BIBLE PROPHECY

2014-2015

The next great world headline

CRAIG C. WHITE

copyright 2011, 2012, 2013, Craig C. White

HIGH TIME TO AWAKE

BIBLE PROPHECY

2014-2015

Kindle Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.

Some photos used under creative commons attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) creativecommons.org

Cover photo credit: Blood Moon by Guian Bolisay www.flickr.com

Bible references are from the King James Version.

First Published 2013, Second Edition Published 2014

Jesus: Thank you for your forgiveness and for the illumination to understand the things that are written in your book so that I might be able to write this book.

Yours, Craig C. White

Welcome to 2014. Bible prophecy is unfolding everywhere. The heathen are raging in the Middle East. Egyptian is fighting Egyptian. Christians are being killed and tormented more than ever. The New World Order is old news. An international security agreement and Palestinian state are being forged for the nation of Israel. All of these events have been foretold in bible prophecy.

There is one event however that hangs over our heads like a guillotine. That event is the destruction of Damascus as foretold by the Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. At first glance it seems that the prophecy concerning the destruction of Damascus stands by itself. In other words there are no other related prophetic events surrounding it. But hold on. Jeremiah tells us that the northwestern cities of Syria will hear of an attack coming from the Turkish border.

Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Today Turkey is amassing military might on Syria’s northwestern border. Hamath and Arpad have already heard these reports. So the nation of Turkey has been implicated. We must now ask ourselves, “What is Turkeys’ role in end time prophecy?”

One major end time event is a Turkish led invasion into Israel. This is recorded in Ezekiel chapter 38. Every nation mentioned in Ezekiel 38 that in some way participates in this invasion is now fighting in Syria. So the destruction of Damascus may in fact be the catalyst for an invasion into Israel and the further unfolding of bible prophecy.

What is a Blood Moon? It is the red glow of the moon during a lunar eclipse. Beginning on Passover April 15, 2014 several rare lunar and solar eclipses will occur on Jewish Holy days in Jerusalem. What do these signs foretell? We’re not certain but can we take an educated guess. We will explore several possibilities. It will surely be interesting to keep a lookout.

Bible Prophecy 2014-2015 tells us what to expect in the coming two years. This book identifies very specific milestones on the trail to Christ’s return that can be observed today. Many prophecies are just now coming into focus. For example, the battle of Gog and Magog is gathering. During this battle Turkey will lead Iran, Sudan, and Libya into Israel (Eze 38:5). Also Russia is about to reclaim territory on its southwestern border (Dan 7:5). We can only recognize these events as we examine scripture, and keep watch as they are happening!

Contents

BIBLE PROPHECY

2014-2015

Photo credit: Blood Moon Guian Bolisay www.flickr.com

Preface

High Time to Awake

Chapter One

The Next Great World Headline!

Chapter Two

Turkey leads Middle Eastern invasion into Israel!

Chapter Three

Proof of God

Chapter Four

Peace Peace

Chapter Five

End Time Players

Chapter Six

Russia to Invade!?

Chapter Seven

End Time Inventory

Chapter Eight

Revealing the Antichrist & False Prophet

Chapter Nine

Revelation 13 – Image of the beast

Chapter Ten

Bible Prophecy 2014-2015 Timeline

Chapter Eleven

Obama is not the Antichrist!

Chapter Twelve

Is the Antichrist alive today?

Chapter Thirteen

Solar and lunar eclipses fall on Jewish holy days

Chapter Fourteen

Church should not look for the beginning of sorrows

Chapter Fifteen

When we are taken at the Rapture

Chapter Sixteen

Jerusalem’s Great Tribulation

About the Author

Craig C. White

More from High Time to Awake

Other eBooks by Craig C. White

www.hightimetoawake.com

Preface

High Time to Awake

copyright 2011 Craig C. White

Midnight is past, noon is upon us.

Romans 13:11

By Craig C. White

The phrase “High Time to Awake” comes directly out of Romans 13:11.

Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

The apostle Paul assumes that we know the time, or that we understand the season. If we do understand the season then we must stir from our spiritual sleep and become alert. We must be prepared for our salvation. In this verse salvation is not our spiritual rebirth but our physical resurrection, rapture and gathering together to meet Jesus Christ. In this way we will escape the wrath that is to come on earth. Salvation from wrath on earth is also explained in Romans chapter 5.

Rom 5:7-10 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Verse 12 above literally tells us that midnight is past and that noon is upon us. Works of darkness are actions freely performed by people who do not have the light of the Holy Spirit or the knowledge of God’s Word in their hearts. But instead, their hearts are literally in the shade. Sin is a work of darkness, but Jesus offers forgiveness of sin. Rebellion is a work of darkness. Rebellion is when you refuse to accept God’s offer of forgiveness. Without repentance there is no remission of sin.

To put on the armour is to be busy using the offensive weapons of war! The light is that ray of pure light that illuminated your soul and embodied your spirit when you first believed on Jesus. That is to say, the light is the Holy Spirit!

Rom 13:13-14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Since our redeemer will come soon we ought to live soberly. We ought not to be getting drunk or practicing sexual sin. Perhaps more difficult, we ought not to quarrel or be jealous of another believer in Jesus Christ.

Many bible prophecies are just now coming into focus. For example, the destruction of Damascus appears to be eminent, the Turkish led battle of Gog and Magog is gathering, also Russia is about to reclaim territory. We can only recognize these events as we examine scripture, and keep watch as they are happening!

The end time as prophesied in the Bible is here. When I say “end time” I mean the period just before the return of Jesus Christ to gather his Church, and the time just before the terrible Tribulation of Israel and of the entire world. Some end time events are already happening. Some end time personalities are already on the world stage. I want every believer to be prepared with the knowledge of his near salvation. That is, our gathering together to Jesus at the resurrection. It is high time to discern the season.

www.hightimetoawake.com

Chapter One

The Next Great World Headline!

Photo credit: Damascus by Varun Shiv Kapur www.flickr.com

Turkey Invades Syria!

By Craig C. White

The destruction of Damascus, Syria is foretold in Isaiah 17, Jeremiah 49, and Amos 1. Today Syria is at war. This is not simply a civil war. Syria is fighting for its sovereignty. This is a struggle to overthrow the Syrian government from the outside. World powers find Syria such an essential prize that they have taken sides. Most outside support has gone to the anti-Syria forces. The US has given Turkey Patriot Missiles and troops. The rebels fighting in Syria have received advanced weapons. This is sure to escalate the violence.

Syria is now in its third year of fighting. It seems that they are no nearer to a conclusion. From a biblical perspective I expect the worse to happen in Syria. That is an outside invasion and the ruinous destruction of Damascus. Waiting for these events is nerve racking. I am impatient but that counts for very little. World powers are also impatient. I think that world powers will strike Syria when they see a possibility that they might lose their prize. If it looks like the current Syrian regime is getting the upper hand then the world will act swiftly and harshly. Whether or not chemical weapons are removed from Syria; Damascus will be destroyed and Syria will fall under the control of Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Ezekiel 38 tells us about an invasion into Israel led by Turkey. Turkey leads Iran, Sudan (Cush), and Libya into Israel.

Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

All of these nations are fighting in Syria now. I think that after Turkey invades Syria and besieges its capital city of Damascus; Turkey will lead these nations into Israel!

In 734 BC the Assyrian King Tiglath-pileser led an invasion into Syria and then turned south to invade Israel. According to Old Testament prophets this ancient invasion is a harbinger to a similar future invasion. This future invasion is led by the Antichrist. What am I saying? Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will soon lead an invasion into Syria and destroy Damascus. Shortly afterward Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will then lead Al-Qaeda rebels from Libya and Hezbollah militia from Iran and Sudan in an invasion into Israel. That means that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is in fact the Antichrist!

I expect the headlines to soon read “Turkey Invades Syria”. That is terrible news. Even worse news is that shortly after Turkey invades Syria and destroys Damascus I expect the headlines to read “Turkey leads invasion into Israel!”

These are the major events that usher in the end of the Church age and the beginning of the time of Israel’s sorrow.

Extra Extra! It is High Time to Awake!

Read about the soon coming destruction of Syria in my eBook “Syria in Bible Prophecy”. Read all about the following Turkish led invasion into Israel in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”.

Chapter Two

Turkey leads Middle Eastern invasion into Israel!

Photo credit: Nimrod fortress by David King www.flickr.com

Photo note: Built around 1229 the Nimrod fortress in the Northern Golan Heights was built to defend the road to Damascus. This may be the route that the Turkish led invaders take into Israel.

Phase 1 of the Battle of Gog and Magog may happen in 2014-2015!!!

Ezekiel 38:5

By Craig C. White

I know that the names “Gog and Magog” sound strange to many ears. But these two names are becoming a profound part of the modern day fulfillment of bible prophecy. There is much debate about who Gog and Magog are. First off, Magog was a man. His name can be found in the genealogies in Genesis 10:1-3 and 1Chronicles 1:5-6. Magog was the son of Japheth the son of Noah. After Noah’s flood, Magog and his brothers settled modern day Turkey. Gog is simply the name of the land that Magog settled. For more commentary about Magog, and his brothers, and his land please read my commentary titled “Magog Made Easy” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”.

Ezekiel 38 and 39 describe two invasions into Israel led by the primary governor (chief prince) of Turkey. These invasions are commonly called “the battles of Gog and Magog”. I think that Ezekiel 38 describes a separate invasion than does Ezekiel 39. I think that the Ezekiel 38 invasion will happen very soon. It will be led by Turkey after the destruction of Damascus, Syria.

Ezekiel 39 describes a second battle. This battle is also described in Revelation 16:12–21 and Rev 19:17-18. This battle is commonly known as “the battle of Armageddon”. According to Ezekiel 39, the second battle of Gog and Magog (or the battle of Armageddon) will happen a few years after the first battle (at the end of Israel’s seven year “Tribulation” period), and will also be led by the primary governor of Turkey. During these battles “Magog” may not always be the same person, but he will always be the primary governor of Turkey. Now, if somebody asks you who Magog is; you can answer them directly, “Magog is the primary governor of Turkey”. Today the Prime Minister of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He is antagonistic towards Israel and a prime candidate for our modern day “Magog”. For a comparison between Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 please read my commentary titled “Magog Made Easier” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”.

In bible prophecy, the future Turkish led battles of “Gog and Magog” seem to correlate to the past Assyrian led invasions into Syria and Israel. The Assyrian led invasions happened in two parts. The first phase happened in 734 BC and the second phase in 701 BC. The first phase began with an invasion into Syria, followed with a southward turn into northern Israel. At that time Israel was divided into two separate kingdoms. The northern kingdom headquartered in Samaria, and the southern kingdom headquartered in Jerusalem. The tribe of Ephraim refers to the northern kingdom of Israel. The invasion of northern Israel was led by the king of the Assyrian empire named Tiglath-pileser (2Ki 12:18–18:16, 1Ch 5:26, Isa 66:19, Hos 5:13–10:6, Amos 1:3-5). Tiglath-pileser is also known as “Pul” in the King James Bible. The southern kingdom of the tribe of Judah was spared during the first phase of the Assyrian invasion. The second round of the Assyrian invasion was led by the then Assyrian king named Sennacherib. The second phase of the Assyrian invasion reached into the southern part of Israel near Jerusalem.

Like the Assyrian invasions of old, the future invasions described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 will happen in two phases. Both battles will be instigated by the same nation; namely, Turkey. The first phase of the Turkish led battles may begin with an invasion into Syria just like the first round of the Assyrian invasions in 734 BC. So it would seem that the destruction of Damascus as prophesied in Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49 24-27 may be closely associated with the Magog led invasion that is prophesied in Ezekiel 38. This sheds a great deal of light on current events and persons, as well as our position in the end time timeline. OK, now is the time to exercise some generosity. Give a poor guy some benefit. This is an astounding overview of prophetic events! As Christians, we should all be shouting this to every pastor and believer that we encounter. This is front page news! The city of Damascus is on the verge of destruction. All of the nations that will invade Israel as represented in Ezekiel 38:5 are now fighting in Syria. The Turkish army is amassed on the Syrian border. After the destruction of Damascus, the Turkish army may very well lead the armies of Iran, Sudan, and Libya in an invasion into Israel. Like I said, all of these armies are fighting in Syria today!

If we follow the Assyrian model then the invasion described in Ezekiel 38 may extend only into northern Israel. The invasion described in Ezekiel 39 will most certainly be accompanied by battles on every front throughout the entire land of Israel, including Jerusalem.

Isaiah 17:12-14 below also describes a multi-nation invasion into Israel.

Isa 17:12-14 Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!  13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.  14 And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

These verses refer to an event that happened around 701 BC. Assyria’s king Sennacherib was in position to attack the city of Jerusalem. Overnight, God wiped out his army while they slept. Isaiah 37:6 below describes God’s intervention.

Isa 37:36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Isaiah 17:12-14 above contains similar language to that used in Ezekiel 38. It may be that these verses also implicate the near time Turkish led invasion into Israel. These same verses also sound similar to the swift destruction of Israel’s enemies in the day of the Lord’s vengeance at the end of Israel’s seven year “Tribulation” period.

