Prophesied Event and Real Time Occurrence are coming Together!
August 26, 2006
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
The final prophesied war, long awaited by believers, had to come sooner or later. With believers it has never been a question of “IF,” but rather a question of “WHEN,” and much speculation has been put forward on the subject by believers since the writing of the New Testament. I have been speculating about “WHEN” the final prophesied war might begin since 1967, which I consider to be the fulf il
lment of a major event in Bible Prophecy. I discussed this speculation in a previous Blog, and am now following up in this
Blog with what first led me to begin speculating in 1967.
I have believed since 1967 that, as the Israeli possession of the Temple Mount neared the end of a 40 year period, all the ingredients for a massive Jihad against Israel would come into place in the Middle East.
I believe that has been the case. The history of my speculation on this principle was included in our last Regular Blog.
Begin Quote
“I taught from 1976 to 2005 that I guesstimated the final war of this Gentile Age would begin just before 2008, but I left myself a four year margin of error, extending the possibility it might not occur until 2012. I considered that the final battle of Masada occurred more than three years
after the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, and added four years to the 40 years from 1967 to 2008, giving myself a safety margin of four years. I included this four year safety margin in one of our very first Archive Prophecy Updates in February of 2001, which was Number 7.”
End Quote
Since I have had some requests expressed to issue the Prophecy Update which first covered the 40 year principle previously presented, I am including it following the Jerusalem Post Article which immediately follows.
All the ingredients are finally coming together, and soon the “WHEN” issue will be history.
Begin Jerusalem Post Article
‘Syria will try for Golan Heights’
JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST
August 24, 2006
OC Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin warned on Thursday that Iran was deeply involved in the Hizbullah’s military training, financing and instruction.
Even though Iran has made no attempt to hide its involvement with Hizbullah, Yadlin pointed out that the guerrillas preferred using Syrian weapons and not Iranian ones.
“Most of the Katyushas – with the exception of the long-range ones – were from Syria’s arsenal.”
He told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee: “Iran is using Syria as a weapons storehouse for Hizbullah, through direct transfer or payment to Syrians, so that the weapons can be transferred to Hizbullah.”
The intelligence head said that Hizbullah was continuing to arm itself and was working to rebuild its position in southern Lebanon using Iranian money.
Israel suspects that the Syrians are funneling ammunition to Hizbullah, and hopes that the multinational UN force will be able to monitor the border closely, Yadlin explained.
He said that Syria was satisfied with the way Hizbullah had operated, and encouraged the group to resist disarming.
Syria is working to increase its profile in the region and was disappointed that it was not included in the cease-fire agreement signed last week, according to Yadlin.
Assad “emphasized his adherence to peace as a strategic choice, but claimed there were a few ways to achieve it – one of which is by resistance,” he said.
Yadlin warned that “the Syrians are insolent and will try to regain the Golan Heights, through military or diplomatic methods.”
Yadlin added that the Syrian army had returned to its normal alert level after having raised it during the IDF-Hizbullah fighting in Lebanon.
Begin Lengthy Special Prophecy Update Number 206B Quote
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 206B
January 9, 2005
WHY I BELIEVE OLD JERUSALEM WILL FALL BEFORE 2008!
I have believed that the Old City of Jerusalem and its Temple Mount would fall before 2008 ever since 1967.
Could I be wrong? Certainly, but since I have had a large number of people ask me about why I hold this belief, I will elaborate once again on it in this Update.
Matthew and Mark, in their Olivet Discourses, indicated a period of time would come on the earth known as “the beginning of sorrows” before Jerusalem fell again to foreign forces 1260 days before the end of the great tribulation period. It was, according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, to be a time of increasing earthquakes, famines, and pestilence. We are certainly not in the tribulation period, but I have believed we were in the beginning of sorrows since 1967.
Luke describes the beginning of sorrows as follows.
Luke 21:11 – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Matthew and Mark do not include the “fearful sights and great signs” because they are to be the last thing to occur just as the tribulation period begins. Luke actually lists their occurrence as being primarily in the great tribulation, rather than in the “beginning of sorrows” that precedes it, which is borne out in the first phrase of Luke 21:25.
Luke 21:25-27 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
These “fearful sights and great signs” from heaven begin when the first great earthquake of the book of Revelation occurs in Revelation 6:12-14, and they continue to intensify until the last earthquake in Revelation 16:18, which is the greatest since God made man. It is doing this time period that the microsecond latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of every mountain and island will be changed slightly. The mountains and islands begin to move as passengers on the tectonic plates on the first earthquake, fleeing to new locations, such that they are not found at precisely the same point on the earth’s grid when the tribulation period ends three and one half years later. All mountains and islands will have moved horizontally anywhere from 5 to 500 feet from where they were located when Revelation 6:12 earthquake occurred in the Jordan River Valley. I have taught this principle for 30 years, and the recent East Indies catastrophe lends credence to all I have taught. The teaching has appeared in all my books for more than 25 years.
