Ten Years of Tribulation – Three Years of War and Seven
Years of Great Tribulation (2-26-20)
This is an update to the old “Ten Years of Tribulation” article.
Three Days of Darkness
In my spirit, I hear the blast of the watchmen’s trumpet. Great danger and trouble are coming. Are we ready and prepared for the dark days that are quickly approaching?
Recently there has been a lot of chatter in the prophetic
world about “3 days of darkness”. I was about to write it off when I got a
check in my spirit that I ought to check out in importance of “3 days” in the
bible. Here is what I found.
From Exodus, the plague that preceded the last plague that
freed the Hebrews from the slavery of Egypt was 3 days of darkness. Note that
there was a deep darkness in the land except in the houses of the Hebrews.
[Exodus 10:21-23 NASB] 21 Then
the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there
may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be
felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was
thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23 They did not see one
another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of
Israel had light in their dwellings.
We note from Exodus 11 and 12 that these 3 days were the
days that preceded the first Passover. So, these 3 days of darkness were days that preceded the
release of the Hebrews from the slavery and bondage of Egypt. It was a great
deliverance for those that choose to follow Moses into the wilderness.
In Joshua 1:11 we find that there was a 3-day preparation
that preceded the crossing of the Jordan and entering into the Promised Land.
[Joshua 1:11 NASB] 11
"Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying,
'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess
the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'"
In Jonah 1:17 we find that Jonah was in the belly of the
fish for 3 days. Three
days that preceded the deliverance of Nineveh from judgment.
[Jonah 1:17 NASB] 17 And the
LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of
the fish three days and three nights.
In Esther 4:16 we see that there was a 3 day fast that preceded the
deliverance of the Hebrews from Haman’s evil plan to destroy them.
[Esther 4:16 NASB] 16
"Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not
eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in
the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the
law; and if I perish, I perish."
In the New Testament, the most significant 3 days were the
3 days Jesus was in the tomb. After these 3 days, He rose from the dead, defeated death forever, and
opened the way for all mankind to be saved for those that choose to follow Him
and accept the freedom from bondage, sin, and death that He offers to all.
[Matt. 12:40 NASB] 40 for just
as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so
will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
[Mark 8:31 NASB] 31 And He
began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected
by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after
three days rise again.
[Mark 9:31 NASB] 31 For He was
teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be
delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been
killed, He will rise three days later."
[Mark 10:34 NASB] 34
"They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill [Him,] and
three days later He will rise again."
In Revelation 11:9-11 we find another interesting 3-day
period. Here we find the two witnesses of the last 3 ½ years of the 7 years of
tribulation killed and their bodies exposed for 3 ½ days. But after these days (on the fourth day after 3
days) they are resurrected and called up to Heaven.
[Rev. 11:7-12 NASB] 7 When
they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss
will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead
bodies [will lie] in the street of the great city which mystically is called
Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 Those from the peoples
and tribes and tongues and nations [will] look at their dead bodies for three
and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10
And those who dwell on the earth [will] rejoice over them and celebrate; and
they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those
who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of
life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell
upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven
saying to them, "Come up here." Then they went up into heaven in the
cloud, and their enemies watched them.
The message I see in all of these references to 3 days is
that 3 special "days" always
preceded a great deliverance and/or resurrection.
Ten Years of Tribulation
There is another very interesting indirect reference to the 3 days Jesus was dead or in the tomb. I found this in Revelation 2:8-11.
[Rev. 2:8-11 NASB] 8 "And
to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was
dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 'I know your tribulation and your
poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews
and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and
you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will
give you the crown of life. 11 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second
death.'
Jesus calls Himself “He who was dead and has come to life”.
This was an indirect reference to a 3-day period. Note that this letter seems
to be written primarily to Jews. The people that were being blasphemed, were
being blasphemed by Jews. Jesus said that these were not true Jews but of the
synagogue of Satan. It would seem that this letter was written primarily to
believing Jews. Then Jesus tells the people being blasphemed that they will
have tribulation and be persecuted for 10 days, but if they are faithful until
death they will be given the Crown of Life. We note that the word used for days, hemera, can also
be used for time in general, even years.