News Flash: The end time invader of Israel is called the Assyrian in Isaiah 10 and several other passages. Just as the Assyrian Kings invaded Syria and then Israel and later invaded Israel again, Magog will do likewise. This invader is the same person that we call the Antichrist. The Antichrist is also called a little horn in Daniel chapters 7 and 8. A little horn is a term used to describe a prince. Magog is described as the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal in Ezekiel 38:3. So the primary prince of Turkey is the Antichrist. It seems to me that we are very close to identifying the Antichrist as being Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. God will use him to exercise his anger upon the nation of Israel, and Jesus Christ will destroy him at his coming.

Isa 10:5-6 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

The hypocritical nation described in the verse above is Israel. Yes this happened once before, but if you read the rest of Isaiah 10 you will discover that this passage ends with the returning of the Holy One of Israel and a returning of the people to him. So the Assyrian is also yet to come.

I believe that 2Thesalonians tells us that the revealing of the Antichrist on earth is the sign of the Rapture of the Church (please read my eBook “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist”). If we are close enough to these events so that we are able to identify the key players, then the Rapture of the Church and the Tribulation period on earth must be very close indeed. It is High Time to Awake and tell your pastor!

Chapter Three

Proof of God

Photo credit: Matt Gillman www.flickr.com

The bible says we have no excuse.

By Craig C. White

What is the proof of God? Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t perform some amazing act to prove to everybody that he is the one true God? Well stay tuned! There is a battle brewing. Turkey will lead an invasion into Israel. They will be joined by Iran, Libya, and Sudan. God will contend with them so fiercely that the whole world will know that the God of Israel is the one true God.

Ezekiel 38:23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

This is called “the battle of Gog and Magog”. This battle is brewing today. Simply put, Gog is Turkey and Magog is its leader. I think that the current Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan will incite this battle. I think that Erdogan is the modern day Magog. Like I said, stay tuned!

You don’t need to wait until the battle of Gog and Magog to see proof of God. The bible says that you are proof of God. The bible says that the world is proof of God. God created all things. All things are proof of God.

Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

When you walk outside you notice the world. You see grass and trees and sky. You see the stars at night and think “Wow that is big and very beautiful!” You ask yourself, Is there a God? Every person sees the things that God has made. Because we see all of creation we know that there is a creator. God is shouting, “I made this; know me!” Creation is proof of God. Because we all can see the things that God has made, we are all accountable to know and honor him. God says that nobody has an excuse!

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

We should already know God. For those who don’t, there is a battle forming in which God will intervene. The participants are gathered today in Syria! In the end they shall know that the God of Israel is the LORD!

Chapter Four

Peace Peace

Photo credit: South of Temple Mount by Ian W. Scott www.flickr.com

Will Israel peace treaty mark the beginning of the Tribulation?

By Craig C. White

Just before the people of Israel entered into the land that God prepared for them God had a talk with Moses. God told Moses to tell the people how they ought to behave while they are in the land. God started by giving the people of Israel the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1). Thou shalt not serve idols, remember to keep the Sabbath, thou shalt not kill, and so on. One of the last things that God told the people is that they should not make agreements with the inhabitants of the land. The people of Israel should not make allowances for their enemies gods. They should not make treaties with their enemies that they should live in the land with them. God said that making a treaty with their enemies would be a trap that they would be caught in. God repeated this warning for emphasize (Exodus 34:12)!

Exodus 23:32-33  Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.  33  They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

Israel has already made provisions for their enemy’s god to be worshiped in the land. They have already made provisions for their enemies to live with them. Today Israel is feverishly working to make a treaty with the Palestinian Authority that they should rule in the land with the Israelis. The peace accord aims to create a sovereign Palestinian nation inside of the land of Israel.

Israel has already made allowances for the Palestinians to share their land. About one third of the nation of Israel is occupied and controlled by the Palestinian Authority. The current peace treaty or security agreement will add further territories to Palestinian control and worse it will give all or portions of the old city of east Jerusalem over to the Palestinian Authority. Today the temple mount in east Jerusalem is under the authority of the Islamic Waqf. The Islamic Waqf is a Muslim organization that acquires property to use for charitable causes; all in the name of serving Allah. The Islamic Waqf has severely restricted the Israeli use of the temple mount.

Israel map credit: The World Fact Book www.cia.gov

Israel Map: The shaded gray areas show the Palestinian occupied areas. In the south the Negev is a harsh desert and mountainous region. The Negev accounts for almost half of the land mass of the nation of Israel. It has a population of only 200,000.

The land of Israel today does not include the entire portion of land that God gave to Abraham. God gave Israel all of the land from the Nile River to the Euphrates River.

Genesis 15:18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

At the same time that God told Moses not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land; God also restricted the geographic area that the Jewish people should first inhabit. The modern day borders of Israel represent that geographic area.

Exodus 23:30-31  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.  31  And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

Israel is no ordinary nation. Likewise the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is no ordinary peace treaty. As you would imagine there are arbiters on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have the final say in negotiations. Netanyahu has expressed his support for the creation of a Palestinian state but has voiced concerns about insuring the safety of the Jewish people. Netanyahu has appointed veteran lawyer Isaac Molho as his chief negotiator. Another key figure in the negotiations is Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni. Ms. Livni has been a harsh critic of Netanyahu. She is a staunch proponent for creating a Palestinian state in Israel. The exceptional part of these negotiations is that they include international security provisions. In other words Israel will have to agree to rely on US, UN, NATO, and perhaps other international military forces to ensure peace in the dual state. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is smack dab in the middle of it all. There seems always to be encumbrances to these negotiations but all parties involved are pushing for a deal within the next two years. A date of April 2014 has been set for the end of the current round of negotiations.

Zechariah 11:16 tells us that God will raise up a rotten ruler in Israel who will not look out for the best interest of his people. He is called the idol shepherd. I think that he will be instrumental in allowing Israel to fall into this trap. Indeed Ezekiel 34:2-8 identifies Israel as having many idol shepherds. Perhaps some of these negotiators are among Israel’s idol shepherds or perhaps we are still looking for Israel’s idol shepherd to appear since some of Israel’s leaders still demonstrate concern for their nation. Please read my commentary titled “Woe to the Idol Shepherd” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.

At any rate peace and security for Israel is the cry of the day. The problem is that the bible says that when the rulers of Israel say “peace and security” that is when they are all in big trouble.

1 Thessalonians below was written to the church at Thessalonica. So it was written to Christians both Jew and gentile. While it certainly concerns the Jews it was not addressed directly to the nation of Israel. My point is that it is addressed to Christians today.

1Thessalonians 5:1-9  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

The verses above say that Israel will be surprised when the day of God’s judgment comes. They will expect peace but will receive persecution. In fact during the same time that God judges Israel he will also judge the entire world. So the unbelieving world will also be caught unaware of the coming disaster.

Isaiah 28:22  Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

1Thessalonians chapter 5 goes on to say that believers in Jesus Christ will not be surprised but that they will see the disaster coming. Verse 9 states that Christians will not suffer God’s judgment but that they will be saved from it. This brings up the concept of the Rapture of the Church. I only want to say that the Rapture (or the taking away into heaven) of Christians may or may not happen before Israel signs their peace treaty. There is more to consider.

The Antichrist is a political ruler who will become the head of a coming world empire. I think that he will engage in several military conquests; even invading Israel, and that at some point he will make a peace agreement with Israel. In Daniel 9:27 below, the Antichrist will make a peace treaty with the many for seven years. This marks the seven year Tribulation period of Israel. The many may refer to the majority of citizens in Israel or it may refer to many nations. In either case the agreement obviously concerns Israel. At some point Israel has resumed offering daily animal sacrifice. That means that at some point they have built a new temple. After three and a half years the Antichrist causes the sacrifices to stop. The Antichrist causes the temple to become unclean until the suffering of the nation of Israel ends. This last three and a half year period is called Jerusalem’s “Great Tribulation” (Mat 24:21).

Daniel 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.

Why am I telling you this? I am pointing out that Israel is working on a peace treaty with the Palestinians which also involve world powers. Plus the Antichrist will one day make a treaty with Israel. Are they the same treaty? I don’t know. I am going to give you the short answer. I think that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is quite possibly the Antichrist (read my commentary titled “Erdogan is the Antichrist” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”). If Erdogan is not the antichrist then I think that the Antichrist will be another Turkish Prime Minister. If Erdogan or somebody else that meets the criteria for being the Antichrist is not involved in the signing of Israel’s Palestinian peace treaty then it does not mark the beginning of the Tribulation period. It is important to remember that the treaty that marks the beginning of the Tribulation requires the participation of the Antichrist. It becomes more urgent since Israel may indeed enter into a peace agreement within the next couple of years. Perhaps Israel will sign a separate peace agreement with the Palestinians. Perhaps the hostilities of the Antichrist will finally push an international security agreement to be finalized in Israel. Perhaps the Church will be taken away before any treaty is signed.

Here is a passage that may indicate that during the last three and a half years of Israel’s Tribulation the Antichrist will speak against people who live in heaven. This may be referring to Christians that have been raptured before that time.

Rev 13:5-6  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Whatever happens we all should know that an agreement to live with Israel’s enemies is a trap!

Chapter Five

End Time Players

Photo credit: Salim Fadhley www.flickr.com

A Roster of World Leaders poised to fulfill their Prophetic end of the world roles.

By Craig C. White

Egypt had its “cruel lord”. Turkey has its “chief prince”, End time bible personalities are popping up everywhere. Some of these personalities will participate in events right up to the time of Jesus Christ’s return. That would mean that Jesus will return during their terms in office! Whoa!

They say that the end of the world is near. Well it may be the end of the world as we know it. I would say that it is about to be the end of the world as a nice place to live. A terrible period of seven years is about to come upon the whole world. It is called the Tribulation in the bible. Many Christians have sensed the end of the world (end times) approaching. Few have identified the process or the players. For instance; Daniel chapter 7 tells us about four kings that will be instrumental in creating the final gentile world empire. This world empire was described in Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2:40-45. The Antichrist will be the head of this final gentile world empire. So who are the four kings that create this empire? Who will play a prophetic role during the end times? Following is a roster of world leaders that are poised to fulfill their end of the world roles.

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Position: Magog (Turkish Prime Minister)

According to Ezekiel chapter 38 Magog is a Turkish Prime Minister who will lead an end time invasion into Israel. According to Ezekiel chapter 39 Magog will also lead the battle of Armageddon.

Ezekiel 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Player: Recep Tayyip Erdogan: For many years Turkey has been an ally to Israel and the US. Since 2003 Turkey has become less cooperative with the US and has grown more and more antagonistic toward Israel. Lately Turkey has shown its propensity toward radical Islam. According to Ezekiel chapter 38, Gog is the land of Turkey and Magog is its prominent prince. I believe that Magog also refers to an end time Turkish ruler. Turkey (Gog) and its prominent ruler (Magog) will lead a military campaign against Israel. It is called “the battle of Gog and Magog” (Read my eBook titled “Halfway to Armageddon” for a full report on the Turkish led invasion into Israel). According to Ezekiel 38:5 Turkey will be joined by Iran, Libya and Ethiopia (or Sudan). All of these nations are fighting in Syria today. “Magog”, Turkey’s prominent leader will lead the charge. Today Turkey has a leader that fits the Magog profile. His name is Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He became Prime Minister of Turkey in 2003. He is a devout Muslim and has an ingrained animosity toward Israel. He also has a volatile disposition. He has been over-zealous in his public hatred and provocation toward Israel. While most Middle Eastern despots are being besieged and exiled, Prime Minister Erdogan is popular and gaining in popularity. Erdogan has continued to publicly overstate his condemnation of Israel. Erdogan also sees himself as the new sultan of a revived Turkish led Ottoman Empire.

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Position: False Prophet: The false prophet is one of two religious leaders of an end time false religion. He will produce miraculous signs to prove the authority of the next world empire. Read my commentary titled “Revelation 13 – Image of the beast”.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Player: Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen: I am going out on a limb here but I suspect one person who is now on the world scene as the prime candidate for being the false prophet. He is a prominent Muslim cleric named Fethullah Gulen. He wants to rule the world and is challenging Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan for control in Turkey. Please read my commentary titled “Revealing the Antichrist & False Prophet”.

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Position: Four kings will be instrumental in creating the final gentile world empire! They are described in Daniel chapter 7 as being from 1) England, 2) Russia, 3) Central Asia, and 4) the final gentile world empire itself. For a complete verse by verse look at the formation of the next world empire read my commentary titled “The Leopard is Upon Us!” in my eBook “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist”.

Four beasts are described in the prophecy of Daniel chapter 7. Beasts in bible prophecy represent gentile kingdoms. In this case they represent confederacies of nations or Unions. The kingdoms however are not as important to recognize as are their 4 KINGS! Four kings will conspire to create the final gentile world empire!

Daniel 7:15-17 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.  16  I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.  17  These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Our attention is drawn to the four kings not the four kingdoms. Listen up folks! The four kings will be instrumental in creating the final man ruled world empire. These persons will be easily identifiable in their positions over each of the four beasts (or Unions) and by their efforts to create a one world government. Today Tony Blair the former Prime Minister of England is playing a major role in the effort to form a one world government. Prince Charles of England is also a star player among the one world government movement. He happens to be the head figure in all the Masonic Order, which unites the entire world. In Russia Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Medvedev (Medvedev is a Russian word meaning “bear”) are prime candidates for involvement in creating the one world government. If US President Barrack Obama becomes “Supreme Leader” of a newly formed Central Asian Union then put him on the list as well. The fourth king rules over the final gentile world empire; he is the antichrist “the man of perdition”. The final gentile world empire arises after the Central Asian Union. The final gentile world empire reigns for only a short time.

