Israel last sermon
Zechariah 12: 9 And it will be in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem [d]the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. 11 In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the [e]plain of [f]Megiddo.
13: “In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. 2 “And it will be in that day,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass away from the land.
8 And it will be in all the land,” Declares Yahweh,
“That two parts in it will be cut off and breathe their
last; But the third will be left in it. 9 And I will
bring the third part through the fire And refine them as silver is refined
And test them as gold is tested. [e]They will call on My name, And I will answer
them;
I will say, ‘They are My
people,’ And they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’”
I am concluding the series of messages entitled, “What is happening in Israel, and what does it mean?” We’re not going to rehash everything that we’ve looked at so far. But I wanted to make sure you understand the purpose behind this sermon series. I began this study because some of my church members were concerned about the attack on Israel from the Gaza strip, that happened on October 7th, 2023, where 1000 were killed by the invasion of Hamas, and hundreds were kidnapped and held hostage. In the months that have followed, Israel has responded militarily by bombing Gaza, and the result has been the leveling of much of the real estate in the Gaza strip and the death of 19,000 plus more of Palestinians and Israelis. In addition, the nations of the world are trying to dictate to Israel the terms of this war, despite the fact that Hamas has not changed its goal of total Jewish annihilation, and the destruction of Israel. And they have not changed their tactics of shielding themselves with civilians and children.
So, last time we asked the question, “What has to happen in Israel, in order for the stage to be set for the last 7 years of history, called the Tribulation to occur?” In other words, “what does Bible prophecy say that we can look for as indicators that we are close to the end?” And I listed several things.
1. The Jewish people have to be in Israel. 2. There has to be Continued hostility and war in the middle east; particularly in Israel. 3. We will witness the rise of antichrist. 4. He will sign a 7-year treaty with Israel and other nations. 5. During the start of the Tribulation the Jewish temple will be rebuilt. 6. After 3 and ½ years, Antichrist will invade Jerusalem, put a stop to temple sacrifices, set Himself up to be worshiped, and start open and active hostilities against the Jewish people. 7. After 3 and ½ more years, Jesus returns, and the world, and the remaining 1/3 of the Jewish people will repent and come to the Lord in faith.
We have covered the first two of those signs so far. 1. The Jewish people have to be in Israel. 2. There has to be Continued hostility and war in the middle east; particularly in Israel.
Both of those puzzle pieces are close to being locked into place. So let’s move on to the third.
A. The rise of antichrist
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
Now notice verses 26 and 27 of Daniel 9.
and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And [ad]its end will come with a flood; even to the end [ae]there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week,
In Daniel 9, just before verse 26, the angel tells Daniel that the promised Messiah is killed. Then verse 26 says“and the people of the prince who is to come.” He starts talking about another prince, “who is to come.” He indicates that this other prince will come at some unknown future date. And that future prince will make a “confirm a covenant with the many for one week.” How long? One week. One seven. Seven years. The final 7 years are separated in the account from the 483 years. Altogether they make 490 years that God will use to finish His work, but the last seven are separated from the first 483. Messiah is killed after the 483, and the prince who is to come, or the antichrist ascends to his moment of power at the start of the last 7 years.
This is the second indication in this prophecy that the 490 years are not continuous. In other words, God tells Daniel about 483 consecutive years starting with the word from Artaxerxes that Jerusalem can be rebuilt, leading to the triumphal entry of Jesus. Then there is a break in the 490 years. Jesus is killed after the 483 years, and the antichrist rise to power is before the final 7 years. How do we know when the last 7 years of history, called the Great Tribulation begin? The “prince who is to come” the antichrist makes a 7- year treaty with “the many.”
So, we can expect to hear of a world leader who will formulate and initiate a 7-year treaty. As war and animosity foments toward Israel, somebody steps into the ring who proposes a covenant or treaty for 7 years. Talk about prophecy fitting current events. Prophecy tells us that the Jewish people will return to Israel, and they have. Prophecy describes war and building hostility toward Israel, and we are seeing it. And now prophecy describes a proposed “covenant” or treaty. I don’t know about you, but that is exactly what I expect to hear at any time, from the events in Israel. Someone has to come up with an agreement that will end the hostilities. Could that treaty be “the 7-year covenant” described here in Daniel 9? And could the person who drafts and proposes the conditions of that treaty end up being the one Daniel 9 describes as “the prince who is to come?” We know him as the antichrist. And if those two things are true, is it possible that we are seeing two signs, the treaty and the antichrist, unfold before our eyes? All of that is possible. We don’t know if this is it. But it is possible.
