END TIME BIBLE PROPHECY FOR BEGINNERS A collection of essays on Premillennial Eschatology Written by David J. Nixon Contents Introduction: Why Study Eschatology? Page 2  Timeline of the Tribulation Page 4  The Nation of Israel in the Last Days Page 5  The Gog Magog War in the Final Days – Ezekiel 38 & 39 Page 6  The Rapture Question? Page 14  Understanding Daniel's 70th Week Page 17  The Antichrist Page 20  The False Prophet Page 23  The Mark of the Beast Page 25  The Two Witnesses Page 27  The Revived Roman Empire – Kingdom of the Antichrist? Page 29  The Battle of Armageddon Page 31  Page 1 Introduction: Why Study Eschatology? David J. Nixon "The End Times"...you may hear this phrase and have a variety of reactions - the ones I would encourage you to have are "joy" and "hope". I base this on the description of this event given to us by Paul in God's Word, The Bible. Paul says that the news regarding the End Times is the "blessed hope" with which we are to encourage and build up one another: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you." (Titus 2:11-15) Whatever else comes to your mind when you see the phrase "The End Times", the Lord intends us as Believers to respond in a positive attitude and for this to be something taught in the churches to encourage each other and indeed exhort us on to live the Christian life. I go one further, and suggest to you that a knowledge of the End Times also exhorts us for evangelism while we still can. If we know Jesus is coming back soon then we are left with a massive task of seeing that all our friends, loved ones and even those people we have never met around the world hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Indeed, also useful is the fact that as the thousands of years old prophecies of scripture come to life and play themselves out on the world stage we have an incredible opportunity to draw peoples' attention to the predictive prophecy and divine self-proving element of a Book that so many dismiss too quickly. Furthermore, it is this call to evangelism and defending of Biblical truth that Peter attributes the Lord's tarrying so far in history because He still awaits more to be saved (2 Peter 3:3-10) - this is his answer to those who mock him for teaching Christ's imminent return and should be our model today also! Jesus Himself told us signs that would draw our attention to His imminent return as an encouragement: "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." He expected us to be out looking for His return with joy because this is the culmination of the Good News: Christ's return and our uniting to Him for all eternity. Even all of Creation is longing for the Lord's return, as Paul writes and he connects it also to our inward hope for the Lord's return and our bodily resurrection: For we know that all the rest of creation has been groaning with the pains of childbirth up to the present time. However, not only the creation, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit also groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For we were saved with this hope in mind. Now a hope that can be observed is not really hope, for who hopes for what can be seen?" (Romans 8:22-24). When the Lord returns He will eventually create a New Heaven and a New Earth, free from the curse of sin that has plagued so much of its existence. These are just some of the things to think about as you look at the End Times articles collected in this booklet. Far too often this context for the End Times is lost and it becomes a battleground of speculations; for these reasons the church today has largely turned its back on the black sheep of eschatology. It saddens me that a scholar on this topic came to my church and was greeted with disappointment when he told them he was going to talk on these things - where is their blessed hope? Do not sell yourself short, do not reject the hope the Lord has for you in this dark and wicked age, accept the blessing that He has promised to those who study these things (Revelation 1:3) Page 2 The Lord is returning, that is for sure, the details of it are contained in scripture. Let this be our scriptural model of interpreting Bible prophecy: we will determine the scriptural foundations and let those scriptures interpret events happening around us - not the other around! The scriptures foretold the rebirth of Israel and the recommencement of God's redemptive plan for that nation in the Final Days (the culmination of the End Times which have lasted from Christ's Ascension to now). That rebirth waited almost 2000 years but has happened now and so much more is taking place which seems to be lining up to fulfil Biblical prophecy, you can learn more now - may the Lord bless you as He has indeed promised! Page 3 Timeline of the Tribulation David J. Nixon The following is an attempt to set down the major events surrounding the 70th Week of