Daniel 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Player: England (European Union), Tony Blair: The former Prime Minister of England is playing a major role for the European Union in the effort to form a one world government. Tony Blair isn’t officially a king but he is worthy of watching.

Player: England (European Union), Prince Charles of England: Prince Charles is highly favored among the one world government movement. He happens to be the head figure in all the Masonic Order, which unites the entire world. Perhaps one day soon he will even be made king?

Player: Russian Union, Dmitri A. Medvedev: Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev is a prime candidate for involvement in creating the one world government. Medvedev is a Russian word meaning “bear”.

Player: Russian Union, Vladimir Putin: Russian President Vladimir Putin is among the top world leaders. He certainly has great influence over the Russian bear.

Player: Central Asian Union, Pervez Musharraf: If you will remember that former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was served an arrest warrant for the 2007 Benazir Bhutto assassination. Miss Bhutto was a former two terms Prime Minister of Pakistan. The assassination happened two weeks before the election in which she was frontrunner. Musharraf fled Pakistan and was exile in London and Dubai. He was never tried. He is now back in Pakistan awaiting trial. Musharraf is the Pakistani front man for the formation of the Central Asian Union.

Player: Central Asian Union, Barack Obama: US President Barack Obama is spearheading an effort to form a confederacy of four nations: Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. Pakistani ex-President Pervez Musharraf gleefully expressed his desire to have US President Barrack Obama as their “Supreme Leader”. It is interesting to note that the Pakistani leadership is in the market for a “Supreme Leader”; considering this is a newly created position. Barrack Obama is slated to become the “Supreme Leader” of this Central Asian confederacy.

Player: New World Order, The Fourth King: The leader of the final gentile world empire will also participate in its creation. He may be its first leader, or he may be its eventual leader; namely the Antichrist. I think that the fourth king will represent a unified Middle East.

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Position: Egypt’s cruel lord. Near the time of the Tribulation Egypt will be led by a cruel leader. Egyptian will be set against Egyptian. He will be stubborn and not govern according to the people. Egypt’s cruel lord may have already come and gone. After him Egypt will receive a King (Isa 19:4).

Isaiah 19:4  And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

Player: Mohamed Morsi: Egyptian Presidential candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood, and former Egyptian President. Today Egyptian is fighting against Egyptian in protest. Morsi supporters are moving town to town targeting Coptic Christians and looting and burning Churches. I am afraid that we haven’t seen the last of the Muslim Brotherhood or of President Morsi in Egypt. Read my eBook “Syria in Bible Prophecy”. It also contains commentary about Egypt in Bible Prophecy.

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Position: Egypt’s fierce king: After Egypt’s cruel lord Egypt will be ruled by a fierce king (Isa 19:4). Egypt’s fierce king will lead them down a path of national economic ruin! He will disobey God and cause the Egyptian people to suffer greatly.

Player: Saudi Arabia royal family: The Saudi Arabian royal family is up to their elbows in post Muslim Brotherhood Egypt. Saudi Arabia is providing Egypt with financial support as well as giving guidance for government restructuring. Saudi Arabia wants to keep the Muslim Brotherhood out of power in Egypt. It may be that Egypt will receive its king from Saudi Arabia. By the way, I think that Egypt will eventually fall to Turkey’s military might!

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Position: Israel’s Idol Shepherd (Zechariah 11:16-17). This is not the Antichrist, but a rotten Israeli leader! The bible identifies Israel as having many idol shepherds but this is one particular end time ruler. He will give away the sovereignty and security of Israel for his own gain. For a complete study read my commentary titled “Woe to the Idol Shepherd” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.

Zec 11:16  For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.

Player: Possibly Israel’s next Prime Minister or President.

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Position: The Assyrian. The Assyrian is an end time invader similar to the ancient Assyrian Kings. The Assyrian invades Syria and then northern Israel, and sometime later invades Israel again! The Assyrian may also be the same person as the Antichrist and may also be the same person as Magog (see above).

Isaiah 10:6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Player: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan sees himself as the new Sultan of a revived Ottoman Empire. That is why he desires to conquer Syria. The Turkish government is encouraging the Turkish people to fly Ottoman Empire flags along with the Turkish flag. The “shopping center” that is planned to be built in Taksim Park in Istanbul is in the form of Ottoman-era military barracks.

I think that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will invade Syria and Israel just as the ancient Assyrian kings did. This is the closest that I have ever been to identifying the Antichrist. Read my commentary titled “The Assyrian is the Antichrist!” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”.

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Position: Antichrist The ruler of the final gentile world empire and tormentor of Israel.

Player: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan: I think that Erdogan will invade Syria decimating Damascus and then lead the forces that are fighting in Syria now in an invasion into Israel just as the ancient Assyrian kings did. He may then enforce a seven year Israel peace treaty with world leaders. Read my commentary titled “Erdogan is the Antichrist!” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”.

This is all leading to the trial of Israel and the entire world and ultimately to Jesus’ second coming. We get the word Revelation from the Greek word apokalupsis (ap-ok-al’-oop-sis). Apokalupsis or Apocalypse is translated as Revelation. It means to reveal or disclose. So the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ is when Jesus returns to earth in all his glory and in judgment. The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ will reveal God’s wrath and revelation of righteous judgment. May I present the Apocalypse players on the world stage now!

Chapter Six

Russia to Invade!?

Photo credit: Imperial Army General Staff building Dennis Jarvis www.flickr.com

Russia will conquer several countries along its western border!

By Craig C. White

Many bible prophecy students expect Russia to invade Israel. I don’t. Russia will invade another country; however this may not be the invasion that you expect!

Daniel chapter 7 describes four Unions that combine to form the final gentile world empire. A re-formed Russian Union is one of them.

Dan 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The nation that is obviously symbolized by a bear is Russia. For the last one hundred years prophecy scholars have identified the bear in Daniel 7 as Russia. I think the three ribs are yet to come. But let me alert you! We are already seeing signs of them! They are in (or among) the teeth like a bit. They exist together at the same time. They speak to the bear all at once. They are either Russian political or military leaders. I think they are telling the Russian bear to devour (or eat) territory. I think the Russian bear is raised up along its southwestern border to bring back under its authority (and ultimately into the fold of the revived Roman Empire) the following countries: Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan all north of the Caucasus Mountains; also Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova all west of the Ural Mountains. Most people will tell you that the Roman Empire didn’t extend into Russia, but some of the best scholars say that it reached as far as the western slopes of the Ural Mountains. In 2008 Russia tested its ability to take back the former Soviet territory of Georgia.

Russian Union Map: The nations that Russia is likely to conquer are the nations that were part of the ancient Roman Empire and also former Soviet Union territories but not part of the European Union or Middle East. Remember that the goal is to reconstitute the territories of the ancient Roman Empire.

Russia will conquer several countries along its western border. I think this could happen soon. I think that the destruction of Damascus, Syria by Turkey could be the catalyst. I think it will happen suddenly and be over quickly. Don’t be surprised. Before it happens please read my full commentary on Daniel chapter 7 titled “The Leopard is Upon Us!” in my eBook “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist”. This is one of my most important commentaries

Today Ukraine is in political turmoil. Russia will not be denied control over its largest western neighbor. Be on the lookout for three prominent Russian leaders to declare that Russia must control its western border in order to survive changing regional powers.

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March 2014 Update:

Folks seem to be stirred up over the possibility of a Russian takeover of Ukraine. The other possibility is a European takeover of Ukraine. Add to the instability in Ukraine another close neighbor and ally to Russia. Syria is about to fall to Islamist factions. Justifiably Russia is feeling nervous about its western border. I would like to point out that Ukraine has been aligned with Russia up to now. Russia has several major oil pipelines that run through Ukraine to Europe. I am certain that Russia will not relinquish control of Ukraine to western powers.

Will the US get involved in Ukraine? I don’t think so. First of all it would be difficult to defend Ukraine against Russia from afar; and defend it for whom? Second consider this. The US has supported the Islamist rebels in Syria. Russia has supported Syrian President Assad and has threatened the US against involvement in Syria. The region is being divided into an Islamist Middle East, Russian states, and Central Asian states. The US may concede Ukraine to Russia in exchange for more latitude in Syria. That being said we may now expect a more aggressive offensive in Syria. In bible prophecy terms that may mean the soon destruction of Damascus.

Ukraine is a prior Soviet bloc nation and the largest country on Russia’s western border. There is a political battle going on in Ukraine. Half of its citizens want to align the country with the European Union and the other half want to align with Russia. Pro-EU protestors have taken to the streets in violence after Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych signed an economic agreement with Russia. Lately protestors have taken over the Presidential office and residence in Kiev sending President Yanukovych fleeing for safety. Now it seems that an unstable Ukraine is up for grabs to the European Union or to Russia. My bet is that Russia wants Ukraine much more and that Russia has the power to get their way.

Does the bible say anything about the fate of Ukraine? Well not by name but I think that it does spell out the formation of an end time Russian Union including its neighbors along its western border.

Be on the lookout for three Russian leaders to proclaim that Russia must now aggressively defend itself by conquering several nations along its western border.

Chapter Seven

End Time Inventory

Photo credit: KAM workshops www.flickr.com

By Craig C. White

There has never before been a time when the end time agenda has been so clearly laid out in front of us, or a time when these events were so eminent. Don’t be left in the dark. Pre-Rapture and pre-Tribulation events are identifiable now. Here is a list of end time events that are happening now or that are clearly on the horizon. They are all part of the fabric of end time prophecy. Jesus Christ will soon come for his Church. Satan will wreak havoc on earth. The terrible “Day of the Lord” will come. Israel will suffer a terrible trial and the world will suffer God’s wrath.

Let’s make this easy. Prophetic events prior to the Rapture of the Church and prior to the 7 year Tribulation period revolve around the creation of the final gentile world government or “New World Order”. The march toward the formation of the New World Order makes way for the Antichrist to become its king. Jesus Christ will destroy this world empire at his second coming. The first cog in the NWO wheel is the European Union. It is already prepared to join the Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia to form the final man ruled world empire. Today world leaders are working to create a unified Middle East largely controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood. A united Middle East will more readily become part of their New World Order. The rebellions in the Middle East led by the Muslim Brotherhood are facilitating this unification. Psalm 2 and Acts chapter 2 ask the question “why do the heathen (or nations) rage?” The nations are raging today. This is bible prophecy being fulfilled now! In biblical terms a united Middle East is one quarter of the final gentile world empire (Dan 2:41-42). The final gentile world empire will be on earth during the 7 year “Tribulation” period. It will eventually be ruled by the Antichrist (Dan 7:8). Jesus Christ will destroy it at his coming (Dan 2:34)! When you think of the one world government or New World Order, don’t think that it will include the entire earth. It won’t. The final gentile world empire according to bible prophecy will only include the geographic area of the ancient Roman Empire. That is, from Europe to India, and from western Russia to Saudi Arabia. This is the area of the old Roman Empire. The Far West, Far East, South Africa, and outskirts may play a role in creating the New World Order, but they are only fringe players. Of course most of bible prophecy centers on the land of Israel.

Here is a list of end time bible prophecy being fulfilled now or forming before our eyes.

1. The heathen are raging! In the Middle East, Northern Egypt, and Central Asia the nations are exercising their “days of rage”. This is the prophecy of Psalm 2 and Acts chapter 2 being fulfilled now! The rage is an effort to unify the region under a radical Islamist banner. This will prepare the region to take its place in the final gentile world empire. The ultimate goal is the destruction of Israel and a removal of any subjection to the God of Israel.

Psalm 2:1-3 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,  3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

2. The destruction of Damascus Syria is eminent as prophesied in Isaiah 7 and Jeremiah 49. Like I said earlier this event is designed to bring a united Middle East under Muslim Brotherhood authority and then into the final gentile world empire. I think that God will send the Turkish army into Syria to destroy Damascus which is Syria’s Governmental seat. Jeremiah teaches that Damascus will turn to flee. Many Syrians have already fled. NOW, we will see a MASSIVE fleeing of Syrians out of the city of Damascus. Then Damascus will be destroyed. Please notice that many end time bible prophecies are being fulfilled rapidly. For a full exploration of Syria in the end time read my eBook “Syria in Bible Prophecy”.

Jeremiah 49:24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.

3. The battle of Gog and Magog may happen soon after the destruction of Damascus! Soon after the destruction of Damascus by Turkey, I think that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will lead a Middle Eastern invasion into Israel! PM Erdogan is a modern day fulfillment of Magog, the primary governor of Turkey. Turkey will be joined by Iran, Libya, and Sudan (Cush). Using the forces of nature and confusion, God will make the invading armies very uncomfortable. End Time bible prophecy is being fulfilled now.

Eze 38:4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

Read my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon” for a thorough verse by verse study of Ezekiel 38.

