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Daniel 7:6 leopard map
Daniel 7:6 leopard map
Daniel 7:6
By Craig C. White
Daniel describes the end time formation of an Islamic Union. My Map below shows the four nations that will first form this Union. My map also shows the four other nations that are likely to become secondary members. This Islamic Union will join the European Union plus the new Russian Union to form the next World Empire.
Dan 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.I wrote my commentary titled “The Leopard is Upon Us!” way back in 2011. Since then the identity of the four primary nations of the leopard in Daniel 7:6 has become more apparent. In November 2014 then Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan announced his plans to form a new Islamic Union. I think that the first four nations to be included in this Union will be Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. These are the same four nations that Revelation 9:13-16 identifies as being located along the Euphrates River. During the first half of the seven year Tribulation period these four nations along with four other secondary nations (or perhaps four Terrorist organizations) will conquer most of the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Central Asia. Please read my commentary titled World War III.
Rev 9:13-16 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
Now President Erdogan has made his intentions of forming a Turkish ruled revived Ottoman Empire with him as it’s Sultan very clear! The first nation to fall to Erdogan and to the Turkish Army will be Syria. After Damascus is destroyed and Syria is conquered then Erdogan will install Muslim Brotherhood leadership there! Then the leopard (or Islamic Union) will be formed.
Read my commentary about Daniel chapter 7 and the formation of the next World Empire titled The Leopard is Upon Us! in my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichristfacebook YouTube
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Question: What do these Bible verses have in common?
Question: What do these Bible verses have in common?
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man” and “one shall be taken, and the other left”
Answer: They have nothing at all to do with the Rapture.
By Craig C. White
Did you know that not a single one of these verses pertains to Church age Christians? I’ll bet that you didn’t. Every one of these Bible verses are from Matthew chapter 24. Matthew chapter 24 was written directly to the Jews living in and around Jerusalem during the time of their great tribulation. Matthew chapter 24 has nothing at all to do with the Church. Earthquakes are not a sign of the Rapture. The Church is not being warned to be on the lookout for false prophets. God’s elect are not Church age believers. A generation should not be counted from the date that Israel became a nation until the time of the Rapture. The phrase “But of that day and hour knoweth no man” does not refer to the day of the Rapture! The days of Noah do not describe conditions on earth before the Rapture. At the Rapture one shall not be taken, and the other left. The Christians that I talk with don’t understand any of these verses. It is High Time that Christians properly understood their Bibles.
In Matthew chapter 24 Jesus is addressing his Jewish disciples. The Gentile Church is still a mystery. Jesus is telling his disciples about the trials that Jerusalem and Judea will endure during their great tribulation.
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Jerusalem’s great tribulation will begin during the middle of the seven year long Tribulation period. One day unexpectedly the armies of the Antichrist will attack Jerusalem and Judea and take half of the people as prisoners. This begins Jerusalem’s great tribulation. Some bad things will happen before the Antichrist invades Jerusalem. Jesus warns the Jews living around Jerusalem to be on the lookout for false teachers and also for great wars and natural disasters.
Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Almost every Christian is tracking earthquakes as a sign of the approaching Rapture. That is a big mistake. Earthquakes, famines, and disease outbreaks are signs to Israel that their day of trouble is near! Earthquakes are not a sign of the Rapture.
Matthew 24:6-8 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Almost every Christian sees the Church represented in the following verse. Not so. This verse is talking about the day that the Antichrist invades Jerusalem and captures or kills its inhabitants. From that day the nations will oppress Israel for three and one half years.
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
In the next verse; these false prophets will deceive Israel during their time of trouble. These false prophets are not sent to the Church.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
When Matthew chapter 24 mentions the elect it is not talking about Christians but it is talking about Israel, God’s chosen people. The Jewish people must beware of false Christ’s as well as false prophets. It seems that Matthew is saying that the false Christs will arise once the great tribulation begins.
Matthew 24:23-24 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
I know that the following verse sounds like it is describing the Rapture but it isn’t. The elect identifies Israel, God’s chosen people not the Church. After the Tribulation Jesus Christ will collect all of the faithful Jews who have been dispersed throughout the world from the time of Abraham. They won’t be taken up into heaven. They will be resurrected and travel back to Israel. God will dry up the Red Sea, and the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers so that the Old Testament Jews can cross over them on their way back to Israel. Please notice that there is no mention of the Jews ascending into the sky.
Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
I have heard so many Christians trying to reconcile the length of a generation in order to establish the timeframe of the Rapture. Wow that is another big mistake. The generation who sees the beginning of the Tribulation will also see the end of the Tribulation, and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Try as I may, I can not correct the thinking of modern day Christians.