(hemera - figuratively, a period (always
defined more or less clearly by the context):—age, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)),
forever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.)
If we now relate the
3 days and the 10 days to years, then we can relate these days to the 7 years
of tribulation of the book of Revelation. What we know is that the Jews
suffer many tribulations during the 7 years of the tribulation of the book of
Revelation and that they are “saved” or “overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, the
word of their testimony and they did not love their life unto death”.
[Rev. 12:11 NKJV] 11 "And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their lives to the death.
If this is related
to the “10 days” of tribulation of Revelation 2:10, then there must be 3
additional years that the Jews also suffer tribulation. Now
we know that great trouble (tribulation) begins on the earth in the last days
in Revelation 6 with the release of the Antichrist and war (the first and
second seals of the great scroll). The implication here is that the time period between these wars and the
effects of the first 6 seals leading up to the 7th seal and the
pouring out of the wrath of God upon the earth, the beginning of the last 7
years, is 3 years.
We also note that in the book of Daniel, Daniel and his
friends were tested for 10 days before being elevated in positions of great
power and authority.
[Dan. 1:12-21 NASB] 12 "Please test your
servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to
drink. 13 "Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the
appearance of the youths who are eating the king's choice food; and deal with
your servants according to what you see." 14 So he listened to them in
this matter and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days, their
appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been
eating the king's choice food. 16 So the overseer continued to withhold their
choice food and the wine they were to drink and kept giving them vegetables. 17
As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every
[branch of] literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all [kinds of]
visions and dreams. 18 Then at the end of the days which the king had specified
for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before
Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was
found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's
personal service. 20 As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about
which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the
magicians [and] conjurers who [were] in all his realm. 21 And Daniel continued
until the first year of Cyrus the king.
What we might have discovered is a hint that the time
period of Revelation 6 and the first 6 seals is 3 years. But what happens after the first
3 years. This would be the great earthquake of the 6th seal and the
release of the wrath of God.
[Rev. 6:12-17 NASB] 12 I
looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the
sun became black as sackcloth [made] of hair, and the whole moon became like
blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe
figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when
it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the
rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves
and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they said to the mountains and to
the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on
the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath
has come, and who is able to stand?"
God has promised
that His Church would not experience the wrath of God, that they would be kept
from the hour of testing, hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger, and be
concealed in His tabernacle, in the secret place of His tent. This
then tells us that the Church is delivered from the days of God’s wrath after
the first 3 years of the 10 years of tribulation. This is the great
deliverance, the resurrection, that follows the 3 years of darkness or trouble
(the wars, destruction, famine, and death) of the first 6 seals of Revelation
6. This is the rapture of the Church.
[Rev. 3:10 NASB] 10 'Because
you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that
[hour] which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on
the earth.
[Zeph. 2:3 NASB] 3 Seek the
LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek
righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD'S anger.
[1Thes. 5:9 NASB] 9 For God has not destined us for
wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
[Psa. 27:5 NASB] 5 For in the day of trouble He
will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide
me; He will lift me up on a rock.
[Psa. 91:8-9 NASB] 8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the
recompense of the wicked. 9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge, [Even] the
Most High, your dwelling place.
[Psa. 57:1 NASB] 1 For the
choir director; [set to] Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam of David, when he fled from
Saul in the cave. Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul
takes refuge in You; And
in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by.
[1Thes. 4:15-18 NASB] 15 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
[the] archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise
first. 17 Then we who are
alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort
one another with these words.
It is after the rapture of the Church, when “the fullness
of the Gentiles has come in”, after the first 3 years of 10 years of
tribulation, that God turns to complete His covenant promises to the Jews. This
is the story of Revelation 7 to 19, the 7 years of the great tribulation.
[Rom. 11:25-27 NASB] 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be
uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in your own
estimation--that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness
of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is
written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS
FROM JACOB." 27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY
THEIR SINS."
