2016 will be a Rapture Year.

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blessedhope

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Your thoughts about 2016> things getting better in 2016 or is it time for Jacobs troubles to come!, What about America?
 

ATP

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I do recommend the book, Prewrath Rapture of the Church by Marvin Rosenthal

1. Antichrist signs peace treaty with Israel to begin the 70th week Isa 28:15 NIV, Isa 28:18 NIV, Isa 57:8-9 NIV, Dan 9:27 NIV, Rev 6:2 NIV.
2. The third temple is built Ez 40-48 NIV, Dan 9:27 NIV, 2 Thess 2:3-4 NIV.
3. The first 3.5 years are birth pains, the first four seals are open along with apostasy of Jews Dan 11:36-45 NIV, Matt 24:4-7, 2 Thess 2:3 NIV, Rev 6:1-8 NIV.
4. At the middle of the 70th week the abomination of desolation takes place Dan 9:27 NIV, Matt 24:15 NIV, 2 Thess 2:3-4 NIV.
5. Michael the angel, the restrainer is removed here Dan 12:1 NIV, 2 Thess 2:6-12 NIV, Rev 12:6-12 NIV.
6. Immediately after the abomination of desolation the fifth seal is open and the Great Tribulation begins, man's rebellion against God Rev 6:9-11 NIV.
7. This is right around where the two witnesses make their appearance and prophesy for 1,260 days Mal 4:5 NIV, Rev 11:2-3 NIV.
8. The last 3.5 years of the 70th week now begins.
9. Then the Great Tribulation is cut short around the middle of the last 3.5 years Matt 24:22 NIV.
10. Immediately after the Great Tribulation ends cosmic disturbances occur before the Day of the Lord begins.
11. The 144,000 are then sealed before the rapture, so they can enter the Day of the Lord without harm Rev 7:2-4 NIV.
12. The rapture occurs at the seventh seal, after the Great Tribulation and at the beginning of the Day of the Lord Matt 25:31-46 NIV, Rev 7:14 NIV, Rev 8:1-5 NIV.
13. The Bema Seat of Christ is here Matt 16:27 NIV, Luke 14:14-15 NIV, 2 Cor 5:10 NIV, Rev 19:8-9 NIV, Rev 22:12 NIV.
14. The Feast/Marriage Supper of the Lamb is also here Luke 14:14-15 NIV, Rev 7:9 NIV, Rev 19:1 NIV, Rev 19:9 NIV.
15. Then begins the Day of the Lord, the start of God's wrath of trumpets. The 5th trumpet will also last five months Rev 9:5 NIV.
16. At the end of the 70th week the beast will kill the two witnesses, but after 3.5 days they will come alive Rev 11:7-12 NIV.
17. Very few people will be left after the 70th week is complete Zech 13:8-9 NIV.
18. Jesus Christ landing on the Mount of Olives is here Zech 9:14-17 NIV, Zech 10:1-12 NIV, Zech 12:10-14 NIV, Zech 14:4 NIV, Mal 3:2-4 NIV, Matt 25:31-46 NIV, Rom 11:26-27 NIV, Jude 1:14-15 NIV, Rev 19:11-21 NIV.
19. After the 70th week is complete the bowl judgments begin for 30 days Dan 12:11 NIV, Zech 12:10-14 NIV.
20. Then the 45 days begin for cleansing of the Temple Dan 12:12 NIV, Zech 13:1-6 NIV.
21. After the 45 days are finished the 1,000 year millennium begins Rev 20:4-6 NIV.
22. Nonbelievers will also be a part of the 1,000 year millennium Zech 14:16-19 NIV.
23. After the 1,000 years are finished, the dead believers and nonbelievers that are left over will be judged Rev 20:11-15 NIV.
24. Then a New Heaven and a New Earth will appear making everything new Rev 21:1-8 NIV.
25. Lastly, Eden is restored in which we now live with Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen Rev 22:1-5 NIV.

