READ THE FIG LEAVES
Signs of the Times
INTRODUCTION
Prologue
Most of the research for this study has been devoted to events that I believe will actually happen on earth in the end-times, although symbolism and spiritual things that help explain them has also been explored. In Revelation it is often hard to separate the literal events from the spiritual or symbolic; for they are often married and inseparable. Most people want to know what is going to happen to them in the end-time; and they want to know what is going to happen next. That is the reason I have chosen to focus on the literal events from Revelation and other end-time prophecies; for no end-time study would be complete without some of the prophecy written in the book of Daniel. The “abomination of desolation” that Jesus confirms in Matthew chapter twenty-four as a future event; and the prophecy that is the basis for a belief in a “Revived Roman Empire” in the end-time are important to all end-time discussions.
I have tried to isolate those events that have scriptural reference in more than one place in the Bible, scripture witness, and to place them into seven time-frames—periods of time. Those time-frames include the following:
Events that are happening now
Events that are happening very soon
Events that happen in the first three and one-half years of Tribulation
Events that happen at the mid-point of Tribulation
Events that happen in the last three and one-half years of Tribulation
Events that happen just before the Millennium, in the Millennium, and at the end of the Millennium
Events that happen after the Millennium is over—stepping into Eternity
While it is difficult to identify and define many of these events, it is even harder to be sure they are in the proper time-frame. The most difficult of all is to place them in the correct sequential order within those time frames. In some instances, scripture helps define the sequence of these events; but many events happen near or at the same time. Some overlap other events. To assign them to their correct order is almost impossible, if not totally impossible. I have diligently searched scripture to both define these literal end-time events and to place them in their proper position. To accomplish this, I treaded only where there is support by two or three scripture witnesses.
I hope to present the physical, the literal, that will happen before, during and after the Tribulation in an intelligible way, even through it may be controversial. Since I am a futurist and a literalist, my focus has been through those two lenses. However, not everyone will agree with my views on these events and their timing. The plethora of views on the end-times has left many questions about them and their exact chronological order. So tensions remain.
This study recounts some events that have already happened and others that will take place in the near future. To have any understanding of future events requires we first have some understanding of the past, the backstory. Fulfillment of prophetic events that have already happened is a support for the hope we have in fulfillment of prophetic events for the future. Just as the events in the past happened on a date in time, so will all future events. With the creation of the earth, its rotation and its journey around the sun, earth time, began. With the creation of man and his fall, the march toward the end of times started.
God created Satan, an angel. He fell from heaven and took one-third of heaven’s angels with him. Evil on earth began with the fall of man. Necessary to end evil on earth and in the heavens was the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Israel is still looking for Him but He has already come, the first time. The salvation of mankind is in Christ alone; for He was the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He died and was buried; but He has arisen and is seated at the right hand of God. Our redemption is through Him. He is coming again to bring justice to the earth, to destroy evil forever. He is master over all of these prophetic events mentioned in the Bible. Our understanding of them is according to his permissive will. In our lifetime he has allowed us to see prophecy fulfilled.
A major prophesied event that helped to establish the beginnings of the End-Times was the restoration of Israel to their homeland. Many started returning to Palestine before, during, and after World War II. Those who were dispersed throughout the world started returning home in earnest after Israel became a nation in 1948. Almost from the beginning there were those who tried to destroy Israel. God worked miracles for them in the Six Day War of 1967 when their enemies tried to destroy them; and again in the You Kippur War of 1973; but, still, they remain in almost constant conflict with those who wish to totally destroy them. A war in Gaza and a drone and missile attack by Iran are recent events. [2023-2025] Israel will not have a lasting peace until the Antichrist is revealed and his evil kingdom is destroyed. Then there will be peace on earth.
There is a lot going on in our world today. We wrestle against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. This is a real war; but this cosmic war will move to earth and its atmosphere soon. Then evil will increase exponentially. There is a way we can be prepared for coming events. We must to be able to learn the lesson of the fig tree—‘read the fig leaves;’ that is, we need to know how to interpret the “signs of the end of time.” Although it is clear in scripture that no one knows the day and hour when Jesus will return, he does give us signs when he “…is at the very gates.”. MATTHEW 24:33 If we are aware of the signs of the end of time that Jesus spoke about, then we can know when His coming is near.
One thing that makes reading the signs of the end times difficult is “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” ECCLESIASTES 1:9 History seems to repeat itself. Man becomes complacent. Although the devices and designs of men may have changed God has not. So his judgments and wrath will still be the sword, the famine, and the pestilence. The “sword” may be man’s weapons of death controlled by God, but famine and pestilence will still be from God at his discretion. All of these have happened since the beginning of time; but they are now escalating in intensity. Starting with the Tribulation, they will become even more intense. When the seven years of Tribulation will start is also a great mystery; but there are signs of the start of the Tribulation period that we must not overlook.