Now let’s switch gears and look at this scenario in light
of current world events. In the years before the election of 2016, the world
was swiftly moving towards a one-world order. The “global government movement”
was firmly established in the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations,
including the USA. Events in the Middle East, and in and around Israel, were
leading to the last of the prophesied war of Psa. 83, Isa. 17, Ezek. 38. Wars
that are most probably the wars of the second seal of Revelation 6.
Then God intervened. Miraculously, Donald Trump was elected
the President of the United States against all odds and the devious plans of
the establishment. The eminent wars involving Israel were put on hold, and the
plans of the Islamic nations to destroy Israel were delayed. It was as if God
was giving the people of the world a reprieve from the judgment that is
prophesied to come in the last days. Are these days that the Lord has given the
Church to complete the gathering of the Church-age saints? Are these days a
time of gleaning the wheat fields after the main harvest? And just what is the
Church to do and be during these 3 years of great darkness? Remember, during
the judgment of 3 days of great darkness in Egypt, the only light was in the
houses of God’s people, the Hebrews. The Church is to be the light in this
great darkness of war, famine, death, destruction, hopelessness, and fear. This
was even prophesied in Daniel 12:1-3.
[Exodus 10:21-23 NASB] 21 Then
the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there
may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be
felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was
thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23 They did not see one
another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had
light in their dwellings.
[Daniel 12:1-3 NASB] 1
"Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands [guard] over the
sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as
never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people,
everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2 "Many
of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting
life, but the others to disgrace [and] everlasting contempt. 3 "Those who have insight
will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who
lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Turning back now to current world events, this reprieve
most probably will not last past the reign of President Trump. The world,
including the USA, will turn against Israel (many nations already have). The
evil leaders bent of establishing a global world government will return to power
and the Bible story of the last days will continue. The reign of President
Trump could end in the fall elections of 2020 or be extended to the fall elections
of 2024. At either of these points, with the globalists back in power it could
very well be that 3 years of darkness could begin at the Feast of Trumpets of
2020 (at the defeat of Trump in the 2020 election), at the Feast of Trumpets of
2021 (3 years before 7 years of tribulation begin at the election of a new
president in 2024), or even at the election of a new president in the 2024
elections. This would put the rapture and the beginning of the last 7 years at a
Feast of Trumpets of 2023 to a Feasts of Trumpets as late as 2027. Seven years after the possible times of the
rapture puts the possible time of the return of Jesus on a Day of Atonement from
2030 to the Day of Atonement of 2034.
These possible times of the Lord’s return are very
interesting because they fall 2000 years from the day of the Lord’s ascension
in about 30 A.D. Remember that to the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and
a thousand years as one day. This fulfills the prophecy of Hosea 6:1-2 where it
is prophesied that the LORD will revive, restore, and raise up His people, the
Jews after two days (2000 years).
[2Pet. 3:8 NKJV] 8 But, beloved, do not forget
this one thing, that with the Lord one day [is] as a thousand years, and a
thousand years as one day.
[Hosea 6:1-2 NKJV] 1 Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has
torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. 2 After two
days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live
in His sight.
It is also interesting to note that from 30 A.D. to 2030 is
Forty Jubilee cycles of 50 years. Recall that the 50th year of a Jubilee
cycle is a year of complete restoration. Also note that 30 Jubilee cycles
before 30 A.D. is 1470 B.C. This is an approximate date for when the Hebrew
cross over the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the time that the Jubilee
cycles began. This would
make the Jubilee year of 2030 the 70th Jubilee since the inception
of Jubilee years. God likes sevens.
All of this is of course speculation. But, could it be that
the Lord is releasing these insights to His watchmen to prepare His Church for
the dark days ahead? If so, time is very short. We must acknowledge that these “3
days of darkness” could possibly begin at any time now, even before the
elections of 2020. Thus, the entire time table could be moved back by one or
two years. The wars in the Middle East
in and about Israel could break out at any moment. The stage is all set. It is
only God’s grace, mercy, and His timing that is holding back the start of the
10 days (years) of great trouble on the Earth. However, the years 2020 to 2023 seem to be a window of
opportunity for the Church to rise up and gather in the reaping from the
highways and byways of the world (the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind)
into the Father’s House for “The Wedding” is ready. But the darkness is coming
and we must be ready.
