XVIII. TIMELINE STUDY-How and Where Does All This Fit in This Seven Years.

This entire presentation is based on some very definite time periods that God in His matchless wisdom determined and prophesied in His Word, and which were made starting some 2600 years ago. Way back at that time it was prophesied to Daniel by Jesus, and through the Angel Gabriel, that there would be seventy weeks of years on the Jewish calendar, and sixty-nine of those weeks of years, or 483 years, would end when the Messiah would be cut off, when Jesus died on the cross of Calvary. However, while Jesus was on earth He graciously revealed a new dimension He had already established in eternity past to include in His end-time plans, and added the Church and the elect to also be grafted into His plans for the 70th week. The seventieth week, or years 484-490, is yet to take place, and is generally referred to as the seventieth week of Daniel. This is described in Daniel 9:25-27, 25 “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.” In verse 27, we are told that the prince who is to come, the Antichrist, (Gog) will confirm a covenant, a peace treaty, for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the seven years, at exactly 3½ years, this prince will break this covenant, and shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering in the temple in Jerusalem. Daniel described this as the abomination of desolation.

It is very important to keep all of this information, and the time line to follow, in our minds if we are to understand the significance of this entire presentation. Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse to His disciples on the Monday evening before His Thursday crucifixion, tells His disciples all the things that are to happen before and after His gathering together of the church, that is, the Rapture. Matthew records in chapter 24, verse 15, that Jesus made specific reference to the abomination of desolation that Daniel wrote about in Daniel 9:27. (Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand.) Jesus was very emphatic when He was making these prophecies that everyone who reads this verse must be made aware of and understand exactly what Daniel was writing about. This reference to Daniel by Jesus is so very critical if we are to understand what is to happen beginning with the moment of the desecration of the temple, when the Antichrist will set himself up as the only god to be worshipped on earth. Because of what Jesus said in the above verses recorded in Matthew (and Mark 13:14), Jesus places this moment at the exact middle of the 70th week of Daniel. This very likely means that everything Jesus said before Matthew 24:15 takes place during or before the first 3½ years, and everything he said after verse 15 takes place in the last 3½ years, including the Rapture which is so clearly described in verse 31. Therefore, we can positively conclude that after verse 15 there will be another 3½ years to the end of the seven years.

In Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book”, it is revealed to Daniel just how bad this last 3½ year time period will be, and Jesus reiterates almost an identical description, a time of GREAT TRIBULATION against the church, the elect, and the Jewish remnant on earth, in Matthew 24:15-27. In Daniel 12:7, this exact time period is revealed to Daniel as being the time “when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished” and the length of this time is to be a ‘time’ (one year), ‘times’ (two years), and a ‘half a time’ (one-half year), or 3½ years. We will see that this exact same time period is revealed through the teaching of Jesus in several places in the New Testament as being 3½ years, or 1260 days, or 42 months (42 x 30, from the Jewish calendar). Notice that it is not approximately 1260 days, not perhaps 1257 or 1262, but exactly 1260.

For your comparison study, and before we get into what I believe is the true Biblical time-line that follows, let us look at what most teachers of pre-tribulation claim, or a close variety of it, to be their time-line truth. 1). Shortly before the seven years begin, the Church is taken to heaven, together with the Holy Spirit, in a secret Rapture. 2). On Day one, the Antichrist makes or confirms his peace treaty with Israel. 3). All the seven seals are opened in the first 21 months and are taught as being a part of God’s wrath. 4). Trumpet judgments 1 thru 5 occur between month 22 and 39. 5). The sixth trumpet covers months 40 thru 42, and then the seventh trumpet is sounded. 6). By now, they teach, 50% of all inhabitants on earth have been killed, and “estimates” are that 700 million to one billion on earth will be saved by the 144,000 evangelists. 7). The two witnesses prophesy these first 42 months, and perhaps through their witness the 144,000 are saved (see Section XI). 8). Some teach this is the moment of abomination of desecration. 9). Early in month 43 sees the destruction of Babylon, the death of the harlot Mystery Babylon, Antichrist is incarnated and forces people on earth to worship him, and the False Prophet replaces the slain religious system. 10). The last 42 months (they term this entire 42 months as the “great tribulation”) are devoted to the vial or bowl judgments. 11). At the end of the seven years, there is the Glorious appearing of Christ in Power and Great Glory to set up his 1,000 year reign. This reads like a myth compared with the time-line to follow, but this is what they teach. Read what I believe to be God’s prophetic time-line on the following pages, the exact sequence, and the scripture to back it up.

