Millions Missing!!!!!!!!

[lighthouse]

MILLIONS
MISSING WIVES HUSBANDS B CHILDREN A FATHERS B MOTHERS I YOUNG MEN E YOUNG LADIES S SWEETHEARTS GRANDFATHERS GRANDMOTHERS

YES - ONE DAY -- "...that day and hour
knoweth no man..." (Matthew 24:36)--
MILLIONS of people, of all ages, will
leave this earth in a SECOND -- "in
the twinkling of an eye" (I Corinthians
15:52).
The Word of God teaches this truth in
WORDS EASY TO UNDERSTAND, and
all who want to know the facts about
this MOMENTOUS event can find the
facts clearly stated in the Scriptures.
SCORES of prophecies concerning the
first coming of Jesus (His birth) are
found in the Old Testament. ALL WERE
FULFILLED TO THE LETTER; not one
prophecy concerning His birth failed to
be fulfilled.
Since the same prophets prophesied
of His second coming also, I expect
these prophecies to be fulfilled in every
detail--and they will!
3

Jesus told His disciples, "...all things
must be fulfilled, which were written
in the law of Moses, and in the prophets,
and in the psalms, concerning me"
(Luke 24:44).
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DAY ON
EARTH SINCE THE CREATION OF THE
WORLD SUCH AS THAT DAY WILL BE.
First, Jesus is coming FOR HIS SAINTS
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Then LATER Jesus will return to this
earth with His saints (Jude verse 14).
Is this something DREAMED UP by a
preacher?
Is this some man-made doctrine used
to FRIGHTEN people into becoming
Christians?
Let me answer those questions with
the Word of God.
DO YOU BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD?
If you do, we can find the answer to
ALL questions concerning the second
coming of Jesus; if you do not believe
the Scriptures, NO ONE CAN HELP YOU.
4

Listen to the words of Jesus:
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye
believe in God, believe also in me. In
my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there ye
may be also" (John 14:1-3).
This is a promise made by Jesus, and
He CANNOT break His promise. When
Jesus told His disciples He was going
back to His Father in Heaven, it deeply
troubled them; but Jesus told them why
He was leaving and assured them that
He would return for His children and
receive them unto Himself:
"I am going to the Father's house----
I WILL PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU----
I WILL COME AGAIN AND RECEIVE YOU
UNTO MYSELF----THAT WHERE I AM
THERE YE MAY BE ALSO." Jesus did
GO; He is preparing the PLACE HE
PROMISED; He will COME AGAIN for
His children.
5

When Jesus was taken up into Heaven
forty days after His resurrection, the
disciples saw Him disappear in a cloud.
"And while they looked stedfastly toward
heaven as he went up, behold, two men
stood by them in white apparel; Which
also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand
ye gazing up into heaven? this same
Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner
as ye have seen him go into heaven"
(Acts 1:10, 11).
These two passages of Scripture teach
us that Jesus is COMING back a second
time. There are scores of passages
throughout the Word of God that clearly
teach us that Jesus will come again,
but space will not permit me to give
them here. In fact, ONE verse out of
every TWENTY-FIVE in the New Testa-
ment refers to the second coming of
Jesus.
It would require a large book to discuss
ALL the details of the second coming
of Jesus----
6

the Rapture, the catching away of the
saints; the Tribulation (with the Anti-
christ, the beast, and the false prophet);
the Revelation, at which time "every eye
shall see him" (Revelation 1:7); the
Millennium, when He will reign here on
earth for one thousand years (Revelation
20:5, 6); and all phases of the second
coming of Jesus.
Therefore we will, in this booklet, dis-
cuss
THE NEXT WORLD-SHAKING EVENT--

THE RAPTURE --
the EVENT described in First Thessa-
lonians, First Corinthians, and The Gos-
pel of Luke; the EVENT that will take
MILLIONS out of this earth in a SECOND,
"in the twinkling of an eye" (I Corin-
thians 15:52).

In the church in Thessalonica some
of the believers had departed to be
with the Lord; their loved ones were
distressed and discouraged, and the
Holy Spirit sent this message to them
through Paul:
7

"But I would not have you to be ig-
norant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even
as others which have no hope. For
if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with him.
"For this we say unto you by the word
of the Lord, that we which are alive
and remain unto the coming of the Lord
shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up to-
gether with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and
so shall we ever be with the Lord.
"Wherefore comfort one another with
these words" (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Paul is saying here: "I do not want
you to be ignorant concerning your de-
parted loved ones. I do not want you to
be filled with sorrow like unbelievers
8

who have NO HOPE. If we believe
that Jesus died and that He conquered
DEATH AND THE GRAVE, then we have
the assurance that our saved loved ones
who have died are with Him in Paradise
RESTING, and when He comes, He will
BRING THEM WITH HIM."
ALL WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LORD
ARE HAPPY, AND THEY ARE RESTING
(Revelation 14:13).
There is NO EXCUSE for ignorance
concerning spiritual things. "All scrip-
ture is given by inspiration of God....
For the prophecy came not in old time
by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost....when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth.... But
the anointing which
ye have received of him abideth in
you....the same anointing teach-
eth you of all things, and is
truth, and is no lie..." (II Timothy
3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21; John 16:
12-15; I John 2:27).
9

THE HOLY SPIRIT gave the WORDS in
the Scriptures to holy men, THE SAME
SPIRIT abides in the HEART of every
born again believer, AND THE SPIRIT
IS THE ONLY TEACHER OF THE WORD
OF GOD!
"Now we have received, not the
spirit of the world, but the spirit
which is of God; that we might know
the things that are freely given to
us of God" (I Corinthians 2:12).
Then Paul gives a CLEAR, understand-
able account of what BELIEVERS can
EXPECT and look forward to concerning
not only our departed loved ones who
were saved, but also concerning LIVING
BELIEVERS WHEN JESUS COMES THE
SECOND TIME.
ALL who believe that Jesus "died and
rose again"--and one must believe this
to be saved (Romans 10:9, 10)--should
KNOW that ALL who have died in the
Lord "will God bring with him"; that is,
when Jesus comes in the Rapture at
the first resurrection.
10

These WORDS, penned down by Paul
in I Thessalonians 4:13-18, are THE
WORDS OF THE LORD! Notice:--
"For this we say unto you by the
word of the Lord...."
These are not the words of a man, or
men, or angels; IT IS THE WORD OF
THE LORD. WE CAN BELIEVE IT! He
CANNOT lie (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2).
"...we which are alive and remain
unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent [hinder, or go before] them
which are asleep" (resting--Revelation
14:13).
"For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God:..."
AND THEN --
"the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and re-
main shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord."
11

HERE IS THE PICTURE:----
INSTANTLY at death the spirit of a
believer goes to be with the Lord: "Then
shall the dust [the body] return to the
earth as it was: and the spirit shall
return unto God who gave it" (Ec-
clesiastes 12:7).
ALL believers who have departed this
life are now resting in Paradise (Luke
23:42, 43; Revelation 14:13).
When Jesus comes in the Rapture, He
will bring them with Him (I Thessalonians
4:14). The bodies of departed believers
will rise from the graves before LIVING
BELIEVERS ARE CHANGED. The spirits
of departed believers will UNITE with
their resurrected bodies. THEN, ALL
BELIEVERS will be CHANGED (I Corin-
thians 15:51, 52), and TOGETHER we
will be "caught up" to meet Jesus
in the air!
When Jesus comes in the Rapture, He
will not touch this earth; He will descend
to the atmospheric (cloud) area and
CALL US UP TO MEET HIM THERE.
He will stand on the earth at a later
time (Zechariah 14:4).
12

THE RAPTURE WILL BE TWOFOLD:
1. The resurrection of the "dead in
Christ[.]"
2. The translation of the LIVING saints.
As I have said, the spirit of the believer
goes to be with Jesus IMMEDIATELY at
death. Let me give you Scripture for
that statement:
"For we know that if our earthly house
of this tabernacle were dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring
to be clothed upon with our house which
is from heaven: If so be that being
clothed we shall not be found naked.
For we that are in this tabernacle do
groan, being burdened: not for that we
would be unclothed, but clothed upon,
that mortality might be swallowed up of
life....
"Therefore we are always confident,
knowing that, whilst we are at home in
the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
13

We are confident, I say, and willing
rather to be absent from the body, and
to be present with the Lord" (II Corin-
thians 5:1-8).
There is no such thing as "SOUL
SLEEP," a doctrine which teaches that
when a person dies the WHOLE MAN--
soul, spirit, and body--goes to the grave
and remains there until the resurrection.
This is unscriptural. The body is the
HOUSE in which the soul and spirit live.
At death the INNER MAN goes to Para-
dise; THE HOUSE (BODY) goes back to
dust. So the believer is "absent from
the body, and...present with the
Lord" (verse 8).
Paul had a desire to go to be with
Jesus. He said:
"For I am in a strait betwixt two,
having a desire to depart, and to be
with Christ; which is far better: Never-
theless to abide in the flesh is more
needful for you" (Philippians 1:23, 24).
The only desire Paul had to remain
on this earth was to help his fellow
believers.
14

It is not wrong or sinful for a Christian
to have a desire to go to be with the
Lord. The last prayer in God's Word is
for the SOON COMING OF JESUS:
"He which testifieth these things saith,
Surely I come quickly. Amen."
(Jesus spoke those words.) John then
prayed:
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev-
elation 22:20).
The TWOFOLD character of the Rapture
Jesus clearly revealed to Martha when
He talked with her just before He raised
Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had
been dead four days. Jesus said to
Martha:
"I am the resurrection, and the life:
he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live [Jesus is speak-
ing of the first-resurrection saints, those
who will be raised from the dead when
the Rapture occurs]: And whosoever
liveth and believeth in me [ALL
BELIEVERS who are alive when the Rap-
ture occurs] shall never die" (John
11:25, 26).
15

