Blog

Mid-point of Tribulation

covenant broken/end of worship and sacrifices – Israelites flee to the desert where God protects them – Satan goes off to make war against the Christians – 5th trumpet: Abyss is opened, the Beast is revealed – two witnessed slain – 5th seal

[scripture repeated here]: “He will confirm a covenant with many [The Jews] for one ‘seven’, [a seven year span] but in the middle of that ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.  And one who causes desolation will place abominations on a wing of the temple until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” – Daniel 9:27

Comments: Daniel’s three and a half years of ‘sacrifice and offering’ are now complete.  Many events written in the Book of Revelation are about to commence.  They also will last three and a half years.  As written below in Daniel 12:7 – ‘When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.’

“Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.  One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, ‘How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?’  The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand towards heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives for ever saying, ‘It will be for a time, times and half a time.  When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.’   I heard, but I did not understand.  So I asked, ‘My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?’  He replied, ‘Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.  Many will be purified, made spotless and refined [by going through the Tribulation], but the wicked will continue to be wicked.  None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.  From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.  Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.  As for you, go your way till the end.  You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.’ ” – Daniel 12:5-13

Comments: ‘rest’ – means to die, the Bible refers to it as “sleep” for believers; ‘at the end of the days’ – is Christ’s second coming;  ‘you will rise’ – at the Rapture, and all believers are given new, resurrected bodies; ‘receive your allotted inheritance’ – receive your reward.

The Dragon

‘War on Earth’ / ‘The Dragon fights again on earth’:

Revelation 12:13 – “When the dragon (Satan) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman [Israel] who had given birth to the male child.”

Satan losing the war in heaven and being hurled to the earth meant he could no longer enter heaven, permanently.  He had been allowed to appear before the throne up until this point.  Job 1:6 – “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”  Being hurled to the earth also signifies to Satan that his time left on earth to deceive and lead people astray was coming to an end.

The Dragon tries to crush the Israelites, God’s people.  They flee to the desert for safety.

Revelation 12:6 – “The woman [Israel] fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.”

Just like the days of the Exodus, the Jews once again flee into the desert, where once again the Lord protects them, during the second half of the Tribulation.

1,260 days = 42 months = 3 1/2 years = Daniel’s ‘time, times and half a time’.

“I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.” – Hosea 2:14.  This Old Testament prophecy specifically addresses the End Times.  The prophet Hosea wrote this around 785 BC during the time of King Uzziah.

There is also the prophecy spoken by the Lord Jesus, giving instructs to the people of Israel.  ” ‘Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.  Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.  Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.’ ” – Matthew 24:15-20

Revelation 12:15-16 – “Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.  But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.”

God performs miracles to protect his people, the Israelites.

Revelation 12:14 – “The woman [Israel] was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time [ 3 and a half years], out of the serpent’s reach.”

The words: ‘eagle’ and ‘angel’ are used interchangeably in Revelation 8:13 – ‘angel’ is used in the KJV and ‘eagle’ in the NIV and NASB translations for the verse: “I heard an eagle (or angel) flying, saying ‘woe’ “.

“You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.” – Exodus 19:4.  Another reference to ‘eagles’ providing assistance to His people.

“He who walks righteously and speaks what is right … this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.  His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him.” – Isaiah 33:15-16.  This Old Testament prophecy, like Hosea 2:14, is directed at the End Times.  God will be protecting and providing for the Jews miraculously.

“But the Lord will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.” – Joel 3:16

“Make Your shadow like night – at high noon.  Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees.  Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you; be their shelter from the destroyer.”  – Isaiah 16:3-4.  Remember Revelation 9:11 – the Beast is called, “in Greek, Apollyon” – the destroyer (the angel of the Abyss).

History repeats itself.  There’s an exodus, out of Jerusalem, just as they had fled Egypt in the days of Moses – Exodus 13:3.  Matthew 24:15 reads “flee to the mountains” just as the Israelites sojourned to Mount Sinai led by Moses.  Revelation 12:14 – “The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle” and in Exodus 19:4 – “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings”.

  Many scholars believe this ‘place prepared for her in the desert’, this place of refuge, will be Petra, Jordan.

Revelation 12:17 – “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman (Israel) and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (the Christians)

Since God is protecting the Israelites in the desert, the Dragon – Satan – ratchets up his persecution on all those who trust in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus.

Christians believe and trust in the Holy Trinity – The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  The church is the bride of Christ.

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  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.” – Revelation 2:10-11 (the second death is the lake of fire – hell).

“The saints (the believers) will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.” (3 and a half years) – Daniel 7:25

The Unholy Trinity of the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet, along with the false church (spiritual Babylon), will rule during the second half of the seven year Tribulation.

Readers: for the ‘scripture only’ post of ‘The Dragon fights on earth’ click on link: War on earth

click for previous article: Michael defeats the Dragon

click for next article: 5th Trumpet