Most pre-tribulation teachers, along with their above time-line, tell us “it seems almost impossible to believe” how this loving bridegroom, Christ, could possibly allow His precious bride to suffer seven years of terrible tribulation just prior to the wedding feast. Or, it “seems much more believable” to accept that the very character of God and Jesus (loving, merciful, forgiving) would keep His church, His bride, from the tribulation of seven years, from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world. Many, in their writings, use terms like “seems to signal; it seems significant; gives credence to the idea; it is our belief; it does seem significant; it seems reasonable; it seems unrelated; it seems a powerful intimation; I ‘don’t think’ we are going through the tribulation; appears to describe; seems to parallel” etc. to make their teachings more believable. Or, “I simply cannot imagine” the bridegroom whispering to the bride, I will allow you to go through seven years of the fury of hell and terrible wrath, but do not worry, I will come to get you when it is all over. But not one verse of scripture do they give to irrefutably back-up what they teach, or their “seems” as described above.

Friends, either we believe all of God’s Word, or we cannot believe it at all. In Hebrews 13:8, we are told, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” If this really is the truth, and it is, then it is this same Jesus who has already allowed hundreds of millions of His church, His precious bride, His elect, to be martyred for the name of Jesus they claimed as their Lord and Savior over these past two thousand years, and Who will lead us through all future tribulation. If only 100,000 were martyred each year for 2,000 years (records show it averaged well over 250,000 per year in the 20th century), the total would be over 200,000,000. Jesus Himself is patiently enduring every moment, right now, until He will get His revenge, His Day of the Lord wrath judgments. Let us be brave enough, and have the faith, to trust and believe His Word that He will be with His bride, the church, through every moment of the “hour of trial” (Revelation 3:10, see section XIII), and that He will Rapture (Matthew 24:31) us before His wrath is unleashed. Praise God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, because we can believe His promises that He will see us through all tribulations, which He will allow, and has already planned.

I will endeavor to give you what I believe Scripture teaches, a comprehensive time-line study to help you understand the significance of this entire presentation. If you study the time-line carefully, you will get a clear picture of just when and how all the teaching of Jesus beautifully fits together in this end-times montage.

(1). This number, 1, represents what transpires over the several months before Daniel’s seventieth week begins. We read in Daniel 7 of Daniel’s dream concerning the four beasts, which represent four beast empires. Two beast empires existed before Daniel’s lifetime, Egyptian and Assyrian. The first beast in his dream represented the third beast empire, Babylonian, which is where Daniel was captive when he had the dream. The second, third, and fourth beasts in his dream represent beast empires that existed over the next several hundred years: the fourth beast empire, Medo-Persian; the fifth beast empire, Grecian; and the sixth beast empire, Roman. The fourth beast in the dream represented the Roman Empire, and an Angel [verse 16b] interprets the dream for Daniel and tells him that this Roman Empire will rise up again in the latter days [verse 25b, time (one year), times (two years), and one-half time (1/2 year)] for 3½ years under the direction of another horn, the little horn, the coming Antichrist [verse 8, 24-25]. (Daniel 7: 8, 16b-26. 8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” 16b So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. 19 Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; 20 “and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. 21 I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor or the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. 23 Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom, and another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. 25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. 26 But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.”) This fourth beast had on its head ten horns, and in verse 23 the Angel tells Daniel that this beast (Roman Empire revived) shall devour, or rule over, the whole earth. (see also Revelation 17:12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.) The ten horns are ten kings, and in the midst of the ten horns in Daniel’s dream he sees another smaller horn arise, and this smaller horn plucks out three of the original ten kings by the roots [v. 8, 20, and 24]. These three kings would seem to be the rulers over Magog, Meshech, and Tubal [see details in section XVI, Battle One], which constitute most, if not all of, Europe. God Himself gives a title or name to this smaller horn in His Ezekiel prophesies, and the name is Gog [the future Antichrist]. God the Father makes mention of this name ten times in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This world conquest is well under way (European Union expanded) before the seventieth week of Daniel begins and is completed during the first half of Daniel’s seventieth week. (Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him and he went out conquering and to conquer.) Since Gog is the most powerful person in the world at the beginning of the seven years, he has the ability to enforce and guarantee a peace covenant with Israel without any challenge.

