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Jesus celebrated Hanukkah!
Jesus celebrated Hanukkah!
2300 days
Hanukkah Menorah photo courtesy of Shoshana
Hanukkah 2021: Nov 28 – Dec 6
By Craig C. White
The Hebrew word Hanukkah means “dedication”. Hanukkah is the Jewish celebration of the re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev. While Hanukkah is not one of the appointed Jewish holy days (Leviticus 23, Numbers 29); it is mentioned in the Bible. It was prophesied in Daniel 8:14, also Jesus attended a Hanukkah celebration in John 10: 22-23.
In 175 B.C. Israel was under the rule of a wicked Grecian king named Antiochus Epiphanes. He was king over one quarter of the Grecian empire known as the Seleucid dynasty, headquartered in Syria. Antiochus Epiphanes robbed the temple in Jerusalem of its gold and holy vessels. He ended the daily sacrifice, and sacrificed pigs on the Jewish alter. Then he declared that he should be worshiped as God instead of the God of Israel. In 171 B.C. the high priest of Israel (Onias III) was murdered and false Priests were installed in temple worship.
In 167 B.C. a group of Hebrew rebels from Judea (which is the region around Jerusalem), known as the Maccabees began to fight the Syrian authorities in Jerusalem. The Maccabees regained control of the temple, and in 165 B.C. on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev the Jewish people resumed the daily sacrifice (1 Maccabees 4:52). This is the day that Israel celebrates Hanukkah (the dedication of the temple).
Hanukkah, or the day that the temple sacrifice would continue was prophesied in Daniel 8:14. God told Daniel about Hanukkah in 551 B.C. (Daniel 8: 1).
Daniel 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Daniel 8:14 says that the temple will be defiled for 2300 days; or that sacrifices will be interrupted for 2300 days. If you count 2300 days from the day that the high priest Onias III was murdered in 171 B.C. you come to Kislev 25, 165 B.C. That is the day of Hanukkah!
Jesus celebrated Hanukkah! In verse 22 below, the “feast of the dedication” is the same as Hanukkah.
John 10:22-30 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
Happy Hanukkah from High Time to Awake!
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Hooks into thy jaws – To lead out
Hooks into thy jaws
To lead out
Ezekiel 38:4
By Craig C. White
Ezekiel chapter 38 describes a multi nation invasion into Israel. Ezekiel says that this invasion will be led by the primary governor of Turkey. I’m going to tell you right now that this Turkish ruler is the Antichrist. In Ezekiel chapter 38 God says that he will “put hooks into the jaws” of the invading armies to turn them back. Most people read these verses and conclude that God will use some political event to draw these armies into Israel. Bible students wring their hands as they try to guess what the “hook” might be. I think that we might not understand what Ezekiel is telling us.
Ezekiel 38:4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
Notice that there are three separate declarations made at the beginning of this verse. 1. And I will turn thee back. 2. And put hooks into thy jaws. 3. And I will bring thee forth. It is a little difficult to understand in the English translation but none of these statements mean that God is going to bring these armies into the land of Israel. Instead they are saying that God is going to bring these armies out of Israel.
The first declaration in Ezekiel 38:4 is easy to understand. God will turn the invading armies back from where they came. In the second declaration the notion of “putting hooks into thy jaws” could be said as “putting a ring in your nose (or cheek)”. God will lead these invading armies out of Israel just like a farmer would lead a bull by a ring in its nose. The third declaration in Ezekiel 38:4 confuses us. It sounds as if God is leading theses armies forward. The Hebrew term that is translated as “bring thee forth” doesn’t mean “to bring forward” or “to bring into”. Instead the term “bring thee forth” means “to bring out” or “to get out” or “to carry out” or “to get away” or “to lead out” or “to pull out” or “to pluck out”. I hope that you can see that “bring thee forth” doesn’t mean to bring into but instead it means to bring out of.