Daniel, which many people commonly refer to as the “Tribulation Period”. The Lord Jesus only spoke of a 3.5 year Great Tribulation so our conception of a 7 year Tribulation Period comes from a synthesis of the terms of Jesus and content of Daniel in his 70 Weeks prophecy. For the purposes of this timeline we will be a little less precise and use the popular parlance instead, since we are going for a simple overview here rather than a deeper study. This is only intended as a very simple and humble attempt to guide you through the big picture of Bible eschatology taking you through the Pre-Millennial interpretation of the many scriptures on these matters when interpreted in a straightforward and responsible literal fashion as far as is possible in the passages. There is a degree of uncertainty regarding the precise timing of some of these events but this is an attempt to put together something that would reflect the broad understanding and interpretation of the relevant scriptures, and where there are equally valid derivations possible they normally are recognised. Before the Tribulation: • Gog Magog War (Ezekiel 38 & 39) – this attack by an alliance of Russia, Turkey, Iran, and other Arab nations will be drawn into battle against an unsuspecting Israel in the latter days only to be thwarted by divine intervention on her behalf. The likely outcome of this short-lived war will be the restoration of a spiritual consciousness to Israel in light of her miraculous deliverance. Notice that the conspicuous absence of Syria in this alliance implies that the prophecy regarding the destruction of Damascus is fulfilled before this war (Isaiah 17:1) • Rapture of the Church ( 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8a) – taking the Holy Spirit as the “Restrainer” then it follows that if the Antichrist is to rise into power then the church must be removed before he is able to be revealed. Arguably he is not revealed until the Abomination of Desolation so this could happen any time up until the mid-point of the Tribulation. • Rise into power of the Antichrist (Daniel 7:23-24) – before Antichrist can make any agreement with Israel he must be in a position of power so it logically follows that his political ascent in the revived- Roman kingdom must begin at some point before the 70th week can begin. He will arise out from among 10 kings who will give their authority to the Antichrist to rule, despite his being somehow different to them in power initially. Commencement of the Tribulation: • Peace with Israel (Daniel (9:27a) – Antichrist will make an agreement with Israel for 7 years, likely negotiating some peace settlement in the region, as he is depicted as being a conqueror through peace initially (Revelation 6:2). It will appear as a time of peace and security in Israel, although the same cannot be said for the rest of the world (1 Thessalonians 5:3) First Half of the Tribulation: • Scroll and Trumpet Judgements (Revelation 6,8 & 9) – God desires that mankind might repent from their sins and in wishing to break our stubborn will sends plagues of judgement on the world symbolised by a series of 7 Seals and 7 Trumpets. The cumulative effect of these judgements is horrifying because a major proportion of the world’s population will be wiped out by them and the global economy will face greater strain than it ever has done before with large proportions of vital industries destroyed. Jesus seems to indicate that these signs are only the beginning of the troubles of the Tribulation period (Matthew 24:4-8). Worse is still to come as Jesus warns that unless the still to come judgements were Page 4 cut short that no flesh would survive (Matthew 24:22). • 144,000 Jewish Evangelists and 2 Witnesses (Revelation 7 & 11) – 2 Witnesses will be raised up to prophesy for a period of 42 months which is the equivalent of half of the Tribulation’s length. It is unclear about when their time of testimony will run but it is made clear that it is the Antichrist who will make war against them and kill them in Jerusalem before they are bodily resurrected and raptured 3.5 days later (Revelation 11:7-9). As a result their deaths will occur sometime around the mid-point of the Tribulation and their ministry must therefore run throughout the first half of the Tribulation Period. They will be aided on mass by 144,000 Jews who will be sealed by God to spread the Gospel, although whether they will be concentrated globally or only in Israel is unclear. If there is no church present due to the rapture then this would strongly imply a global ministry. Mid-Point of the Tribulation: • War in Heaven (Revelation 12:7-12) – Satan and his demons engage in war against the Archangel Michael and the angels in Heaven, but they are defeated causing them to be permanently barred access from the throne to accuse the saints. Instead they are thrown down to Earth and Satan - aware