Prophecy 05 – www.Tribulation102.com

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PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 90

October 18, 2002

Revelation 13:16, 17

[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.

I closed Prophecy Update Number 89 by saying I would continue to talk about what causes the mark to be a necessity, which is, of course, great famine across one-fourth of the world. The one-fourth will be the known world that existed at the time John wrote the book of Revelation, and it will be in that area that the mark is accepted by most of the inhabitants.

Revelation 6:8

[8] And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

As I indicated in the exposition of Revelation 6:1-8 in Prophecy Update Number 89, the last three riders on the red, black, and pale horses, are identified as the takers of life over one-fourth of the earth. The red horse rider shed the red color of blood with the sword. The black horse rider caused the black around the eyes associated with intense famine. The pale horse rider, whose horse is a pale yellow-green, produces the color associated with pestilence illnesses that cause this pre-demise color by the “bug” of infectious death. The four judgments in this verse are by sword, famine, pestilence, and the beasts of the earth. The same four judgments were passed on Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege.

Ezekiel 14:21

[21] For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

According to the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus, all four of these judgments came upon Jerusalem during both the Babylonian and the Roman sieges of 587 B.C. and A.D. 70. During the Roman siege the famine became so intense that they ate the babies immediately after they were born.

Luke 21:23, 24

[23] But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. [24] And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Once again, because of Israel’s ever growing secular departure from belief in the God of Israel, both the land and Jerusalem are going to be recipients of these judgments.

Zechariah 13:8

[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Zechariah 14:1, 2

[1] Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

But at the end of God’s judgments, Israel will repent and turn to their God through Jesus their Messiah in the Negev wilderness. God will then go forth and fight for them against their enemies, and once again He will restore them to greatness, but this time it will be forever.

Zechariah 14:3

[3] Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Zechariah 13:9

[9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Zechariah 14:11

[11] And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

Zechariah 14:9

[9] And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

Zechariah 14:16

[16] And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

In the areas of the most intense famine areas the carnivorous beasts, once having experienced the taste of weakened human bodies dying of famine, whet their new found taste with much human flesh. I do expect this to occur in the Old World Empire of antichrist, and while I do believe we are going to suffer food shortages in the United States, I do not believe the one-fourth of the world in Revelation 6:8 applies to what is known historically as the New World.

Revelation 13:17

[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.

Are these three different things, any one of which would allow a man to buy or sell? Are the mark, the name, and the number three different things, or they all the same thing? More on this will appear in Prophecy Update Number 91, Lord willing.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 90B

October 21, 2002

A CLERIC WHO KNOWS HOW TO CONTRADICT THE KORAN!

In Special Prophecy Update Number 89D numerous quotes, by the chief Islamic cleric of Jerusalem Ikrima Sabri, were extracted from an article by Etgar Leftovits in the Internet Jerusalem Post. The quotes were filled with the venom of absolute hatred for Israel. The article included quotes made by Sabri in January 2001 to the German magazine Die Welt. Two of the quotes are quite humorous because they directly contradict the book clerics claim to both teach and practice, which is, of course, the holy Koran of Islam. He was quoted, concerning the rights of the Jews to claim the temple mount and the old city, as saying: “In the whole city, there is not one stone that refers back to Jewish history.” He was also quoted as saying that Jewish immigrants to Israel “should go back to where they came from.” Ironically, that is exactly what they have done. They have returned to the land and city from which they came, the land and city from which they were driven in mass between A.D. 70 and 135.

Mohammed, the writer of the Koran who was born about 500 years after the temple was destroyed by the Romans, wrote in the Koran section of The Night Journey 17:6 – And when the prophecy of your (Israel) second transgression came to be fulfilled, We sent another army (Romans) to afflict you (A.D. 70) and to enter the Temple as the former (Babylonians) entered it before (587 B.C.), utterly destroying all they laid their hands on.

According to the Koran, the first transgression is described in The Night Journey 15:4, 5 – In the Scriptures we solemnly declared to the Israelites: ‘Twice you shall commit evil in the land. You shall become very great transgressors.’ And when the prophecy of your first transgression came to be fulfilled, We sent a formidable army (Babylonian – 587 B.C.) which ravaged your land and carried out the punishment with which you had been threatened.

The Koran alludes to the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Roman invasions of Israel. Only the Assyrians failed to capture Jerusalem. Islam did not exist in Jerusalem until the Arab Caliphs conquered it in A.D. 638. So how could an Islamic cleric of Sabri’s stature claim there is not one stone in Jerusalem that refers back to Jewish history. Soon all these Islamic clerics are going to suffer a time of horrific judgment upon the return of a stone upon which all Jewish history stands. The stone born of God will return to crush the 10 Islamic toes of Daniel’s statue in Chapter 2, and to establish His kingdom on this earth.

Daniel 2:43-45

[43] And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. [44] And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. [45] Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

The 10 horns upon Daniel’s fourth beast are the same as the 10 toes on his statue, and it is the same stone who is given dominion and a kingdom after he has defeated the 10 Islamic horns and the 11^th little horn, who is the king of the north in Daniel 11:40.

Daniel 7:8-14

[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. [9] I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. [10] A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. [11] I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. [12] As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. [13] I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. [14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Ariel Sharon’s visit to the U.S. last week yielded a new peace plan for the consideration of Israel. This one looks promising, and follows the false peace timetable I have laid out in numerous Prophecy Updates. I will discuss it in the next Update, Lord willing.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 90C

October 23, 2002

THE PLAN AND THE TIME MAY BE GETTING TOGETHER!

Last week President Bush offered a revised peace plan to Ariel Sharon during his visit to the United States. It is now being studied back home in Israel. It was referred to as a road map to peace. It was presented to the Israeli Prime Minister at the same time that a special U.S. envoy began a two-week tour of the Middle East two days before Sharon arrived in D.C. The Israeli press referred to it as “a blueprint to end the conflict with the Palestinians.” The plan is based on a speech President Bush gave in June outlining his vision for a final peace settlement.

Basically, the plan calls for the following series of events to lead to a final peace.

1. Institution of Palestinian reforms.

2. An end to Palestinian violence.

3. A freeze on Jewish settlements.

4. Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian population centers by mid-2003.

5. Palestinian elections six months after withdrawal.

6. A temporary Palestinian State after elections

7. A final Palestinian State by the end of 2005.

Prime Minister Sharon will discuss the proposal with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, William Burns, during his visit to Israel. Burns is now on a 13-nation Middle East tour for talks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, counter-terrorism, and the Iraq situation.

For the last two years I have presented numerous Prophecy Updates as to why I believed it likely that terrorist activity in Israel would stop by 2003, and that I expected a false peace to come in before 2005. This latest plan may be the instrument that produces this scenario. But the scenario that follows will not be a pleasant one for Israel. As soon as they have settled on their lees and developed a false sense of having a safety based on peace with security, a sudden vicious Jihad from the north, involving 10 Islamic nations, will sweep into the land, and Israel will be driven into the Negev wilderness, where they will remain for the last 1260 days of what is called the tribulation period.

I Thessalonians 5:3, 4

[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.

