The Dark Skies of Prophecy Chapter 3

Chapter 3

In the attempt to expose fallacy or weakness it is important that we do not generate slander nor label Christians as being heretics. The purpose is to educate the public and those who teach and promote Biblical Truth. It is important to expand our understanding of what God has communicated to us through His Word and the inspiration He continues to give us through the Holy Spirit. With that said, we should be careful how we word critical thoughts and how we label ideas and positions that people take.

It has been a custom among certain groups and television ministries to negatively label anyone who does not agree with their seven consecutive year pre-tribulation rapture viewpoint. They often use exaggeration and critical labeling to demote opposing viewpoints and promote their own ministry. Others use sensational concepts or theories to entertain their followers and raise money. This habit of labeling other groups is a form of slander and a way to put down or box out opposing viewpoints instead of having honest conversation and debate.

To be clear this book does not teach a preterist, partial-preterist, nor the amillennial viewpoint. The viewpoint presented in this book describes: “God’s Mercy and Love expressed through the 3.5-year ministry of Jesus Christ, followed by the Church Age, then closed out by the Rapture, and a 3.5 period of Divine Judgment called the Wrath of God.” Our two thousand yearlong Gospel-age is in the spotlight and embraced by two divine 3.5-year Holy periods that proclaim the Name of God as Savior and Judge, the Lamb and Lion, and the Alpha and Omega (the Beginning and End). The two prophetic 3.5 periods are God’s hands holding up the Church, the Light of God.

This Light points to God’s great mysteries in the Old and New Testament. In Ephesians 3:9, Paul declares that God’s grace was given him so that he could “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” The Holy Spirit and the Church were mysteries revealed by Jesus Christ. Another mystery was the miraculous birth and survival of the nation of Israel in 1948 and the miracle war of 1967 which released Jerusalem from Islamic control. These are signposts that point to the Lord’s 2nd Coming. The Cosmic Crossroad Countdown book series reveals other divine signs given to us to guide us such as God’s Festivals, the Jubilee years, the 7-Days of Creation, and God’s Great Sign of the Woman in Revelation 12. They show that we are in the “generation” that will see the rapture.

God’s plan was to defeat sin and death and transform His creation from a temporary and corrupt state to one that is eternal and perfect. The Futurists may label this inspired viewpoint as the “classic Pre-Wrath version.”  However, the classic Pre-Wrath end-time scenario demoted by the Futurists was based on a contiguous 7-year tribulation. This prophetic outline does not follow that concept and instead has the two 3.5-year periods embracing and uplifting the two-thousand-year Church Age. It makes sense that God would spiritually and physically embrace His Church as He puts all people in the world through tests and trials that will cause them to look up to Him. He wants to purify the Church and draw unbelievers to the Light so that everyone will have a chance to repent and obey Him. He encourages us by declaring; “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance,” James1:1-2.

In His Love God has made His Word available to the entire world through every method possible including through the printing press, radio, television, film, and digital drives. He has also allowed the 4 Horses of Revelation to shake the world’s foundation with disasters, famines, wars, rebellion, pestilence, and even the beasts of the earth. This shaking also happened during Old Testament time as shown in the following verses:

1) David called out to God in distress as enemies surrounded him: “My cry reached his ears. The world shook and trembled; the foundations of the mountains quaked, they shook because he was angry. He shot his arrows and scattered them; with many lightening bolts he frightened them,” Ps. 18:7 and 14.”

 2) Psalm 97:1: “Hate evil, you who love the Lord. He guards the life of those who love Him, delivering them from domination by the wicked.”

3) Isaiah 40:4-5: “Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be lowered; the rough ground will become level, and the mountain ridges made a plain. Then the Glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity will see it at once, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

4) Haggai 2:6-9, “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

It is IMPORTANT to note that in Haggai’s verse the phrase “in a little while” or others like “in the last hour” and the “70th week” can represent lengthy periods or spans of time now and into the future.

This idea of “super short time” representing a long amount of time is used by Jesus in replying to the woman at the well. Jesus says, “the hour will soon come when worship will not depend on a specific location but will be “in spirit and truth.” The Temple will not be necessary. God will move from the Temple to the human heart. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you,” I Corinthians 3:16 ISV).

Paul the Apostle refers to the Haggai verse above suggesting that Jesus Christ “shook all the nations, filling this house with Glory.” Paul states in Hebrew: “Once again I will cause the earth to move. But this time I will cause heaven to move, “Hebrew 12:28. Although Paul does not say that Heaven and earth moved when Jesus defeated Satan and Death, could it still be true? He will again move both Heaven and Earth at the end of the age in the last half of the prophetic 7th Week. Was Haggai comparing earth’s Creation to what will happen at the end of time? During the Wrath of God, all temporary, created things—both in heaven and earth—will be transformed through a final, cosmic “shaking” or judgment. This will ensure that only the eternal, unshakable Kingdom of God will exist.

However, we know that Jesus Christ made all this possible by reversing death, sin, the temporary state of matter, and much of physics through God directed miracles while living in a sin filled world.. When he died a massive earthquake happened and the sky became dark for hours. The supernatural was shaking the natural. Thus, at both sides of our 2000-year period the effect on nature and “permanence of created things” change. Both 3.5-year periods show “cosmic events.” There is much more detail on these special cosmic events in the first Cosmic Crossroad Countdown book.

John the Apostle in Revelation 3:10 shares the strong exhortation given by Jesus Christ to all Churches (and this includes Christian authors, film makers, institutions) that act as His Light to the world: “Because you (Philadelphia Church) have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you from the hour of testing that is coming in the whole world to test those living on the earth.” This “hour of testing” spans time to include our present age. It is an “hour” that includes world wars, Islamic invasions, worldwide pestilence like the Spanish Flu, and economic dictatorships like China. The White Horse and Rider will test the faith and devotion of the Church. The Red Horse and Rider will test their strength and obedience. And the Black and Green Horses will shake their faith, endurance, and convictions.

Jesus Christ showed his love for everyone including the demon possessed with miracles, comforting words, divine wisdom, and God’s plan expressed in parables and warnings. He set the stage for how a believer can overcome the world. He was purposefully directing a three-and-a-half-year ministry while he fulfilled hundreds of prophecies. Although he does not explicitly say, “I am fulfilling the first half of Daniel’s 70th week,” he implies this in the following Gospel passages:

1) In Luke 13:6-9 in the parable of the unfruitful Fig Tree Jesus Christ speaks of seeking fruit for “three years” and granted “one more year” to nurture and care for it. This is a good reference to his 3.5-year ministry.

2) The Gospel of John records at least three Passovers celebrated during Jesus’ ministry, ending with the Passover of his crucifixion. Since scholars believe that Jesus was born near late September during the Feast of Tabernacles, it suggests that he was baptized by John the Baptist in September during or after the Feast of Tabernacles. That would add six months to his ministry for a total of 3.5 years.

3) If you chose to use the word “confirm” at the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20) one sees Jesus Christ confirming “the blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many.” By doing this he is identifying himself as the “anointed prince” in Daniel 9:27.

4) And in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:15): Jesus directly references Daniel 9:27: “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).” By instructing the disciples using this key passage in Daniel he confirms his ministry and the subsequent events: which include the abomination Nero placed in the Temple in 67 AD and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. The Abomination includes the execution the Apostles Paul and Peter by Nero and later the execution of all the Temple priests. It all “confirms” the abomination having been committed during the time of the early church and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 24:3-8:  Jesus replies after the disciples ask him what will happen to them, and what will be the sign of his coming and the end of the age:  “See to it that no one deceives you, because many will come in my name, proclaiming, I’m the Messiah, and they will deceive many people. You’ll begin to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you don’t panic. These things must take place, but the end won’t have come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only a beginning of agonies.”  Could all these events happen between the crucifixion of the Lord and the 70 AD destruction of the Temple? The religious authorities in Jerusalem were determined to quench any talk of the resurrection and to arrest the leaders and smother the message of this new faith. The Roman dictatorship did not want rebellion and so followed the requests of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders. Rebellion and lawlessness happened despite the caution. There were wars and rumors of wars with nations rising against nations. Deception and false Christs were evident in the book of Acts, so we can assume those were happening.

In Matthew 24:9-14: Jesus states, “Then they’ll hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you’ll be hated by all the nations on account of my name. Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the inhabited world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Heavy persecution unfortunately happened to the disciples and the Church. The religious leaders executed James the brother of Jesus and stoned to death Stephen. Believers fled their homes and moved to other cities across the Jordan river as they fled Roman edicts issued against Christians throughout Judea.

