Who Are the Beast, the Prostitute, the Antichrist and the False Prophet?

In Revelation 17, John reports a vision that he experienced wherein he is enabled to see a woman (who sits on many waters - Rev. 17:1) on a scarlet beast (Rev. 17:3).  Daniel had visions as well regarding these matters that are recorded in Daniel 7 and 9.  In Matthew 24, we read that Jesus added information regarding some of the visions.  In addition to the woman and the beast, there appear to be other entities as well, including what appear to be 2 individuals that various persons within the Church have identified as the antichrist and the false prophet. Of course, other books of the Bible may provide additional insights.  The following are some notes that touch on the key passages.  I've tried to assimilate the passages and discussion points regarding each of the entities to help me and other interested persons in trying to identify the entities when they appear.

It's very difficult to differentiate between some of the entities, because their characteristics are often similarly described.

The Scriptural Clues

The following are clues that enable us to consider the identities of these evil entities: 

Kingdom Beast

• Is scarlet (Rev. 17:3)
• Covered with blasphemous names (Rev. 17:3)
• Is given a mouth to speak boasts and blasphemies (Rev. 13:5)
• Perhaps the mouth is the antichrist as the spokesperson for the beast as the new world government?
• It blasphemes God, His Name, Heaven and those who live in Heaven (Rev. 13:6)
• Is given authority to act for 42 months (i.e., 3.5 years) (Rev. 13:5)
• It's not clear if the authority here is given to the beast or to the spokesperson, who appears to be the antichrist; it is likely that the authority is given to both.
• Is represented by the 4^th beast in Daniel’s dream as recorded in Daniel 7 (Dan. 7:7, 19, 23)
• A king/kingdom that will arise in the earth (Dan. 7:17)
• Different from other world kingdoms (Dan. 7:19)
• Terrifying with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing and trampling with its feet (Dan. 7:19)
• Different from all other kingdoms (Dan. 7:23)
• It will devour the whole earth, trample it and crush it (Dan. 7:23)
• It will ultimately be killed and its body given over to burning fire (Dan. 7:11)
• Is given authority over all people, nations and languages of the world (or has that authority and assigns it to the antichrist; "him" could refer to either entity) (Rev. 13:7)
• Is permitted to wage war against saints and conquer them (or has that authority and assigns it to the antichrist; "him" could refer to either entity) (Rev. 13:7)
• Hates the prostitute/woman (Rev. 17:16)
• Gets power and authority from the dragon (i.e., Satan) (Rev. 13:2)
• Causes the whole world to worship the dragon (Rev. 13:4)
• Is worshipped by the people of the world (Rev. 13:4)
• They say, "Who is like the beast?" (Rev. 13:4)
• They say, "Who is able to wage war against it?" (Rev. 13:4)
  