There will be a HOST -- MILLIONS --
of believers to leave this world without
dying. They will never know "The
sting of death[.]" THEY WILL NOT
PASS THROUGH "the valley of the
shadow of death" (I Corinthians
15:55, 56; Psalms 23:4). I would love to
be one of those millions--but if I am
NOT, I am not afraid of death; I know
the Lord Jesus will "walk through
the valley of the shadow" with me!
This TWOFOLD character of the Rap-
ture is emphasized by Paul in his immor-
tal chapter on the resurrection. I trust
you will read all of the chapter; I will
give you seven verses of it here:
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed, In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall
be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality. So when this cor-
ruptible shall have put on incorruption,
16

and this mortal shall have put on immor-
tality, then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written, Death is swallowed
up in victory. O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength
of sin is the law. But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:
51-57).
Again I say, it is not wrong for believers
to desire not to be "unclothed" BY
DEATH, but to be "clothed upon"
by immortality WITHOUT DYING (II Co-
rinthians 5:4).
What a GLORIOUS thing it would be
to be instantly translated into the
presence of Jesus WITHOUT DYING!
"Behold, I shew you a mystery"--
A MYSTERY SHOWN is no longer a
mystery: "Behold, I shew you a mys-
tery...." God made known to Paul
the "blessed hope...the glorious
appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).
17

God made known to Paul the blessed,
comforting HOPE that when Jesus comes
the second time, ALL believers who have
departed to be with Jesus will return
with Him, and their mortal bodies will
be RAISED IMMORTAL. The glorified
bodies of ALL believers will be just like
the glorious resurrection body of Jesus
(I John 3:2).
God revealed to Paul that not ALL be-
lievers will DIE, but ALL will be changed
when Jesus comes in the Rapture--and
IT WILL ALL TAKE PLACE IN "the
twinkling of an eye[.]"
The dictionary defines a "twinkle" as:
"The time occupied by a single wink of
the eye."
THAT IS FAST!
DID YOU KNOW----while I sit here
typing this message, THE RAPTURE
COULD OCCUR! DID YOU KNOW THAT?
Should the Rapture occur as I type,
IT WOULD BE ALL OVER BEFORE I
COULD STRIKE ONE KEY!!!
18

Are you saved? Are you ready for the
coming of Jesus? If you are not a born
again believer, YOU ARE NOT READY.
But you can get ready this very moment
if you desire to be saved.
If you are not saved when Jesus comes,
YOU WILL BE LEFT ON EARTH----left
to go through the horrible tribulation
period when men will "seek death, and
shall not find it...desire to die, and
death shall flee from them" (Revela-
tion 9:1-6).
WINK YOUR EYE, FRIEND----that is
how rapidly every born again person
will leave this earth! GET READY, IF
YOU ARE NOT READY.
Jesus revealed what will take place
when He comes in the Rapture:
"I tell you, in that night there shall be
two men in one bed; the one shall be
taken, and the other shall be left. Two
women shall be grinding together; the
one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one
shall be taken, and the other left" (Luke
17:34-36).
This passage teaches that the Rapture
19

will occur the world over at the same
time:
Two in bed (while part of the earth is
light, part is dark; not all people sleep
at the same time).
Two women grinding grain to make
bread for the day. (The women in Bible
lands grind their flour in the morning;
this speaks of the dawn, morning.)--and
Two men in the field (signifies later in
the morning, or in the afternoon).
SO--when Jesus comes in the Rapture,
SOME WILL BE IN BED, SOME WILL BE
GRINDING, AND SOME WILL BE IN THE
FIELD.
TO THE UNSAVED, a FRIGHTENING
TRUTH is made known here:--In each
case ONE is taken and ONE IS LEFT!
TWO IN ONE BED --
ONE TAKEN, ONE LEFT!
Many a husband will wake the next
morning after the Rapture and find his
wife's nightclothes in the bed beside
him----BUT HIS WIFE WILL BE GONE!
The same thing will happen to many
20

wives; their born again husbands will
be missing----only their nightclothes will
be in the bed where the husband was
the night before.
ALL LITTLE BABY BEDS will be EMPTY!
Not ONE baby will be left to suffer in
the tribulation that will follow after the
Rapture.
LITTLE CHILDREN will be gone!----
Would you like to live in a world without
ONE BABY or ONE INNOCENT CHILD?
Unsaved young people will search for
THAT GODLY MOTHER who pled with
them to be saved, but they laughed and
went on their sinful way. THE LAUGH-
ING WILL CEASE IN THAT HOUR WHEN
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE REALIZE THAT
JESUS HAS COME AND TAKEN THEIR
MOTHER BACK TO HEAVEN WITH HIM.
TWO AT THE MILL GRINDING,
TWO IN THE FIELD --
ONE TAKEN, ONE LEFT!
This speaks of working people--people
in the stores, shops, plants, and fields.
21

In the GIANT INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, AS-
SEMBLY LINES WILL RUN WILD when
born again workers are taken from their
positions and their posts are left un-
attended.
THIS SUDDEN REMOVAL OF MILLIONS
FROM THE EARTH will bring about a
mysterious world crisis; CONFUSION,
CHAOS, AND PANIC such as this world
has never known WILL ENGULF THE
WHOLE EARTH!
Scores of DRIVERLESS cars will rush
pell-mell down the highways piling up
in horrible wrecks----
BIG TRUCKS carrying tens of thou-
sands of gallons of explosive gasoline
and chemicals will wreck and cause fires
and explosions that cannot be described
in words----
Buses and trains loaded with passen-
gers will pile up--WRECKED----
MANY GIANT AIRLINERS will plunge to
the ground when the born again pilots
are removed from the controls!
DEATH, MISERY, AND CONFUSION
WILL BE EVERYWHERE.
22

ARE YOU SAVED? ARE YOU PREPARED
FOR THE COMING OF JESUS?
If you are not, you WOULD be left here
on earth----YOU COULD be a passenger
in an automobile, plane, or train----
YOU COULD BE AN EYEWITNESS TO
ALL THIS CHAOS AND CONFUSION!
DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE! BE SAVED
NOW!
While automobiles PILE UP on the
highways . . . airplanes PLUNGE to the
ground or FALL into the oceans . . .
trains run wild, JUMP the tracks, roll
down mountainsides and CRASH------
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS who are
left will run to the streets, up and down
the lanes of the countryside, TERRIFIED
AND IN SHOCK, screaming and search-
ing for MISSING LOVED ONES! (Saved
husbands, wives, children, parents will
be MISSING.)
Many will try to use their phones but
cannot, because circuits will be JAMMED!
Phone and news service will be para-
lyzed because of FIRES and LINES DE-
STROYED by wrecked trucks, trains, and
automobiles.
23

Tens of thousands of policemen will be
taken in the Rapture; therefore CRIME
AND LAWLESSNESS will be widespread.
THE RAPTURE WILL BE A SURPRISE
There will be no announcements in the
newspaper, on radio or television as to
when the Rapture will take place.
When a hurricane is sweeping across
the ocean toward our shore, there is a
period of warning by radio, television,
and the papers. People can prepare,
to a degree, for the BIG STORM! We
also have advance warning when a TOR-
NADO is sighted in our area----
BUT --
There will be no announcement made
by man concerning the COMING OF
JESUS IN THE RAPTURE.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS ALREADY
BEEN MADE!
"Watch therefore...be ye also
ready: for in such an hour as ye
think not the Son of man cometh"
(Matthew 24:42, 44).
24

THE WARNING HAS BEEN GIVEN!!!
"Behold, I come as a thief. Bless-
ed is he that watcheth..." (Revela-
tion 16:15).
"...the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night" (I Thessalonians
5:2).
Why is the coming of Jesus in the
Rapture compared to the coming of
a thief?
The reason is easy to understand when
we consider HOW and WHY a thief
comes, and WHAT he TAKES and WHAT
he LEAVES BEHIND.
A thief COMES UNANNOUNCED! A
thief does not call on the telephone
and say, "I am coming over tonight and
rob you."
When Jesus comes in the Rapture,
He will come UNANNOUNCED.
Why does a thief come? He comes
to take away things of value--jewels,
silver, furs; he leaves the brooms, mops,
and dustpan.
25

When Jesus comes in the Rapture, He
will come to get His JEWELS, the born
again----"And they shall be mine...
in that day when I make up my
jewels..." (Malachi 3:17).
When a thief comes, he usually leaves
more than he takes--much more!
When the Rapture occurs, the children
of God (His jewels) will be taken out--
but there will be MORE PEOPLE LEFT
ON EARTH than there will be taken out
to meet Jesus in the clouds in the air.
THE MASS of mankind on the earth today
do not know anything about the second
coming of Jesus, and they do not care
to know; therefore those of us who
DO KNOW and ARE SURE that His com-
ing is VERY NEAR must do everything
we can to WARN THE UNSAVED, and
we must use every opportunity we have
to win them to Jesus, to get them to
become Christians, before it is too late.
The UNCONCERNED ATTITUDE of the
masses is one of the sure signs that
His coming is VERY NEAR.
26