Now, it says that the 7-year covenant is with “the many.” Most commentators I’ve read said that this covenant is with Israel. I think the context indicates two things. Number one, the treaty or covenant has to be with more than just Israel, because other nations and peoples will be involved. Today, any treaty with Israel will naturally involve other middle eastern countries who have been hostile to Israel. It would likely also involve whatever country brokers the deal. For example, after WW2, Great Britain was instrumental in making the two-state deal and establishing a homeland for the Jewish people.
Today, if the U.N. was part of making a peace accord between Israel, and other middle eastern countries, you could say that all nations who are a part of the U.N. have entered the covenant. So, antichrist makes a covenant with many for 7-years.
So, we expect to see this antichrist figure arise.
Now, who is this antichrist? Is he already living? Is he already active in the world? Have we already heard of him? The short answer to all those questions is that we don’t know. All we can do is to familiarize ourselves with the Bible’s description of him, so that we can recognize him. And, the easiest way to recognize him will be to recognize the person who drafts and succeeds in formulating a 7 year treaty involving Israel and other nations. But, to make it fairly straight-forward, I pulled up a list online, of the Characteristics of Anti-Christ in the words of Scripture. Here they are.
https://www.stempublishing.com/authors/fereday/ANTICHRS.htmlCharacteristics of Anti-Christ in the words of Scripture.
W. W. Fereday.
1. His moral characteristics are these.
(My commentary will appear in parentheses. He defies God, and Jesus Christ.)
Isaiah 14:14 … He
shall say in his heart, I will be like the Most High.
Dan. 8:25 … He
shall stand up against the Prince of princes.
Dan. 11:36 … He
shall exalt himself above every god.
2 Thess. 2:4 … He
shall exalt himself "above all that is called God."
2 Thess. 2:4 . He
shall show himself that he is God.
1 John 2:22 … He
shall deny both the Father and the Son.
Rev. 13:6 … He
shall open his mouth in blasphemy against God.
Rev. 17:3 … He
shall be full of names of blasphemy.
(Now we don’t know how blatant he will be with his defiance of God at first. He may come with a milder tone. But as the final 7 years tick by, he becomes more arrogant, more blasphemous and more hostile to God and God’s people.)
2. The extent of his power.
(He gains power over all the world, either by war,
intimidation, or agreements.)
Isaiah 14:16 … He
shall make the earth to tremble, and shall shake kingdoms.
Isaiah 14:17 … He
shall make the world as a wilderness.
Dan. 7:25 … Times
and laws shall be given into his hand.
(He makes changes to times and laws. Now, we expect that he would change law. But it is interesting that it says he changes
times. We don’t know what this means,
but it could be that he will do what many around the world are trying to do today;
erase Christian, and Jewish influence from every aspect of every society. Our seven-day work week, Saturday Sabbath
day, and Sunday day of worship are woven into the fabric of nations around the
world. Christmas, Easter, All-Saints
day, and other days have Christian origins.
Maybe the antichrist will seek to erase them and outlaw them.)
Dan. 8:9 … He shall
wax exceeding great.
Dan. 8:24 … His
power shall be mighty. … He shall destroy wonderfully.
Dan. 11:36 … He shall
do according to his will.
Dan. 11:40 … He
shall enter into the countries and overflow.
Dan. 11:42 . He
shall stretch forth his hand upon the countries.
2 Thess. 2:9 … His
coming shall be with all power.
Rev. 13:7 … Power
shall be given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev. 17:13 … The
ten kings shall give their strength and power to him.
3. His power will be supported by miracles.
2 Thess. 2:9 … His
coming shall be after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and
lying wonders.
Rev. 13:12 … He
that ministers in his presence shall do great wonders, so that he shall make
fire come down from heaven on the earth, in the sight of men, and shall deceive
them that dwell upon the earth by means of these miracles which he shall have
power to do.
Rev. 13:15 … He
shall have power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the
beast should speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of
the beast should be killed.