that time is short before the Lord returns to complete his redemptive work – must attempt to stop God’s redemptive programme by preventing Israel fulfilling the prophecy of recognising Jesus and declaring “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39). • Empowering of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:1-5) – Antichrist apparently is healed or even potentially stages a false resurrection causing the world to marvel at this miracle which is really a direct act of Satan who now directly empowers the Antichrist and gives him authority to rule for the final half of the Tribulation. At this same time the False Prophet will command the worship of Antichrist by the peoples of the world and initiate the Mark of the Beast and Image worship system to facilitate this and destroy those who refuse to worship (Revelation 13:11-18). • The Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15-20; 2 Thessalonians 2:4) – a Satanically empowered Antichrist will take away the sacrifices in the Temple, declare himself to be god and turn on Israel breaking his 7 year agreement with them (Daniel 9:27). The Image of the Beast will likely be set up on the wing of the Temple and worship commanded of it as it is given power to speak through some demonic manifestation of a voice (Revelation 13:15). Sometime around this time the Antichrist will kill the 2 witnesses, but they will 3.5 days later be resurrected and carried into Heaven, an event that will be broadcast to the world and Jerusalem will be rocked with an earthquake subsequently (Revelation 11:7-13) • War against Israel and the Believers commences (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12:13-17; Revelation 13:7) – Satan seeking to destroy Israel will be thwarted by God providing an escape for her into the desert (as Jesus warned she must flee to the mountains: Matthew 24:16), although Zechariah 14:2 suggests that only half of Jerusalem’s inhabitants will escape. They will likely head into the Jordanian desert to the mountain fortress of Petra which appears to be exempt from the Antichrist’s influence (Daniel 11:41). Frustrated by this intervention and inability to stop those escaping into the desert Satan will instead turn against the remnant of the Church in the world, who will not be able to take the Mark of the Beast nor worship the Image. Many Christians will be beheaded for their refusal to back down from their faith and testimony in Christ (Revelation 20:4). Last Half of the Tribulation: • The Bowls of Wrath Judgements (Revelation 15 & 16) – Looking at the progression of the warnings given by the 3 angels in Revelation 14:6-11 this seems like the probable order as the Bowl of Wrath judgements begin as God still continues to desire mankind to repent but they run into league with Satan Page 5 and the Antichrist taking the Mark of the Beast. • Destruction of the Harlot of Babylon (Revelation 17) – As the aforementioned events take place the angel reports that the Antichrist turns on a religious organisation with global reach and dominion over many peoples. It seems that the prophecy refers to Rome, the city on 7 hills and perhaps even to its religious centre the Vatican or some other global religious grouping that will in the future be based there. 1 Peter 5:13 refers to “Babylon” in code for Rome due to the political climate at the time. The Antichrist and those of his kingdom are said to be jealous of the power and reach of this religious organisation and will use her and betray her, causing her complete destruction • Destruction of Economic Babylon (Revelation 18) – The economic system of the Antichrist is identified with Babylon, which could very well refer to Rome, Jerusalem or another city which the Antichrist adopts as the centre for his kingdom. Particular judgement is reserved against its decadence and she will be destroyed by divine judgement in a single day (Revelation 18:8). This particular judgement will cause global sadness and people suffer the collapse and lose of their economic riches and materialistic lifestyles. • Battle of Armageddon (Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 16:12-16; 19:19-21) – With the 6th Bowl Judgement drying up the River Euphrates the eastern powers are able to cross over to meet the Antichrist’s forces gathered in Israel’s Valley of Jezreel on the Plain of Esraelon. It is here that they will engage in battle around Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:1-4) until Jesus returns in the Second Coming to the Mount of Olives. The protected place in the desert for Israel is believed to be in the Jordanian desert in the land of Edom which is specifically excluded from the Antichrist’s grasp in this final battle (Daniel 11:41). • The Second Coming and Destruction of Antichrist and False Prophet (Revelation 19:19-21)- Jesus will destroy the armies of the Antichrist with His words, while