WHY DO I SAY HIS COMING IS NEAR?
??????????????????????????????
BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES
AND POINTS OUT TO US CLEARLY
THE CONDITIONS THAT WILL EXIST
AND THE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN
JUST BEFORE THE SECOND COMING
OF JESUS . . . .
"as it was in the days of Noe....
as it was in the days of Lot...thus
shall it be..." (Luke 17:26-30).
In Genesis chapters 4, 5, and 6 we
have an account of the days just before
the FLOOD--the Noah days. In Ezekiel
16:48-50 we find the sins of the Lot days
named.
NOAH DAYS:
In the days of Noah, men went away
from the presence of God.
Check your ball parks, race tracks,
sport arenas, highways, lakes, and other
places of amusement ONE SUNDAY,
and you will see that the masses are
not interested in God.
27

Noah days were days of city building.
Cain "builded a city" and named
after his son Enoch.
If you will LOOK AROUND a little, I
believe you will agree this an age of
CITY BUILDING!
In the days of Noah, for the first time
men began to marry TWO WIVES.
Check your divorce courts today.
Noah days produced the first BUSI-
NESSMEN. They travelled, lived in tents,
and went in THE CATTLE BUSINESS.
It was an AGE OF MUSIC . . . they played
"the harp and organ."
DO WE HAVE MUSIC???
???????????????????
It was an age of EDUCATION; men
were taught to PRODUCE AND USE
"brass and iron[.]"
Noah days were days of MURDER.
Read today's newspaper, listen to the
news; you have the answer. COURT-
HOUSES ARE TOO SMALL TO HANDLE
THE MURDER CASES.
28

In the days of Noah there was a POPU-
LATION EXPLOSION! "...men began
to multiply on the face of the
earth..." (Genesis 6:1).
The population of the world today is
growing LEAPS and BOUNDS--hun-
dreds of MILLIONS of babies born each
year.
(Read Genesis chapters 4, 5, and 6;
especially Genesis 4:16-24.)
LOT DAYS:
"Behold, this was the iniquity of
...Sodom [Lot lived in Sodom],
pride, fulness of bread, and abun-
dance of idleness..., neither did...
strengthen the hand of [or help]
the poor and needy. And they
were haughty, and committed abom-
ination..." (Ezekiel 16:49, 50).
YOU KNOW, and I KNOW, that America
is GUILTY of EVERY SIN committed in
the days of Noah and the days of Lot.
PERSONALLY, I am convinced in my
heart, after almost forty years of studying
29

and preaching the Word of God, that
THE RAPTURE IS VERY NEAR!!! I
do not know THE DAY NOR THE HOUR,
and I would not be so foolish as to
SET A DATE or name AN HOUR----
but I do say without any hesitation--
There is not ONE VERSE--or even the
least PART OF A VERSE--in the Word
of God that must be FULFILLED before
Jesus comes in the Rapture. ALL HAS
BEEN FULFILLED----much in the last
few years.
AND I WILL SAY IN WORDS OF
JESUS:
"Watch therefore: for ye know
not what hour your Lord doth come[!]"
(Matthew 24:42).
DO YOU WANT TO BE SAVED? DO
WANT TO GO IN THE RAPTURE
SHOULD IT OCCUR TODAY?
Then heed God's Word:
"if thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
30

For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth con-
fession is made unto salvation" (Romans
10:9, 10).
Believe on Jesus NOW. Ask Him to
save you NOW--and He WILL! (Read
John 3:16; Acts 16:31; and Romans
10:13.)
Just say: "I do now confess that I am
a sinner, and I now repent (http://www.acm.ndsu.nodak.edu/NDSU_Christian/tracts/stl/tracts.htm#RF) & receive Jesus as
my Saviour. I pray, Lord Jesus come
into my heart, forgive my sin, and save
my soul. THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR
SAVING ME. Amen."
....................................
(Sign your name here.)
Send your testimony to me, and allow
me to share your joy.
Evangelist Oliver B. Greene
The Gospel Hour, Inc.
Box 2024, Greenville, S. C. 29602
31[http://www.acm.ndsu.nodak.edu/NDSU_Christian/tracts/other/millions.htm

[lighthouse]

The Rapture
.
.

Have millions of people disapeared from the face of the earth? Are you still here and wondering what happened? The Bible tells us of a time near the second comming of Jesus Christ where something like this will happen.

What has happened? This is an event known in the Christian world as the Rapture. You can read about it in 1 Corinthians 15:51,52 & 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17. The Bible tells us that there will be a period of 7 years on this earth that God will judge the world for rejecting Him and His Son (Jesus Christ). God has sent out His word to the world but they have chosen to reject Him and His way to Heaven. However, before this judgement will take place, God will remove His people from the earth. If this has already happened, you will have to go through this judgement.

What should you do now? According to the Bible, this event will leave the world in great turmoil. People will be looking for answers where ever they can find them. Some will turn to religion, some will turn to science, some will just try to find some logical explination for what has happened. During this time there will arise a great world leader that will seem to have all of the answers as the world tries to put itself back together again. He will have some explanation for what has happened to the missing people. He may say something such as God has finally got rid of all of the trouble makers and now we can get down to doing Gods work or he may tell you that UFO's have taken away your loved ones. He will help solve food shortage problems, energy problems, political problems, and many other problems that the world will be having at the time.

If it hasn't happened yet, he will work things out for the Israelites so that they can rebuild their temple in Jerusalem and begin to worship there again. Then half way through the 7 year tribulation period, this great world leader will go into the temple, sit down and declare himself to be God. This is the point in time when you will enter into what is called the Great Tribulation. It will last for 3 1/2 years. The Jews will reject this man and he will begin a reign of terror against Gods people. He will put to death every Jewish person and Christian that he can find.

You will be required to receive a mark on your right hand or on your forehead. The Bible tells us that without this mark, you will not be able to buy or sell anything or own property. By refusing to recieve this mark, you will be seen as an enemy of the state. The Bible tells us that anyone that receives this mark has no chance to be saved from Gods wrath and will spend an eternity in Hell.

Jesus said that this tribulation period will be greater than any other judgement that the world has ever seen before or will ever see in the future. There will be more wars, more famines, more earthquakes and natural disastors, and plagues than you can imagine during this time. If you read the book of Revelation you will learn about the different judgements that God will have during this time.


NOW WHAT DO I DO?
Whether the Rapture has happened yet or not, Jesus Christ is still the answer. The Bible tells us that Christ is the only way for anyone to go to Heaven.
It's like this. God loves us but He hates our sin because sin seperates us from Him. Sin has to be paid for. If we pay for our own sin, we will spend eternity in Hell. God didn't want that so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to this earth to pay for our sins. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life while on this earth. Since He had no sins to pay for of His own, the Bible tells us that He was able to take our sins to the cross with Him. He paid the price for our sins when He died on that cross many years ago. The Bible tells us that if we will accept that payment that He made for us that we can have eternal life.
God gives us the choice to decide if we will accept His way to Heaven or try to make our oun way. The Bible however is clear that Gods way is the only way. Pride may enter into the picture and we may think that we can get to Heaven on our our good merits, but the Bible tells us that our best is as filthy rags in Gods sight(Isahiah 64:6).

Will Christians go through the tribulation period? No! There are some Christians that worry about having to go through the tribulation period. Remember this. The tribulation is a judgement for those who are not Gods people. It is for those who reject God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Everytime that God has a judgement, if you will notice, He takes care of His people first. With Sodom and Gomorrha, God removed Lot and his family before the judgement began. With the Great flood, God took care of Noah and his family before the judgement began. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you don't have to worry about having to go through this judgement either. If you are living on the earth at the time when God is ready to judge the earth, He will take you out of harms way first.
http://www.makeitclearnow.org/rapture.html

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<UL>Who Will Go When The Lord Comes?

By Ray Brubaker

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I THESSALONIANS 4:13 [The Coming of the Lord]
13 ¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Cor. 15.51-52

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

FOR MY MOTHER 12-08-29 TO 07-28-03 I WILL MEET YOU MOM BY THE MAIN GATE IN THE NEW CITY JERUSALEM -[[ FOR THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST AND THE LAST FIRST]]

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I CORINTHIANS 15:51 ¶ Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Thes. 4.15-17

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Is. 25.8

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Hos. 13.14

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

[lighthouse]

When They Ring Those Golden Bells



I



There's A Land Beyond The River,

That We Call The Sweet Forever,

And We Only Reach That Shore By Faith's Decree,

One By One We'll Gain The Portals There To Dwell

With The Immortals,

When They Ring The Golden Bells For You And Me.



Chorus



Don't You Hear The Bells Now Ringing?

Don't You Hear The Angels Singing?

Tis The Glory Hallelujah Jubilee,

In The Far - Off Sweet Forever,

Just Beyond The Shining River?

When They Ring The Golden Bells For You And Me.



Ii



We Shall Know No Sin Nor Sorrow,

In That Haven Of Tomorrow,

When Our Barque Sail Beyond The Silver Sea,

We Shall Only Know The Blessing Of Our Father's Sweet Caressing,

When They Ring The Golden Bells For You And Me.



Iii



When Our Days Shall Know Their Number,

When In Death We Sweetly Slumber,

When The King Commands The Spirit To Be Free,

Never More With Anguish Laden,

We Shall Reach That Lovely Aiden

When They Ring The Golden Bells For You And Me.