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Here is a BIG one. Boy how many times have I been rebuked by Christians using this verse? These Christians do not understand their Bibles. The day and hour that Jesus identifies is not the day of the Rapture. It isn’t even the day of Jesus Christ’s second coming. Jesus is WARNING the Jews living around Jerusalem to WATCH for the armies of the Antichrist as they approach Jerusalem. On that day they are instructed to flee to the mountainous wilderness east of Jerusalem. That day begins Jerusalem’s great tribulation. The faithful Jews who heed Jesus’ warning will take refuge in Jordan during the great tribulation.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Here is another one. The days of Noah do not describe the poor spiritual condition on earth today. The days of Noah don’t even describe the poor spiritual condition on earth before the great tribulation begins. The days of Noah describe the sudden destruction that will come upon Jerusalem and Judea when the armies of the Antichrist attack! The point is that this invasion will be a BIG SURPRISE. On a day when everybody in Jerusalem is living their lives as usual then sudden destruction will come upon them just like the flood took Noah’s generation by surprise!
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
I hate to burst your fuzzy brain bubble but the next verse does not describe the Rapture of the Church. Matthew is still chronicling the events of the day of Jerusalem’s trouble. When the Antichrist invades Jerusalem, his armies will take one Jew as prisoner and leave the next. In that way one half of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will be taken away captive. This is the same thing that Antiochous Epiphanies did when his armies invaded Jerusalem in 167 BC.
Matthew 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
When the Antichrist invades Jerusalem then half of its residents will be taken captive. Zechariah tells us all about it.
Zechariah 14:1-3 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. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
In the next verse the term “Son of man” does not describe Jesus at his second coming nor does it describe Jesus when he comes for the Church at the Resurrection and Rapture. Believe it or not the term “Son of man” refers to the Antichrist as he approaches Jerusalem.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
This is the same day that is described in Luke 17:30-31.
Luke 17:30-31 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
On the day that the armies of the Antichrist attack Jerusalem and Judea its residents are instructed to WATCH and to run for their lives. They must not return home for anything because the Antichrist’s armies will be going house to house capturing every other Jew. They must flee into the Judean wilderness in order to escape being captured or killed. It would be nice if Christians finally understood this. I think that the residents of Judea might be interested in knowing.
Read my commentary titled One shall be taken and the other left
If you really want to understand Matthew 24 then read my book Judea Flee! Jerusalem Wait! It was written to the Jews just like Matthew 24.
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Matthew 24 What shall be the sign of thy coming?
Earthquake, Canterbury, NZ. Photo credit: Martin LuffWhat shall be the sign of thy coming?
Which coming?
Matthew 24
By Craig C. White
Many bible teachers say that there will be earthquakes and wars before Jesus Christ returns for his Church. They say that these signs are the beginning of sorrows mentioned in Matthew 24:8. Well hold on just a minute. Are these signs meant for the Church or do these signs precede Israel’s terrible time of trouble?
In Matthew 24 Jesus is asked the question “what shall be the sign of thy coming?” Which coming is he describing? Is he describing his coming to gather Church age believers, or is he describing the period before he comes to rescue the nation of Israel and set up his throne in Jerusalem?
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
First it is important to understand who Jesus is talking to. He is talking to his disciples. It is important to note that they are all Jewish. They are all looking forward to God establishing his kingdom on earth. It is also important to note when the message was given. It was given by Jesus before his death, and before the gospel was preached to the gentile nations. This message was given before the Church was established.
Then it is important to carefully examine the message itself. Are there clues to which group of people Jesus is prophesying about? Yes, there are very clear indications that Jesus is prophesying about the trails of the Jewish people during the Tribulation period. So Matthew 24 should not be used to illustrate the signs of the rapture of the Church. Also Matthew 24 should not be used to prove that the Church will participate in the Tribulation period.
The gospels are very important since they record Jesus Christ’s genealogy, standards of righteousness, forgiveness of sin, miracles, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy regarding the Messiah, and Christ’s death as payment for the worlds’ sin. The message of the four gospels is to be understood by Church age believers. We should also understand that most of Jesus’ teaching, parables, and prophecy are specifically directed to the nation of Israel. Jesus was sent especially to seek and to save the lost sheep of Israel.
Mat 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
It is sometimes difficult to know who is being addressed in the New Testament. Is Jesus talking about the nation of Israel or is he talking about the Church? A rule of thumb is that Jesus was sent to the Jews first and primarily. The gospel of the coming kingdom of God was preached first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Jesus primarily taught the nation of Israel. The four gospels were written about Jesus’ life and ministry. They primarily address the nation of Israel. Of course, there is plenty of teaching to be absorbed by Church age believers. The disciples taught the Jews first and then went out to the other nations. The epistles to the churches were written specifically to Church age believers!
Act 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Let’s take a quick look at Matthew 24. I know that preachers and prophecy buffs like to identify natural disasters as signs of Jesus’ return for his Church, but these signs were written about the nation of Israel during the Great Tribulation. They are signs of Jesus’ second coming to defeat Israel’s enemies and set his throne in Jerusalem forever.