Important to having some understanding of what is taught in the New Testament about the many end-time events, it is necessary to be aware of the rise of a key character, the Antichrist. There are many “antichrists” in the world today. Anyone who denies Jesus is the Christ, is an antichrist. In the end-time Satan will incarnate a man who will become the—capital A—Antichrist. John calls him a beast in Revelation. [The word—antichrist—is not mentioned in Revelation.] After the Church is caught away, and under the rule of the Antichrist, the world will be totally given to evil until Jesus’ second coming. At his appearance on the Mount of Olives, he will have an angel capture the Beast [the Antichrist] and the False prophet and throw them into the Lake of Fire. Satan will then be bound and tossed into the bottomless pit. Everything evil will be removed from the earth and the heavens. It is then that the kingdom of the world will be become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ!
Thoughts About Revelation
Revelation is the revealing of Jesus Christ. We know Him as Lord and Savior—and we know His grace—His steadfast love and mercy. Revelation is not only the unveiling of Him as ”… the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth,” REVELATION 1:5 but also as the righteous judge of the earth. Even though His judgments and wrath are poured out on the earth and those who are on the earth, He is still righteous. Doctor Jack Hester says, “Judgment is not the other side of Jesus Christ, it is His completeness.” We will all meet the righteous judge!
Revelation is both a record of historical events, letters to the seven churches, and prophecy of end time events. The literary order of John’s visions and his narrative do not necessarily reflect the chronological order of literal events nor do they necessarily reflect a sequential order of spiritual events. Many of the events described in Revelation are symbolic—many happen on a cosmic level as part of a war with, and against spirits; but much of the symbolism is meant to describe literal events. We know these events will happen as God has predetermined. To begin to understand how they will unfold and when they will unfold requires intense study and scripture witness. Even then many of these events remain a mystery.
From the fall of Satan to his final destruction the spiritual war has always been against evil. Most of the battles against evil are in the supernatural realm now; but in the end-time those battles will be in the physical realm and on earth; for God will pour out His judgments and His wrath against the forces of evil on the earth and in the first heaven—earth’s atmosphere. While the plagues, wars, pestilence and natural disasters are physical and will be on earth, God is a spirit and will remain in the spiritual realm; but He is omnipotent and omnipresent—His strength and presence will be on display. Angels will do his bidding. But a rider on a white horse, Jesus Christ, will come to end all evil on earth. Most agree Tribulation will be grievous and intense. The Great Tribulation, the last three and one-half years of Tribulation, will be even more intense. MATTHEW 24:21 Most people hope to miss the bad times of Tribulation.
Revelation does not mention a “rapture” or being caught away; but this is the number one end-time event that concerns most Christians. They want to know how much of Tribulation they will miss—all or some or none. The “rapture or caught away” will happen; but the church will go through some of the judgments of God that are meant to draw people closer to Him—draw them to repentance. The Church, Christians who are the Bride of Jesus Christ, will not go through the sounding of the seven trumpets nor the seven bowls of God’s great wrath—The Great Tribulation.
The Wrath of God is separation from God—a sentence. We will be caught away at or near mid-tribulation; for God’s wrath will be poured out without measure in The Great Tribulation. God is able to protect His children from any plague, and from His wrath—just as He protected the children of Israel from the plagues He used to afflict Egypt. But before He allows the Antichrist to have control of earth, He will remove the “restrainer,” the Spirit filled Church, from the earth. Then Evil will totally rule the world. God is still here; for he is infinite—omnipresent but instead of restraining evil he will be intent on severely punishing evil before he completely destroys it.
Precepts and Aspirations
…Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. DANIEL 2:20-22
This study is not an attempt to add any additional points of view to the many views on Revelation, or to the timeline of end-time events; nor is it an attempt at new interpretations of the symbolism; but rather it is an attempt to attain some understanding of these events—the literal events—what they are and when they will happen. I do not feel all of the views I hold are definitive; rather some are often fugitive. Further study rarely confirms a view beyond question. Sometimes it changes it. Tensions remain!
I have been reminded that trying to put an exact timeline on events in God’s control is a lot like trying to build the tower of Babel—an impossible task. God confused their languages at that event. Today, again, there seems to be a confusion of languages. They are so many differing interpretations of end-time events that the ‘languages’ of the end time have become very confusing. We failed to understand these events and each other because we have failed to understand that God’s ways are so far above our ways and so far above our intellect that we will only understand what it is His pleasure to reveal to us. We must first seek Him if we wish to know and understand truth. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth; but we must pray for wisdom from God to have an understanding of His Word and then we may be able to come to a sound knowledge of His plans for this world and for us. The things we do not understand, those of us who write should do as John was told to do, seal it up, and do not write it down. REVELATION 10:4
To seek understanding from books, blogs and commentaries, is to search in the wrong place and puts our trust in the wrong place. To seek hidden meanings in history, ancient documents, word construction, and word usage is also to search in the wrong places. Too often volumes are produced to give a constant meaning to a particular Biblical phrase or word. With such a plethora of views and so many volumes of others’ views, it is necessary to remain clothed with humility and to realize that most, if not all, views have some tension—scriptures that do not seem to fit a particular view.
