One of the most stunning events concerning the days in which we live, is the sudden and unexpected siege of Ukraine by the Russian military. Most of the world believed that President Putin was bluffing when he threatened to invade the nation of Ukraine. Fewer still realize the true implications of Russia’s move into Ukraine. Nearly 2,700 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel predicted a siege by Russia in the last days, just prior to the beginning of the Tribulation.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine, marking a major escalation in the conflict that began between these two nations in 2014. 

Defined by military experts as the largest conventional military siege in Europe since World War 2, this invasion of a peaceful people, has brought the consternation of most nations in the world.

As of March 2, 2022, Brazil, Belarus, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Syria, and Venezuela, support Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. In a vote before the United Nations General Assembly, 141 nations condemned Russian, 35 countries abstaining, five nations voted against the measure: Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea.

Most of the world did not realize that this massive invasion of Russian military forces, was the beginning of a key prophecy described by the Bible concerning the the Last Days. 

As a precursor to Armageddon, at the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period, an alliance of Russia and China will come down from the north to destroy Israel, and take her resources. The prophet Ezekiel predicted this event in chapters 38 and 39 of his book.

The Battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39:

This battle takes place either just before or just after the Rapture and the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation. This will happen when Israel is dwelling in safety due to a new seven-year peace plan orchestrated by the antichrist at the beginning of the Tribulation:  

“After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.”[1]

The Battle of Gog and Magog: Occurs at the end of the one thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth, as satan is released from prison and he goes out to deceive the nations.

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.[2] 

There are three final battles that are delineated in the texts of prophecies which concern the final days of the present age:

1. The Battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39, occurs either just before or just after the Rapture, when a seven-year peace plan is signed by Israel and the surrounding nations.
2. The Battle of Armageddon, takes place seven years later, just after Jesus returns to earth.
3. The Battle of Gog and Magog, happens after the one thousand-year reign of Jesus.

There has been some confusion over the battle of Armageddon and the battle described in Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39. 

Armageddon and the Battle of Ezekiel 38 are different:

• In Ezekiel 38: Russia invades from the north.
• At Armageddon: the nations come from every direction.⁠[3]
• In Ezekiel 38: Russia invades to take Israel’s wealth.
• At Armageddon: The invasion is to destroy Jesus and His saints.⁠[4]
• In Ezekiel 38: Gog leads the Russian invasion.
• At Armageddon: The antichrist leads the Battle.⁠[5]

Jesus will fulfill this Old Testament Prophecy by His return to the earth, with His church, at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period. He is coming the second time as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Abraham Accords

On August 13, 2020, the nation of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, signed an agreement to normalize relations with each other. This was supplemented by the Bahrain (the Bahrain–Israel normalization agreement).

This agreement, or treaty, was signed by Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emirati foreign minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Bahraini foreign minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, and United States President, Donald Trump, on September 15, 2020. Jared Kushner and  Avi Berkowitz were the primary negotiators for this agreement. 

The agreement between Israel and Bahrain was designated, “The Abraham Accords,” a Declaration of Peace, Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations, announced by the United States on September 11, 2020.

There is an implied significance to the name, “Abraham Accords,” linking this agreement or treaty, to Abraham, the father of both the Jewish and Islamic faiths. 

The Abraham Accord And The Seven Year Peace Treaty Of Daniel Chapter 9

Witnessing the sudden attack of Russia on the Ukraine, with the Abraham Agreement celebrating its two year anniversary on August 13, 2022, we might speculate as to the significance of this treaty with the treaty described by Daniel’s prophecies found in chapter 9 of his book. Understanding that Jared Kushner and  Avi Berkowitz, were the primary negotiators that allowed this treaty to be signed, does this implicate either or both of these men with the persons identified as the “beast and the false prophet,” of Daniel Chapter 7?

See Rob’s Book: “The Rapture: Jesus Coming For His Church”

For many years Christians have debated the timing of the Rapture when Jesus would remove His church from the earth before the time of wrath—described in Daniel’s prophecies, and John’s book of Revelation description of these events. 

The actual wrath (Revelation 6:17) does not begin until three and one half years after the signing of the treaty of peace specified by Daniel 9:27: “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week…” The “week,” is a specific period of 70 X 7 = 490 years.