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
So who is Jesus talking about? As we will see, “the beginning of sorrows” in verse 8 above are not signs that Church age believers should be on the lookout for. Instead, they are events that will happen during the first part of the Tribulation period. Jesus is talking to and about the nation of Israel here. In verse 9 below Jesus tells his Jewish disciples that “ye shall be hated of all nations”. The word translated as “nations” is the Greek word “ethnos”. It is often translated as “gentile”. Ethnos refers to non-Jewish nations. It doesn’t refer to all countries in the world. It refers to all families or people groups. In practical terms it refers to old world nations that came from specific families; like the Greeks, Turks, Egyptians, Syrians, Iranians, Saudis, Jordanians, and many more. So in verse 9 Jesus isn’t saying that Church members will be hated, but that the nation of Israel will be hated by all their surrounding nations.
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
In the verses below Jesus isn’t addressing the Church, but he is warning Jews during the 7 year Tribulation period. Many Jews will disregard God and his promises to Israel. Many Jews will be killed. But those who trust God to the end will be saved. Please read my commentary titled “The Last Jews in Jerusalem” in my book “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
In Matthew 24:14 below we can see that Jesus is talking about the Tribulation period. The Tribulation period is a seven year span designated for God to show his displeasure for Israel’s rejection of him. In Matthew 24:14 the gospel is preached in all the world. This happens during the Tribulation period as described in Revelation. So we can see that Jesus is addressing people that live during the Tribulation period.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
The following verses are obviously addressed to Jews living around Jerusalem. The inhabitants of Judea (region around Jerusalem) are called by name in verse 16. So it is very clear that Jesus is describing the coming trials of the nation of Israel, and not the signs of the rapture of his Church.
Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
If that isn’t enough evidence that Jesus is describing Israel’s Great Tribulation, then look at Matthew 24:21 below. This is the verse that we get the term “Great Tribulation” from.
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Today the Church is suffering at the hands of the nations, but the nation of Israel is scheduled to suffer 7 years of tribulation. In Matthew 24 Jesus is explaining the trials that Israel will suffer during the Tribulation period. The beginning of sorrows in Matthew 24:8 are the events of the first part of the Tribulation. After the abomination of desolation in Mat 24:15 the worst part of the Tribulation begins (Dan 9:27). It is called “great tribulation” in Matthew 24:21. The second part of the Tribulation lasts 3 ½ years or 42 months or 1260 days (Dan 7:25, Dan 12:7, Rev 11:2-3, Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14, Rev 13:5).
The Tribulation Period is designated to exercise God’s indignation towards the nation of Israel, not for the trying of the Church. The 7 year Tribulation period is the same as the seventieth week prophesied by Daniel (Dan 9:24). It is a 7 year period of trouble for the nation of Israel, not a time for trying the Church. Jeremiah calls the Tribulation “the time of Jacob’s trouble” not the time of the Church’s trouble. The Tribulation period is primarily designed for Israel’s chastisement.
Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
In 1 Thessalonians below the dead in Christ are raised from the grave. Those “in Christ” are Church age believers. They are “caught up” or taken by force up into the sky. The gathering of Jews will happen differently as we will see. Please read my commentary titled “The Rapture Day!” in my book “God’s Great Expectations”.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Below, the elect are God’s chosen people (Deu 7:6). They are the people of Israel. The people of Israel will be raised from the dead at the end of the Tribulation period. They won’t be taken into the sky. They will walk back to the land of Israel on foot.
Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Isa 11:11-12 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
God will make a roadway for the Hebrews to return to Israel. God will dry up the Red Sea, and the Euphrates, and Tigris Rivers to make roadways for the resurrected Jewish believers to cross over. In Isaiah 11:15-16 below Jesus dries up the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea (that is the tongue of the Egyptian sea)! He will also dry up the Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris rivers in order to make a way for the resurrected Hebrews to cross over them! Please read my commentary titled “Aliyah Israel Arise Return” in my book “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.
Isa 11:15-16 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. 16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
We have looked at the signs of Jesus’ coming to gather Israel. So what is the sign of Jesus’ coming to gather his Church? Well there isn’t one specific event that triggers the Rapture but we are instructed to understand Old Testament prophecy in order to recognize the Tribulation as it approaches! The Rapture will happen before the Tribulation.
In 2 Thessalonians below, Paul is addressing the Church in Greece which was comprised largely of Gentiles, not of Jews. Paul calls them brethren in Christ. So Paul is describing the Rapture of the Church in verse 1. The believers in Thessalonica were worried that the Tribulation was beginning. They were worried that the Rapture had not yet happened! Paul told them that two Old Testament prophecies must take place before Jerusalem’s great tribulation began. Those two events were the falling of Satan from heaven to earth and the revealing of the Antichrist as he sits in the temple in Jerusalem. I think that these two events actually happen during the first half of the seven year Tribulation period. Paul was assuring the Thessalonians that the Tribulation had not yet begun. Paul was assuring the Thessalonians that they would escape the terrible time of trouble on earth. Please read my commentary titled “The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist” in my book of the same title.
2Th 2:1-3 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 below Paul says that the Church members in Thessalonica will be saved from the coming tribulation. The word “salvation” in verse 13 isn’t describing deliverance from sin, but it is describing physical rescue from God’s wrath on earth during the Tribulation.