Zechariah 13:8

[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Revelation12:6

[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (1260 Prophetic Days = 3 and ½ Prophetic Years)

Daniel 7:24, 25

[24] And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Time = One Prophetic Year = 360 days

Times = Two Prophetic Years = 720 days

Dividing of Time = ½ Prophetic Year = 180 days

360 + 720 + 180 = 1260 days = 3 and ½ Prophetic Years

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 91

October 25, 2002

Revelation 13:17

[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.

Does this mean there are three different things of the beast that a man may possess, and that any one of the three things will allow him to buy or sell? Are the mark, the name, and the number three different things? I like the translation of Kenneth Wuest, which answers these questions.

Revelation 13:17

[17] To the end that no one should be able to buy or sell except he who has the mark of identification consisting of the name of the Wild Beast or the number that stands for his name.

I have listened for years to all sorts of expositions of what the mark is, where and how it is applied, how it will be picked up on scanners at centers of trade and from satellites, and a multitude of other sorts of “big brother” monitoring by the antichrist’s evil system. Quite frankly, until proven otherwise at the time of its appearance, I will simply believe it is a mark something like a permanent tattoo consisting of his name, or of the number that stands for his name. I do believe the letters of his name in the Koine Greek alphabet, which were used for counting, will add up to a total of six hundred and sixty-six. So, every time some new personage arrives on the world scene in the Old World for John’s day, I plug in his name into the alphabet and see what it totals. So far I have drawn a blank.

Revelation 13:18

[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 would be counted as men usually counted in Koine Greek letters, i.e., Alpha = 1, Beta = 2, Gamma = 3, etc. In the ancient cultures the system of numerical equality was adapted, which assigns each letter of a name its usual numerical value, and then gives the sum of the number as the equivalent of the name. The name for Jesus is IESOUS. So I =10, E = 8, S = 200, O = 70, U = 400, and S = 200, for a total of 888. 666 was looked upon as being less than enough or incomplete, 777 was looked upon as being enough or complete, and 888 was considered as being more than enough. Truly, as Paul testifies in Philippians 2:8-11, he was, is, and always shall be, more than enough.

Philippians 2:8-11

[8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hebrews 13:8

[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

II Corinthians 9:15

[15] Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Revelation 19:16

[16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Luke 21:27

[27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 92

November 1, 2002

THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE SERIES

A CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE OF THE EVENTS OF THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE TRAVAIL OF ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS, WHICH IS CLOSED BY THE FINAL BATTLE AT ARMAGEDDON!

Event Number 1 – A Sense of Security Followed by a Sudden Attack

I Thessalonians 5:3, 4

[1] 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.

The writer of this verse, the Apostle Paul, had just concluded a discourse on “THAT DAY,” outlining one of the events occurring during the time of “TRAVAIL” as follows:

I Thessalonians 4:16, 17

[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.

Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, being circumcised on the eighth day of his birth as a descendant of Benjamin, and having studied at the feet of the great Jewish sage Gamaliel. To put it bluntly, he was a dyed-in-the-wool Jew by birth and training. And yet, those who fought against his teachings with the most fury and hatred were not the Gentiles, but his own brethren by natural birth. Paul loved his fellow countrymen with a great passion, being willing to be accursed himself if it would lead to their salvation.

Romans 9:1-3

[1] I say the truth in Christ; I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, [2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. [3] For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

He was acutely aware that God had concluded the nation of Israel to be in a state of unbelief. So, the two “THEY’S” and the one “THEM” in I Thessalonians 5:3, he uses to refer primarily to the nation of Israel, even though it could also be used to refer to all in unbelief at “THAT DAY.”

Romans 11:25, 32

[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. [32] For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

The Greek word translated as “SAFETY,” according to every scholar I have consulted, literally means “SECURITY,” which has been the cry of every Israeli Prime Minister since 1948, issued loudly as “we must have PEACE WITH SECURITY.” The current actions being carried out in Operation Defensive Shield by the IDF, which I outlined in the 7 steps of Prophecy Update Number 65A, will convince the Israelis they have been able to first obtain the SECURITY before negotiations. And, when the final peace negotiations are completed with the Palestinians, Israelis will believe they have put in place the means to preserve SECURITY by the internal safeguards around a newly created Palestinian state within the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, it will be a false hope and a false peace of short duration, and will be broken by the sudden destruction that marks the beginning of the final 1260 days before Armageddon, the last part of a period of great travail in tribulation pains that Israel must endure, and cannot escape from experiencing – “then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” Israel will be viciously attacked suddenly from without by a confederation of Islamic nations, and from within by the newly formed Palestinian state. Israel will be driven into its war contingency plan evacuation area in a manner of days, which is the Negev wilderness south of Beersheba. Israel shall not escape the terrible physiological and physiological pressures of being trapped in the Negev for 1260 days, but there it will turn to belief in its Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, and will once again call upon its God as their God, and He will again call them His children.

Revelation 12:6, 17

[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 13:8, 9

[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Lord willing, I will continue this series on Fridays for quite some time, and will include a lengthy series of events that transpire chronologically on a worldwide basis during this 1260 day period.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 92A

November 3, 2002

The King of the South Pushes Against the King of the North!

Supplement to Prophecy Updates 74C, 74D, and 79D.

In these three previous Updates, which you may read by clicking on our Archives at the top of this page, we outlined the who, what, where, when, why, and how of Daniel 11:40.

Daniel 11:40

[11] And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

Israel, for some time since her withdrawal from Lebanon, has violated both the territorial coastal sea lanes and the air space of Lebanon over and over again. And, quite frankly, Israel does it at will, without any fear of real retaliation. The main reason that Israel has not already done something about Lebanon’s water piracy from the Hasbani headwaters is tied to the present international situation with Iraq. When a peace comes with the Palestinians, in which Israel feels secure, it would not hesitate to charge north across the border on land, sea, and in the air if their water supply were threatened. It has been a routine thing with Israel for years, as the following statistical information will attest.

During 2001 Israeli Warplanes violated Lebanese airspace 3,671 times.

Between January 15^th and 21^st of 2002 they violated Lebanese 23 times, and Israeli gun boats violated Lebanese territorial waters 19 times.

During the first eight days of October 2002, the numbers of air violations reached 40 and the number of sea violations climbed to 32.

During the period from June 1^st to October 10^th of 2002 the total number of air and sea violations was 5,442.

All these violations are necessary to detect the movement of all sorts of weaponry by land and sea by Hizbollah to their brother terrorists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These numerous forms of weaponry come primarily from Iran via Syria to Hezbollah, and then to the Palestinian terror groups in Israel, but some also are supplied by Iraq and Syria.

I expect peace negotiations with the Palestinians to begin next year, and I believe a false peace will be in place before 2004. Then, after a short time of this peace, I believe Syria and Lebanon will lay a trap for Israel based on guile, and will draw them into it. At which time, Israel will be met by an overwhelming Islamic confederation and driven south into the Negev.

Daniel 11:40

[40] And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

Ezekiel 38:8-12

[8] After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. [9] Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. [10] Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: [11] And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, [12] To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

Zechariah 13:8

[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Revelation 12:6

[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 93

November 8, 2002

THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE SERIES

A CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE OF THE EVENTS OF THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE TRAVAIL OF ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS, WHICH IS CLOSED BY THE FINAL BATTLE AT ARMAGEDDON!

Event Number 2 – The Attack and Occurrences Associated With It!