Side Note 1: The full seven years are never called "the tribulation period", rather the 70th week is the proper name to describe the seven years.

Side Note 2: The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord are not the same event. The GT is man's rebellion against God, and the Day of the Lord is God's wrath against man. These two events are split in half in the last 3.5 years of the 70th week. The church will have to go through the first five seals and also the GT, but they will be raptured before the Day of the Lord begins, God's wrath of trumpets and bowls. The church will witness the signing of the peace treaty, the third temple built, the first four seals opening, the abomination of desolation, the two witnesses, the fifth seal opening, the GT of man's rebellion and the sixth seal of cosmic disturbances in the sun, moon and stars before they are raptured.

prewra01.JPG
 

Marcus O'Reillius

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ATP has put forth a good amount of information with which I have minor disagreements.
I have assembled an outline of the sequence of events I have culled from the major linear narratives, having been inspired by Marvin Rosenthal's book.

The point I have is two-fold:
1. Each of us is only one day away from the Day of the Lord's resurrection of the Dead in Christ because we don't know when we will "go".
2. The Day of the Lord is always at least three and a half years away plus some until the one 'seven' starts, and it hasn't yet begun.

Here is the sequence of events leading up to the Day of the Lord using my methodology.
We have already begun this timeline, welcome to the beginning of sorrows:

• War (on Terror) between North and South
.....o Clay does not "mix" ('arab in Hebrew) with iron - muslims in the "West".
• The rise of the fourth terrible beast of a nation out of the “sea”
.....o with ten Kings (Council of Ministers)
.....o Little horn "hamstrings" three "Kings" to rise to power over the Beast of a Nation
.....o Rebellion occurs
.....o Opposition and exaltation
• Covenant with many prevailed by the Roman ruler who will come
• Authority given (by God) to the beast of a man for one-half of the one 'seven'
.....o He wages war against the Saints
.....o We are to endure patiently (remember Rev 3:10 and John 17:15)
.....o Temple w/ Gentiles 42 mos.
.....o Rise of the false prophet with miracles and 'fire from the sky'
• The “one” removed from the midst
• Gog/Magog War - flash flood invasion of Holy Land
.....o Armies surround Jerusalem - pitches his tent at the Holy Mountain.
Midpoint Abomination - Setting up the talking image of the anti-Christ
.....o Those in Judea flee / Remnant protected
.....o Two laws which make the Great Tribulation the worst time ever
.....o “Mikael" arises
.....o Two Witnesses 1260 days - call down Wrath
.....o Great Tribulation - the Elect are persecuted

My Day of the Lord presentation encompasses the sixth Seal to the First Trumpet.
I think those events could literally be done in a Hebrew day and a half, with the sun/moon/star event beginning at noon, and the Day of the Lord starting at sundown.

Sun/moon/star event Day of the LORD
.....o Scrolling of the sky = sign of the Son of Man
.....o Jesus touches down on Mount Zion
..........Jews flee through the cleft of the Mount of Olives
.......... Mustering the 144,000 assembled on Mount Zion
.......... 3 Angels fulfill the Great Commission / Warn the wicked
.....o Jesus resurrects the Saints / Last Trumpet
.......... Dead in Christ come with Jesus on the clouds.
.......... Martyr's deeds will be remembered (Two Witnesses left behind)
.....o Deliverance = Harvest Redemption / Gathering Elect from the clouds
.......... Those who are alive and are left
.....o Great Multitude arrives in Heaven out of the Great Tribulation
.....o Books / Scroll opened with breaking of seventh Seal
.....o First Trumpet fire and blood – 1/3rd of earth burned
.......... Avenging Angels – supplying Blood and managing the Fire

I can "show my work" if there any questions.

All in all, my message to the Church is Hope, because one day we will be saved from this world just as we have been saved when we first believed.
My specific message to those who study the end, and especially those who are "Pre-Trib" is hupemeno: endure patiently, remain steadfast, and keep the faith.