2Th 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here are two other verses that indicate that Church age believers will escape from the wrath of the Tribulation period. These people have already been saved from sin. Salvation here is the rescue from physical harm during the Tribulation on Earth.
Rom 5:7-10 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Again physical rescue or “salvation” comes to people who already believe!
If you are still on earth when you see most of the old world nations at full scale war with each other and also hear of famines, and disease outbreaks, and earthquakes happening all over the world, then you are in trouble. You have entered the beginning stages of the Tribulation period. It is High Time to Awake!
Read “What shall be the sign of thy coming?” in my book God’s Great ExpectationsRead The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist in my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist
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Mystery Babylon: Party till you Perish
Rembrandt, The Feast of Belshazzar: The Writing on the Wall c. 1635Mystery Babylon: Party till you Perish
Iran will destroy Mecca
Isaiah 21:4
By Craig C. White
It is my contention that “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” in Revelation 17:5 is a prominent city in Arabia. The city called Mystery Babylon is described as a city in the desert by the sea (Isa 21:1) . It is also described as “the mother of harlots (Rev 17:5)“. In the Bible harlots typically represent false religions. The strongest argument for Mecca as being Mystery Babylon is that Mecca is the world seat of Islam. Mecca also has the largest building in the world and almost the tallest. Mecca itself isn’t a port city. Mecca is about 45 miles east of the Red Sea port city of Jedda. The name Mecca actually means Mother so maybe we should just stop looking elsewhere for the Mother of Harlots. Dubai is another city of interest because it is located on the Persian Gulf and has one of the worlds wealthiest seaports. Also Dubai has the worlds tallest building. You may read my treatise titled “Dubai: a Case for Mystery Babylon”.
This commentary looks at the very day and very way of the destruction of “that great city” described in Revelation 17:18. Just like ancient Babylon, the modern city called Mystery Babylon will be in the midst of a drunken party when its destruction comes suddenly!
You are probably familiar with the story of the fall of the ancient city of Babylon (Dan 5:1-6). The once powerful Babylonian empire was on the brink of failing. The king in Babylon was bunkered within the city gates with his princes. The princes were gathered to the city of Babylon because their regions were already overthrown by the Medes and the Persians. The city was the last stronghold of the Babylonian Empire. The Medes had besieged the city for months, and were about to break through its walls. Belshazzar, king in Babylon was yet prideful. He thought that nobody would conquer the walled city. In an effort to demonstrate his self-confident supremacy he decided to host a party. At that time the people of Israel (that is Judah) were captives in Babylon. Belshazzar further demonstrated his preeminence by drinking from the holy vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple. During the drunken party Belshazzar noticed a disembodied hand over by the punch bowl, writing a salutation on the wall.
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN (Dan 5:25).
God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians (Dan 5:26-28).
That very night the Medes and Persians overran the city of Babylon and King Belshazzar was killed. That night the Mede and Persian Empire conquered the Babylonian Empire (Dan 5:30-31). In much the same way Mystery Babylon will fall in the future.
There is a principle in Bible prophecy; that some prophecies have two distinct applications. They apply to two separate events usually separated by time. This is the case with several prophecies regarding the demise of ancient Babylon. They also apply to MYSTERY BABYLON. Mystery Babylon is a city that exists during the Great Tribulation. We are going to look at a section of scripture in Isaiah that pertains to the fall of ancient Babylon, and then a section in Jeremiah. Let’s start by looking at Isaiah.
Isa 13:6-11 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
Remember that these verses pertain to the judgment of Babylon. The above verses describe “the day of the LORD” (Joel 2:31). “The day of the LORD” occurs during, and at the end of the Great Tribulation period in the future. So evidently this verse also applies to future events.
Isa 13:17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
As we saw earlier, the Medes did overthrow the city of ancient Babylon. It occurs to me that they might also overthrow Mystery Babylon in the future. The Medes are today’s Kurds!
Isa 21:1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
The verse above applies much better to Mecca than it does to Babylon in Iraq. The original city of Babylon is nowhere near a sea. Mecca near the Red Sea in the Saudi desert. Also notice that the whirlwinds come from the desert in the south. That is true for Mecca. In Iraq the desert is on the west.
Isa 21:2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
Elam is ancient Persia or modern Iran. Media refers to the Medes or roughly the area of Northern Iraq, and Eastern Turkey. Today the Kurds represent the ancient Medes. Just as they destroyed Babylon in the past, they may destroy Mystery Babylon in the future.
Modern Kurdish inhabited area. map credit http://www.cia.govThe Kurds live in northern Iraq, eastern Syria, and eastern Turkey. They have separate status from the rest of Iraq. The Kurds have their own government and military. The Kurds are the ancient Medes. Isaiah 21:2 above describes the past destruction of Babylon and also the future destruction of Mystery Babylon. I think that Mystery Babylon is most likely Mecca. The Kurds and the Iranians will destroy Mecca!