What does the phrase “and then the end will come” mean here. In Jewish tradition it suggests an end to both the heavy persecution by Rome and the religious leaders but also an end to their present evil age and the beginning of a glorious new age. Soon Rome under Caesar Constantine would accept Christianity and the Gospel would spread throughout the Roman Empire. During and after the siege and destruction of Jerusalem the Roman forces and the religious zealots fought each other for years. The Church had to flee but was able to regroup and survive in various areas inside and outside Israel as archeology shows evidence of Churches in the Decapolis, Macedonia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Egypt, and Turkey.

In Matthew 24:15-20 Jesus states, “So when you see the destructive desecration, mentioned by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader take note), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Anyone who’s on the housetop must not come down to get what is in his house, and anyone who’s in the field must not turn back to get his coat.  ‘How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter or on a Sabbath when you flee”

In this passage Jesus gave a warning to those in Jerusalem warning them to prepare to flee to the mountains of Judea. The Zealot rebellion around Judea begins 30 years later in 66 AD followed by the Roman siege in April of 70 AD. Jesus tells his disciples and the early church to leave Jerusalem before they are entrapped by this conflict. It does not refer to events in our future. Why do we know this? In the Matthew passage Jesus says “flee to the mountains” which is different than what happens at the “end of time” when Jesus sets foot on the Mount of Olives and the mountain splits in two. The believers in modern Jerusalem will flee directly to the Dead Sea area and will not need to “flee to the mountains.” They will not have to flee upwards and southward but will flee through the split open eastern wall of Jerusalem and through the split open Mount of Olives in the East and then downward to the Dead Sea. This will be a quicker and safer route. Zechariah 14:5 explains, “You will run away through my mountain valley…you will flee, as you fled the earthquake under King Uzziah. And so the Lord my God will come with his holy ones to accompany you.” Jesus Christ will guide and protect them and then return with them to establish the Kingdom of God in Jerusalem where Jesus puts His throne. This will begin the Millennium with a “Temple of the Lord” which has a throne and not the Ark of the Covenant.

Another passage in the Old Testament that critics use to “prove” that a pre-Millennium Temple will exist on the present Temple Mount is the vision that Ezekiel has. Ezekiel sees a glowing man with a measuring rod and line at the gate of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40:3-4). He is measuring the “new temple” which represents the New Testament believers and not a physical Temple. In II Corinthians 6:16, Paul teaches us what God’s plan is: “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the real temple. That temple is within each believer and the Church as a whole.

The Futurist claims that the passage in Ezekiel 40 and later in Revelation 11 points to a new temple that will exist on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount before the Millennium. This is a failure in interpretation. The images of a Temple in both Ezekiel 40-48 and Revelation 11 are a symbolic fulfillment of the Promises and Prophecies made throughout scripture. Examples are in the following verses:

1) Ephesians 2:19, ISV states:

That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the Messiah] Jesus himself being the cornerstone. In union with him the whole building is joined together and rises into a holy sanctuary for the Lord.

Jesus Christ is our “cornerstone” that fulfilled the Promises in the Old and New Testament. His spiritual Temple stands on the “foundation of the apostles and prophets” who received and recorded the Word of God and acted upon the commands and inspiration given by God. Even the Qumran community that interacted with John the Baptist and wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls, believed that Ezekiel’s Temple was a spiritual temple. These Essenes helped shepherd the early Church. They hid their scrolls including the book of Daniel in caves. Did they understand that the Messiah was due at any moment and that John the Baptist had baptized him? John did declare openly that he was lesser and Jesus much greater.  Did they hide their scrolls for fear that they would be attacked by Roman forces during the entire period when believers and zealots were on the run?

2) Ezekiel’s vision beginning in Chapter 40 goes on for many chapters describing a symbolic place where his people will dwell forever, Ezekiel 43:7: “Son of dust, this is the place of my throne and my footstool, where I shall remain, living among the people of Israel forever. They and their kings will not defile my holy name any longer through the adulterous worship of other gods or by worshiping lifeless idols erected by their kings.”

The statement that God has his throne there forever implies that this is a picture of heaven and not the millennium. The millennium has a limit of 1000 years.

3)  Revelation 11:1 shows the Apostle John using a measuring rod to measure the Temple of God and the altar. John is measuring the Church and the number of martyrs that have given up their lives and are under the altar. Revelation 6:11, states that Jesus Christ tells the martyrs under the altar “to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers was completed, who would be killed.” God has set the number of saints that will be martyred before His return. Jesus also measures the number of believers as the Gospel reaches people worldwide. The outer courtyard is not “measured” because it represents the number of those who persecute God’s people and who will “trample the Holy City for three- and one-half years,” Rev. 11:2.

All these key passages support the fact that a Jewish Temple for Jews to worship in is not built anytime in the future. The Ezekiel Temple is a spiritual Temple in Heaven representing perfection.

Prophecy Flying in the Dark – Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The traditional KJV interpretation of the Angel Gabriel’s message to Daniel is as follows:  “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate,” Daniel 9:27.  Can you understand the message relayed?  The failure to give a clear accurate interpretation of this passage is a cause for concern. Who is the “he” in this passage? Modern day translators declare that the “he” is the Anti-Christ, yet according to proper interpretation the subject here is the anointed prince. This switch has flipped the meaning of current Prophecy projections and warnings.

The verse prior to verse twenty-seven states: “After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed Prince will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the commander (Anti-Christ) who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” The “appointed prince” is in the singular whereas the “people of the coming commander” is in the plural tense. The “he” in verse 27 is also in the singular and therefore refers to the “appointed prince” and not to the “people of the commander.” The appointed prince is also the main subject and since verses 26 and 27 belong in the same paragraph or in the same line of thought, the “he” in verse twenty-seven must be the “Anointed Prince.”  He, the Anointed Prince and not the commander, “shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week.” The word “confirm” is also incorrect. We will see that the correct interpretation is the word, “prevails.”

The commander’s army is the enemy of the Jews and will “destroy both the city (Jerusalem) and the Temple.” The commander will not confirm a covenant. This flip in translation caused teachers, pastors, and authors around the world to misinterpret one of the most important prophecies in the Word of God.  Following the crowd is not a good excuse.  It is important for everyone to understand that the New Covenant “prevails” and not this inauspicious commander and his people.  The “anointed prince” is Jesus Christ who is in Heaven directing Gabriel to make this important announcement to Daniel. Why would Jesus ignore sharing the purpose of His birth, mission, and resurrection which prevails against sin and death and all forms of wickedness, anxiety, and fear?  Why would Jesus ignore his own Promise to Israel and waste time announcing Satan’s future commander and covenant?

The Archangel Gabriel also gave important messianic announcements to the Temple priest Zechariah and to the Virgin Mary. It would be out of character for him to digress from the theme of this divine message to introduce an Anti-Christ as the Covenant maker. Why would God’s heavenly messenger skip the Messiah’s New Covenant that would end all sacrifices and offering? Why would he skip the message of hope and steadfast love that God was conveying to His exiled nation? And why would Garbriel ignore the “desolation” that Christ would suffer at the hands of this coming “commander?” The entire message recorded by Daniel would also comfort future Jewish generations that would go through four hundred years of silence and severe trials.

We should note three mistakes in translation: 1) The correct Hebrew translation for the verb “gabar” is not the word “confirms” but is the more commanding word “prevails.” The word “confirm” is only a secondary translation. In the Hebrew Lexicon the word gabar is defined as “to cause to overpower.” Thus, verse 27 should read: “His Covenant will prevail with many for one week.”  The New Covenant of Grace “prevails” as the Anointed Prince defeats Satan in the wilderness, sets the captives free, brings sight to the blind, defeats death, and redeems humanity. Jesus is the 2nd Adam born fully man and fully God. He has come to reclaim the right of dominion from Satan and save mankind.  Using the word “confirm” would carry less power and authority. God “prevails” and overcomes Satan, sin and death through Jesus Christ and His Covenant of Grace. The New Covenant “prevails” over the Old Testament but does not abolish it.

2)  We can interpret the 2nd part of verse twenty-seven as: “and He will be made desolate on the wings of abomination.”  Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah who fulfills all prophecy and therefore is the suffering servant who is made desolate. An obvious way to translate this entire passage is, “The covenant shall prevail for many for one week. In the middle of the week, He (Jesus Christ) shall cause the sacrifices and offerings to cease, and upon the wing of abomination He shall be made desolate.”  Jesus Christ was “made desolate” when He was betrayed by Judas, abandoned by his disciples, denied by Peter, and when he appeared alone before the High Priest who blasphemed God, the Jewish people that rejected him over Barabas, and Pilate who condemned Him.  He was again “made desolate” when he had to carry the cross on which he had been nailed to and died on, bearing the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. Nobody in history has been made so desolate for the sake of others.