The saying to put a hook into the jaw (or cheek) and to bring forth is used in other passages in the Bible. It always means that God will remove an army from the land of Israel or that God will remove a nation from its own land. It never means that God will lead an army into the land of Israel. It is a declaration of removal and not a depiction of entrance.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah compares the Antichrist to the ancient Assyrian Kings. The Ezekiel chapter 38 invasion into Israel is similar to the ancient Assyrian invasions described by Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 37 God leads the Assyrian army out of the land of Israel just like a farmer leads a bull by the ring in its nose. In the following verse God is speaking about Sennacherib king of Assyria.
Isaiah 37:29 Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
Notice that God is turning the king of Assyria back in the way that he came from.
We can stop speculating about what sort of hook that God will use to bring an invading army into Israel. Yet we can begin to understand how God will remove this invading army out of Israel. In Isaiah God killed most of the Assyrian army as they slept. That was enough to turn them around and send them back to their hometown. Notice that in Isaiah 37:37, Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrian Empire.
Isaiah 37:36-37 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
So God will use a hook to remove the invading army described in Ezekiel chapter 38. But how will he do it? Ezekiel tells us how. God will use a great earthquake. He will cause the invaders to fight each other. God will make the invaders sick. God will make it rain and hail on them, and God will fight them with fire and brimstone.
Ezekiel 38:21-22 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
We shouldn’t try to identify the hook that God will use to bring an army into Israel. Instead we should understand that God will fight against the invading armies causing them to retreat back to where they came from. In Ezekiel chapter 38 it is important to see that God will fight to save Israel.
Leviticus 26:12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
God promised to take care of Israel forever. Throughout their history Israel has suffered at the hands of other nations. In the near future the nation of Israel will once again suffer but in the end God will save them and finally secure their land forever.
Read all about the Ezekiel chapter 38 invasion in my book Turkey invades Israel – Halfway to Armageddonfacebook YouTube
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Why do the Heathen Rage?
Why do the Heathen Rage?
Rebellion is refusing to humble oneself under the authority of God.
Psalm 2, Acts 4
By Craig C. White
Throughout the Middle East and northern Africa the nations are exercising their “Days of Rage”. It has been widely proclaimed by the media that the nations are fighting to establish democracy. While some hope for democracy; Rage is induced by a different impulse. King David illuminates this timely question. “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?”
Psa 2:1-2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
The LORD’s anointed is Jesus Christ. The baptism of Jesus and his anointing with the Holy Spirit is recorded in all four gospels. This anointing of the Holy Spirit and the witness of God’s own voice prove that Jesus is the Son of God. We also have the following report of an eye-witness, namely John the Baptist. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Mark 1:9-11 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Psa 2:3-5 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Why do the Heathen Rage? Here is the answer to our question. The heathen declare they will remove any authority or accountability that God the father or his Son have over them. This is of course impossible.
Rebellion is a certain type of sin. It is more insidious than sexual immorality or murder or theft. Rebellion is refusing to humble oneself under the authority of the one true God. The result of rebellion is everlasting punishment.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The nations rage in order to break accountability to God. This vain rage results in Israel’s sore distress. In “the day of the Lord”, God will break the yoke that the heathen has placed on the neck of Israel. Israel will no longer have to bend to international pressure to give up their land or defend their right to exist.
Jer 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
Read Why do the Heathen Rage? in my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist
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Erdogan proposes that Russia take a new direction in Syria
Erdogan proposes that Russia take a new direction in Syria
By Craig C. White
Russian President Putin and Turkish Peresident Erdogan are scheduled to meet concerning northwestern Syria on September 29, 2021. Before their meeting Turkey has sent more military reinforcements to rebel held Idlib province in northwestern Syria. Russia has increased air strikes on Turkish supported rebels in Idlib. Turkey and Russia are getting closer to clashing in Idlib province.
President Erdogan says Moscow’s decisions in war-torn Syria are a threat to southern Turkey, urging President Putin to adopt a new approach “as a requirement of solidarity.”
This means that Erdogan wants Russia to allow Turkey to take over Hamah and Tell Rifaat in northwestern Syria. This is what Jeremiah 49:23 predicts. 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.