casting both Antichrist and False Prophet into the Lake of Fire. He will establish the Millennial Kingdom reigning from Jerusalem and judge the nations of the world who have survived the Tribulation, a process that will take several weeks (Daniel 12:12). Those who have died during the Tribulation will be resurrected to reign with Christ, alongside the raptured Church who will have returned with Christ as His army (Revelation 20:4; Revelation 19:14) Millennial Kingdom: • Imprisonment and Subsequent Loosing of Satan (Revelation 20:1-3; 7-10) – Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for 1000 years to allow the nations of the world that will be restored during the Kingdom age to live free from deception. However, they will still have to grapple with the sinful condition that they will continue to inherit from their parents (survivors of the Tribulation Period who did not take the Mark of the Beast) because they will not have been resurrected into their incorruptible eternal bodies at this point. Their ability to sin means that at the end of the Millennium when Satan is again loosed for a short time that many will rebel against Christ and be judged along with Satan by being cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity. Then all the dead will be resurrected and judged at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15) and all whose names are not recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life are cast into the Lake of Fire also. Hereafter, a New Heaven and New Earth will be created for all of eternity (Revelation 21:1). Page 6 The Nation of Israel in the Last Days David J. Nixon In 1948 an event of unparalleled Biblical proportions happened on the world stage as the nation of Israel was reborn in the land by declaring independence for the Jewish state. For centuries the Church had metaphoricalised away any significance of Israel in Bible prophecy seeing as the state had ceased to exist, but once again in an unmistakeable fulfilment of prophecy Israel was back as a world and Bible prophecy player. The Apostle Paul warned the early Church not to be arrogant in dismissing Israel's continued importance in God's redemptive programme because she would ultimately be restored into fellowship with God (Romans 11:17-27). This process is not yet complete because Israel still does not recognise Jesus Christ as the Messiah but such a day is coming when she shall declare "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 23:39). Reading the Old and New Testament prophecies together you cannot help but reach the conclusion that Israel is involved. Israel forms the centre piece of the 70 Weeks prophecy which is the whole basis for there being a 7 year Tribulation period and indeed it cannot commence until an agreement is made between the Antichrist and Israel which he can then break (Daniel 9:27); Zechariah 12;14 describe the importance of the city of Jerusalem in the last days; Revelation 12 clearly shows that Israel will be the first target for attack by the Antichrist and other chapters describe how two witnesses and 144,000 Jews will be called into evangelistic ministry in the last days to call the nation back to God. The prophet Ezekiel while in Babylonian exile received the vision of the valley of the dry bones become flesh again, describing the future rebirth of national Israel within the land (Ezekiel 37), and the prophet Isaiah prophesied that this event would surprisingly happen in the space of a day (Isaiah 66:8). This almost certainly was the 1948 rebirth of Israel! These are but a few examples of the picture we see unfolding across the pages of scripture concerning Israel's importance but even the Lord Jesus addresses the issue. The Apostle Peter answers the mocking questions of those asking 'Where is the Lord after all this time?' with the response that He is not at all slow to action but rather is being patient with the world not willing any to perish (2 Peter 3:4-9). Many people today remark that the signs listed by Jesus at the start of Matthew 24, as He answers the disciples questions regarding when He will restore Israel and bring in the kingdom, are so generic that it is impossible to ever know when the Lord is going to return. However, they neglect the image of the fig tree which Jesus goes on to tell the disciples about which will be the Rosetta stone of end time Bible prophecy to warn that the time is imminent for His return: "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Matthew 24:32-35). In the prophetic scriptures Israel is described as a fig tree or as an olive tree, and Jesus symbolically rebuked the unfruitful fig tree which was not ready for when He came to it just a few chapters earlier. This image would then mean that when we see the nation of Israel become fruitful again that this is the sign that the time of the end is near and the Lord's return is in season. Thus