(2). I have placed the number two before the seven years even begins because I believe Satan’s diabolical plan of marking everyone on earth, either on the forehead or on the right hand, will be promoted to all on earth even before the seven years begin. (see Chapter II) This could be marketed to earth’s inhabitants as part of a wonderful new worldwide banking system plan that allows you the privilege of being a part of a cashless society, and many will accept it and be thrilled to be a party to it, totally unaware of the ultimate consequence of accepting the banking systems (Antichrist’s) identification marks. This will be a new utopia for many. By the way, the stigma of a black bar code on the forehead could be erased with an electronically applied bar code or one made with invisible ink. God the Father already has an ultimate plan.

(3). The number three is placed right at the very beginning of the seven years, and represents the time the Antichrist makes, or confirms, a seven year peace treaty, as described in Daniel 9:27, with the nation of Israel and starts the seventieth-week-of-Daniel-clock running. (Daniel 9:27 “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (seven years); but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”) I believe, but not dogmatically, that this treaty will likely be a secret negotiation, and will take some very keen awareness of anyone on earth that it ever happened (see (10), below). The reason I think it will be secret is because if it wasn’t all the elect on earth (yes, we will positively be here if we can believe Jesus’ teaching in Mathew 24), that are students of end-time events, would be aware of the presence of Antichrist, which would mean that God’s prophesied end-time seven-year clock had started, and we would know all the events to follow. If the peace agreement were publicized, the Christians would make even greater efforts to evangelize the entire earth, and this would make them even a more concentrated target during Satan’s wrath over the first four seals. However Satan, at this moment in history, is now in control of earth, and the fourth seal gives him power to kill a fourth of the people on earth, 1½ billion, and you can be sure all the Christians involved in any evangelistic effort would be included in that number. It is my thinking the Christians on earth, and the Jews, are going to slip into this time period totally unaware of Satan’s and Antichrist’s plan and scheme (reader, be aware). Satan will not let his secret, sneaky plan be sidetracked, you can be sure.

(4,5,6,7). At this moment in history, Satan and his angels still have free access to Heaven, and these four numbers represent the first four seals that our precious Savior Jesus patiently opens, one-by-one, on the title-deed-to-earth scroll. This is described in Revelation 6:1-8, and Jesus paralleled the events described in the first four seals in His Mount of Olives discourse in Matthew 24:4-14. We read in the Revelation reference the description of how Satan, or his representatives, were allowed to exit Heaven on the white, red, black and pale horses, take peace from earth, and spread his wrath on the people of earth, for these first 3½ years. The Bible makes no mention as to how long it takes to open these first four seals, so the time it takes to open them could possibly take a very short time and then let Satan do his evil deeds for the entire first 3½ years. This was covered extensively in section VIII.

(8).  Some months before the middle of the seven years, God directs Gog, now the head of the northern confederacy [Europe] and who also has, by this time, already devoured the whole earth, to come south to Israel so that he might not be late in complying with God’s predetermined timetable. (Daniel 7:23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces.’ ”)  God the Father  tells him to bring with him his armies of millions from Magog, Meshech and Tubal, the ‘far’ north, together with the armies of Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer and Togarmah [Ezekiel 38:1-6]. (Ezekiel 38:15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.)  Before they capture Israel, in perhaps one day at the exact middle of the seven years, he fights battles with Egypt and its allies, and the Muslim nations surrounding Israel to the east and to the north and brings all of them under his complete control [Daniel 11:40-45) (for details see Battle One, section XVI).          

