-
The Church should not look for the beginning of sorrows.
Earthquake, Canterbury, NZ. Photo credit: Martin LuffWhat shall be the sign of thy coming?
Earthquakes , or the Antichrist?
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
facebook YouTube
-
How do I know who is telling the truth about Bible prophecy?
How do I know who is telling the truth about Bible prophecy?
Ask, who’s interpretations are actually happening!
By Craig C. White
There are a lot of different Bible prophecy views out there. Most of them are old presumptions that have become popularized. Too many Bible prophecy interpretations are wrong. I do not follow any teacher. I study the scriptures and derive my views from them.
You will find Bible prophecy interpretations at High Time to Awake that you will scarcely find elsewhere. Many people have asked me, how do we know who is telling the right interpretation? Well I am not a prophet but I do proclaim the messages of the prophets. The Bible says don’t believe the prophet who says something that does not happen! My Bible prophecy interpretations are happening!
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
I am very nearly the only Bible teacher that has examined the book of Nahum and then warned about the flooding of Mosul. Now the world fears that the Mosul dam will burst flooding the city. Read The End of ISIS is near!
I am the only Bible teacher that has examined Jeremiah 49:23-27 and has understood that Syria will be invaded from the Turkish border. Now Turkey has 54,000 troops on the Turkish border and Turkey has just announced its plans to use military intervention inside of Syria. Read The nations are disquieted over Syria
I am the only Bible teacher that has understood that the “chief prince” in Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39 is the primary governor of Turkey. That points to identifying Turkish President Erdogan as the Antichrist. Now Erdogan has claimed to be god and has gained complete power over Turkey. Read Erdogan is the Antichrist!
There are many more examples that I could give. I don’t rely on popular misconceptions in order to form my Bible prophecy interpretations. My views are being vividly proven on the world stage.
Christians! It is High Time to Awake to the end time prophecies that are happening today! It’s time to believe the interpretations that I am explaining. Jesus Christ is about to come for his Church. He is coming for us because there is a terrible time of trouble coming upon the earth and especially upon Israel. Let’s strengthen the body of Christ before he gets here!
Read about what you must know about end time Bible prophecy in The Big Book of Bible Prophecy
facebook YouTube
-
Satan must fall from heaven and then empower the Antichrist to do false signs and wonders before the Tribulation begins.
Satan must fall from heaven and then empower the Antichrist to do false signs and wonders before the Tribulation begins.
Do you disagree?
By Craig C. White
I know that most Bible teachers say that the “falling away” in 2Thessalonians 2:3 is either the apostasy of the Church or the leaving of the Church from earth and the taking away of the Holy Spirit at the Rapture. BUT I don’t agree at all. The Apostle Paul isn’t telling us anything new in 2Thessalonians 2. He is referencing Old Testament Prophets in order to tell us the timing of the Tribulation.
2Th 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 they had missed the Rapture. They were asking Paul if the Tribulation had begun. It makes no sense for Paul to tell them that the Tribulation hadn’t come because the Rapture hadn’t come. That piece of information doesn’t help Christians to identify the beginning of the Tribulation because if the Rapture happened then they would be gone. Paul referenced the Old Testament Prophets Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah when he said that Satan must fall from heaven to earth and then empower the Antichrist to do false signs and wonders before the Tribulation begins. Now those events are something that Church age believers can recognize even if they occur before the Rapture!
Isa 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!
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.
Paul even directs the Christians in Thessalonica to rely on the Old Testament writings and on his letters in order to determine the timing of the Tribulation.
2Th 2:15-17 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
The message of 2Thessalonians 2:3 is simple. The Tribulation will not begin until Satan falls from Heaven to Earth and then the Antichrist is revealed.
I think that you will agree that Satan must fall before he can empower the Antichrist. It makes sense. Now if you could only see that Paul has been telling us that all along.
Read my commentary titled The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist
Read my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist
facebook YouTube
-
Nahum 1:4 Map – Bashan Carmel and Lebanon
Nahum 1:4 Map
Bashan Carmel and Lebanon
By Craig C. White
Why are the areas around Damascus and the Golan Heights mentioned in conjunction with the flooding and judgment of ancient Nineveh? Nineveh was destroyed with a flood in 612 BC. Today Mosul in northern Iraq is built around the ruins of ancient Nineveh. The Prophet Nahum predicted the flooding of Nineveh he may also predict the flooding of ISIS in Mosul! In Nahum it seems that Jesus Christ will personally judge ISIS in Mosul.
Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
While describing the flooding of Nineveh the Prophet Nahum also mentions these other places; Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon. Is it possible that Jesus will judge these places in person when he comes to collect his Church at the Rapture?
Nahum 1:4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. 5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. 6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
It is interesting to note that all of these places are the scenes of end time events that I believe will happen around the same time. I think that the flooding of Mosul (Nahum), and the destruction of Damascus (Jer 49:23-27), and the following Turkish led invasion into (northern) Israel (Eze 38) will all happen just before the Tribulation begins. The scene is set for all of these events to happen now!
Nahum also says that as the Lord comes in his anger that he knows who belongs to him (Nahum 1:7). Could this be describing the Rapture?
Bashan Carmel and Lebanon -
How big is Ezekiel’s temple?
How big is Ezekiel’s temple?
It is much too big to be built on the current site.
By Craig C. White
Ezekiel chapters 40 through 47 provide a detailed description of a future temple in Jerusalem. This is the temple that Jesus Christ will rule from during the millennial kingdom. That is the first one thousand years after Jesus’ return at his second coming. Jesus Christ will return to defeat Israel’s enemies and he will then set up his throne in Jerusalem to rule there forever.
Jerusalem will look a little different then. For instance; the small hill known as Mount Zion where the temple building will sit will become a very high mountain.
Eze 40:2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
How high will Mount Zion become? I don’t know but according to the dimensions that Ezekiel gives for the land area that is dedicated to the temple and to its service, Mount Zion could easily be one mile high! The temple site will be one mile square but the land surrounding the temple will be about 52 miles long and 21 miles wide. If we were to fit a mountain into those dimensions it could easily reach to one mile high even with gentle slopes.
The following verses describe the outside length of the temple building site. The temple building site will include walls, courtyards, many rooms, and of course the temple itself. The dimensions are given in “reeds”. One reed is equal to eleven feet. Five hundred reeds are equal to 5,500 feet or just over one mile. So the temple proper will be about one mile square.
Eze 42:15-19 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about. 16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. 19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
In the next verses Ezekiel describes the land area around the temple that is dedicated to God himself. The outskirts of this holy parcel will be for the Levites who will serve at the temple site. The Levites will build their homes on the gentle foothills that surround the mountain of the temple of God. The entire land mass that is dedicated to God’s temple is about fifty two miles long by twenty one miles wide. That’s big.
Eze 45:1-2 Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about. 2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.
Here is an interesting feature about the temple mountain. A river of water will flow out of the east side of God’s temple. The river will flow down the east side of the mountain down to the Dead Sea. The river will become deep and wide and the waters will bring new life to the desert and also to the Dead Sea. There will be water for swimming and many fish in the Dead Sea.
Eze 47:8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
Jerusalem will be a much different place after Jesus returns. God’s temple will be high and lifted up on his holy mountain. The land of Israel will be watered and brimming with life. Israel, God’s chosen people will live in peace there forevermore.
Ezekiel’s temple is not the next temple that will be built in Jerusalem.There is a terrible time of trouble coming upon Israel and also upon the entire world. For seven years world powers beginning with Turkey will oppress Israel. Wars and natural disasters will kill perhaps one half of the worlds population. This seven year period of trouble is known as the “Tribulation period”. During the Tribulation period another temple will be built in Jerusalem. Animal sacrifices will resume for a while until the Antichrist stops them. Jerusalem will then be devastated for three and one half years which is the second half of the seven year period of trouble. At the end of the seven years Jesus Christ will return to vanquish Israel’s enemies.
The temple that is to be built during the Tribulation period should not be confused with Ezekiel’s temple that will be built after the Tribulation period. Ezekiel’s temple will be built after Jesus Christ returns. Ezekiel’s temple will be much bigger than the Tribulation temple. Unfortunately Jewish rabbis today think that by building a temple in Jerusalem they will bring lasting peace. But the Bible says that when they say peace and safety then sudden destruction will come upon them.