As indicated in Prophecy Update Number 92, Event Number 1, we began this series with I Thessalonians 5:3, which indicated the Israelis would be hit suddenly by a period of unanticipated destructive travail. Revelation 12:6 indicated the travail would cover a period of some 1260 prophetic days. Zechariah 13:8, 9 indicated that 2/3 of the Israelis would perish in the attack, but that the remaining 1/3 would be brought through the time of travail, and would turn to their God through Messiah while going through the travail in the Negev.

I believe the opening of the Sixth Seal in Revelation will occur in the same general time frame as the antichrist’s lightening blitzkrieg attack against Israel from the north.

Revelation 6:12

[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;

This is the first earthquake in the book of Revelation, and it launches the final 1260 days before the Battle of Armageddon. This is when all the tectonic plates begin to move and, by the time of the last earthquake in Revelation, their movement will have changed the microsecond locations of every mountain and island in degrees of latitude and longitude. The earthquakes, and the effects of massive volcanic eruptions, will produce much of the havoc described from the seventh seal to the last vial of the wrath of God in Revelation 16:18. The islands and mountains begin to move horizontally as the plates slip on the sixth seal and, by the end of the tribulation period, cannot be found at the same microsecond latitudes and longitudes they held at the opening of the sixth seal.

Revelation 6:12-14

[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; [13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. [14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

For a full exposition of Revelation 6:12-14 please read Birth Pangs 1, 2, 4, 9, and 10 in our archives.

Revelation 16:16-21

[16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. [17] And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. [18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightning’s; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. [19] And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nation’s fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. [20] And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. [21] And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

For a complete exposition of Revelation 16:16-21 please read Birth Pangs 24 and 27 in our archives.

When the antichrist attempts to overtake those Israelis fleeing into the Negev, his army will be rushing southward like a flood to overtake the stragglers before they reach the safety of Beersheba, where Israel’s northern defensive shield will begin. It is at this time that God will open a series of folds and faults, which run northeast to southwest north of the city of Beersheba, and this action, will swallow advance elements of the forward penetration of his troops. It is the earthquake of Revelation 6:12 that will subsequently open these cracks in the earth.

Revelation 12:13-17

[15] And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. [16] And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. [17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

For the last 1260 days before Armageddon, about 1.8 to 2 million Jews will exist as the remnant of Israel in the Negev, and 144,000 of them will witness that Christ is the Messiah of Israel. By the time of Armageddon Israel, as a nation, will turn to their God through his Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:6

[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Revelation 7:1-4

[1] And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. [2] And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, [3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. [4] And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Zechariah 13:8, 9

Micah 5:4

[4] And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 93B

November 11, 2002

Supplement to Prophecy Update Number 88

What is the name of the antichrist that will total 666?

Revelation 13:17, 18

[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.

Down through the centuries many have tried to use the Hebrew alphabet to solve John’s cipher 666 total, the mark of the beast.

I seriously question the wisdom of using it, but since some queries have been received concerning it, I am including this discourse.

THE HEBREW ALPHABET

THE PROCESS OF TRANSLITERATION IS NOT A SCIENCE!

IT SIMPLY MEANS TRANSFERING LETTERS FROM ONE LANGUAGE TO ANOTHER LANGUAGE.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON HOW TO DO IT!

THE NUMERICAL VALUES OF HEBREW CONSONATES FOLLOW:

The problem is this – the Hebrew vowels were added late in the evolvement of the Hebrew language. My name is TOM, so by consulting the two tables, one would add Tet (9) + Mem (40) = 49

As you will see when you start trying to plug in various names, many questions arise. Please don’t ask me how to solve them. Some thoroughly confuse me.

So, what is my conclusion to all this? If one is desirous to plug into an alphabet to attempt an identification of the antichrist, use the Koine Greek Alphabet, which is the alphabet from which John wrote the book of Revelation. Lord willing, in our next update I will show the Greek alphabet, and the standard method employed in using it to count the number of the name of the antichrist.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 93C

A SUPPLEMENT TO PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 88

A COMPANION TO PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 93B

November 12, 2002

What is the name of the antichrist that will total 666?

Revelation 13:17, 18

As I promised in Prophecy Update Number 93B, concerning counting the number of the name of the beast from the Hebrew alphabet, here is the system normally employed in the Koine Greek alphabet.

The Greek Alphabet was also used for counting, the letters being equal to the following values:

Alpha = 1 Beta = 2 Gamma = 3 Delta = 4 Epsilon = 5 *Bau = 6 Zeta = 7 Eta = 8 Theta = 9 Iota = 10

Kappa = 20 Lamda = 30 Mu = 40 Ne = 50 Xi = 60 Omicron = 70 Pi = 80 *Koppa = 90 Rho = 100

Sigma = 200 Tau = 300 Upsilon = 400 Phi = 500 Chi = 600 Psi = 700 Omega = 800 *Sampi = 900

Bau (6), Koppa (90), and Sampi (900) were added for ease in counting.

My name is THOMAS. Transliterated it would be Theta(9)Omega(800)Mu(40)Alpha(1)Sigma(200) = 1050

In the Epistle of Barnabas, which is not inspired, we are told that the Koine Greek name for Jesus is 888.

His name in the Greek is IESOUS.

The Greek letters of his name are Iota(10)Eta(8)Sigma(200)Omicron(70)Upsilon(200)Sigma = 888

When 7 and 8 are used in the same phrase to indicate “more than enough,” it forms a Hebrew Idiom.

Micah 5:5

[5] And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

I believe the Assyrian is the antichrist. (See Prophecy Updates 66 & 67).

I believe the antichrist will apparently be resurrected from the dead. (See Prophecy Update 82)

I believe he will claim to be God in the flesh. (See Prophecy Update 84)

The name of Christ abridged is Chi(600) Bau(6), and Xi(60) is the emblem of the serpent, hence 666.

So the sublimated sense of 666 is “the Messiah of Satan,” which indeed he represents.

So Jesus(888), as the Messiah of God, is “more than enough” to defeat the Messiah of Satan.

Let’s be honest about all this! I am not sure what all this means about the mark of the beast.

So, until I do, I will keep on fumbling around like a baby bear trying to get honey out of a beehive.

Over the past 19 centuries this name has been used to refer to countless historical names.

Titus, Vaspasian, Simon Gioras, Napoleon I, Caesar Nero, Mahomet, and Luther are among them.

I do not know of a historical time when one from the old land of Assyria was identified by totaling 666.

When a leader arises in the area of the Assyrian Empire in 700 B.C. with a 666 name total, look out!

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 95

November 22, 2002

THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE SERIES

Events 1, 2, and 3 were covered in Prophecy Updates 92, 93, and 94

Event Number 4 – Jerusalem Falls to the Forces of Antichrist

Zechariah 14:1, 2

[2] Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be CUT OFF from the city.

In Prophecy Update Number 94 we closed with the forces of antichrist attacking Jerusalem from the east and the west. Half of the city will be taken as hostages into camps of death. The other half will be slaughtered in the city. In the KJV it seems to indicate that a remnant (residue) will be left in the city by the antichrist, but that is not the case. The word remnant is here translated “residue,” but it is normally translated as “remnant” in the KJV. There are several Hebrew words translated as “cut off” in the KJV. This one is KARATH, and it means an eternal cutting off, that is, a final one. It was used to indicate those cases where a man or woman would be cut off forever from the tribe of Israel for a certain type of sin. One of these sins involved drinking the blood or eating the fat from a sacrificial animal. Normally, there was always some sort of ritual cleansing ordinance by which one “cut off” could be put back in fellowship with the tribe, but the word KARATH indicated that they were cut off forever. It is found in Leviticus 7:25 & 27.