Jeremiah 49:23 tells us that the destruction of Damascus will begin in northwestern Syria. Before Damascus is destroyed Hamah and Tell Rifaat will hear evil reports and be terrified. The Turkish army has been amassed between Hamah and Tell Rifaat for a couple of years now.
People think that Israel will destroy Damascus because Israel has nuclear weapons. May I remind you that Damascus is located only thirty miles away from northern Israel. Not a place where Israel wants to drop a nuclear bomb. There is no Biblical evidence that Israel will destroy Damascus.
Turkey will destroy Damascus.
Russia and Turkey don’t want to fight one another in Syria. Erdogan is proposing that Russia take a new direction. Perhaps Russia will agree to allow Turkey to overthrow the Assad regime.
Read my commentary titled The nations are disquieted over Syria
Read this article on TRT World: Turkey urges Russia to take a new approach on Syria
Read my book The complete guide to Syria in end time Bible prophecy
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Not so fast with the apostasy
Not so fast with the apostasy
“A falling away” is the casting out of Satan from heaven
By Craig C. White
The Greek word “apostasia” is translated as “a falling away” in 2Thessalonians 2:3 below. Most Christians assume that apostasia refers to the apostasy of the Church. But hold on one minute. The word apostasia may have a little different meaning than you first thought. A falling away actually refers to the casting out of Satan from heaven.
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 Greek word “apostasia” is used three times in its masculine form in Mat 5:31, Mat 19:7, and Mar 10:4. In these three verses “apostasia” always means “divorce”. Apostasia is used twice in its feminine form in Acts 21:21, and 2Th 2:3. It is translated as “forsake” and as “a falling away”.
Interestingly the root of the Greek word apostasia comes from these two words.
1) aphistēmi
Phonetic: af-is’-tay-mee
Thayer Definition:
to make stand off, cause to withdraw, to remove
to excite to revolt
to stand off, to stand aloof
to go away, to depart from anyone
to desert, withdraw from one
to fall away, become faithless
to shun, flee from
to cease to vex one
to withdraw one’s self from, to fall away
to keep one’s self from, absent one’s self fromStrong’s Definition:
to remove, that is, (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.: – depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.
And also from this word:
2) apo
Phonetic: apo’
Thayer Definition:
of separation
of local separation, after verbs of motion from a place, i.e. of departing, of fleeing,
of separation of a part from the whole
where of a whole some part is taken
of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed
of a state of separation, that is of distance
physical, of distance of place
temporal, of distance of time
of origin
of the place whence anything is, comes, befalls, is taken
of origin of a cause
Origin: a primary particleStrong’s Definition:
A primary particle; ” off”, that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively): – (X here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
So in its most basic form the word apostasia means to actively cause something to be removed away from some place near. Just like God will cause Satan to be removed from heaven.
Now let’s think about this. The Apostle Paul gave the early Church two events that must happen before the Tribulation begins. Namely a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed. Since these two events have not yet happened they are also signs to the Church that the Rapture has not yet occurred. If apostasy of the Church is a sign of the Rapture then how do we know when there is enough apostasy? There has always been apostasy in the Christian Church. That isn’t much of a sign. Besides, in some parts of the world many people are turning to Christianity. Many Christians are being killed for their faith. These martyrs haven’t fallen away from their faith. So the end time must not be near. Not so. The end time is near. It is upon us but the apostasy of the Church isn’t the sign.
I don’t tell you this because I want to be right. I am telling you because I think that we may all soon witness a bright shining light streaming through space towards earth as Satan is cast out of heaven. As a matter of fact we may witness several bright shining lights streaming through space towards earth as Satan’s demons follow. When you see the bright shining light hurtling through space towards earth, recognize it as Satan falling. Know that Jesus will follow closely behind.