(9).  There are three events that take place on day one, all on the exact same day, of the last 1260 days, 42 months, 3½ years that follow, and numbers 9, 10, and 11 represent these events.  These three events are: One, Satan and his angels are expelled from Heaven and the name of Antichrist in his first life is revealed; Two, the Jewish inhabitants of the area surrounding Jerusalem are warned to flee to the mountains; and Three, the two witnesses arrive at the temple area.  We will assign the number (9) to the details in One, described in Revelation 12:7-9. (Revelation 12:7-9, 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.)  Satan and his angels have had access to Heaven for many thousands of years, right up to this moment, the mid-point of the seven years.  Jesus gives the description to the Apostle John that there is a war in Heaven, perhaps the greatest war in all of history, at this moment between Satan and his angels and Michael and His (God’s) angels.  The dragon (Satan) and his angels did not prevail and there was no place found for them in Heaven forever more.  These verses further describe how Satan, having great wrath, was thrown down to earth.  He knows he has a short time, and it will mark the beginning of Satan’s time of GREAT TRIBULATION. (Revelation 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”)  This is the moment he desecrates the temple in Jerusalem, an event referred to as the abomination of desolation, which Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand).  This is also the moment Satan reveals the true identity of the Antichrist, his true, original, historical name, which everyone on earth will recognize. (II Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,)  The time God the Father allotted him authority to rule on earth is 42 months. (Revelation 13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.)  There is further confirmation of this time period in Revelation 11:2 where it reads that the gentiles “will tread the Holy City underfoot for forty-two months.”

(10).  On this very same day, we are told in Matthew 24:16-20 that Jesus tells his disciples in the Olivet discourse that the Jewish inhabitants in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, all who would heed His call, are warned to flee as fast as they can, “16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,” to the wilderness where God has a place prepared for them, which is likely in the land of Edom, perhaps the cave region of Petra. (Revelation 12:6 Then the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.)  This is another reason, I believe, no one on earth is aware of the timing on Satan’s calendar, or the Jews would already have made their way to safety before this last minute warning.  And in this same verse we are told God will feed them there for 1260 days, another exact time period.  In Revelation 12:14-15 we are told God gave the woman (Israel, the Jews) two wings of a great eagle (a graphic description of God’s providential protection of Israel) to fly into the wilderness, where she is nourished for a time, times, and a half a time (3½ years) from the presence of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14-15, 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.) 

(11).  Also on this exact same day, we read in Revelation 11:1-6 that God the Father sends two witnesses from Heaven to the temple area in Jerusalem and these verses describe just what their exact mission will be.  Likely, one of them will be Elijah. (Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.)  In Revelation 11:3, we are told that “they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth”—1260 days.  Dear Friends, God the Father is very explicit in His plan, right down to the exact number of days.  This also means these three events will also end, terminate, on the exact same day, and this is very important to remember.

(12).  This number on the chart represents what the Apostle John saw when Jesus patiently opened the fifth seal, described to us in Revelation 6:9-11. (Revelation 6:9-11, 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.)  You can be positive of this, that had there been a pre-tribulation rapture, John would not have seen souls only but glorified bodies.  We do not know the exact timing of number 12, and 13 and 14 to follow, but it is probably quite a few months into the Great Tribulation period which Jesus describes in Matthew 24:15-26.  But we are told throughout scripture that at all times we should be ready, be alert, and be watchful, for the hour of his coming is at hand.  There is one generation in the entire history of the world that will live through this period of testing (it is possible it could be our generation), and we are made aware of this fact in Matthew 24:34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place, Mark 13:30, and Luke 21:32.  This is covered in detail in section VIII, 5B.

            (13).  Sometime after the fifth seal, perhaps a few or several months, The Lamb, Jesus, opens the sixth seal on the scroll which we described at length in section VIII, 6B.  This is the cosmic disturbance which is described by Jesus in Revelation 6:12-17, and is the exact same disturbance described by Jesus in Matthew 24:27-31.  It is also identically described ten or more times in the Old Testament.  The time that this sixth seal is opened is described as being immediately after the (Great) Tribulation of those days, and/or immediately before the Day of the Lord Wrath judgment. (Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.)  Also, at the time of the opening of the sixth seal, God shakes the earth violently and an earthquake takes place all over earth (Revelation 6:12, 14-16, see 14 below).