Leviticus 7:25, 27

[25] For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, even the soul that eateth it shall be CUT OFF from his people. [27] Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be CUT OFF from his people.

So when it states: “And the residue of the people SHALL NOT be CUT OFF from the city,” it simply means they will not be cut off from the city forever, but will one day return. And indeed, after some 1260 days, they will return to drive the Gentiles out of Jerusalem following the battle of Armageddon.

Zechariah 12:8, 9

[8] In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. [9] And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zech. 14:14, 11, 9

[14] And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. [11] And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be NO MORE utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. [9] And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

After the fall of Jerusalem to the forces of the antichrist, there will be a massive airlift of Israelis into the Negev Wilderness from the coastal plains from Tel Aviv to Haifa.

Revelation 12:14

[14] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Lord willing, in Prophecy Update Number 96, I will address the manner in which the airlift will be conducted.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 96

Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2002

THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE SERIES

Events 1 to 4 were covered in whole numbered Updates 92 to 95

As I indicated, in Special Prophecy Update Number 95B, what may well be the final flurry of large scale in-country terrorism in Israel continues, and is likely to continue until after the Israeli elections, which have been scheduled for January 20, 2003. The reasons for this final flurry may be found in 95B. I expect the terrorist activity to me miniscule in Israel after February of 2003. I also expect that when the revised peace plan, which I outlined thoroughly in 90C, 92B, and 95C, is presented to the PA after the Israeli elections, they will be receptive to it. And I believe that the terrorist elements within Israel will see the advisability of going along with it, based on behind-closed-doors-promises of a Pearl Harbor type of Jihad being launched against Israel, after it has been lulled into a false sense of security. It is this eventual attack, which I believe is likely to occur between 2004 and 2008, which is covered in Event Number 5.

Event Number 5 – Israel Flees to the Negev by Land and Air

Revelation 12:6, 14

[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [14] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

In Prophecy Update Number 95, Event Number 4, I covered primarily the fall of the city of Jerusalem. The surviving inhabitants of Jerusalem will flee by land, along with all the other Jews living in Israel to the east of the coastal plains. In 1948 the Israeli military and political leaders made up their National War Contingency Plan. The part of it that had to do with evacuation of the population, in event of attack, was decided at that time. Israel chose the Negev from Beersheba southward to the Gulf of Eilat as its War Contingency Evacuation Area. The area is more than one-third of the total land surface of Israel. The IDF will be attempting to transport, by whatever means available, the civilian population from Dan to Beersheba. Only one-third, or between 1.7 to 1.9 million Jews, will have made it alive into the Negev when the evacuation is completed. This group will remain in the Negev for the last 1260 days of the time we call the tribulation period. Among them will be the remnant of Israel’s Messianic Seed, Jesus Christ, in the person of 144,000 born again Jews, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. This smaller remnant of Messiah, in the midst of all the remnant of Israel, will urge all of Israel to turn to the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. And in the midst of the remnant of Messiah will be the two witnesses. The woman Israel, the remnant of her seed, who is Christ, and John’s two witnesses, will all be together in the Negev for what can be identified as a time (1 prophetic year) + times (2 prophetic years) + half a time (1/2 prophetic year), or 1260 days, or 42 prophetic months). A prophetic year equals 360 days. A prophetic month equals 30 days.

The Woman = The Remnant of Israel = The One-Third of the Israeli Population That Makes it to the Negev = 1.7 to 1.9 Million Jews

Her Seed = Her Man Child = Jesus Christ

The Remnant of Her Seed = The 144,000 Saved Jews = The Remnant of Her Man Child as a Part of Her in the Negev

The Two Witnesses = The Two Leaders of the 144,000 in the Negev

Revelation 12:17

[17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 13:8, 9

Revelation 7:4

[4] And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Zechariah 14:1, 2

Revelation 11:2, 3

[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. [3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Some 70 percent of the total Jewish population in Israel is packed into the narrow strip from Tel Aviv to Haifa. The remaining 30 percent will flee southward into the Negev on land by whatever transportation is available, but the coastal population will have to be evacuated by air. The oldest military strategy in the book is called “divide and conquer.” The antichrist will be successful in militarily dividing the 70 percent from the 30 percent. Lebanese and Syrian troops will move south in a Jihad blitzkrieg arrowhead beneath the steep western bluffs of the Samarian Mountains and then quickly dig in to hold it. The Gaza Strip PA will sweep northward beneath the steep bluffs of the Samarian Mountains to link up with the Syrians and Lebanese, and then also quickly dig in to hold it. From the highlands of the Samarian Mountains, the PA will be actively engaged in launching thousands of rockets over the heads of the Syrians, Lebanese, and fellow Palestinians at the foot of the bluffs. These rockets will shower down continuously on the 70 percent population bunched on the coastal plain from Tel Aviv to Haifa. Oddly enough, these rockets will be launched from inside the newly completed fence on the Palestinian side, and the fence may well serve the opposite purpose for which it was constructed. Instead of confining the Palestinians inside the West Bank, it may serve to keep the Israelis out of it. The coastal population, facing heavy loss of life, will be airlifted to the Negev. The same nations that will be airlifting food supplies to Israel, while it resides in the Negev, will also initially provide an airlift of its Jewish population into it.

Revelation 12:5, 6

[5] And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all NATIONS with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. [6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that THEY should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [14] And to the woman were GIVEN two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

The initial attack against Israel will only involve 10 Islamic nations, not all the other nations of the Old and New Worlds. The antichrist will not want any of the other nations to know of his attack. It will be a complete surprise to them. Under no circumstances will he want any of them to be involved. He wants the land from Dan to Beersheba, which is prosperous Israel. With Israel fleeing into the Negev east of the coastal strip, he will, in what might appear to be a humanitarian gesture to gain the favor of the rest of the world, allow planes of the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand to air evacuate the Jewish civilians into the Negev. I believe the word “NATIONS” in Revelation 12:5 is a precedent to the word “THEY” in 12:6, and that God uses these western power nations to perform the operation. What he really wants is the high tech coastal strip and the fertile interior from Dan to Beersheba. All his forces will be under strict orders not to fire on non-Israeli aircraft.

Why won’t the U.S. do anything? It took the United States five months to get enough troops into position in the Middle East to attack Iraq after it had overrun Kuwait. This will involve a tenfold greater number of Arab nations. The strike will be a real surprise and well-coordinated. For this reason the initial advance will be very rapid. Israel is a very small piece of real estate. It is only 71 miles from Tiberias, in northern Israel on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, to Jericho, 24 miles from Jericho to Jerusalem, and 50 miles from Jerusalem to Beersheba. That is a total of 145 miles from Tiberias to Beersheba. I can drive that distance in the United States, staying within the speed limit, in less than three hours. I can drive it in Israel in less than six hours. Before the western powers can make a decision as to what to do, Israel will be fleeing into the Negev, and the antichrist will be assuring them he has no intensions of going past Beersheba, and will offer to let them air evacuate the civilian population out of the coastal area from Tel Aviv to Haifa. Then he will offer a truce, just like the truces in the 1948, 1967, and 1973 wars. The truce will be accepted, and Israel will be boxed in the Negev for about three and one-half prophetic years. The United States will accept such a truce, because it places Israel out of harm’s way for a while, and yet allows the continued flow of Arab oil to our shores. I am a patriotic American, and I love this country, but I am also a realist. As a realist, from my experience in the National Security Agency, I am acutely aware that all nations, including the United States, operate on A PRINCIPLE CALLED “NATIONAL INTEREST.” Situational decisions are usually made on a day to day basis based on “national interest.” And, to be very candid, “national interest” is based largely, not on what is best morally or ethically, but on what will keep the present administration in office. I must say that if you can keep the majority of voters on your side, it is usually because you have found a compromise that pleases most of the factions in the total number voting. So where does that leave us in regard to accepting the truce.