The end-times are not easy, nor is there any easy way out of it.
As Jesus said, do not try to save your life, or you will lose it. Lose it for His sake, and you will gain eternal life in Heaven with Him evermore.
 
B

brakelite

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I have a problem with your theory, from almost the first line. The part which describes "iron and clay". This comes from Daniel 2 as I am sure yo are aware. Each metal in the statue represented a different empire. We are all familiar with them. Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece, Rome. Scholars for centuries have agreed on this, even the early church 'fathers' understood the significance of Daniel 2 and recognized the times in which they lived...that is, the time of the iron monarchy of Rome. This understanding of the prophetic picture is the skeleton upon which all subsequent understanding is built. This skeleton is basic, fundamental, to a correct conclusion to eschatological studies, and a complete picture of where we are in the timetable. Daniel 7 doesn't change the picture, just the symbols change, yet direct our thoughts and focus upon the same empires, only with greater detail. Revelation is no different. The composite beast depicts the very same empires present within the beast, even the iron of Rome. And what we can now discern by seeing history from the perspective of standing at the very end of time, is the accurate harmony that exists between the prophecy and the historical narrative. Well, it should be anyway. But sadly, mosern so called eschatological students have diverged from even following the pattern in the basic skeletal structure, and the result is so many divergent opinions on end times conclusions what we have before us is in reality is the spirit Babylon...confusion and doubt.
But to be fair, the problem I have is found throughout Christendom, not just in your treatise. The symbolism of the iron reaching all the way down to the second coming (although in a different form) is ignored, misunderstood, misinterpreted by almost everyone dealing with eschatology. Rome, for whatever reason, is changed not just into another form, but disappears altogether. The result of this is confusion and a mish-mash of opinion a very long long way from truth. And I lay the entire fault at the feet of the hermeneutic used...futurism. Not adhering to the true skeletal basic pattern set out by Daniel's statue, futurists have obliterated the Roman factor from prophecy, and have had to insert gaps...Islam...Russia...Israel...terrorism...and thus miss the entire direction God was leading people to understand.
I would like to suggest, even implore, end-time students to put Rome back into the picture where it belongs.
 

Marcus O'Reillius

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brakelite said:
I have a problem with your theory, from almost the first line. The part which describes "iron and clay". This comes from Daniel 2 as I am sure yo are aware. Each metal in the statue represented a different empire. We are all familiar with them. Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece, Rome. Scholars for centuries have agreed on this, even the early church 'fathers' understood the significance of Daniel 2 and recognized the times in which they lived...that is, the time of the iron monarchy of Rome. This understanding of the prophetic picture is the skeleton upon which all subsequent understanding is built. This skeleton is basic, fundamental, to a correct conclusion to eschatological studies, and a complete picture of where we are in the timetable. Daniel 7 doesn't change the picture, just the symbols change, yet direct our thoughts and focus upon the same empires, only with greater detail.
I thank-you for your constructive criticism.

There are three points upon which I disagree with the clear majority of the commentaries out there which have repeated over and over again from time long past that Daniel 7 is the same as Daniel 2.

1. Daniel 2 shows a distinct succession of nations which have sway over Israel. (China's empire, bigger than Rome, is entirely left out.)
In Daniel 7:3 shows them all arising together, that is: coexisting in time.
And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.

2. Daniel 2 concludes with the Rock made without hands (from God, i.e., Jesus) hitting the base of the statue, thus bringing it all down. Jesus then fills the earth. Likewise in Revelation, the final earth-changing earthquake at the end of the one 'seven' removes mountains, islands, and dare I say, mountain ranges - so that only Jerusalem stands above the rest.
- In Daniel 7:12, after the desolution of the fourth terrible beast, the three previous beasts are allowed to live. Neither Babylon nor Medes-Persia are even "alive" today.
As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.
- In Revelation 13:2 we see the fourth terrible beast made up - in reverse order - of the three beasts of Daniel 7.
And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.
We also know from Revelation that at the final battle, the "head" of the fourth terrible beast, the anti-Christ and the false prophet are captured alive and later, destroyed by being thrown while yet alive in their flesh - into Hell.
This would match the language of Daniel 7:11 because without the head, the body cannot function - yet they still exist as per v.12. Again, neither Babylon nor Medes-Persia exist in their form today, and Greece is a shallow shadow of its former glory and hardly a mover on the world stage today.