• To the extent that they are not written in the Book of Life of the slaughtered lamb (Rev. 13:8)
• Is like a leopard with bear's feet and lion's mouth (Rev. 13:2)
• Has 7 heads (Rev. 17:3)
• Blasphemous names on his heads (Rev. 13:1)
• One of his heads seems fatally wounded but is healed--amazing the whole world (Rev. 13:3)
• 7 mountains on which the woman is seated (Rev. 17:9)
• 7 kings (Rev. 17:10)
• 5 fallen
• 1 is
• 1 is yet to come
• Has 10 horns (Rev. 17:3)
• 10 horns are 10 kings in this kingdom (Dan. 7:24)
• 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom (Rev. 17:12)
• They will receive authority as kings with the beast (it's not clear if this beast is the antichrist or the government beast) for 1 hour (Rev. 17:12).
• They have one purpose & will give power and authority to the beast (it's not clear if this beast is the antichrist or the government beast) (Rev. 17:13).
• These will make war with and be conquered by the Lamb (Rev. 17:14).
• They hate the woman/prostitute (Rev. 17:16).
• They will desolate her and burn her with fire (Rev.17:17).
• Ezekiel 39 speaks of this kingdom or its elements constituting Gog/Magog as coming against Israel and there meeting judgment from God.
• Note that Ezekiel 38 appears to refer to the battle described in Revelation 20:7-10, which occurs AFTER the millennial reign of Christ--the judgment of which is marked by the raining down of fire on the armies of God and Magog (compare to Ezekiel 38:22).
• These areas appear to include lands such as Turkey, Russia, Germany, Iran, Arabia and Africa.
• Conversely, Ezekiel 39 appears to refer to the separate and distinct battle of the nations gathered to war against Christ at His 2nd Coming--Armageddon--and who die at the Word of Christ and whose bodies are given as food to the birds of the air (Ezekiel 3:4-5) (compare to Revelation 19:17-21).
• Micah 5:5-6 suggests that Assyria is the kingdom that invades Israel in the last days; it even speaks of 7 or 8 leaders guiding Assyria as it attacks Israel--describing Assyria as "the land of Nimrod"; the passage suggests that Jesus, at His Second Coming, will rescue Israel from the invasion.
• This characterization would satisfy the "was and is not" standard of Rev. 17:8, because Nimrod's kingdom and the Assyrian kingdom were but did not exist at the time of John's writing of Revelation.
• The Assyrian kingdom would perhaps include Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, perhaps some of the "Stans" such as Pakistan and Afghanistan and possibly Libya and Egypt.
• There is a parallel to Sennacherib, the Assyrian king who invaded Israel and was driven out by the Angel of the Lord (see Isaiah 36-37, 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chron. 32).
• May constitute or be significantly related to the group of nations that appear to invade Israel at the Battle of Armageddon.  Here are the nations/areas that appear to be involved--using nation names as they exist today inasmuch as they approximate the locations of the nations mentioned in the Bible (note that so much is happening on the earth by the time of the Battle of Armageddon that it is difficult to know who is left on the planet; by this time, all sea and river creatures are destroyed, people have been afflicted with sores, darkness, fire, massive hailstones and earthquakes):
• Lebanon – Isaiah 2:13, (Canaan) Zephaniah 1:11
• Syria - (Bashan) Isaiah 2:13, (Canaan) Zephaniah 1:11
• Spain - (or Morocco as Tarshish) Isaiah 2:16
• Jordan (Moab) Isaiah 25:10, (Edom) Joel 3:19, (Canaan) Zephaniah 1:11
• Egypt – Isaiah 27:12-13, Joel 3:19
• Iraq – (Assyria) Isaiah 27:12-13
• Iran - (Persia) Ezekiel 38:5
• Ethiopia - (Cush) Ezekiel 38:5
• Eritrea - (Put) Ezekiel 38:5
• Russia - (Gomer) Ezekiel 38:6
• Turkey/Armenia - (Beth-togarmah) Ezekiel 38:6