Isa 21:3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
This describes Belshazzar’s reaction to the writing on the wall. This same language is used to describe the fear of the nations in “the day of the LORD” (1Th 5:3, Jer 49:22).
Isa 21:4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. 5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
Above describes the banqueting of the princes of Babylon. Their party was interrupted by an invasion. I suspect that like ancient Babylon, Mystery Babylon may be in the midst of a drunken party at the moment of their sudden demise.
Isa 21:9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
This same language that describes the fall of Babylon here also describes the fall of “Mystery Babylon” in Revelation 14:8.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Now let’s look at Jeremiah.
Jer 51:6 Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.
People are warned to come out of ancient Babylon above. They are also warned to come out of Mystery Babylon during the Great Tribulation in Revelation below.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Jer 51:7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
Belshazzar’s party guests drank from the holy vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Likewise God has used Babylon and its philosophy of idolatry and world conquest to pollute the nations since. Any party that is pressing toward “the New World Order” or “One World Government” or “world dominance by religion” or “any world empire, or Caliphate” is drunk with Babylonian wine.
Jer 51:8-9 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. 9 We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
Babylon is best known for its high tower. It represented world unity without obligation to God. This is the kingdom that Satan longs for. Today, Mecca and Dubai stand for the same thing. They have built their towers to heaven. Their judgment will match.
Jer 51:13 O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.
In Bible prophecy “many waters” often pertains to “many nations”. This can describe the nations of the world today that are imbibed with Babylonian ideals. It is also appropriate to describe Dubai’s situation as it is built on the Arabian Sea with many man-made islands. One could easily describe Mecca or Dubai as “abundant in treasures”.
Jer 51:53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.
As it was in Babylon it will be in Mystery Babylon. The Dubai Tower (Burj Khalifa) is the tallest in the world at 2,684 feet. The Abraj Al Bait Tower (or the Mecca Clock Tower) is a building complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the worlds second tallest building at 1,972 feet. It has the largest floor area of any structure in the world.
Jer 51:57 And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
The princes of Babylon got drunk out of Israel’s holy vessels. God will give them their desires. They will drink and never awake from their stupor. As it was in Babylon it will be in Mystery Babylon.
For more about Mystery Babylon read Dubai: a Case for Mystery Babylon in my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist
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Elam does not always refer to Iran in the Bible
Elam does not always refer to Iran in the Bible
Sometimes it refers to the kingdom of Elam before it was absorbed by Persia
By Craig C. White
As a Bible prophecy student you may run across these verses in Jeremiah chapter 49. They describe the fate of Elam which often refers to Persia (or today’s Iran) in the Bible. Before you ascribe these verses to the end time fate of Iran please allow me to caution you. These verses don’t apply to Persia as a whole but to the smaller kingdom of ancient Elam.
Jeremiah 49:34-39 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. 36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. 37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: 38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. 39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.
Even though the term Elam is now used to describe Persia (or Iran); Elam was originally a separate kingdom located along the Persian Gulf northwest of Persia. Around 600 BC Elam helped Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Jerusalem and Judea.
Isaiah 22:6 And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.
God proclaimed Elam’s punishment in Jeremiah 49:34-39 because Elam had lifted its hand against Judea. God promised that the nations from the four corners of the earth would attack Elam and scatter them all over. That is exactly what happened.
The Assyrian King Assurbanipal conducted a series of devastating assaults on Elam between 647 and 646 BC. Around 600 BC the Medes conquered an already weakened Elam. In 596 BC Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Elam. After 539 BC the Persian Empire conquered Elam. King Cyrus made Susa in Elam one of Persia’s capital cities. During these invasions the people of Elam were deported to Assyria, Israel, Media, Babylonia, and Persia.
Elam as an independent kingdom ceased to exist when it became a part of Persia. Since then the name Elam has been used to describe Persia at large. Jeremiah 49:39 says that in the latter days God will once again bring the people of Elam back into their own land. It seems likely that this will happen after Jesus Christ returns.
Elam was a separate kingdom from Persia. Elam was then attacked over a period of one hundred years by every neighboring nation. The people of Elam were carried away to every other nation until Elam as a kingdom ceased to exist. Persia finally took control over Elam and converted it into one of their capitals. The term Elam is often used to describe Persia (or Iran) in the Bible. But Jeremiah used it to describe the smaller kingdom of ancient Elam before it was absorbed by Persia. So this passage is not about God’s judgement towards modern day Iran.
Read my BIG BOOK of Bible Prophecy for what you must know about end time Bible prophecy
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Since we are in the end time I would pay attention to this solar eclipse
Since we are in the end time I would pay attention to this solar eclipse
End time message to the US
By Craig C. White
Brothers and sisters we are in the end time. The Antichrist has already been revealed. During another celestial event Turkish President Erdogan sat on the floor of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral saying that only Allah should be worshiped. This fulfills 2Thessalonians 2:4.
