moses when confronting Pharaoh. God’s testimony is always established upon the testimony of two or three witnesses. Furthermore, Moses was given supernatural powers by God to perform signs and wonders, as will the two witnesses during the great tribulation.

The Egyptian magicians are a shadow of the false prophet(s)

Just as the false prophet will exercise the authority of the Beast in the last days, Jannes and Jambres acted on behalf of Pharaoh. These magicians were able to reproduce some of the signs of Moses using their occult arts, just like the false prophet will come working great signs and wonders to deceive the whole earth. Just like the Egyptian magicians contested with Moses and Aaron, the false prophet will contest with the two witnesses during the great tribulation. This will be a supernatural showdown.

The Egyptians represent the Wicked Inhabitants of the Earth under the system of the Beast

Just as ancient Egyptians submitted and worshipped Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt, so shall it be during the great tribulation. Those who are deceived will worship the dragon (Satan) and the Beast.

The Israelites represent God’s people

God’s people Israel were enslaved and oppressed in Pharaoh’s kingdom, as the saints and Jews will be persecuted under the Beast kingdom. Eventually Pharaoh pursued Israel with the intent of total annihilation, and the Beast will attempt to kill all Jews and Christians in the great tribulation.

The LORD God Himself is the primary player involved

Yahweh is the One who ultimately brings judgment upon Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt and also redeemed His people in power and great glory. So shall the Lord Jesus return in power and glory to destroy the Beast in the end and at the same time save His people.

God’s Wrath is Poured out in Judgment

The LORD sent 10 devastating plagues upon Pharaoh and the land of Egypt, directly pouring out his wrath on the earth. In the very same manner that Egypt was the target of God’s wrath, the Beast Kingdom will be the target of God’s wrath during the great tribulation. Of course the bowl and trumpet judgments described during the great tribulation will be on a much broader scale, but the plagues of Egypt provide the necessary context to understand God’s wrath in the last days.

Many of the plagues correspond directly to the trumpet and bowl judgments of Revelation.

  • Plague #1: Blood — Just as Moses turned the waters of the Nile to blood, God will repeat this plague on a greater scale during the great tribulation. The 2nd Trumpet (Rev. 8:8-9) the 2nd Bowl (Rev. 16:3-6) along with the powers of the two witnesses (Rev. 11) include this sign. [Note — I do believe Moses himself will be one of the two witnesses.]
  • Plague #2: Frogs — The 6th Bowl judgment (Rev. 16:13-14) refers to the three “frogs” coming out of the mouths of the dragon, beast and false prophet, which is a direct appeal to the foreshadowing plague in Egypt. These frogs are “unclean spirits” going out to deceive the kings of the earth.
  • Plague #5: Pestilence — Not only does the 4th Seal provide the general overview of pestilence and death (Rev. 6:8), but also the two witnesses are given the power “to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire” [Revelation 11:6].
  • Plague #6: Boils — The 1st Bowl judgment corresponds to this plague, as “harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image” (Rev. 16:2).
  • Plague #7: Hail and Fire — Hail and fire are two of the most prominent signs of God’s judgment during the great tribulation. The 1st Trumpet judgment is described as “hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth” (Rev. 8:6-7). Furthermore, the language used between Exodus and Revelation is nearly identical.
    • “So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.” [Exodus 9:24]
    • 7th Trumpet — “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.” [Revelation 11:19]
    • 7th Bowl — “And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.” [Revelation 16:20-21]
  • Plague #8: Locusts — Not only does the prophet Joel describe the devastating locusts associated with the last days, but also the 5th Trumpet judgment mentions the demonic locust army coming up out of the abyss to torment those who have not been sealed by God. (Revelation 9:3-4)
  • Plague #9: Darkness — All of Egypt was cast into darkness for three days (except the land of Goshen!), which corresponds directly to the 5th Bowl judgment on the Beast. “Its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.” [Revelation 16:10-11]
  • Plague #10: Death of the Firstborn — Just as the final and most severe plague was the death of all the firstborn in Egypt, the final judgment of God upon the earth will be death to the Beast and all who are aligned with him. [see Revelation 19:20-21]

God’s People were not Removed from Egypt but were Protected from His Wrath

Perhaps the most telling typology of all when studying the plagues of Egypt is the fact that God was able to directly administer His wrath and judgment on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt, while at the same time protecting and preserving Israel from His wrath. This one example is enough to encourage all of God’s people that He is able to protect the godly from suffering the direct effects of His anger, but you may be surprised to discover that the Scriptures are full of other examples, including the book of Revelation.

Of course the righteous are not destined for wrath, but that doesn’t mean that the righteous must be removed from the earth in order to be protected from God’s wrath. It simply means that when the judgments begin, God is very capable of specifically targeting those under His wrath, while at the same time sheltering His people.