4. Egypt is divided. Egyptian is fighting against Egyptian. Muslim Brotherhood supporters are terrorizing non-Islamists especially the Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Isaiah 19:2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

5. Egypt may receive its fierce king. Isaiah 19:4 tells us that in the last days Egypt will be ruled by a cruel lord; and a fierce king. These positions may be filled by two separate people.

Isaiah 19:4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

Ousted Egyptian President Morsi seems to fit Isaiah’s description of Egypt’s cruel lord. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was Egypt’s first Islamist president. He is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Morsi believes in establishing an Islamic state in Egypt. He tried to give himself complete authority in the nation of Egypt. The cruel lord mentioned in verse 4 above could describe ousted Egyptian President Morsi in that he was obstinate, stiff necked, and stubborn. He legislated a stern Islamist agenda without compromise which got him ejected. Morsi may fit Isaiah’s description of Egypt’s cruel lord, but he may not fit the description of the fierce king. Below are the Strong's Hebrew Bible Dictionary definitions of cruel lord and fierce king.

cruel: qasheh, kaw-sheh'

severe (in various applications): - churlish, cruel, grievous, hard ([-hearted], thing), heavy, + impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough (-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff ([-necked]), stubborn, + in trouble.

lord: adon adon, aw-done', aw-done'

From an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, that is, controller (human or divine): - lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with “Adoni-”.

fierce: az, az

strong, vehement, harsh: - fierce, + greedy, mighty, power, roughly, strong.

king: melek, meh'-lek

a king: - king, royal.

We should pay attention to the term fierce king. The word translated king in Isaiah 19:4 is a Hebrew word meaning royalty. President Morsi may not fit this description. It could be that we are about to see a King rule over Egypt! I would like to make an observation. Saudi Arabia’s royal family has been very active in Egypt’s reorganization. Perhaps Egypt’s fierce king will come from Saudi Arabia.

6. The Church is being driven out and killed in the old world including in Egypt, Northern Africa, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and even in Israel. I think that Revelation 2:10 may indicate that this is a ten year period of persecution for Christians. Persecution of Christians in Turkey, Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Asia has been on the rise since 2005.

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

7. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Turkmenistan are forming a Central Asian Confederacy (TAPI). This is another major end time prophetic event that is already underway. This new Central Asian Union will be one quarter of the final Gentile world empire! For a verse by verse study about the formation of this end time Union please read my commentary titled “The Leopard is Upon Us!” in my eBook “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist”. This is a subject that has been completely neglected by bible prophecy teachers.

Dan 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

8. Israel is coming close to accepting the formation of a Palestinian state in Israel and living under an international security agreement. Reports say that this round of negotiations will conclude in April 2014. I think that the security agreement may be in place before the Antichrist signs on.

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.

Chapter Eight

Revealing the Antichrist & False Prophet

By Craig C. White

We are in the midst of an end time scenario in every way possible. I think that 2Thesalonians 2:1-17 tells us that the revealing of the Antichrist is the sign of the Rapture. Read my commentary titled “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist” in my eBook of the same name. I also think that Ezekiel 39 tells us that the Antichrist will be a Turkish Prime Minister. Magog is also a Turkish Prime Minister. Read my commentary titled “Magog Made Easy” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”. I think that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is definitely Magog of Ezekiel chapter 38. He will invade Syria and then invade Israel soon. If he is the Antichrist he will be revealed with false wonders and a seven year international peace agreement concerning Israel. Erdogan may be the Antichrist or another Turkish Prime Minister may be the Antichrist and may also be Magog of Ezekiel chapter 39.

Now there is a serious threat to Erdogan’s power. Fethullah Gulen is an unconventional Muslim cleric who heads a wealthy religious/educational/business/political organization all about Muslim indoctrination and world supremacy. His Hizmet movement has been working subversively in Turkey for years to infiltrate police and politicians. It seems that now he is ready to spring his political trap on Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan.

On December 17th 2013 the Turkish police arrested several sons of Turkish government officials. They also raided several Turkish banks. Gulen is using police power to hold the Turkish government and financial institutions hostage! Gulen is my new prime suspect for fulfilling the role of the False Prophet!

Gullen shows the hallmarks of the end time Antichrist or perhaps more likely the False Prophet. He is bent on world domination and has been working very subtly for years to build his power base. He is also a leading Muslim cleric although he seems to have developed his own way of practicing Islam.

One way or another we are near to the time of the revealing of the Antichrist and the Rapture of the Church.

Chapter Nine

Revelation 13 – Image of the beast

The case of the haunted hologram!

Revelation 13

By Craig C. White

This is a commentary on Revelation chapter 13. I am explaining the entire chapter mostly just to tell you about the image of the beast described in Revelation 13:15. In this case the beast isn’t a scary animal; instead it is the next World Empire. The image is literally some sort of picture or statue that represents the next World Empire or perhaps looks like its leader. The world may have already had its first glimpse of the beast’s image. You may not agree with everything that I have to say; nevertheless I think you will find this enlightening. Allow me to state that I am not certain that I have all of the facts yet, but I do have a lot of them. OK now let’s all make certain that our socks are on tightly!

The Apostle John is writing this around 94 AD. He is having a vision about conditions on earth during the time of the seven year Tribulation period. It is a time of trouble for Israel and a time of God’s judgment against the nations of the world. A final man-ruled World Empire has formed on earth. John sees a beast rise up out of the sea. The sea represents the nations of the world.

Revelation 13:1a And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea,

In bible prophecy a beast represents a gentile body of government. Gentile simply means the nations. A gentile government is ruled by men and not by God. A beast could represent a nation, or union of nations, or in this case an empire. As we will see latter a beast can also represent the governmental body of a world religion. A beast is a large governmental body. When that government is ruled by one man; a beast can also refer to that certain man.

The Apostle John sees a beast with seven heads. Many bible scholars agree that these seven heads represent the seven world empires that have formed on earth throughout its history. These world empires are in order; the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Mede-Persian, Grecian, Roman, and the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Now there is a lot of debate about the last one. Most scholars say that the last head represents the final world empire still yet to come. Almost everybody says that the final head represents a revived Roman Empire in the future. I have said that myself, but always with reservation. I think that the seventh head could possibly represent the Ottoman Turkish Empire. It could in fact also represent a revived Ottoman Turkish Empire of the future. Suffice it to say that the seventh head most certainly represents an end time (Tribulation period) World Empire.

Revelation 13:1b having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Horns commonly represent kings in bible prophecy. The ten horns are ten kings that rule over the final World Empire. This is explained in Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12. Every World Empire or kingdom has been ruled by men in rebellion towards God. Before any of these World Empires existed, God scattered men from forming a man ruled World Government at the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9). Ever since then men have sought to undo God’s work there. Satan has always been the driving force behind the formation of World Empires. He wants to be worshiped like the most High God (Isa 14:14); and to become king over the nations of the earth.

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

John sees a beast whose body parts are like a leopard and a bear and a lion. Daniel chapter 7 describes the formation of this multi animal beast (or World Empire). For now let me tell you that this strange beast is the in fact the final man-ruled World Empire that rules over the earth during the Tribulation period. It is the same World Empire that is represented by the seventh head in verse 1. This final World Empire is made of four smaller groups of nations or Unions. I think the leopard represents a Central Asian Union, the bear represents a Russian Union, and the lion represents England along with the European Union. These three Unions will unite with a Middle Eastern Union to form the next World Empire. Please read my outstanding commentary on Daniel chapter 7 titled “The Leopard is Upon Us!” in my eBook “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist”. Now I want to continue so I can tell you about the image of the beast described in verse 15.

Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

There is a lot of debate concerning verse 3 above. Many folks say that the king of the final World Empire will receive a bloody wound (or booboo) in his head. But I don’t think so. Please allow me to remind you that in this example the heads of the beast represent World Empires not kings. Kings are represented by horns. The empire is wounded not the king. I think that John is describing a revived World Empire. This could be a revived Ottoman Turkish Empire or a revived Roman Empire. In the verse above, the nations of the world are impressed with the next World Empire.

In the verse below, the word worship is a little misleading. The word translated as worship here describes an outward demonstration of homage. It literally describes a dog licking his master’s hand. So the world won’t necessarily reverence the next World Empire, but the world will show subservience to it. I can imagine that a World Empire including Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia would be seen as the greatest power amongst the world’s nations.

Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

It hasn’t been explained here but the next World Empire will ultimately be ruled by one man (Daniel 7:8). By the way, I think that man is Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. Read my book “Halfway to Armageddon”. Satan is behind this World Empire. He will give its ruler the ability to say bad things about God. Perhaps this ruler will give persuasive speeches. He will rule the next World Empire for 42 months. During this three and a half year period he will oppress the nation of Israel (Dan 7:25). This is known as the Great Tribulation period (Mat 24:21).

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

The ruler of the next World Empire will speak against God, and against his dwelling place, and against everybody who lives with him in heaven. This may be a reference to Church age believers who have just been resurrected and taken into heaven at the Rapture. The whole world will be well aware of this event. Today most world leaders aren’t compelled to insult people in heaven. But then the folks in heaven will be an undeniable sign that God is about to judge the unbelieving world.

Revelation 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

In verse 7 below the saints refer to the nation of Israel. “To overcome them” means that he will kill the people of Israel. The ruler of the next World Empire will subdue and destroy much of the nation of Israel.

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

The ruler of the next World Empire will have influence and authority over the people groups of the world. This doesn’t necessarily mean that he will rule the entire world. The “nations” in verse 7 above refers to the original families that settled the old world after Noah’s flood. These are the nations around Israel. The next World Empire will cover the same geographic area that every ancient World Empire covered.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Read verse 8 carefully. It doesn’t say that every person on earth will worship the ruler of the next World Empire. Instead it says that every non-Christian will worship the ruler of the next World Empire. The word translated as worship is the same word used in verse 4. It describes an outward demonstration of homage.

Revelation 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Let me explain the verse above. This is a warning to every person and nation that either takes the people of Israel captive or kills any Jewish person during the Great Tribulation period. Jesus Christ will return and treat Israel’s enemies in the same way that they have treated the people of Israel. He will kill them and send them to hell. Israel will survive as they remember God’s faithfulness towards them. Please read my commentary titled “Jerusalem’s Great Tribulation”.

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Hey I see different animal! By now you should know what a beast represents. A beast represents a large governmental body. It could be a nation, or union of nations, or an empire. It could also be a world religion. I think that is the case here. You should also know that horns represent kings. So this world religion has two rulers. Jesus Christ is called the Lamb in Revelation 13:8 above. The lamb indicates that this world religion looks like the Christian Church. The dragon indicates that it is empowered by Satan and that it preaches against God. The dragon also represents the seven headed beast referenced in Revelation 13:1. This dragon represents every world empire throughout history. Satan is the power behind every world empire. He wants to subject men and to be worshiped as king of this world.

So a false World Religion will arise alongside of the next World Empire. This has been the case during every ancient World Empire. This false religion is less about worshiping God but more about denying God and also about bringing people under subjection to the World Empire.

Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

We are still talking about the new animal or false religion. Remember it has two leaders (or horns). This false religion also has authority over the next World Empire. The false religion will cause people to show outward submission to the World Empire. The bible often uses the terminology of “those who dwell on the earth” to refer to unbelievers or unbelieving nations. Revelation 13:12 probably refers to the non-Christian nations around Israel.

Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

It seems that the two leaders of the false religion will produce miraculous signs to prove their authority. They will make fire come from the sky to the ground in front of witnesses. I think that this refers to some sort of ceremonial action. The two leaders of the false religion will produce this sign during a religious service.

Most folks see the false prophet represented in this verse. That seems likely. He may be the main culprit here but I would like to remind you that the false religion has two leaders (Revelation 13:11).

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

I am going out on a limb here but I suspect one person who is now on the world scene as the prime candidate for being the false prophet. He is a prominent Muslim cleric named Fethullah Gulen. He wants to rule the world and is challenging Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan for control in Turkey. Please read my commentary titled “Revealing the Antichrist & False Prophet”.

In the verse below the false religion (or false prophet) causes the non-Christian nations around Israel to stray from the truth of the God of Israel. He instructs them to make a likeness of the revived World Empire or perhaps more specifically of its ruler. An image is simply a representation of something, like a picture or statue. In this case it is some sort of idol to be worshiped. Its purpose is for the worship of the World Empire, or of its ruler as God. Here is the definition of the Greek word translated as image in verse 14 from the Strong Hebrew-Greek dictionary.

Image, eikon, i-kone’

a likeness, that is, (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance: – image.

Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

I am going to assume that this image is in the likeness of the ruler of the next world Empire. That would mean that this image is probably a picture or statue of a man. In verse 15 below we are told that this image can speak. So perhaps it would be more accurate to assume that this image is a moving picture or perhaps even something like a moving hologram with broadcasted sound! It seems to me that that would fulfill the parameters of a speaking representation of a man. If only something like that existed today. Guess what it does. Not only does a speaking hologram of a man exist, but a ten foot tall holographic image of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan was employed recently to give an awe-inspiring speech to a stadium full of his supporters. In case you don’t already know, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has ambitions to be the new Sultan of a revived Turkish Ottoman Empire. I think that Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39 indicates that a Turkish Prime Minister will lead two multinational invasions into Israel during the end time. Ezekiel chapter 39 describes the same invasion known as the battle of Armageddon. So I think that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is the prime suspect to become the ruler of the next World Empire. Please read my commentaries titled “Magog Made Easy!” and “Magog Made Easier!” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”.

Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

We are still talking about the false World Religion or the false prophet and their work with the image of the ruler of the next World Empire. Verse 15 indicates that any person who does not bow to this image will be killed on the spot. So if you don’t want to bow I suggest that you at least duck.

Revelation 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. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

It’s time for a quiz. What is the mark of the beast? I will give you a clue. A mark is simply some sort of identifying insignia. We are halfway done. Now it’s your turn. What is a beast? I am certain that you remember that a beast represents a large government like a nation or Empire. In this case the mark of the beast is an identifying emblem of the next World Empire. In verse 16 above the Greek word translated “in” should probable rather be translated as “on”. So this mark is probably something that a person wears. I think that the mark of the beast is an inscription worn on the hand or forehead. It could possibly even be an Islamic armband or headband that is already popular with every Islamist group from Libya to Afghanistan. By the way, I think that this mark is imposed upon the folks who live within the next World Empire and not the entire world. Please allow me to suggest that this mark may even primarily be imposed upon the citizens of Israel. Let’s remember that this chapter was given to the Apostle John and largely concerns Israel during their time of Great Tribulation. For more about the “mark of the beast” please read my commentary titled “6 6 6 no microchip needed” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.

We studied an entire chapter just so I could tell you about a talking hologram. The image of the beast is just a representation of a man. It is a symbol of the next World Empire or probably more specifically of its ruler. It will speak. It will probably even shoot lasers out of its eyes! Well it might not really shoot lasers. I made up that part on my own.

Chapter Ten

Bible Prophecy 2014-2015 Timeline

By Craig C. White

In an attempt to organize upcoming prophetic events I have created the Bible Prophecy 2014-2015 Timeline. The accuracy of this timeline is not definite. However we can be certain of a few things.

First the destruction of Damascus, Syria is forming now! How long will the siege of Damascus last? I don’t know. Jeremiah 49 seems to describe a prolonged siege with mass casualties. I think that Jeremiah tells us that Damascus will not surrender until the last man is dead. For a blow by blow description of the coming invasion of Syria please read my commentary titled “The Nations are Disquieted over Syria” in my eBook “Syria in Bible Prophecy”.

Second we can highly expect that the Turkish led invasion into Israel will happen after the destruction of Damascus. This invasion is known as the battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel chapter 38. Every nation that is involved in the battle of Gog and Magog is presently fighting in Syria. I don’t think that it will be very long after Damascus is destroyed that these armies will turn south a few miles to invade Israel.

It is my interpretation that Daniel 7:5 tells us about the formation of a Russian Union. I only suspect that the fall of Syria to Turkey and to the Muslim Brotherhood will prompt Russia to conquer several nations on its western border. The formation of this Russian Union may partially be a military campaign but Russia may also add countries to its Union through diplomacy. The creation of the Central Asian Union will probably happen after the formation of the Russian Union since that is the order that they are presented in Daniel chapter 7. The formation of the Central Asian Union may not happen in 2014 or 2015. For an explanation of the formations of these end time Unions please read my commentary titled “The Leopard is Upon Us!” in my eBook “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist”.

One thing that we can be more certain about is the dates of the lunar and solar eclipses in Jerusalem. As far as I know the bible doesn’t spell out specific events that happen on these dates, but it will certainly be interesting to watch. In the past these celestial signs marked significant events that happened during the same or following years, not necessarily events that happened on those specific days. I would keep an eye on March 20, 2015. That is the first day of the Hebrew calendar. One year after God appointed this day as the first of the year Moses set up the tabernacle. Perhaps Israel will begin a one year preparation to erect a temple and resume animal sacrifice?

I am sure that you are all aware that Egypt is in turmoil. The nation is operating under a temporary transitional government. Egypt’s fierce king could pop up at any time, or ousted President Morsi could reemerge, or both could happen. Recently Egypt’s interim government quit. This may create a power vacuum that allows Egypt’s fierce king to take control.

Please find the Bible Prophecy 2014-2015 Timeline below. You may also get a copy of the Bible Prophecy 2014-2015 Timeline on my website “High Time to Awake” at this web address: http://hightimetoawake.com/bible-prophecy-2014-2015-timeline/

Chapter Eleven

Obama is not the Antichrist!

Photo credit: Michael Verdi www.flickr.com

The Antichrist is a Prince

Daniel 7:8

By Craig C. White

US President Barack Obama is not the Antichrist, but he may play a role in end time prophecy. The Antichrist is not a president or primary leader. He is a secondary leader that will ultimately become the head of the final gentile world empire.

The Antichrist is actually a prince or governor. He will become king of the final gentile world empire; otherwise known as the “New World Order”. The New World Order is a world government that covers the territories of the ancient Roman Empire. A prince is also called a "little horn" in the bible. The Antichrist is called a “little horn” in Daniel 7:8.

Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Horns commonly represent kings in bible prophecy. The “little horn” is a secondary leader, for instance a prince, vice-president, or governor. The term “little horn” is applied to Antiochus Epiphanies in Daniel 8:9. “Antiochus Epiphanies” was the son of “Antiochus the Great” the king of the Seleucid dynasty (1/4 of the Grecian empire, headquartered in Syria). Antiochus Epiphanies was initially a prince in the Seleucid dynasty until he manipulated his way onto the throne. This “little horn” will evidently take away or usurp the authority of three of the first ten kings of the world empire. This “little horn” has a “mouth speaking great things”. He blasphemes God, “showing himself that he is God” (Daniel 11:36-37). This little horn is obviously the Antichrist (1 John 2:18). By the way, the Antichrist will do many of the same things that Antiochus Epiphanies did.

Jesus returns to the earth in fury at the end of the Great Tribulation. He dismantles the New World Order and tosses the Antichrist into the “lake of fire”. The Antichrist will be the first resident of the “lake of fire”, along with the “false prophet” (Rev 19:20).

I think that according to Daniel 7:4 a US leader will participate in the creation of the final gentile world empire or “New World Order” but only as an adjunct member. This US leader may be President Barack Obama, or perhaps Mr. Obama will play a different role. It may be that Barack Obama will be one of four primary “Kings” that create the “New World Order” but not as US President!

U.S. President Barack Obama is pushing to create a confederacy of United Central Asian nations! This may be the leopard described in Daniel 7.

Dan 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

Current world events regarding this verse compelled me to write my commentary titled “The Leopard is Upon Us!” I believe that the leopard is indeed upon us. According to my interpretation, the beasts in Daniel 7 are nations or more accurately Unions. Currently no nations are clearly symbolized by the leopard. However, a new world entity is about to be created that could be symbolized by the leopard. US President Barack Obama is spearheading an effort to form a confederacy of four nations: Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan (please note that the leopard has four heads). I think that the four wings represent four secondary members of this Union. I would include Iran and Iraq among them. There are several reasons for doing this, not the least of which is that Turkmenistan wants to build the world’s largest natural gas pipeline to the Arabian Sea. The beginnings of this confederacy already exist. It is called TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India). This confederacy centers on The Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline. Leopards are common throughout this region. These nations identify with leopards. They have named mountain ranges and former leaders after them.

If you will remember that former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was served an arrest warrant for the Benazir Bhutto assassination. Musharraf fled Pakistan and was exile in London and Dubai. He was never tried. He is now back in Pakistan awaiting trial. Well former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has gleefully expressed his desire to have US President Barrack Obama as their “Supreme Leader”. It is interesting to note that the Pakistani leadership is in the market for a Supreme Leader; considering this is a newly created position. Keep a look out to see if this Central Asian Union is clearly and openly represented by a leopard. The formation of this “leopard” would be a confirmation of this interpretation, and a present time fulfillment of God’s sure word. It would also be a major milestone in the end time timeline. We should be awake and watch.

US President Barack Obama may not be the Antichrist but he is certainly dedicated to creating the final gentile world empire or “New World Order”. I would say that it is his highest priority. He has sent US troops to Afghanistan to attempt to stabilize the region for the creation of the Central Asian Union. Mr. Obama is working incessantly to give the Muslim Brotherhood control all over the Middle East. US President Barack Obama has demonstrated his obvious support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt by sending them F-16s and 200 Abrams tanks. The US is supporting the Muslim Brotherhood backed rebels in Syria, and also acted swiftly to overthrow the Libyan government. Remember that a unified Middle East is another cog in the New World Order. Barack Obama will participate in creating the New World Order but it may not be as US President. Mr. Obama may be reassigned to Pakistan to play the role of the Leopard King!

Chapter Twelve

Is the Antichrist alive today?

By Craig C. White

Is the Antichrist alive today? Definitely YES! I think that the bible tells us that the Antichrist will be revealed before the Rapture of the Church. I base my view on 2Thesalonians 2:1-17. For a verse by verse study read my commentary titled “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist” in my eBook of the same title. The Antichrist is only a man influenced by Satan. He will become the ruler of the final man centered world empire. When I say World Empire I mean an empire that covers the same geographic area of every other past World Empire, namely the geographic area of Europe, the Middle-east, Northern Africa, South Western Russia, and east to India. This does not include the Far West or the Far East. Let me add that the US and possibly others will participate, and are participating in its formation and will certainly be effected by the New World Order.

So the Antichrist will be revealed before the Rapture of the Church. I think that the Antichrist is alive and thriving today. I think that he is about to do something astounding that indicates that he is the future persecutor of Israel. I think that the Antichrist is Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. If he is not the Antichrist then he is at least his forerunner. Please read my commentary titled “Erdogan is the Antichrist” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”.

I think that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will shortly invade Syria, decimating Damascus (Isaiah 17, Jeremiah 49) and then lead Iran, Sudan, and Libya (they are all fighting in Syria today) in an invasion into Israel (Ezekiel 38). These are two things that the ancient Assyrian Kings did. In bible prophecy “the Assyrian” is a type of the Antichrist. Please read my commentary titled “The Assyrian is the Antichrist!” in my eBook “Halfway to Armageddon”. The destruction of Damascus and invasion of Israel are two events that will be very hard not to notice! But I am afraid that Christians are not watching closely. Are you watching Syria? Do you know that Al-Qaeda from Libya is flooding into Syria? Do you know that the Turkish Army is mounting an attack from Syria’s northwestern border? Do you know that the bible tells us about all of this?

Turkey will invade Syria and then Israel!

Chapter Thirteen

Solar and lunar eclipses fall on Jewish holy days

Photo credit: Blood Moon by Guian Bolisay www.flickr.com

“Blood moons” have marked significant events in Israel’s history.

By Craig C. White

In Joel 2:31 we are told that there will be signs in the sun and the moon before Jesus Christ’s second coming.

Joel 2:30-32 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Notice that these verses directly relate to the nation of Israel. The sun will be darkened and the moon will become blood red. These signs will indicate the approaching judgment of God on Israel’s enemies. These signs will likely be most visible in Jerusalem. Verse 32 above indicates that Jews will be rescued on Mt. Zion. Mt. Zion is the hill just south of the temple mount in Jerusalem. There will be a small group of Jews on Mount Zion who will survive the Tribulation. For their story please read my commentary titled “The Last Jews in Jerusalem” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”).

Below, Revelation 6:12 is quoting Joel 2:31.

Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

It is important to note that according to these verses these signs do not foretell the approach of the Tribulation period. Instead these verses most certainly pertain to the end of the seven year Tribulation period. They foretell the day of Jesus Christ’s vengeance and wrath on Israel’s enemies. Before Jesus returns in power and vengeance against Israel’s enemies the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood. These signs will be visible to the Jews bunkered on Mount Zion. Before Jesus returns to vanquish Israel’s enemies and to save the surviving Jews in Jerusalem there will be signs in the heavens and in the earth.

In the verse below, Jesus confirms that these signs occur near the end of the Tribulation period.

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

There will also be signs in the heavens in Jerusalem beginning on Passover in April 2014. For the following two years solar and lunar eclipses will occur on several Jewish holy days. These eclipses may have some significance since so many fall on Jewish holy days but some of these eclipses will only be partially visible from Jerusalem. These events are rare and certainly notable but they should not be equated with the events described in Joel. They do not mark the eminent second coming of Jesus Christ in fury to rescue Israel and rule on earth forever, but they could mark some other profound event like the dividing of Israel to form a Palestinian state or the loss of east Jerusalem. Perhaps these signs could prophesy the rebuilding of a temple in Jerusalem and the renewal of temple sacrifice. They may also predict the near coming of Jesus Christ for his Church, as well as forecast the terrible time of God’s judgment for Israel and also judgment for all of the earth known as the Tribulation period.

The cycle of the moon marks the Hebrew calendar as well as marks God’s holy days of meeting with Israel (Leviticus 23). There is a Hebrew theory that says that signs in the moon pertain to the nation of Israel, and that signs in the sun are almost certainly warnings against the gentile nations. Solar and Lunar eclipses fall on several Jewish holy days in 2014-2015. These events occur spanning two years on the Hebrew calendar; the years 5774 and 5775. The year 5775 is also a Sabbatical year (Leviticus 25) on the Hebrew calendar which ends a seven year cycle. The seventh year will begin at sunset on March 19, 2015 with a total solar eclipse. Perhaps the end of this seventh year in 2016 will mark the beginning of the next seven years of God’s wrath on earth.