4. His reception on the earth
(He will be almost universally accepted and
celebrated. Even the nation of Israel
initially makes a covenant with him.)
Rev 13:8 … All that
dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the
Lamb's book of life.
Rev. 13:15 …
Whosoever will not worship the image of the beast shall be killed
Rev. 17:8 … All
whose names are not written in the book of life shall wonder.
(Jesus prophetically said.)
John 5:43 … If
another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
(Now, some of these verses describe how he is received when he has come into his full power. It is likely that the worship that comes from the world will develop over the first 3 and ½ years of the Tribulation and come to full fruition when he sets up an image of himself in the temple.)
5. (the temple as )The place of his manifestation in
blasphemy.
Isaiah 14:13 … He
will sit on the mount of the congregation, on the sides of the north.
Dan. 8:11 … He will
take away the daily sacrifice.
Dan. 11:45 … He
will plant the tabernacles of his palace on the glorious holy mountain.
2 Thess. 2:4 … He
will sit in the temple of God.
6. He is named-
Dan. 7:20 …
"The Horn that has eyes," as denoting intelligence and strength.
In the New Testament he is called the Man of Sin, or the Wicked One. In Isaiah
also he is called the Wicked One."By the breath of his lips He (the Lord)
shall slay the Wicked One." Isaiah 11 (quoted
in 2 Thess. 2) In John he
is called "the Antichrist," in his special character of opposition to
Christ. In the Revelation he is called the Beast, as denoting his moral
estimate in the sight of Heaven.
7. He will be destroyed by no mere human agency.
Dan. 8:25 … He
shall be broken without hand.
Isaiah 11:4 … The
Lord with the breath of his lips shall slay the wicked one.
2 Thess. 2:8 … The
Lord shall consume him with the breath of his lips, and with the brightness of
his coming.
Rev. 19:15, 20. When He comes forth
who shall tread the wine-press of wrath, the Beast is taken, and cast alive
into the lake of fire.
There are some other possible details. He may be homosexual.
“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women” Daniel 11:37 (NIV) The meaning of this phrase “nor the desire of women” This could mean that he is homosexual, or it may mean that he is just so single-minded that he doesn’t have an intimate relationship with any woman.
He may be from a religious heritage. (Is he a Jew?)
“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women” Daniel 11:37 (NIV)
Some have intimated that this means that he will be Jewish, but not practicing or believing. But he could also be from a Christian family, but not a believer.
But we have a problem with predicting who he is, or who he will be because many of the prophecies tell us what he will do and be during the last 7 years of human history. We don’t know if he will manifest any of those characteristics before the last 7 years. In all likelihood, because he is able to broker some sort of 7-year treaty, he will most likely not come out looking like the devil from the start. Just like Satan, he will likely first appear as an “angel of light.” He will look like a good guy, a Savior, a wise politician, a statesman.
So, what do we expect to see before he presents himself? There’s really nothing that will be a definite sign that this or that person is the coming antichrist. Our first clue will be the 7-year treaty he initiates and succeeds in implementing.
So, what else would we expect to see?
B. A 7-year treaty will be confirmed.
27 And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week,
What is the significance of 7 years? Well, whatever the covenant between these “many” is, the time period of the agreement will be 7 years. Now, here’s an interesting question; What are the details? Maybe it will include a division of the land of Israel. Likely it will involve a cessation of hostilities. Maybe there will be the promise of aid from other countries for rebuilding. Possibly it will include an agreement on how the Jewish and Arab people can coexist religiously in the city of Jerusalem. If it were to happen today, it would have to include how Gaza and the West bank will be governed.
But one of the most intriguing parts of the agreement will likely be provisions for
C. The rebuilding of the temple
Why do I say that? Because of two things described in Daniel’s prophecy.
“and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
Daniel’s prophecy says that the antichrist will destroy “the sanctuary.” There is no sanctuary in Jerusalem to destroy.
And it says that “in the middle of the week (the 7 year tribulation) he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering and on the wing of [af]abominations will come the one who [ag]makes desolate,”
They describe a time 3 ½ years into the Tribulation when the antichrist puts a stop to “sacrifice and grain offering.” But there is no “sacrifice and grain offering” taking place in Jerusalem today. In fact, they would only restart the animal sacrificial system if they had a rebuilt temple.