3. Both Medes-Persia and Greece have animal characters assigned to them. Notice they are both "clean" animals as per OT dietary laws, in ancient terms; they would be 'noble'.
In Daniel 7, the goat and ram are not found, but three predators, which are "unclean" animals are listed. In ancient terms, they would be 'base'.

In conveying information, God is quite succinct, brevity being the soul of wit as Shakespeare said.
As a broad overview, Daniel 2 works extremely well.
It does little to enhance our picture to merely repeat the 2600 year timeline of Daniel 2 with Daniel 7.
However, looking at Daniel 7, not as a repetition of the broad overview, but a detail parallel account of the end of the statue, gives us greater insight into today's situation.

And 'arabs (as a noun, 'arab is a steppe dweller, i.e., from Arabia) are definitely moving in to Roman countries; they do not "mix" ('arab again in the Hebrew used a verb means 'to mix') and they do make each country more brittle as they attack from within.

Daniel 2:43 describes the very situation America, Russia, and Europe face today.

I will start a companion thread about Daniel 2 and 7 and I will post my full exposition written previously for my book of these two chapters in Daniel there.
 

blessedhope

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And The Kurds have essentially been the only group doing anything to battle ISIS on the ground and save Yazidi men, women, and children from enslavement and death.

For the last few years, the West thought they could ignore this "contained" holocaust that's been raging in Syria and Iraq. Unfortunately in recent months, ISIS blew up a Russian passenger jet, France saw the slaughter of its citizens in the streets of Paris, and the US experienced a massacre of 14 people in sunny California. These acts add to the growing list of ISIS inspired attacks and attempted attacks that have caused the western world to open their eyes to the evil proliferating across the globe.

And now, finally a number of willing nations have stepped up the war against ISIS, with not the US but Russia leading the way, and the Islamic State is suddenly finding itself on the ropes, with territory being lost and fighters losing courage.

Something I have found so surprising throughout all these events is how ISIS and their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi have hardly made even the smallest mention of Israel or the Jews. I was waiting for that inevitable day when ISIS would declare their intentions to destroy Israel and commit genocide against the Jewish people. It's kind of a coming of age, a rite of passage for a terrorist group when the day comes that they announce their intentions to wipe out the Israelites. But the weeks and months passed and we heard not a peep.

I was not alone in noticing this. For the last few years a favorite rumor among conspiracy theorists and haters of Israel alike has been that ISIS is actually a Mossad organization, and Baghdadi is in reality a Jew. Why else have they not done anything to harm the Jews? After all, no one can deny that, barring immediate existential threats, the Jews pretty much always receive the top honors on the genocide wish lists for terrorist organizations.

And now suddenly this last Saturday, after ISIS had finally taken a real beating from western forces and air strikes, Baghdadi has reportedly released a message to his demoralized fighters in which he declares, "We are getting closer to you [Israel] day by day. Do not think that we have forgotten about you."

Baghdadi continues, "God caused the Jews of the world to gather in Israel, and the war against them has become easy. It is the obligation of every Muslim to carry out Jihad." He adds, "Jews, you will not enjoy Palestine. God has gathered you in Palestine so that the Mujahedeen can reach you soon and you will hide by the rock and the tree. Palestine will be your graveyard."

Baghdadi's threats could have been a little more original, seeing as how Hezbollah's head Hassan Nasrallah has also previously claimed that the Jews were gathered to Israel to make it easier to kill them all, and Hamas and the PA have referenced the same Hadith about the rocks and trees calling for Muslims to kill the Jews at the end of days.