[Luke 14:16-17, 21-23 NKJV] 16 Then He said to
him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 "and
sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for
all things are now ready.' ... 21 "So that servant came and reported these
things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his
servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in
here [the] poor and [the] maimed and [the] lame and [the] blind.' 22 "And
the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is
room.' 23 "Then the
master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel
[them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
[Matt. 22:7-10 NKJV] 7
"But when the king heard [about it], he was furious. And he sent out his
armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 "Then he
said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were
not worthy. 9 'Therefore
go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10
"So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all
whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding [hall] was filled with
guests.
Israel and the Church During the Three Years of Darkness and the Seven Years of Tribulation
Now let's consider just what the role of the Church might be during the ten "days" (years) of tribulation in Revelation 2:10.
Now let's consider just what the role of the Church might be during the ten "days" (years) of tribulation in Revelation 2:10.
Note that this letter to the church in Smyrna seems to be
written primarily to Jews.
[Rev 2:8-11 NASB] 8 "And
to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was
dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 'I know your tribulation and your
poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a
synagogue of Satan. 10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be
tested, and you will have
tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you
the crown of life. 11 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'
The believers in Smyrna are being blasphemed by Jews, and the Lord says that these
Jewish blasphemers are a synagogue
of Satan. The focus here is on Jews. They are then told that they will have tribulation for ten days but
if they are faithful until death, they will be given the crown of life. This
reminds us of how the people of the seven years of the great tribulation
overcome the Antichrist.
[Rev 12:11 NKJV] 11 "And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their
lives to the death.
What we are being told here is that there is coming a
period of 10 “days” of tribulation or great trouble for the Jews and Israel,
but for those that stay faithful to God even unto death, they will be given
eternal life.
If we take the ten days to literally be ten periods between
sunsets, then these ten days could be the ten “Days of Awe” between the Feast
of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement at the end of the seven years of
tribulation just before the Lord returns. These are the days of the seven bowls
of God’s wrath that are poured out upon the earth to complete or finish the
days of God’s wrath.
[Rev 11:14-15, 18 NASB] 14 The
second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly. 15 Then the seventh angel sounded;
and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world
has become [the kingdom] of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign
forever and ever." ... 18 "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the
time [came] for the dead to be judged, and [the time] to reward Your bond-servants
the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the
great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
[Rev 15:1 NASB] 1 Then I saw
another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, [which are] the
last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
[Rev 15:6-8 NASB] 6 and the
seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in
linen, clean [and] bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. 7
Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden
bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 And the temple
was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was
able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were
finished.
[Rev 15:6-8 NASB] 6 and the
seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in
linen, clean [and] bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. 7
Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the
wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled
with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to
enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
However, with these
bowls of wrath, the days of the wrath of God are finished or completed (Rev.
15:1). The question is, just when did the days of the wrath of God begin? Certainly
not just ten days before the Lord returns given the events of the previous
seven years of the great tribulation.
[Rev 6:12, 15-17 NASB] 12 I
looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the
sun became black as sackcloth [made] of hair, and the whole moon became like
blood; ... 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders
and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the
caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they said to the mountains
and to the rocks, "Fall
on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the
wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is
able to stand?"
From these verses, it is clear that the days of the wrath of God begins with
the breaking of the sixth seal of the great scroll in Revelation 6:17. This
occurs just before the breaking of the seventh seal, the pouring out of fire of
the altar in Heaven, and the blowing of the first of seven trumpets of
judgment. These are the events that initiate the seven years of tribulation
just before the Lord’s return as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
[Rev 8:1-2, 5-6 NASB] 1 When
the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an
hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets
were given to them. ... 5 Then
the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw
it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and
flashes of lightning and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels who had the
seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
We also need to ask just when great, last days of trouble
or tribulation
really begins for the Jews and for Israel?
In Revelation 6, the first seal of the great scroll is
broken releasing the Antichrist to begin his last days, evil work on the earth.