“The wings of Abomination” refers to the location or locations where this atrocity took place. The majority of Christ’s physical torture and mocking began in the Roman Antonia and ended on the Cross which are both located in the Northwestern “wing” of Mount Moriah. This “wing of abomination” could also refer to the Garden Tomb which is also on Mount Moriah but further away. Both are outside the city wall or on a wing outside the body of the Temple and Temple court.  In each case the Lord “was made desolate on the wing of abomination.”

3)  It is unfortunate that verse twenty-seven is one of the most misinterpreted verses in the entire Bible. In some versions the word “destroyed” replaces the word “desolate.” Again, “destroyed” is the wrong word to use for we know that Christ cannot be destroyed. He is “made desolate” when he is beaten up, scourged, and placed on a cross where He redeems the sins of the world.  Jesus Christ is not “destroyed.”  This incorrect translation is a result of improper interpretation throughout the Daniel 9:26-27 passage.

Improper translation in the book of Daniel leads to wrong conclusions made in studying and teaching the book of Revelation. These Prophecy teachers claim that Revelation foretells of an Abomination of Desolation in an “end time Temple” in Jerusalem. This is a false narrative, for the book of Revelation does not mention the Abomination of Desolation. These teachers refer to Revelation 13:8-14, which speaks of the first beast, “all who inhibit the earth will worship him” and the second beast “is empowered to give life to the image of the beast.”  They claim this worship and image coming to life must happen in a future Temple built on the Temple Mount. And they suggest that these events are the Abomination of Desolation. Note that the book of Revelation does NOT state the location where these events happen. They could happen at the Vatican or in any place on earth.

Note that John the Apostle authored the Book of Revelation 20 years after the real Abomination of Desolation happened in Jerusalem in 67 AD. That is why it is not part of John’s vision given to him by Jesus Christ and portrayed in the book of Revelation. Both Paul and Jesus warned about the abomination of desolation because it had not happened. It would happen soon after Nero executed Paul in 67 AD. Jesus warned his disciples about Nero’s abomination of desolation and told them to flee before a three-and-a-half-year Roman siege would trap them in the city walls. In 70 AD Titus, “the commander” destroyed the Temple and killed the survivors of the siege.

In summary the main theme of Gabriel’s message in about 532 BC was to announce to Daniel and to those who read Daniel’s scroll that a specific time was set for the Messiah to appear. This Messiah or Prince is Jesus Christ who ministers for half a week, or 3.5 years and then he is crucified near the end of this period. This represents the first 3.5-years. His death and resurrection end the need for sacrifices and offerings. During this “desolation” He redeems mankind. The Resurrection ends the need for a Temple since Jesus Christ is “the Temple” that He said would be “raised up after 3 days” and He is the New Covenant that redeems all those who place their trust in Him. He told the Pharisees that the “Kingdom of God is within us.” All who receive Him have become the spiritual “Temple of God.”

Furthermore, the second 3.5-year period entitled “The Wrath of God” by Jesus Christ, John, and Paul was orchestrated by God from the beginning of Time to occur in the last generation.  We are that last generation as defined by the parable of the Fig tree in Matthew 24. This parable and the Great Sign of Revelation 12 are interpreted in the author’s first book: Cosmic Crossroad Countdown: the Fig Tree and the Prophetic Generation.  Our generation began with the birth of the nation of Israel and comes at the end of the Church age. The Church age represents a 2000-plus-year span of time, like the 69-week span of time in Daniel’s 70-week Prophecy. This means that the final 3.5-year period of Daniel’s 70th week may happen at any moment in the future. This will happen after the rapture and at a time when the Wrath of God will judge the sin of the world. Jesus discusses this final 3.5-year period of “Wrath” in his Olivett Discourse and never mentions any future 7-year period. Again, we must note that even though Jesus referred to Daniel’s 70-weeks prophecy, He did not warn of a “Wrath of God” that would last 7 years. He infers that his ministry represents the first half of the 7-year period.  This will be detailed in Chapter 3.

Jesus warned His followers to look for the “desolation” spoken of by “Daniel the prophet.” This desolation began when Nero placed his image in the Temple in 67 AD and executed both Peter and Paul. The Roman siege of Jerusalem continued into 70 AD when the Roman commander Titus finally breached the walls and desecrated the Temple by burning it down. In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul wrote, “He opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped, to that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.”  The final desecration would happen in 70 AD or 38 years after Jesus gave his Olivett Discourse in Matthew 24. Those in Jerusalem who did not flee with “just the clothes on their back” would die in Jerusalem. That is why Jesus warned his disciples to quickly leave Jerusalem when they saw Nero “set himself up as God” in the Temple.

Twenty years after the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem, John the Apostle wrote in Revelation about a time of “great tribulation” that would last 3.5 years.  The “Abomination of Desolation” had already happened in Jerusalem and now Jesus Christ returning from Heaven gives John a vision of end time events that will happen on earth and in Heaven. Chapters 11, 12, and 13 describe events that last a total of three-and one-half years. Jesus does not describe any 7-year period of tribulation nor any 7-year “Wrath of God.”  Surely this detailed vision would reveal something about a 7-year judgment or wrath to come. This clearly suggests that Jesus Christ fulfilled the first 3.5 years of the 70th week and therefore was the Covenant Maker who ended sacrifices and offerings for eternity.

In conclusion Word of God reveals that we will be looking forward to a three-and one-half-year Wrath of God and not to a “7-Year Wrath of God” popularized by the futurist prophecy movement. Jesus Christ has fulfilled the first 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th Week Prophecy. This means that both the “covenant” and the betrayal following that covenant by a so-called commander or anti-Christ figure will not happen in the future. What Jesus and Paul described as “abomination of desolation” happened in their generation, in 67 AD under the leadership of Nero and eventually Titus. Therefore, the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Jesus in the Olivette Discourse and by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians has already been fulfilled. The covenant that Gabriel announces is the New Covenant given unconditionally to all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior. We are not looking forward to an “abomination of desolation” that Darby and others claim will happen in a Temple on the Temple Mount. Both the Jews and secular believers do not want a Temple. What appears to be a minor issue has become a major deviation of Truth concerning the whole of end time Biblical Prophecy.

The Dark Sky of Prophecy – Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Was 19th Century biblical prophecy just an intellectual exercise that grew in popularity during a time of philosophical transition? This “renaissance in thinking” also saw the emergence of Marxism, Materialism, and Social Darwinism. The shift in theology began as did Darwin’s Origin of the Species around 1848. The author was Nelson Darby the father of modern dispensational theology. His system of thought predicts a 7-year “Wrath of God” that begins with the Anti-Christ deceiving Israel as he prepares to destroy the Jewish nation and take control of the entire world. The Anti-Christ’s deception involves a “false covenant” with the leader or leaders of Israel.

Darby promoted a new translation of a prophecy given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel in about 532 BC. Gabriel calls it the “70 weeks Prophecy.” The prophecy reveals that Jesus fulfilled 69 weeks when he made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, a week before his death on the cross. Darby and the Futurists believe that Daniel’s final week of 7 years has not been fulfilled. Today the majority who speak or write on biblical prophecy take this same position. These proponents dominate most Denominations and Prophecy conferences and rarely allow other viewpoints to be represented.

Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, Evangelicals, and members of Bible and non-denominational churches agree with the Futurists and teach that Daniel’s final week represents a 7-year “Wrath of God” still to come. They teach that the Anti-Christ will begin this final week of judgment by signing a false covenant with the nation of Israel. Then in the middle of the week or after 3.5 years the Anti-Christ will place the Abomination of Desolation in a Jewish Temple that must be built in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount.

This opens the idea that the Anti-Christ is alive today and may be Trump with his new peace initiative or an influential Jew like Jerud Kushner who recently established the Abraham Accord. We should not be looking for the Anti-Christ but should be looking for and sharing Jesus Christ. We should seek Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. Research shows those who read God’s Word at least 4 times per week will share more, memorize more, learn more, and will live healthier lives.  This may be due to Beta-endorphins that help us deal with stress, anxiety, and any challenge in life.

The 7-year “Wrath of God” concept inspires a false flag mentality that may motivate insecure people to distrust good leaders who are peacemakers with a popular following. The “evil covenant” conspiracy can generate inappropriate behavior and media hype that do not fit the context nor the basic logic of God’s message of love and grace. Why would God intend this? The Archangel Gabriel shared “Good News” of significant impact to both Mary and to Zechariah the father of John the Baptist concerning the births of Jesus and his cousin John. And we know Gabriel did not appear to Joseph to calm his anxiety about Mary’s pregnancy. That was not his mission. Precedence indicates that Gabriel’s purpose focused primarily on events related to the celebration of the coming Messiah.