Here is something to consider. Ezekiel chapter 38 says that Turkey will lead Iran, Libya, and Sudan into Israel. All of these nations are fighting in Syria. Jeremiah 49:23 says that the destruction of Damascus will begin at Hamah and Tell Rifaat in northwestern Syria. The Turkish Army is amassed near Hamah and Tell Rifaat now. Turkish President Erdogan is threatening to attack. I think that Turkey will attack northwestern Syria and then march southward to destroy Damascus. Then Turkey will lead the forces that are now fighting in Syria into northern Israel. The Golan Heights are only thirty miles away from Damascus. Nahum chapter 1 describes Jesus Christ coming in a fiery whirlwind to the Golan Heights. I think that Jesus will return to cause the Turkish led invaders to retreat when they enter the Golan Heights of Israel. I think that Jesus will collect his Church at that time. I think that Satan must be cast out of heaven before Turkey invades northern Israel.
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
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Nahum in the news!
Nahum in the news!
These are the end times.
By Craig C. White
This is amazing. The Biblical Prophet Nahum is in the news in 2021. Nahum of course was a Jewish prophet living in northern Iraq as one of the Jews carried away by the Assyrians around 733 BC.
Nahum 1:1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
In the verse above, Elkoshite refers to the town where Nahum lived. Nahum’s tomb is still located in Alqosh in northern Iraq just north of Mosul or ancient Nineveh. There is a new effort to restore Nahum’s tomb.
Nahum prophesied about the destruction of Nineveh some one hundred years after the Prophet Jonah visited Nineveh. The city of Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching. Nahum foretold the destruction of Nineveh over one hundred years later. This time Nineveh did not repent. In 612 BC Nineveh was destroyed by the flooding Tigris River and by the advancing armies of the Babylonians, Medes, and Persians. Just so you know, ISIS reestablished the ancient Assyrian State in northern Iraq and Syria. Their main headquarters was in Mosul. Many of the atrocities that ISIS committed were borrowed directly from their Assyrian ancestors.
Nahum has a lot to do with end time prophecy. Many of the events that Nahum prophesied about ancient Nineveh have happened again in modern day Mosul. The one major event yet to happen is the flooding of Mosul. For your information, the Mosul dam is in danger of bursting. This would send a seventy foot tall wave of water over Mosul.
There is more! The book of Nahum describes the same path that Jonah took on his way to Nineveh. Both prophets started on the Mediterranean coast and worked their way across the Golan Heights and then on to northern Iraq. It is essential to remember that the book of Nahum has end time application. Beloved this is the same path that Jesus Christ will take when he comes in the air at the Rapture!!! Nahum says that Jesus will first come in a whirlwind of fire across the Golan Heights located in northern Israel. Jesus will come to stop the Ezekiel chapter 38 Turkish led invasion into Israel. Turkey will invade northern Israel after they destroy Damascus. Jesus will then travel eastward to judge ISIS in Mosul. At this same time Jesus will instruct his angels to gather his Church! Wouldn’t it be fitting if Nahum was resurrected and standing outside of his tomb watching the flooding of Mosul.
It’s High Time to Awake!
Read this article in The Times of Israel: Saving Iraq’s Tomb of Nahum, a secret mission resurrects Kurdistan’s Jewish past
Read more about Nahum in my book The End of ISIS is Near!
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Things are heating up in Daraa Syria
Things are heating up in Daraa Syria
War for Syrian sovereignty is not over
By Craig C. White
Fighting between the Syrian Army and the Turkish supported Free Syrian Army is raging in the southern Daraa province of Syria. Daraa is located south of Damascus and right next to Israel’s Golan Heights.
The Free Syrian Army has called for help from the Turkish Army. The Sunni Muslim opposition want the Turkish army to act as a security force against the Syrian Army. Ezekiel chapter 38 describes a Turkish led invasion into Israel. I would certainly be nervous seeing the Turkish Army on Israel’s northern border.
The Russian Army has arrived in Daraa to help the Syrian Army regain the region. Because of the increased fighting, reports say that Israel may begin ground incursions inside of southern Syria.