[lighthouse]

City of Gold

Title: The Golden City

Soon your trials will be over
Offered up by mercy's hand
A better view from where you stand
Going to another land

The sweetest welcome from the Father
Gathered up and carried home
We are past this time of waiting
Come let us bow before Your throne

CHORUS:
We will meet in the Golden City in the New Jerusalem
All our pain and all our tears will be no more
We will stand with the hosts of heaven
And cry holy is the Lamb
We will worship and adore You evermore

Never can the powers of darkness
Neither death nor even life
Let nothing ever separate us
From the holy love of God

CHORUS(2x)

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb

[lighthouse]

http://www.psalmsfortheworld.org/mys...he_rapture.htm (http://www.psalmsfortheworld.org/mystery_of_the_rapture.htm)

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"The Mystery Of The Rapture"

So you say you’re a good person, you believe in God, you live your life with respect to others and you enjoy the pleasures of life, yet you wonder is this all there is?! As you watch TV, you notice current events, movies and lifestyles that promote violence, sex and pleasure, while music, movies and commercials advertise the pleasures of man’s flesh which leads to the decay of our society due to media corruption. It makes you think, what is this world coming to?

As a minister and Bible teacher I often get asked the same questions. Is the end near? Is the earth going to be wiped out? Why would a God of love do this to man? On the other hand I get the questions answered by people saying, “I do not think God would destroy the earth.” “ I believe that good people will go to heaven,” or “I think there are many ways to heaven and being a good person is all that counts. After all, Jesus says believe in Him and you will be saved.” These are all questions and answers that we will be addressing in this series.

When asked about the end, I will first start with the past. In other words, when talking about a future subject you must first show credibility in reference to something that has already taken place. I usually start with history and the Bible. This shows past and current events that have taken place and can be found in libraries, encyclopedias, newspapers, media, and of course, the Bible. Once we have a sense that what God said would happen has actually happened, then End Times prophecies are more tangible and acceptable. For further information on this topic, please read our book, “History And The Bible.”

Let’s start with a synopsis of End Times. According to the Bible’s prophecy, the next prophetic event will be the Body of Christ (Christians) being removed from the earth. This is referred to as the Rapture of the Church. After the Rapture happens, then a world leader will emerge for a seven-year period, bringing peace to the earth. He will confirm a treaty between Israel and Palestine, issuing the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the book of Daniel, this world leader will come from European descent. The Bible says that this world leader will be a charismatic man who brings about economic prosperity, and the world will embrace him. He will set up a one-world government, as well as one-world religion (with the help of a partner or sidekick) and also issue in a cashless society. The Bible says that this world leader will have an assassination attempt made on his life and will lose his right eye and the use of his right arm (Zech 11:17). He will make a miraculous recovery and the world will marvel over him (Rev. 13:14). After three-and-a-half years he will walk into the Temple in Jerusalem and demand to be worshiped (this is known as the abomination of desolation . At this time the wrath of God will be poured out upon the earth, for a final period of three-and-a-half years (completing a total of seven years), bringing earthquakes, famines, pestilence and wars. At the end of this seven-year period, the nations of the earth will march for battle, which will take place in the Valley of Megiddo (also known as Armageddon) in Israel. Then The LORD himself will come down with his Church (The Christians) and wipe out the armies of the world. After this, there will be what is known as the millennium reign of Christ, where Christ rules on the earth with his Saints ( or believers) for one thousand years. After the thousand years comes the final judgment.

Wow, you say, pretty heavy! To really get a grasp of this, as mentioned earlier, you need to realize that everything that God has predicted has happened, so therefore, since our Lord has been 100% accurate thus far, then End Times prophecy will be right on as well. You really must stop and think past the things of this world and look at Creation, the universe and beyond, to understand what our creator the Lord Jesus Christ is capable of.

In Genesis (Chapter 1: 1-19) the Bible states that the Lord spoke into existence the heavens and the earth, and in fact, Isaiah (chapter 40, verse 12) refers to God measuring the universe with the span of his hand.

What we have to realize is that we as humans can only comprehend a three-dimensional world, whereas God is outside our time domain and can do things that we are not capable of understanding. Psalms (chapter 19, verse 1) states “The Heavens declare God’s glory.” In other words, looking up into the sky, seeing the sun, moon and stars declare the awesome power of our Lord. It is also interesting to note, that with modern day technology (NASA, satellites, etc.) we seem to discover more and more about our universe, which just shows us how great our God really is.

The Bible states that God knows everything from beginning to end. To better understand this, let’s use the analogy of a street parade. We, as viewers, standing at a particular corner can only witness the parade as it passes by, whereas God sees everything from start to finish, all at one time (like a newscaster or emcee would see the parade from a blimp or helicopter, while narrating the parade).

Let’s get back to the Rapture of the Church. “The rapture of the church,” you say, “what is that?--the word ‘rapture’ is not even in my Bible.” Well, in a sense you’re right, the word rapture is not in the English Bible, however you can find it in the Latin Vulgate as the word rapturous, from which we get our English word rapture. In the original Greek language, the word is “harpzois” which means snatched away (taken by force) which is also paraphrased as “caught up” in English. We are not sure how this will happen, either we Christians will leave our bodies, or our bodies will be taken away, but what we do know is that the Bible says--according to the Lord’s own words--we will be caught up (Harpzois) in the clouds to meet the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17). In other words, there is a generation that will never die. I would imagine that if our bodies are physically taken, then the world will attribute this event to aliens. 1 Cor. 15:53 states, “Let me tell you a mystery, we will not all sleep, yet we will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. These mortal bodies will put on immortality.” Christ says that we will get our new bodies and meet Him in the clouds.

From my knowledge of scripture, it seems to me that since heaven is out of this world (2 Cor. 12-2 ), that perhaps as an astronaut puts on a suit to enter space, then we shall put on our new bodies to be with the Lord in Paradise. So your next question is, “When will this happen?”

The answer is, “No man knows the hour or the day.” (Matt. 24-36) However, Jesus states (in Luke 21-28) “When you see the signs of the times begin to take place, look up for your redemption is near.” Some of the signs that the Bible has prophesies about is Israel becoming a nation (Ezek. 37), Israel becoming like the garden of Eden and producing fruit for the world (Ezek. 36), Europe joining forces and becoming a nation (Daniel) and the world entering into a cashless society (Rev. 13-16 ). Jesus also stated, (Luke 17:26-37) “As it was in the days of Noah, shall it also be in the Days of the Son Of Man’s return.” In the days of Noah, man was corrupt, filled with evil and had no fear of God. Noah preached repentance for 120 years as he built his ark. People looked at Noah as if he were crazy, for in those days it had never rained before, and the earth was covered with a light mist (Gen. 2:6). Could you imagine how crazy it would look and sound to see a man building a huge ship and saying that a flood was coming? No one believed Noah, yet the Flood did come.

According to my studies on End Times, Rev. 4-1 starts out with the word “metatosa”, which in the Greek means literally “after these things.” We would then ask, after what things? Prior to this word metatosa, was chapter two and three which talked about the seven churches. These seven churches represent church history and speak of the past and present churches of our time. So, as you read on, you have after the Church , Being (Harposos ) caught up. This is where we feel the rapture of the Church will occur. After this, we have Chapters 4 & 5 that take place in Heaven where we Christians are worshipping together as Christ’s bride preparing for the wedding supper feast. It is interesting to note that when Christ comes back for his Church, he will meet us halfway, in the clouds (Acts chapter 1, verses 9-11) and then bring us to his father’s home for a seven-year period, and then we shall return with him and he will introduce his bride (the church) to the world (If this seems strange to you, then it would help if you understood Jewish tradition. In those days when a Jewish boy was engaged he would set his engagement with his “bride-to-be” and then he would leave and go to his father’s home to prepare a house for him and his new wife. The custom was that the son would get his father’s inheritance, and therefore, he would build and live in his father’s estate. The father would watch and inspect as the son would build, and finally upon the father’s approval, the father would send his son to get his bride. In the meantime, the bride has picked her bridesmaids and they are watching the progress of the son’s house. When they see that it is almost finished, then they let the bride know, and they watch for the coming of the groom. (Jesus gives a parable of this in Matthew 25--the ten virgins.) At that time when the Bridegroom is coming, then the bride meets him halfway and they have a marriage ceremony, and a honeymoon for seven days and then are introduced to their guests as husband and wife.