1. There are some 4,952,000 Jews living in Israel, and there are about 6,064,000 Jews living in America who love them, and many of them are registered voters.

2. There are a growing number of Arab Americans in this country who are also registered voters.

3. There are a much greater number of American voters who are neither of Arab or Israeli descent, but who are very interested in keeping the oil from Arab countries flowing into this country.

So how do you please the majority of these three categories? You accept the truce! Why?

1. It keeps what remains of the Israeli population alive in the Negev. This doesn’t completely satisfy the Jews living in America, but at least it stops the slaughter of their countrymen in Israel.

2. The Arab Americans are delighted to see Israel driven into the Negev, and the land from Dan to Beersheba back in Islamic hands.

3. The Arabs will keep the oil flowing, and the prices for Americans at the gas pump will not fly into orbit around Pluto.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 97

December 6, 2002

THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE SERIES

Events 1 to 5 were covered in whole numbered Updates 92 to 96

Event Number 6 – How Many Attacks and Wars Are There?

By the close of Prophecy Update Number 96, we had seen an attack by the antichrist eliminate two-thirds of the Jewish population, and drive the remaining third into the Negev Wilderness, where they will remain for some 1260 days. It is there that Israel will finally turn to its God by accepting His Son as their Messiah.

Zechariah 13:8, 9

[8]And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Revelation 12:6

[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

In the middle of the 19^th century the perception, that there was only one war associated with the time of the antichrist, and that it culminated with the final battle of Armageddon, began to change. By the middle of the 20^th century a teaching of more than one war had risen to be the majority view, and the antichrist was to arise out of the first war, bring peace to Israel, and then later break the peace and attack Israel to start a second war. To make this change it was necessary to change the identification of the antichrist in some of the prophetic writings of Daniel, Micah, Ezekiel, and others. I still hold to the old viewpoints of the 18^th and 19^th centuries in my understanding and interpretations of the antichrist, the war, and the final battle. I believe there is only one war, and that the final battle in it is the battle of Armageddon. You will find verse by verse, line by line, point by point expositions of Ezekiel Chapters 37, 38, & 39, Daniel 2:31-45, 7:20-27, 9:24-27, 11:40 through 12:1, Micah 5:1-9, and Revelation 12:1-17 in the Archives of our Prophecy and Birth Pang Updates. In all of these expositions I weave a case to prove there is only one war, and the same man, the antichrist is manifested in all of the listed scriptures.

I believe that the following scriptures are all talking about the same man, who is the antichrist, and that the war associated with him is a single war, which begins, lasts 1260 days, and ends with the battle of what we refer to as Armageddon.

Ezekiel 38:3

[3] And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Gog = The Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal = Antichrist

Meshech and Tubal = Their descendants were settled in what we call the land of Syria today at the time Ezekiel wrote his prophecies.

Ezekiel 38:14, 15 – The War Begins

[14] Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? [15] And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

Ezekiel 39:1, 2 – The Final Battle in the War (5/6 of his army destroyed)

[1] Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: [2] And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

Daniel 7:21, 25 + 11:36, 40, 41, 45 to 12:1

[21] I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. [36] And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. [40] And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. [41] He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. [45] And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. [1] And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Antichrist = The Same Horn = The 11^th Horn = The Willful King = The King of the North

The Saints in Daniel’s Day = Believing Jews

Time and Times and the Dividing of Times = 1260 days = 42 months

The War = [40] to [44]

The Final Battle in the War = [45] and [1] = Armageddon

Micah 5:5, 6

[5] And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. [6] And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

Antichrist = The Assyrian

The War = [5]

The Final Battle in the War = [6] = Armageddon

Revelation 13:4, 5 – The Beast = Antichrist The War = [5]

[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? [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.

Rev. 19:19-21 – The Final Battle of the War = Armageddon

[19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [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. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Antichrist = Daniel’s 11th Horn and King of the North = Ezekiel’s Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal = Micah’s Assyrian = John’s Beast = Paul’s Man of Sin (They Are All the Same Man)

II Thessalonians 2:3, 4

[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; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

The initial attack, that starts the final war, occurs 1260 days before the final battle in the war, the battle of Armageddon, which ends the war.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 97A

December 10, 2002

Supplement to the First Prophecy Update of 2001

The “Strategic Dialogue” Continues

Almost two years ago I warned about the beginnings of a “strategic dialogue” that had already begun between Syria, Iran, and Iraq. This was in the first Prophecy Update of 2001, and it is shown below.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 1

SIGNIFICANT WORLD & MID-EAST EVENTS

The beginnings of a pattern of military unity between Syria, Iran, and Iraq are now emerging in the Mid-East. Iraq recently conducted large-scale military maneuvers on the Syrian border, reportedly by prior agreement with the new President, Bashar Assad. Bashar then made a trip to Iran to hold talks with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. The talks were described as “a strategic dialogue.” Eventually there will be some form of peace between the Palestinians and Israel. It may be a “forced” peace, but the end result will be an enclosed Palestinian State within the borders of Israel. This will create an impossible situation for Israel. There is no worse military position than to have an enemy within while being attacked from without. I believe it is quite likely that, by the time the year 2003 rolls around, there will have been numerous meetings behind closed doors between the leaders of Iran, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon, and I also believe these meetings will eventually result in a consolidated plan to lure Israel into a sense of false security. After which a vicious surprise attack will be launched against Israel from the borders of Syria and Lebanon. It will be the best coordinated attack ever launched against Israel and, with the Palestinians operating from within, it will force Israel into the Negev.