Jesus is coming back. Be prepared. Read my BIG Book of Bible Prophecy.
facebook YouTube
-
The sign of Jonah
The sign of Jonah
The fall of Mosul may be the sign of Israel’s time of trouble.
By Craig C. White
The ancient Assyrian capital city of Nineveh was known for its bloodshed and cruelty. Back around 800 BC God sent the Prophet Jonah to the city of Nineveh with a message, “Repent of your evil ways or the city would be destroyed in forty days!” That generation repented but it seems that this generation doesn’t want the chance.
Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Today the ruins of Nineveh lie within the city limits of Mosul. The terrorist group called ISIS consists primarily of Al-Qaeda members from the Nineveh Province. Since June 10th, 2014 ISIS in Mosul has been behaving in the same way as the ancient Assyrians. They have committed horrific atrocities against their fellow countrymen in the Nineveh province of northern Iraq.
In Jonah’s day the city of Nineveh repented however God finally judged the city in 612 BC. The Prophet Nahum foretells the destruction of Nineveh. The city was flooded by the Tigris River and was then besieged by three nations. Babylon, Persia, and the Medes plundered Nineveh for two months leveling the city. Today the same three nations are fighting against ISIS in Mosul. They are Iraq, Iran, and the Kurds. Perhaps God will send another flood along with these three armies to once again overthrow Mosul at Nineveh!
Nahum 1:8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
Conditions in Mosul are the same today as they were in ancient Nineveh. There is overflowing bloodshed. The Mosul dam is in danger of bursting. The same three armies are set against it. Nahum likely also foretells the destruction of Mosul.
Nahum 3:1-3 Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not; 2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots. 3 The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:
God spared the city of Nineveh in Jonah’s’ day. Jonah was upset because the people of Nineveh repented and escaped God’s punishment. God reminded Jonah that many innocent lives would be lost during the destruction of Nineveh. I suppose that most of us today would be happy to see ISIS in Mosul wiped out. In the book of Jonah God reminds us of the human tragedy his judgment brings. Moral of the story; repent while you still can!
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Folks wanted proof that Jesus was God so they demanded a sign. Jesus gave them the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah was inside of the fish for three days Jesus also rose from the grave in three days. But there may be more to the sign of Jonah. Long before the Mosul dam was ever built Bible scholars have wondered if the preaching of Jonah was also a part of the sign. The grammar of Matthew 12:39-41 leads some Bible scholars to think that the subject of Jesus’s comment was the preaching of Jonah.
Matthew 12:38-41 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
The Greek word translated as “sign” means miracle or supernatural wonder. Notice in verse 41 that the men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. They did not repent at the miracle of surviving in a large fish for three days.
The unbelieving religious rulers in Jerusalem demanded a sign from Jesus. Jesus told them that they would be given the sign of Jonah. Jonah was sent to ancient Nineveh to preach God’s judgment upon the city. The destruction of Mosul could be the end time sign to Israel that their time of trouble is at hand.
Jesus said that an evil generation desires to be shown a sign. We should already know and honor God because it is evident that he has created all things and also because has given us his word. We should not require a sign in order to motivate us to repent from our unbelief and rebellion. Nevertheless Jesus gave his generation the sign of Jonah.
Jesus said that even the men of ancient Nineveh will rise from the dead and condemn his generation for its unbelief. It seems to me that this generation is about to witness another sign of Jonah. ISIS in the city of Mosul rejected Jonah’s offer of repentance by blowing up Jonah’s shrine on July 24th, 2014. If God now judges the city of Mosul then the entire world had better take notice! A terrible time of God’s judgment is coming upon Israel and also upon all of the Earth. Only by repentance from unbelief can we escape it.
Since I wrote this I have learned that the dam just north of Mosul is very unstable and requires continuous maintenance. The capture of the dam by ISIS and the recapture of the dam by the Kurds have disrupted its maintenance schedule. In 2007 the Army Corp of Engineers declared it the most dangerous dam in the world. If Mosul falls I will count back forty days to see what significant event may have happened on that day.
Listen to my verse by verse Bible study through the Old Testament book of Nahum titled The End of ISIS is near!
Read about ISIS in Bible prophecy in my book The End of ISIS is near!
facebook YouTube
-
Magog was the primary governor among the provinces of Turkey
THIS POST HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM THE CHURCH!
