ISRAEL TO RECAPTURE THE CITY OF JERUSALEM EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THE GREAT TRIBULATION ENDS! But first let’s understand the unquestionable right of Israel to their land and their Capitol of Jerusalem. It is set in the infallible Scripture that the Throne of David will be occupied by Jesus Christ during the Millennium and Israel will possess the entire land promised to Abraham. This will not occur because of Israel’s Military prowess but by the intervention of God’s Shekinah. Zechariah gave us this prophecy by an Angel from God. “And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory (SHEKINAH) in the midst of her.”(Zechariah 2:4-5) Jehovah God will guarantee Israel’s perfect mastery of the Middle East.
The Children of Israel will yet suffer their darkest hour called “Jacob’s Trouble! The noose around Israel political neck will continue to tighten until she is forced to sign an agreement or covenant with an emerging “One World Order.” Many dark scenarios will be orchestrated to increase tension toward Israel and to reduce the emphasis on their enemies spread all over the Middle East As the pressure mounts, Israel will be more and more hard pressed to make every form of compromise. Her concessions and compromises will eventually be a covenant with the new One World Leaders and the emerging Antichrist.
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Most of Israel’s political figures are liberals that have no sense of the Jewish future or the Biblical hope. Many of them believe in the internationalization of this Capital city of Jerusalem. There is little awareness of Biblical fulfillment to these Jewish leaders. Benjamin Natanyahu may be an exception. To most of their leaders a covenant of peace will be to them a small price to pay for harmony with the world. A climate is presently developing that will make this covenant between Israel and the man who will emerge as Antichrist seem necessary. Watch for peace talks between Israel’s government and other political forces as we move toward a One World Government or New World Order. It must happen to fulfill the Word of God.
The Abomination of Desolation! Israel’s darkest hour of all her sufferings is ready to unfold. The Tribulation Period of seven years will begin at the appropriate time of the covenant mentioned above. After three and one-half years of uneasy cooperation between the Jewish State and the One World Builders, the agreement between them will fall apart. That’s when the Antichrist breaks the covenant by entering the Jewish Worship Center and erecting an image to himself. Jesus spoke of this and described the horror of this dark hour, “When ye therefore shall see the Abomination of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woes unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath Day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22).
This event was foretold by Daniel with the following words,“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease…” (Daniel 9:27a).Jeremiah added a significant description to this period,“And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 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.” (Jeremiah 30:4-7).
When the Antichrist invades Jerusalem in the middle of the seven-year tribulation period and erects his image in the temple, the Jews will flee Jerusalem for the last time. They will hasten to the wilderness of Moab, Amman, and Edom, where they will find refuge from their pursuers. The chosen people will find friends to shelter and protect them. Isaiah said, “Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela (The Greek name Petra—rock—probably replaced the Biblical name, Sela. [Britannica Encyclopedia 9:339, 2b]) to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion… Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler…” (Isaiah 16:1-4a).(Read a recent new article on “The Abomination of Desolation” Order Booklet no. 615)
This prophecy affirms that the Jewish inheritance of Israel will be protected from the “Man of Sin” by the Moabites or present day Jordanians. The Ammonites are also modern Jordanians and will share in being what Isaiah calls“coverts” or“a covering for the Jewish inhabitants.” The land of Edom is also mentioned in this wilderness experience. Edom is the land of Esau and is presently located in areas controlled by either Jordan or Saudi Arabia. Some Edomites will share in protecting Israel, while others will betray them.
Saved From the Antichrist! Because these Arab nations (descendants of Lot and Esau) befriended Israel in this dark hour, God keeps His promise to “bless those that bless Jerusalem.” Nothing escapes the omniscience of the Almighty. Daniel has already prophesied the protection,“He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon” (Daniel 11:41-42). By some miraculous event this ruthless One World Leader will be diverted from crossing over Jordan and the geographical line South of Jordan into the wilderness immediately east. The Jews, who obey the Torah and prophets and flee as God has spoken, will be protected. The rest of Israel will be viciously slain.