            (14).  At the same time as the earthquake and the heavenly disturbance in (13), the same two events take place all over the earth, and particularly around Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 38:19-20, 19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, 20 so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’)  This same earthquake is also described in Revelation 6:12, and which just precedes the Day of the Lord wrath. (Revelation 6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood,)  Again, this is the hour God the Father directs Antichrist to bring his armies to do battle in the area around Jerusalem.  It is recorded in Ezekiel, Joel, and Zechariah that the moment has arrived when God Himself encounters and slays Satan’s armies of between 65 and 90 million or more from ‘all the surrounding nations’ in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, or more commonly known as the Kidron Valley, a devastating defeat for Satan.  God offers protection to his Jewish remnant from ‘this day forward’ throughout his seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments (see details in XVI, Battle Two).  

(15).  The next event on this time-line of the prophesies of Jesus is described to John in RevelationeaHeaven  7:1-6, and takes place just prior to the Rapture (see XVII Revelation 14).  Here there is a pause and Jesus directs His angels on the four corners of earth to hold the winds of His wrath, because another angel ascending from the east is going to seal 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.  These are the first fruits to God the Father, redeemed from among men, to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4). This was covered in detail in section XI.

(16). After the great earthquake in 14, and following the sealing of the 144,000, but prior the defeat of Antichrist’s armies in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the next major event is recorded in Matthew 24:31 where we read that Jesus sends forth His Angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and His Angels gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other; i.e. the RAPTURE. (Matthew 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.)  This was also described in detail in section VIII, 6A.  We also wrote about this same event when Jesus described it to the Apostle John in different terms in XVII.  Revelation  14, and Blood Flowing 184 Miles? where in this chapter 14:14-16 Jesus ‘reaps the earth.’

            (17).  In section X we wrote about the next event in God’s time-line prophecies, and that is the scene in Heaven described in Revelation 7:9, when all the elect from the time of Christ to the moment of the Rapture, a number so great no one could calculate it, appear in Heaven, standing, clothed in white robes (see 12 above), with palm branches in their hands, praising the Lord for their ‘salvation,’ their rescue from the Great Tribulation. (Revelation 7:9 After these things (the great earthquake, the heavenly upheaval, the sealing of the 144,000) I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,)  This moment of rapture is also described in Matthew 24:31.  The time-line numbers 13 through 20 could all happen within hours of each other, or perhaps within several days, and some perhaps simultaneously.

(18).  Almost simultaneously with God’s Angels gathering His elect from the four winds to meet the Lord in the air, God is also directing the slaughter of many millions of Satan’s and Antichrist’s elite fighting force just before the Day of the Lord in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the Kidron Valley, just to the east of Jerusalem (see details in section XVI, under Battle Two).  God also refers to this battleground as the valley of decision. (Joel 3:14 “multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”)  God the Father then follows up this victory in Israel by affording protection to His Jewish remnant, wherever they might still be on earth, right through to the beginning of His 1,000 year reign on earth.  Therefore, God gave salvation (rescued) His precious elect to escape Satan’s Great Tribulation, and at the same time gave protection on earth to His precious chosen people, the remnant of Jews, the two groups Satan most wanted to destroy.  After the rapture and this devastating defeat of Satan’s army, things on earth keep getting worse for Satan, the Antichrist, the false prophet and the nations of the earth, as God’s Day of the Lord wrath trumpet judgments begin under the direction of our wonderful Savior and God’s precious Son, Jesus. (Revelation 6:16-17, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”)

           (19).  This number on the time-line is described in Revelation 8:1-2 as Jesus the Lamb opened the seventh seal, which in turn introduced the seven trumpet judgments of God’s wrath. (Revelation 8:1-2, 1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.)  Verse two tells us there was silence in Heaven for about one-half hour, perhaps a time for the seven angels who sound the seven trumpets and those present at this Heavenly scene to comprehend the terrible wrath God the Father was about to unleash on the inhabitants left on earth, and on Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet.