Magog was the primary governor among the provinces of Turkey
The end time invader of Israel is the primary governor of Turkey
By Craig C. White
OK folks, think about this. In Ezekiel 38:1-3 Magog, Meshech, and Tubal are all brothers. They are all sons of Japheth and grandsons of Noah. You can find them listed in the genealogies of Genesis 10:1-3.
Eze 38:1-3 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
Japheth was the first settler and founder of the land that we call Turkey today. His sons were the first princes that were set over the provinces in the land that we call Turkey. Magog was the “chief prince” or most prominent ruler among his brothers. Magog was the primary governor among the provinces of Turkey! The end time invader of Israel is the primary governor of Turkey. Today Turkish President Erdogan is Magog. He will soon lead the forces that are now fighting in Syria into northern Israel (Eze 38:5).
In Ezekiel chapter 39 Magog leads another invasion into Israel. The Ezekiel chapter 39 battle is the same as the battle of Armageddon. If the Antichrist leads the battle of Armageddon then Magog is the Antichrist. That means that Turkish President Erdogan is the Antichrist. That means that the Tribulation is near! That means that the Resurrection and Rapture are nearer!
By the way, Russia is not represented at all in Ezekiel chapters 38 or 39 as so many teach.
Read my commentary titled Magog Made Easy!
Read my book Turkey invades Israel – Halfway to Armageddon
facebook YouTube
-
Forsake your stuff and just run!
Forsake your house and just run!
The enemy is in the doorway!
By Craig C. White
We are given a pattern of the preliminary events of Jerusalem’s Great Tribulation in ancient history. Around 170 BC a Greek king named Antiochus Epiphanes ransacked the temple in Jerusalem and then claimed that he was god. This will be repeated in the future by the man we call the Antichrist. In Matthew 24 this is called the abomination of desolation. When the Antichrist spoils the temple in Jerusalem it will be the sign that the people living around Jerusalem should flee!
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:)
What is the abomination of desolation? Before or during the seven year Tribulation period Israel will once again build another temple in Jerusalem. They will resume daily animal sacrifice there. The abomination of desolation is the stopping of the daily sacrifice. This was accomplished once before by Antiochus Epiphanes in 173 BC by deposing or murdering the rightful High Priest Onias III and replacing him with a false priest. Antiochus Epiphanes then began making sacrifices to himself as god (Dan 12:11). The future abomination of desolation will also be identified by the stopping of temple sacrifice. In the future some sort of abomination will be set up in the temple in Jerusalem. This is the abomination of desolation.
The region around Jerusalem is called Judea. When the residents of Judea see the temple being spoiled they are warned to forsake their homes and property and to flee into the mountains! They are warned not to go to their house to take anything with them! Not even their clothes! They are warned to flee immediately! I hope that they can heed this warning! I think that it would not be so easy to do. If any one of us saw impending disaster coming, our first instinct would be to save what we could. And to take what we need to survive like clothing and blankets. When Judea’s day of trouble comes, they will not have a minute to spare. Their enemies will already be in their doorway!
Matthew 24:16 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:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
The people of Judea are instructed to flee into the mountains. The mountains are the vast desolate mountainous region east of Jerusalem all the way into western Jordan.
Ancient history also gives us a window into the future scene of the day of Judea’s flight. This historical record of Antiochus Epiphanes’ attack of Jerusalem will once again be repeated on the day when Judea flees to the mountains. Notice that his soldiers were instructed to kill anybody hiding in their houses.
2 Maccabees 5:11–14 When these happenings were reported to the king, he thought that Judea was in revolt. Raging like a wild animal, he set out from Egypt and took Jerusalem by storm. He ordered his soldiers to cut down without mercy those whom they met and to slay those who took refuge in their houses. There was a massacre of young and old, a killing of women and children, a slaughter of virgins and infants. In the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost, forty thousand meeting a violent death, and the same number being sold into slavery.
Both the region of Judah and Jerusalem will be swarming with their enemies. If the people living around Jerusalem don’t forsake everything and immediately run for the hills then they will be captured and killed or taken as a slave to do hard labor in foreign countries (Zechariah 14:2).
Zechariah 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
In the city of Jerusalem half of its residents will be taken as slaves. Anyone trying to escape will be caught and killed (Isa 30:16). A few Jews will remain inside of the city to suffer horribly.