Antichrist / Political Leader Beast

• Referred to as "the beast" (Rev. 17:8, 11)
• A man who is described as an 8th king (Rev. 17:11)
• He is "of the 7 kings" (Rev. 17:11)
• He is going to destruction (Rev. 17:11)
• He "was, and is not, and [will] come up out of the abyss and go to destruction" (Rev. 17:8).
• We know this verse refers to the the antichrist beast, because Rev. 17:11 indicates that this beast is the 8th king.
• [Considering the notes below regarding the abyss,] it is possible that this person is a resurrected person from history.
• It is also possible that this is a person who was in power, lost the power and returns.
• [Considering the notes below regarding the abyss,] the fact that he is coming up out of the abyss suggests that he may be an evil spirit who had been bound in the abyss.
• The non-believers will be surprised to see the beast present again (Rev. 17:8).
• This is another suggestion that the beast is a person resurrected from history.
• Is said to come from the abyss (Rev. 17:8, 11:7)
• Interestingly, the Legion of demons asked Jesus not to send them into the abyss, so it's a place that even the Demons dread (Luke 8:31).
• This is where Satan will be cast during the Millennial reign of Christ (Rev. 20:1-3).
• May be Sheol (Psalm 30:3, Proverbs 1:2, Isaiah 14:15).
• Also referred to as "the pit of nothingness" (Isaiah 38:17).
• A place where people of old were placed--in the lower parts of the earth (Ezekiel 26:20, 31:14).
• Also referred to as the netherworld or underworld (Ezekiel 32:18) and is the place of the dead (Ezekiel 32:23).
• Note that the term "antichrist" is not used in these passages, but is used in I John and 2 John as one who denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22), does not acknowledge Jesus (1 John 4:3), and denies that Jesus came in the flesh (2 John 1:7).
• Will appear to fight against and kill God's 2 witnesses (Rev. 11:7)
• Appears to be the figurehead/mouthpiece of the new world government. (Rev. 13:5)
• Either he or the government is given authority to act for 42 months (i.e., 3.5 years) (Rev. 13:5).
• Blasphemes God, His Name and those who dwell in heaven. (Rev. 13:6)
• Either personally or as the agent of the new world government, he is given authority to make war with the saints and overcome them. (Rev. 13:7)
• Either receives worship from all non-believers or facilitates the worship of the government by such persons (Rev. 13:8).
• Is also referred to as the "man of lawlessness" and "son of destruction" (2 Thes. 2:3)
• Opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God (2 Thes. 2:4)
• Is restrained until he is supposed to be revealed (2 Thes. 2:4-8)
• Many hypothesize that the "restrainer" is the Holy Spirit as present in believers who are raptured--thereby leaving with the believers to heaven--enabling the antichrist to press forward with his plans unabated by the presence of God in people; of course, the Bible indicates that people will come to salvation during the tribulation, but the presence of the Holy Spirit would be accordingly reduced.
• His coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness (2 Thes. 2:9-10).
• Is slayed by the breath of the mouth of Jesus at His 2nd Coming (2 Thes. 2:8)
• Is 1 new king that will arise after the 10 kings and subdue 3 of them (Dan. 7:24)
• Referred to as the little horn (Dan. 7:8)
• Note that the prophecy of Daniel 8:9-14 is of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Seleucid dynasty emperor from Syria who claimed to be "God Manifest" and who removed the "regular sacrifice" and thereby desolates the sanctuary), who is referred to in Daniel 8:9 as "the little horn"--suggesting parallels between Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the antichrist.
• He speaks arrogantly (Dan. 7:8).
• He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the Most High’s holy ones (Dan. 7:25).
• All nations will hate, persecute and kill the holy ones (Matt. 24:9).
• He will change religious festivals and laws and oppress holy ones for 3.5 years (Dan. 7:25).
• His dominion will be taken away and given to the holy ones (Dan. 7:26-27).
• He will make a covenant with “many” for 1 week (7 years) (Dan 9:27).
• In the middle of the week (3.5 years), he will stop sacrifice and offering (Dan. 9:27).
• It is possible that the world so radically changes just prior to this point (i.e., the United States and Asia are gone or rendered powerless), the antichrist is confident that no nation will oppose his action to break the covenant.
• The abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until he is destroyed (Dan. 9:27).
• When this is in the holy place, Jews must flee to the mountains (Matt. 24:15-16).
• At this time there will be great tribulation—unlike anything experienced in the world (Matt. 24:21).
• The tribulation will be limited so that some of the elect will survive (Matt. 24:22).
• He is thrown alive with the false prophet into the Lake of Fire at the arrival of Jesus (Rev. 19:20).
• He arrives on the scene around the time of the "apostasy" described in 2 Thes. 2:3--which appears to be a "departure" or "gathering" event (most likely the rapture, according to many scholars) that occurs BEFORE the "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (see 2 Thes. 2:1-3); assuming that the "gathering" is referring to the rapture, then believers may actually see the antichrist and know him before the gathering.

False Prophet Beast

• The false prophet is expressly mentioned in Revelation 16:13 and Revelation 19:20 as a person or entity distinct from "the beast" and "the dragon" (Rev. 16:13, Rev. 19:20); see also his description as "another beast" (Rev 13:11).
• His existence with the antichrist and satan is said to represent the unholy trinity--attempting to copy the nature of God.
• Comes out of the earth (Rev. 13:11)
• Has 2 horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon (Rev. 13:11)
• Exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf (Rev. 13:12) 
• Compels the earth and every person to worship the beast, whose fatal wound was healed (Rev. 13:12) 
  
• Performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people (Rev. 13:13; Rev. 19:20) (this replicates the act of Elijah with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:36-39; perhaps he does this because he knows that Elijah is returning as 1 of the 2 witnesses in Rev. 11:1-14)
  
• Deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast (Rev. 13:14; Rev. 19:20)
• Tells those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound and yet lived (Rev. 13:14)
  
• Permitted to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed (Rev. 13:15)
• He requires everyone to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark (Rev. 13:16-17).
• The mark is the beast’s name or the number of his name (Rev. 13:17).
• Those with understanding can calculate the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18).
• It is the number of a man (Rev. 13:18).
• The number is 666 (Rev. 13:18).
• He is thrown alive with the antichrist beast into the Lake of Fire at the arrival of Jesus (Rev. 19:20).