Jesus also referred to this coming future day 3 ½ years into the Tribulation.
Matthew 24: 15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—
(Holy place? That was the inner room of the temple. There is no inner room of the temple in Jerusalem today, because there is no temple in Jerusalem today.)
[k]let the [l]reader understand— 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 [m]Whoever is on the [n]housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. 18 And [o]whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Moreover, pray that [p]when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.
Jesus said that there will come a day when “the abomination of desolation” will take place. “the abomination of desolation” is the desecration of the holy place of the temple.
In the Daniel passage we read that during the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation, there will be a return to some form of the animal sacrificial system of the Old Testament. In addition to that, the antichrist, after 3 ½ years, will defile the holy place, and put a stop to the sacrifices. And he will set up an image of himself in the holy place of the temple.
So, what can we expect to see in Israel today that would indicate that the time is near? We would expect to see them thinking again about rebuilding the temple and returning to an animal sacrificial system of worship.
So far, we’ve seen the puzzle pieces of the end-times puzzle click into place. The Jewish people have returned to their land, hostility toward Israel is growing around the world, a peace treaty is likely after the current war in Israel. What about rebuilding the temple, and reestablishing the animal sacrificial system?
Do we see from the Jews of Israel, this kind of return to their religious roots? For the most part, the Jewish people of today are secular. They are not religious. But there are some movements in Israel that are notable. I read this article online.
https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/article/update-building-third-temple
Is there any sign of preparation for a third Temple in Israel today?
Since 1987, when the Temple Movement began preparations for the rebuilding of the Third Temple, efforts to see this become a reality in the 21st century have been slowly progressing.
The importance to Orthodox Jews of rebuilding the Temple lies in its role in the redemption of the world, which they believe can only take place once the Temple is rebuilt. Gershon Salomon is director of the Temple Mount Faithful, an organization that has been trying to prepare Israeli society to accept and promote the rebuilding of the Temple through demonstrations at the Temple site, the construction of a cornerstone for the Third Temple, and the making of various Temple-related utensils. Salomon has said: “[Building the Third Temple] is an act which must be done to complete the redemption of the people of the Bible in the Land of the Bible. I cannot imagine an Israeli State or Israeli life in this country without the Temple Mount in the center of this life.”
Jewish leaders in the Temple Movement believe the Jewish people are not living on the spiritual level God intended because of the absence of the Shekinah (Divine Presence) from the world. Rabbi Chaim Richman, Director of the Temple Institute, which has produced all the ritual vessels necessary for the function of the Temple and works to train priests for this future work, says there is a connection between the need for a new level of spiritual attainment and the rebuilding of the Temple: “The Shekinah is brought about only through the Temple.…In terms of our mission as a people, we cannot in any way reach our spiritual status without the Temple.” For Orthodox Jews committed to reestablishing the Temple, both the present problems of the world and the problems faced by the Jewish people will be solved only by rebuilding.
Are we any closer to the rebuilding of the Temple today? The world is radically opposed to Israel’s claims in Jerusalem, much less their contested ownership of the Temple Mount. On a practical level, Jews are banned by Israeli law from praying at the site, and those who visit are daily accosted by Muslims, such as the Women in Black, who maintain a constant vigil on Jewish presence at the site. In addition, the Islamic authorities officially deny that a Temple ever existed at the site. Nevertheless, recent developments have contributed to the Temple Movement’s goals and the realization of the rebuilding of the Temple in our lifetime.
Answering the charge of denial a Jewish Temple ever existed on the site, archaeologists discovered in decades-old research that the site of the Al-Aqsa mosque, which Muslims believe was built by Abraham, was once a place for Jewish ritual preparation for entering the Temple. The evidence for this came from a report filed by British archaeologist Robert Hamilton who had documented excavations of the mosque’s foundations after it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1927. He discovered beneath the floor of the mosque the remains of a Jewish miqveh (ritual pool used for purification). It dated to the time of the Second Temple when Jews immersed at this site before entering the Temple precincts. These findings, hidden deep in the British Mandatory archives department because they embarrassed Muslim officials, now provide evidence that the ancient Temple stood on the modern Temple Mount and was a place of Jewish presence.