Zechariah 14:2 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.
When the Antichrist defiles the temple in Jerusalem it will be the sign that Judea should flee! When Judea’s day of trouble comes, they will not have a minute to spare. Their enemies will be hunting them door to door in their homes!
Very interesting to read and hard to stop. – Alexandria
Read about Judea’s flight and Jerusalem’s Great Tribulation in my book Israel’s Beacon of Hope
facebook YouTube
-
What happens when you die?
What happens when you die?
If we die without honoring God in our hearts we will regret it forever!
Lamentations chapter 3
By Craig C. White
What happens when you die? What is it like in the grave? Are you aware of your plight? The Bible answers these questions. The answer is that you are very much aware of your situation. For the believer in Jesus Christ your spirit is kept safely and in peace with God until the resurrection. The unbeliever however is painfully aware of the confinement of the grave and also laments their rejection of God. From the grave the unbeliever’s circumstances only get worse when all of those confined to the grave get tossed into the lake of fire forever!
Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Here is one mans account of death and the grave. This is the fate that every unbeliever can expect when they die. Surprisingly these verses also describe Jesus Christ’s death. Christ suffered the death of a sinner to pay the penalty of sin for us, but we must believe that he did and we must receive his payment on or own behalf!
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Lamentations chapter 3 begins with the account of a suffering Jewish man. He has suffered God’s wrath through Israel’s terrible time of judgment. He has been despised by God and has suffered death. But here is the surprise. This man’s account of suffering and God’s rejection is also describing Jesus Christ’s suffering and death on the cross! We should ask ourselves, “what is this doing here?”
Lamentations 3:1 I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
This is describing a particular man. He has suffered God’s punishment by the outburst of God’s passionate anger. God will punish the nation of Israel during their seven year long period of tribulation. The people of Israel have not trusted God’s word. He told them to drive out their enemies from the land. Instead they have said we must live together with our enemies. Likewise every person has the choice to trust God and his word. If we do not trust him then we will also suffer the punishment of God’s anger.
God’s anger is only satisfied by his punishment. No person can endure God’s punishment and live (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;). But God became a man in Jesus Christ to suffer God’s punishment for us so that we could live. What is the description of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death doing in the middle of Lamentations? Jesus Christ’s suffering satisfies God’s wrath. Jesus Christ’s death satisfies God’s anger for disobedience even for the terrible time of Israel’s tribulation. God can apply Christ’s suffering to our disobedience only when we trust him. When the nation of Israel repents at the end of the Tribulation period and believes God then the punishment of God’s anger will be satisfied by Jesus Christ’s suffering and death. Their chastisement will end.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Lamentations 3:2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. 3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. 4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
God brought Jesus to death and not life. God has turned against the man. God has caused every bad thing to happen to this man all day long. God has caused the man’s body and skin to be consumed and his bones to break.
These verses describe the suffering of a certain Jewish man during the Tribulation. Intertwined is also a depiction of Jesus Christ’s suffering. Jesus never suffered any broken bones on the cross fulfilling King David’s prophecy in Psalm 34:20 “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken”. These verses also describe the suffering that any man should expect to endure who has not trusted God.
Lamentations 3:5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
Above, God has devised disastrous events to befall this man. Gall is a poisonous plant. Jesus was offered gall while he was on the cross to hasten his death and end his suffering. He refused it.
Matthew 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
Lamentations 3:6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. 7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
Above, God has caused this man to die. He is in the darkness of the grave just like men that have been dead for ages. He cannot get out! He is imprisoned and shackled with a heavy metal chain.
Below, this man is shouting out from the prison of his grave to be freed, but God keeps the man’s request a buried secret. This is the suffering that Jesus Christ endured on behalf of all of us. This is the suffering that any man should expect to endure who has not trusted God.
Lamentations 3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. 9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
Above, this man is dead. God has blocked this man’s course of life. He cannot move. He is entombed with stone all around him. He cannot walk down the road where he wishes. Instead his path leads nowhere. He can only search out his own ruin.
Lamentations 3:10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. 11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
Above, God has pounced on this man like a ferocious wild beast lying in wait. He has torn his body apart. Jesus was beaten and whipped worse than any man (Mat 27:26-30). Isaiah predicted the beating that the Messiah would suffer.
Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
The prophet Amos uses this same language to describe the day of the LORD which is the same as Israel’s Tribulation period. It is a time of God’s judgment for Israel as well as a time of judgment for the entire world. You want to escape this terrible time of trouble.
Amos 5:18-19 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
Lamentations 3:12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. 13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
Above, God has pulled back the string of his bow and taken aim at the man. God’s arrows have penetrated inside of the man’s body.
Lamentations 3:14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
Verse 14 above describes the animosity and insult that the Jewish people showed for Jesus as he was beaten, condemned to die, and nailed to a cross. Many of his own Jewish people cried out for his death and insulted him as he suffered.
Matthew 27:39-44 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Lamentations 3:15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. 16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. 17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
Above, this man is still speaking from the grave. He is filled with sorrow. It is as if he has drunk poison. To cover with ashes portrays a dead body lying in the street covered with gravel and ashes being trampled over by traffic. This man’s has forgotten God’s promise of eternal life.
Lamentations 3:18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
Above, this man is dead. His hope of life and knowing God is gone. From the grave he still remembers his suffering. His soul bows down. He surrenders to God’s chastisement.
What should we learn from Lamentations? First, every person must confront death, and there is an eternal grave to escape! If we die without honoring God in our hearts we will regret it forever! Second, Jesus Christ’s suffering satisfies God’s wrath. Only when we trust God can he then apply Jesus’ suffering to our disobedience and satisfy his wrath towards us. This applies to the disobedience of Israel and it also applies to the disobedience of every heart.
Open your heart to God!
facebook YouTube
-
The Assyrian is the Antichrist!
The Assyrian is the Antichrist!
Halfway to Armageddon
Verse by verse through Isaiah 10
By Craig C. White
Assyria was a world empire. Its capital city was Nineveh, located in the same area as northern Iraq. The ruins of Nineveh can still be seen today across the Tigris River from the modern day city of Mosul.
In 734 BC Assyria conquered Syria and then turned southward into northern Israel. Assyria took captives from both Syria and Israel.
Assyria invaded Israel a second time in 701 BC. This time the Assyrian army made it all the way into southern Israel just outside the city limits of Jerusalem.
Two Assyrian kings led these invasions. The first invasion in 734 BC went into Syria and northern Israel and was led by the Assyrian King Tiglath-pileser. The second invasion in 701 BC went into southern Israel and was led by the Assyrian King Sennacherib. In Bible prophecy these two kings are often referred to as “the Assyrian”. The Assyrian is also a term that applies to the Antichrist because he will do the same things that the original Assyrian kings did, not because he will necessarily be from Assyria (or northern Iraq).
God used the Assyrian to judge the disobedient nation of Israel. God will again call on a northern invader to judge Israel.
Isaiah chapter 10 predicts the wickedness of the ancient Israeli leadership, the overthrow of the nation of Israel by the Assyrian King Sennacherib and finally God’s restoration of Israel.
But there is a catch! Immediately after the Assyrian invades Israel in Isaiah chapter 10 we are introduced to the Messiah on earth! That is to say, Jesus Christ sets up his everlasting throne in Jerusalem. In other words this passage also predicts a future event. The Assyrian will once again invade Israel, and then Jesus Christ will come back to earth to defeat the Assyrian and to rule forever!
OK now listen up; the future invader of Israel called the Assyrian in Isaiah 10 is the same person that is commonly known as the Antichrist! The Antichrist will persecute Israel during the coming seven year Tribulation period just as the Assyrian persecuted Israel long ago.
But wait there is more! I think that Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39 tell us that the primary ruler of Turkey will lead an invasion into Israel in the end time just like Assyria did long ago. As a matter of fact, I think that Ezekiel predicts two separate invasions, both led by the primary ruler of Turkey. Also like the Assyrian invasions of old, the future invasions of Israel will happen in two similar but separate battles.
So the Assyrian is the Antichrist! Also the Assyrian is the primary leader of Turkey! Therefore the primary leader of Turkey is the Antichrist! Is this too much for you?
Today the prime minister of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He hates Israel! Today the Turkish army is on the Syrian border. If Prime Minister Erdogan leads turkey into Syria and then turns south into Israel then this scenario has begun!
