Chapter 8 -
What is next?
The final seven years – the road to Armageddon
We’ve already discussed several of the major events that will happen in the
final seven years. I’m not going to go into great detail in this book but I am
hoping to help you understand what's coming right now and in the very near
future.
The Confirmation of the Covenant
The confirmation of the covenant discussed previously is the event that marks
the beginning of the final seven years. This confirmation has not happened yet.
The Quartet, or the Big Four; the EU, UN, US and Russia, have met to confirm the
“Roadmap for Peace” in the Middle East several times but can't make it stick
yet. The plan includes all the necessary steps to confirm the covenant. Today
the Arab League and the Quartet along with other entities are doing everything
they can to establish a Palestinian state and bring an agreement together
between Israel and Palestine. Israel leaders have even stated that they are
willing to share sovereignty of the Temple Mount and give the West Bank (Judea)
back to the Palestinians. There have been many meetings of all the powers
I just mentioned in the last few years, that could very well lead to this event that God calls the
Confirmation of the Covenant. If they decide on a plan and implement it and make
it stick, where the borders of Israel are drawn and the Temple Mount is shared,
then it IS that event and that means that from that day, the day that it actually happens and they sign a treaty, there will only be 7
years remaining until the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ!
And, in the end of 2017 with President Trump declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and
Russia's Putin saying he recognizes West Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel, as well as the Saudi's coming on board,
it seems that this event is truly imminent today!
Everything else necessary for the end time to be upon us has happened or is
happening now. Most people think it cannot happen because the Jewish temple has
not been rebuilt, but the temple does not have to be standing until half way
through the final seven years (when the abomination of desolation takes place),
and you should know that an organization called the Sanhedrin, working with the
Temple Institute in Israel, is planning on rebuilding the temple off-site, just
as the first temple was built, and when the temple mount is shared (probably
placed under UN security control) they will be able to put it together very
quickly. All of the utensils, furniture, clothing, etc., is completely finished
and ready for use in the temple, and the blueprints and plans for the temple
itself are done (they used to have them online, but they are being kept secret to avoid
causing Muslims to attack and cause problems before they can finish).
When I visited Israel in 2007 I stood next to the corner stone they have ready
to place as soon as they get permission to build the temple. Many people also
believe that the Muslim mosque will have to be torn down in order to rebuild the
temple, but recent discoveries have shown that the actual location for the
Jewish Temple is over a place that is currently called the Dome of the Spirits,
where there is adequate room to build the temple. The temple mount will be
shared, and we know this because John was told to measure the Temple in Rev
11:1-2 but was told to leave out the outer court because it would be occupied by
Gentiles for three and a half years. It will likely be policed by UN
peacekeepers.
The sixth trumpet war may happen sometime in the first 3 ½ years of this final
seven. I can’t say that it will positively happen during that time, but it
certainly looks like it, and here’s why I think so: Revelation 9 explains the
sixth trumpet, but the seventh trumpet doesn’t sound until the end of the 11th
chapter. Revelation 10 talks about an angel who places his right foot on the sea
and his left foot on the earth, and John is instructed to seal up the words of
the seven thunders. In Daniel 12:4, Daniel is also instructed to shut up the
words, and when the man in Daniel 12:6 asked, “How long shall it be to the end
of these wonders?” he is told by an angel standing on the waters that it will be
a time, times and an half, or 3 ½ years. Revelation 11 goes on to talk about the
things that will happen in the final 3 ½ years, like the two witnesses who
“shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days”, or 3.45 years. Then
the sounding of the seventh trumpet happens in the end of chapter 11. This may
be an indication that the sixth trumpet will happen before the halfway point of
the final seven years. As I prove to be fact in Chapter 10 of this book,
however, just because something is nestled in between something else in
Revelation, it does not prove that we're in a sequential time for the events to
take place.
Don't forget, however, the Fifth Trumpet has almost certainly not sounded yet, so that will have to happen first!
If it does happen just before the Antichrist takes over, what better way for the
Antichrist to take power than when the world awakes to 2 billion dead? Since we
know he takes power at the half-way point, or 3.5 years into the final seven,
and that he uses peace as a weapon, it would be a big stepping stone for his
agenda when the world is clamoring for peace after a nuclear war. Also, a
calamitous world event like another world war is what Muslims believe will usher
in their Mahdi. Muslims like Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believe they
can actually hasten the coming of the Mahdi by creating the world chaos
necessary for him to come and “save the world”.