Woman / Babylon

• Dressed in purple, scarlet, gold, precious stones, pearls (Rev. 17:4)
• Drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus (Rev. 17:6)
• Holding a gold cup filled with everything vile & impurities of her prostitution (Rev. 17:4)
• On her head is the name "Babylon the Great/Mother of Prostitutes/Vile things of the Earth (Rev. 17:5).
• Sits on many waters - (Rev. 17:1)
• The waters are people, languages and nations (Rev. 17:15)
• Is a great city that has an empire over the kings of the earth (Rev. 17:18)
• Revelation 18 marks the judgment of Babylon:
• She has become a dwelling for demons (Rev. 18:2).
• She is a haunt for every unclean spirit  (Rev. 18:2).
• She is a haunt for every unclean bird  (Rev. 18:2).
• She is a haunt for every unclean and despicable beast (Rev. 18:2).
• All the nations have drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality (Rev. 18:3).
• The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her (Rev. 18:3).
• The merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury (Rev. 18:3).
• God's people are called out of her prior to her judgment to keep them from her sins and judgment (Rev. 18:4).
• She glorified herself and lived luxuriously (Rev. 18:7).
• She is proud that she sits as a queen and not as a widow (Rev. 18:7).
• She will be burned up in 1 day with fire and grief, death and famine (Rev. 18:8).
• The kings of the earth who have committed sexual immorality and lived luxuriously with her will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning (Rev. 18:9).
• The merchants of the earth will also weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their merchandise any longer (Rev. 18:11).
• Merchandise is gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine fabrics of linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; all kinds of fragrant wood products; objects of ivory; objects of expensive wood, brass, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine wheat flour, and grain; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and slaves and human lives (Rev. 18:12-13).
• Merchants will mourn her demise (Rev. 19:15-17).
• Every shipmaster, seafarer, the sailors, and all who do business by sea mourn her demise (Rev. 18:17-20).
• Following her judgment--
• The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters will never be heard in her again (Rev. 18:22).
• No craftsman of any trade will ever be found in her again (Rev. 18:22).
• The sound of a mill will never be heard in her again (Rev. 18:22).
• The light of a lamp will never shine in her again (Rev. 18:23).
• The voice of a groom and bride will never be heard in her again (Rev. 18:23).
• Her merchants were the nobility of the earth (Rev. 18:23).
• Nations were deceived by her sorcery (Rev. 18:23).
• The blood of prophets and saints and of all those slaughtered on earth was found in her (Rev. 18:24).

Guesses As to Their Identities

Here are some guesses as to whom/what they could be:

Kingdom Beast

• A future 10 nation union wherein 1 nation overtakes 3 others (not sure if the 3 then become 1 such that the 10 nation union then becomes a 7 nation union, or if the 4 nations are merely distinctly unified)
• To have jurisdiction over the entire world of people and nations, there would likely, as we see it today, have to be some approximate geographic/cultural organization like this:

• North America

• South America
• Australia & New Zealand
• Europe (including Israel)
• East Asia (e.g., China, Mongolia, Japan, Korea, North Korea, Taiwan)
• Southeast Asia (e.g., Myanmar, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea)
• Islamic Nations (e.g., Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Yemen, Oman)
• Africa
• India
• Russia (and some -stans)
• One question is: which one of these would be most likely to overtake 3 others?
• However, it is also highly possible that, given the judgments of God on the earth at this time (the bowls of wrath as described in Rev. 16), and/or nuclear war that could have occurred, North America, South America, all or a part of Europe and Asia have been destroyed.  If such were to occur, then this part of the world (i.e., the Middle East, India, and Africa) would be all that remained.
• Possibly having some connection with Rome or the old Roman Empire; however, if the beast referred to in John's vision was the kingdom as opposed to the antichrist, it would be described as "was and is not" at the time of John's vision, meaning that it may not have connection to the Roman Empire, because the Roman Empire was in existence at the time of John's vision
• Maybe a resurrected version of the Achaemenid Empire that had as its capital, Babylon, and famous kings, including Cyrus the Great and Darius I, II and III, and encompassed Jerusalem, which appears to be a focal point of the kingdom's governance, and also has a significant connection to Iran (Ezekiel 38:5)
• Possibly a resurrected version of Nimrod's kingdom or it's descendant, the Assyrian Empire (per Micah 5)--a government encompassing the original Babylon.
• Note that the G7 currently represents 10 nations; the G7 represents a substantial portion of the world's economy and military power.
• This "new world order" will constitute a 1 world government, different from all other prior empires, and will likely also boast about the presence of international peace as a consequence of having no other governments in existence; the only enemy would most likely be religion--principally Christianity--presumably because its adherents will fear and refuse the "mark of the beast"--along with any related pledge of allegiance to the new government (with the corresponding acknowledgment that the antichrist is god)
• This would explain the hatred and persecution of Christians
• The currency will likely be unified into a single unit of exchange, and that unit will likely be digitally exchanged via a number assigned to each person on the planet, and the number will be somehow connected to the new government with a special "mark of the beast"--without which exchange in the new government will be impossible, and which will likely come with a pledge of allegiance to the beast and to the antichrist--perhaps acknowledging that he is the only god.
• Note that there is definitely overlap between the Seleucid Empire, the Assyrian Empire and the Roman Empire insofar as Israel is concerned (maps from Wikipedia)--encompassing, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, and perhaps Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Egypt); thus, it is not incorrect to say that the antichrist arises out of areas that were at one time governed by and subject to all 3 of these empires--thus having connections to all of them:

Seleucid Empire:

Assyrian Empire:

                                            Roman Empire:

Antichrist

• Appears to come out of the 1 nation that subdues 3 other nations
• The reference to 7 kings--5 of which have fallen, 1 "is" and 1 is to come--could possibly refer to kings arising out of Rome or the Roman Empire who accepted worship as god--including, for example, the 5 fallen: Julius Caesar, Octavius Caesar Augustus, Caligula, Nero & Galba followed by the one that "is" (at the time of John's vision in or around 90 AD), Domitian, and one yet to come--the future ruler, the antichrist, who will also claim to be god.
• Has parallels to Antiochus IV Epiphanes in that both are referred to as "little horn"; Antiochus IV Epiphanes was Syrian born Seleucid emperor.
• Note, too, that some historical records suggest that Antiochus IV Epiphanes drowned (in the sea--i.e., the abyss), which is curious, because the antichrist is said to come out of the abyss (Rev. 17:8, 11:7)
• A resurrected Antiochus IV Epiphanes would satisfy the "was, is not and is to come" characteristic (Rev. 17:8) (Of course, so would Nero Ceaser and Nimrod)
• A resurrected Antiochus IV Epiphanes would satisfy the characteristic that non-believers will be surprised to see this beast present again (i.e., believers will immediately recognize him as the antichrist and perhaps as the resurrected Antiochus IV Epiphanes) (again, the same could be said about Nimrod or Nero Ceaser) (Rev. 17:8)
• Candidates: Various individuals have proposed a number of persons as candidates for the title of antichrist; some of the candidates proposed (none of which seem likely) are as follows:
• Mario Draghi - at least one person has proposed a case for considering him as a candidate, particularly considering his connection to Italy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnILoVmpnU 
• Rabbi Shlomo Yahuda Beeri a/k/a Jizkiahu Ben David - a number of persons have suggested that this prominent Jewish rabbi is the candidate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP8A7iKtQBw 
• Barak Obama usually makes the list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzyUeAugZbs 
• The Papacy is referenced by a host of analysts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QFX3-7pdHo 

False Prophet

• He has significant power, because he can perform substantial signs and he thereby deceives many people.
• Difficult to know if he is a religious or other figure.
• Obviously, this entity is closely connected with the antichrist.
• He will because of his supernatural power spark fear/terror in the minds of people.

Woman / Babylon

• The Internet? (Consider the details regarding Babylon and note how well the Internet fits with the description.)
• Jerusalem - Jeremiah 4:30 contextually refers to Israel as "the desolate one" who is dressed in scarlet, and verse 31 describes the "daughter of Zion" gasping for breath as violence comes to Israel; Jerusalem could be considered as a prostitute that should have belonged to God but, instead, was the worship center for other religions, particularly including Islam; thus, the woman on the scarlet beast could refer to Jerusalem, the people of Israel in the land of Israel.
• Rome--picking up on the 7 mountains on which the woman is seated?
• The capital of the future world empire?

Many Prophecies that President Trump Will Be Re-Elected to Serve a Second Term as President of the United States (Updated)

Preface

Among the many items on my long list of unusual things that occurred in 2020 is the extensive publication of prophecies, visions and dreams that Donald J. Trump will enjoy a 2nd term as President of the United States.  I am particularly interested in these prophecies, visions and dreams, because like many people, I voted for Donald J. Trump to be President of the United States, and like many people I was disappointed and shocked at the election results.  In fact, I am not at all surprised to hear that instances of fraudulent activity have occurred, and I am immensely interested in knowing whether the fraud has risen to the level of having altered the outcome of the election not only for Donald J. Trump, but also for a host of other persons seeking a host of other political offices.  I just think it's highly suspicious and curious that there would be 20% more voters voting in the 2020 election as compared to the 2016 election wherein the political parties were aggressively battling for power and votes, and while Trump secured more (nearly 5 million more) votes than the popular Obama, Biden seemed to secure even more (a crazy 7 million more) votes than Trump.