I am not a Johnnie-Come-Lately who has suddenly burst on the scene to take advantage of a great catastrophe to make money in the ever enlarging market of prophetic books and tapes. The video tapes Dardanelle MBC sells were made to be perennial back in the eighties, and are just as valid now as they were when they were first produced.
The First Earthquake on the Sixth Seal of Judgment in Revelation!
Revelation 6:12-14 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a GREAT earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; [13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. [14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and EVERY mountain and island were MOVED out of their places.
The Last Earthquake on the Seventh Vial of Wrath in Revelation!
Revelation 16:18-20 – And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. [19] And the great city was divided into three parts, and the CITIES of the NATIONS fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. [20] And every island FLED away, and the mountains were NOT FOUND.
They fled away to new coordinates between the sixth seal and the seventh vial, and were not found at the old ones when the tribulation period ended and Messiah’s millennial reign began.
This is a scripture that could not be understood in a literal physical way until the prophecy of Daniel 12:4 was fulfilled.
Daniel 12:4 – But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
I could be wrong about the timing of the event when the temple mount will fall to the armies of the antichrist, but it will occur, and I assure you that the horrifying events that will follow it, whenever it does occur, will make the East Indies disaster look timid by comparison. The prophetic events will occur exactly as the Bible lays them out, but WHEN has always been the problem faced by those who try to approximate the time of their occurrence. With that in mind, I will explain why I believe the old city of Jerusalem and its temple mount will fall to foreign forces before 2008.
When Jesus came to Jerusalem for the Passover, during which he would be crucified, he made his triumphant entry as Messiah into the city, then departed to Bethany on the opposite side of the Mount of Olives to spend the night. The fig tree narrative begins on the morning of the day following when he came over the Mount of Olives on his way to the temple.
Mark 11:12-19 – And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: [13] And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. [14] And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.
And his disciples heard it. [15] And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; [16] And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
[17] And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. [18] And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. [19] And when even was come, he went out of the city.
Jesus, the Son of Almighty God, knew full well that the time of figs “was not yet.” So why would he stop it from producing any more fruit, since it was certainly not the tree’s fault for failing to have fruit on it? This act is totally out of character for Jesus, who has no record of any such action like it in his ministry. In the Old Testament there are numerous times when God had the prophets do public things to illustrate what God was going to do to Israel in the future, as in Ezekiel 4:3-8.
Ezekiel 4:3-8 – Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. [4] Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. [5] For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. [6] And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah FORTY DAYS: I have appointed thee EACH DAY FOR A YEAR. [7] Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it. [8] And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege. (1 DAY = 40 YEARS) – I merely use this to illustrate the use of days for periods of years. Volume Two of “A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, has a specific comment on the phrase “EACH DAY FOR A YEAR, which is quoted as follows: “Literally, a day for a year, a year for a day,” twice repeated to mark more distinctly the reference to Numbers 14:34 of the past.
The picturing of the future under the image of the past wherein the meaning was far from lying on the surface, was intended to arouse to a less superficial mode of thinking, just as the partial vailing of truth in Jesus’ parables was designed to stimulate inquiry: also, to remind men that God’s dealings in the past are a key to the future, for he moves on the same everlasting principles, the forms alone being transitory.” (End Quote)
So, to put all this in plain Arkansas terminology – they are saying this 40 days refers back to the 40 years that the disobedient generation of Israel was made to wander in the wilderness, and is used as a figure of it in Ezekiel 4:6. Numbers 14:29-35 records this event of the past and, in verse 34, uses the same figure of a day equaling a year.
Numbers 14:29-35 – Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, [30] Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. [31] But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. [32] But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. [33] And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. [34] After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even FORTY DAYS, EACH DAY FOR A YEAR, shall ye bear your iniquities, even FORTY YEARS, and ye shall know my breach of promise. [35] I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
Numbers 32:13 – And the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until ALL THE GENERATION, that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was consumed.
With all this in mind, let us return to the account of the cursing of the fig tree by Jesus.
Jesus spoke to the fig tree publicly in earshot and view of the disciples who had traveled with him for more than three years. He wanted them to see it and to remember it. The fig tree dried up in a day for a reason. Israel was the fig tree that had brought forth no fruit, and the day was to represent the 40 years it had before it was completely dried up as a living nation on this earth, which happened some 40 years later when Titus overran Jerusalem and leveled it.
Luke 21:24 – And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Now, continuing were we left off in Mark 11:18 as Jesus headed over the mountain again to Bethany after telling the fig tree it would no longer be allowed to produce fruit.
Mark 11:19-22 – And when even was come, he went out of the city. [20] And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. [21] And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. [22] And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
The full meaning of what they had witnessed happen to the fig tree did not come to their remembrance fully until after the temple was finally destroyed in 70 A.D. Only John wrote Scripture after 70 A.D., and he is the only one who ever described just how cursed the temple mount had been made when he wrote Revelation 11:18 in about 96 A.D., and spoke of Jerusalem where the two witnesses would be killed.