In John 14:2, Christ states that in his father’s house there are many mansions, and he will go and prepare a place for us. When God is ready and has gathered his people (the fulfillment of the Gentiles--Romans 11:25) then God will send his Son Jesus Christ to meet us (the Church) in the Clouds (halfway, if you will) (Acts 1:9-11) From there, we will enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb for a seven-year period and then come back with Christ, so that Christ can introduce his Bride to the world (Rev: 19-14). Meanwhile, during this seven-year period, there will be peace on earth issued in by the New World Leader for three-and-a-half years, and then the wrath of God will be poured out upon the earth for the remaining three-and-a-half years (completing the seven-year period). You have to remember that our God is a loving God and he has not appointed the Christians to endure the great tribulation that will be poured out upon the earth, but he will save us from that great hour of Tribulation. Revelation 3:10 states, “Because you have kept my command, I will also keep you from the great trial (or tribulation) that shall come upon the whole earth.” Luke 21:36 states, “Watch therefore, and pray that you might be worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass.” As a side note, for those who are familiar with the Bible, please keep in mind, events in the New Testament can also be found in the Old Testament. The Rapture is a good example of this. We all know of Noah and the flood. Now, if you recall, Noah was saved or protected from the Flood by God. Noah was a representation of the 144,000 Jews found in (Rev. Chapter 7) that go through the Tribulation, yet are protected by Christ. However, for those of you who remember Noah’s predecessor, Enoch, who walked with the Lord and then was no more (Gen. 5:24) for God took him away. Enoch was a representation of a type of Church (defining the Church as someone who walks with Christ, or to be Christ like) who was raptured or caught up. Another example of the Rapture can be found in Daniel, Chapter 3. In this chapter we read about King Nebuchadnezzar who demanded all the people to bow down to his statue, or they would be cast into a furnace. As we read on, we find that all the people bowed down except for three young Hebrew boys; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three Hebrew boys were then cast into a furnace that was heated up seven times hotter than normal ( representing the seven years of tribulation). We then read that one like the Son of Man was walking in the furnace with them (Dan. 3:25). The Hebrew boys are a representation of the 144,000 Jews that the Lord will protect during the Tribulation (Rev. 7:4) yet the interesting thing about this story is where was Daniel? It is his book and he is not mentioned. We know that he was a godly man and that he would not have bowed down to the image, so therefore he was taken out raptured if you will). Another illustration of the Rapture can be found in Genesis, chapter 19 when Lot was spared from the wrath of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angel of the Lord took his hand and snatched him out of the city. It is interesting that the word for “snatched” in the Hebrew is translated as “taken by force.” In the New Testament, II Corinthians 2:24 we have Paul who was caught up into the third Heaven and had a view of Paradise that was too awesome to describe. As a side note, Bible scholars believe that this incident occurred when Paul was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). Another model of the Rapture occurs in Revelation 4:12 when John is told to “come up hither” and he sees the throne of God. So as you can see, the Rapture of the Church has been modeled throughout Scripture. Still have a hard time believing that an event known as the Rapture will occur? When the disciples asked Jesus about the End Times, Jesus said, “Always be ready for you know not when the Son Of Man shall return.” Additionally, we are told, “Two man will be in a field, one will be left and one will be taken; Two women will be grinding, one will be left and the other one taken.” Christ said, “Watch and be ready,” then added, “But know this, if the master knew what time a thief was to rob his home, would the master then be ready and not allow the thief to rob his home?” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-7 says concerning the End Times, “The day of the Lord will be like a thief in the night. When you hear of peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come. But you Christians are not in the darkness and this day will not come upon you as a surprise.” 2 Peter 2:3-10 also states, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.”

Throughout the New Testament, “The Day Of The Lord” is mentioned hundreds of times. It is comforting to know that our Lord is long suffering and does not wish for us to perish, but that we should come to repentance. In other words, the Lord is waiting to gather in his Church. He is waiting for the fullness of the Gentiles to give their lives to him and then he will send his Son to gather us together. The Holy Spirit is out convicting people of their sins and Christians are spreading the Gospel so that the world will know God’s plan. In Revelation 1:1, when it talks about these things taking place quickly, the word “quickly” in the Greek means soon or suddenly, referring to that once the Lord is ready it will happen like a domino effect (all at once, one event after another). The Bible was written so that we would not be ignorant of things to come. We need to live our lives in anticipation that our Lord and Savior will come at any time. Jesus says (Luke: 19:13) “ Occupy until I return.” What Christ is referring to is for us to go about his father’s business and be ready for his return.

In II Thessalonians, chapter 2, the Bible talks about before the lawless one can come to power (referring to the Antichrist ), that the Church (the body of Christ) must be removed (raptured) Once this happens, then there will be looting and rioting in the streets. To give you a modern-day viewpoint, imagine hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world disappearing! This would cause world chaos and cities would be in a panic. (Just think a few years back to the L.A. riots where the city was uncontrollable.) This would set up the perfect scenario for a world leader to come to power and bring peace to the world.

So, you still have a hard time believing this? Well it is interesting that the Bible describes all of these events with so much detail. As stated earlier, before I talk about the future, I must first talk about the past, and how God’s predictions have happened--each day we see more and more of God’s plans coming to pass. In 1970 if I had talked to

you about a cashless society, you would have said that I was crazy, and that there is no way that we would ever do away with cash as currency. Yet today you can see how the world is gearing up to go in that direction, as predicted in Revelation 13:1). A friend of mine has an old Bible that was printed in 1820. Every time I see this Bible, it brings glory to my heart. This old Bible was printed hundreds of years ago and since then we have seen many of God’s words come to pass. There is no other book in the world that has accurately predicted the future 100%. I am not asking you to understand the Rapture, I am simply asking you to believe that it will happen, according to Scripture. Our job as Christians for the word Christian means to be Christ like) is to tell people about our awesome Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his plan for the future. Just think, you wake up one morning and turn on the news, you hear that millions of people have vanished. Would you then believe? Some people might believe, yet others will fall into this world’s media corruption and believe this world’s lie. You have to remember that even as Christ walked the earth, there were people that saw miracles and still did not believe. Even the disciples themselves doubted our Lord at times. Judas--being compelled by the power of Satan--denounced our Lord and was cast into hell.

So the question is, what will you do with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Will you receive him, or reject him? The Bible says that you are either for him or against him. In the Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 10: 32-33) Jesus said, “If you confess me before man, then I will confess you before my father in Heaven.” Then he added, “If you deny me before man, then I will deny you before the Father and Angels in Heaven.” Do you want to live life without the hope of eternity in Paradise? To be a child of God, you need to repent of your sins, ask Christ to come into your life, take residence in your heart and have him fill you with his Holy Spirit. In Revelation 3:20, Christ says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if you open the door I will come in.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is a gentleman--he will not force himself into your life, yet he will gracefully be there to accept you when you are ready.

May the Peace And Grace of Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ be with you.

[lighthouse]

http://www.ldolphin.org/Timesg.html

A CHRONOLOGY OF THE "TIMES OF THE GENTILES"
Compiled by Lambert Dolphin


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B.C.
605 The Babylonian Period. The times of the gentiles begin with Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Judah. Egypt defeated at battle of Carchemish. Jerusalem is taken and the first wave of Jews carried into captivity, Daniel among them. Jerusalem will henceforth be trodden down of the gentiles as the times of the gentiles runs its course between the Babylonian captivity and the end of the great tribulation period. The Babylonian dominion of Israel is the head-of-gold period (Daniel 2:36-38; 2 Kings 24:1; 2 Chronicles 36:5-6; Daniel 1:1-2; Luke 21:24).

597 King Jehoiachin is carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar and the second wave of Jews is taken into Babylon, Ezekiel among them (2 Kings 24:10-16; 2 Chronicles 36:10; Ezekiel 1:2).

587 Zedekiah rebels against Nebuchadnezzar. He is blinded and taken to Babylon where he dies. Zedekiah is the last king in the line of David to reign in Israel until the Messiah reigns during the millennium (Ezekiel 34:23-24; Jeremiah 23:5; 2 Kings 24:18-25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:13-21; Jeremiah 39:1-8). Final siege and destruction of the First Temple on the 9th of Av (August) 586. Jeremiah taken to Egypt.

539 Cyrus, having established himself in control of the Medo-Persian empire in 549 B.C., captures Babylon, and the second world empire to dominate the Jews during the times of the gentiles comes upon the world scene. This is the breast-and-arms-of-silver period (Daniel 2:32, 39; 6:1-3).

538 The edict of Cyrus opens the way for the Jews in Babylon to return to the land (Ezra 1:1-4). Second Temple altar in place and foundation laid in 537. Feast of Tabernacles celebrated in 536. Work stops while people build their own houses until Haggai in the fall of 520 BC exhorts them to resume building the Temple. Zerubbabel is governor (but also heir in the line of David) and Joshua is the Aaronic High Priest.

515 The second temple is dedicated in Jerusalem (Ezra 6:15-18). The restoration of the Temple marks the end of the 70 years of captivity.

537-334 The Persian Period. The Jews are in the land but are under the control of the Persians (Josephus, Antiquities 111:7).

445 Artaxerxes decrees the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, thus beginning Daniel's seventy weeks (Daniel 9:24; Neh 2).

334-167 The Hellenistic Period. The Jews, in the land, are under the successive dominion of the Greeks, then the Ptolemies of Egypt, and then the Seleucids of Syria. This is the third great world empire to dominate the Jews during the times of the gentiles. It is the belly-and-thighs-of-brass era (Daniel 2:32. 39; Josephus, Antiquities 11.7-12.6; Daniel 11:2-20).

175-163 Plunderings of Jerusalem and temple desecration occurs during the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whom Daniel saw as a type of the coming Antichrist (Daniel 8:1-2; 11:21-35; Josephus, Antiquities 12.5-9; 1 Maccabees 1:16:16; 2 Mac. 4:7-9:28).

167-63 The Maccabean revolt and subsequent Hasmonean dynasty in Judea. A short time of Jewish independence. This is the little-help period of Daniel 11:34. (Josephus, Antiquities 12.6-14.4). Priesthood corrupted and parties of Pharisees and Sadducees take charge of the national religious life. Rome in political control but Greek influence also persists.



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A.D.
63-70 The Roman Period. This is the fourth great world empire to dominate the Jews in the times of the gentiles. It is the legs-of-iron-and-feet-of clay era of Daniel 2:33 (Josephus, Antiquities 14.4-20.11). 29/30 The Messiah Prince is cut off on the cross, and the sixty-ninth week of Daniel's prophecy ends. The prophetic time clock stops for Israel and will not resume again until the tribulation (Daniel 9:26).