Nonetheless, Baghdadi finally made the kill the Jews proclamation, and the timing is somewhat understandable. History has shown us that whenever the going gets tough for nations, blaming the Jews and promising to wipe them out has been an extremely effective technique of distracting the general population from its woes while uniting them behind a common cause.
 

blessedhope

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And It is not normal for the United States to experience massive wildfires and giant tornadoes right around Christmas.

The huge wildfire that erupted northwest of Los Angeles on Christmas Day and the devastating tornadoes that ripped through the Dallas area on Saturday can be added to a growing list of freakish disasters that have hit the United States since the month of September. So why in the world is this happening? Many are blaming the worst El Nino pattern that we have seen in at least 15 years. Right now we are witnessing very strange weather all over the world, including an unprecedented heat wave in Australia and the worst flooding in South America in 50 years. And it is true that El Ninos have significantly disrupted weather patterns in the past. But is the current El Nino really to blame for everything that we have been seeing? Because without a doubt, the last few months have been truly bizarre.

For example, who has ever heard of a giant wildfire erupting on Christmas Day?

That is precisely what happened this year in southern California. A mammoth blaze that quickly engulfed more than 1,200 acres erupted near Ventura, California, and it shut down both the Pacific Coast Highway and U.S. 101 for an extended period of time.

This was truly a frightening fire. You can watch some amazing footage of a family actually driving through the wildfire right here. Fortunately, firefighters seem to be getting the blaze under control at this point.

I have written repeatedly about how this was shaping up to be the worst year for wildfires in U.S. history, but just like everyone else I had assumed that wildfire season was over by now. For a fire of this magnitude to erupt in southern California at this time of the year is definitely unusual.

The day after this fire erupted, at least 11 people died as 11 deadly tornadoes ripped through the Dallas, Texas area.

Isn’t it funny how “11” just keeps popping up everywhere? I don’t know what it means, but I just thought that I would mention it.

Authorities have estimated that as many as 1,000 homes and buildings were destroyed by these tornadoes. The tornado that shredded parts of Garland was categorized as an “EF-4″, and it had winds “of at least 166 mph”…


The tornado that roared through Garland was rated an EF-4, with winds of at least 166 mph, the National Weather Service said Sunday. This is the USA’s first EF-4 tornado to strike in December in 15 years. It is also the farthest west a tornado of that strength has formed in December, according to the tornado research site U.S. Tornadoes.

For Dallas County, it’s only the second EF-4 tornado ever recorded since accurate records began in 1950.

Some news outlets are reporting that the tornado actually had peak winds somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 mph. If it seems strange to you that something like this would happen during the month of December in the state of Texas, that is because it is very strange. As the article quoted above noted, we haven’t seen any EF-4 tornadoes in the entire country in December in 15 years, and it was only the second EF-4 tornado to hit Dallas County since 1950.

Meanwhile, as I mentioned at the outset of this article, other areas of the planet are experiencing very bizarre weather right now as well. For instance, just check out what is going on in South America. According to the BBC, quite a few South American nations are currently being hit by the worst flooding that they have seen “in 50 years”…


Vast areas in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil are being hit by the worst flooding in 50 years, forcing the evacuation of more than 150,000 people.

Days of heavy rains brought on by the El Nino weather phenomenon have caused three major rivers to swell, and officials report at least six deaths.

A state of emergency is in force in Paraguay, the worst hit nation, where 130,000 people have fled their homes.

In northern Argentina, some 20,000 people have left their homes.

If you just look at one of these disasters in isolation, it may not seem like that big of a deal.

After all, there are significant natural disasters every year.

But collectively, all of these strange disasters seem to indicate that something truly unique is happening. I cannot recall ever seeing the U.S. (and much of the rest of the world) being hit by so many wildfires, floods, historic droughts, earthquakes and major volcanic eruptions in such a short period of time.

Perhaps things will eventually settle down and this stretch will be considered a strange anomaly by this time next year.