Here are the dates of the upcoming solar and lunar eclipses.

April 15, 2014 – Passover – Total lunar eclipse (blood moon): What happened on this day? God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12). Passover lasts seven or eight days. Passover is the first of God’s appointed holy days of the year.

October 8, 2014 – Feast of Tabernacles (also called Sukkot) – Total lunar eclipse (blood moon): What happened on this day? Sukkot commemorates Israel’s 40 years long pilgrimage from Egypt to Israel (Lev 23:34). Sukkot lasts seven or eight days.

March 20, 2015 – First day of the Hebrew calendar year (Exo.12:1-2) – Total solar eclipse: What happened on this day? One year after God appointed this day as the first of the year Moses set up the tabernacle. The Shekinah glory of God fell upon the tabernacle on this day (Exodus 40:2, 17, 34).

April 4, 2015 – Passover – Total lunar eclipse (blood moon): What happened on this day? God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12). Passover lasts seven or eight days. Passover is the first of God’s appointed holy days of the year.

September 13, 2015 – Rosh Hashanah, Feast of Trumpets – Partial solar eclipse: What happened on this day? Rosh Hashanah is a solemn day that marks the beginning of Israel’s high holy days (Leviticus 23:23-25). The high holy days encompass a ten day period of repentance which concludes with Yom Kippur (also called the Day of Atonement). Rosh Hashanah is celebrated by the blowing of the ram’s horn. In Hebrew this horn is called the shofar. Rosh Hashanah is the start of the Hebrew civil year.

September 28, 2015 – Feast of Tabernacles (also called Sukkot) – Total lunar eclipse (blood moon): What happened on this day? Sukkot commemorates Israel’s 40 years long pilgrimage from Egypt to Israel (Lev 23:34). Sukkot lasts seven or eight days.

What do these signs mean? Are they significant? I think so. This many eclipses falling on Israel’s God appointed holy days is very rare. In the past they have marked incredibly significant events in Israel’s history. Namely Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948, and the recapture of east Jerusalem and the temple mound in the six day war of 1967. Do the eclipses of 2014-2015 mark Christ’s second coming to rescue Israel? No. Could they mark other prophetic events regarding Israel and the gentile nations? Yes. Here are just a few that come to mind.

1. Peace agreement or “Two state solution” imposed on Israel (1Thessalonians 5:3).

2. Plan to rebuild Temple in Jerusalem (Rev 11:1).

3. Israel receives her “idol shepherd” (Zechariah 11:16-17).

4. The destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17, Jeremiah 49).

5. Turkish led invasion into Israel described in Ezekiel 38.

6. The revealing of the Antichrist on earth (2Thessalonians 1-3).

7. Christ’s return in the air for the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

8. The beginning of seven years of God’s judgment on all the earth (Isaiah 28:22).

God ordained Israel’s holy days to commemorate Israel’s history and relationship with God. God also ordained Israel’s holy days to foretell things that will come to pass in the future. The verses below were written to Jewish and gentile Christians in the early Church.

Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

God’s appointed holy days foretell the major events of the future. The major events of the future have eternal weight. These major events are; God’s rebuke of Israel (Dan.12:10), Jesus Christ’s judgment of the unbelieving world, Jesus Christ’s rescue and restoration of the nation of Israel, and Jesus Christ’s everlasting kingdom on earth.

The Church is suffering at the hands of the world today but it will escape God’s judgment on earth and enjoy Christ forever. The following verses were also written to the Church. Please notice that the day of the Lord comes upon the world unexpectedly. I think that the entire seven year Tribulation period can be characterized as the day of the Lord or as the day of the Lord’s wrath on earth. It comes unexpectedly upon those who are in the dark, but those who are awake and are in the daylight can see it coming! If you are walking in the daylight of belief in Jesus Christ and in the understanding of his word, then you will see the time of God’s wrath on earth coming; and you will also be rescued from it!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Don’t be in the dark. Consider the many end time events that are unfolding right now; namely the nearing of the destruction of Damascus, and the conflict amongst Egyptians. Notice that the heathen are raging in the Middle East and Africa and Asia. Also recognize the armies of Ezekiel 38:5 gathered in Syria. Hear the cry of “peace peace” in Israel, and more. These rare celestial events in Jerusalem are bound to be signs that usher in a new era for Israel and for the entire world.

God told us these things in advance so that we would believe in him and in his son that he sent to us. Will you be saved from the coming day of the Lord? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (Act 16:31).

Chapter Fourteen

The Church should not look for

the beginning of sorrows.

Photo credit: Melissa Roy www.flickr.com

The revealing of the Antichrist is the sign of the Rapture.

Matthew 24

By Craig C. White

Many bible teachers say that there will be earthquakes and wars before Jesus Christ returns for his Church. They say that these signs are the beginning of sorrows mentioned in Matthew 24:8. Well hold on just a minute. Are these signs meant for the Church or do these signs precede Israel’s terrible time of trouble?

In Matthew 24 Jesus is asked the question “what shall be the sign of thy coming?” Which coming is he describing? Is he describing his coming to gather church age believers, or is he describing the period before he comes to rescue the nation of Israel and set up his throne in Jerusalem?

Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

First it is important to understand who Jesus is talking to. He is talking to his disciples. It is important to note that they are all Jewish. They are all looking forward to God establishing his kingdom on earth. It is also important to note when the message was given. It was given by Jesus before his death, and before the gospel was preached to the gentile nations. This message was given before the Church was established.

Then it is important to carefully examine the message itself. Are there clues to which group of people Jesus is prophesying about and what time period he is addressing? Yes, there are very clear indications that Jesus is prophesying about the trails of the Jewish people during the Tribulation period. So Matthew 24 should not be used to illustrate the signs of the rapture of the Church. Also Matthew 24 should not be used to prove that the church will participate in the Tribulation period.

The Gospels are very important since they record Jesus Christ’s genealogy, standards of righteousness, forgiveness of sin, miracles, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and Christ’s death as payment for the worlds’ sin. The message of the four gospels is to be understood by church age believers. We should also understand that most of Jesus’ teaching, parables, and prophecy are specifically directed towards the nation of Israel. Jesus was sent especially to seek and to save the lost sheep of Israel.

Mat 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

It is sometimes difficult to know who is being addressed in the New Testament. Is Jesus talking about the nation of Israel or is he talking about the Church? A rule of thumb is that Jesus was sent to the Jews first and primarily. The gospel of the coming kingdom of God was preached first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Jesus primarily taught the nation of Israel. The four gospels were written about Jesus’ life and ministry. They primarily address the nation of Israel. Of course, there is plenty of teaching to be absorbed by church age believers. The disciples taught the Jews first and then the other nations. The Gospels typically address Israel. The epistles to the churches were written specifically to church age believers!

Act 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Let’s take a quick look at Matthew 24. I know that preachers and prophecy buffs like to identify natural disasters as signs of Jesus’ return for his Church, but these signs were written about the nation of Israel during the seven year Tribulation period. The beginning of sorrows are signs that Israel is about to suffer great tribulation.

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

So who is Jesus talking about? We will see that “the beginning of sorrows” in verse 8 are not signs that church age believers should be on the lookout for. Instead, they are events that will happen during the first half of the Tribulation period. Jesus is talking to and about the nation of Israel here. In verse 9 below Jesus tells his Jewish disciples that “ye shall be hated of all nations”. The word translated “nations” is the Greek word “ethnos”. It is often translated as “gentile”. Ethnos refers to non-Jewish nations. It doesn’t refer to all countries in the world. It refers to all families or people groups. In practical terms it refers to old world nations that came from specific families; like the Greeks, Turks, Egyptians, Syrians, Iranians, Saudis, Jordanians, and many more. So in verse 9 Jesus isn’t saying that church members will be hated, but that the entire nation of Israel will be hated by all surrounding countries.

Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

So after Israel sees the beginning of sorrows then they will be persecuted by surrounded nations.

In the verses below Jesus isn’t addressing the Church, but he is warning Jews during the 7 year Tribulation period. Many Jews will disregard God and his promises to Israel. Many Jews will be killed. But those Jews who trust God until the end of the Tribulation period will be saved both physically and spiritually. Please read my commentary titled “The Last Jews in Jerusalem” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

In Matthew 24:14 below we can see that Jesus is talking about the Tribulation period. The Tribulation period is a seven year span designated for God to show his displeasure for Israel’s rejection of him. In Matthew 24:14 the gospel is preached in all the world. This happens during the Tribulation period as described in Revelation. So we can see that Jesus is addressing people that live during the Tribulation period.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Matthew 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.

So after Israel sees the beginning of sorrows then they will be persecuted by surrounded nations. Near the end of Israel’s persecution the gospel will be preached in the entire world.

The following verses are obviously addressed to Jews living around Jerusalem. The inhabitants of Judea (region around Jerusalem) are called by name in verse 16. So it is very clear that Jesus is describing the coming trials of the nation of Israel, and not the signs of the rapture of his church.

Matthew 24:15 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: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

If that isn’t enough evidence that Jesus is describing Israel’s Great Tribulation, then look at Matthew 24:21 below. This is the verse that we get the term “Great Tribulation” from. The “Great Tribulation” is the second half of Israel’s seven year tribulation period.

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Today the church is suffering at the hands of the nations, but the nation of Israel is scheduled to suffer 7 years of tribulation. In Matthew 24 Jesus is explaining the trials that Israel will suffer during the Tribulation period. The beginning of sorrows in Matthew 24:8 are the events of the first half of the seven year Tribulation. After the abomination of desolation in Mat 24:15 the worst part of the Tribulation begins (Dan 9:27). It is called “great tribulation” in Matthew 24:21. The second part of the Tribulation lasts 3 ½ years or 42 months or 1260 days (Dan 7:25, Dan 12:7, Rev 11:2-3, Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14, Rev 13:5).

The Tribulation Period is designated to exercise God’s indignation towards the nation of Israel, not for trying the Church. The 7 year Tribulation period is the same as the seventieth week prophesied by Daniel (Dan 9:24). It is a 7 year period of trouble for the nation of Israel, not a time for trying the Church. Jeremiah calls the Tribulation “the time of Jacob’s trouble” not the time of the Church’s trouble. The Tribulation period is for Israel’s chastisement.

Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Let’s look at the differences between the gathering of the Church and the gathering of Israel. In 1 Thessalonians below the dead in Christ are raised from the dead. Those “in Christ” are church age believers. They are “caught up” or taken by force up into the sky. The gathering of Jews will happen differently as we will see. Please read my commentary titled “The Rapture Day!” in my eBook “God’s Great Expectations”.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

In Matthew chapter 24 below God collects Jewish believers after the Tribulation period. Below, the elect are God’s chosen people (Deu 7:6). They are the people of Israel. The people of Israel will be raised from the dead at the end of the Tribulation. They won’t be taken into the sky. They will walk back to the land of Israel on foot.

Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Isaiah describes the same event.

Isa 11:11-12 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

God will make a roadway for the Hebrews to return to Israel. God will dry up the Red Sea, and the Euphrates, and Tigris Rivers to make roadways to cross over. In Isaiah 11:15-16 below Jesus dries up the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea (that is the tongue of the Egyptian sea)! He will also dry up the Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris rivers in order to make a way for the resurrected Hebrews to cross over them! Please read my commentary titled “Aliyah Israel Arise Return” in my eBook “The Last Jews in Jerusalem”.

Isa 11:15-16 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. 16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

We have looked at the signs of great tribulation and of Jesus’ coming to gather Israel. So what is the sign of Jesus’ coming to gather his Church? The people, who are gathered together in 2 Thessalonians below, are Church age believers. Paul is addressing the church in Greece which was comprised largely of Gentiles. Paul calls them brethren in Christ, so I think that he is describing the rapture of the Church in verse 1. I think that the “falling away” in verse 3 describes the falling of Satan from heaven. After Satan falls then the Antichrist is revealed on earth. So the falling of Satan and the revelation of the Antichrist must take place before the Rapture. I think that 2 Thessalonians 2 tells us that the revelation of the Antichrist on earth takes place before the Rapture and is therefore the sign of the Rapture. Please read my commentary titled “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist” in my book of the same title.

2Th 2:1-3 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 below Paul says that the church members in Thessalonica will be saved from the coming tribulation. The word “salvation” in verse 13 isn’t describing deliverance from sin, but physical rescue from God’s wrath on earth during the Tribulation.

2Th 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are two other verses that indicate that Church age believers will escape from the wrath of the Tribulation period. These people have already been saved from sin. Salvation here is the rescue from physical harm during the Tribulation on Earth.

Rom 5:7-10 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Again physical rescue or “salvation” comes to people who already believe! The Church is looking for the Antichrist to be revealed on earth not for earthquakes and wars. The beginning of sorrows are signs that Israel is about to suffer great tribulation.

Chapter Fifteen

When we are taken at the Rapture

Photo credit: Falling Skies by Antony Griffiths www.flickr.com

Meek seek haven in heaven

By Craig C. White

To receive our renewed bodies and to be with Jesus Christ and other believers in Heaven will be wonderful. Also, to escape the troubles and worries of this world will be great. However, I have figured something out.