END OF PROPHECY UPDATE 1

In Prophecy Update Number 3, the third of 2001, I stated clearly: “Some problems do not have a definite controlling factor, and all the factors, both incidental and insignificant, must be given the appropriate weight in making a forecast of the outcome. However, this is not the case in making a determination of when peace will come between Israel and the Palestinians. The controlling factor, which determines when a false peace will come to Israel, rests solely with the terrorist groups that plague her. There can never be a period of peace, even false peace, without the approval of all the terrorist groups. Yassar Arafat cannot control them, nor can any other single Arab leader. The terrorist complex is really controlled by leaders in Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and Iraq. Until these leaders finally come to the conclusion that the only way Israel can be driven into the Negev is through being lulled into a false sense of security, the terrorist groups will continue to operate, and the killing will continue.” I closed Update Number 3 by stating: “So my advice to those who want to get a feel of when the false peace will come is this: WATCH the terrorist groups. When their actions drop to zero, and stay there for a while, you may rest assured it has been as a result of meetings behind closed doors of the aforementioned nations, and the leaders of the terrorist groups they sponsor. I don’t pay much attention to any leader of Israel or the Palestinians. The terrorist groups are the key to a false peace in the Middle East. When they grasp that by appearing to cease their activities they will be able, at a later time, to kill many Jews, and drive the rest down into the Negev, they will settle down and wait for a surprise attack against Israel from the north. Ariel Sharon may try to put a ‘forced peace’ on the Palestinians before the terrorist groups shut down. This was one of the options considered by his party in the past.” So, I was not surprised when he launched this “forced peace” plan more than a year later in the form of Operation Defensive Shield. In Special Prophecy Update Number 65A I began by declaring it was the “forced peace” plan considered by his party in the past, in 1968 to be specific. It began with the statement: “It appears that Israel is continuing to put into effect the old Yigal Allon “peace with security” plan he introduced in 1968, but which was never put into effect until March 29, 2002.” In Update 65A, I graphically outlined the Seven Steps the plan would be following, and Steps 5, 6, and 7 are still ongoing at the present time. In numerous Updates issued since our first in 2001, I have again and again described the beehive of activity that has been going in many meetings between the leaders and diplomats of the aforementioned countries, regarding a “strategic dialogue.”

I now believe that we are approaching the time when all this “strategic dialogue” will finally result in a temporary cessation of terrorist activity, and the implementation of a “false peace” in 2003. The two countries that exercise the most influence on Israel’s internal terrorist groups, and those along her immediate borders, are Iran and Syria. Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi is now conducting a two-day visit to Syria and Lebanon. This is his second visit in six months about the Middle East situation, relating to Iraq and the Palestinians, and their interlocking ties with both. In Syria, He is meeting with President Bashar Assad and Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara. President Assad stated that: “The strength of the Islamic Republic is accounted for that of the Muslim world.”

In the coming months, I believe you will begin to view the results of the many “closed door” meetings of the past two years between the terrorist groups and sponsoring nations. I believe these results will include the cessation of terrorist activities inside Israel, the return of peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, and the initial implementation of a peace plan before the end of 2003. But I believe this peace will be as phony as a three-dollar bill. However, Israel will actually believe her great security wall, and mighty military might, will be able to maintain a sort of “forced peace” on the PA. This tremendous confidence in their own abilities, coupled with their secular drift from any form of confidence in the God of Israel, will cause them to drift into a sense of false security brought on by faith in their own ingenuity. When their Islamic enemies are satisfied Israel has fallen prey to their false peace trap, then a vicious Pearl Harbor like attack will suddenly come as a lightning strike from the north, much like the blitzkrieg that swept through the Low Countries into France in 1939. It will be led from the north by Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, and Iranian troops, by Palestinians from within, and with strong logistical support from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, and Sudan. I believe this attack is likely to occur at some point in time between 2004 and 2008.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 98

December 14, 2002

THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE SERIES

Events 1 to 6 were covered in whole numbered Updates 92 to 97

The Two Witnesses, The Woman, and the Remnant of Her Seed!

See Prophecy Update Numbers 55 to 58, 73D, and 74A

About 75 days before the final 1260 days of the Gentile age, two witnesses will appear in Israel, and begin to warn of a soon coming attack. When the attack occurs, they will flee into the Negev along with the one-third of the Israeli population that is able to make it into this great wilderness. The two witnesses will be a part of 144,000 believing Jews, who have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and keep the commandments of God. Israel is the woman, whose seed is Jesus Christ, and the 144,000 believing Jews are the remnant of the seed. So, after the initial attack, in the Negev you will find the Woman (1/3 of the Jewish population = 1.7 to 1.9 million), the remnant of her seed (144,000 believing Jews who are part of the 1.7 to 1.9 million), and the two witnesses, who are part of the 144,000 believing Jews. The two witnesses will testify until about 75 days before the end of the Gentile age, at which time they will be killed by the antichrist, only to be publicly resurrected three one-half days later. The remnant of the seed will be in awe at this occurrence, and will give glory to God for it. The following Scriptures attest to this scenario.

Zechariah 13:8

[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Revelation 12:6

[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Zechariah 14:1, 2

Revelation 11:2, 3

Revelation 7:4

[4] And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Revelation 12:17

[17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 11:7-13

[7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. [8] And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. [9] And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. [10] And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. [11] And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. [12] And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. [13] And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The two witnesses testify from about 75 days before the attack to about 75 days before the tribulation period ends, which is a period of 1260 days. Shortly after they ascend up to heaven in a cloud, the seventh angel sounds, and the rapture of the saved (including the 144,000) occurs, after which God’s wrath is poured out on the earth. (See Prophecy Updates 73D and 74A)

Revelation 11:14, 15, 18

[14] The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. [15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

God’s wrath follows the blowing of the seventh trumpet, and lasts for some 45 days.

Daniel 12:1

[1] And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Matthew 24:21, 22

[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. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Many of the 1.7 to 1.9 million Jews will believe in Christ as the Messiah because of the testimony of the 144,000, and the two witnesses, after they see what they prophesied come to pass. But they will believe after the blowing of the seventh trumpet, and are the elect that will come through the tribulation period to begin a millennial reign under the Messiah in physical bodies that contain saved souls. The city of Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited, and the Gentiles who survive the tribulation period will come up annually to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts.

Zechariah 13:9

Zechariah 14:11, 16

[11] And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. [16] And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 98A

December 15, 2002

THE HISTORICAL MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

NUMBER 1 IN A SERIES

THE PROMISE OF THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIANIC SEED

IN A MANGER, IN THE FULNESS OF TIME, CAME THE SEED!

The first promise of a messiah, a deliverer, an atoner, a redeemer, came immediately after man first sinned. All who have believed God’s promise that he would one day send a Seed to deliver them from their inherited condition, and restore them to his fellowship; have been saved by grace down through the ages of man following the Garden of Eden. When the Seed came, he was to crush the power Satan had gained over man by the condemnation sin bondage separating him from God. But in so doing he was to suffer in his own flesh when he stepped on Satan’s head.

Genesis 3:15

[15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and HER SEED; IT shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise HIS heel.

At first, Adam and Eve naturally assumed that as soon as Eve brought forth a Seed, that firstborn would be the promised redeemer. But when Cain murdered Abel that idea went up in smoke. So they then believed that Seth must be the promised Seed. But when he had a seed named Enos the question naturally arose, which is the Seed, Seth or his seed. Then they realized that this seed might be further on down the line in time. So what would you do? I would start calling upon the name of the Lord to send the Seed, and would trust in his promise until the Seed came on the scene. That is what men have done, are doing, and shall continue to do, but now we know his name, and a lot more about him.

Genesis 4:25, 26

[25] And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me ANOTHER SEED instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. [26] And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: THEN began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

Romans 10:13

[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4:12

[12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Romans 10:17

[17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The promise of a Seed in Genesis 3:15 told what the Seed would do, and Genesis 3:21 presented a picture of how the Seed would do it.