This is precisely what we see during the plagues in Egypt. God makes a clear distinction between His people and those under His wrath. Notice how all the plagues affected the land of “Egypt,” while the land of Goshen was spared.

But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.

Exodus 8:22-23

Behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.

Exodus 9:3-4

Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

Exodus 9:26

So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 

Exodus 10:22-23

And of course, the final plague did not take the life of the firstborn in Israel because they obeyed the LORD’s command to cover their doorways with the blood of the lamb so that the angel of death would passover them. They were saved by faith from God’s wrath.

So as we can see, God is able to pour out direct wrath without destroying His own people in the process. And when we look at the book of Revelation, guess what we discover? THE VERY SAME THING! God makes a distinction between the righteous and the wicked.

  • During the 5th Trumpet, the demon locusts are allowed to harm “only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads” [Rev. 9:4].
  • During the 1st Bowl Judgment, painful sores came upon only those who had received the mark of the beast and who worship it. [Rev. 16:2]
  • During the 4th Bowl Judgment, the sun only scorches those who curse God and refuse to repent. [Rev. 16:8-9]
  • During the 5th Bowl Judgment, only the kingdom of the Beast is plunged into darkness. [Rev. 16:10-11]
  • During the 6th Bowl Judgment, only the wicked kings of the earth are deceived and gather for battle against Jesus. [Rev. 16:12-16]
  • During the 7th Bowl Judgment, Jesus comes in glory to pour our wrath upon the Beast and his armies in flaming fire.

Many believers refuse to accept the fact that the saints will remain on the earth through all the judgments of God during the great tribulation because they misunderstand what it means for God’s people not to suffer His wrath. They believe that if God’s wrath is being poured out on the wicked inhabitants of the earth, then believers can’t still be on the earth at the same time, but the Exodus account demonstrates clearly that this is not the case at all. God doesn’t remove us from the earth, but He does supernaturally shelter and save us from His wrath.

Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!

Revelation 16:15

Maranatha!

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 26 — The Last Half-Week of History

Marcus Walker Van Every4 Comments

Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.”

Daniel 12:5-7

As I have covered in detail in past posts, the majority of Daniel’s prophecies are concerning the appointed time of the end, which is expressed in the 70th Week — or final 7-year period of human history. These 7 years are split down the middle and divided into two equal halves of 3.5 years. The abomination that causes desolation is the consistent sign marker for the division of the 7 years, triggering the beginning of unprecedented trouble — called the great tribulation.

This last half of the 7 years becomes an expansion, a vivid expression and exponential culmination of the end of the age, which climaxes with the Return of Yeshua — the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here in Daniel 12, the prophet plainly asks the LORD, “how long shall it be until the end of these wonders?” To which the LORD answered … it would be a time, times, and half of time before “all these things would be finished.”

Just in case you haven’t been keeping count, this unique period of time is documented in Scripture more than any other time, and to ensure that we don’t miss it, the LORD conveys this 3.5 year time period in just about as many ways as He can for emphasis.

  • Half a week — Daniel 9:27
  • Time, times, and half a time — Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, Revelation 12:14
  • 1,260 Days — Revelation 11:3, 12:6 (see also 1,290 Days in Daniel 12:11)
  • 42 Months — Revelation 11:2, 13:5

It should go without saying that this period of time prophetically is significant to God’s promises and plan of redemption. This post will delve into some of the key events, themes and characters that show up during the 3.5 years of great tribulation.

Jesus is the True Witness

Jesus is called the True Witness, and we learn that the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus Christ. So when Daniel and the prophets received their visions from God, they were communicated through the personal witness of Jesus Christ Himself — pre-manifestations of Jesus in human form.

I am of the belief that the one dressed in linen — providing this vision to Daniel — is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself. Going back to Daniel 10, we are given a clue as to the identity of the One speaking with Daniel. The vision was so astounding that those who were with Daniel at the time fled away and left him alone. At that moment, Daniel received these detailed prophecies about the 3.5 years.

“I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.”

Daniel 10:5-6

This is the same “man” that is still speaking to Daniel in chapter 12. Both Ezekiel and the Apostle John share similar visions that clearly identify this one like the son of man as the Lord Jesus Himself.

“And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.”

Ezekiel 1:26-28

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 

Revelation 1:12-18

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the “mighty” angel in Revelation 10 almost perfectly fits this description from Daniel’s vision. I believe the same Person is in view because identical language is used in both places. If this is indeed Jesus Christ, then there are profound implications about the role of God the Son in revealing the prophetic word in all its forms.

Here in Daniel 12, this one like a son of man “raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time” [Daniel 12:6]. What we read in Revelation 10 must be connected. Consider all the direct links and identical images.