We must carefully read scripture—read each word. Then read it again. Apostle Paul pointed out, in one of his epistles, GALATIANS 3:16 the differing meaning between the singular and plural of a word in scripture in the Old Testament. So it is important we note every word; but before we can have understanding, again, we must first ask God for wisdom. The best proof we have obtained some wisdom, is to have two or three scripture witnesses. Every word of God is truth; but having two or three witnesses is a precept God has chosen for proof of truth. It is a precept He instituted, acknowledges, and respects Himself.
I respect the great Christian scholars whose diligent work on understanding End-Time events has been, and is, tireless. Some have worked for years on their postulations; and much of their work is, no doubt, Spirit inspired. I know my views have not consumed the time and diligence as did some of their views. It can be both useful and interesting to read the works of others; but those views that are most useful are those with great scripture witnesses.
Again, I have a deep respect for those who have labored for years seeking truth. I probably will always have some reservations about my end-time views and will change them if I find another view or revelation is more likely—a view with greater scripture witness. I have always felt it is far more important to make sure my salvation is grounded in His Holy Word than to understand end-time events. And I, perhaps, will never be as grounded in my End-Time beliefs as I am in those of my salvation.
I want what I postulate to be formed from scripture—without any bias confirmation—no interference from former beliefs. I have prayed that my reasoning and methodology will be correct. I have sought to refrain from suppositions, opinions, transference, and from using scripture ‘out of context.’ I have tried to refrain from spiritualizing what is meant to be literal only. And I hope I have not made literal what is meant to be spiritual and symbolic only. Every scripture has great depth. Great sermons based on their spiritual meaning can be preached and great stories can be told from their literal meaning. I simply seek truth! Previously held beliefs that do not measure up to these guidelines have not been retained.
While most of the literal events written about in this study have much scripture witness, there are a few events and things that do not. There is sometimes ‘tension’ in scripture—some call it discordance—that would be impossible to write about without simply stating my beliefs. In those instances I have preference my statement with the identifier—I believe.
PART 1 ALREADY HAPPENED—The Backstory
Prologue
To properly address any prophecy subject it is necessary to first explore its backstory. The prophecy of John, the writer of Revelations, is not excepted. So, first, we must establish the existence of the main characters, and the roles they have played to this point in time. Then we can explore the end of times and its Tribulation.
We already know the two main participants—one is Creator and the other is a created being. No Christian doubts the existence of our Creator. He has no beginning nor ending—either is time or space. Our being is evidence of His creation and the heavens and the earth perpetually display His handiwork. So there is no need to look for further proof of His majesty and existence.
While God has no equal, and therefore no worthy opponent, He does have an adversary. He is a created angel who “fell” from heaven; and has contentiously opposed God since his fall and will continue to oppose Him until he is destroyed. [It must be noted angels ‘handle’ the contentions with the devil.] We already know this story will end with Satan’s destruction and with only the righteous left to celebrate in new heavens, a new earth and a new Jerusalem. In His wisdom He sent His Son to save the world; and He will at the end of time judge and destroy all evil.
The mystery, then, is not necessarily what will happen, but when. Revelation gives us many descriptions; but before we can see how end-time events unfold, we must start at the beginning, introduce the characters, and set the stage. So in this part one I will give a very brief backstory of things that have already happened. Many were prophesied to happen long before they happened. We will review some scripture witness that foretold those same things would happen. Again, these topics will be brief for they are subjects that most are familiar with and are not necessarily controversial subjects, at least for Christians.
TOPIC 1—IN THE BEGINNING
God Created Satan
In the beginning God created all things. GENESIS 1 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” COLOSSIANS 1:16 Before Satan caused man to fall and before war arose in heaven God created Satan. This is what God said about him:
…You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. EZEKIEL 28:12-15
After unrighteousness was found in Satan, he “fell” from the third heaven. Jesus “…saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” LUKE 10:18 It is believed that an innumerable number of angels fell with him. Near the mid-point of Tribulation the tail of the great red dragon sweeps down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them down to earth. REVELATION 12:3-4 Then in verse seven they are called angels. Apparently, these were his angels from his initial 'fall.'
Satan’s Falls from Heaven with His Angels
In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. EZEKIEL 28:16-17
Satan fell after angels were created, angels are not mention in the creation narrative of Genesis chapter one, and before the temptation of Eve and Adam. Some believe he “fell” before the foundation of the world and that he brought one-third of the angels with him then. Regardless, we know that the devil showed up in the Garden of Eden. Demons and fallen angels, are mention numerous times in the Bible. And a third of the angels will be cast down to the earth from the second heaven in the end-times. It was, and is, an innumerable number; for there is still an innumerable number of angels left in heaven.