God called the future invader of Israel the Assyrian because he will persecute Israel in much the same way as the Assyrian kings did in 734 BC and again in 701 BC. Remember that there were two separate Assyrian kings that led two separate invasions into Israel. There may very well also be two separate Turkish leaders who will lead two separate invasions into Israel in the future! The Turkish leader who leads the second invasion is the Antichrist!
What I am saying is that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may in fact be the Antichrist or there may be another Turkish prime minister following him that will certainly be the Antichrist!
The ancient Assyrian invasions may give us a clue to future events. There may be two end time Assyrians or there may only be one. We will know as events unfold. Here is one reason why I think that there may be two different primary rulers of Turkey.
Like I said before Ezekiel 38 predicts one future battle and Ezekiel 39 predicts another similar battle. I think that the battle described in Ezekiel 38 will be led by the prime minister of Turkey and may begin shortly. In this case Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan would fulfill the role of the Assyrian. In Ezekiel 38 he is also known as Magog. The battle that is described in Ezekiel 39 will also be led by the prime minister of Turkey and is the same as the battle of Armageddon (Rev 16:12 – 21 and Rev 19:17-18). The battle of Armageddon happens at the end of the seven year Tribulation period. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan may again fulfill the role of the Assyrian during the battle of Armageddon or there may be another prime minister of Turkey in his place.
In Ezekiel 38 God asks “Are you the person that I have predicted would attack Israel?” So God is asking us the question.
Ezekiel 38:17 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?
In Ezekiel 39 God tells us that “Yes this is the attack that I predicted!” So God affirms that this is the battle of the end time. Remember that Ezekiel chapter 39 describes another similar but latter battle than does Ezekiel chapter 38.
Ezekiel 39:8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
Now just so that we all have a better understanding of who the Assyrian is in Bible prophecy let’s look at Isaiah chapter 10. Remember that these verses apply to an ancient Assyrian invasion into Israel as well as another still future invasion. It is important to note that these verses apply to the Assyrian invasion of 701 BC led by the Assyrian king named Sennacherib. These verses also apply to the battle of Armageddon which happens at the end of the seven year Tribulation period. Both of these battles are the second battle of their day that is led by the Assyrian.
Isaiah 10:1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;2To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
The verses above describe the Israeli leadership of the day. In the future a wicked Israeli leader will come to power. He is called “The Idol Shepherd” in Zechariah 11:16-17. I know that most people think that the Idol shepherd is the same as the Antichrist but he isn’t. The Idol shepherd will be an Israeli leader who will not take care of his people. Read my commentary titled “Woe to the Idol Shepherd” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.
Isaiah 10:3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
The wicked leadership of Israel will be overrun by the armies of its enemies. They have despised God’s authority and will have nowhere to turn during the time of their terrible distress. Just a note: there will be several secondary idol shepherds ruling in Israel during the Tribulation (Eze 34:2-8). Please read my commentary titled “Who is a Shepherd” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.
Isaiah 10:4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 5O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
Israel’s rulers will be killed in the invasion. Notice that prisoners will also be taken. Israel will hope that the invasion will fall short but the armies of Israel’s enemies will persist. God will again use the Assyrian as a tool to judge the nation of Israel.
Isaiah 10:6I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
The hypocritical nation described in the passage above is Israel. At that time Israel will be again practicing temple sacrifice but their hearts will be far from God. Their leaders will oppress the poor.
Isaiah 10:7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. 8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? 10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; 11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
Assyrian King Sennacherib is speaking here. So is the future invader of Israel. He is recalling previous victories over Syria and northern Israel. The city of Calno is near Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. Carchemish is on the northeastern Syrian border. Hamath is between Aleppo and Damascus. Arpad is just north of Aleppo. As you know Damascus is the capital city of Syria and is located near Syria’s southern border near Israel. Samaria is in the northern half of Israel. All of these cities still exist today. All of these cities were conquered by the Assyrian King Tiglath-pileser in 734 BC. All of these cities will be conquered by the Assyrian that is still to come. So if Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan leads an invasion into Syria, destroys Damascus, and then invades Israel we are half way to Armageddon. Perhaps then you can get your pastor to read this commentary!