Concerning the preparations for the Temple service, the Sanhedrin has taken steps necessary for reinstating future Temple service. One project of the group has been the planting of the Biblical Temple forest which will serve the agricultural needs of the Third Temple. Rabbi Hillel Weiss, spokesman for the Sanhedrin, explained that the Temple provided a link between the land and the Divine: “When people think about sacrifices, they think about animals and blood, but most were from plants grown around Israel.”
Rabbi Richman, also a member of the Sanhedrin, has been heading a project to restore the sacred Red Heifer to Israel. According to Numbers 19, the ashes of the Red Heifer mixed with water are a necessary element for purifying Jews to enable them to do service in the Temple. During the time of the First and Second Temples, a span of approximately 1,000 years, only nine Red Heifers were used in preparing the waters used to purify Jews. According to Jewish tradition, the tenth one will be used by the Messiah. Richman and other rabbis of the Temple Institute are providing halachic supervision and guidance in partnership with an Israeli cattleman who is an expert in the science of animal husbandry. He is utilizing the technique of implanting the frozen embryos of the Red Angus cattle, which originally come from North America, into Israeli domestic cattle. A red heifer cannot be transported to Israel for use in the Red Heifer ceremony, because the animal cannot have ever worn a yoke and must be born in the Land of Israel. The project is the culmination of years of research at the Temple Institute that fuses ancient religious texts and modern science.
The Sanhedrin and the Temple Movement also hold reenactments of Temple ceremonies for the training of those who are from the priestly class known as Kohanim. This training involves special schooling on the duties of the priests, the use of ritual vessels created for use in the Third Temple, and practice on a newly constructed altar of burnt offering. This altar is unique because it was designed to be disassembled and quickly reassembled in its proper permanent location, because the people of Israel are required to build an altar exclusively on the site of the original altar on Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount. When the time is right, it will be re-assembled on the Mount in the Temple, enabling the sacrificial service to be resumed without delay.
Another recent rediscovery of the Temple Institute has been the revival of the science of producing biblical crimson. This dye was used in the garments of the High Priest, the parochet (the massive curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place in the Temple), and was an ingredient used in the mixture combined with ashes of the Red Heifer. Professor Zohar Amar of Bar Ilan University discovered that the eggs of the tola’at shani (crimson worm) found in modern Israel would produce the crimson dye.
While the Temple Movement continues to prepare for the rebuilding of the Temple, most understand that some political action must take place to reverse the present situation of control of the Mount by Muslims, in order to allow for Jewish access. This currently may be in process. Concerning the site, Israel’s Supreme Court has stated in its ruling Opinion on the Issue of the Works on the Temple Mount, “The reality on the Temple Mount…is by no means simple. It is extremely delicate and complicated…This is one of those cases in which a judicial ruling is not the reasonable way to decide the dispute, and a decision of this kind goes beyond the boundaries of the law. It is the political echelon, and not the court…that must give content and meaning to the historical call: ‘The Temple Mount is ours’.” In other words, this must be a political, not legal, action. Those who understand Daniel’s prophecy of the seventieth week (Daniel 9:27) know that it is a future political leader, the Antichrist of Revelation 13, who will one day make a deceptive covenant with the Jewish leaders, leading to the rebuilding of the Third Temple.
How might this happen? One possibility was found in an academic book on the politics of the Temple Mount: “Given the emphasis upon the international community’s interest in the sites, under the concept of heritage of humankind, representatives from the international community need to be included as mediators and guarantors. These would likely come from the United Nations (UNESCO) and drawn from regional powers such as the Arab League, NATO, or interested states such as the U.S., the E.U., and Russia…Any proposed legal regime will require interfaith cooperation composed of religious leaders from the region. It may be supplemented by international religious leaders who may serve as mediators.”1 Those who seek to understand biblical prophecy know that the Antichrist will be followed by both political and religious leaders, making this kind of proposal a reality.
To summarize; they know the site, they are training the priests, they are raising red heifers, they are collecting and making the artifacts and furniture. They just wait for the right political time and the right leader who will catalyze their efforts.