This work begins with the breaking of the second seal with war.
[Rev 6:1-4 NASB] 1 Then I saw
when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living
creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." 2 I looked, and
behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to
him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. 3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living
creature saying, "Come." 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to
him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that [men]
would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
There are many wars in the Bible, but most have already
occurred. Looking at the wars of the Bible that are yet to come, we find that
these wars deal with attacks on Israel and the Jews in the last days. The final
war begins with the breaking of the 2nd seal in Revelation 6 and is
a series of battles with a 3 ½ year period of a cease-fire during the battles. The final war begins with attacks on Israel
and ends with a final battle in the Jezreel Valley at the battle of Armageddon
at the return of the Lord Jesus. (Isa. 17, Ps. 83, Jer. 49, Ezek. 38-39, Zech. 12-14,
Joel, Rev. and others). It becomes obvious that the great last days' trouble
and tribulation for Israel and the Jews begins with the breaking of the second
seal of the great scroll and the last days' wars when they are attacked from
all sides.
So, let’s go back and look at the ten days of tribulation
prophesied over the Church in Smyrna. If we translate the word used for days,
“hemera”, figuratively, it can be interpreted as “years”. It is clear that the
Jews and Israel suffer tribulation for the seven years of tribulation of Daniel
and Revelation. But what of the other three years? If their tribulation begins
with the wars of the second seal, what we can speculate is that the period of
time between the wars of the second seal and the seventh seal (that initiates
the seven years of the great tribulation) is three years.
These three years are years of war, famine, pestilences,
death, martyrdom, a great earthquake, and a great shaking in the heavens (Rev.
6). These three years will be three years (“days”) of darkness upon the earth.
If we relate these three years/days to other important “3 days” in the Bible,
we can speculate that at the end of the three days/years there will be some
sort of a great deliverance or resurrection. We also know that believers in
Jesus are not destined to experience the wrath of God and that He will keep His
Church from the hour of testing that is to come upon the whole world.
[1Th 5:9 NASB] 9 For God has not destined us for
wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
[1Th 1:10 NASB] 10 and to wait
for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, [that is] Jesus, who rescues us from the
wrath to come.
[Rev 3:10 NASB] 10 'Because
you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that
[hour] which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on
the earth.
This tells us that the rapture of the Church in 1 Thes.
4:13-18 most probably occurs at the breaking of the sixth seal, three years
after the wars of the second seal break out, and just before the last seven
years of tribulation begin with the wrath of God being poured out like fire
from the altar in Heaven (Rev. 8:1-8).
For Israel and Jews that are not a part of the Church,
their tribulation will extend for another seven years for a total of ten years
of tribulation until the return of the Lord to complete His covenant promises
to them.
[Rom 11:25-29 NASB] 25 For I
do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will
not be wise in your own estimation--that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the
fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be
saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS
FROM JACOB." 27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY
THEIR SINS." 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies
for your sake, but from the standpoint of [God's] choice they are beloved for
the sake of the fathers; 29 for
the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
The first three years of these ten years of tribulation will
be years for the Church to complete its assignment on this earth. Filled with
the authority, power, strength, courage, fearlessness, and operating in the
fullness of the giftings of the Holy Spirit, the true Church will be points of
light in a very dark world. The Church
filled with the power of the Holy Spirit will keep many people from falling
into the wrath of God that will be poured out during the last 7 years. But, without the Holy Spirit’s power and
giftings, many will fall away just as the Word warns us.
[2Th 2:1-3 NKJV] 1 Now,
brethren, concerning the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we
ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by
word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any
means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first,
and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
[Mat 24:10 NASB] 10 "At that time many will fall away
and will betray one another and hate one another.
[Mar 4:17 NASB] 17 and they
have no [firm] root in themselves, but are [only] temporary; then, when affliction or persecution
arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
[Luke 8:13 NASB] 13
"Those on the rocky [soil are] those who, when they hear, receive the word
with joy; and these have no [firm] root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall
away.