“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.” ~Daniel 9:25

The principle of a prophetic week is first illustrated in the Book of Genesis Chapter 29. As Jacob desires Rachel’s hand in marriage, he does not have the dowry required to pay Rachel’s father, Laban. The purpose of a dowry was alimony in advance. If a man should desire to marry a young woman and later divorce her without any financial support, her dowry—kept in the stewardship of her father—would serve as her support. Therefore, Laban brokered a deal with Jacob in which he would work for him as a servant for seven years to pay for Rachel’s dowry. 

After seven years, when Rachel should have come to Jacob on their wedding night, Laban instead conveys his oldest daughter, Leah, into the darkness of the bridal tent. As the marriage is consummated, the next morning Jacob realized that he has been with Leah—not Rachel. When he confronts Laban, Jacob learns that in their tradition the oldest daughter must marry first before the younger. Laban tells Jacob to “fulfill the week” of Rachel and he can have her also as his wife. At the end of verse 27, Laban defines how long this week will be, by saying, “Serve with me still another seven years.”

Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years. ~Genesis 29:27

From this definition in Genesis 29, we understand that Daniel is describing seventy weeks as seventy seven-year periods or 490 years (70 X 7 = 490). 

In Daniel 9:25, the Lord is giving Israel the precise day the Messiah will arrive. This prophecy is a companion to Zechariah 9:9, as both speak of the first arrival of the Messiah, when He announces the fulfillment of Daniel and Zechariah’s prophecies at Jerusalem.

First, a command will be given, then seven weeks and sixty two weeks (69 weeks of years, or 483 years) will pass “until the Messiah, the Prince” will come.

• In the first seven weeks (49 years), the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
• Second, at the conclusion of the sixty-two weeks (434 years), the Messiah will arrive.

The trigger to begin the countdown of this prophecy is the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. 

Let’s do the math:

• The prophecy is for 69 times seven (69×7) years, or a total of 483 years.
• Encyclopedia Britannica records that Artaxerxes Longimanus issued this decree to release the captives of Israel in Babylon on March 14, 445 B.C.⁠ ~Encyclopedia Britannica, 1990 Edition
• The Babylonian calendar was based upon a 360-day per year cycle.
• 360 days per year multiplied by 483 years equals 173,880 days
• Taking into account the calendar year change over from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. because there is no “0” year
• Adding 116 days for leap years
• 173,880 days added to March 14, 445 B.C.
• We come to the date of April 6th, the year 32 A.D.

Was there any event of particular importance that occurred on April 6, 32 A.D.? Luke records that on this day, Jesus instructed His disciples to go over to Bethphage and bring Him the foal of a donkey…

And it came to pass, when Jesus came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose him and bring him here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ” So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. ~Luke 19:29-42

This is the same donkey that Zechariah 9:9 is speaking of. 

“…your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey…”

Consider that Jesus specifically instructs the disciples to bring the foal—not an older, more mature donkey. A foal is an unbroken young animal that has never had a man upon his back. Under normal circumstance, this young donkey would throw off the first person who attempted to sit upon his back. Incredibly, Jesus rides this foal into Jerusalem on this day, and allows the assembled crowd to hail Him as The Son of David—a clear title for the Messiah.

“And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!”~Matthew 21:8-9

It is interesting that up to this point, Jesus had refused all requests by His disciples that He would announce to the world He was the promised Messiah. Jesus had repeatedly told them, “My time has not yet come.”

“His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him. Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.” ~John 7:3-6

Jesus was waiting for this one specific day, when Daniel and Zechariah predicted that the Messiah would come to Jerusalem. 

There was no mistake in what the people were proclaiming about Jesus. The crowd was shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” The Pharisees understood what the people meant by these words: They believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and He was receiving their praise in acceptance of this truth.

“And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” ~Luke 19:39-42

Jesus told the Pharisees, “If you had known this your day…”

“This day” was one unique day in the history of the universe, when the Son of God would come to Jerusalem and be hailed as the Messiah. The Book of Psalms has a specific text that David wrote for this precise day.

“This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!” ~Psalms 118:24-26 

This verse of prophetic scripture was written for one particular day in all of time and eternity. It was written for the moment, when the Messiah would come to Jerusalem and be recognized as the Messiah who would fulfill all of the Old Testament prophecies. Psalm 118 contains the language—“Save now” and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD”—because this is what those present, when the Messiah arrived, would proclaim with their shouts of praise. The people who had gathered to greet Jesus as the Messiah were well aware of Psalm 118, and this is why they were reciting these specific words as Jesus made His entrance into the city.

