Patterns and Paths Map

(click to enlarge map)

of five end time battles

By Craig C. White

God is pretty smart. He wants to teach us about end time events. So God has patterned world history to reflect events that we can now expect to see happen.

I want to point out five paths that are designated by arrows and dots on the Patterns and Paths map. They represent the five major end time battles that will be fought over Israel.

First look at the the black dots; they represent the path that the Turkish Army will follow on their way to destroy Damascus and then invade Israel. Turkey will begin their warpath by harassing the northwestern Syria cities of Hamah and Tell Rifaat. The Turkish Army is amassing near Hamah and Tell Rifaat now. Jeremiah 49:23-27 is all about the Turkish Army as they march from northwestern Syria southward to destroy Damascus. In Jeremiah 49:23 below, the city of Tell Rifaat is called Arpad. Read my commentary titled The nations are disquieted over Syria.

Jeremiah 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.

After Turkey destroys Damascus they will then lead the forces that are now fighting in Syria into the Golan Heights of Israel. Ezekiel chapter 38 describes Turkey as they lead Iran, Sudan, and Libya in an invasion into Israel. In the next verse Persia is called Iran today and the Hebrew word that is translated as “Ethiopia” is really the name Cush. Cush settled in the land south of Egypt. The major nation that is located south of Egypt today is Sudan.

Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

This is known as the battle of Gog and Magog. Ezekiel chapter 39 describes another battle called Gog and Magog. That battle is the same as the battle of Armageddon and happens at the end of the Tribulation. But every nation that is listed in Ezekiel chapter 38 is now fighting in Syria. So we can expect the first battle of Gog and Magog to happen after Turkey destroys Damascus. Read my commentary titled Magog Made Easy!

The Turkish conquest of Syria and the following invasion into northern Israel follows along the same path as the Assyrian conquest of Syria and subsequent invasion of northern Israel in 734 BC. The Assyrian attack is a model for the Turkish attack that is now forming in Syria!

Next let’s talk about the path represented by the white dots. After Turkey destroys Damascus then I think that they will lead the forces that are fighting in Syria into the Golan Heights of Israel. The Golan Heights are located just thirty miles south of Damascus.

Nahum 1:4 describes Jesus Christ as he passes over the Golan Heights. As he passes he will burn the ground with a fiery heat.

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.

The book of Nahum is mostly about the destruction and flooding of ancient Nineveh. Today Nineveh is called Mosul in northern Iraq. Mosul is the hometown and headquarters of ISIS. I think that when the Turkish Army reaches the Golan Heights that then Jesus will return in the air to turn back the armies that Turkey has led into northern Israel. Next Jesus will travel to Mosul to flood the city and judge the ISIS fighters that have gathered there for one last rebellion. Read my commentary titled Jesus will fight on the Golan Heights.

This is the same path that Jonah took to Nineveh. Jesus promised the religious leaders of his day that he would give them the sign of Jonah (Mat 12:39). So the coming of Jesus in the air and the flooding of Mosul may be the one sign to Israel before their tribulation begins that Jesus is truly their Messiah. As we will see, the Resurrection and Rapture of gentile believers may also be part of the sign of Jonah!

Nahum also says that Jesus will save those people who trust in him.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

So Jesus is coming in the air in heat and fury. He will pass over the Golan Heights and then travel to Mosul in northern Iraq. I think that while Jesus dispenses his wrath against Israel’s enemies he will also gather Christians in the Resurrection and Rapture. Yes that’s what I said. The Rapture will happen when the Turkish Army reaches the Golan heights of Israel! They are in Syria now and headed towards Damascus and then on to Israel.

Now on to the purple path. During the middle of the seven year long Tribulation period the armies of the Antichrist will launch a surprise attack on Jerusalem and Judea. The attack will come from Egypt. Read my commentary titled Before the Great Tribulation – The Antichrist will invade Egypt then Israel.

In Matthew chapter 24 the residents of Jerusalem and Judea are instructed to watch for the coming invasion and to flee into the desert wilderness east of Jerusalem. If the residents of Judea do not watch then they will be killed or be taken away suddenly just like the wicked inhabitants of the earth were taken away by Noah’s flood. Read my commentary titled Matthew 24.

Guess what; the mid-Tribulation attack on Jerusalem and Judea is also patterned for us in ancient history. In 167 BC the army of Antiochus Epiphanes suddenly attacked Jerusalem from Egypt. The attack was devastating with many Jews being killed. Antiochus instructed his soldiers to take every other Jew away captive as slaves. In that way one Jew was taken and the other Jew was left in Jerusalem. Matthew chapter 24 tells us that the same thing will happen when the Antichrist invades Jerusalem and Judea beginning three and one half years of Jerusalem’s great tribulation.

Matthew 24:40-41 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Read my commentary titled One shall be taken and the other left.

Now let’s talk about the path that is represented by the yellow dots on our map. I think that this is the path that Jesus will follow when he returns at his second coming. This is the same path that Israel took when they left Egypt. If you will remember, Israel was led by a pillar of cloud and fire. So God himself determined Israel’s route of travel. This foretold Jesus Christ’s own route when he returns to defeat Israel’s enemies leading up to the battle of Armageddon. Read my commentary titled Revelation Wrath Path.

I would like to point out that the Psalm 83 war will take place in Jordan at the end of the Tribulation period. This is part of Jesus Christ’s yellow path of vengeance. Jesus will rescue the Jewish refugees living in Jordan before he enters Jerusalem. Psalm 83 is a cry for God’s help by the Jews who have fled from Judea (the region around Jerusalem) when they saw the armies of the Antichrist approaching Jerusalem. The Bible says that the residents of Judea must flee when they see a sign in the temple called the abomination of desolation.

Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

The residents of Judea will take refuge in the Moab region of Jordan for three and one half years. At the end of that time Jordan, Lebanon, and northern Iraq will conspire together to finally eliminate the last remaining enclave of Jews. Read my commentary titled Psalm 83 War.

Finally the Battle of Armageddon is represented by one blue arrow on the Patterns and Paths map. The arrow begins in the valley of Megiddo (that’s what Armageddon means) in northern Israel and ends near the Dead Sea. Revelation says that the blood of Israel’s enemies will flow for this entire length.

Revelation 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

You see, at his second coming Jesus will first save the Jewish refugees living in Jordan (spoken of in Psalm 83) and then he will save Jerusalem. Jesus will then travel outside of the city of Jerusalem to trample Israel’s enemies like grapes.

Here is the prayer of the Jewish refugees living in Jordan during the second half of the Tribulation. They are asking God to defeat Israel’s enemies just like Gideon did long ago. The following verses describe the armies that were destroyed by the Israeli Army while led by Gideon (Judges 4 & 8). The bloodshed of these battles started in the valley of Megiddo and ended in western Jordan near the Dead Sea.

Psalm 83:9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. 13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. 14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

The Psalm 83 refugees are asking God to defeat Israel’s enemies beginning in the valley of Megiddo. Jesus Christ will answer their prayer personally as he tramples out the vintage of the blood of his enemies outside of the city of Jerusalem from Megiddo to the Dead Sea! This passage proves that the Psalm 83 rescue of Judean refugees in Jordan will happen just before the battle of Armageddon.

Turkey is in position to begin their march to Damascus and then on to the Golan Heights. I think that Jesus will return to cause them to retreat. At that time Jesus will also collect his Church. There is a terrible time coming upon Israel and also upon all the world! Jesus is coming soon!