29/30 The first Pentecost after the death and resurrection of Jesus sees the coming of the Holy Spirit to create the church by baptizing believers into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The age of the church runs its course within the times of the gentiles between Pentecost and the rapture. This is the great parenthesis. The age of the church is never seen in the Old Testament. The course of the church age is pictured in Matthew 13 and Revelation 2-3. The close of the church age is seen in 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:34; and 2 Peter 2:1-3; 3:3-4. A false (harlot) church dominates the tribulation period after the rapture of the true church (the Bride of Christ).

63-70 The time of Israel's travail (Matthew 24:4-8) includes the great revolt against Rome, the coming of the people of the prince, and the fall of the second temple in 70 AD (Daniel 9:26; Matthew 24:2; Josephus, Wars 2:17-7:11). The Second Temple was also destroyed on the 9th of Av, as was the First Temple. General Titus later became Caesar.

132-135 The Jewish revolt of Bar Kokhba, a false Messiah, against Rome. This provokes further crackdowns by Rome.

135-1948 The second exile of the Jews (the diaspora). Jews gather in small community groups among the nations and their religious life centers around the synagogue. They often suffer terrible persecutions. 395-636 Byzantine Christian rule in Palestine with Constaniople the capital of the Eastern Division of the Old Roman Empire. Small numbers of Jews still live in Israel..

636 Continued rise of Islam. Beginning of Arab Moslem rule in Palestine.

691 The Dome of the Rock is completed on the temple mount where the Jewish temple previously stood. Until this day it dominates the only spot on earth where sacrifices can be offered according to the Torah.

1099 The Crusaders take Jerusalem, with great loss of life among both Jews and Arabs. Christians rule in Palestine intermittently from 1099 to 1244.

1517 Ottoman Turks under Saladin conquer Palestine. The present walls that surround the old city of Jerusalem are built.

1897 The first Zionist Congress meets in Basel. Political, not religious, motivation for a Jewish homeland is the theme.

1897-1948 This is the great era of Zionism's aliyahs in which many Jews return to the land-but in unbelief, as predicted in Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37).

1917 The British capture Palestine from the Turks in World War I. Death of the last Czar in Russia and last Kaiser in Germany. End of one form of old Roman Empire, (Revelation 17:10).

1922-1948 The British rule Palestine under a mandate from the League of Nations. British rule becomes harsh and oppressive.

11/29/47 The United Nations General Assembly adopts partition plan for Palestine, providing for the establishment of a Jewish state.

5/24/48 The new state of Israel is proclaimed. Arabs immediately invade and attempt to drive the Jews into the sea. Israel wins first of a series of wars against the Arab powers. Open immigration now permits vast numbers of Jews to return to the Land. The second exile ends (Ezekiel 11:14-17).

June, 1967 The Six-Day War. Jerusalem is liberated from Jordanian control and for the first time in nearly two thousand years the Jews are in complete control of Jerusalem. The Jewish Quarter is in ruins but rebuilding begins in earnest. Control of the Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and Judea/Samaria (West Bank) gained by Israel.

6-24 Oct. 1973 The Yom Kippur War. U.S. and Russia send massive air lifts to their allies.

1980+ Several different groups of devout Jews begin plans for the Third Temple, start a yeshiva for training Levitical priests and commence crafting of temple vessels and weaving of priestly garments.

1992 Aliyah of at least 600,000 Jews from Russia. 16,000 Falasha Jews airlifted to Israel from Ethiopia.

1994 Uncertain peace settlement with the PLO, and significant new peace treaty with Jordan. Pressures for Internationalization of Jerusalem perhaps under the Pope.



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FUTURE EVENTS
The rapture of The church. The dead in Christ are raised and the generation of living believers is translated. The judgment seat of Christ is set and rewards are given to believers for faithful service (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11).

The apostate Christian church flourishes during the first half of the tribulation period, in league with the political power of the revived Roman empire. (Revelation l7:1-7).

Daniel's seventieth week begins as Israel enters the tribulation period (Daniel 9:27). This time period is seven years in duration. Israel's "time of Jacob's trouble" (Matthew 24:9-14). The first three and one-half years of the seven-year period comprising Daniel's seventieth week is a time of apparent peace under Antichrist's treaty, which Isaiah called Israel's "Covenant of Death." (Revelation 6:1-9:12). The temple is rebuilt and the Levitical system of priesthood and offerings begins again (Daniel 9:27).

World chaos occurs as a result of the rapture of the church which makes possible the rise of a new world leader, the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2, Revelation 6:1-16). The ancient Roman empire revives as the political Antichrist arises out of the midst of the ten-nation confederation. This is the feet-part-of-iron-and-part-of clay period of the times of the gentiles (Daniel 2:33, 41-42; 7:24).

Failure of the peace treaty occurs as the False Prophet announces in the Third Temple that he himself is God, and calls for worship of the world military/political ruler, the "First Beast." (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-28; Revelation 11:1-18:24). Incarnate evil is now manifest as the First Beast of Revelation 13. His image is set up in the third temple in Jerusalem and he demands worship as god (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:1-10). Many come to Christ world-wide spiritual awakening during the last part of the tribulation period, the latter rain of the Spirit, (James 5:7-8; Joel 2:23; Zechariah 10:1; Hosea 6:3). During the tribulation period the 144,000 Jewish missionaries are saved and sealed (Revelation 7:1-8); they preach the gospel during the entire tribulation period (Matthew 24 14). Many Jews and gentiles, are saved and make up a great body of saints of God who are martyred by the Antichrist (Daniel 7:21, 25; Revelation 7:9-17). The Jews must endure their greatest trials ever in this "Time of Jacob's trouble." The second half of the tribulation is known as "the Great Tribulation" period.

Two godly witnesses (probably Moses and Elijah, but perhaps Enoch and Elijah) appear on the temple mount and prophesy during the Great tribulation period, until they are killed at the close of the period, after which they are resurrected and raptured. (Revelation 11:1-12). Israel, faithful to her orthodox faith, is severely persecuted by the Antichrist during the great tribulation period (Jeremiah 30:57; Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 13:8; Matthew 24:21-22). Many in Israel flee and are protected by the nations, especially Jordan. The godly remnant takes refuge there, probably at the city of Petra. (Matthew 24:15-20; Revelation 12:6,13-17).

Great judgments from God rain from the heavens and demonic hordes are unloosed on mankind during "the great and terrible Day of the Lord," a time when God judges the unbelieving world. Most of the human race is destroyed. The fall of commercial Babylon occurs toward the close of the great tribulation (Revelation 18:1-24). The apostate church is destroyed (Revelation 17:1-6).

The nations of the world invade Israel and hostilities erupt between them and the forces of the Antichrist. The battle of Armageddon and the doom of the Antichrist occur. (Daniel 11:44-45; Revelation 16:12-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:19). One third of the Jewish people recognize Jesus as Messiah and are rescued, Zechariah 12-14, but two thirds will be cut off and perish in the wine-press of God's wrath.

The second coming of Christ, in power and glory, with his church and armies of heaven, ends the times of the gentiles (Daniel 2:44; 7:9-13, 22-28; Revelation 19:11-16). Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives bringing also the faithful remnant of Jews from Edom, Isaiah 63, Revelation 19:11ff, Zechariah 14.

The warring armies of the world are slain by Jesus, the Commander of the the Armies of God (YHWH Sabaoth), Antichrist and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 19:20-20:10).

The gentile nations are judged on the basis of their treatment of God's covenant people Israel, during the times of the gentiles (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus rules the nations, "with a rod of iron" for 1000 years. Satan and his evil angels are bound and removed to the abyss, Revelation 20. The battered earth is rebuilt and repopulated with God's servants serving him as kings and priests among the nations. Satan bound. Great prosperity and blessing. Israel chief of the nations. The world capital is Jerusalem, and Jesus on the throne of His father David.

Adapted from The Coming Antichrist by Walter K. Price, Loizeaux Brothers, N.J., 1985. (9/9/90) Not all Bible scholars agree with the order of events or the exact details listed under "Future Events."



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RELATED SCRIPTURES
Jesus said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it; for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! For great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:6-28)

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Israel: God's End-Time Alarm Clock
It is alarming that there are so few people today, especially in the church, that recognize how important the modern state of Israel is in God's plan! God has predicted in His book in various places that the sons and daughters of Israel would return to their land, the land of Israel, just before He would send them their Messiah. For almost twenty centuries the children of Israel have not lived in their homeland simply because one did not exist. Until this century there has not been a nation of Israel for them to return to. Since 70 A.D. they have lived in various parts of the world, mostly in Europe, but on other continents as well. But in the last fifty years, we have seen the re-establishment of the state of Israel and the return to that land of the people known to the world as "the Jews". To date, there are close to five million Jews who call Israel their home who have returned there just in our century and their presence there is an incredible testimony to how close we are to the return of Jesus Christ!

The story of the Jew is an incredible story of pain and disappointment. That pain and disappointment has come collectively to these people due to their rebellion against Jehovah God. The Bible predicts that they will continue to be the target of God's discipline until they turn to Him in full repentance. We are told in Scripture that this repentance will occur in the end days after God has assembled them back in the land of Israel. The complete story, past, present, and future of the Jew is told in the Bible.

Dispersion

The Jewish people were warned by Moses in Deuteronomy 28:58-68 around 1400 B.C. that if they did not serve the Lord and keep all that He had commanded, the Lord would scatter them from one end of the earth to the other. Not only would they be scattered, but they would endure harsh persecution while in the countries where they reside. History confirms that this is exactly what happened when, in 70 A.D., Titus, the Roman general, invaded Israel and finally Jerusalem. Thousands of the Jewish people were slaughtered by the Roman army and those remaining ran for their lives. They fled into every country on the earth in perfect fulfillment of Moses' prophecy.