The Abomination of Desolation
The Abomination of Desolation will take place at the halfway point of the final
seven years. This event is when the Antichrist will stand in the “holy place”,
the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, and claim to be God. He may not say it
outright. The deceiver is the Master of Lies! Don’t be fooled if you don’t hear
on the news that he actually said he is God, but he may be arrogant enough to
actually say so. The event will be one that we know about and can recognize for
what it is because we know what to look for. This is when he will take over the
world.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world
for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15 When ye
therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then
let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
The event Jesus is referring to in Matthew 24:15 is Daniel 9:27 and Daniel
11:31. The Antichrist will confirm the covenant for seven years and will be an
abomination to God and will make it (the holy place; the Temple) desolate.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the
midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and
for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the
sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall
place the abomination that maketh desolate.
2 Thess 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God,
or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God.
This event Paul is referring to in 2 Thessalonians is also the “abomination of
desolation”. Three and one half years after the confirmation of the covenant, he
will sit in the rebuilt temple of Jerusalem and claim to be God. Most believe
that he will claim to be all god’s and all messiahs. He will probably claim to
be the god of Islam, Buddhism, etc. When you see this happen, you will know
without a doubt that he is the Antichrist.
The Abomination of Desolation marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
The Great Tribulation
Daniel 11 and 12 show the Antichrist's
reign and specifically states that there will be 1290 days (3.53 years) from the
time of the Abomination of Desolation until the “end of these things”. And
another specifically stating that there will be “a time (one year), times (two
years) and an half (half a year)” (3.5 years) till all things shall be finished.
There will be a time of trouble (Dan 12:1) such as never was (the great
tribulation), the people that know God will be strong (Dan 11:32), some of those
shall fall (Dan 11:35), but the wise shall understand while the wicked will not
(Dan 12:10). Blessed is he who waits until 1335 days (Dan 12:12). When we look
at all the scriptures describing this period of time, we see that the 3.5
years will be the time of the wrath of Satan, and the last 45 or 75 days will be
the wrath of God (the 7 Vials), sometime between the 1260th day and
the 1335th day.
In Revelation 13:5 we see that power is given to the Antichrist for 42 months
(3.5 years).
In Revelation 12 we see that the devil will be cast to earth, having great wrath
because he knows his time is short, and that it will be for a time, times and half a time in v.14, which is 3.5 years.
This “time of trouble” that will last 3.5 years, is the time of the wrath of
Satan. The Vials, which are the wrath of God, will be poured out in the last 75
days, between the 1260th and 1335th days, possibly just in
the last 45 days. The 3.5 years of great tribulation will be for the saints of
God, not the world as a whole (Luke 17:26-30, 1 Thess 5:1-4, Rev 7:9-14).
Matthew 24:15-21 shows us that when we see this abomination of desolation that
then there shall be great tribulation, and then (Matt 24:29) immediately after
the tribulation we will see the sixth seal and the seventh trumpet and we will
be gathered to the Lord at that time. This also most likely begins the pouring
of the vials. The saints will NOT be here for the vials (the wrath of God)(1
Thess 1:10 and Rom 5:9). The wrath of God will be to “destroy them which destroy
the earth” (Rev 11:18).
The Antichrist will rule during this time
and will implement the mark of the beast and it will be a terrible time for the
people of God. At the end of this period, Jesus comes back for His faithful at
the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet. This is the second coming of Jesus Christ!
This trumpet brings the battle of Armageddon where Israel is saved by God, the
destruction of the Antichrist and the false prophet, and the binding of Satan
for 1000 years. This Trumpet, the sixth Seal and all of the Vials bring the
Wrath of God down on the earth. Jesus will wipe out the armies coming down
against Israel at Armageddon and there will be an earthquake that is felt around
the world, plagues and many terrible things because of mankind’s denial of God.
Fortunately God’s people will not have to endure this wrath as we will be taken
up at the sound of the Trumpet before God’s wrath is poured out on the earth.