On April 6, 32 A.D., Jesus rides upon the foal of a donkey into Jerusalem and is proclaimed the Son of David, the Messiah; thus fulfilling the prophecies of Daniel Chapter 9 and Zechariah Chapter 9.

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. ~Zechariah 9:9 

Zechariah wrote this prophecy of the Messiah’s arrival at Jerusalem about 516 years before Jesus came into Jerusalem, on this specific Palm Sunday. Daniel’s prophecy of the precise day the Messiah would come to Jerusalem was written almost 549 years before Jesus arrived.

When a king made his entrance into a city and his purpose was to conquer, he always rode on the back of a great white stallion (Revelation 19:11). When a king was arriving in “peace,” he would ride on the back of a humble donkey. Jesus was appearing in Jerusalem, in fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. He was coming to proclaim the time when men can make peace with God by experiencing the forgiveness of their sins.

The Bible has revealed the precise day the Messiah would arrive on the earth the first time as Savior and Lord. This is, however, not the end of this story. After His arrival, the elders of Israel would reject Him as the Messiah and crucify Him, just as the scriptures foretold.

Third Temple Rebuilt At Jerusalem

Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2, that after the Third Temple is rebuilt on the site of the first and second Temples at Jerusalem, the antichrist will enter the Temple and “sit as God in the temple,” claiming to be God.

“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, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”[6]

This act will trigger the beginning of the Great Tribulation, and the time of wrath described by John in the book of Revelation, chapters 6-18. 

Jesus described this final three and one-half years, as a time that has never happened during the entire history of the world:

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” ~Matthew 24:21-22

Jesus states three facts concerning these events:

1. The Great Tribulation has never happened before, it did not happen in past history, it will only take place in the final days, just before Jesus returns for His church.
2. This period of history will be so horrendous, that unless the Lord shortened it to just 1,260 days, “no flesh would survive.”
3. For the sake of the Jews, for which this seven years was first ordained (Daniel 9:24), the limit of this wrath, is just 1,260 days.

We wonder if the Abraham accord, has some relevance to the peace treaty signed according to Daniel’s prophecy, and the actions of Russia against the Ukraine, a harbinger of the attack by Russia against Israel, described by Ezekiel 38 and 39?

Daniel And The Antichrist

The prophet Daniel is transported, in chapter 2 of his book, to a time future, when the final kingdom of the antichrist will be present. A charismatic leader will emerge on the world scene, and capture the imagination of every nation and people. Very quickly he will become known as the savior whom the world has been waiting for. 

As Daniel receives the details of these events, he writes, in his second chapter, to describe what will take place. Daniel see the Messiah coming to earth, described as a “stone,” that will destroy the kingdom of the antichrist at His return to establish His kingdom:

You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.[7]

Peter Declares That Jesus Is The Stone That Daniel Described: 

Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.”[8]

Throughout the Old Testament, the term “stone” or “rock” has been used to illustrate the coming Messiah.

Psalms 118:22: The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 

Exodus 17:6: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 

Paul later wrote that the rock at Horeb, the rock that was struck, was a representative of Jesus, the Rock, who would be struck once for the sins of the world.

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.[9]

Daniel 2:34-35, was the first to describe the Messiah as a stone that was cut without human hands, speaking of the Messiah who originates, not from a human source, but from God. Describing the supernatural birth of Jesus by the virgin, as God living in human flesh, known as The Rock.

In the last days, this Rock will crush all other earthly kingdoms that will exist during the time Messiah returns to earth the second time, to establish His kingdom.

Daniel’s prophecy begins with a description of four kingdoms of the world that will exist during The Times of the Gentiles. After Jesus was presented as the Messiah to the Jews, He was rejected by the chief priests and the Pharisees, as well as most of the people of Israel. It was upon this rejection, that Jesus prophesied that their house would be left to them desolate and they would be led away as captives into all the nations of the world.