The Bible describes the destruction of Damascus beginning in northwestern Syria. The Turkish Army is in northwestern Syria. The Bible also describes a Turkish led invasion into Israel. It could be that the Turkish Army will march southward towards Damascus and Daraa and then lead the forces that are now fighting in Syria into northern Israel.
The Bible also describes Jesus Christ coming in a whirlwind of fire to the Golan Heights. It is High Time to Awake.
Watch this video by R&U Videos on YouTube: Battles for Syria | July 3rd 2018 | Images and reports from Daraa province
Read my commentary titled The nations are disquieted over Syria
Read my book The complete guide to Syria in end time Bible prophecy
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Three battles called Gog and Magog
Three battles called Gog and Magog
The nations rebel against the God of Israel
By Craig C. White
Yes Gog is Turkey and Magog is it’s ruler. There are three battles that the Bible refers to as “Gog and Magog”. The first is described in Ezekiel chapter 38. In this battle God repels the invaders by using a terrible earthquake, torrential rain, disease, and infighting. I think that this first battle will happen soon. I think that this first battle represents a Turkish led invasion into the Golan Heights in northern Israel. I think that this first battle of Gog and Magog will happen after Turkey invades northwestern Syria and then destroys Damascus. I think that the first battle of Gog and Magog will happen around the time that the Tribulation begins.
The second battle called Gog and Magog is described in Ezekiel chapter 39. In the second battle Jesus kills all of the invaders so that the birds eat their rotting flesh. This is the same as the battle of Armageddon that happens at Jesus second coming at the end of the seven year long Tribulation. There is something to understand here. These first two battles called Gog and Magog have already been modeled for us in the Assyrian conquests of Syria and also northern Israel in 734 BC and then their subsequent conquest of southern Israel in 701 BC. That is why Isaiah chapter 10 and 11:1 connect the ancient Assyrian invasions to the coming day that Jesus takes his throne in Jerusalem. That is why the Antichrist is compared to the ancient Assyrian kings.
Revelation chapter 20 mentions another battle of Gog and Magog that happens after Jesus rules on earth for one thousand years. Here is wisdom! The three battles called Gog and Magog all represent Turkish led invasions into Israel. But that’s not all! These are not regional wars. Turkey is joined by nations from the four quadrants of the old world. The battles of Gog and Magog represent the whole of the gentile world as they all fight against God’s chosen people Israel. That doesn’t mean that every modern nation must be involved in these wars. These wars include nations from multiple regions of the old world.
Turkey is in the geographical center of the old world. As a matter of fact civilization restarted from Mount Ararat in northeastern Turkey after Noah landed his ark there. Turkey is surrounded by Europe to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, Africa to the southwest, and Asia to the southeast. These are the four quadrants of the old world. Turkey is also the geopolitical and spiritual center of all of the nations that have rebelled against the God of Israel.
So the three battles called Gog and Magog are three Turkish led invasions into Israel. In each of these invasions Turkey will lead nations from multiple regions of the old world into Israel. The three battles called Gog and Magog all represent mankind’s rebellion against the one true God, the God of Israel.
Here is something else to consider. We are told that Satan is loose on earth during the Battle of Armageddon and also during the post millennial battle called Gog and Magog mentioned in Revelation chapter 20. Satan directs the nations to war against Israel. It is very possible that Satan will be cast out of heaven before Turkey leads their invasion into the Golan Heights. I am convinced that Turkish President Erdogan is indeed the Antichrist. He has already threatened to remove Syrian President Assad from power in Damascus. He has also threatened to take the Golan heights away from Israel. The Antichrist is already identifiable but the Antichrist will be revealed in a specific way after Satan is cast out of heaven and empowers him directly.
The first battle that is called Gog and Magog in Ezekiel chapter 38 is about to happen. Every nation that is mentioned in Ezekiel chapter 38 is already fighting in Syria. After Turkey invades Syria and destroys Damascus then they will lead these forces into northern Israel. The seven year Tribulation period will follow. The Church will be rescued from the terrible time of trouble that is coming upon the earth. The Resurrection and Rapture must be very near! It is High Time to Awake because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed!