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The Turkish army is already in Syria ready to march southward to destroy Damascus. The Turkish army is amassed between Hamah and Tell Rifaat in northwestern Syria Jeremiah 49:23-27 says that when Hamah and Tell Rifaat hear evil reports then the residents of Damascus will flee and Damascus will be destroyed. Tell Rifaat is called Arpad in Jeremiah 49:23.
Jer 49:23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
Every nation that is listed in Ezekiel 38:5 is now fighting in Syria. After the destruction of Damascus I expect Turkey to lead these forces into northern Israel.
Eze 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
By the way, I think that Jesus will return to stop the Turkish led invaders and also to gather his Church.
Yes we are in the end time. Since the Antichrist is here it is only a matter of time before Jesus Christ is here.
On Monday April 8th 2024 a full solar eclipse will slice through the midst of the United States. Is God trying to tell us something? I think that he probably is. Let me tell you that time is short before the coming of Christ in the air to collect his Church.
The United States has been given one of the greatest measures of the Holy Spirit in human history. We ought to be able to hear what God is saying. This eclipse may be a stopwatch marking a period of opportunity for repentance and drawing near to God; or perhaps a final push for evangelism. The eclipse may mark God’s disapproval about our lack of support for Israel. Recently President Biden threatened to stop sending US weapons to Israel. God help us. Whatever this eclipse is indicating, it is certainly directed towards the US.
Read my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist
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We should expect to see a bright shining light in the heavens as Satan hurtles though space towards earth!
We should expect to see a bright shining light in the heavens as Satan hurtles though space towards earth!
By Craig C. White
Considering the fact that world events suggest a near time destruction of Damascus and a subsequent Turkish led invasion into Israel, this has been on my mind more of late. Before Turkey leads the forces that are now fighting in Syria into northern Israel, we should expect to see a bright shining light in the heavens as Satan hurtles though space towards earth!
I know that everybody thinks that “a falling away” in 2Thessalonians 2:3 is the apostasy of the Church but everybody is WRONG! A falling away is the casting out of Satan from heaven to earth. Satan must fall from heaven before he can empower the Antichrist. These two things must happen before the Tribulation begins. So Christians really should not be surprised when they see Satan falling through outer space like lightning. But I’m certain that they will be.
We are going to begin in a strange place with the battle of Gog and Magog but I promise you that we will end up back in 2Thessalonians.
There are three battles called “Gog and Magog” in the Bible. We know that Satan is on earth deceiving the nations to attack Israel for two of them. The first battle of Gog and Magog is described in Ezekiel chapter 38 and seems to be forming now in Syria. The second battle of Gog and Magog is described in Ezekiel chapter 39 and will happen at the end of the seven year Tribulation period. Ezekiel 39 describes the same battle as the battle of Armageddon. We know that Satan will empower the Antichrist to oppress Israel during the Tribulation. So Satan is cast out of heaven well before the battle of Armageddon.
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
The third battle of Gog and Magog is described in Revelation chapter 20 and will happen after Jesus Christ rules on earth for one thousand years. Satan is let out of hell before that battle begins!
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Every battle of Gog and Magog represents the collective rebellion of the original nations of the old world (primarily the nations from northern Africa to India). These are the Islamic nations of today. Satan will lead these nations against Israel.
So if Satan will be on earth to lead the nations into Israel during two of these battles; then we should expect Satan to be on earth during the first battle of Gog and Magog as well. We should expect Satan to be cast out of heaven and to fall to earth like lightning before Turkey leads the forces that are now fighting in Syria into the Golan Heights of northern Israel!
Jesus said…
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
The word that is translated as “lightning” means to glare or shine brightly. So Jesus is describing a bright shining light rather than a brief flash like that of a lightning bolt.
The fall of Satan is a recurring theme in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
The King of Tyre is compared to Satan.
Eze 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Yes Satan has fallen from his previous estate as one of God’s most glorious angels. BUT Satan is still in heaven.
Jesus said this just before he went to the cross
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Two thousand years latter God has not yet judged the world and Satan has not yet been cast out of heaven.
There will be a war in heaven and Satan will be cast out. This happens some time before God establishes his kingdom on earth. We know that Satan will be on earth during the Tribulation period; even before the Tribulation begins. So it is possible that Satan will be cast out of heaven before the Rapture. I think that we will see that happen very soon.
Rev 12:7-12 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Satan had already fallen from his initial state of glory but was still traveling between heaven and earth during the time of Job.
Job 2:1-2 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
We should expect to see a bright shining light in the heavens as Satan hurtles though space towards the earth!
According to 2Thessalonians; two events must happen before the Tribulation begins. These two events are a “falling away” (or the falling of Satan from heaven to earth) and the revealing of the Antichrist with blasphemy against the God of Israel and his son Jesus Christ, and also with fake miracles.
2Thessalonians 2:3 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;
The Christians in Thessalonica were worried that the Rapture had not happened. They thought that the Tribulation had begun. The apostle Paul assured them that the Tribulation had not begun because Satan had not yet fallen from heaven to earth so that he could empower the Antichrist.