When Gabriel spoke to Daniel, he was announcing the coming of an “anointed prince” or Messiah who “in the middle of the week” or after a 3.5-year ministry, will introduce a new covenant. Jesus Christ fulfilled this when he died for our sins after ministering God’s grace and love for 3.5 years. His death on the Cross and Resurrection ended the need for “sacrifice and offerings.” He was the one who was “made desolate” in the “wing of Abomination.” He was betrayed by Judas and in his time of need he” was abandoned by his disciples.  The Roman soldiers whipped, beat, mocked, and spit upon Him. They stripped off his clothes and forced a crown of thorns on his head. Alone on the Cross he took upon himself all the sins of the world past, present, and future. He was “made desolate on the wing of abomination.” No future commander nor Anti-Christ can fulfill this powerful divine prophecy.

Jesus Christ is our eternal sacrifice, and He purposefully ended the need for animal sacrifices and offerings for sin. From heaven He directed Gabriel to share this message of hope with Daniel to encourage the exiled Jewish nation in 538 BC and later as they endured four hundred years of silence. Also, God may have wanted to alert Jews and a young Christian Church in the early-to-middle first century of an impending attack on Jerusalem by a large Roman army. The Roman Empire which tortured and persecuted both the Jewish nation and the early Church represents the iron-toothed fourth hybrid beast in Daniel’s vision of 4 Empire Beasts. The Roman Empire was also the iron legs in Nebuchadnezzar’s metallic giant. It is interesting to note that in 90-91 AD Jesus Christ gave John the Apostle a vision of two human beasts that would persecute the Church and the tribulation saints.

From a historical viewpoint it was “commander” Titus who ended all Jewish animal sacrifices through the siege and destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Titus, as Daniel prophesied was just a commander, and not an emperor and was the one who destroyed “the temple and sanctuary.” As stated, Gabriel’s focus is not on the “commander” in the previous verse but on the “anointed prince” who spiritually ends the need for all animal sacrifices through the New Covenant and eternal forgiveness of sin. God’s plan would affect all of Heaven and earth. The New Covenant and Christ’s victory over sin and death is why history has the designation “Before Christ” and “After Christ.”

Gabriel’s message gave the Jewish people hope during their captivity. It would also influence what Daniel recorded on his scrolls. Teachers and students of the Bible agree that Daniel’s scrolls provided information that motivated Magi from the East five hundred years later to study the heavenly lights for a sign of a newborn King of the Jews. Gabriel’s focus was on the Messiah and his birth, linking prophecies given earlier by Isaiah, Malachi, Zechariah, Jeremiah, and King David to this special birth.

Gabriel’s announcement came after Daniel’s earlier vision of the multi-horned mutant beast with metallic teeth and Nebuchadnezzars’ dream of the metallic giant. Those supersized signs are like the Four Apocalyptic Horses and will follow throughout modern history giving each generation a healthy need to look up to God and  seek Him with faith and hope. God will be testing individuals, nations, and tribes and thus, His voice and shaking will impact society. Through trials and testing God will draw people to him as He did with Jacob, Joseph, Gideon, Moses, and the other heroes of the Bible.

According to Revelation 19:16-20, Jesus Christ returns from Heaven after the rapture with an army of Saints and destroys the armies of the Anti-Christ, thus fulfilling the prophecy behind the defeat of the two supernatural metallic-like avatars. Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah, is the Rock that destroys Nebuchadnezzar’s metallic giant and the hero that overcomes the final metal toothed mutant beast in Daniel. He will also defeat the two beasts in Revelation. Changing or adding to any part of Gabriel’s important message would affect mankind’s understanding of God’s eternal plan and timing. It could alter our understanding of the Book of Revelation and the timing of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Note that God has warned us not to add or subtract from the message in Revelation.

Nelson Darby decided to change the interpretation of Daniel’s 70-week prophecy even though the early Church fathers did not entertain his theory. His theory runs contrary to the following comparison of Daniel’s prophecy in the books of Matthew and Revelation. Jesus is warning the disciples to flee Jerusalem before the Abomination of Desolation that would happen soon under Nero. He tells them to flee to the mountains. Note that in the 2nd Coming, Jesus sets foot on the Mount of Olives and it splits in two. The people do not flee to the mountains. They flee through the eastern wall and the wide opening in the Mount of Olives. This is revealed in Matthew 24:15-17 ISV:

  • Jesus states, “So when you see the destructive desecration, mentioned by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader take note) then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Anyone who’s on the housetop must not come down to get what is in his house.” Jesus then warns, “How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. Pray that it may not be in winter or on a Sabbath when you flee, because at that time there will be great suffering, the kind that has not happened from the beginning of time until now and certainly won’t ever happen again,” Matthew 24:19-21 ISV.
  • Revelation 13:5, describes the entire timeline of the destructive beast called the Anti-Christ. “The beast was given a mouth to utter boasts and blasphemies. It was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.” Then Revelation 19:20 states: “The beast was captured, along with the false prophet who had performed signs on its behalf. By these signs the false prophet had deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped its image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
  • The scripture states that Beast will be in power for 3.5 years and then Jesus Christ will throw him into the lake of fire. The Anti-Christ will “exercise authority” for only three and one-half years. So how can the Rider of the White Horse at the beginning of Darby’s 7-year Great Tribulation be the Anti-Christ? The Futurist insists on this because they claim the full 7-year period is God’s Wrath. This requires that the Anti-Christ “exercise authority” for a full 7 years and not just forty-two months. This is a serious contradiction.
  • Revelation 12:13-14 states, “When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that it might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times, half time (3.5 years).” Again, this verse warns of an attack on the “Woman” who is the nation of Israel and the male child which is both Jesus Christ and Christians (who have Christ in their heart). Those fleeing include the 144,000 “sealed” Jews and other believing Jews and Christians.
  • The woman and child are “taken care of” when they are quickly carried or transported on the “wings of eagles.” It is possible those Jewish saints flee Jerusalem in left-over tourist buses organized by Christians who have also prepared “the land” beforehand. This land is the Jordanian wilderness where dozens of Christians have bought and prepared hotels and motels for this exact purpose. They will “be taken care of for 3.5 years” while chaos worldwide is happening. As the Trumpet and Bowl judgments shake the entire world, they are protected.

Darby’s theory did not originate from any of the early Church fathers, not with John the Apostle the author of Revelation, nor with his associate Polycarp and Polycarp’s student Irenaeus. Their writings and those of other Church fathers do not entertain Darby’s interpretation. They saw and experienced great tribulation at the hands of cruel Ceasars such as Domitian, Nero, and Antonius Pius and were in the generation that witnessed the death of Paul, Peter, and James, and the destruction of Jerusalem. They were aware of the long siege that starved out the people in Jerusalem. Nero placed an image of himself in the Temple in 67 AD and the city fell three and a half years later in 70 AD. This is the 3.5-year period described in Daniel 12:7.  Jesus refers to this in Matthew 24:9-10 when he says to his disciples, “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another.” This 3.5-year period is a precursor to the 3.5-year period of Great Tribulation or Wrath of God that will occur at the end of time. The early Church fathers understood that both Daniel and Jesus had warned the Church and other inhabitants to flee Jerusalem before the total encirclement of the city by the Roman army.

Darby’s focus on a 7-year Wrath and the Anti-Christ covenant has affected the teaching of prophecy in churches around the world? Romans 15:4, states “For everything written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may endure.”  When we misinterpret scripture will it affect our hope and endurance? Revelation 1:3, states “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud and blessed are those who hear and obey the words written in it because the time is near!”  Note that this is an exclamation. Does this imply that the 4 Horses of the Apocalypse happened soon after John was given God’s Revelation? This was a time when Caesar Domitian and others like Maximus killed many of the leaders of the church and committed severe persecution on the Church. Many cults were forming, and many lies were being told. False Christs were trying to deceive young believers and non-believers, and wars and rumors of wars were spreading. The birth pains had begun and would continue to grow for almost 2000 years.

In his theory Darby sought to remove the idea that the Four Horses of the Apocalypse and their Riders had already been released. Artists, historians, and others however have depicted those “horses and riders” throughout history as causing cataclysmic geo-political events that ravaged nations, tribes, and entire regions. The early church fathers in the time of Irenaeus saw the death and distress caused by this Apocalyptical spirit in their generation. They and following generations experienced horrible wars, pestilence, famine, rebellion, and/or economic hardship such as slavery. We cannot ignore the bloody Arab invasion that occurred in the 8th century and the Ottoman Empire that persecuted Jews and the Church for over 400 years. World Wars and revolutions such as Mao’s cultural revolution and his war of independence killed millions of Christians and others.  Famines and pestilence killed millions more.