Preserved in Dispersion

The Lord not only promised that Israel would be dispersed, but that they would be preserved in that dispersion as a nation. In Jeremiah 31:35-37, God says that the Jewish nation would remain intact as long as there was a sun and moon. As long as the sun and moon exist, God would recognize that there is a nation of Israel. I have heard the term "the lost tribes of Israel" all my life. This term is very misleading, because there never has been a "lost" tribe of Israel. God has known where they have been all along and He has promised to preserve them.

Regathered

After a time of living in all the countries of the world, the Jewish people would begin to return to their own land. One of the prophecies that call for this, for example, is Isaiah 11:10-12 where it says, "Then it will come about in that day that the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a signal for the peoples; and His resting place will be glorious. Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations, and will assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth". (NAS)

There is some very interesting history concerning the fulfillment of this prophecy. Time and space will not allow us to go into much detail in this article, but it will be sufficient to say that there were only about 40,000 Jews in Palestine at the turn of this century. By 1948, when Israel declared their independence and statehood, there were about 500,000. Today there are close to five million and the number is still growing. Why? Because the Jewish people from all over the world are becoming more and more interested in returning to Israel! Going home, if you will, in fulfillment of this prophecy.

Regathered in Unbelief

Many of the prophecies calling for the Jews' regathering to the land of Israel call also for them to be gathered there in unbelief toward their God. It is very unfortunate, but today in Israel, the average Jew doesn't believe in Jehovah God. This is the scenario that is called for in Ezekiel 37 known as the valley of dry bones chapter. Verses 11 through 14 leave no question that the Jews will be gathered from all over the world to the land of Israel before the Spirit is placed within them.

Restoration of the Land

At the turn of this century, the whole land of Israel was desolate. The part that was not desert was mostly malaria infested swamps. Since the turn of this century, the swamps have been drained and some of the best agriculture technology has been applied. I was just in Israel last October. One can drive through the valleys of Israel and see acre after acre of beautiful crops growing. The variety of crops is astounding! Isaiah 27:6 reads that the day would come when Israel would blossom and sprout and fill the whole world with fruit. This prophecy is definitely being fulfilled as we speak. In fact, I am told that Israel is one of five food exporting countries in the world.

Israel's Rise in Prominence in World Politics

It is predicted in Zechariah 12:2-3 that political attention would be focused on Jerusalem. Political attention would eventually turn to military involvement as every nation of the earth will be eventually gathered against Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:2 again says that a day is coming when all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem to battle. In this writer's opinion, the present "peace talks" are fulfilling the political attention called for and the military involvement is soon to come. When the world is convinced that the "peace talks" have completely collapsed, they will start sending their armies to force "peace".

There is not a day that goes by that Israel is not in the news. The world is wondering what to do, how to solve the Middle East problem. Isn't it ironic as large as the world is and how diverse the world's problems are that we choose to focus so much on this tiny country that is 70 miles wide and 300 miles long! It is because God said it would be so!

My memory takes me back to the "Camp David Peace Accord" when Jimmy Carter was worried about the "Middle East problem". The United Nations over the past few decades has tried to answer the "Middle East problem". Recently, President Clinton went over to address the "Middle East problem" by assisting Israel and Jordan with their attempt at peace. I could not help but think how hypocritical we must have looked to the rest of the world with our involvement in their peace treaty when we, ourselves, can't even keep peace in Los Angeles!

The world, in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, is focusing on Jerusalem today. Diplomatic efforts will not solve the problems and, probably sooner than later, the armies will start to march toward Israel. When they do, the scenario will be set up for the fulfillment of the greatest event of all of human history! Zechariah 14:4 says that in the day that all nations are gathered together against Jerusalem, Jesus Christ will come and stand on the Mount of Olives! The Hebrew word for stand in this verse is a word that means "take a stand". This is exactly what Jesus will do. He will take a stand against all the armies gathered there and defeat them. He will at that point, begin to rule this earth for 1000 years. The "Middle East problem" will be over! Praise the Lord! What an exciting time to live and see these things beginning to take place!

Israel Military Restored

In the same book, Zechariah 12:6-8 says that in the days when the armies of the world will come against Israel, that the clans of Judah would be "like a flaming torch among sheaves". This is more than a suggestion that there will be an Israeli military in place in those days. In keeping with this prophecy, the Israeli military today is one of the best trained in the world. It has proven itself several times in the last fifty years to be a very effective fighting force. They have emerged victorious against incredible odds from every major military campaign launched against them since the country was re-established in 1948.

Five Arab armies attacked the new Jewish state on May 15, 1948 and were defeated by January 1949. An Egyptian-Syrian alliance was defeated over the Sinai area in 1956. The combined efforts to overrun Israel by Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, and Lebanon were defeated by the Israelis in 1967 in six days, known as the Six Day War. Another combined effort was put down by the Israelis in 1973 in what is known as the Yom Kippur War. In this war, the Egyptians and Syrians, with just under 1000 warplanes, over 4,000 tanks, and 800,000 troops, challenged Israel. Before the bitter fighting was over, Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait had joined the Egyptian/Syrian force. The outnumbered Israeli army again were able to be victorious, this time with less than 500 warplanes, 1700 tanks, and 300,000 men.

Today, Israel, more than ever, has a very powerful fighting force with an arsenal that includes nuclear and hydrogen weaponry. I have been told their Air Force is rated the third most technologically advanced in the world. Against the incredible odds they have faced over the last 1900 years, Israel is back in the land with a powerful restored military, just as Bible prophecy has predicted.

Reoccupation of Jerusalem

The scriptures call for the Jewish people to be, not only back in Israel, but in control of Jerusalem as well. A very interesting development in Bible prophecy took place in June of 1967 regarding this scriptural reality. The Jewish people had not been in control of Jerusalem since 70 A.D. But, during the Six Day War in June of 1967, the Jewish commandos advanced up the southern end of the old walled city of Jerusalem . Under heavy fire they broke into the city through the Lion's Gate and returned Jerusalem into Jewish control for the first time in 1897 years.

This was considered a very important event among those who study the prophetic scriptures, because in Luke 21:24, Jesus gave an interesting prophecy that said that "Jerusalem would be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled". "The Times of the Gentiles" is a scriptural term that refers to the periods of history in which Gentiles would dominate world politics and more specifically, Jerusalem. Gentile power has controlled Jerusalem for many centuries but now, in this century, while so many other "signs of the times" are being fulfilled, Jerusalem has come back under Jewish control.

This author believes that this fact has marked the beginning of the end of Gentile power in the world and is yet another indicator of how soon the return of Jesus must be. The final three and one half years of this "times of the Gentiles" will be a time that God will deal with the unrepentant heart of the Jew as well as the rest of the world, a time known as "The Great Tribulation" that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:21. Immediately following these times of Gentile reign would come Messianic reign, the time predicted in scripture when Jesus, Himself would come to this earth and rule and reign for 1000 years of peace, righteousness, and justice! Zechariah 14:4 describes the event when it says, "in that day His feet will touch the Mount of Olives". This will be the most glorious event in all of human history! Zechariah 14:11 states at that time, "there will be no more curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security. How many of us long for this time of peace!

A Closing Summary

Today, we are a generation that has observed the modern state of Israel become a reality with the Jew back in control of Jerusalem. The stage is set for the appearance of the man the Bible calls "the antichrist" which will be followed by the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The "Times of the Gentiles" are almost over! We know that we have been told in scripture to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem". In so doing, we should know that we are actually praying for the time when Jesus Christ will come and establish Jerusalem as the capitol of the whole world and He will rule from there over the whole earth. The earth at that time will be flooded with peace, righteousness, and justice. The knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas as the Bible has promised (Isa. 11:9). We are looking forward to this time! And even so, come Lord Jesus!

http://sxws.com/LIONJUDH/articles/prophecy-02.php

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http://sxws.com/LIONJUDH/articles/article-03.php

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http://sxws.com/LIONJUDH/articles/article-11.php
Sanhedrin
Launched In Tiberias
A unique ceremony - probably only the second of its kind in the past 1,600 years - took place in Tiberias on Oct 14, 2004: the launching of a Sanhedrin. Consisting of Temple priests and headed by the high priest of Israel, this was the highest ruling body and court of justice among the Jewish people in the time of Jesus. This ceremony raised the interests of prophecy teachers all over the world. The reason is because Bible prophecy calls for a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in the last days. In II Thessalonians 2, it is projected that there will be a man whom God calls "Antichrist" to seat himself in that Temple in order to declare himself as being God. Prophecy further reveals that Jesus will slay this "Antichrist" at His return (II Thess. 2:8).

There has been no Sanhedrin for 1,600 years. The Jewish Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. and the Sanhedrin eventually dissolved accordingly. The Jewish people were scattered all over the world. All hope for a Jewish Jerusalem and a Temple on its Temple Mount seemed remote at best. Now, 1,600 years later, there is new vigor and zeal to rebuild the Jewish Temple. There are several organizations working toward this end.

One that is at the forefront of this vision is the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. It has been working for many years now restoring the lost Temple utensils used for worship and sacrifices in the destroyed Temple. Much of what was destroyed has been restored and is now on display there. Strong zeal to restore Temple Mount worship in a rebuilt Temple continues to drive the Institute on.

Another organization working toward this end is the Temple Mount Faithful. Every year this organization, with its own zeal to see the Temple rebuilt and Temple Mount worship restored, symbolically lays a cornerstone for a new Temple.