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 2He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

Revelation 10:1-7

The Two Witnesses

I am of the persuasion that not only are there no errors in the inspired text of Scripture but also that every last word and detail is purposefully placed by God and intentionally integrated by the Holy Spirit to testify to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. When you realize the depth and complexity of Scripture in all its various forms and meanings, then you will never read your Bible the same.

For example, here in Daniel’s vision there are two men standing on either side of the river, bearing witness to the testimony of the one clothed in linen. Everything in God’s word is established upon the testimony of two or three witnesses, and Daniel 12 is no exception.

When we pay careful attention, we begin to see these two witnesses emerge in some of the most pivotal points in history. The LORD is telling Daniel that there will be a unique 3.5 year period preceding the appointed time of the end and the Day of the LORD. I find it interesting that there are two witnesses present to validate the LORD’s testimony to Daniel. I will go a step further and suggest that these two witnesses could be the same two witnesses revealed during the great tribulation in Revelation 11.

Let’s take a closer look.

Moses and Elijah

“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Revelation 11:3-4

For many reasons, I hold the view that the identity of the two witnesses in Revelation 11 is none other than Moses and Elijah.

Moses represents the law while Elijah the prophets. Both of their ministries provide multiple allusions and prefigurements to the great tribulation. Both of their ministries were accompanied by signs and wonders, like turning water to blood and calling fire down from heaven. And both Moses and Elijah were seen by the Apostles conferring with Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration. Furthermore, we know one of the clearest signs of the end times will be the return of the prophet Elijah as a forerunner to the return of Jesus Christ.

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Malachi 4:5-6

What we often overlook, however, is the possibility that Moses and Elijah have showed up as witnesses for other key announcements. For example …

  • Two men — Moses and Elijah — on the mountain of transfiguration.
  • Two Olive Trees and Lamp stands that are standing by the LORD of the whole earth [Zechariah 4]
  • Two men bearing witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ [Luke 24:1-7]. We have always presumed they were angels because angels often are portrayed as men [see Genesis 18-19], and this interpretation is not precluded. But the Scripture simply calls them men. Could these two men be Moses and Elijah?
  • Two men bearing witness to the ascension of Christ [Acts 1:6-11].
  • Two men bearing witness to Daniel’s prophecy concerning the last days [Daniel 12]
  • Two witnesses during the great tribulation [Revelation 11]

The idea is that the LORD conferred with Daniel about the great tribulation in the presence of Moses and Elijah because both Moses and Elijah would be the very witnesses that God sends to prophesy and pour out judgment upon the earth.

The Beast will Shatter the Holy People

The LORD tells Daniel that the “shattering of the holy people” is inextricably linked with this 3.5 year period. So who are the “holy people and how will they be shattered and why?” Is only Israel in view? Or are all the saints of the Most High in view?

The answer is both.

On the one hand, the holy people represent the elect nation of Israel, who are promised to endure the worst time of suffering and tribulation called “Jacob’s Trouble.” We know that the Beast will direct his wrath at Israel, and God’s judgments and catastrophes will also fall on Israel in order to bring them to repentance. So this 3.5 year period certainly has direct implications and divine purposes for Jews, who have been set apart and made holy by God for His purposes.

Jesus reminds us that when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be great trouble, and He warns those living in Judea and Jerusalem to flee for the mountains to escape the coming scourge of the Antichrist through the land. Although the destruction of the Beast will be extensive, Satan will concentrate his aggression in the holy land against the holy people.

“And when the dragon [Satan] saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman (Israel) who had given birth to the male child (Jesus). But the woman (Israel) was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she [Israel] might fly from the serpent [Satan] into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.”

Revelation 12:13-14

A Remnant of Israel will Find Refuge in the Wilderness

“And the woman [Israel] fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.”

Revelation 12:6

Notice that while the majority of the Jews will be slain or taken into captivity by the Beast during this time of Jacob’s trouble [see Zechariah 13:7-9], there also will be a remnant who are supernaturally carried away and protected by God in the wilderness for 3.5 years. This remnant is nourished for the same allotted time period that Daniel was given — a time, times and half a time.

The Saints also will be Overcome

The “holy people” isn’t exclusive of ethnic and national Israel, however, as also this designation clearly represents another group of people that the Bible calls “saints” — or holy ones. The same root word for saints is the word for holy — qodesh. The holy people — the saints — will also be shattered by the Beast.

The great tribulation will be the greatest mass killing of martyrs in human history. Satan’s wrath will not only target Jews, but believers in Jesus are also well within the sights of the Beast. There are so many passages that demonstrate how the saints — God’s holy people — will be handed over to be killed during this time of unprecedented tribulation. I will share some of the key passages that bring this into focus.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”

Revelation 6:9-11

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:13-14

And 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 brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 12:10-12, 17

As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

23“Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
25He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.

Daniel 7:21-25

And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation.”