There are some scriptures that help us to see the futility of trying to number the angels of God. Encircling the throne are “many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.” REVELATION 5:11 Every child has an angel. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” MATTHEW 18:10 In Hebrews it mentions “…innumerable angels in festal gathering.” HEBREWS 12:22 Jesus said if he appealed to his Father that he would at once send him more than twelve legions of angels. MATTHEW 26:53 There is an innumerable number of angels. So the one-third of the angels who belong to Satan is also an innumerable number.
Satan and his angels lost access to the throne of God after the “fall.” They are now relegated to the second heaven where they are the accusers of the brethren. This is where the spiritual war is being fought; “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” EPHESIANS 6:12
In the end-time the devil is again expelled from heaven—the second heaven. This time he will not ‘fall.’ He will be forcefully thrown down from heaven to the earth by the arch angel Michael. REVELATION 12:7-9 One-third of the angels will be swept down with him. They will soon meet their fateful end. Isaiah describes what Satan faces when he is thrown down from heaven and how he will be seen by those who meet him:
Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations. All of them will answer and say to you: ‘You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!’ Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers. How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’ All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb; but you are cast out, away from your grave, like a loathed branch, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled underfoot. You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people. May the offspring of evildoers nevermore be named! ISAIAH 14:9-20
When Satan is cast down from heaven by the Arch Angel Michael, Sheol will be stirred up to meet him; but he will not be greeted as a hero by those in Sheol; for an ending that is far from being victorious awaits him. After his final end, the devil, the evildoers and their offspring will nevermore be named again.
The Fall of Man
Genesis gives this description of the fall of Adam:
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. GENESIS 3:6
And to Adam he said, “‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’” GENESIS 3:17-19
Eve was deceived by the serpent. Then “…she gave me [Adam] fruit of the tree, and I [he] ate.” GENESIS 3:12 Because of disobedience of God’s command not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the midst of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sinned.
So “…sin came into the world through one man…” ROMANS 5:12 Now “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” ROMANS 3:23 But we have redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
TOPIC 2—THE MESSIAH COMES
The First Coming—The Messiah
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” ISAIAH 7:14 I believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. LUKE 1:34-35 And that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. LUKE 2:11 He is the Word that became flesh and dwelt on this earth. JOHN 1:14 God loved us and gave his Son so that whoever believes in him should have eternal life. JOHN 3:16 He is the way—the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. If we know him, we know the Father also. JOHN 14:6-7
All of the prophecies for a messiah were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The problem most Jews had accepting Him as the messiah was that they did not confirm His identity through Scripture; but rather they had their own ideas about the characteristics that would be a part of ‘their’ messiah; but God gave the Jews what they needed—a Savior—not what they wanted—a militant military King. When they did not get what they wanted, they rejected and crucified the Son of God. JOHN 19:16-18 The Jews were looking for a deliverer to expel those who occupied their country and oppressed them; but God sent the Savior of the world to redeem them, and us, from sin and its debt. Some Jews believed the gospel and received the Holy Spirit. Then He poured out His Spirit on the Gentiles ACTS 10:45 so that all who believed “in Him” would be saved.
Peter rebuked the Jewish people for rejecting the Messiah and then proclaimed He was the only way to salvation:
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ACTS 3:13-15
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” ACTS 4:11-12
The Sacrificial Lamb of God—Redemption is Purchased
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, EPHESIANS 1:7
Man cannot cease to sin of his own volition and resolution. Rules and laws do not help. The many need a redemptive Savior. It has always been God’s plan to redeem fallen—sinful man. The coming of the Messiah, the Lamb of God, was to take “…away the sin of the world…” JOHN 1:29 Man may view sin as a sickness, differing in each individual. God sees sin, as a transgression of His law—a pestilence completely affecting all mankind. Sin that he will, in the end time, purge from the earth. He will then destroy all evil in the lake of fire.
Abraham was willing to offer Isaac up to God; but he did not kill him. Instead, Abraham prophesied that God would provide for himself a lamb. GENESIS 22:8 Then, almost eighteen centuries later, John the Baptist identified the Lamb of God. He proclaimed Jesus as that Lamb: “…Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” JOHN 1:29 Through His blood we have redemption for our sins. HEBREWS 9:12 He died to pay a debt for our sins that we could not pay. He redeemed us. We have been justified by His blood; ROMANS 5:9 and we are sanctified through His blood. HEBREWS 13:12
Death and Resurrection
Jesus Christ died MATTHEW 27:50 and was buried MATTHEW 27:58-60 and then was resurrected on the third day. He lives! MATTHEW 28:6 [KJV] John saw the Lamb in heaven. REVELATION 5:6 In Jesus Christ we have redemption through His blood. Salvation is in Christ alone. It was necessary that he die to redeem those who believe in Him. He will return to ‘catch away’ those who are “in Christ” and those who eagerly await Him; HEBREWS 9:28 but for those who have rejected Him, He will return to judge and punished all unbelievers.
He Has All the Keys and Authority He Needs
And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. ISAIAH 22:22
Jesus has all the keys he needs—all authority. He can open all doors. He opens and no man shuts. He shuts and no man opens. John could only visit the throne room of heaven through an open door. REVELATION 4:1-2 In Revelation Jesus tells us He also has the keys to Death and Hades REVELATION 1:18 and the key of David. REVELATION 3:7 He now has authority over death and the grave. And the Davidic Kingdom is now in His control.