If there were a peace accord that comes out of this current conflict that would allow Israel to rebuild its temple, that would be a very significant piece of the puzzle coming into place. I can say this. It is likely that some peace agreement will come out of this current war in Israel. But we may not know all of the details. We may not know exactly who orchestrated the deal. We may, we may not. We may not know that it is a 7-year agreement. That may be written into the clauses, and provisos of the accord. But, I’ll say this, if that agreement allows the Jews to rebuild the temple, and we see construction start, buckle your seatbelts folks, the rides about to get bumpy.
So, what is the timetable at that time? From the beginning of the treaty agreement until antichrist invades Jerusalem, takes over their temple, and sets up an image of himself there, will be 3 ½ years.
D. The sacrifice and grain offering will be put to a stop by antichrist.
3 ½ years in to the 7-year treaty and Tribulation, the antichrist will invade Israel, and set up an image of himself in their temple holy place. He will put a stop to the sacrifice and grain offering. The book of Revelation describes it this way.
Revelation 13: Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been [c]slain fatally, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth marveled and followed after the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking [d]great boasts and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who [e]dwell in heaven.
7 And it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been [f]written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Jesus said this.
15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—[k]let the [l]reader understand— 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 [m]Whoever is on the [n]housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. 18 And [o]whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Moreover, pray that [p]when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.
The last 7 years of Satan’s dominion in our world is called the Tribulation. The last 3 ½ years are called the Great Tribulation. During the first 3 ½ years there will be worldwide distress from war, famine, disease, and catastrophe. But after the antichrist demands the world’s worship, then we see the worst of judgments from God, and the worst of antichrists efforts to destroy God’s people. It is then that “the mark of the beast” becomes law. You will not be able to buy or sell unless you take the mark.
Now, that really is the answer to the question, “What can we expect to see happening in Israel if the time is near?” We would expect Israel to be established as a nation, and it is. We would expect increasing hostility and war directed to Israel, and we are seeing that. We would expect Israel to be making preparations for rebuilding their temple and returning to their sacrificial system of worship. They are making those preparations. And we expect to see antichrist come forward with a 7-year treaty. I can almost say without any doubt that there will be some sort of treaty come out of this current conflict. Whether it will be “the” antichrist treaty remains to be seen.
Now, that brings us to the conclusion of this message series. I don’t want to leave us on such a dismal note. Because the Bible tells us the rest of the story.
At the 3 ½ year mark, the antichrist marches with his armies on Jerusalem and takes the city. He sets up an image of himself in the temple and begins a wholesale slaughter of the Jewish people. They flee into the wilderness where Scripture says they will be protected for the remaining 3 ½ years, called the “Great Tribulation.” And God continues judging the unbelieving world with plagues, even more intense than have occurred in the first 3 ½ years. At the end of the 7 years, all the armies of the world are gathered in the valley of Megiddo to finish the job of destroying all of God’s people the Jews. By this time 2/3 of all Jewish people have been slaughtered. The remaining 1/3 are cowering in their homes, or in the wilderness, waiting for the final axe to fall.
But what then? Daniel 12 says this.
9 Then he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purged, [k]purified, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but [l]those who have insight will understand. 11 But from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the [m]abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 How blessed is he who keeps waiting and reaches the 1,335 days!
Do you know what that means? Let me make a proposition. The Hebrew calendar was 360 days long. We know that the worst of the end times is the Great Tribulation that last 3 ½ years. 3.5 x 360 is 1,260. But the passage we just read in Daniel says
11 But from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the [m]abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. What are the extra 30 days? Well, I can’t say for sure, but I imagine that they may be the time between when we see Jesus’ return, immediately and decisively win the battle of Armageddon and His beginning the set-up of His millennial kingdom. What would happen in those 30 days? The reconciliation and gathering of the people of God from around the world.
Also the rapture of the church.
Well then it says in Daniel,
12 How blessed is he who keeps waiting and reaches the 1,335 days!
1,335 days is 45 days beyond 1,290. What happens in those 45 days? Again, Scripture doesn’t precisely lay it out, but I imagine it is the time of the cleansing of the earth and particularly Israel from all the death from war and judgment, the supernatural renewal of the earth from the hand of the Lord, and the setting up of His 1000-year reign.
What a glorious vision of the future. Let’s go to the Lord in thanksgiving for what He has prepared for Israel and the world.