Jesus said: And they (Israel) will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[10]

Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A. D. when the Roman general, Titus, took Jerusalem by force and destroyed the Temple. Jesus had predicted this event 38 years before it took place. He spoke this prediction after He had come to Jerusalem and announced on Sunday, April 6, 32 A. D., that He was the Messiah. 

And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!”And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” [11]

A missed opportunity

On the same day that Matthew records the multitudes declaring “Hosanna to the Son of David,” Luke describes Jesus, pausing to look over Jerusalem and in great sorrow, weeping—as they missed their opportunity that Daniel had so vividly predicted. Daniel told the Jews the precise day their Messiah would arrive—the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. 

Because the Jews didn’t recognize the time of their visitation by the the Messiah, the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed. 

Now as Jesus drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”[12]

Because the leaders of Israel did not read and study the prophecies of Daniel, they were not ready when Jesus came in fulfillment of God’s promise. The Jews living in Jerusalem should have been waiting expectantly for their Messiah. They missed the time of their visitation as He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ—to offer the forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who would receive Him. 

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ ”[13]

Waiting for the prophesied time

When Jesus came to Jerusalem on Sunday, April 6, 32 A.D., for the first time in His ministry, He allowed the people lining the entrance of the city to proclaim Him as the Messiah. In every other occasion, when the disciples had requested Jesus to declare He was the promised Messiah, He refused, stating that it was not the right time. Jesus was waiting for this specific date, when the prophetic scriptures of Daniel’s prophecy should be fulfilled. As Jesus comes into Jerusalem, the people cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

When Jesus pronounces that Israel’s house is left to her desolate, He tells them that they will not see Him again until they say the words, from Psalms 118:26: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 

Concerning the last days:

In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus instructs His disciples regarding the things that would happen to Israel and the rest of the world in the last days. 

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”[14]

When Titus invaded Israel, sacked the city of Jerusalem, and destroyed the Temple, the Jews watched in horror as their treasured sanctuary burned. The priests who were inside the Temple refused to leave, locking themselves in the Holy of Holies. As the fire ensued and the heat increased, the temperature inside the Holy place became so intense, that it melted all of the gold that covered the walls, ceiling, and floor of the Holy Place.[15] 

According to 2 Chronicles 3:8, the gold that lined the entire inner structure of the Holy of Holies was about 23 tons. At $1,500.00 per ounce, this would place the value of the gold inside the Holy place at 1 billion, 104 million dollars.[16]

The molten gold flowed into the cracks of the blocks from which the Temple was constructed. Aft

er the fire was extinguished, the Roman soldiers discovered that the melted gold had hardened into the joints between the blocks of the Temple walls. In their greed, the soldiers took large pry bars and overturned every block in the Temple, rolling each one down the hill. As Jesus had predicted, in Matthew 24:1-2, they left “not one stone upon another.”[17]

Photo of the stones from the former Temple that remain to the present day. [18]

It was during this time when many Jews were killed in Jerusalem. Those who survived were evicted from Israel, where they fled to the four corners of the earth. All of these events were a direct fulfillment of the words of Jesus concerning Israel in their rejection of Him as their Messiah.

This event in 70 A. D. began the “Times of the Gentiles.” 

God had offered salvation to Israel by sending the Messiah whom they rejected. Turning now to the Gentile nations, God offers the forgiveness of sins and eternal life to whosoever will come to Him. This event by the Romans, under Titus, signaled the end of the Lord’s focus on Israel and a turning by God to the Gentile nations as He offers salvation to the whole world. When the Times of the Gentiles are concluded and the complete number of those who will come into Jesus’ church is accomplished, the Rapture will occur, and Jesus will remove His church from the earth. In close proximity to the Rapture, a peace plan will be signed between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. This will begin the seven-year Tribulation, described by Daniel Chapter 9 and the Book of Revelation Chapter 6-18.

At the moment when the Rapture occurs, the Times of the Gentiles will end, and the Lord will turn again to Israel and the remaining Jews, to offer them salvation for the last time.

Incredibly, this entire period of The Times of the Gentiles was seen by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, in a dream that had deeply troubled him. As Daniel is found able to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he is brought before the king.

Daniel gives Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation:

Daniel 2:29-35 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 

This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 

This great image that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream was an illustration of the four Gentile kingdoms of the world that would be present during the Times of the Gentiles.