we are left with the unmistakeable impression that we must indeed be nearing the Lord's return since Israel was reborn in the land over 60 years ago today. With 7 years still left outstanding on the timer of Daniel's 70 Weeks Prophecy we know that in the days to come the Antichrist will form an agreement with Israel, which he will then proceed to break 3.5 years later turning on the nation (Daniel 9:27). His war against Israel frustrated by God's miraculous deliverance of her will come to a head as he gathers his armies in the valley of Jezreel north of Jerusalem at the end of the 70th Week and there he will do battle against the Lord Jesus who returns to bring in the kingdom now that Israel has returned to Him declaring Him Messiah! Page 7 Before this time it seems that Israel will come under attack from the Gog Magog alliance of nations as described in Ezekiel 38 & 39. She will also face the threat of destruction from the nations immediately around her as described in Psalm 83 where they make plans to wipe Israel off the map. The list of nations in this Psalm are those directly around Israel on all sides and so I would argue that it is likely it has already been fulfilled by the Arab conflagrations against Israel in 1967 and 1973 when they attempted to destroy Israel, particularly in the latter's case when it was an almost fully success surprise attack on the eve of the national Yom Kippur holiday. In all the wars that the newly reborn nation has faced God has delivered her successfully and blessed her greatly with the spoils of victory. Yet still His heart yearns for His nation to return to Him! Understanding the Bible's prophecies about the last days begins with Israel, the nation which had so much revealed to her and which still forms an important part of God's redemptive programme for the world as His return draws ever nearer! For a more in depth analysis of the signs concerning Israel in the End Times please consult my article: "Signs of the Times Concerning Israel and the Church" Page 8 The Gog Magog War in the Final Days - Ezekiel 38 & 39 David J. Nixon I remember a few years ago describing our passage of scripture today as one of the most important apologetic resources for defending the divine inspiration of the Bible that this generation has had to date - why? Well the answer is that its fulfilment could potentially be one of the most unmistakeable direct fulfilments of 2500 year old prophecy that we have seen, ranking up alongside the rebirth of Israel in 1948 in a single day and recapture of Jerusalem in 1967. The Bible was clear that Israel was going to be reborn in the land - it happened. The Bible is also clear that this latter days nation of Israel will come under attack from an alliance of nations, which are named, and will require the supernatural intervention of God to save her - it will happen, and indeed today we are seeing the posturing towards its fulfilment As always we need to set out our Biblical basis (our metaphorical tent peg holes) and only then see if any pegs fit into what the scriptures say. There can be no doubt that in the past predictive prophecy has been fulfilled exactly and so we should not doubt that it would be any different today for He is the same God yesterday, today and forever. Setting the scene: The scriptures indicate that the focal point of this attack will be the land of Israel: "After many days you will be mustered. In the latter days you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them" (38:7-8). It was said by Mark Twain when he visited the Holy Land in the 19th century that the land was completely desolate, and it was only after the Jewish aliyah and rebirth of Israel that the desert began to bloom again - although it would be wrong to attribute Isaiah 35:1 to this since that chapter is seemingly about the Millennial Kingdom. The scriptures seem to indicate that God considers these events as happening in the latter days, the time after Israel has returned to the land. Throughout the previous 2000 years the Lord has seemingly paused His redemptive plan for the nation of Israel as a whole to instead focus on the rest of the world through the evangelism of the Church. However, the uncompleted 70 weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9) indicate that the Lord will still finish His purposes for Israel and only usher in the physical reign of the Kingdom; indeed the Apostle Paul makes clear that the Lord is far from finished with Israel and will use the Church to provoke her to jealousy (Romans 11). In previous articles we have looked at how the rebirth of Israel was one of the definitive signs given by Jesus of the final days commencing and us being put on definite standby for the Lord's imminent return (Matthew 24). However, the rebirth of national Israel is still missing one crucial element: its spirituality! There is currently no rebuilt Temple