Romans 15:4 states, “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  This refers to prophecy and the correct interpretation of the Word of God. Misguided can affect the Churches understanding of both the timing and the sequence of prophetic signs, events, and warnings. Has the teaching of prophecy in seminaries undermined the “hope” that God intended? The phrase, “in the middle of the week, sacrifices and offerings are ended,” is not a prophetic Futurist event since Jesus Christ fulfilled it in 32 AD. Darby’s re-interpretation also ignores the true Abomination of Desolation that Nero committed around AD 67 when he put his own image in the Temple.

Nero’s abomination caused a rebellion in Jerusalem that lasted over 3 years under four different emperors and the general Titus who continued the battle against the Jewish zealots and started the siege on Jerusalem. This siege began in April of AD 70 resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands and the total destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. The five Roman leaders responsible were Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, and Titus the son of Vespasian. In its entirety it was a 3.5-year campaign against the Jewish leadership and the zealots. Can this atrocity be judged as an abomination? Since hundreds of thousands of innocent people died, it would seem so.

Does Darby’s change in interpretation demote the glorious sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross for all who believe? No, but as shown, it does confuse all end time theology. The true message given to Gabriel transcends time offering Salvation to all who trust in Jesus Christ as both Savior and standard bearer of the New Covenant. His Name is above all names, and He is the New Covenant which supersedes the Old Covenant. The veil in the Temple was torn in two declaring that Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man and no Temple is necessary.

In the 1st Coming Jesus Christ fulfils over 350 Prophecies given by God to Daniel and the other prophets. His Resurrection and the Gift of the Holy Spirit mark the beginning of the Church Age. The last 3.5 years or the “Wrath of God” will come after the Rapture of the Church and will begin after the great earthquake described in the 6th Seal Judgment. Following the chaos caused by this worldwide earthquake the devastated world will seek a strong leader who will be the Anti-Christ. He will take political control over the world and will organize a large force that will attack a rebellious nation of Israel and its capitol city Jerusalem.

The Anti-Christ’s army along with the million-man army from the East and the Arab armies will surround and destroy Jerusalem. This will be the third destruction of this great city. The first one occurred when Babylon conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC and the second when Nero claiming to be God put a statue of himself in the Temple. It was Nero who desecrated the Temple and caused the “abomination of desolation” mentioned by Paul in 2nd Thessalonians. He was the perfect Anti-Christ type. History describes him as the one who torched Rome and set live Christians on fire as living torches. Will the modern-day Anti-Christ behave in the same way? He will try to kill all those who do not receive the “number of the beast.” He will also kill the two witnesses that are preaching on the streets of Jerusalem. These two witnesses will begin their ministry before the attack on the city to warn its citizens and the citizens of other nations who sin against God. They will inspire the 144,000 who will be sealed by God, Revelation 7:3. The two witnesses will be killed by the Anti-Christ but will be resurrected by God in 3 days.

As revealed earlier, the last week of Gabriel’s 70-week prophecy bookends modern history with one 3.5-year period happening during the ministry of Jesus Christ and the second one happening at the end of the Church age. The 1st 3.5-year period begins with the baptism of Jesus Christ. It ends with His Ascension in 32 AD. The total time span between the Ascension of Jesus Christ and the uplifting of the Church in the rapture is about two thousand years. The last 3.5-year period might begin in 2028 and end in 2032. The whole “Church Age” covers the gap between these two 3.5-year periods and represents rise and fall of nations and the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world. The final 3.5 years are God’s Judgment on sin and His Victory over Satan, the false prophet, and Anti-Christ. It will end with Christs 2nd Coming, the battle of Armageddon and then the Millennial Kingdom will follow.

Prophets like Daniel, Zechariah, and Joel spoke of this final 3.5-year period as being the “Day of Lord.”  In the book of Revelation, this period has also been described as lasting only 3.5 years.  As stated earlier the Bible never states that the “Wrath of God” lasts 7 years. For instance, why is the White Horse in the first Seal Judgment considered part of the Wrath of God? This horse and rider represent deception and lies and not death. This is an Anti-Christ spirit that has been active since the Gospel began. Apostle John warns about this deception, I John 2:18, “Dear children this is the last hour; and as you have heard the anti-christ is coming, even now many anti-christs have come.” These Anti-Christs will prepare the way for the Rider of the Red Horse who brings death, terrorism, civil war, and even world war. This is man’s wrath upon man and not God’s Wrath.  The Black Horse and Rider represent economic suppression and a digital currency that will monitor all spending and savings. The Green Horse with Death as its Rider and followed by Hades represents the death of all those who are unbelievers. This has happened throughout history as God has guided “redeeming armies” to defeat the forces and powers of darkness.

Prophecy throughout scripture tells us that there will be a massive attack on Israel in the future. This large force will strike Israel and surround Jerusalem, and it will almost succeed since two thirds of the Jewish population will perish (Zechariah 13:8-9), “It will come about in all the land, declares the Lord, that two-thirds of the people living there will perish.”  In the last battle Jesus Christ will intervene as He splits the Mount of Olives in two allowing those who call upon His Name to flee down into the Dead Sea and then southward to lands prepared for their safe habitation. This is the second Coming of the Lord described in Revelation 19:11-21.  They will join the 144,000 Jews sealed by God (Rev.7:3) and others who fled into this southern wilderness over 3 years earlier, Revelation 12:14, “However, the woman was given the wings of a large eagle so that she could fly away from the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she could be taken of for a time, times, half a time” (three and one half years). All of these believing Jews and other Christians will be safe while the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments severely shake the rest of the world. This will be Wrath of God.

The prior chapter explained why Darby’s Anti-Christ will not make a covenant with Israel and will not end all sacrifices and offerings in a future physical Temple. We know that animal sacrifices cannot happen without a Jewish Temple constructed on the Temple Mount. We know that Islam has imbedded itself in nations around the world and will not allow the construction of a Jewish Temple near their Dome of the Rock. They would declare jihad throughout the West. Third we know that the average Jew and most secular people worldwide do not want animal sacrifices. And fourth we discovered that there is no “covenant” made by an enemy “commander of the people.”

 

It is likely that Darby misinterpreted Daniel’s use of the phrase “Most Holy Place” in Daniel 9:24. This phrase refers to the “Most Holy Place” discussed by Ezekiel and Zechariah and is not a future Temple on the Temple Mount.  Jesus would have told him that it was a Temple. No, this Holy Place will have the throne of David and will not bear the Ark of the Covenant. Nations will come to it for it is the Holy Seat of Government and Justice. Jesus Christ sits on throne with an iron scepter. The people who worship Him are the Temple of God.

The message from Gabriel does not point to the nation of Israel nor the corrupted Temple in the time of Jesus. There was no nation of Israel at this time. In his Triumphal entrance Jesus Christ cried for Jerusalem and condemned the religious leaders that had taken it hostage. The Temple Mount was therefore under God’s judgment. The Temple in Jerusalem at this time in history was not the “Most Holy Place.”

Also, the word “sacrifice” is not in italics in Daniel 9:27, but it is in Daniel 8, 11, and 12. This is because the word “sacrifice” was added by early translators, however it was not added in Daniel 9:27 since it was in the original text.  In the KJV any word not in the original text was in italic. The emphasis points to Jesus Christ ending the sacrifice. Note that Jesus, the Lamb of God, did not die in the Temple grounds, He was crucified on a cross “upon the wing of abomination,” or outside the walls of Jerusalem. The Temple Mount will only become the “Most Holy Place” in the Millennial Kingdom when Jesus Christ sits on David’s throne.

Darby’s Anti-Christ or “Commander” cannot and will not end the sacrificial system. There have not been any animal sacrifices since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. If the Temple and its outer court were reconstructed today, it would be an “abomination of desolation” for the very fact that it would be a denial that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Sacrifice for all who receive Him. Christians, Jews, and even Islamists would be against it. For emphasis, most Jews do not believe that they need a Temple. They have lived two thousand years without animal sacrifices. The only supporters would be the ultra-orthodox and those zealot Christians who want to usher in the Anti-Christ.

The idea that the average Jew wants a Temple is a made-up theory. In fact, what prevents the destruction of Jerusalem by future anti-Jewish forces may be the very fact that the Dome of Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are still on the Temple Mount. The Israel Defense Forces know that it shielded Jerusalem’s ancient city walls from missile attacks. The future “Commander and his people” will seek to destroy Jerusalem and not the Temple Mount because their focus will be to decapitate the government and kill soldiers and other Jews. The Word of God says that the two witnesses will preach in the streets of Jerusalem and not on the area of the Temple Mount for the very reason that the Dome of the Rock is still there. Islamic religious leaders would not allow this preaching and would incite riots. The rebuilding of the Jewish Temple is not popular with any political group in Israel nor in the world.