[So that you can understand my political bias here, I should note that I voted for Donald J. Trump, because I consider him to be the candidate most likely to advance the interests of God, principally including (a) blessing and advancing the interests of Israel (see Blog Entry Re Israel), (b) protecting the unborn from the ravages of abortion (see Blog Entry Re Abortion), and (c) eliminating or mitigating the nation’s advancement of the promotion of the rights of persons simply because they pursue a homosexual lifestyle (see Blog Entry Re Morality Standards).  I believe that all of these matters will directly affect the blessing of God (or absence thereof, depending on the extent to which they are implemented) on our nation.  Now I know that many people think that the interests of God are primarily focused on the care of the poor and the elimination of racial discrimination, and they argue that the Democratic Party is better at caring for the poor and eliminating racial discrimination; however, I would say that while I agree that the care of the poor is an important interest of God, and forgetting the argument that the Republican Party might be more effective at caring for the poor and eliminating racial discrimination, I believe that the responsibility for the care of the poor and affecting our culture to eliminate discrimination falls principally with the church--regardless of the government’s actions and regardless of which political party is in power or is trying to help the poor or eliminate discrimination.  Thus, while I am happy to see the government protect the poor and helpless and act to eliminate discrimination, I see no reason to delegate to the government the responsibilities of the church.  However, I don’t want to delve into politics any more than this, because it’s a side note to the concept that I am trying to address in this post.]

I think the prophecies that Donald J. Trump will be elected to serve a 2nd term as President of the United States are amazing for a number of reasons, and I want to note them (and I note that there are many others):

Prophecies and Links to YouTube Videos

Alger, Wanda - Alger Video - She describes a dream that someone had for which she provides the interpretation that Trump will be declared President of the United States just prior to Inauguration Day.

Bullock, Robin - Bullock Video - He suggested that there will be a surprise by Christmas when God makes Trump president.

Christmas, Kent - Christmas Video (hinted in the context of a variety of statements) and Christmas Video 2 (very specific) - He says that God said that the prophets have spoken in His name; and “believers” will not call them liars; you will get a gift at Christmas though it looks impossible and that we will never forget; it will come not by the law or courts but by the Holy Spirit; I God will not yield to powers lower than me; then I will raise up a church with power and boldness; I will show up and the anointing of Elijah will be released in the earth now that the enemy has appeared; they have built a gallows for the church, and it will be used against them.  I’m entering into Islamic nations, and into communist nations, including China.

Cooke, Tracy - Cooke Video 1 and Cooke Video 2 - Cooke says that 7 angels came to him with specific messages; there are assassination attempts planned against the President; God has chosen Donald J. Trump;  there will be a greater glory move of God after.

God Unlimited (Albert Milton) - God Unlimited Video (and Albert Milton) - Milton foretells a victory for Trump by 12/12/2020 and then generally that Donald J. Trump will be re-elected to a second term.

Harding, Luke - Harding Video - Harding experiences a vision of him anointing Trump - considered it to be like the anointing of Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab - but he doesn’t say it’s prophetic; he just wants to keep hope alive.

Hemans, John (Open Heaven Church) -  Hemans Video - Donald Trump will be re-elected as President of the United States, and laws will be enacted that will enable the spread of the Gospel.  The media will be exposed as corrupt.

Johnson, Jeremiah - Johnson Video - Johnson had a prophetic dream that Trump will be president; he will publicly repent if Joe Biden is sworn into office.

Kunneman, Hank - Kunneman Video - Kunneman prophesies that God will smack down many evil things; God will shake the political parties and the corruption; and we will enter into a new era; the Democratic Party will split and struggle for leadership for years; a righteous group shall arise.  I don't recall that he specifically declares Trump to be voted a second term; however, there are strong implications of such in this prophecy.

Lilyband Psalmist Rhonda - Lilyband Video - Presenter has a prophetic dream that Trump won a 2nd term.

Myles, Francis - Myles Video - He foretells that white liberals will provide a surprise by voting for Donald J. Trump; they will be like the eunuchs who threw Jezebel out of the window.  African Americans will also vote for Donald J. Trump.  I don't recall a specific statement being made by God in this prophecy; however, there are clear implications of such.

Reed, Chris - Reed Video - Reed relates that on August 2020, he had a vision about all states looking at Philadelphia - Jesus in a vision told him to watch Philadelphia - the idea is that the change to make Trump elected as President will occur in Philadelphia.

Robertson, Pat - Robertson Video - Robertson prophesies that unprecedented civil disobedience following Trump’s swearing in; 2 assassination attempts; country torn apart; many Islamic nations attack Israel, but God defends Israel, followed by a time of at least 5 years of great peace and great revival and outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon people; this is followed by the Great Tribulation.