Genesis 3:21

[21] Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

The guiltless bodies and blood of the innocent animals, that were slain to provide the KAPHAR (atonement) covering for their sinful condition, pictured the sinless body and blood of the Seed that would one day come to give his life to provided an eternal covering for all their sins. When he came he replaced the picture with the real thing, his body and his blood, and, in so doing, swept away all the sins of the believers in the past, in the present, and in the future. It was through the forbearance of God that the remission of the sins of all believers in the Old Testament occurred when Christ paid the price for their sins and imputed his righteousness to them. It is the same Jesus who took away sins yesterday, who takes them away now, and will take them away tomorrow.

Romans 3:25, 26

[25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

John 8:56-58

[56] Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. [57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Hebrews 13:8

[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

At first, very little detail was provided about the Seed who would one day come to deliver those who believed God’s promise of his coming. But as the centuries and generations passed, God began to fill in the details of his characteristics, the bloodline through which he would come, and the work he would perform to redeem mankind.

In the time of Abraham, the Seed was identified as one who would bless all the nations of the earth through the line of Abraham.

Genesis 22:18

[18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Just before Jacob’s death the Seed was identified as the ruler who would come through the line of Judah, and be typed as “Shiloh.” The scepter was a staff carried by a ruler as a symbol of his kingship and law giving authority, which was often held between his knees, resting between his feet, when he sat on his throne. When the Seed comes again at his Second Advent he will replace the tabernacle, which was a type of him, and once rested at Shiloh. He will be the spiritual Lion of Judah to whom all the peoples of the earth will gather. The Seed will “tabernacle” among them, and the Feast of Tabernacles will be fulfilled.

Genesis 49:10

[10] The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Amos 9:11-12

[11] In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: [12] That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this.

Ezekiel 37:24-28

[24] And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. [25] And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever. [26] Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. [27] My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [28] And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

And the Seed shall also be the tabernacle dwelling among men in the age following the millennial age – the everlasting age of all the ages.

Revelation 21:3

[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Isaiah 33:20-22

[20] Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. [21] But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. [22] For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.

In the time of Moses, the Seed was identified as God’s spokesman that would speak directly for him, and those who would not hearken to the Seed would suffer the consequences of rejecting it.

Deuteronomy 18:18, 19

[18] I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. [19] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

By 700 B.C. the Seed was identified as coming from the line of David, and that he would be born of a virgin. Furthermore, the Seed was to actually be Immanuel, God living with us, according to Isaiah. And, according to Micah he was to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, and was to be a ruler over all of Israel. Isaiah gave the first classic outline of the Seed’s personal greatness and the greatness of his rule and kingdom.

Isaiah 7:13, 14

[13] And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? [14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Micah 5:2

[2] But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Isaiah 9:6, 7

[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

By 600 B.C. Daniel described the details of what would be accomplished by the Seed from the time of his first coming to his Second Advent. He also gave the clearest picture of the Seed’s kingdom, and his saints living in it, during his earthly reign of 1000 years.

Daniel 9:24

[24] Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Daniel 7:13, 14, 27

[13] I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. [14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. [27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

By 520 B.C. Zechariah identified the Seed as the BRANCH out of David and the stone upon whom the omnipresence of the Spirit of God would dwell.

Zechariah 3:8-10

[8] Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. [9] For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. [10] In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.

By 430 B.C. Malachi identified the Seed as the Lord who would come to the temple as the messenger of the covenant, and also indicated that a messenger would precede him, announcing to prepare for the Seed’s arrival. We now know that messenger who came before him was John the Baptist. It was also Malachi who warned us what it would be coming on the earth just before his Second Advent, and what would follow it.

Malachi 3:1

[1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 4:1, 2

[1] For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

4 B.C. – The messenger of the Seed is born of Elizabeth, some six months before the face of the Seed appears in a manger in Bethlehem.

Luke 1:76-80

[76] And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; [77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, [78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, [79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. [80] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

Luke 1:30-33

[30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. [31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Galatians 4:4

[4] But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Galatians 3:24

[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 99

December 20, 2002

THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE SERIES

Events 1 to 7 were covered in whole numbered Updates 92 to 98

The Fantastic Changes in Prophecy Interpretation 1827 to 1970

If you are as interested as I am in the interpretation of prophecy, and will take the time to do so, by browsing in the archives of many institutions housing old books written from 1770 to 1970, you will see a fantastic change in the interpretations of the time known as the “latter” days, or more specifically, the tribulation period. This 200-year period saw what I believe to have been the correct interpretation of the tribulation period changed by modern interpretations, which I believe are incorrect. I was a teenager in 1945, and grew up in the hills of northern Arkansas under the teachings of older preachers born in the late eighteen hundreds, who still held to the beliefs of the 100 year period that preceded them. They had taken their teachings from men like B. H. Carroll, Barnes, Halley, and other great prophetic teachers of that period. So, in 1971, when I retired from the National Security Agency, and returned home to begin my seminary training, I was stunned to see how the interpretations of end time prophecies had changed. I was never, at any time, disruptive in any of my classes. I was there as the “teacher,” not the teacher. So I sat and listened to everything that was taught in my prophecy classes. I was very willing to change what I had been taught previously, thinking that it may well have been incorrect. And, in all honestly, knowing that I would stick out like a frog in a punch bowl with my beliefs, I kept silent. I honestly considered what my teachers were putting out concerning prophecy, and tried to see the errors in what I had been previously taught. But, after I graduated, I simply could not teach what I did not believe concerning prophecy. And I have taught, in the church I have been pastor for 28 years, basically what the preachers from 1770 to 1870 taught concerning the tribulation period.

The first thing I encountered after enrolling in seminary, before my first day in class, was a new book they were going through in Sunday school class in the church where I, and my family, were members. It took us a few months to go through it chapter by chapter. I discovered that a lot of other Sunday school classes for adults in other churches were also going through the same book. It was a book written by Hal Lindsey in 1970, titled “The Late Great Planet Earth.” It went on to become one of the greatest selling religious books on prophecy every written. I mean Mr. Lindsey no disrespect or harm, but it was a compilation of all the great changes that had occurred in prophetic interpretation from 1770 to 1970.

Mr. Lindsey said the six members of the European Common Market would grow to 10, and that they were the 10 toes of the statue in Daniel 2, and the 10 horns in Daniel 7. He predicted that the 11^th horn would arise in Italy and would represent the antichrist. Well, as anyone could easily predict, the Common Market grew. Today it is identified as the great European Union with 15 member nations, and it just agreed formally to take on 10 more in 2004. So where is the antichrist? Daniel’s figures now have 15 toes and 15 horns, and soon both will increase to 25. I can only urge preachers and teachers to get off this new horse. The antichrist and the 10 nations are not coming out of the EU. The antichrist is not a European, and the nations are not European. The antichrist is the one Micah identified as the Assyrian. And the ten nations are Islamic nations that were once a part of the old Roman Empire of John’s day. Please see our Prophecy Archives – Updates 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 74B, and 78A.

Mr. Lindsey taught that the “Gog” of Ezekiel 38 and 39 was a Russian prince. And he did this by interpreting the Hebrew word “Rosh” to be “Russia,” thereby identifying him as a Russian prince from the land of Magog. The land of Magog is Russia, but the antichrist is not a prince of Magog, he is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Most preachers and teachers continue to ride this dead horse. All I can urge you to do is to get off of it. It may have flown well when the Soviet Union was at its full blown greatness, but it has crashed, and many continue to go down with the plane. Please see our Prophecy Archives – Updates 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39.