of Solomon upon the Temple Mount, and nor is there any realistic swell of support for it either. There are groups such as the Temple Mount Faithful and Temple Institute who are busy preparing and campaigning for the recommencement of Temple life, but they have yet been unsuccessful. However, scripture clearly records the words of both Jesus and Paul that the Temple will be the centre piece of the Antichrist's work in the Abomination of Desolation wherein he will declare himself to be God (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4). How is it then that this prophecy can be fulfilled in a mostly secular Israel today? I believe based on my understanding of this passage of scripture that Gog Magog could be the turning point for the spiritual rebirth of Israel - but please note the critical words of Paul in Athens: "I perceive that in every way you are very religious" (Acts 17:22) because that is the same charge Paul would level against the future Israel for it will still not accept the Lord Jesus as Messiah (something that will only happen immediately before the Second Coming when they declare: "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord"). Ezekiel prophesies that once God Page 9 delivers them from the hands of the invaders: "And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore" (39:7); "The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward" (39:22); "Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations, and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God" (39:28- 29). I would contend these passages are a strong basis to conclude that there will be a spiritual rebirth in Israel ahead of the recommencement of the 70 weeks prophecy through until the Second Coming of the Lord. Israel immediately before the attack will be apparently enjoying a time of believed security. She is described by the Lord, who is narrating the thoughts in Gog's mind: "I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, having no bars or gates [...] Thus says the Lord God: 'On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it?" (Ezekiel 38:11,14). If we abide by our strict method of Biblical interpretation then it is very hard to see this war as being likely to happen in the imminently near future because Israel is anything but living in a state of security: what with Hamas engaged in a rocket war from the Gaza Strip; posturing with Syria over the Golan Heights coupled with that nation's attempts to construct nuclear weapons; and the growing threat of a nuclear armed Iran with the capability to hit anywhere within Israel with a wide array of unconventional weapons. Indeed, when we take this passage further and particularly look at the portion "land of unwalled villages" then I cannot but wonder why the Lord chose to highlight this point. In my mind it can do nothing but indicate that this prophecy is not yet ready for fulfilment because Israel's settlements require to be heavily fortified, her borders are some of the most secure in the world, and she is continuing to build a massive wall around the West Bank to keep out terrorists. The prophetic players: When first reading this prophecy you would be forgiven for getting immediately lost because you do not recognise any of the names of the nations listed in chapter 38. The names are derived from the sons of Noah and where their children settled in the post-diluvian world. This is not an exact science, that must be stated from the outset! Determining the modern day counterparts to the nations listed is not simple and I cannot claim to be an expert on it. Instead I can only rely on brief research into what the ancient historian Josephus records regarding the identity of these nations, and would refer someone wishing to go deeper to check out some of the scholarship on the matter. While there is room for some disagreement the broad picture seems to interpret the nations as following: - Magog - the Scythian people who settled north of the black sea, and further identified as in the area now encompassed by Russia by Arabs who call the Great Wall of China as the "Great Wall of Al Magog" because it was built to keep out the northern people they called the Magonians. - Persia - almost certainly Iran (seeing as Iran was called Persia until recent times and the Iranian people are fiercely protective of their Persian nationality, rather than Arab). - Put - likely Libya. - Cush - Horn of Africa (likely present day Somalia). - Gomer - likely part of western Turkey. - Bethtogarmah, Meshec, Tubal - likely the area around the Caucasus region in northern Turkey and southern Russia today. - Sheba & Dedan - likely present day Saudi Arabia or Ethiopia. Even if you disagree or find fault with what has already been admitted as a humble attempt to identify the Biblical nations, then the broad picture is clear: a coalition of Islamic nations surrounding Israel led Page 10