Scroggins, Greg - Scroggins Video - This is actually a 2nd hand account, but a clear statement that Scroggins was told by God that Donald J. Trump would remain as President of the United States; in addition, an enormous scandal will be uncovered.

Selvaraj, Sadhu Sundar - Selvaraj Video - Selvaraj saw a heavenly vision of a gathering in heaven; judgment is coming on the United States if they choose the wrong president; fire in the Midwest and a flood in the East is determined if Biden is elected.  Trump should be president in order to fulfill God’s objectives for the nation.  Three angels are standing with Trump who will triumph, but Selvaraj doesn’t know if triumph means that he will win the election.  Trump will fulfill God’s will for the US and Israel, but the church has to pray.  So the prophecy is conditioned and cautious, so it may not be a prophecy at all.

Weisberg, Rabbi Isser Z - Weisberg Video - One of many videos in which he expresses his firm belief that Donald J. Trump will be re-elected as President of the United States.  He indicates his position that God has used President Trump to advance the interests of Israel, and God will continue to use him. Also, he references prophecy regarding the coming of the Messiah on or prior to the year 2027 (and probably in 2025), and he believes that President Trump will be critical to the progress of Israel towards that date.

Yoon, Chris - Yoon Video - Yoon presents strong statements regarding his understanding of what God is saying to him--that Trump will be re-elected.

Zadai, Kevin - Zadai Video - Zadai prophesies that after Trump’s reelection, greater power given to the Church; the legislative and judicial branches of the government will be cleansed.  Zadai indicates that people are urged to pray.

There are many other prophets or persons who cautiously step around the concept of Donald J. Trump's re-election without actually committing to it, but as you can see, many of these above souls have substantially put a stake in the ground--some actually saying "Thus says the LORD," and others going to a far lesser standard of indicating that they had a dream, and they really believe that God is telling them that their dream indicates that God is appointing Donald J. Trump to be elected President for a second term.

Now, several weeks post inauguration, we know that the prophecies were false.  We can only guess why several of these persons, who were very strongly advocating that they had a message from God, said the things that they said, but they were unequivocally wrong.  Paul writes in I Timothy 4 that "the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits."  Were they listening to deceitful spirits?  Not sure.  But it's fair to say that they hurt the church and the message of Jesus with their false statements.  No doubt many listening to them and trusting them are now substantially dismayed by the results of the election, and no doubt many of the listeners will, as a consequence of having trusted a false prophecy, fall away from the faith.  Jesus also stated that in the last days, "many will fall away." (Matthew 24:10a.)  So perhaps false prophecies like this are expected to happen.  I note a few principles from the Bible, below, that apply to false prophets and false prophecies.

Verses and Principles Applicable to False Prophets and Prophecies

I note the following verses and principles for consideration when thinking about the veracity of the above prophecies:

A. False Prophets

1. Believers are encouraged to test spirits and not merely to accept them simply because a person says, “God told me ….”

• 1 John 4:1 - “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

• Matthew 7:15 - “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

2. The test for spirits is to see whether they confess that Jesus is from God.

• 1 John 4:2-3 - “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world.”

• [This standard parallels the Old Testament standard in that it examines whether the intent is to lead people away from God:] Deuteronomy 13:1-5 - “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”

3. A truly false prophet, who guides people away from Jesus, will be condemned.

• 2 Peter 2:1-3 - “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."

4. The presence of false prophets is a sign of the end times.

• Matthew 24:24 - “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

5. False prophets harm the church.

• 2 Peter 2:2 - “Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned.”

B. False Prophecies

1. Prophets may be speaking presumptuously for themselves and not for God, or possibly even lying, so we should listen cautiously.

• Jeremiah 23:21 - “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.”

• Ezekiel 13:5-6 - "They see deceit and lying divination, those who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word! Did you not see a false vision and tell a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”

2. Believers can test the truth of prophecies of prophets by determining whether they come true or not.

• Deuteronomy 18:22 - “When the prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, and the thing does not happen or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you are not to be afraid of him.”

• 1 Corinthians 14:29 - "Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment."

C. Prophesying in General

1. Prophesying is encouraged in the Church.

• 1 Corinthians 14:39 -"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy ...."

2. Prophecy is for believers and not unbelievers.

• I Corinthians 14:22b - "... prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe." 

Conclusions:

A. With regard to the above prophecies about President Trump and a second term, we can see that they have not come true, and we can accordingly conclude that these persons have either lied or spoken presumptuously.