Revelation 13:4-7

Conclusion

So Daniel is told by the LORD in the presence of the two witnesses to seal up the prophecy until the time of the end because it pertains to the appointed time of the end. This time of great tribulation and Satanic persecution. This time of great witness but great suffering and martyrdom. This time of great judgment and yet greater salvation.

As I close this final chapter, I will bring attention to the necessity the LORD places on the white robes of the righteous. Without being clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, there is no hope. Only those of faith will be saved in the end, and that is Daniel’s final reminder.

“Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Daniel 12:10-13

This admonition is quite similar to the words of Jesus in Revelation 16, which describes the final outpouring of God’s wrath on the wicked in conjunction with the Return of Jesus to wage war with the Antichrist.

“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”

Revelation 16:15

Next time I will wrap up this amazing study with a general conclusion.

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 22 — The Day of Deliverance

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“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.”

The Prophet Daniel — 12:1

It is worth taking closer look at Daniel 12:1. Here we read two contrasting outcomes in this one verse. On the one hand, there will be unprecedented tribulation and distress resulting in the hardship, persecution, and death of many faithful saints, but on the other hand God makes a promise to deliver His people “at that time” — those whose name is written in the book.

So which is it? Does God allow His people to suffer through the great tribulation or are they delivered out of it?

The answer is both. That is the essence of what it means to be delivered — redeemed — ransomed — rescued — saved! God is our Deliverer in every respect of the word, and He has promised to deliver His people from peril, bondage, evils, dangers, and great distress.

Obviously we must acknowledge the multiple layers, concepts, and applications of deliverance. Clearly the core of our Christian faith emphasizes the spiritual application, such as being saved from the wages of our sin and death and from the satanic bondage of this present age. Our spiritual deliverance is an immediate reality to all who believe in Christ. We possess eternal life the moment we trust Christ and are “saved.” This is only one form of deliverance, however, as salvation also is a process that plays out in real time!

We cannot forget that the Biblical accounts of Scripture did not take place in a vacuum, but rather in literal space and time. The Bible provides true eye-witnesses testimony about God’s mighty acts of deliverance for His people within the bigger story of redemptive history. These serve both as examples and foreshadows of things to come in the last days. Consider …

  1. Noah delivered through the flood
  2. Lot saved from Sodom
  3. Joseph delivered from captivity
  4. Moses and the Israelites protected from the plagues and delivered from Egypt
  5. Joshua at Jericho and his long-day at Gibeon [Joshua 10]
  6. David delivered from Goliath
  7. Daniel saved in the Lions Den
  8. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saved through the fiery furnace
  9. Paul rescued from all his trials and tribulations

“If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;7and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8(for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);9then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.”

2 Peter 2:6-9

Our ultimate deliverance, therefore, is the completion of our salvation on THE Day of deliverance — a Day yet future — a unique Day when Christ returns from heaven to wage war against the wicked and simultaneously rescue His glorious bride in triumph!

This is the Day of deliverance that Daniel and all the prophets ultimately envision and emphasize. All things prophetically culminate on this Day — aka the Day of the LORD — a Day both of fierce vengeance and sweet deliverance.

“For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come.”

Isaiah 63:4

There is no contradiction here in Daniel 12:1. It is a broad brush stroke of the last 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th Week, which is also known as the great tribulation.

And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.“

Dan 12:6-7

There will be great tribulation and trouble for God’s people followed by great deliverance and salvation at the coming of the Son of Man. Many of God’s people — both Jew and Gentile alike — will suffer and die during the great tribulation as faithful witnesses for Christ, while also a believing remnant will be preserved and endure to the end. So whether we endure and remain faithful to the end of our lives or we endure to the end of the age — it remains true that God’s people will be saved, or delivered, in the end.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.“

[Matthew 24:9-13]

OUr DELIVERANCE IS ALREADY HERE and NOT YET

We know that Jesus says, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” [John 5:24], which means that salvation is an immediate reality and possession for those who believe. We also know, however, that the God’s ultimate plan of redemption will not be accomplished until Christ returns from heaven to establish His eternal kingdom on earth.

This is why we must acknowledge our salvation as being already here in one sense but at the same time not yet! We have been saved. We are being saved. We will be saved in the end.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

1 John 3:2

And it is that Day — the Day Jesus appears in all His glory — that we will be changed and will receive resurrected bodies and become like Christ, seeing Him as He truly is!

I will leave you with some foundational passages that speak of this Day of Deliverance and provide some details to Daniel’s prophecy.

“For these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written … And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

[Luke 21:22, 25-28]

“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,7and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

2 Thessalonians 1:4-10

Next time we will discover more about the book of life and how it ties into the prophetic word and the end of the age. Until then, I will leave you with Isaiah’s mention of the book of life.

“In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.”

Isaiah 4:2-4