Mr. Lindsey taught that Daniel 11:40 to 45 involves an attack by the king of the North, who he identifies as the Russian Prince who leads the Soviet Union, which he identifies as the northern nation that leads a group of 10 nations in a race across Israel to conquer Egypt. The well-known demise of the Soviet Union should have killed this teaching, but many still teach it. Please see our Prophecy Archives – Updates 71, 72, 73, 74, 74B, 74C, 74D, and 75.

Mr. Lindsey taught that the rapture of the saved occurs at the beginning of seven years of tribulation. The first interpreter of scripture, who ever put in print that the saved would not have to go through the majority of the tribulation period, was Morgan Edwards, who published such a book in 1788. He wrote it between 1742 and 1744, while he was a student at Bristol Academy in England, The book was published by Dobson and Lang, on 2nd Street Between Market & Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. The book taught a rapture when Christ appears in the air, 3 and ½ years before he descends to the earth with the saints to set up his millennial kingdom. The position that the rapture would occur seven years before Armageddon, never appeared in print before 1827 as an interpretation of the scriptures. I am indebted to Evangelist John L. Bray for much of the aforementioned accounts of historical rapture positions. If you want to see the historical rapture positions, and what I believe on the subject, please see our Prophecy Archives – Updates 74A, 73D, 76, 78A, and 82A.

Mr. Lindsey taught that the temple must be rebuilt before the Second Advent of Christ. This is still believed by most of the saved on this earth. But I do not believe it will be rebuilt until the early millennial reign of Christ. Please see our Prophecy Archives – Update 79

Mr. Lindsey taught that we still have 7 years of Daniel’s 490-year period left to fulfill. This was not the majority belief before 1830. I believe we only have 1335 days left of Daniel’s last week to be fulfilled. See our Prophecy Archives – Updates 55, 56, 57, and 58.

Mr. Lindsey taught that the antichrist would control the whole world as we know it today. If Jesus had come before the sixth century, that would have been the case. I believe the expressions, the whole earth, all of the world, wherever men dwell, etc., refers not to the known world of today, but to the days in which the prophecies were written. God uses the form of hyperbole throughout the prophetic writings. Please see our Prophecy Archives – Updates 73A, 77, 77A, 77B, and 77C.

Do I have a personal vendetta with Mr. Lindsey, or anyone who does not believe what I teach? Certainly not! Mr. Lindsey’s books have gotten a lot of people interested in the second coming of Christ. I know what Mr. Lindsey teaches and, if he is correct, I will recognize it when it starts to happen. I also know what a lot of other men teach on prophetic subjects. And if they are correct I will recognize it when it happens. The Lord told us to “WATCH,” and that is what I am doing. I have had people tell me, well, how can you be watching if you know when a prophetic event is going to occur? My answer is twofold: (1) I don’t know exactly when a prophetic event is going to occur, and (2) I could be wrong about what I believe. I have also been told, you sometimes change your mind about a thing you have taught in prophecy, and doesn’t that make you wishy-washy? My answer is twofold: (1) God is the only one who never changes His mind about prophecy, and (2) Christ is the only man who actually got it right the first time. A man who never changes his mind about prophecy is a man who claims he got it right the first time and therefore has never needed to change his mind. So I am amazed at the numbers holding the same prophetic views from their teens to the grave. I hold the same views of my teens on salvation, baptism, the church, and the church ordinances, but I have changed some of my views on prophecy. I can find the same teachings on the four mentioned subjects from 1770 to the present, but today’s prophetic teachings have changed to the extent it is difficult to find anyone teaching what was taught before 1827.

Today the world-of-the-saved is waiting for a strong leader to show up in Europe and eventually lead 10 European nations against Israel. They are looking for this man to control the entire world as we know it today. They are looking for this man to put a mark on all people around the circle of the earth from the north to the south poles. They are waiting for him to confirm a covenant of peace with Israel for seven years. They expect the covenant to be broken after 1260 days, and then the last 1260 days of the tribulation period to begin. And they are fully expecting for the rapture to occur before the peace covenant is signed, at which time they will be whisked up and miss all of the seven years. If Hal Lindsey and the post 1827 interpreters are correct, that is precisely what will happen. If they are wrong, then a lot of people are going to be very surprised, and very disappointed. I will not be disappointed one way or the other.

Matthew 24:42

[42] Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

If Christ comes at the first of the seven years, I’ll be watching.

If Christ comes in the midst of the seven years, I’ll be watching.

If Christ comes on the seventh trump, I’ll be watching.

If Christ comes at the end of the seven years, I’ll be watching.

I will not be disappointed regardless of when Christ comes!

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 99A

December 22, 2002

THE HISTORICAL MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

NUMBER 2 IN A SERIES

THE PROMISE OF THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIANIC SEED

KING DAVID’S STAR WHO WAS TO COME

In Special Prophecy Update Number 98A I indicated I would continue it. This is the second part of a two part series. In 98A it was recorded that by 600 B.C. Daniel described the details of what would be accomplished by the Seed from the time of his first coming to his Second Advent. He also gave the clearest picture of the Seed’s kingdom, and his saints living in it during his earthly reign of 1000 years.

Daniel 9:24

Daniel 7:13, 14, 27

We now know, of course, that his is the kingdom to which Luke referred as containing the throne of King David, upon which the Seed would set in his millennial kingdom.

Luke 1:30-33

Daniel’s ministry to the Babylonians, and the events of Israel’s coming King prophesied by the Old Testament Prophets up to 600 B.C., when correlated, yield some interesting results. We know that Daniel had the writings of Jeremiah, because he based his 70 weeks of chapter 9 on his prophecies. And it is more than reasonable to assume he had Isaiah and Micah’s writings, as well as others who wrote before 600 B.C. We also know he had the first five books of the Old Testament, because he quoted from Moses. I do not believe that Daniel sat around on his duff and kept God’s word secret from the Babylonians. I believe he shared the writings of God with the WISE MEN of Babylon. After all, he was, for some time, chief of the governors over all the WISE MEN of Babylon.

Daniel 2:48

[48] Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 5:8

[8] Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

I believe some of these WISE MEN believed the Scriptures that Daniel said came from the God of Israel. In one of the Scriptures Moses had written was recorded a prophecy by a man who was certainly not a good prophet, but nevertheless a prophet, that is, the prophet Balaam.

Numbers 24:14-17

[14] And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. [15] And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: [16] He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: [17] I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Of course, Jacob was renamed Israel by God, so both the Star and the Sceptre are associated with the same future descendant of the man Israel, which I believe was the Messiah, Jesus Christ, born King of Israel in a manger in Bethlehem, the city of David, as the son of Israel through Heli, the father of Mary. Christ was the Seed of Israel as a Lion of Judah and the Star of David. Joseph came through David’s son Solomon and Mary came through David’s son Nathan, and both of these lines met in the man Zerubbabel, to whom the following message concerning a headstone of grace was delivered by Zechariah.

Zechariah 4:7

[7] Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

I Peter 2:6

[6] Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. [7] Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

A new star, in many ancient cultures, was the symbol of a king’s birth, and his sceptre was the rod he carried as the symbol of his power to pass judgment, grant favors, direct battles, etc. The sceptre or scepter, when he sat on his throne, was usually positioned between his knees, and rested between his feet on the floor surface.

Amos 5:26

[26] But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

Acts 7:43

[43] Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

Revelation 22:16

[16] I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.