We know death claims the body and that our spirit returns to God who gave it. ECCLESIASTES 12:7 Some have theorized that Hades is the temporary abode of the soul—others have decided that Sheol, Hades, and Hell, are synonymous. The Old Testament says, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” PSALM 16:10 A New Testament quote of the same scripture says, “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.” ACTS 2:27 Comparing these two verses Sheol and Hades seem to be the same; but are the keys of Death and Hades keys to places or authority over beings?
Death and Hades as beings: “And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.” REVELATION 6:8 And, “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.” REVELATION 20:14 It appears from these two scriptures that Death and Hades may be beings.
Death and Hades as places: “And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.” REVELATION 20:13 This implies that since the sea is a place that gives up its dead, then Death and Hades are places that also gave up their dead. We normally think of death as neither a place nor a being; but rather we think of it as the ending of life on this earth and as a transition from this life to our final destination.
Regardless of what our conclusions may be, Jesus Christ has defeated Death and Hades and now has authority over them; and He now holds the keys to Death and Hades. He defeated death when he rose on the third day after being crucified. He has authority over places and beings!
Further, He holds the Key to the house of David. “For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.” JEREMIAH 33:17 Having the key to the house of David, he now has the authority to sit on the throne of David for the millennium where he will rule the nations with a rod of iron. He will rule for all eternity in the New Jerusalem
Seated at the Right Hand of the Power of God
Jesus told the Pharisees in Matthew’s and Luke’s writings they would see Him seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. MATTHEW 26:64 Although he was seen by Stephen standing at the right hand of God, ACTS 7:56 all will physically see Him when He returns with the clouds. REVELATION 1:7
The right hand of the power of God is the place of the highest honor and authority possible. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” HEBREWS 1:3 He sits there as a priest forever PSALM 110:4 & HEBREWS 5:6 for the propitiation of our sins. I JOHN 2:2
He sits there until his enemies are his footstool. PSALM 110:1 And to shatter kings on the day of His wrath and execute judgment among the nations PSALM 110:5-6 The battles, then and now, are in heavenly places against the spiritual forces of evil. EPHESIANS 6:12 But He will return, to the physical realm, for the final battle on earth against the forces of evil. He will destroy them. REVELATION 19:11, 21 Then his enemies and the earth will be his footstool.
TOPIC 3—HISTORICAL EMPIRES and a FUTURE EMPIRE
Seven Empires—6 Historical Empires and a Future Empire
Revelation, chapter seventeen—verse ten says, “they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.” REVELATION 17:10 First, note the total of kings or kingdoms in this verse is seven—the number of completion. After this seventh kingdom there will not be any more worldly kingdoms of this world. Before the time of John of Patmos, there had been five past empires that had impact on the Jewish people: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece. These are the five fallen kings in verse ten.
The “one is” is, of course, the empire of John’s day—the Roman Empire. Daniel writings cause many to believe the Roman Empire is his fourth beast. DANIEL 7:7-8 In chapter two Daniel writes about a “divided kingdom.” DANIEL 2:41 The “other [that] has not yet come” is this final “divided kingdom” that has not yet come. It is ofter referred to as the Revived Roman Empire—the seventh empire. This empire will be taken over by the Antichrist at or near the mid-point of Tribulation.
Daniel saw four kingdoms. And he saw an additional end-time kingdom, that he referred to as a “divided kingdom,” for a total of five kingdoms. There are seven kingdoms mentioned in Revelation. Before Daniel’s time there had already been two kingdoms that oppressed the Israelites, Egypt and the Assyrians. The addition of these two kingdoms brings scripture in Daniel and scripture in Revelation into agreement—there are seven empires.
The seventh empire includes both the rules of the ten ‘horn’ kings and the rule of the Antichrist. The Antichrist is an eighth [empire] but the kingdom of the beast belongs to the seven. REVELATION 17:11 Note, John did not say the “seventh;” but rather the seven. The devil has controlled all six of those past empires and will control this last empire as well. These are those “…all kingdoms of the world…” LUKE 4:5 that the devil showed Jesus to tempt Him. Again, the totally demonic empire of the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation will be a part of the seven empires of the world—the last empire. He takes over the seventh; but it is only considered an eighth in that it is the devil’s last stand—totally his kingdom.
It is not totally clear from scripture how these ten horn kings will rise to power in the first stages of this last empire—The Revived Roman Empire. Although some scholars seem to believe kings translate to nations, that may not necessarily be so. It could be a ten nation confederation in the early beginnings. Later these ‘kings’ will become subservient kings’ REVELATION 17:13 much like King Herod in the Bible. We find he was a king within the Roman Empire. He was not a sovereign king over a sovereign nation—rather he was subservient to the Roman Caesar and ruled within the power and authority he was allowed.