Perhaps things will go back to “normal” very soon.

But what if they don’t?

What if they just keep getting worse?
 

blessedhope

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The bible has to do in prophecy about the state of Israel and less to do about America,
 
B

brakelite

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blessedhope said:
The bible has to do in prophecy about the state of Israel and less to do about America,
I cannot let this go by without comment. God's focus...even Satan's focus...and thereby the prophetic focus, is not on a small parcel of stolen Palestinian land in the Middle East at a time when mankind's probation on this planet is coming to a close. God's concern is not for any nation. His love, His care, His infinite mercy compassion and justice is right now being directed on behalf of His people, His church. Prophecy is not about the Middle East. It's about God's last message of mercy to lost sinners and His sanctified people whose work in these last days is to deliver that message. It has got nothing to do with Israel. And if you are missing that point, then you are missing the whole directive of prophecy, the purpose for which it was given, and your place in it.
 

epostle1

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I could not accept a never heard of before 1830 theory that says Jesus returns 1 1/2 times. A few sensationalists write books and movies and it turns into a doctrine. tsk tsk. Are your pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation? Find out:

http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-rapture
 

Marcus O'Reillius

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brakelite said:
the prophetic focus, is not on a small parcel of stolen Palestinian land in the Middle East
You do know, don't you, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say you obviously don't know that there is no "Palestininian" people.

That after the Second Jewish Revolt, the Romans expulsed the Jews and in typical insulting fashion, changed the name of the land.

And God seems to have a particular focus on Israel; it is where Jesus will return first, where He will tramp out His Wrath on not only the disobedient Jews who remain stiff-necked, but also on the ungodly as well who will occupy that land. Later, Jerusalem will become the focus of all worship in the Millennium.

So Isreal was not stolen, but the fact that it is alone in resurfacing as a nation from the dust heap of history is also a testimony to the power of God's Word in OT prophecy as well.
 

keras

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I do agree with Marcus on this, although it would be better if he spelled Israel correctly.
Also the name Israel was actually usurped by the Jewish people who established their State. David ben Gurion did originally intend to call the new nation Judah, but he changed it to Israel at the last moment. I see that change as a Satanic deception, that confuses people as to where the bulk of actual Israelite people are.

All the holy Land will be cleared. Jeremiah 12:14, Jeremiah 10:18, Ezekiel 21:4
 

blessedhope

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I think in 2016 we better watch Gog and Magog I believe Gog is a prince demon that rules over Magog {Russia} on with the story, "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee." Ezekiel 38: 1-6

Theologians have long pondered the interpretation of the phrase "I will turn thee back" as it didn't seem to make sense that Gog would come to invade Israel and then turn back from his enterprise so there have been a number of creative ideas on the theme.

However I haven't read of anyone who proposed Gog would be on the border of Israel before the attack and then turned back. Rather than the Gog war starting as a consequence of something kicking off now, God seems to be very specific in that Gog is turned back, then the hook goes into his jaws and after that he springs the surprise attack when The Lord God bring him forth again. The going back seems to be an important piece of the development building up to the war. In fact, if we see Russia go back we can know the time is set for the Gog war.

If I'm right then whatever happens in Syria now doesn't kick off the Gog war, Russia will go home having battered ISIS to pieces and used this campaign to build relationships that will result in a strong bond for the coming invasion.
 

blessedhope

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And What I think will bring back the Russians will be the Psalms 83 war, all the islam countries will be screaming bloody murder!Remember Israel can not afford a long war with its enemies so it will be swift and very brutal and no more the 24 to 48 hours!