Revelation 11:8 – And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Jesus cursed the fig tree in the morning on his way to cleanse the temple for the second time in his ministry, which was the sign it had been rejected because the Jews had not produced spiritual fruit. That night he returned to Bethany. Returning to Jerusalem the next morning, a full day later, the disciples all saw that the fig tree had dried up at the roots. Israel had been uprooted by God as his fig tree after Jesus had tried to get it to produce fruit for more than three years. The owner of the vineyard in the parable which follows is God, the dresser of the vineyard is Jesus, and Israel is the fig tree that was dried up spiritually when it rejected its Messiah, and then dried up physically as a nation, perishing some 40 years (a day) later in 70 A.D.
Luke 13:5-9 – I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. [7] Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? [8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
This is when it was cut down physically by the Roman Army of Titus in 70 A.D.
Luke 21:24 – And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and JERUSALEM shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The prophecy is for the OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM, and it does not refer to the time when Israel became a nation, which happened in 1948. That is why I publicly spoke out against the book, “88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming in 1988” when it was first published. Some preachers added 40 years to 1948 and taught that Jesus would come in 1988. It is true I added 40 years to 1967 to bring me up to 2008, but the prophecy is not about the time of the rapture, it is when Jerusalem, after having come back under Israeli domination, will once again fall to foreign forces after a brief 40 year period of freedom. The following Scriptures indicate Jerusalem will fall, two-thirds of Israel will perish, and one-third will be driven into the Negev wilderness, where it will remain for three and one-half prophetic years (360 days per year), which is referred to in Scripture as 1260 days, 42 months, or a time (1 year) plus times (2 years), and a half time (1/2 year). Israel (the woman) and the two witnesses will be there during this time period. At the time of Daniel’s writings “the saints” were the Israeli believers. The “he” in Daniel 7:25 is the antichrist and “the saints” represent the remnant of Israel in the Negev wilderness.
Daniel 7:25 – And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Zechariah 14:1,2 – Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
[2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zechariah 13:8,9 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 11:2,3 – But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. [3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Remember where we started, back in Luke 21:11? Now, let’s look at a linkage of Scriptures in that Chapter.
Luke 21:6 – As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Fulfilled in 21:24A)
Luke 21:24 – And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The “times of the Gentiles” for domination of the city of old Jerusalem was fulfilled in 1967, and earthquakes, famine, and pestilence began to increase – earthquakes after 1967, pestilence in the eighties with the rise of HIV, and famine in the nineties as the world population passed six billion in October of 1999.
Luke 21:11A – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; (Began in 1967 as the “beginning of sorrows” and all three are still increasing in frequency of occurrence)
Luke 21:11B – And fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Will be fulfilled when tribulation begins – Luke 21:25)
Luke 21:25,26 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:28-32 – And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, THEN look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption DRAWETH NIGH. [29] And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; [30] When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. [31] So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. [32] Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
I believe Luke is referring to the final forty years of the Gentile age when it will see these things BEGIN to come to pass, and I believe it began in 1967. A generation is generally accepted to be 40 years, as was the time the wilderness generation was made to wander in a wilderness, before being allowed to enter the land of promise. I believe Luke’s reference to “these things” in 21:28 is tied to the things of the beginning of sorrows in 21:11A.
I believe Israel is the fig tree, and that the rest of the trees are the non-Jewish nations of the world. I believe Israel’s final forty year period, before she will once again fall to non-Jewish nations for a 1260 day period, began in June of 1967. And I believe it to be likely that the city of Jerusalem, and the land from Dan to Beersheba, will fall to foreign forces in 2007.
Jesus was born in B.C. 4 by the Gentile calendar, began his earthly ministry when he was baptized by John in 27 A.D. at age 30, and was crucified in 30 A.D. in Jerusalem, after a ministry of a little more than 3 years. Forty years later, as predicted, the city fell to Titus, and remained under Gentile control until June of 1967.
First Generation 30AD to 70AD——Last Generation 1967 to 2007
If it does not happen in 2007, so be it, but I know that if I have made an incorrect guesstimate of the time, that does not change the fact that it will eventually happen, and I must believe it will be soon.
End Lengthy Special Prophecy Update Number 206B Quote
If the American troops were not in Iraq, and if I thought the ten toes of Daniel 2 and Hizbollah could gather enough strength in 2007, I would still guesstimate the Jihad against Israel would occur before 2008, but I do not believe it likely that either of these scenarios could materialize before late 2008. So I am glad I left myself a four year overlap in Archive Prophecy Update Number 7 in 2001, because it now looks as if some point in time between 2008 and 2012 will be the most likely time for such an attack to begin.
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