Please notice in verse 11 that this invader has yet to conquer Jerusalem. But he is boasting that he is about to overthrow Jerusalem.
Isaiah 10:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
God will complete his judgment of Israel. God allowed Assyrian King Sennacherib to get just outside of Jerusalem but didn’t allow Sennacherib to destroy the city (Isa 37:36). In the future, the same scenario will take place. Just as it looks like all is lost for the last remaining Jews in Jerusalem Jesus Christ himself will return with great vengeance on Israel’s enemies! In the end God will punish the invader of Israel. Please read my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.
Isaiah 10:13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: 14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
The Assyrian will say that he has conquered Israel by his own hand. God will remind him that he was successful only as an instrument in God’s hand.
Isaiah 10:15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
Shall a man say that he is greater than God? God uses men to do as he wishes.
Isaiah 10:16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. 17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; 18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. 19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
In the verses above, Jesus Christ will destroy the kingdom of the Assyrian (aka the Antichrist) at his second coming. The fire of Israel is Jesus Christ’s everlasting rule on earth. Christ’s earthly kingdom centered in Jerusalem will consume the final gentile world empire like a fire. Earthly kingdoms will now all come under the authority of God.
Isaiah 10:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
At last the Jews will be free from world oppression and persecution and will finally be faithful to their God!
Isaiah 10:21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. 22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
The Jews will return to Israel. During the Tribulation period many Jews will take refuge in Jordan and many others will also be taken captive into different countries. After Jesus destroys the Assyrian at his coming the surviving Jews will return to Israel along with all faithful Old Testament Jews (including Isaiah) who will be resurrected from the dead at that time (Dan 12:13)! Please read “Aliyah Israel Arise Return” in my eBook “Israel’s Beacon of Hope”.
God has determined to apply a certain amount of judgment upon Israel (Dan 9:24). It will one day be completed and then replaced with righteousness and justice. God’s predetermined judgment is called the consumption here in Isaiah.
The Tribulation period is not only designated for Israel’s judgment. But there is a terrible time of God’s judgment coming upon the entire world as well!
Isa 28:22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
Isaiah 10:23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. 24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. 25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.
God will allow Israel’s time of trouble to last only for a short time.
Isaiah 10:26 And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. 27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Just as God delivered the Jews from the Egyptians during the Exodus, God will deliver Israel from the Assyrian.
Isaiah 10:28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages: 29 They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled. 30 Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth. 31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
The passage above maps out the route that the Assyrian will take on his way to attack Jerusalem. All of these towns are north of Jerusalem. The Assyrian is approaching Jerusalem from the north. He is moving closer and closer town by town. Assyrian King Sennacherib took this route on his way to destroy Jerusalem in 701 BC. In the future invasion of Israel the Antichrist may very well take this same route.
Isaiah 10:32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Nob is north of the Mount of Olives just outside the city limits of Jerusalem. Assyrian King Sennacherib camped out there with his armies the night before he was to attack Jerusalem. Overnight, God wiped out his army while they slept (Isaiah 37:36). I suspect that a very similar scenario will occur when Jesus returns to defend Israel.
Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Isaiah 10:33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. 34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
In bible prophecy a tree with over spreading boughs is often used to describe a large kingdom or empire. Lebanon was known for its large cedar trees. So the actual country of Lebanon isn’t pictured here, but instead the final gentile world empire that will exist during the time of the Tribulation period. Jesus will return and cut down the final gentile world empire!
That is the end of Isaiah chapter 10 but please notice the first verse of Isaiah chapter 11 below.
Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
A rod is the scepter of a ruling king. Jesse was King David’s father. A branch is a descendant. So a descendant of King David will rule on earth. Isaiah is proclaiming that after the time of Israel’s trouble Jesus Christ will come to earth to rule forever.
So the Assyrian is the Antichrist. The ruler of Turkey will invade Syria and then Israel just like the Assyrian of old did. Therefore an end time ruler of Turkey is the Antichrist!
The Turkish army is amassed along the Syrian border today. If Turkey attacks Syria it may then turn south to invade Israel. If these things happen then we are all half way to Armageddon.
It is High Time to Awake!
Read about the coming Turkish led invasion into Israel in my book Turkey invades Israel – Halfway to Armageddon
facebook YouTube
High Time to Awake 