• Head of Gold
• Chest and Arms of Silver
• Belly and Thighs of Bronze
• Legs of Iron, Feet partly of Iron and Clay

Chapter 2 of Daniel reveals these four Gentile kingdoms, from a human point of view, as a great statue. Chapter 7 describes the same four Gentile kingdoms, from God’s point of view, as four vicious beasts.⁠[19]

“The Times of the Gentiles” (4 Kingdoms) begin with the head of Gold, which is Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. This kingdom is followed by Cyrus of the Persians, followed by Alexander the Great of the Greeks, and finally the Roman Caesars who were in power during the time when Jesus was here on earth.

Jesus said that Israel would be taken captive by all the nations and be trampled by the Gentiles until the Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[20]

The Times of the Gentiles end, when verse 34 of Daniel Chapter 2 comes to pass: Jesus, as the Stone cut without hands (not by human will), strikes the image on its feet of iron and clay and breaks it to pieces.

You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.[21]

Daniel looks into the distant future of the last days to see what will take place. During the seven-year Tribulation period, there will be a fourth kingdom that will consist of many nations from the former Roman Empire. A world leader called “the beast” will unite the world under one kingdom that receives its power from ten of the nations, that were once a part of the former Roman empire.

During the time of this fourth kingdom—again, made up of the Iron, the old Roman empire that will be revived in the last days—Jesus will return to the earth with His church, as described in the Book of Revelation Chapter 19. As the Stone described by Daniel, Jesus will strike the kingdom of the beast and destroy it. He will then set up His own kingdom that was promised to David’s descendant, the Messiah. 

At the conclusion of this brief reign of seven years by the beast, the church that Jesus removed from the earth at the Rapture will be returning to the earth to reign with Him. We see this incredible event described in the Book of Revelation Chapter 19:

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True (Jesus), and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven (the church), clothed in fine linen, white and clean (given to the redeemed), followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.[22]

When Jesus returns to the earth with His church, He will fight a great battle, described in the Book of Revelation Chapter 16 as the “Battle of Armageddon.” This battle will take place in a valley, north of Jerusalem. This is the site of many important battles from past history and is referred to, by the verse (above) in Revelation 19:11-15, as “The Winepress.” 

In Psalms 2:1-5, David describes this battle with the Lord and His anointed (church) against the “kings of the earth” who have assembled in the Valley of Megiddo to kill Jesus.[23]

Jesus will descend out of heaven with His church and touch down at the Mount of Olives. From here, He will travel north to the waiting armies of the beast, at the Valley of Megiddo, where the Battle of Armageddon will begin.

This battle is also described in the second Psalm:

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure.[24]

Isaiah describes the Battle of Armageddon in detail. Psalm 2 refers to the term “indignation” as a reference to the time of Tribulation that will last for seven years. The battle Isaiah sees in his prophecy is the topic of Psalms 2:1-5, that will occur upon the return of Jesus to the earth at the end of the Tribulation period.

Come near, you nations, to hear; and heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world and all things that come forth from it. For: the indignation of the LORD is against all nations, and His fury against all their armies; (at Armageddon) he has utterly destroyed them, he has given them over to the slaughter. Also their slain shall be thrown out; their stench shall rise from their corpses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.[25] 

At the end of the seven-year Tribulation Jesus will return to the Earth, touching down at the Mount of Olives, just outside Jerusalem. Waiting for Jesus will be all of the armies of the world under the command of the antichrist, stationed at the Valley of Megiddo, north of Israel. Jesus will destroy this army with the words of His mouth. The Blood from that carnage will be to the depth of a horse’s Bridle for over 200 miles inside the Valley of Megiddo.

And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for 200 miles.[26]

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Isaiah gives us a graphic description of the wrath of the Lamb, also called  the indignation, as Jesus destroys those who have assembled to kill Him upon His return to earth. In Isaiah Chapter 63, the prophet gives us a vivid description of this battle in which Jesus treads the winepress of the Valley of Megiddo alone, destroying all the assembled armies. The blood from the carnage is sprinkled upon Jesus’ garments. 

I have trodden the winepress alone (the valley of Megiddo), and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; (Notice) their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. (Revelation 20:13 “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood…”) For the day of vengeance is in My heart, (The Day of the Lord) and the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold; therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; and My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, made them drunk in My fury, and brought down their strength to the earth.[27] 

The prophet Joel describes, in similar fashion, this final Battle of Armageddon. Joel refers to this valley as The Valley of Jehoshaphat, where King Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, defeated the Gentile coalition of Moab, Ammon, and Edom.

