Declaring The End From The Beginning
We are made in God’s image, but he is different than we are. His ways are higher than ours. I think that is one of the major factors why scripture is sometimes hard for us to understand. God said he was declaring the end from the beginning but what did this mean?
The Book of Daniel contains many key prophecies about the time before the Return of Jesus. Interspersed between these prophetic visions are stories about the life of Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. If you look at these stories closely it becomes apparent that they act like parables to teach spiritual life lessons. Looking at them even closer, one notices that each one of the stories are an Old Testament type or foreshadow of what is to come during the Great Tribulation, the last three and a half years prior to Jesus’ return. I find it immensely interesting that the the prophet who gave us some of the most detailed information about the time before Jesus’ return lived a life that foreshadowed some of the very events he prophesied about.
Continue reading Did Daniel’s Life Foreshadow the Tribulation?
Because the original Hanukkah most likely foreshadows events of the Great Tribulation, it is a great extra-biblical study. Although the story is found in 1 and 2 Maccabees, which are found in the apocrypha and aren’t in the canon of scripture, Jesus celebrated the holiday in Jerusalem (John 10:22 ) and the book of Daniel foretells some of its events. For these reasons although we cannot call the story “scripture”, it is a study of great interest. Those aspects of the story that related to the foreshadows of the Great Tribulation are of most interest to me and there are hints within the story as to a link between Hanukkah and the future Abomination of Desolation. These hints are further evidence that the Antichrist will be Islamic. Before we look at the links between Hanukkah and the Tribulation , let’s discuss the entire story.
Continue reading Hanukkah and the Future Abomination of Desolation
I’m sure you are thinking what a strange post title. “What could Christmas and the End Times possibly have in common?” In our stylized Western way of thinking about Christ’s first coming, not much. But if you carefully read the Bible, God has woven pictures of what is to occur during his second coming into the nativity story.
A Revelation Christmas
Revelation 12 gives us just such a picture of the relationship between Jesus’ first coming and his second coming. The Chapter begins:
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. (Rev. 12: 1-2 NASB)
Every school child in the USA knows how the Magi brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Christ. How did the Magi come to understand that the messiah had been born and how did they know that these would be the perfect gifts to symbolize the career of the messiah? Did the prophet Daniel provide the gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Magi or did he at least influence their choice of gifts?
Continue reading Did Daniel Provide the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh for the Magi?
Last month a Jihadist fired four shots at point blank range into the chest of Jerusalem Rabbi Yehuda Glick as he left the Temple Mount area. This assignation attempt was barely a blip on the radar of secular news sources. Those who did report labeled him a “right wing activist.” None of the secular sources reported on Glick’s miraculous healing. His recovery beyond all human reason and the unique role he plays makes me wonder: is the “miracle” Rabbi part of God’s plan to rebuild the Temple?
Continue reading “Miracle” Rabbi Part of God’s Plan to Rebuild Temple?
This morning I read that Iran is threatening direct action against ISIS if the radical state damages any “holy” Shia Muslim shrines in Baghdad. According to the article, it is not clear whether that direct action will involve ground forces. By means of this invasion will Iran fulfill Daniel 8?
To the secular world this is just another mideast headline. Many in the USA, including the current administration, are probably looking forward to Iran playing the role of policeman keeping the “bad boy” ISIS in check. Many are probably relieved to see the USA not having to get involved. What the secular world is clueless about however, is the Biblical significance of an Iranian invasion of the Middle East.
This movie receives Nelson’s highest rating: 5 crosses
see the trailer here.
International prophecy teacher and New York Times best-selling author Joel Richardson (Mideast Beast) has just released an eye-opening new DVD “End Times Eyewitness.” Using first person interviews of Mideast leaders and footage from Israel and the surrounding nations, Joel shows eight signs that mark the soon return of Jesus. This is not a sensationalist, “sky is falling” YouTube video, but rather is a thought provoking, biblically solid, “behind the scenes” account of unfolding events in God’s master plan.
Why Should You Buy this DVD?
In the middle of the Olivet Discourse is a strange illustration about vultures and a corpse that the church does not fully understand. Matthew 24:28 (NASB) says, “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” It’s my opinion that whenever we don’t comprehend a passage it is likely that a mistaken theology is blocking our understanding. That is the case with this verse. The Church does not grasp this illustration because it refers to the resurrection that will occur after the great tribulation. Their view that the resurrection and rapture occur prior to the tribulation prevents them from seeing what this verse truly means.
PART TWO:
In our last post we examined heaven’s perspective of what will occur at the midpiont of the Tribulation. Satan will attempt to usurp God’s throne in Heaven. Michael the Archangel will stand up from his post restraining the Beast from the abyss to do war with Satan and his demons. Michael and the Heavenly Host will overcome Satan and throw him to the Earth. During this heavenly war, the Beast from the abyss will escape to the Earth and possess the Antichrist.
In this post we will discuss what three main events will happen on Earth. The Beast empowered Antichrist will invade Israel and capture Jerusalem, he will kill the Two Witnesses and then will sit in the Temple of God and proclaim himself to be God.
Continue reading Midpoint of the Tribulation: Earth’s Perspective