Two Thirds of All Jews Will Be Killed! The Prophet Zechariah has established what happens to both the two-thirds who are slain and the one-third who are delivered,“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. 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” (Zechariah 13:8-9).This wilderness experience will break their stubbornness and haughty spirit and open their heart to the Messiah Jesus Christ. The census on the Jewish Web says there are 13.295,100 Jews in the world. (Jewish Information Census, Internet). That means approximately 8,864.000 Jews will be slaughtered and 4,432,000 will be ready to help establish the Kingdom of David.. The 144,000 of the twelve tribes sealed in Revelation chapter seven will be evangelists to the Israeli nation and the world’s Jewish population. These ministries will prepare their hearts for the Messiah.
Temple in Jerusalem to Be Cleansed Before the End of the Great Tribulation! One of the most thrilling things I have ever discovered is the cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem. It will actually happen about eight and one-half months before the Battle of Armageddon as the Jews begin their heart-felt humility and repentance. God, the Holy Spirit, will be getting them ready to be converted and cleansed in one day. Daniel told the story of this happening, “Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered. Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (Daniel 8:11-14). Again, the Antichrist will be so occupied with his own troubles and the judgment of God falling on his head that he will not have time to maintain his hold on Jerusalem.
The two thousand and three hundred days include the first three and one-half years of daily sacrifices following the covenant with the “Imposter.” Part of the seven-year covenant will be to return the Temple Mount to the Jews as their Holy Place. During the next two years and nine and one-half months, the sanctuary will be trodden under foot by the “Prince of the Host” (verse 11) or this “Imposter”probably presenting himself as the High Priest. During the last eight and one-half months, the city of Jerusalem will be recaptured and the temple returned to Jewish control. When the first three and one-half years or 1,278 days are subtracted from 2,300 (Daniel 8:14), it leaves 1,022 days or two years and approximately nine and one-half months. That leaves approximately eight and one-half months to complete the last three and one-half years. The Holy Scripture never misses a detail. Every jot and tittle will be fulfilled.
Just exactly like Jesus promised the days will be shortened for the elect, but not for the rest of the world. “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22). While the Antichrist directs his New World Order from Jerusalem, he will actually seek out every Jewish individual for death and will destroy over 8,000,000 of them. The Father will halt him before all the people of Jewish decent have been slain.
Jesus Returns to Defeat the Antichrist and His Multitude! While the temple is being cleansed and the Jewish peoples are preparing for the returning Messiah, the Antichrist will be marshaling for the death blow against Jerusalem called Armageddon. He will be angry to the point of insanity due to the loss of Jerusalem and the re instituting of Jewish worship in the Holy Place. His immense army will gather in Megiddo and prepare for the deathblow, once and for all, of the State of Israel, Jerusalem, and every Jewish individual left. That’s when the fury of God flies in His face. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army” (Revelation 19:11-19).
According to Zechariah, the battle will reach the city of Jerusalem, “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 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. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light” (Zechariah 14:1-7).
All Israel To Be Cleansed and Saved! When the King of Kings, riding His white stallion, has vanquished the army of this madman, He will immediately appear to the Jewish throng in Moab, Ammon, and Edom. They will actually see and hear the pleading of their Messiah as He invites them to faith in Himself. Isaiah describes this breathtaking moment, “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come” (Isaiah 63:1-4). We are discussing one of the most furious, destructive battles of human history. The Lord Himself will actually participate in combat as He trods the winepress of the wrath of God.
Then he proceeds to the Eastern Gate of the Holy City clothed in His blood stained apparel. Already the masons are removing the stones that have barred that entrance to the Temple Mount for centuries while awaiting this Prince of Peace. In one day all Israel will be converted to the Lord Jesus Christ and the land will be cleansed of all it’s defilement. Zechariah said, “For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree” (Zechariah 3:9-10). Apostle Paul left no doubt in his inspiration by the Holy Spirit, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:25-27).
The Children of Abraham will finally prepare for their glorious kingdom. The borders of Israel will reach from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River. Every square inch promised to the Father of Faith will be the inheritance of these Believing Sons and Daughters of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God promised, “Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies”. (Genesis 22:17b).
The Babylonians (Iraqis) will serve Israel, as will other nations, who have made slaves of the Jewish people. The land of promise will be a Garden of Eden and produce abundantly. Arid deserts will become as gardens and no man will lack for plenty. The Middle East is the Cradle of Civilization and will be the center of a Worldwide Theocracy ruled by the virgin born heir of David. Jesus will set up the kingdom of which He told His disciples in answer to their question, Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:6b & 7). The time will have come!
Joseph R. Chambers