           (20).  After the Rapture and God’s victory in Israel, we are told, again from Jesus through an Angel to the Apostle John, in Revelation 6:16,17 (see 18 above) that the Day of the Lord, the wrath of the Lamb, the great day of His wrath has now come, and who will be able to stand.  The moment the Day of the Lord begins, Satan’s day of wrath, the GREAT TRIBULATION, ends because the reason for Satan’s wrath and the Great Tribulation, the “saints,” the New Testament elect, have exited earth in that wonderful moment of the Rapture, and God Himself will protect His Israelite remnant here on earth from the onslaught of God’s wrath through the trumpet and bowl judgments. (Revelation 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.)  God’s offensive, the Day of the Lord wrath (the trumpet and bowl judgments), begins at this moment and lasts for the remainder of the last 3½ years, plus 30 days.     e He            

           (21,22,23,24,25,26).  These numbers represent the first through sixth trumpet judgments of God’s Day of the Lord wrath.  God destroyed the earth with a flood. (II Peter 3:6-7, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.)  God made a covenant with man to never destroy the earth again with a flood, and confirmed it by sending the rainbow.  But He gave us His Word that He is going to destroy it by fire. (II Peter 3:10 But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.)  This fire promised by God starts in the first trumpet. (Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded: and hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees [over all the earth] were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.)  Then the second angel sounded. (Revelation 8:8-9, 8 And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9  And a third of  the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.)  Then the third angel sounded. (Revelation 8:10-11, 10 And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers [all over earth] and on the springs of water. 11  The name of  the star is Wormwood.  A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.)   You can read about the trumpet judgments in Revelation 8 and 9.  After the fourth trumpet judgment, John the apostle tells us in 8:13 that he heard an angel flying through the midst of Heaven crying out with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants on earth because of the terrible judgments the three remaining trumpet blasts which are about to sound will bring. (Revelation 8:13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”)  The fifth trumpet judgment alone lasts at least 5 months to complete as described in chapter 9, verse 5. (Revelation 9:5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.)  In the sixth trumpet, God’s angels released 200,000,000 horses and riders which were bound at the great river Euphrates. (Revelation 9:15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.)  This great army of God the Father killed one-third of mankind with fire, smoke, and brimstone. (Revelation  9:18  By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.)  Of the 6+ billion on earth at the beginning of the 7 years, the number alive at the conclusion of the 6^th trumpet judgment very likely could be between one and two billion, or less.

(27).  This number in the time-line represents the seventh trumpet, the last of the three woes, which introduces the seven bowl judgments.  This trumpet is sounded at the exact conclusion of the 1260 days, 42 months, or 3½ years.  You can arrive at this conclusion because of what we read in Revelation 11:15, where, at this very moment, there is excitement in Heaven. (Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”)  After the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”  The 3½ years, 1260 days, that God gave Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet authority to blaspheme and make war and reign on earth, had reached its climax, its last moment, and now God the Father, and His Son Jesus, takes control of earth and He will pour out His terrible bowl judgments on the nations of earth over the next thirty days. (Daniel 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up (which means Antichrist and the false prophet are delivered into the hands of God’s angels), there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. (1290 days)

(28).  This number on the time-line splits the last-day line, and represents one of the last acts of the false prophet, who is directed by Antichrist, at the end of his 1260^th day.  I say this because God the Father revealed to us in Revelation 11:1-6 that the two witnesses would witness exactly 1260 days. (Revelation 11:3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”)  At the conclusion of that last day, we read in 11:7 that, when they finished their witness, the beast that ascended out of the abyss (the antichrist) made war against the two witnesses, overcame them, and killed them, something he tried to do, but was unable to accomplish, for 3½ years. (Revelation 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.)