When you see the bright shining light hurtling through space towards earth, recognize it as Satan falling. I think that we should expect to see this soon!
Update November 2020: Satan has fallen. The Antichrist has been revealed. I wrote this commentary back in January 2018. Things have happened since then. The Comet Neowise was a bright comet that passed by earth in July 2020. Neowise was discovered on March 27, 2020. The Comet Neowise was at its nearest proximity to earth on the same day that Turkish President Erdogan sat in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul, Turkey dedicating it into a mosque. On July 24th 2020 Turkish President Erdogan sat in the 1700 year old Hagia Sophia Cathedral showing himself that he is greater than everything that is called Christian. According to 2Thessalonians 2:4 this is how the Antichrist will be officially revealed.
Read my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist
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The word “Easter”
The word “Easter”
Apply the blood of Christ
By Craig C. White
As you will soon see, the translators of the King James Bible couldn’t tell the difference between Easter or Passover. Still they weren’t too far from the truth. As it turns out that Easter and Passover have the same application.
Act 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
The word “Easter” appears in the King James bible only once. Now this word is a little misplaced. Easter is a word that the old English speaking “King James Bible” translators chose. For them Easter was a familiar holy-day. But Easter was not what the original Greek text had in mind. The original Greek word is pascha. It means “The Passover”.
Here is the definition of pascha from the Strong Greek dictionary.
pascha
pas’-khah
Of Chaldee origin; the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices connected with it): – Easter, Passover.Passover celebrates Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. God sent a plague of death among the firstborn of the Egyptians. God told Israel to put the blood of a sacrificed lamb on the doorposts of their homes. The applied blood caused the death angel to “pass over” the homes of the Hebrews, sparing the firstborn child of each family.
According to Leviticus 23:5 Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of Nissan (March or April) and lasts seven days (Leviticus 23:6). The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on Nissan 15.
Here are the instructions for the first Passover along with its dramatic results.
Exodus 12:21-30 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
Without applying the blood of the lamb the first born among the Egyptians died. Only by applying the blood did death pass-over their homes.
According to 1 Corinthians below, Jesus Christ is our passover (pascha). When we apply his blood, death passes over us. We may die once, but we will one day be raised to everlasting life; and we will be raised in our bodies! Christ defeated the power of sin and death. Just as Jesus could not be held in the grave; death can no longer keep those who are covered by Jesus blood. So in both Easter or Passover you must apply the blood in order to live.
1Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
For all believers Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death. Because he rose we can be certain that we will rise likewise (Act 17:31).
Be certain that you have applied the blood of Jesus Christ on this Passover, or Resurrection Day, or as King James would say “Easter”.
Read more about the Resurrection in my book God’s Great Expectations
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Question: What do these Bible verses have in common?
Question: What do these Bible verses have in common?
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man” and “one shall be taken, and the other left”
Answer: They have nothing at all to do with the Rapture.
By Craig C. White
Did you know that not a single one of these verses pertains to Church age Christians? I’ll bet that you didn’t. Every one of these Bible verses are from Matthew chapter 24. Matthew chapter 24 was written directly to the Jews living in and around Jerusalem during the time of their great tribulation. Matthew chapter 24 has nothing at all to do with the Church. Earthquakes are not a sign of the Rapture. The Church is not being warned to be on the lookout for false prophets. God’s elect are not Church age believers. A generation should not be counted from the date that Israel became a nation until the time of the Rapture. The phrase “But of that day and hour knoweth no man” does not refer to the day of the Rapture! The days of Noah do not describe conditions on earth before the Rapture. At the Rapture one shall not be taken, and the other left. The Christians that I talk with don’t understand any of these verses. It is High Time that Christians properly understood their Bibles.
In Matthew chapter 24 Jesus is addressing his Jewish disciples. The Gentile Church is still a mystery. Jesus is telling his disciples about the trials that Jerusalem and Judea will endure during their great tribulation.
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Jerusalem’s great tribulation will begin during the middle of the seven year long Tribulation period. One day unexpectedly the armies of the Antichrist will attack Jerusalem and Judea and take half of the people as prisoners. This begins Jerusalem’s great tribulation. Some bad things will happen before the Antichrist invades Jerusalem. Jesus warns the Jews living around Jerusalem to be one the lookout for false teachers and also for great wars and natural disasters.
Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Almost every Christian is tracking earthquakes as a sign of the approaching Rapture. That is a big mistake. Earthquakes and natural disasters are a sign to Israel that their day of trouble is near! Earthquakes are not a sign of the Rapture.
Matthew 24:6-8 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Almost every Christian sees the Church represented in the following verse. No so. This verse is talking about the day that the Antichrist invades Jerusalem and captures or kills its inhabitants. From that day the nations will oppress Israel for three and one half years.
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
In the next verse; these false prophets will deceive Israel during their time of trouble. These false prophets are not sent to the Church.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
When Matthew chapter 24 mentions the elect it is not talking about Christians but it is talking about Israel, God’s chosen people. The Jewish people must be ware of false Christ’s as well as false prophets. It seems that Matthew is saying that the false Christs will arise once the great tribulation begins.