We need to have some understanding of the ten horns on Daniel’s fourth beast, DANIEL 7:7 the great red dragon, the first beast rising out of the sea, and the scarlet beast. REVELATION 12:3 & 13:1 & 17:3 All have ten horns. They represent the ten kings who will be a part of the last empire—before the Antichrist has any major impact. Daniel’s fourth beast and the first beast in Revelation both arise out of the sea—masses of people. So we can see these last ten ‘horn’ kings will come from the masses of people—nations. People are also represented by the clay in Daniel’s “divided kingdom;” DANIEL 2:41 but these people, represented by the clay, are those people of the apostate church. So these ten ‘horn’ kings will political leaders—not religious leaders.
Throughout this study we will look at the elements and the catalysts that will produce this last empire. I may refer to it as a one-world government or a global government; but at least at the start of this empire there will be ten kings or ten leaders. So it may be referred to as the ten ‘horn’ kings or kingdoms. The Antichrist will first usurp the authority of three of those ‘horn’ kings and later all will hand over their authority to him. Regardless of the phraseology used, those kingdoms will eventually become the totally demonic empire of the Antichrist who will be destroyed after the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Europe and the Old Roman Empire
In 1946 Winston Churchill is quoted as saying the answer to Europe’s peace and prosperity was a “United States of Europe.” [1] A foundation for a European Union was laid in 1948. A lot of people, ten kings equal ten nations proponents, got excited about the end-time and the coming of Jesus Christ when they saw the European Union come into existence. In 1957 a treaty was signed on Capitoline Hill, one of the seven famous hills of Rome. [These seven hills of Rome could be the seven heads or mountains that the great prostitute is seated on. REVELATION 17:9] The agreement was called the Treaty of Rome. Italy, France, and Germany joined the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium in the European Economic Community. Then in 1973 England, Ireland, and Denmark joined the European Economic Community. When Greece joined the European Economic Community, this made it a ten-nation confederation. A lot of people really got excited when the number of member nations became ten. Some still believe the European Union is going to be the Revived Roman Empire although it is now a twenty-seven nation union. Those who followed the formation of the European Union thought this was the beginning of the end, it was not! [2]
Those countries in Europe that will be involved in end-time events are already accustomed to wars and changes. Recently, I started viewing a television series, “The World From Above,” that presents an aerial view of many of the European countries. Not only is their beauty presented, the scars from the many wars and conflicts are pointed out as well. Some of the many battle scars areas much as two thousand years old. These include many sites of ruins of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire in Jesus’ day covered most European countries and territories in addition to costal northern Africa, the Balkans, Asia Minor, and some parts of Mesopotamia and the Middle East.
Although the Roman Empire was divided in the fourth century AD into Eastern and Western empires, some Bible scholars believe the “divided kingdom” of Daniel will be an end-time revival of this old Roman Empire. This empire will be primarily composed of the ten ‘horn’ kings or kingdoms from Daniel’s prophecy and those prophecies of John in Revelation; but the whole world will be affected and all nations will probably be subjective, to some degree, to those end-time kingdoms.
While being careful to avoid overlooking any signs of the end of time, we should especially consider signs in all of those countries in Europe and other places that will be at or near the center of end-time events. A look at those countries will show that, like the United States, they too are marching toward a one-world government and the last kingdom. A closer look may reveal the early beginnings of the revived Roman Empire. And the emergence of the Antichrist.
All of the prophecies of end-time kingdoms say ten horns or ten kings—not nations. Kings seem to imply a nation or kingdom for most people. Kings do have kingdoms—areas of control or influence; but they may not be nations. The ten ‘horn’ kings or kingdoms could be a division of the world into ten districts with a ruler or king over each. While it is not yet clear how the ten kings or kingdoms of the end-times come to power, the “divided kingdom” of Daniel will be a revived Roman Empire. [We should be watching the signs of the time for the formation of this empire—read the fig leaves!] It becomes the kingdom of the Antichrist when he assumes full control. It may be more like the Holy Roman Empire than the old Roman Empire, at least at the beginning. Regardless, the last one-half of this Revived Roman Empire will be the last kingdom on earth to be ruled by man. After Armageddon and after the seventh trumpet sounds the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ REVELATION 11:15 and He will rule the nations with a rod of iron for a thousand years.
There have been some one-thousand year empires. Historians say the original Roman Empire lasted for more than a thousand years; but they cannot totally agree on an exact start or finish of this empire. The Holy Roman Empire lasted for ten centuries. Hitler, in my lifetime, started a regime he said would last a thousand years. It did not. Those kingdoms that did last a thousand years, or more, never ruled the entire world and they had many different rulers. Nation by nation was conquered by those rulers to build those empires; but the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ will be the only kingdom ever to rule all nations from start to finish, with a rod of iron, for one thousand years! It will also have only one ruler—no other empire could ever make that claim.