My Thoughts from God’s Word on End Time Events after the Rapture

So what will happen?  The rapture of the Church will undermine all of America’s services and military, just as war breaks out worldwide.  Out of chaos will come a Daniel’s fourth beast which is composed of the 3 historical beasts: the Lion of the Babylonian Empire, the bear of the Medo-Persian empire, and the Leopard of the Greek Empire.  This 4th beast has body parts representing all 3 prior empires plus an Empire that extends into our present culture. This is the Roman Empire mixed with the Holy Roman Empire as we know it today.  This 4th Empire will be ruled by 10 kingdoms that will control the earth, Daniel 7:7-25.  This beast is also described in Revelation 13: 1-18 and Chapter 17.  In these passages John, sees a “composite” beast that rules the earth with 10 kings or kingdoms.  This ends when a small horn erupts that defeats 3 of the 10 horns producing a total of 8 horns or kingdoms or kings. The 8 horns last “1 hour” (a short time) out of which they will “give power and authority to the beast” or Anti-Christ (Rev.17:12-13). At the formation of this 8th horn, the Anti-Christ will impose his will upon the whole earth and will commit the Abomination of Desolation on the Temple grounds. Soon later he will assassinate the 2 witnesses who were ministering to Israel and to the world through the media for 3.5 years.  They have acted as dual prophet/judges and brought plagues and drought to those nations who disobey God.  Therefore, they are not popular and when they are killed people will celebrate by giving each other gifts such as candy.  This is a practice that is celebrated by Radical Islam when killing Jews.  It is important to note that Islam has also been associated with this practice and with the Swastika- a cosmic symbol of Nazism and revolt against God.

This 8th horn represents and 8th kingdom that was and is and will be suggesting that it is an outgrowth of Hitler’s Reich.  Some believe that the Anti-Christ will represent a “resurrection” of Hitler or a Hitler-like figure that shows similar traits. Even today we see the swastika used by many groups that endorse lawlessness and brutality.  This spirit of the anti-Christ fulfills what both John and Jesus warned about. The Anti-Christ used the first 3.5 years to consolidate power over 10 kingdoms or the 10 horns and in the process will win over the world’s population including Israel with his charm and with the promise of peace and security. There is tribulation on the ten kingdoms or kings as the Seal Judgments are released by the Lamb of God.  The final Seal is a warning of the coming great Wrath to come. This is not the wrath of God nor the Day of the Lord.  The blood red moon and sackcloth sun along with the massive earthquake are warnings to the whole earth.  The Great Wrath comes only after a lead Angel commands 4 angels holding back the 4 winds “not to harm the land, sea, or trees until the 144,000 are sealed.”  Hence the Wrath begins after the 30 minutes of silence in heaven and after 144,000 pure Jews are sealed.  This happens during the 7th Seal and before the beginning of the 1st Trumpet judgment. The 144,000 are God’s agents to replace the raptured Church.

Prior to the formation of the 8 kingdoms and during the time of the ten kingdoms the White Horse will spread Lies and Deception (the Anti-Christ) and soon later rebellion will occur or the Red Horse.  This leads to economic hardship and the control of trade, money, and all goods including food by the Anti-Christ’s enforcers (the 3rd rider and black horse).  Sometime during the first 4 Riders of the Apocalypse God will appoint the 2 Witnesses in Israel.  The two witnesses may influence where the 4th Rider of Death followed by Hades is focused. Most of these 4 Seal judgments will occur outside Israel and in the 4th Seal ¼ of the earth is devastated with the sword, famine and plagues. This implies that it may also be affected by drought and fire, which is the power given to the witnesses.  This 4th Seal judgment does not kill ¼ of the earth’s population as many believe. And the earthquake in the 6th seal obviously affects the whole earth for every island and mountain will be moved.  Some think that the Seal judgments only affect Israel—it actuality it is just the opposite.

Mexico, Canada and the weakened United States may form one region.  South America and Central America along with most of the Caribbean may make up another region.  Africa and India along with other destroyed Asian nations such as Pakistan make up a 3rd region.  The rest of Southern Asia and Australia make up a 4th region.  The Philippines, and other Pacific Islands along with Hawaii, Japan, and Taiwan make up a 5 region.  Russia and its old USSR make up a 6th region, China forms the 7th, and finally the Middle Eastern nations including Turkey and Iran make up an 8th.   Initially prior to the formation of the 8 kingdoms fire, drought and civil war weakened 10 military zones or horns with its 10 kings. The Anti-Christ quells the rebellion, the Red Horse, with a superior force. He restores order with the Black Horse. During this time the Dome of the Rock is destroyed and out of this struggle the 8 major kingdoms are formed.  The Anti-Christ creates a treaty or covenant with Israel so that peace will be restored in the region and allows them to rebuild the Temple. The Temple is completed under a year and from there the Jews call out to Jews the world over to return to Israel.  The Anti-Christ allows this migration.  Among this is group i9are the two Witnesses who begin the next stage of their ministry on the Temple grounds.

One-step from World War

Movie Trailer:  https://youtu.be/z2wQpcbLTD8

Anarchy leads to autocracy or strong controls to suppress rebellion for the sake of peace and security. When judges compromise justice and ignore the law—dogma and more rebellion arise along with lies and propaganda that feed the masses. This scenario will allow the Anti-Christ to spread consolidate his power—for Satan is the Father of lies. Right now, we are seeing the stage being prepared. The international nuclear watchdogs have confirmed that Iran is building a stockpile of highly enriched nuclear materials for the making of nuclear bombs or missiles. We just saw Iran’s balistic missiles and drones penetrate Israel’ defenses. Israel knows that allowing Iran to continue its pursuit of a nuclear weapon is an existential threat and so they will continue their attack. If Iran hits our military bases, we will join Israel in hitting deeper bunkers with bunker buster bombs.  And it will take us one step closer to world war.

I believe one reason Trump has been talking to Putin is to make sure that he understands that this attack is regional and not his business. There is a treaty between Iran and Russia —- so Trump is making sure that Putin understands that this attack is to prevent a nuclear war near Russia that could affect the underbelly of Russia. Hopefully he will abide by this effort and warning.

See with eyes that see so that you may know the Truth and walk in the Light and not the darkness. Pray in this time turmoil so that you may understand the Word of God. So many have misunderstood– that the Time of Tribulation is near. They have not seen the Signs nor heard the winds of the Spirit blow. The rider on the White Horse will soon run his ghostly race to subdue the earth with lies and deceit. Are you ready?  Time is short and therefore the Author seeks help in every venue to get the message out. God wants the world to know that the Great Sign of Revelation 12 was a divine warning of “Invisible Wars” both natural and supernatural that will continue to shake up the world.

In the last 8 years, America and Europe have lost their way allowing dictators, dark spiritual forces, and emotion to command the stage. An irrational woke mentality seeks to dictate truth and policy. Our national debt has soared, and the threat of nuclear war and internal rebellion has inflamed the fears and anxiety of the masses. The war in Ukraine and the threats in the middle East and Far East are taking the superpowers to the edge of war. Like the Bethlehem Star and the birth of the nation of Israel, the Great Sign of Revelation 12 was meant to get our attention. It has a powerful meaning for our day. God calls it the GREAT SIGN for a reason – so why are so few investigating its importance? Is it a Great Sign because God is warning us of the soon to come Great Tribulation and His Great Wrath?

As we study this Great Sign and Crossroad that connects to it, we will unwrap other mysteries and the path to the future. There is still time, but we must act now to pursue God’s Truth for it will save souls. To keep up with events, read new posts at: CosmicCrossroad.com and here. The fact that most people cannot open “the mysterious” Word of God shows its power and therefore it’s profound depth. In this book the Word is prayerfully used to reveal Answers. With God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, the blind can see and find hope. The rewards are inexpressible for Jesus Christ; the Author of Salvation is with us and wants an intimate relationship with us. He wants us to know and understand the love and hope in His message, many of which are revealed in his prophecies, warnings, and signs.  It is up to us to see with eyes that see and hear with ears that hear before these “Days of Noah” turn into the stage for the Anti-Christ.   Check this cool Movie Trailer that I made https://youtu.be/z2wQpcbLTD8

Deception or just bad Exegesis among Prophecy Speakers?

We have been deceived: Many Prophecy books, speeches, sermons, and film declare that ¼ of the world’s population are killed in the 4th Seal or during the ride of Death followed by Hades on the Green Horse. This is often used to support the idea that this must represent God’s great Wrath or the Day of the Lord. This lie is then shared by those who have been deceived. And so now 9 out of 10 people have been deceived. Open your Bible and read: Revelation 6:8 says, “I looked, and behold, a green horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.”

It does not say that a fourth of the earth’s population is killed like many have been told and now share with others! There may only be tens of thousands who die as we have seen in Ukraine where there is total devastation of buildings and infrastructure, yet mostly soldiers have been killed. In Chapter 7, an angel appears that commands the 4 angels that have held back the 4 winds, not to harm the land, the sea, and the trees until God has sealed the 144,000 on their foreheads. This infers that in Chapter 6 even the “trees and land” were not devastated by that 4th Horseman on the Green Horse.