I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.[28] 

Some of the former names for this valley where the Battle of Armageddon will take place:

• Valley of Megiddo (2 Chronicles 35:22)
• Valley of Jezreel (Joshua 17:16)
• Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2)
• Valley of Decision (Joel 3:14)

Joel continues, in chapter 3:9-16, in describing the Battle of Armageddon and the coming of Jesus’ kingdom that will last for one thousand years. In these verses, Joel states that at the beginning of the one thousand-year reign of Jesus, from this Valley of Jehoshaphat Jesus will judge the nations, as described in Matthew 25.

Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ” Assemble and come, all you nations, and gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD. “Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow– for their wickedness is great.” Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. The LORD also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the LORD will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.[29] 

The prophet Zechariah also writes a description of the Battle of Armageddon:

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. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.[30] 

Zechariah describes what will happen to those who come to oppose the Messiah at the Battle of Armageddon: “Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.”[31]

Nuclear Physicists have stated that this description from Zechariah is very similar to what would happen to a human being who is present when a neutron bomb is detonated. The neutrinos from this blast could burn the flesh from the skeletons of the people struck by it, leaving their bones standing upright for a fraction of a second before they collapse into a heap.[32]

And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.[33]

Whether this means that someone will detonate a neutron bomb at Armageddon, or this will be the effect of Jesus speaking His word in destroying those who have assembled against Him, is uncertain. Peter’s description in the destruction of the heavens and the earth at the end of this present age is similar to the language Zechariah uses. Jesus will speak, and the heavens and the earth will melt with a fervent heat. The flesh of those who come to oppose Jesus at the Battle of Armageddon, being burned from their skeleton by the words of Jesus, is consistent with this verse from 2 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.[34] 

Finally, the Book of Revelation describes the Battle of Armageddon that occurs at the valley of Megiddo: 

And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 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. Now the great city (Babylon) 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.[35]

It is important to understand the difference between The Times of the Gentiles and The Fullness of the Gentiles.

Not all persons who are saved by Jesus’ death on the Cross are a part of the Church. 

For example: Old Testament believers are not a part of the church. The period of the Old Testament saints was until John the Baptist, who was the last Old Testament prophet. 

The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.[36]

New Testament believers will exist on the earth until the Rapture occurs.

We see, in the Book of Revelation, that there are believers who come out of the Tribulation Period. They receive Jesus Christ as their Savior during the seven-year Tribulation. For this reason, these believers are defined differently from those saved before the Tribulation began.

And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.[37], Chart below: [38]

Those who are saved before the Tribulation begins are called “The Church.” They are seen, in Revelation Chapter 5, as singing a new song. The meaning of “new song” is a song that has never been sung before this moment.[39] The reason this new song has not been sung previously by anyone is that this is the first time the redeemed church has been gathered together in heaven to sing the verses of this chorus.

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”[40]

We know that this group of people are not angels nor any other created beings, as only those who have been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ can sing: “You have redeemed us to God by your blood…” 

Those saved after the Tribulation begins are in a completely different category from those saved before it begins. They are called the “Tribulation Saints.” This group is redeemed out of the Tribulation period, and are seen waiting under the altar in heaven for the completion of the wrath that Jesus will pour out on the inhabitants of the earth during the last three and one-half years of the seven-year Tribulation.

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. 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?” 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.[41]

The complete number of those who are saved out of the Tribulation are all killed by the antichrist during the last three and one-half years of the seven-year Tribulation—because they refused to take the mark of the beast and worship him. The saved, who are killed, pledged their lives to Jesus Christ and received Him as their Lord and Savior. As a result, they were killed for their refusal to renounce Jesus and worship the devil. They are seen later, in Revelation Chapter 7, fully redeemed, gathered with all other believers who love Jesus, standing before the Lord, proclaiming His salvation that is theirs forever and ever.

After these things 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, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.”[42]

There is an important distinction between the people who are saved before the Tribulation begins and those who are saved out of, or during, the seven-year Tribulation. 