Holy Roman Empire
There has already been a revival of the Roman Empire known as the Holy Roman Empire which lasted for ten centuries. [1,000 years] Its first emperor, Charlemagne, was crowned by Pope Leo III. This empire had great Roman Catholic Church control. It was a feudal monarchy with subservient kings. It encompassed much of Europe and the Slovak Republics. [The kingdoms of the ten ‘horn’ kings will contain most, if not all, of these same countries.] The emperor’s role was to enforce doctrine, root out heresy, and uphold ecclesiastical unity—all the things the Catholic Church needed. The Church [Catholic] and the emperor were closely connected and, again, there was major control by the Catholic Church. I do not believe this Holy Roman Empire is the one Daniel speaks about as a “divided kingdom,” although it could closely resemble it.
For almost three hundred years during the Holy Roman Empire, the Crusades, religious wars sometimes directed by the Catholic Church, were fought to protect the Holy lands and to curtail the expansion of Islam. In some cases they fought to take back lands the Islamists had taken in previous wars. It was a fight, to some extent, of the Catholic Church against Muslims; but since the Second Vatican Council [1962-1965] the Catholic Church has sought to repair the breech between themselves and Muslims, in fact between themselves and all religions. So it is possible it will only be a matter of time before there may be some kind of consensus on a one world church. [This excludes, of course, the one true Church—the Bride of Christ—and the Jews in Israel.]
A study of the Holy Roman Empire [962-1806] and its wars and the Vatican Councils in recent years is frightening. The actions by the Catholic Church and by the those who want peace at any cost will only increase as things continually get worse. The desire to be agreeable about religion and to be at peace at any price will be one of the catalysts for the formation of this last empire—the “Revived Roman Empire—the divided kingdom” of the book of Daniel; but still undetermined is the exact process that must happen to get us to the formation of this last empire. [3]
We can look at some recent and current events and see some direction for ourselves. There are three that come to mind, (1) The United Nations—could be a forerunner of a one world government. (2) The move toward a global economy, banking and currency, that is happening now would be necessary for a one world government. (3) There is a move toward one church—the Vatican Councils—the governments of the world push for religious tolerance—and their removal of God from everything, will make way for a one world church and a global government that is Christ-less. We need to ‘read the fig leaves!’
TOPIC 4—RECENT HISTORY—PROPHECY FULFILLED
Restoration of Israel as a Nation
Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children. ISAIAH 66:7-8
Just as scripture had foretold—After the German holocaust and the Second World War, Jewish people from all over the world started returning to their native homeland, Israel, and were able to re-establish it as their home state. The state of Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948. David Ben-Gurion, head of the World Zionist Organization, made the declaration of the establishment of the Jewish State. Then on May 11, 1949 a majority of UN members voted to recognize the de facto existing state of Israel. Israel was then a nation. It is the only nation ever ‘birthed’ in a day! [1] [2]
Return of Israelites to Israel
then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. DEUTERONOMY 30:3-5
Although there are still many Jews who have not yet returned, Jews continue to immigrate to Israel. According to The Jerusalem Post published September 25, 2022, in the Hebrew calendar year of 5782 sixty-thousand Jewish immigrants arrived in Israel from several countries around the world. The highest number, twenty-six thousand came from Russia. Returning Jews may receive citizenship under the “Law of Return.” Today there are a little more than seven millions Jews in Israel. Their population is expected to more than double by the year 2065.
With a global Jewish population of over fifteen million, this number is still about one million less than their population was before the holocaust.
They Will Never Be Dispersed Again
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God. AMOS 9:14-15
The Psalm 83 War—The Six Day War of 1967
For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant. PSALM 83:2-5
In any Middle Eastern war, and rumors of war, it is extremely hard to untangle all of the causes and effects. Facts are elusive and issues are deliberately clouded. Root causes predate modern times. There is no end to accusations and blame. The Arab world would like the rest of the world to believe Israel was the aggressor in the Six Day War of 1967; but the facts are that acts of aggression by Egypt, in particular, were the provocation for Israel’s preemptive attack on Egypt and the start of six days of war.
Egypt’s acts of aggression include: (1) the blockade of the Strait of Tiran, which prevented access to Israel’s southern port of Eilat and the failure of the international community to break the blockade. (2) The expulsion of UN peacekeepers from the Sinai Peninsula—and the amassing of Egyptian forces on the Sinai Peninsula after the UN was expelled. (3) Moving those forces toward Israel’s border was the final agitation. Further, for years Egypt had illegally blocked Israeli use of the Suez Canal and Jordan had illegally occupied the West Bank.
When it seemed war with Egypt would be inevitable, Israel notified Jordan through UN diplomatic channels that it should stay out of the war. It stated simply: “We shall not attack any country unless it opens war on us;” but in response to the Israeli attack on the Egyptian Air Force, Jordanian forces launched an offensive into Israel. They were soon driven back as the Israeli forces counterattacked into the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. Had Jordan heeded Israel's message of peace and remained neutral in the conflict, then Eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank may have remained in Jordan's possession.