This is not God’s Great Wrath nor the Day of the Lord as many prophecy speakers want you to believe. WWI and WWII were much more devastating. The point is in the 6 Seals God gives us Signs or warnings of the Coming Wrath of God or the Day of the Lord. Logically it makes sense, for God wants to first Seal the 144,000 who will replace the Church which was raptured before this final 7-year Tribulation. In His Grace and Mercy, God wants to save as many people as possible. By this time the Kings of the Earth are shaken Revelation 6:15, and the Anti-Christ is in control and raising his army while consolidating his power over 10 Kings.

God wants to save as many as possible before they receive the Mark of the Beast and are forever forsaken. Even the 6th Seal with its massive earthquake and the impact by many “falling stars” is not the “Day of the Lord.” As stated in the book of Joel and declared by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:29 these are birth pains or signs marked by a blood moon and sackcloth sun. They warn of God’s Wrath in the coming Trumpet Judgments which will devastate 1/3 of the earth and sea. During this time the Anti-Christ will commit the Abomination of Desolation and will kill the two Witnesses.

Seek the Lord with all Your Heart, Mind, and Soul

Know that your sins will find you out.  Whether you know God or not the Truth and His Light will expose darkness.  Right now Satan and his angelic hoard are doing their nasty deeds around the world ….  even to the point of tempting believers with sexual bait. Those who resist and flee evil both physically and mentally will be blessed. Read Cosmic Crossroad Countdown: the Invisible War & Final Chapter to better understand the full perspective! The Dragon is furious for he knows that his time is short: Rev. 12:12……

Expressions of Love, Truth, and Hope by Author and Artist- Peter Hofmann.

The Movie Trailer for my latest book:  https://youtube/z2wQpcbLTD8

this is an 4 by 8 foot multi-media painting illustrating the 2nd Coming and the lawless rebellion or darkness on the earth. 

a 3 ft. by 4.5 ft. Stained glass painting on Plexiglass of Moses parting the Red Sea with sun shining behind it and below is the same stained glass painting without the bright sun but with a shadow.

You can see the shadow of the tree branch in the background. It has been up for two years

this is me by The photo realistic painting of the Dallas Cowboys defeating the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.

the symbolic painting showing Jesus Christ in the landscape of the Old Testament.  For instance the “portrait” of Jesus is actually an angel trying to stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and in the burning bush is the I AM— speaking to Moses.  Encamped is the Jewish nation in the form of cross.  If you want to learn more read my newly printed book Cosmic Crossroad Countdown: The Invisible War & Final Chapter.

a 4 ft. by 3ft painting done at our White Rock Lake ministry called Answers on the Rock where we give away free books and pray for others. The painting was added to by people passing by adding their impression of God’s Creation on their lives—in their own words written on the canvas. I also give away copies of my powerful Dental book called Dentistry Xposed: Protecting You, Your Smile, and Your Wallet.

This is a traditional lead/glass Stained Glass window I made for my old dental office which is 2.5 ft by 4.5 ft and depicts the Sea of Galilee with some undersea creatures.  And the next one is now on my door at home done with special Acrylic paint on Plexiglas. It was made with junk glass except for the rainbow.

this is one of 5 panes of painted Plexiglas representing the 6 Days of Creation.

This is one of two acrylics showing the 21 who died in Uvalde with 19 souls of Children rising to heaven as the Spirit of God watches.

Another Acrylic on Plexiglas which I teach people to add beauty and save money on heating & cooling in their home.  It will add a 2nd layer to your outdoor window blocking ultraviolet rays and the bright sunlight.  It is a practical form of art that will save you money while beautifying spaces.

This is pic of a new technique in Stained Painting of Plexiglass using gold paint as a frame.  This is what it looks like on the inside of a window but when you mount it on a wall the gold shows and it looks much different.  If you want to join a class contact me  phrescue7@sbcglobal.net

one painting in competition.  Much like Symbolic Landscape painting  entitled the Majesty and Glory of His Coming it tied for 1st place.

artistic photography

one person who added to the art at the lake.

 

 

 

 

The New Book and Current Events:

First is a Preview of the latest edition of the Cosmic Crossroad Countdown: The Invisible War & Final Chapter and following is the summary:

INTRODUCTION: God has warned us, the Invisible War has begun. It has taken many forms from the spiritual to the physical, from angels to demons, from a virus to the deep ocean, across our borders and through our gateways. It enters our mouth, ears, eyes and heart. We are being invaded yet few understand the danger. Like Noah’s time people have ignored the rumbling and stirring of the deep, the signs from the heavens, the growing evil and the day-to-day warnings. Cities and those who celebrate evil along with the innocent nearby are in great danger as a mysterious great Dragon prepares the stage for the Final Chapter.

Just as God used Daniel and heavenly lights to point to Christ’s first coming, does it not make sense that He will again use His Heavenly Lights, Daniel’s 70-week Prophecy, and historical markers to point to His next coming? The Great Sign of Revelation 12 plus four Blood moons and 2 Solar Eclipses, a Virgin with child, a Dragon with a Lion, a comet titled P67, a demonic-like invasion of Israel, followed by Iran’s first attack against Israel, and now today’s worldwide condemnation of Israel point to God warning us about some major event soon to come.

Dr. Hofmann will unravel how carefully God unfolds history to warn us of things to come, linking the natural to the supernatural as he fulfills promises in a mysterious pattern revealed in the Word He gave us.. In the center is the birth of Jesus Christ, a mistake made in the annals of world history, the Great Sign of Revelation 12, God’s city Jerusalem, the mystery of the number 7 & 8, and the divine connection to Hebrew Festivals and Generations. In God’s Light there is a warning beacon drawing us to Him which will protect us in the storm and will solve the puzzle of the century before it is too late. Just as the world missed the Bethlehem Star, most people will not see the truth behind the Great Sign unless they read this book. Unfortunately, it is because our leaders have a skewed view of Revelation 12 due to tradition, a false logic, and/or a reluctance to reveal the truth in this book. People do not want to hear about the Red Dragon and the actual date of his casting down to earth with all his wicked angels. Nor do they want to see how both the Church and the Jewish people are deeply connected to its message.

The Bible has many mysteries, but the greatest combination lies in Chapter 12 of the book of Revelation. Although confused scholars have chosen to cast it and Revelation in the dust bin of “history long ago,” Jesus Christ declares that its truth is a blessing to all who read it, hear it, or understand it, and a curse to anyone who changes it or adds to it. Why? Because God wants each of us to know the Truth before His soon to come Return.

Revelation 12 has many significant Signs: Number one is related to the birth of Jesus Christ, the nation of Israel, and the start of the Church which are timed to happen before the next major Sign:which is the casting out of Satan and his angels from Heaven. They are a warning to all mankind for it states that “Satan is furious because he knows his time is short”. God chose to put this Great Sign in the middle of His Revelation and not in chronological order because He wants us to know that it is has a timeless connection to all Prophecy and to both the beginning of time and to His Return. Like the Bethlehem Star the Great Sign is designed to give us Hope while at the same time serving as a warning beacon in the darkness.

Currently we see tragedies happening all over the world with many innocent people suffering due to the evil of others.  This has also happened in New Orleans & Vegas where evil is celebrated with gambling, prostitution, and dark arts  – And in Los Angeles which is the epicenter of pornography and a movie industry that promotes an anti-Christ agenda and mentality imbued with sex, horror, violence, gross materialism and hedonism.  God is warning us.

God motivated and inspired Dr. Hofmann to share this because the Tribulation period is fast approaching. He gave Dr. Hofmann the vision of a great technicolor scroll flying in the sky with Hebrew letters and showed him that it was not a dream by dividing it into 3 scrolls-each in a Primary color – and bringing them together again. Things are not going back to normal as Satan desires to destroy both Israel and the Church. Billons of people and well-known corporations and lesser-known entities are under his dark spell. Just as with the spread of Covid, every level and sector of society is being affected by invisible forces that celebrate evil. God wants the world to know the truth and to seek Him with open hearts before it is too late. Learn more here: https://youtu.be/fqLjdlPb7Eo?si=ytZ1E0hYQe4nYRA4

The Seed of the Red Dragon vs. the Seed of the Woman

Do you realize how much we depend on signs? Signs tell us how fast we can drive, where to eat, how far to go, where we live, or when our plane arrives. Frankly, we take signs for granted. In ancient times there were few man-made signs, so many people depended on the stars, moon, sun, and shadows to tell them when where, and how to navigate distances and time. This may be the reason why people have failed to comprehend the convergence of 3 important signs. It involved planets, stars, our moon, the Jubilee year, Jewish Holy Festivals, & Generation periods. God had promised that “A Star shall come out of Jacob; a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” He used Heavenly Lights to proclaim Jesus Christ. And when He placed those Lights in alignment and in timely order or patterns such as in the “womb” of the Constellation Virgo for 9 months, then we know He is trying to get our attention.  We know that the main star in Virgo is “Spica” which means Seed, and this suggests a connection between Eve and Genesis 3:15, the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and the Great Sign of Revelation 12 and the Red Dragon. It points to the epic battle in between good & evil.