Read my commentary titled Magog Made Easy!
Read all about the battle of Gog and Magog in my book Turkey invades Israel – Halfway to Armageddon
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A Beast is an Empire
A Beast is an Empire
Here a beast. There a beast. Everywhere a beast beast!
By Craig C. White
We are going to identify every beast in the bible! The word beast simply means a wild animal. The bible uses wild animals to identify man ruled governments that are rebellious toward God. Beasts typically represent empires or unions. Ancient World Empires are identified by different wild animals in the bible. These animals were actually the symbols of these empires.
The bible also identifies future empires that are also symbolized by wild animals. Some of these empires already exist today. For instance Russia just formed a new economic Union. Everybody knows that Russia is symbolized by a bear. The bible identifies this end time Russian Union as a bear in Daniel 7:5.
There have been seven World Empires throughout history. These World Empires came to power one at a time. Each World Empire defeated the previous World Empire. Here is a list of them in order; Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Mede and Persian, Grecian, Roman, and Turkish (Ottoman). Some of these World Empires are represented by animals in the bible.
We are introduced to two animals that symbolize empires in Daniel chapter 8. These are the oldest World Empires that the bible symbolizes by animals. We are introduced to a ram and a goat. Dan 8:20 tells us that the ram in Dan 8:3 symbolizes the Mede and Persian Empire.
In the verses below; notice that the ram has two horns. Horns always represent rulers. The Mede and Persian Empire was a two division empire. The Medes are todays Kurds and Persia is known as Iran today.
Dan 8:3-4 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
When Daniel gave this prophecy these events were still in the future. Now we can look back in world history and recognize the ram as the Mede and Persian Empire because it conquered territory in exactly the same way that Dan 8:4 describes. In today’s terms Persia first conquered Iraq, Syria, and Turkey to the west, then Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to the north, then Persia moved southward and conquered southern Israel, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and also western India.
In Dan 8:5 we are introduced to another empire that is represented by a goat. Dan 8:21 tells us that this goat symbolizes the Grecian Empire. The goat came after the ram. In Daniel chapter 8 the goat fights against the ram and defeats him. The goat symbolizes the Grecian Empire. The Grecian Empire defeated the Mede and Persian Empire around 450 BC. In Dan 8:5 the goat has one notable horn. Remember that horns represent rulers. This one horn represents Alexander the great who quickly conquered the known world.
Dan 8:5-9 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. 7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
In Dan 8:8 above; after his death in 323 BC Alexander the great’s empire was divided into four regions or dynasties. These dynasties were the Antipater Dynasty headquartered in Greece, the Ptolemy Dynasty headquartered in Egypt, the Arsacid Dynasty headquartered in Parthia (north eastern Iran today), and the Seleucid Dynasty headquartered in Syria. These four regions constituted the Grecian Empire. So the goat represents the Grecian Empire.
In Daniel chapter 7 three kingdoms combine to form one World Empire. These kingdoms are represented by a lion with eagle’s wings, a bear, and a leopard. Daniel doesn’t tell us exactly who these animals are. A lot of bible teachers say that these animals represent ancient World Empires. They say that the lion with eagle’s wings represents the Babylonian Empire. The symbol of the Babylonian Empire was in fact a lion but not with eagle’s wings. It has also been widely taught that the bear and the leopard are the same as the ram and the goat in Daniel chapter 8. I don’t think so. First of all the animals in Daniel chapter 7 are different than the animals in Daniel chapter 8. Also the bear and the leopard were not the actual symbols of these ancient World Empires. Moreover Ancient World Empires existed one at a time but the empires in Daniel chapter 7 all exist at the same time. In Daniel 7:12 we are told that the first three empires (or beasts) outlive the fourth World Empire.
Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Again, some bible teachers say that Daniel’s prophecy about the lion with eagle’s wings represents the Babylonian Empire. Keep this in mind. Daniel received this prophecy during the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon (Dan 7:1). Belshazzar was the last king in Babylon. The Medes and Persians overran the city while Belshazzar drank wine from the holy vessels that his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from Israel’s temple in Jerusalem (Dan 5). So if Daniel identified the lion with eagle’s wings as the Babylonian Empire then his message was not prophetic at all. Daniel lived in the Babylonian Empire so he would know firsthand that their symbol was a lion (without eagle’s wings).
No, Daniel doesn’t tell us exactly who these animals are but the book of Revelation gives us a very good idea of when they exist. These three animals (or empires) combine to form the final man ruled World Empire that exists on earth during the Tribulation period. So the lion with eagle’s wings, the bear, and the leopard do not represent ancient world empires but instead future, end time empires.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Do any nations, empires, or unions exist today that are symbolized by a lion with eagle’s wings, or a bear, or a leopard? Yep. You probably could guess which nation uses the lion with eagle’s wings as their national symbol today. That nation is England. Can you think of a nation that uses the bear as its national symbol? Of course Russia is symbolized by a bear today. Is there a kingdom today that is represented by a leopard? No not yet but in December 2014 Turkish President Erdogan announced his plans to form a new Islamic Union that could span northern Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia. Will it choose the leopard to be its symbol? I think that it probably will.
The first three kingdoms in Daniel chapter 7 are symbolized by specific animals. There is also a forth kingdom that is not symbolized by one particular animal but in Daniel chapter 7 as well as Revelation chapter 13 it is simply called a beast. In Dan 7:17 we are told that these four kingdoms are ruled by four kings.
Dan 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
I think that four world leaders will conspire together to create this next World Empire. I think that most of those leaders are already in place today and well known. They include one ruler of England (possibly representing the entire European Union), one ruler of Russia (probably representing the newly created Russian Union), and possibly one ruler from a new Islamic Union. The forth king rules over the next World Empire and is most likely the Antichrist. But remember that Dan 7:7 tells us that the forth beast (or next World Empire) will initially be ruled by ten kings. So the forth beast in Daniel chapter 7 symbolizes the next World Empire. Israel will suffer under its rule but Jesus Christ will destroy it at his second coming.
I want to give one more beast in Daniel chapter 7 an honorable mention. In Dan 7:4 the lion gets its wings plucked off! We all know that the United States’ national symbol is the eagle. The US separated from English rule in 1776. The plucked off eagle’s wings could possibly indicate that the US will assist England in the formation of the next World Empire.
There is another beast mentioned in Revelation that appears after the next World Empire is formed. It is symbolized by a lamb and a dragon.
Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
This beast has two horns which represent two rulers. These rulers are like a lamb. Jesus Christ is called the Lamb of God. Since the two rulers of this beast are like a lamb but they speak like a dragon it is thought that this beast represents a false Christian-like World Religion. Pope Francis is campaigning for Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim unity so I think that this two headed beast may be a Catholic and Muslim hybrid religion.
Here are four different kinds of beasts. They are not wild animals. These beasts do not represent empires. Four beasts sit around the throne of God in the book of Revelation. The word translated beast in Revelation chapter 4 and chapter 6 is a different word describing a different kind of beast. These beasts are not wild animals. The word translated as beast here means a living being. These beasts are not symbolic. They are actual animals created by God to worship him. These living creatures are also described in Ezekiel chapter 1.
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
There is one more beast in the bible that represents a kingdom on earth. This kingdom is the final World Empire. Ancient World Empires didn’t actually cover the entire world but this kingdom will. Ancient World Empires didn’t last forever but this one will. This empire isn’t symbolized by a wild animal but it is symbolized by a meek and gentle one. This empire is symbolized by a Lamb!
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus Christ is the Lamb that pours out his wrath on the kings of the earth (Rev 6:16). Jesus Christ is the Lamb that will sit on the throne of the kingdom of God forever!