Also, a new Tabernacle, just like the Moses Tabernacle, has been constructed near Jericho and priests are being trained in it for restored Temple worship and sacrifice.

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http://sxws.com/LIONJUDH/articles/prophecy-08.php

Russia In Bible Prophecy
Twenty six hundred years ago, the prophet Ezekiel predicted that a powerful army would rise up north of Israel. Ezekiel called the leader of this power, Gog of the land of Magog. The prophecy of Ezekiel 38 and 39 have been very puzzling to prophecy students over the centuries. Thanks to archaeology and good scholarship the task of identifying who is represented by these names, Gog and Magog, has become very easy in recent years. Today their names can be found in the back of many Bibles in the map section. If your Bible has a map of resettlement of people after the flood of Noah, you will be able to find the names Gog and Magog in the region we now know as the former Soviet Union.

The problem arose in the fact that the prophecy in verse 2 names the "prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal". Identity of the these names have been very difficult until our century because there were no names in former history to relate these names to. However, we have today two cities that look and sound very much like these two names. In the case of "Meshech", Moscow. In the case of "Tubal", Tobolsk. And in the case of "Rosh", Russia. There are many scholars today who feel that these are accurate transliterations of these names. Identification of these three names is further strengthened by the fact that Eze. 38:15 states the geographic location of them -- the land of the north. If one takes a world map and draws a line north starting at Jerusalem, the line will proceed straight through Moscow.

Also very significant is the fact that this prophecy of Ezekiel 38 uses the specific name of this northern commander to come against Israel in the latter years. The name of this commander that will attack Israel is the "prince of Rosh" in verse two. It doesn't call for the Soviet Union, but 'Rosh". I believe this prophetic stage was set when the "iron curtain" came down and the Soviet empire started to collapse. The Soviet Union was forced to give up many of its satellite countries and the Soviet Union ceased to exist. What is left today is the motherland, Russia and it is Russia, "Rosh" that is predicted to come against Israel, not the Soviet Union! The prophetic stage is perfectly set now as far as this name is concerned.

Also significant in understanding this prophecy is understanding the long history of anti-Semitism that has existed in Russia. Hatred of the Jew has long been a reality inside the Russian borders. However, reading current newspaper articles will verify a new wave of anti-Semitism sweeping through Russia. This has served as incentive for the thousands of the sons and daughters of Israel to leave Russia in the last few years and return to the land of Israel, fulfilling Bible prophecy (Jer. 31:8 and many others). Hatred of the Jew will be one of the incentives the Russians will have for attacking Israel. Today we see this hatred building as a new Russian leader is emerging. His name is Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

Before making a point about this emerging Russian leader, let's return to the text of Ezekiel 38:15 & 16 and we see there that this Russian leader will come from his place out of the north. He will bring a mighty army against the land of Israel and this action according to verse 18 will stir the fury of God. The remainder of the chapter and the following chapter, chapter 39, down through verse 11 says that this Russian leader and his army will die at the hand of the Lord there in Israel. This will truly be a miraculous intervention and will be the Russian army's last march for verse 11 says that Israel will become a burial ground for this army after God destroys them.

What is truly amazing concerning this Bible prophecy is that this new emerging leader in Russia, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, is one who is very likely to be the leader who could fulfill this prophecy in the not too distant future. He is very popular as he has received the largest number of votes in the 1993 parliamentary elections. He is scheduled to run in the 1996 presidential election in Russia. He is supported by the Russian military, is very anti-Semitic, and he has written a very interesting book in keeping with the interest of this article. A quotation from that book is as follows:

"Let Russia successfully accomplish its last 'dash' to the south. I see Russian soldiers gathering for this last southern campaign ... I see planes at air bases in the southern districts of Russia. I see submarines surfacing off the shores of the Indian Ocean and landing crafts approaching shores where soldiers of the Russian Army are already marching.... Infantry combat vehicles are advancing and vast numbers of tanks are on the move. Russia is at last accomplishing its final military campaign."

Very alarming, but interesting in the light of Ezekiel 38 & 39, is to now note the title of this new book from Zhirinovsky, "The Last Dash to the South". Could this rising Russian leader be the one whom God foresaw to fulfill these prophecies of Ezekiel? Could this be the Russian leader God named the prince of Rosh in Eze. 38 & 39? Time will tell we believe, in the not too distant future! I wonder if Vladimir Zhirinovsky would care if he knew that God had predicted twenty six hundred years ago that this "dash to the south" would prophetically be in his own words, "the last".

Something to be considered: When this prophecy was given twenty six hundred years ago, Russia didn't even exist, but we can see the words of God's prophet coming true. Today, in spite of the fact that most people think that Russia is disarming, she continues to be a major military power. She still has a large cavalry, a large infantry, and many tanks and other armaments. Moscow is still in control of those 34 Red October style nuclear submarines. Each one is armed with 200 nuclear weapons and each weapon is capable of ionizing a major city. If one multiplies 200 (the number of weapons) by 34 (the number of submarines that carry them) the destructive power still available to the Russians just in these submarines is very evident. Does anybody know where these submarines are today? Do we ever hear the press report of their whereabouts? Have we heard about them being disarmed?

Outside of Russia, the former Soviet republic, Kazakhstan, has enough nuclear missiles inside its borders to be considered the fifth leading nuclear power in the world. Significant to note and not surprising, Russia is still very much in cooperation with the government of Kazakhstan, which is mostly Muslim and very anti Israel. Because of being mostly Muslim and anti Israel, it is logical to conclude that this nation would be in alignment with the anti Israel policies of the other Muslim countries mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and verse 5.

Also interesting in the development of this prophecy is the recent Russian Iranian agreement to sign, later this year, a contract for forty Iranian specialists to train in Russia for nuclear operations and plans for a 40 megawatt reactor are in the works. Interesting to note here that in Ezekiel 38:5, Persia (Iran) will be aligned with Russia when Russia makes her move against Israel.

Finally we can see the fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 & 39 close at hand which should serve for us as testimonial of two principles. One, all of the things predicted in the Word of God will be literally fulfilled. Two, the close possible fulfillment of this particular prophecy speaks of the lateness of the hour in which we live and should serve as an incentive for all of us to get right with the Lord through repentance while there is time (II Cor. 6:2) and stay right with Him until we see Him face to face! Because of these prophecies being fulfilled it will more than likely be very soon!

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Wheee! A lot of information there.

But there are some key points I do disagree with.
Failure of the peace treaty occurs as the False Prophet announces in the Third Temple that he himself is God, and calls for worship of the world military/political ruler, the "First Beast."
Just a clarification here. I believe it is just written in an unclear manner.

The False Prophet, the Second Beast, does not declare himself god. It is the First Beast who declares himself god, the AC.
Many come to Christ world-wide spiritual awakening during the last part of the tribulation period, the latter rain of the Spirit, (James 5:7-8; Joel 2:23; Zechariah 10:1; Hosea 6:3).
This happens throughout the Trib, not just the Great Trib.
During the tribulation period the 144,000 Jewish missionaries are saved and sealed (Revelation 7:1-8); they preach the gospel during the entire tribulation period (Matthew 24 14).
Completely wrong. They are sealed at Mid and are hidden away in protection for the remainder of the Trib. They do not preach to the world. That is firmly shown in Revelation.
Two godly witnesses (probably Moses and Elijah, but perhaps Enoch and Elijah) appear on the temple mount and prophesy during the Great tribulation period, until they are killed at the close of the period, after which they are resurrected and raptured.
That is not Biblical. They appear at the Pre-Trib Rapture and are there for the first 3.5 years. They are killed at Mid Trib.

This doctrine has them laying in the streets for 3.5 days after the Second Coming.
(Revelation 11:1-12). Israel, faithful to her orthodox faith, is severely persecuted by the Antichrist during the great tribulation period (Jeremiah 30:57; Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 13:8; Matthew 24:21-22). Many in Israel flee and are protected by the nations, especially Jordan. The godly remnant takes refuge there, probably at the city of Petra. (Matthew 24:15-20; Revelation 12:6,13-17).

2/3 of Israel die in the Great Trib. They are not protected by other nations.
The nations of the world invade Israel and hostilities erupt between them and the forces of the Antichrist.
That is wrong. Israel has been under the AC for 3.5 years since Mid. Israel was a peaceful and unarmed nation when they were invaded.
The second coming of Christ, in power and glory, with his church and armies of heaven, ends the times of the gentiles
Nope. The time of the Gentiles ends at the Pre-Trib Rapture when the 70th Week of Daniel begins.
Satan and his evil angels are bound and removed to the abyss, Revelation 20.
Jude says the angels that fell have been bound since the ancient war in Heaven. Demons are never called fallen angels.

I understand many people believe these thing. But some are assumptions and some are in outright contradiction to the Bible.

[CoreIssue]

Before making a point about this emerging Russian leader, let's return to the text of Ezekiel 38:15 & 16 and we see there that this Russian leader will come from his place out of the north. He will bring a mighty army against the land of Israel and this action according to verse 18 will stir the fury of God. The remainder of the chapter and the following chapter, chapter 39, down through verse 11 says that this Russian leader and his army will die at the hand of the Lord there in Israel. This will truly be a miraculous intervention and will be the Russian army's last march for verse 11 says that Israel will become a burial ground for this army after God destroys them.
The problem here is the author sees this battle as one battle only, when it is one event consisting of two battles occuring 3.5 years apart.

There is no way, as shown in another thread, that opening verses of Ezekiel 38 can be Second Coming. It is impossible.