[1Ti 4:1 NASB] 1 But the
Spirit explicitly says that in
later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to
deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
We have been told that in the last days there will be those
that have a form of godliness but lack the power thereof. Those without the
presence and the power of the Holy Spirit within them will be the ones who will
fall away.
[2Ti 3:1, 5, 7 KJV] 1 This
know also, that in the
last days perilous times shall come. ... 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away. ... 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
As we watch current world events, the winds of war in the
Middle East are blowing strong. Israel’s enemies are gathered all around her.
Missiles are now flying between Israel and Syria. Iran, Syria, Turkey, and the
other Islamic nations of the Middle East along with many Islamic terrorist
groups surround Israel and plot her destruction. The wars of Revelation 6 could
break out any day now. Whether they break out tomorrow, or several years from
now, when they do, the Church could have only three years to complete Her work
on earth.
Ref: Concerning the potential
for a soon coming war in Israel: http://prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=2917#cXCAiJ9zKIgZe68m.03
What is this work? As the Father sent Jesus, He now sends
us, His Church. And what was Jesus sent to do?
[Luke 4:17-21 NKJV] 17 And He
was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He
found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the LORD [is] upon Me, Because He has
anointed Me To preach the gospel to [the] poor; He has sent Me to heal the
brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to [the] captives And recovery of sight to
[the] blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the
acceptable year of the LORD." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave
[it] back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the
synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is
fulfilled in your hearing."
Now as Jesus was sent, so are we. We are to bring good news
to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to prisoners, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and a day of
vengeance of our God (Isa. 61:1-3). We are to comfort all who mourn, and by
extension of doing what Jesus did, we are to heal the sick, cause the blind to
see, deliver those oppressed by demons, and rescue those who are lost and
doomed to destruction without a Savior. We are to do what Jesus did, and even
more.
[John 20:21 NASB] 21 So Jesus said to them again,
"Peace [be] with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
[John 14:12 NASB] 12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he
who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater
[works] than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
As the Father sent Jesus, Jesus now sends us:
[Mat 28:19-20 NKJV] 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age." Amen.
We can do none of this unless the power and fullness of the
Holy Spirit is upon us. And if we are not doing these things, chances are that
the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit are weak or missing.
As Jesus was “anointed” to do the things He was sent to do,
so we must also be “anointed” with (baptized with, immersed in, covered with)
the Holy Spirit to do His works. The first believers to be “anointed” were
twelve disciples, some women, Mary, Jesus’ brothers, and other believers, about
120 in all.
[Act 1:4-5, 8 NASB] 4
Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait
for what the Father had promised, "Which," [He said,] "you heard
of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit not many days from now." ... 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
[Act 1:13-15, 26 NKJV] 13 And
when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were
staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and
Matthew; James [the son] of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas [the son]
of James. 14 These all
continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and
Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 15 And in those days Peter
stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and
twenty), and said, ... 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on
Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
[Act 2:1-4 NKJV] 1 When the
Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly
there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the
whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided
tongues, as of fire, and [one] sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now, “anointed” by the Holy Spirit, these disciples
immediately went out into the streets of Jerusalem and about 3000 souls were
saved that day.
[Act 2:38-41 NKJV] 38 Then
Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is to you and to your children,
and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he
testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse
generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and
that day about three thousand souls were added [to them].
Today the question we all must ask ourselves is, are we
ready? Are we prepared and spiritually equipped (anointed) by/with the Holy
Spirit to deal with the deep darkness, the lawlessness, the death and
destruction, the manifest evil, and the persecution, even to martyrdom, that
will come during the days ahead? Pastors and ministry leaders, have you
prepared your flocks for days such as these? The time before the wars in the
Middle East that initiate the “ten years of tribulation” and the “three years
of darkness” is very short. It is time for the Church to be prepared and
equipped for “SUCH A TIME AS THIS”.
[Isa 60:1-2 NASB] 1 "Arise, shine; for your
light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 "For
behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the
LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.
The important message in all of this is just this: The time
is short, very short! There is an urgency in the air. We all must be at the
Father’s business! Jesus sums it all up
with these words:
[Rev 22:20-21 NKJV] 20 He who testifies to these things
says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