Over a span of 3-and one-half years the first Blood moon fell on the feast of Passover 2014 and 3 other Blood moons also fell on key Jewish Festivals: each with earth’s red shadow cast on it. It makes sense that they may have been used to announce the Great Sign of Revelation 12 which Jesus Christ revealed to the Apostle John.  The Sign happened on September 23, 2017, as declared by astronomers who were amazed by how Jupiter’s retrograde motion kept it in the “womb” of Virgo for over 9 months. And prior to that, Venus moved in conjunction with Jupiter across the Solar System for exactly 400 days. Then Venus (representing Jesus as High Priest) departed the womb and moved in perfect alignment with Mars (Son of Man) and Mercury (Jesus is the Word) to form a perfect line pointing to the star Regulus (Royalty) which the heart of the constellation Leo.  God gave us constellations to help us, to explain His plan for the Universe and to be a Sign of His Promise to defeat the Red Dragon or Satan and deliver Israel. The Big Dipper for instance pointed out the North Star and the North Star guided navigation on both sea and desert. The constellation Virgo, the Virgin Eve, led the way, with Leo the Lion closing out the epic Promise. Some students of Egyptology suggest that the pagan priests taught that the Virgo-Leo position was a portal into the underworld for eternal bliss in the “Field of Reeds.” This may be why the Sphinx had the head of the Virgin and the body of a Lion.

The Great Sign is also connected to God’s promise to the Virgin Eve and the Serpent Dragon in Gen. 3:15: “I will put enmity between you (speaking to the Serpent) and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Both involve the Virgin, the Seed, a Dragon, and the Hero. Both reflect the birth of the Savior and His Resurrection and the defeat of Satan, death, and sin. Jesus’s first coming was announced with Heavenly lights, the Bethlehem Star. It was God’s beacon that was not noticed by the leaders, scribes, and Pharisees. It was “seen” only by the Kings of the East who were trained by the prophet Daniel. Likewise, our Great Sign was not seen by the Spiritual leaders of today. In fact, it was virtually invisible since it appeared so low on the horizon. Plus, the minute the sun came up and positioned itself on the Woman’s shoulder you could not see the sign for the sun would blind you! So why would God call the Sign of Revelation 12 the “Great Sign” if it was “invisible” to the naked eye? God knew that astronomers with their telescopes and star maps would see it. Maybe part of the message was to warn us of “invisible” unseen agents: which can be both supernatural and natural (viruses, hacking, saboteurs).  This is precisely what the Lord told me.

Since then, we have seen unusual increases in wicked, perverse, and corrupt thinking. We have had Invisible attacks in many forms: hacking and cyber-attacks, extreme winds (including hurricanes), and Covid-19. Are we in a final countdown to End-Time Prophecy? This is a warning to those who have wandered from the faith. Jesus who is the Light of the World warned religious leaders of his time that they were oblivious to His Sign and the epic change that was coming. These blind leaders feared the voice of God for it threatened their control and wealth. Is this happening today? Are our faith leaders and those millions who are living comfortably afraid of the voice of God declaring His soon return?  Divine Signs do not mean much to the apathetic. It would be like you or I seeing a sign written in a foreign alphabet. That ignorance, however, does not mean that it will not affect us. If you miss a stop sign or stop light, you may suffer severe consequences.

The Great Sign of Revelation 12 appeared as a war in heaven was taking place and Satan and his angels are cast out. Revelation 12:12 states, “Therefore rejoice O heavens, and you dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.” There is NOT much time, and have you noticed how crazy and insane things appear to be? This is part of the shadow that is spreading throughout the earth. But God and His angels are here to protect us. We will find refuge in the Shadow of His wings despite the Valley of the Shadow of death.  Since 2017 we have seen increasing chaos, uncertainty, and fear as our enemies grew in strength and God’s people went through dark & wicked threats like Oct.7th, an upturned the Presidency, massive border crossings and the ensuing criminal activity.  Are these warnings?  Will America see Oct. 7th type “internal” attacks on its infrastructure and military bases? What will happen next? Revelation 12: 1-8 explains why we are seeing an irrational war attacking the soul of the family and the individual.  Satan and his angels have been cast out of heaven and “Satan is furious because he knows his time is short,” !2:12.  God’s enemies are ready and eager to pounce and once the Church is raptured the world will fall apart. Right now, God is testing the Church by fire to strengthen it. The book Cosmic Crossroad Countdown: The Invisible War & Final Chapter, exposes the Red Dragon.

Revelation is the only book that promises a Blessing to anyone who reads it, hears it, or understands it.  And it promises a curse to anyone who changes or adds to it.  Yet many Bible translators are willing to change the meaning of the word “Chloros” which is used to describe the color of the 4th Horse of the Apocalypse. We get chlorophyll from that word and chlorophyll is bright green. The color means “Green” and not “pale or ashen?”  Yet these translators use pale or ashen and not “green” because it fits the color of natural horses.  The rider, however, is a supernatural being called “Death,” so, why would he be riding a biological earth dwelling horse? The word Chloros is also used in Mark 6:39 to describe the “green grass” that Jesus and others were sitting upon. God chose Green for a key reason. The colors Green, White, Red, and Black copy the colors of all the Arab nations threatening Israel. In Revelation 6 the martyrs had their heads cut off which points to Islamic executions. Has the Church failed to properly warn the public?  It has now been 7 years since the Great Sign of Revelation 12.  Is this a foreshadow of the 7-years of Tribulation?

Many have heard the powerful story about Rahab, her faith, and the sign she would give to save herself and her family. The sign she used to alert the Israelites was a scarlet threaded rope hung from a window on the wall. The Israelite army marched around the city for 6 days then on the 7th day, they marched around 7 times, and 7 priests blew 7 trumpets 7 times. God used specific numbers and actions to prepare for the divine destruction of evil. He used Rahab’s red rope to remind us that divine Grace runs like a scarlet thread throughout “His story,” tying His Promise to great events and people in history. That is why the Great Sign of Revelation 12 is so important. It is anchored in God’s Grace and starts the “Countdown” to the 4 Horses of the Apocalypse (Greek for “the Uncovering”) and the Return of Jesus Christ for His Bride, the Church. The number 7 also plays a key role in Daniel’s prophecy as it leads to the uncovering of the Anti-Christ and his betrayal of Israel, followed by the defeat of his armies and the casting of the Red Dragon into the Abyss. The judgment upon Satan’s forces and all the evil on the earth will happen with 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, and 7 Bowls soon after the Church which is represented by 7 golden lampstands is raptured. Whoever reads this must open their heart to Jesus Christ soon.

Why are we seeing an influx of dark unseen forces and invisible agents? We have little clue as to who is crossing the border. We have seen hundreds of military age Chinese without ID’s freely cross into California. Drones are spying on our military bases and large trafficking gangs are threatening cities around the country.  Malware such as ransomware has been used to disrupt and control hospitals & infrastructure.  Other invisible forces include propaganda and censorship on our Airwaves. This comes from elites in High Tech, television, Hollywood, and radio.  The Red Dragon or Satan is behind this invasion for he is the Prince of the Air. He is using radical Islam, Xi in China, and Putin to create division and undermine the superpowers before the great war of Gog and Magog begins. God, however, will fulfill His Promise in Genesis 3:15 with the Seed of the Woman of Revelation 12, and will crush the head of the “seed of the Serpent.” Israel, the Woman, will see Jesus Christ in all His Glory and will believe.  As with Moses, they will follow the Lord into the wilderness “with wings of an eagle”, Rev. 12: 14?  They will be delivered as was Moses and Israel when they crossed the Red Sea into Arabia and to Mt. Horeb.  Presently the Church is under the “shadow of His wings” and will have its own “red-sea” crossing and time of trial. What happens next could be the “great disappearance” of billions of Christians or an intense series of birth pains as God purifies the Church.  A purified humbled Church will act as a Light and Salt to the lost world. God wants the Church to save the lost and help Israel before it is too late. In the meantime, Satan is preparing the world -stage for the Anti-Christ and will seek to destroy everything related to God including the American Constitution, its institutions and the nation of Israel. This will be a time of lies, deceit and severe testing- so we must keep in sincere prayer and in His Word. Go to CosmicCrossroad.com or ToGodBtheGlory.org or my sites on Facebook.