In the Six Day War of 1967 Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula. Israel has been allowed to keep some of these territories. The Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt in 1982 as a result of the Israel—Egypt peace treaty; but disputes continue over all captured territories not voluntarily returned since the war or returned through negotiation.
When the Jewish people re-captured the city of Jerusalem in the Six Day War in 1967, they had initially taken control of the Temple Mount, but they gave control back to the Muslims for political reasons. [Still not sure why they did this.] The Muslim Mosque on the site called the Dome of the Rock is still under Muslim control today.
Arabs would like the world to believe that in 1967, Israel simply woke-up one morning and invaded them. Few if any deny Jordan attacked Israel first; but Israel’s neighbors “consider” themselves as one against Israel. Seeking solutions or assigning responsibilities becomes more difficult because they collude to cloud the issues. Israel’s enemies and critics continue to ignore the facts, as they are still blaming Israel for ‘starting’ the 1967 war. Israel did attack Egypt first, but only after the belligerent actions of Egypt made war unavoidable.
Although a charge of aggression was vehemently made against Israel in relation to the Six-Day War, the fact remains that the two attempts made in the General Assembly [of the U.N.] in June-July 1967 failed to condemn Israel as the aggressor. A clear and distinctive majority of the members of the U.N. voted against the proposition that Israel was an aggressor despite the most intense efforts by the Arab States and their supporters, led by the Premier of the Soviet Union.
Those who believe the Israelis are God’s chosen people have no trouble seeing the hand of God’s favor toward Israel in this war. Greatly outnumbered in men and machines, Israel’s sweeping victory against seemingly insurmountable opposition was nothing less than a victory by the hand of God. In an impressive predawn strike, Israel destroyed the Arab Air Force. More than 400 aircraft were lost by Egypt. Without air support the Arabs had no chance of winning. With clear skies over the desert, Israeli aircraft soon neutered the ground force threat. Arab losses have been estimated at just under twenty-thousand men while Israel lost less than one thousand. Israel not only defended its borders, it acquired new territory.
Many small and great miracles that happened during this short war have been cited. The following are but a few of the major assists from God: Jordan was unable to warn Egypt of the air attack on them because of a code change. The destruction of Egypt’s air cover left Egypt’s ground troops exposed and surprised. There was much confusion and dismay among Egypt’s troops on the second day—Egypt destroyed its own equipment and fled in many cases.
More than once in the Old Testament in wars against Israel, they never fought because God had their enemy turn on themselves and flee. In Gideon’s battle in the Old Testament “…the Lord set every man's sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled…” JUDGES 7:22 Egypt’s destruction of their own Russian made equipment and their hasty retreat appears to be a modern day battle of Gideon. [3]
Egypt was “…like chaff before the wind.” And they were terrified with Israel’s “hurricane.” Israel filled their enemies’ faces with shame. PSALM 83:13-16 The rest of the Psalm 83 prayer may yet be fulfilled. “…that they may seek your name, O Lord. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” PSALM 83:16-18 They shall never again be uprooted; and victory is assured for them. “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.” ZECHARIAH 12:6
To explore all sides of the 1967 Six Day War and to classify each input as fact or fiction and then reach a viable analysis of the data would demand volumes of data and probably eventually be deemed impossible. Verses two and three say Israel’s enemies make an uproar and lay crafty plans against them and consult with one another. PSALM 83:2-3 It is obvious from the way the events took place that Egypt, Jordan and Syria had consulted with one another and had laid what they considered were “crafty” plans. Verse four says “…come, let us wipe them out as a nation…” PSALM 83:4 For more than ten years before the Six Day War Egypt’s President Nassar had said in every diplomatic way possible that Israel had to be “wiped” out as a nation. This is a very short argument; but, yes, this may well be the Psalm 83 war. But the Yom Kippur war of 1973 also had some of the elements of the Psalm 83 war.
The 1973 Yom Kippur War
Israel was again at war in 1973. The war lasted from October 6th to October 25th of 1973. Again, Israel enemies were a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. It is obvious they did not learn from their 1967 experience. The majority of the fighting between the two sides took place on the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. Israel was still greatly outnumbered by Egypt and Syria and their coalition; but Israel won this war too.
The attack was launched on Israel on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. The fighting started when Egypt and Syria crossed cease fire lines of the 1967 war. Israel’s enemies experienced humiliation in the lopsided rout of their forces again; for God gave Israel another resounding victory. An overview of men and equipment lost by both sides shows the totality of Israel’s victory. However, it is unlikely Israel’s enemies have learned a useful lesson yet. They will, in the end-time, try to destroy Israel with another partner, Russia. Russia has been an outspoken enemy of Israel for a long time. They have supported the Arabs in their wars against Israel with equipment and other helps; but they will soon become a visible and viable participant in these wars. They will be involved in the two Gog and Magog wars. In both of those wars, Israel’s enemies will once again be soundly defeated. [4]
Written by Mallard E. Guy Jr.
Over a Period of Two + Years
Finished October 28, 2023
Last Edited August 2025