First, the reason that the Church will be taken at the Rapture isn’t because our time has come, or because we are just so nice that God can’t wait to see us, but it is because a terrible time of trouble is coming upon Israel and also upon the entire world. We will be taken away in order to escape it.

The verse below is addressed first to Israel and then to all of the meek of the earth.

Zephaniah 2:3  Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

The main event is not the Rapture of the Church, but that Israel and the nations will be judged. Church age believers will be watching the events of the Tribulation on earth from heaven. The Tribulation is the main event.

Israel is at the center of God’s plan of redemption for all people. God chose Abraham to be his nation. God promised King David that his descendant would rule in Jerusalem forever. God promised that the Messiah would come from the Jews. To believe on him would mean everlasting life. We won’t live in heaven forever though. Christians will return to earth after the Tribulation. We will first help to care for many hurting Jews who have survived the Tribulation. We will then rule on earth with Jesus Christ forever. Didn’t you know that the meek shall inherit the earth?

Matthew 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Before the Tribulation begins, every person both Jew and gentile who believe in Jesus Christ will find shelter in heaven from God’s judgment on earth.

Chapter Sixteen

Jerusalem’s Great Tribulation

Photo credit: Streets of Old Jerusalem by Ian W. Scott www.flickr.com

Jesus Christ’s suffering satisfies God’s wrath.

Verse by verse through Lamentations

By Craig C. White

So it’s the end time; what happens now? There are many end time events but there is only one reason for them all. Soon there will be a terrible period of God’s judgment on the earth. The bible tells us about a seven year long period of tribulation. During this seven year period God will exercise his judgment on all of the earth but the Tribulation period was primarily designed to show God’s indignation towards Israel for their unbelief. The prophet Daniel told us about seventy, seven year periods of trouble for Israel (Dan 9:24). Israel has already suffered through all but one seven year period. Unfortunately the last period of tribulation will be the worst. Matthew 24 refers to the last half of the coming Tribulation period. He says that then there will be great tribulation.

Matthew 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Israel has already suffered through all but one seven year period of Tribulation. In the past each of these times of trouble has been identified by a few key events. One: The nation of Israel has been ruled over by a world empire. Two: The people of Israel have been taken away out of their country as slaves. Three: The remaining citizens left inside of the land of Israel have suffered horribly. Four: Temple worship in Jerusalem has been disrupted. Five: In the end the people of Israel have trusted their God. All of these things will happen again.

The seven year long Tribulation period is the main event of the end time. It is designated as a time of trouble for Israel but God will also judge the entire world. Believers will be taken away before the real trouble begins. Jesus Christ will return at the end to save Israel, but not before they suffer horribly and finally trust God. The prophet Jeremiah laments over all of Israel’s trouble throughout their history. He describes events that have already happened as well as many events that will happen again. Jeremiah weeps for every period of Israel’s trouble. Jeremiah weeps for Israel’s enslavement in Egypt as well as their captivity in Assyria. But most of all he weeps for Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC. It is interesting to note that Jeremiah never mentions the destruction of the temple. That is a clue that Lamentations also refers to a future time of trouble for Jerusalem. I think that a small group of Jews will survive the coming Tribulation period as they are bunkered inside of the next temple on Mt Zion. I think that the book of Lamentations looks forward to the future final tribulation of Jerusalem. The future time of trouble for Jerusalem will be a lot like the destruction it suffered at the hands of the Babylonians, only worse. Remember that the final and future time of trouble will be the worst of all.

Jeremiah 30:7  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

This is a verse by verse study through the book of Lamentations. The writing of the book of Lamentations is traditionally attributed to the Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied just before and during the time that the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem and ultimately destroyed the first temple in 586 BC. The English title for the book of Lamentations comes from the Greek word Threnos. Threnos means to lament or weep. The Hebrew name for Lamentations comes from the first word in the book, How or the Hebrew word Ekah. How doth the city sit solitary?

Great Tribulation

Lamentations is a long sad cry of sorrow for the condition that God has allowed Israel to fall into. I think that there are also a few surprises between its lines. Lamentations describes the past suffering of Israel as well as its coming time of trouble. The city described in Lamentations is of course Jerusalem.

Lamentations 1:1  How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!

Jerusalem is emptied of its citizens. The word tributary means tax. The city that was once a blessing has now become a burden.

Lamentations 1:2  She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

The verse above begins with the same Hebrew word repeated twice. In English we might say lament lament in the time of being corrupted. Among all of Jerusalem’s allies none are sympathetic to her plight. Her friends have acted secretly to rob her.

Lamentations 1:3  Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.

Jeremiah is saying that the inhabitants of Judah will be taken away as slaves to do hard labor. The Assyrian King Sennacherib invaded southern Israel (Judah) in 701 BC. He took captives away to today’s northern Iraq. Likewise the Babylonians took slaves from Jerusalem in the years leading up to the destruction of the temple in 586 BC. One of the Hebrew captives was the prophet Daniel. During the Tribulation period some Jews from Judah will escape to the mountainous desert of western Jordan. God has warned them to flee. Some Jews will remain in Judah.

Luke 21:20-21  And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.  21  Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

During the Tribulation those inhabitants of Judah who do not flee will be enslaved, killed, or suffer terribly.

Lamentations 1:4  The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

The ways of Zion refer to the streets of Jerusalem. They were once filled with pilgrims joyfully attending Israel’s holy celebrations. Now the streets of Jerusalem are empty.

Lamentations 1:5  Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

In the verse above the word adversaries is interesting. An adversary means an opponent (as crowding). Israel’s enemies will crowd her out of the city. Israel’s adversaries will be in charge in Jerusalem. They will live comfortably there. All of a sudden this “two state solution” doesn’t sound like such a good deal! The Jewish people have been taken away captive into foreign countries

Below, the daughter of Zion is the city of Jerusalem. Its rulers have become fugitives trying to evade hostile forces that hunt them.

Lamentations 1:6  And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

Jeremiah’s words here are so true to life. It is as if some person has already walked these streets. God has already walked the streets of Jerusalem and breathed its air. God has already seen these terrible times in his city. As we will see, much worse things are to come.

Lamentations 1:7  Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.

In the verse above the words enemy and adversaries are again the same Hebrew word. Jerusalem’s enemies are the ones that have crowded the Jewish people out of the city. The word sabbaths can also mean destruction. The people that have crowded the Jewish people out of Jerusalem laugh at their destruction.

Below, the Jewish people are exiled from Jerusalem. Many people that once found Jerusalem a marvelous place now find it repulsive. They have literally seen the Jewish people turned around showing their naked backsides. This reminds me of pictures that I have seen of Jewish holocaust victims.

Lamentations 1:8  Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.  9  Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

Above, this description is a bit graphic. It seems that things are getting worse verse by verse. Jerusalem is likened to a menstruating woman who is bleeding in her clothing. She cannot wash or change her clothing. She is unclean. She does not consider that God will again bring glory to the city. Nobody is sympathetic about her condition.

In the verse below, those that hate Israel have taken hold of every valuable thing in Jerusalem and divided the loot.

Lamentations 1:10  The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.

Above, Israel’s enemies have entered into the temple in Jerusalem even though God said that they should not be allowed to. During the future seven year Tribulation period there will be a temple in Jerusalem. Temple sacrifice will be discontinued in the middle of the seven years. Revelation tells us that Israel’s enemies will overrun the city for three and a half years.

Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months

Below, the Jewish people are starving. They have given away all of their remaining valuables in exchange for food.

Lamentations 1:11  All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

In the verse 12 below, the Jewish people ask if passersby can find any person who cares about their terrible condition. The implication is that not one person takes pity on them at all. Verse 13 describes God’s affliction of the Jewish people. He has brought them hunger and sorrow. He has set a trap for them and made them naked. He has made them weak, filthy, and sick.

Lamentations 1:12  Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.  13  From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

Below, God has placed a heavy burden upon the Jewish people because they have rebelled against him. Rebellion is a certain type of sin. It is more insidious than sexual immorality or murder or theft. Rebellion is refusing to humble oneself under the authority of the one true God. Rebellion is a refusal to trust God. This verse describes the citizens of Jerusalem’s trouble as a vine intertwined wrapped around the neck of its victim. It is choking them to death.

Lamentations 1:14  The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

In verse 15 below, the virgin, the daughter of Judah refers to the city of Jerusalem. God has sent Israel’s enemies to trample Jerusalem as if it were grapes in a wine vat.

Lamentations 1:15  The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

I have omitted several verses here. They require little commentary. Many of the same themes are repeated. You can read Lamentations in its entirety for yourself. However Lamentations has a lot more to say about the conditions in Israel during their coming tribulation. Following are a few more key verses.

Conditions in Jerusalem get much worse from here on. Below, Jeremiah cries over the destruction of Jerusalem (the daughter of my people). During Israel’s tribulation the little children and babies languish in the streets of Jerusalem. They ask their mothers for food. They faint as if they have been mortally wounded then die in their mothers arms.

Lamentations 2:11  Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.  12  They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers’ bosom.

Below, the Jewish leadership has led the people astray. They have made deals with their enemies. They have promised the people peace. They have told Israel that we must live together with our enemies. This leads to disaster. Be careful which prophets you listen to.

Lamentations 2:14  Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

Jeremiah tells us about the Israeli leadership during Israel’s time of trouble. They have promised peace but Israel will not have peace. These leaders are false prophets and idol shepherds. They have never shown remorse for any of their disobedience toward God.

Jeremiah 8:11-12  For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.  12  Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Below, Israel’s enemies scorn her saying we have long hoped for Israel’s destruction and we have finally seen it!

Lamentations 2:16  All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.

Below, the Jewish people tell each other to cry out to God. They tell each other, “Ask God to take pity on the starving children”.

Lamentations 2:19  Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.

***WARNING DISTURBING MATERIAL***

The coming Tribulation period will be the worst time of trouble that Israel has ever experienced especially in Jerusalem. It is difficult to convey the terrible conditions. Most of the men will be taken away as slaves or killed. In Jerusalem small children will starve to death in the streets. In the verses below Israel is asking God to consider who is receiving the worst of his punishment. The inhabitants of Jerusalem ask God, “Will you allow mothers to eat their own dead children in order to survive”. The implication is that this is actually happening.

Lamentations 2:20  Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

This sort of horror has happened in Israel before (2Ki 6:28-29). In the course of human life things don’t get any worse than this. Israel will suffer terribly. God warned Israel long ago that this would befall them if they rebelled against him.

Lev 26:27-29  And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;  28  Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.  29  And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

Deu 28:53  And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:.

On his way to the cross Jesus warned the women of Jerusalem that one day it would be a curse to be pregnant or to have an infant.

Luke 23:28-31  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.  29  For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.  30  Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.  31  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Below, the citizens of Jerusalem young and old lie dead in the streets. The young men and women are exterminated by Israel’s enemies. The children waste away from starvation.

Lamentations 2:21  The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.  22  Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD’S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.

Israel’s enemies have taken over Jerusalem. God has allowed this to happen. They are bringing great hardship to the Jewish people. They are causing the Hebrew children to die.

A Jewish man suffers and dies

Lamentations chapter 3 begins with the account of a suffering Jewish man. He has suffered God’s wrath through Israel’s terrible time of judgment. He has been despised by God and has suffered death. But here is the surprise. This man’s account of suffering and of God’s rejection is also describing Jesus Christ’s suffering and death on the cross! We should ask ourselves, “what is this doing here?”

Lamentations 3:1  I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

This is describing a particular man. He has suffered God’s punishment by the outburst of God’s passionate anger. God will punish the nation of Israel during their seven year long period of tribulation. The people of Israel have not trusted God’s word. He told them to drive out their enemies from the land. Instead they have said we must live together with our enemies. Likewise every person has the choice to trust God and his word. If we do not trust him then we will also suffer the punishment of God’s anger.

God’s anger is only satisfied by his punishment. No person can endure God’s punishment and live (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;). But God became a man in Jesus Christ to suffer God’s punishment for us so that we could live. What is the description of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death doing in the middle of Lamentations? Jesus Christ’s suffering satisfies God’s wrath. Jesus Christ’s death satisfies God’s anger for disobedience even for the terrible time of Israel’s tribulation. God can apply Christ’s suffering to our disobedience only when we trust him. When the nation of Israel repents at the end of the Tribulation period and believes God then the punishment of God’s anger will be satisfied by Jesus Christ’s suffering and death. Their chastisement will end.

Isaiah 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Lamentations 3:2  He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.  3  Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.  4  My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.

God brought Jesus to death and not life. God has turned against the man. God has caused every bad thing to happen to this man all day long. God has caused the man’s body and skin to be consumed and his bones to break.

These verses describe the suffering of a certain Jewish man during the Tribulation. Intertwined is also a depiction of Jesus Christ’s suffering. Jesus never suffered any broken bones on the cross fulfilling King David’s prophecy in Psalm 34:20 “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken”.

Lamentations 3:5  He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

Above, God has devised disastrous events to befall this man. Gall is a poisonous plant. Jesus was offered gall while he was on the cross to hasten his death and end his suffering. He refused it.