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keras

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[SIZE=medium]Isaiah 17:1 [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]Damascus will cease to be a city, she will be [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]reduced to a heap of ruins[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] forever desolate. Animals will live there, undisturbed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]Jeremiah 49:23-27[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] Of Damascus: The Syrians are covered in confusion, for they have heard news of a coming disaster, they run around in fear and trembling and panic grips them. No more joyful songs or celebrations are heard in her streets, because on that Day her young men will fall and soldiers will lie still in death. The Lord says; [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]I will kindle a fire[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] inside Damascus and it will devour her strongholds. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]Amos 1:3-4 [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]For crime after crime of Damascus, I will give them no reprieve because they oppressed My Land with malicious spite. Therefore [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]I will send fire[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] to consume her strongholds.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]Zechariah 9:1-2 [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]The Word of the Lord comes to the lands north of Israel and it will soon come upon Damascus. For to the Lord belongs all of that area and even though the cities of Lebanon have become rich, He will strip them of all their possessions and break their power. [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]A devastating fire will devour them all[/SIZE][SIZE=medium].[/SIZE]


[SIZE=medium]These prophecies tell of the soon to happen destruction of Damascus, Syria. Note that in all cases, they go on to talk of other nations who are also affected by this fire judgement. Isaiah 66:16 In particular Isaiah 17:4-6 says how Jacob, that is: the 10 tribes of Israel- now the Western nations and the 2 tribes of Judah now the current State of Israel, will lose their strength. It seems that most of the world’s military forces will be wiped out. Isaiah 34:2-3, Hosea 2:18, Micah 5:10-11[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]Although the Sixth Seal, the next event to happen according to the sequence in Revelation, does not mention fire as the means of punishment, [there is nothing in Revelation 6:12-17 to say how it will be carried out] we can ascertain the details from parallel passages like: Isaiah 34:2-4, Isaiah 2:12-21, Joel 2:1-11, Malachi 4:1 and especially 2 Peter 3:7 & 10.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]Notice in Jeremiah 49:23, how they know what is coming. This can be explained by the 24 hour period between the initial flash of a coronal mass ejection sunstrike and the arrival of the main mass of superheated plasma. Ezekiel 7:10-19[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]That it will be a single Day of destruction is confirmed by the use in every case of the Hebrew and Greek words for a 24 hour period and this fits how a CME will hit the earth and then continue on into outer space. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]Isaiah 63:4, Joel 1:15[/SIZE]

 

blessedhope

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And We are to "eagerly wait for" Christ's return, not just passively wait around (Hebrews
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28). Jesus was emphatic that His followers should hope for His return, expect His return and pray for His return! In addition, our enthusiastic anticipation and excitement will intensify as we see more and more world events fulfilling Bible prophecies—especially those that point to the increasing nearness of Christ's return.

Note the watching, waiting, anticipation and preparedness in the following passage: "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their Master, when HE will return from the wedding, that when HE comes and knocks they may open to Him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when HE comes, will find watching " (Luke
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35-36).

In Mark's and Luke's accounts of Jesus Christ's prophecy, we see that Jesus connected watching with praying. There is much to pray about regarding the present and the future. Watching helps our praying, and praying helps our watching.

Mark records Jesus saying: "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time [of Christ's coming] is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch"
(Mark
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33-34 ; see also verses 35-37).

Christ was quite emphatic here in commanding us to do four things:

1. Take heed to what He had just said.

2. Watch for the signs He had outlined.

3. Pray regularly and earnestly so that we stay close to God.

4. Keep doing God's work!

In Luke's account, Jesus tells us that "when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near" (Luke:21:31). Then He warns about not letting "that Day come on you unexpectedly" (verse 34).

Jesus concludes by saying, "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke:21:36).

Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
MATT 24: 42

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
MARK 13: 33-37

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that HE shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not;
LUKE 12: 37-40

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
REV 16: 15

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
REV 3: 3

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
LUKE 21: 36

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
LUKE 21: 28
 

keras

Writer of Bible study guides
Mar 18, 2014
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The Return of Jesus cannot come until all that is prophesied before that Day, happens. 2 Thess. 2:1-4

The next event we can expect will be this: 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 The great testing of our faith; 1 Peter 4:12.

Be ready and stand firm during the difficult times ahead.