Everyone who places their trust in Jesus before the Tribulation begins have a special place of service with Him when He returns. Because they were waiting and watching for their Lord’s return, He gives them a unique position of honor during the kingdom age: They will reign with Jesus over the nations of the world.

And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.[43]

Those who are saved during the Tribulation will stand before the Lord and serve Him. 

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple.[44]

Although we see these varying ranks of service in Jesus’ kingdom, all those who surrender their lives to Him as their Savior and Lord are included in this designation as His church. We see both groups together worshipping the Lord, here in Revelation 7:9-15, in heaven.

After these things 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, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”[45]

The believers who come out of the Great Tribulation period do not share in the same rewards, responsibilities, or job description as those who are saved from the birth of the church, in Acts Chapter 2, up to the moment of the Rapture.

Those who are saved BEFORE the Tribulation begins will “reign” with Jesus during the 1,000-year Millennium. Those who are saved AFTER the Tribulation has begun will “serve” Jesus in His Temple day and night.

The end of the “Times of the Gentiles” and Israel:

When the Times of the Gentiles come to an end, the Lord will turn again to Israel and save the remaining Jews who will receive Him. This will occur during the final three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation. This time period is described by Daniel Chapter 2, where the Messiah will come to earth at the end of the seven-year Tribulation and destroy the kingdom of the antichrist. This will be the end of the fourth kingdom described by Daniel.

You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.[46]

Amazingly, Daniel’s prophecy, in chapter 9, reveals the precise day when Israel would receive their Messiah during His first appearance on the earth. Sadly, most of the Jews at that time as well as a great majority of Jews today have not recognized their Messiah.

At the completion of the Times of the Gentiles, Israel will have their “blindness” cured by the Messiah. This is a blindness that has plagued the Jewish people for two thousand years. This inability to see the true Messiah will be lifted, when God supernaturally protects the nation of Israel as they are fleeing the wrath of the antichrist at the midway point of the seven-year Tribulation. 

The supernatural events taking place at that time will be a clear sign to the Jews, who are spared the wrath of the beast, that they were protected by the Lord. It is not clear, from the scriptures, what exactly will move their hearts to receive Jesus as the Messiah. We know only that the blindness, which has been present for so long, will come to an end.  

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved.[47]

The Fullness of the Gentiles and the Rapture:

There are two terms often used in the New Testament that sound similar, yet speak of two different periods of history.

Both of these came about as a result of Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.

The Times of the Gentiles is an appointed time by God in which the nations of the world will have preeminence on the earth. Beginning from Israel’s rejection of their Messiah, when Jesus arrived the first time, and ending at the conclusion of the seven-year Tribulation.

The Nations:

The Fullness of the Gentiles is an appointed time by God in which salvation is offered to the Gentile nations of the world. This period began at Israel’s rejection of Jesus as their Messiah and ends at the Rapture of the church, just prior to the seven-year Tribulation period.

The Church:

The Fullness of the Gentiles is the period of time in which the Father has appointed whosoever will may come and be “Born Again.” Upon the faith of any person in the sacrifice Jesus has made on the Cross, they become a part of Jesus’ Church.

There is a final number of the redeemed that the Father has appointed to Jesus’ church. He knows who this last person is, who will receive Jesus as their Savior, before the Rapture occurs. When this last person is saved, the Rapture will take place. The number of those who will be a part of the New Testament Church will be complete, and the Fullness of the Gentiles will be fulfilled.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.[48]

Knowing today that the church is nearly complete, we should be encouraged to live more fully for Jesus. As His return is imminent, what kind of lives are we living? Are we waiting and watching, being excited that our Lord is about to return for us? It is time for all those who have called on the name of Jesus, for the forgiveness of their sins, to turn and follow Him with all of their hearts. At any moment now, a trumpet sound will be heard, and those who are ready will suddenly be taken from the earth to meet Jesus in the air.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

As we make our way through the incredible prophecies of Daniel, we see how they fit together with the events described by the Book of Revelation. Jesus described the “abomination of desolation,” of Daniel Chapter 9, and placed this event in context with what John wrote in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation. How is it that these writers, at great distance to each other, could describe the same events taking place at the same time, with such clarity?

The only possible answer is, they all received their information from a common source. Jesus said that all these things must take place because they had been determined before the foundation of the world.