Matthew 27:34  They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

Lamentations 3:6  He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.  7  He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

Above, God has caused this man to die. He is in the darkness of the grave just like men that have been dead for ages. He cannot get out! He is imprisoned and shackled with a heavy metal chain.

Below, this man is shouting out from the prison of his grave to be freed, but God keeps the man’s request a buried secret. This is the suffering that Jesus Christ endured on behalf of all of us. This is the suffering that any man should expect to endure who has not trusted God.

Lamentations 3:8  Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.  9  He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

Above, this man is dead. God has blocked this man’s course of life. He cannot move. He is entombed with stone all around him. He cannot walk down the road where he wishes. Instead his path leads nowhere. He can only search out his own ruin. This is what it is like in the grave.

Lamentations 3:10  He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.  11  He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.

Above, God has pounced on this man like a ferocious wild beast lying in wait. He has torn his body apart. Jesus was beaten and whipped worse than any man (Mat 27:26-30). Isaiah predicted the beating that the Messiah would suffer.

Isaiah 52:14  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

The prophet Amos uses this same language to describe the day of the LORD which is the same as Israel’s Tribulation period. It is a time of God’s judgment for Israel as well as a time of judgment for the entire world. You want to escape this terrible time of trouble.

Amos 5:18-19  Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.  19  As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

Lamentations 3:12  He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.  13  He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.

Above, God has pulled back the string of his bow and taken aim at the man. God’s arrows have penetrated inside of the man’s body.

Lamentations 3:14  I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

Verse 14 above describes the animosity and insult that the Jewish people showed for Jesus as he was beaten, condemned to die, and nailed to a cross. Many of his own Jewish people cried out for his death and insulted him as he suffered.

Matthew 27:39-44  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,  40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.  41  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,  42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.  43  He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.  44  The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Lamentations 3:15  He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.  16  He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.  17  And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.

Above, this man is still speaking from the grave. He is filled with sorrow. It is as if he has drunk poison. To cover with ashes portrays a dead body lying in the street covered with gravel and ashes being trampled over by traffic. This man’s has forgotten God’s promise of eternal life.

Lamentations 3:18  And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:  19  Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.  20  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

Above, this man is considering his plight from his grave. His hope of life and knowing God is gone. From his grave he still remembers his suffering. His soul bows down. He surrenders to God’s chastisement.

The prophet Hosea illustrates the close connection between Israel’s terrible time of tribulation with the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Hosea 6:1-2  Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.  2  After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

It may be that just as Jesus Christ was raised from the grave on the third day; that when he returns to Israel at the end of the Tribulation period he will also revive the surviving Jewish people for two days and then raise up from the dead all believing Jews since Abraham on the third day.

Remembering God’s mercy

In the next verses; from his grave this man remembers something important about God’s character. If he relies on God’s mercy then he still has hope!

Lamentations 3:21  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.  25  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.  26  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Verse 22 above should probably read, “The LORD’S mercies never cease,” God’s pity towards us never ends because his tender love for us never ends. In verse 26 the word salvation pertains specifically to Jesus Christ’s own hope that God will raise him from the dead after his crucifixion. It also reflects the prayers of the people of Jerusalem that have suffered and even died through the Tribulation. It is a prayer of hope of restoration based on God’s love for them. At the height of their tribulation Israel has remembered that God will save them, and that they should wait patiently for him to rescue them. God told Israel to turn to him in time of tribulation.

Deu 4:30-31  When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;  31  (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Lamentations 3:27  It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.  28  He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.  29  He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.  30  He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.  31  For the Lord will not cast off for ever:  32  But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

I think that the verses above describe the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus was God. It was God’s will that Jesus was born a man and that as a young man he was submissive to his parents and others even when they disrespected him. As Jesus began his ministry it was God’s will that he submit himself to rejection and death. Although God caused Jesus to suffer grief, he would afterward show him mercy. Jesus is looking back at the indignation that he has suffered and is satisfied because he knows that his suffering will save many people from God’s wrath.

Isaiah 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Lamentations 3:33  For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.  34  To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,  35  To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,  36  To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

Above, it is not God’s will to grieve men. It is not God’s will to utterly punish all people who are in the grave. It is not God’s will to take the legal rights of a man away, or to deny him true justice in his case before God. God does not approve of these things.

Below, the man recounts God’s attributes. What man is there that can tell what will happen in the future? Only God knows the future. God knows the end of all things from their beginning.

Lamentations 3:37  Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

Verse 38 below isn’t saying that God is evil but that God sends adversity as well as prosperity. God gives a man life and a livelihood. God also has the right to judge him afterward. So a man cannot complain when he is punished for his sins. God has blessed us; he is also allowed to judge us.

Lamentations 3:38  Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?  39  Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

In their time of despair Israel has remembered God’s mercy, and God’s capacity for dispensing truly perfect justice.

Plea for vengeance

At the end of Israel’s Tribulation period there will be a national turning to God for forgiveness.

Zec 12:9-11  And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.  10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.  11  In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

In the verses below the nation of Israel is repenting.

Lamentations 3:40  Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.  41  Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.  42  We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.  43  Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.  44  Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.  45  Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.  46  All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.  47  Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

In verse 47 above Israel has been trapped in a snare. They have made a covenant with their enemies to live together with them in the land. God told them not to. God warned Israel about this very trap.

Exodus 23:32-33  Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.  33  They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

In the verses below the man who has suffered and died is still talking. He is also expressing Jesus Christ’s sorrow for Jerusalem. In verse 48 the daughter of my people refers to the city of Jerusalem.

Lamentations 3:48  Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.  49  Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,  50  Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.  51  Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

In the verses above Jeremiah, Jesus, and the man who suffered and died weep for Jerusalem (the daughter of my people). In verse 51 they cry for the women of Jerusalem (the daughters of my city). Jeremiah expresses this same sentiment below.

Jeremiah 9:1  Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Lamentations 3:52  Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.  53  They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

Lamentations 3:52-53 above and the following verses describe Jesus’ death and burial.

Matthew 27:59-60  And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  60  And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

In verse 54 below Jesus describes water flowing over his head. This depiction is used elsewhere in the bible.

Psalms 18:4  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Psalms 69:14-15  Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.  15  Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Floods of water illustrate being troubled by your enemies. Sinking in these waters describes being troubled until death. The water is over this man’s head. He is drowning! He is dying.

Lamentations 3:54  Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.  55  I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.

The low dungeon in verse 54 above is in the deepest part of hell where the unbelieving spirit goes when it dies. Jesus was swallowed up by death like a flood coming over his head. He sank to the deepest depths of hell.

The following prophecy is directed toward today’s Lebanon because they delighted in Jerusalem’s time of trouble. Their fate sounds a lot like Jerusalem’s time of trouble except there will be no restoration. Lebanon will also go down to the low dungeon.

Just a bible prophecy side note: I think that this verse describes the future destruction of Lebanon by Turkey.

Ezekiel 26:20 When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;

Lamentations 3:56  Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.  57  Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.  58  O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.  59  O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.  60  Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.  61  Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;  62  The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.  63  Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.  64  Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.  65  Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.  66  Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

In the verses above Jesus asks God to avenge his death. Also, the man who has suffered and died during Israel’s Tribulation is asking God to avenge the nation of Israel against her enemies. God hears their prayers.

Wrath redirected

The end of Lamentations chapter 4 declares a very significant turn of events. Something changes during Israel’s time of repentance. As Jerusalem is nearing its end, even as armies encompass them all around; all of a sudden there is a commotion to the east! Many Jewish people have fled the region around Jerusalem. They are taking refuge in the mountains of Jordan. Now a large contingency of armies has gathered to utterly destroy them. Coming down the wide desert highway is a furious cyclone destroying these armies with fire and lightning. Israel’s time of trouble is finished. Trouble has now turned upon Israel’s enemies. Jesus Christ has returned to avenge Israel!

Lamentations 4:20  The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.  21  Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.  22  The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.

Edom is in today’s Jordan. Jesus Christ will travel through Jordan defeating Israel’s enemies on his way to Jerusalem. This is depicted in Psalm 83. Please read my commentary “Psalm 83 War” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.

We have suffered terribly!

Throughout Israel’s long history it has suffered at the hands of world empires. They have been killed. They have been taken captive and enslaved in Egypt, Assyria (northern Iraq), Babylon (southern Iraq), and will be enslaved again by the final gentile world empire during the Tribulation. Israel was conquered by the Roman Empire and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. Following is an account of Israel’s long history of trouble.

Lamentations 5:1  Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.  2  Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.  3  We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.  4  We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.

Israel’s enemies have been given the land of Israel and also their homes. This is still happening, most recently in Gaza as well as in Bethlehem. This will continue until Israel is left with very little.

Lamentations 5:5  Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.  6  We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.  7  Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.

Over the millennia many Jews have died in the lands of their foreign captors. After the Tribulation they will be raised from the dead and returned to the land of Israel.

In verse 8 below even the slaves of other nations were set above the Hebrew captives.

Lamentations 5:8  Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.  9  We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.  10  Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.

In verses 9 and 10 above, throughout their history of trouble Israel has suffered drought and famine. Drought and famine drove Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob into Egypt (Gen 12:10, Gen 26:1, Gen 42:1). Israel struggled to find food and water in the worst sort of desserts after they left Egypt during the exodus.

Lamentations 5:11  They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.  12  Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.  13  They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.  14  The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.  15  The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.  16  The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!  17  For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.  18  Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

In the verses above, Jerusalem’s women have been raped. In all of Judah the young virgins have been raped. Its lords (or rulers) have been crucified! The old men killed. The young men enslaved. The youth crushed by hard labor. There are no more wise old men advising the people. Young men no longer play their music. Their hearts are sad. There is no more dancing. They no longer rule over Jerusalem. Only the wild foxes walk on mount Zion because it has been devastated. How doth the city sit solitary?

Please don’t ever leave us again!

At this point Jesus Christ has avenged Israel against its enemies and has returned to Jerusalem. This is Israel’s plea to Jesus Christ that he would remain in Jerusalem as their king forever. They ask “why did you forget us for such a long time?”

Lamentations 5:19  Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.  20  Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?  21  Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.  22  But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.

As he promised God will never leave or forsake Israel ever again! This was God’s promise to Jacob.

Gen 28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

So what should we learn from Lamentations? First, there is a terrible time of suffering coming to Israel. This is what end time events are all about! Second, Jesus Christ’s suffering satisfies God’s wrath for our disobedience. Only when we trust God can Jesus’ suffering be applied to our disobedience. Jesus Christ’s suffering satisfies God’s wrath for the disobedience of Israel, and Jesus Christ’s suffering satisfies God’s wrath for the disobedience of every heart.

Jesus Christ’s suffering satisfies God’s wrath.

###

Thank you for reading Bible Prophecy 2014-2015. Prepare yourself for the days ahead by reading my other bible prophecy eBooks.

By the way, if you review this book on Amazon I will let you park in the pastor’s parking space next Sunday!

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I thank you and your pastor thanks you, Craig C. White

About the Author

Craig C. White

Craig C. White was born in 1958 and born again in 1964. In the 1980’s he was an active member of Calvary Church in Santa Ana, California. The expositional bible teaching of then pastor Dr. David Hocking played a major role in building Craig’s biblical literacy. He has been a serious bible student ever since.

The views contained in my commentaries are solely my own. I do not accept other views just because they are popular. I try to understand what the bible says. You will find interpretations here that you will scarcely find elsewhere.

www.hightimetoawake.com

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Other eBooks by Craig C. White

Amazon Best Sellers #1 in Christian Commentary!

The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist is the eBook second edition of my paperback 7 Misinterpreted Bible Prophecies. It explains how the Antichrist is the sign of the Rapture. This eBook contains “The Leopard is Upon Us!” about the formation of the final gentile world empire. It also looks at Mystery Babylon from a fly’s eye view.

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God’s Great Expectations is about God’s desire to know us, and about the ramifications of knowing him or rejecting him. It will challenge and inform every Christian. It answers the question “who can be saved?” It also contains an in-depth definition of hell in the bible, and a map of heaven! In “God’s Great Expectations” I cover Jesus’ claims to be God, as well as the Rapture of the Church.

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Israel’s Beacon of Hope chronicles the trial of the nation of Israel during the Great Tribulation period. Happily it also explores the return of the Shekinah glory to Jerusalem, the return of all believing Jews throughout time to Israel, and life after the Tribulation. God’s covenant with Israel is everlasting!

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Halfway to Armageddon alerts us to a coming invasion into Israel led by Turkey! It is called the battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel chapter 38. You probably don't realize that you need to know all there is about the battle of Gog and Magog, but trust me this subject is about to define our time in biblical history! The Turkish led battle of Gog and Magog is the fulfillment of the preeminent pre-Tribulation bible prophecy!

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Syria in Bible Prophecy - According to Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah; Damascus, Syria will be destroyed near the time of the end. Today Syria is in the midst of a civil war.

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Bible Prophecy 2014-2015 - Welcome to 2014. Bible prophecy is unfolding everywhere. The heathen are raging in the Middle East. Egyptian is fighting Egyptian. Christians are being killed and tormented more than ever. The New World Order is old news. An international security agreement and Palestinian state are being forged for the nation of Israel. All of these events have been foretold in bible prophecy. Bible Prophecy 2014-2015 tells us what to expect in the coming two years.

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Table of Contents

copyright

Preface

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

About the Author

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