Read my commentary titled The Leopard is Upon Us! in my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist
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Popular opinion has become doctrine in the modern Christian Church
Popular opinion has become doctrine in the modern Christian Church
By Craig C. White
Over the years I have watched what was once only somebody’s unsubstantiated speculation become accepted as indisputable doctrine in the Christian Church. I am old enough to remember when these theories were first expressed. Back then I thought that we all realized that they were just theories. It seems that over time the wise have died out and now we are left with folks who can’t discern the truth from fiction.
Out of the vapor of speculation and misunderstanding these theories have become written in stone. Without question or investigation these postulations have morphed into an unrecognizable alternate belief system. The truth has become so obfuscated that the Christian Church as a whole has completely overlooked the revealing of the Antichrist. Even when confronted with overwhelming evidence they refuse to recognize the obvious events of our time that scream “Jesus is coming!”
Pastors teach that nobody can know the day or hour of Christ’s return for the Rapture. Matthew chapter 24 is not about the Rapture at all. Matthew chapter 24 is all about the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea during the Tribulation period. Nobody will know the day or hour that the Antichrist will invade Jerusalem because it will be a surprise ambush. That’s why the Jews are instructed to watch! When the Antichrist invades Jerusalem then one Jew will be taken prisoner and the other left inside of Jerusalem to suffer through Jerusalem’s great Tribulation.
Pastors teach that the Antichrist will not be revealed until the Church is taken away in the Rapture. They say that the Rapture is the falling away in 2Thessalonians 2:4. They say that the Antichrist will sit in the temple of God showing himself that he is God after the Rapture. In fact the falling away is Satan’s fall from heaven. Satan has fallen and Turkish President Erdogan has revealed himself to be the Antichrist by sitting in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral exalting himself above Christ. Turkish President Erdogan is the Antichrist. The Tribulation is free to begin.
Pastors say that the Antichrist will come from Europe. Every nation that the Bible lists that will be involved in attacking Israel is Islamic.
Pastors say that the next world empire will be a revived Roman Empire. There were seven world empires throughout history. According to Revelation 17:10 five world empires had fallen at the time of the disciple John, and the Roman Empire was in existence, and a seventh world empire had not yet come. Revelation 17:11 tells us that the eighth world empire will come out of the seventh. The only other world empire was the Turkish ruled Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire ended in 1923. A revived Ottoman Empire will be the end time empire that will oppress Israel. Turkish President Erdogan is feverishly working to revive the Ottoman Empire. Turkish President Erdogan is the Antichrist.
Pastors say that Magog in Ezekiel chapter 38 is Russia. Princes are set over provinces. Magog is the chief prince among the provinces of Turkey. Turkish President Erdogan will lead the Islamic nations into Israel.
Pastors say that everyone will be required to receive a microchip. The mark of the beast identifies the wearer with the next world empire. No world empire has been worldwide. The same Greek letters that spell 666 are the same Arabic letters that spell in the name of Allah. The next world empire will be Islamic. The Bismilah is the mark of the beast.
Pastors say that the Antichrist will be a homosexual. The Antichrist will not regard the desire of women. Turkish President Erdogan is seeking to remove Turkey from an international treaty on women’s rights. Erdogan wants to give husbands the legal right to murder their wives under Sharia law. The Antichrist will not regard women’s rights.
Pastors say that the Antichrist will be a counterfeit Jewish Messiah. They say that the Antichrist will be Jewish. They ask, how can Israel receive a Muslim as their Messiah? By Biblical definition an Antichrist is someone who denies the father and the son. Antichrist means against Christ. It does not mean instead of Christ. I know that many of you won’t believe me. The Antichrist will come out of the gentile nations. The Antichrist will not be Jewish. The Jews will not receive the Antichrist as their Messiah. Like every leader of every past world empire the Antichrist will conquer Israel and oppress the Jews in Jerusalem.
So many Christians hold to these popularized opinions as if they were doctrine. They refuse to weigh differing viewpoints. They will even ostracize others who don’t agree. Most Christians today are incapable of enduring sound doctrine.
It’s High Time to Awake!
Read my book Presenting the Antichrist and False Prophet
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High Time to Awake 