And then it ushers in the millennium reign of Christ and the end of worldly
governments. Imagine a world ruled by a loving King such as Jesus Christ for
1000 years, with no wars or strife at all. Wow.
The bible tells any Jews still in the area of Judea (the West Bank) to flee when
they see the Abomination of Desolation! It tells them not to even get a change
of clothes but to flee immediately! During this final 3 ½ years, Israel will be
carried on Eagles Wings. Many people teach that this is the US, and it could be.
The US is Israel’s only friend today and it looks like the US will continue to
be her friend. This definitely does not mean for sure that the US will be
the protective force that the bible is referring to here, however. There are two
reasons for saying this:
-
The combined end time one world government that is ruled by the Antichrist
(depicted in Revelation 13:2) does not have the eagles wings we saw in Daniel.
This probably means that the US is not part of that system. The Antichrist will
be fighting wars during his reign and it's possible that the US is one of those
battlefronts. It's also possible that the US will not come out of the 6th
Trumpet war unscathed. The US could be destroyed or hurt so badly that it isn't
a major player in the world after that.
-
The description of the eagles wings in Revelation is very similar to the wording
used in Exodus when Israel was brought out of Egypt.
Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on
eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she
might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a
time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
We cannot know for sure that the "wings of a great eagle" in Revelation is
definitely referring to the US. If you live in the US and you're still riding
the fence and/or haven't decided if you really believe all this or haven't fully
committed to God, I would give it some very serious thought.
The mark of the beast will be implemented.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that
no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name.
Today, people are being implanted with RFID chips and a National Id card was
required of everyone in the US by 2008, but has been extended, with a similar
system being set up in Europe. Speculation is that the Antichrist will implement
a world wide numbering system and most likely will cause everyone to have a chip
implanted in the right hand or the forehead with their ID number. With current
technology, this would not be that hard to implement. And recently people have
begun to use a tattoo ink on animals that has the same capacity as a chip for
containing RFID information! Now wouldn't that be considered a “mark”? I cannot
stress enough that you cannot take that mark! It will most likely come with a
“pledge of allegiance” to the New World Order or to the name of the Antichrist
or something similar and they will probably accuse you of being a terrorist or a
non-conformist and a menace to society if you refuse to take that pledge, and
condemn you for refusal. As we learned in chapter 7, it is very likely that it
will be a Muslim Antichrist and Islam will be the religion that is forced on the
world. It's likely that everyone will be forced to become a Muslim or be killed.
Another interesting fact to this discussion is that Muslims wear arm bands and
head bands to signify their allegiance. It's possible that this could be the
“mark” of the beast since by wearing it you “show your allegiance” and are
marked as a loyal Muslim.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any
man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in
his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the
presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever
and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his
image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of
the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of
Jesus.
Keep the faith as mentioned in verse 12 and be patient! If you do not, you will
suffer infinitely more than a few hunger pangs and persecution, or even death!
Do not take the mark!
The End of Suffering and Death
The battle of Armageddon and the seventh trumpet at the end of the seven years
mark the end of suffering and the beginning of the Kingdom of God!
The bible tells us that after the seventh trumpet, when all is said and done,
Jesus will set up His kingdom on earth and we will reign with Him for a thousand
years. The bible doesn’t say that all of mankind is destroyed at the last trump,
and it’s pretty clear that people will still be alive on earth during that
millennium. One of the scriptures that
show this to be true is; Daniel
7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away:
yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
This is talking about what happens after
the Antichrist is thrown into hell at the end of the tribulation. Satan
will be bound for the entirety of that time and released only at the end for a
while where he will again deceive the people of the earth. There’s one last
battle and apparently there will be people who side with Satan to make war with
Jesus. I, for the life of me, can’t understand this, but I guess I should just
be grateful that I don’t understand, because maybe I would be like them if I
understood them. After the end of that millennium, Satan is cast into Hell
forever, and God makes a new heaven and a new earth for us to enjoy for
eternity! And there will be no more pain or sorrow… ever…
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on
such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years
are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to
deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog,
to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the
saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven,
and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of
fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne,
and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and
there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand
before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in
the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were
in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they
were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven
and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away.
The timeline of the end time events and the layout of the book of Revelation are
discussed more in Chapter 10.