Matthew 24:23-24 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
I know that the following verse sounds like it is describing the Rapture but it isn’t. The elect identify Israel, God’s chosen people not the Church. After the Tribulation Jesus Christ will collect all of the faithful Jews who have been dispersed throughout the world from the time of Abraham. They won’t be taken up into heaven. They will be resurrected and travel back to Israel. God will dry up the Red Sea, and the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers so that the Old Testament Jews can cross over them on their way back to Israel. Please notice that there is no mention of the Jews ascending into the sky.
Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
I have heard so many Christians trying to reconcile the length of a generation in order to establish the time frame of the Rapture. Wow that is another big mistake. The generation who sees the beginning of the Tribulation will also see the end of the Tribulation, and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Try as I may, I can not correct the thinking of modern day Christians.
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Here is a BIG one. Boy how many times have I been rebuked by Christians using this verse? These Christians do not understand their Bibles. The day and hour that Jesus identifies is not the day of the Rapture. It isn’t even the day of Jesus Christ’s second coming. Jesus is WARNING the Jews living around Jerusalem to WATCH for the armies of the Antichrist as they approach Jerusalem. On that day they are instructed to flee to the mountainous wilderness east of Jerusalem. That day begins Jerusalem’s great tribulation. The faithful Jews who heed Jesus’ warning will take refuge in Jordan during the great tribulation.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Here is another one. The days of Noah do not describe the poor spiritual condition on earth today. The days of Noah don’t even describe the poor spiritual condition on earth before the great tribulation begins. The days of Noah describe the sudden destruction that will come upon Jerusalem and Judea when the armies of the Antichrist attack! The point is that this invasion will be a BIG SURPRISE. On a day when everybody in Jerusalem is living their lives as usual then sudden destruction will come upon them!
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
I hate to burst your fuzzy brain bubble but the next verse does not describe the Rapture of the Church. Matthew is still chronicling the events of the day of Jerusalem’s trouble. When the Antichrist invades Jerusalem, his armies will take one Jew as prisoner and leave the next. In that way one half of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will be taken away captive. This is the same thing that Antiochous Epiphanies did when his armies invaded Jerusalem in 167 BC.
Matthew 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
When the Antichrist invades Jerusalem then half of its residents will be taken captive. Zechariah tells us all about it.
Zechariah 14:1-3 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. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
In the next verse the term “Son of man” does not describe Jesus at his second coming nor does it describe Jesus when he comes for the Church at the Resurrection and Rapture. Believe it or not the term “Son of man” refers to the Antichrist as he approaches Jerusalem.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
This is the same day that is described in Luke 17:30-31.
Luke 17:30-31 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
On the day that the armies of the Antichrist attack Jerusalem and Judea its residents are instructed to WATCH and to run for their lives. They must not return home for anything. They must flee into the Judean wilderness in order to escape being captured or killed. It would be nice if Christians finally understood this. I think that the residents of Judea might be interested in knowing.
Read my commentary titled One shall be taken and the other left
If you really want to understand Matthew 24 then read my book Judea Flee! Jerusalem Wait! It was written to the Jews just like Matthew 24.
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The days of Noah. The days of Lot.
The days of Noah. The days of Lot.
What is this referring to?
By Craig C. White
A lot of Christians point to this verse and conclude that nobody can know the day that Jesus Christ returns for his Church at the Rapture.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
But which “day” is Jesus referring to? Jesus is not referring to the day of the Rapture. Jesus is not referring to his second coming. Jesus is telling the Jews living around Jerusalem to watch for the Antichrist approaching. The Antichrist along with his armies will enter Jerusalem and capture or kill the Jews living there. This day begins Jerusalem’s great tribulation.
Jesus warned of great danger in Jerusalem and Judea at a time when its citizens were living their daily lives as usual. He said that it would be like the days of Noah just before the flood. He said that life would be going on normally just like in Sodom before God rained fire upon the city. The following verses do not pertain to Church age believers. They are not describing an abundance of sin on earth. They are not describing the days before the Rapture. They do not refer to Jesus Christ’s second coming. They apply to the region around Jerusalem. It will be life as usual just before the Antichrist invades Jerusalem and Judea during the middle of the seven year tribulation period. This begins Jerusalem’s great tribulation (Mat 24:21).
Luke 17:26-29 And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Mat 24:37-39 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
In the verse above, the “Son of man” isn’t referring to Jesus Christ. The Son of man is the Antichrist! One minute things will be happening as usual. Then suddenly Israel’s enemies will attack!
The days of Noah in these verses do not describe the spiritual rebellion that did exist before the flood. It does not describe the existence of giants in the land. The days of Noah describes normal day to day living before sudden destruction comes.
Luke 21:24 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.
Read my commentary about the term “Son of man”Read One shall be taken and the other left
Read my book Judea Flee! Jerusalem Wait!
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High Time to Awake 