(29).  This number on the time-line represents the Jews who fled to the wilderness, plus the 144,000 who were protected during this terrible time in history, and God’s remnant who are being protected in Jerusalem since the conclusion of Battle Two.  Let’s not forget these precious chosen ones from the Jewish race who God the Father so miraculously protected.  The Israelites who fled to the wilderness, perhaps at the Petra caves, were protected for exactly 1260 days, so the end of their protection time coincides with the death of the two witnesses, and the end of the time God gave Antichrist to reign on earth.  Apparently, Jesus himself, at the conclusion of the 1260 days, appears (omnipresence) at the area where all the Jews were hidden away, and leads all of them on a march back to the Jerusalem area over the next few days.  This is perhaps validated in Isaiah 63:1-3 where reference is made of Jesus coming out of Edom and Bozrah, in the Petra cave region, with his garments stained with blood as a result of Battle Two and the trumpet judgments. (Isaiah 63:1-3, 1 Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?—“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”  Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? 3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all my robes.”)  This is a similar description of Jesus’ robe when He goes into battle at Armageddon.  Let us also look at Hosea 6:1-2, where the reference could be that the Israelites will return to Jerusalem with the Lord at the conclusion of the seven years, and the two days and third day could be reference to the walk back to Jerusalem.  This reference is to the  “walk after the Lord,” as they were leaving the Petra area for Jerusalem, and this massive march will also be joined, in progress, with Jews from Egypt to the west and Assyria to the north. (Hosea 6:1-2, 1 Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. 2 After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. and further confirmation is given in Hosea 11:10-11, Hosea 11:10-11, 10 “They shall walk after the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, then His sons shall come trembling from the west; 11 they shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them dwell in their houses,” says the Lord.) Micah 2:12 tells us that the Lord will assemble and gather His remnant and lead them back to Jerusalem. (Micah 2:12 “I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make a loud noise because of so many people.”)  A further reference that deals with this moment is Zechariah 13:8-9. (Zechariah 13:8-9, 8 “And it shall come to pass in all the land,” says the Lord, “that two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is my people’; and each one will say, ‘The Lord is My God.’”)

            (30).  We read in Zechariah 14:2-5, that after these three to four days of marching, the feet of Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley.  Half the mountain shall move to the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:2-5, 2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. 5 Then you shall flee through my mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord My God will come and all the saints with You.)  And God tells us that these Jews that made this long hike, together with the remnant and the 144,000, shall flee through His valley, which shall reach to Azel, where He will safely keep them for some thirty more days until Jesus sets up His millennial Kingdom.  I believe this is the only place in scripture where Azel is mentioned.  It must be a haven for protection.  This is likely some three to five days after the 1260 days. 

            (31).  We also read that the breath of God entered the two witnesses at this same time, after being dead 3½ days, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.  And they heard a loud voice from Heaven saying to them, Come up here, and they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud while their enemies looked on. (Revelation 11:11-12, 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.)  Then it says in verse 13, “In the same hour there was a great earthquake,” the third earthquake mentioned in Revelation (the fourth earthquake mentioned in Revelation was shortly after this in verse 19), “and a tenth of the city (Jerusalem) fell,” and “7,000 people were killed.”   Perhaps, the opening of the large valley and the earthquake were one and the same event.

            (32-38).  To briefly conclude this time-line, the above is followed by the seven bowl judgments of God’s wrath, which are described in Revelation 16, and they are poured out in rapid succession, in the next 5 days or up to 25 days, on those still on earth.  In 16:16, all the armies on earth, perhaps several hundred million from the east alone, if there are that many men still alive, are gathered on the plains of Megiddo, where the battle of Armageddon will be fought, to do battle with our precious Jesus and His army of Angels (Read the details in section XVI, Battle Three). (Revelation 16:16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.)   The seventh bowl is poured out, and a loud voice came out of the temple of Heaven, and from the throne, saying, “IT IS DONE!” 

             (39).  As a part of the seventh bowl, the fifth earthquake mentioned in Revelation takes place, the greatest earthquake since men were on earth. (Revelation 16:18-21, 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.)  Now the great city, Jerusalem, was divided into three parts, and cities of the nations all over earth fell.  And in verse 20 it says every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.  Wow!  Things were changed in a hurry.  In Revelation 19 we read that Jesus came back to earth on His white horse with His army of angels and defeats the armies of earth with the Word from His mouth. (Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.)  The beast and false prophet were “set up,” or delivered, into the hands of Jesus’ angels who cast them live into the lake of fire forever. (Daniel 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.)  In Revelation 20, we read that an Angel laid hold of the dragon, Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit and chained and sealed him there. (Revelation 20:1-3, 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he would deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.)  Then in verses four through six, Jesus begins His one thousand year peaceful reign as rightful King and shepherd of the Jewish nation plus other God fearers and those who became Christians and died after the rapture. 

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