Then Jesus said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”[49]

We are reading the words of men who are all being directed by a transcendent source from outside time, who knows what will take place before these events began. When Jesus came to earth, He was following a carefully-scripted plan that was written for this planet before it existed. Jesus said that “all things must be fulfilled which were written…”

At this point, you can begin to see how the Bible has been constructed to convey a single message. All of the things written upon the pages of the scriptures are for the express purpose of revealing who Jesus is and the reason He came to earth. 

We must conclude, even at this early stage of our exploration, that these men have all told the truth. The accounts of the four gospels describing Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem, selection of twelve men, announcement that He is the promised Messiah, arrest, crucifixion, death, and resurrection were all meticulously planned well in advance. 

As we continue with the specific events of Jesus’ life and ministry, you will be awestruck by the details of each prophecy that predicted each one of these events and the perfection with which Jesus precisely fulfilled each one.

Postscript: One thing to consider is that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is quickly becoming a prime candidate as the antichrist. His fame and status as a beloved leader is growing astronomically as the war continues. Many of the primary attributes of the antichrist are being seen now in Zelenskiy. I will update this part of the essay as information comes forth.

NOTES:

[1] Ezekiel 38:8
[2] Revelation 20:7-8
[3] Revelation 19:17-19, Daniel 11:44
[4] Revelation 19:19
[5] Ibid
[6] 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
[7] Daniel 2:34-35
[8] Acts 4:10-11
[9] 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 (NKJV)
[10] Luke 21:24
[11] Matthew 21:8-11
[12] Luke 19:41
[13] Matthew 23:37-39
[14] Matthew 24:1-2
[15] Josephus, The Wars of the Jews VI.4.5
[16] According to the New Living Translation by Thomas Nelson, Open Bible Commentary, Page 580.
[17] Josephus, The Wars of the Jews VI.4.5
[18] Released by Author into Public Domain: This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons. Information from its description page there is shown below. Commons is a freely licensed media file repository Stones from the Western Wall of the Temple Mount (Jerusalem) thrown onto the street by Roman soldiers on the Ninth of Av, 70 C.E.
[19] Graphic Illustration by Robert Clifton Robinson
[20] Luke 21:24
[21] Daniel 2:34-35
[22] Revelation 19:11-15
[23] Graphic Illustration by Robert Clifton Robinson
[24] Psalm 2:1-5
[25] Isaiah 34:1-4
[26]  Revelation 14:20
[27] Isaiah 63:3-6
[28] Joel 3:2
[29] Joel 3:9-16
[30] Zechariah 14:2-3
[31] Zechariah 14:2-3
[32] 1. Calculated from http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq5.html assuming 0.5 kt combined blast and thermal 2. From the United States C.D.C., Explosions and Refuge Chambers, R. Karl Zipf, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. Kenneth L. Cashdollar, Effects of blast pressure on structures and the human body.
[33] Zechariah 14:12
[34] 2 Peter 3:10
[35] Revelation 16:16-19
[36] Luke 16:16
[37] Revelation 7:14
[38] Graphic Illustration by Robert Clifton Robinson
[39] Greek: Strongs #2537, “kainos,” new in quality (innovation), fresh in development or opportunity – because “not found exactly like this before.” Hebrew: Strong’s #2319, “chadash,” fresh, brand new, never before.
[40] Revelation 5:8-10
[41] Revelation 6:9-11
[42] Revelation 7:9-15
[43] Revelation 5:10
[44] Revelation 7:15
[45] Revelation 7:9-15
[46] Daniel 2:34-35
[47] Romans 11:25-26
[48] 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
[49]  Luke 24:44

Categories: All Israel will be saved, Arab Israeli Conflict, Attack on Israel by Russia, Battle of Gog and Magog, Building the Third Temple, Expecting Jesus Return, Israel in the Last Days, Israel in the Last Days, Messianic Prophecies, Rapture during Rosh Hashanah, Robert Clifton Robinson, Salvation, The Battle of Armageddon, The Temple Mount, The Tribulation Period, Thousand Year Kingdom, Watching for Jesus return

Tags: Battle of Armageddon, Battle of Gog and Magog, Events surrounding the Rapture, Ezekiel 38, Great Tribulation by Robert Clifton Robinson, Pre Tribulation Rapture, Rapture During Trumpets, The return of Jesus, The Tribulation Period, Ukraine War