B. None of the above noted persons has suggested anything remotely close to encouraging believers to pursue or worship anyone other than Jesus Christ and God, so they do not in these videos appear to be false prophets who have as their source an evil spirit; in the worst case, they are persons who have spoken presumptuously, and their prophecies can be judged.  If it is determined that these persons have spoken presumptuously, they should acknowledge their incorrect prophecies, and anything they say in the future should perhaps be suspect.

C. Believers should not prophesy presumptuously, because it could cause damage to the way of truth, the church and our awesome God.

Special Note: In watching 3 different videos of Tracy Cooke, who informs us that he saw 7 angels with messages for him, I noticed that he offers to pray for spontaneous healing of various persons in each broadcast, and each time he mentions the name of a random woman who has a tumor, and she is about to get a report that the tumor is gone from “Dr. Johnson.”  Either the name Johnson is uniquely rewarded with the ability to witness amazing miracles, or we should be suspicious that something is seriously amiss with this man, and his statements warrant close scrutiny.

A Graphic Presentation of a Prophecy Timeline (Plus Some Interesting Prophecy Notes)

I have provided below a graphic presentation of a timeline of prophetic events that you might find helpful and interesting. It's something of a mostly completed puzzle; as you read various passages of Scripture, you can begin to see how many of them are pieces that can fit into various timeframes identified within the presentation.  Of course, it's possible that I have misplaced one or more pieces of the puzzle, but that is the essence of the study of prophecy.  We, like the Magi who sought announcements of Christ in the heavenly bodies and in Scripture, seek to understand and occasionally find epiphanies when things fit together.

Special Note Regarding End Times Events

I should note that I have made a table of Signs of the End Times, which is available here: Absher Note Regarding Signs of the End Times.  You might find these notes helpful to understanding the many various indicators of End Times events.  The list is not necessarily exhaustive, but it is fairly comprehensive.

Special Note Regarding David's Tabernacle

I wanted to make a special note here about David's Tabernacle.  For some reason, I have missed this interesting consideration in my study of prophecy, but I am immensely captivated by it now.  The following matters brought it to my attention: (a) I stumbled on a post regarding an archeological discovery (see David's Tabernacle Possibly Found) wherein the archeologist expressed his view that a recent archeological site in the City of David might possibly be the site of David's Tabernacle; and (b) then I found a Jonathan Cahn video about the mystery of David's Tabernacle (see Cahn Re Mystery of David's Tabernacle).  However, I was more interested in Jonathan Cahn's cited Scripture than I was his point (and of course his point was excellent, but I believe his video preceded the recent archeological discovery, which explains why he didn't comment on it).  In the Scripture, Acts 15, the Council at Jerusalem (consisting of the gathering of the most amazing collection of believers, including Paul and Barnabas and the Apostles) was meeting, and James, who was the head of the Council, cited an Old Testament prophecy to substantiate the fact that Gentiles were being brought into the church as believers in Jesus.  Here is the passage that James cited from Amos 9:11-12:

'After these things I will return,

And I will rebuild the fallen tabernacle of David,

And I will rebuild its ruins,

And I will restore it,

So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,

And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’

Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.

This is an amazing prophecy that, for some reason I have missed.  Jesus declares that when He returns to the earth as Messiah, He will rebuild the tabernacle of David. The prophet Isaiah also prophesies that the Messiah will sit on His throne in this tabernacle.  (See Isaiah 16:5) When you consider this prophecy in light of the fact that some Jewish archeologists believe that they have found the tabernacle of David, you should be amazed. The possible discovery of the tabernacle of David suggests that the return of Jesus as the Messiah is imminent.  Keep in mind that the discovery of the tabernacle of David isn't required for the return of the Messiah, but its discovery is certainly a substantial precursor--one that both Christians and Orthodox Jews would find massively interesting.

The background of the tabernacle of David is interesting as well.  The first act of David, after he was finally recognized as king of Israel, was to get closer to the ark of the covenant.  David likely recognized the power of the ark of the covenant, and he accordingly wanted it to be closer to him.  In 2 Samuel 6, we read that David acted to move the ark of the covenant from the house of Abinadab (located in a city called Kiriath-Jearim, which was near Jerusalem, which is where the ark was placed after it had been recovered from the Philistines, who had captured it during a battle against Israel--1 Samuel 7:1-2) to the City of David in Jerusalem.  In verse 17, we see that the ark was set "in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it."  In 1 Chronicles 13:13 and 15:1, we conclude that the location of the tabernacle of David was in the City of David.  We can see the power of blessing associated with proximity to the ark of the covenant being confirmed to David when he heard that Obed-Edom, who temporarily housed the ark, was blessed during the short time that it was at his home.  (See 2 Samuel 6:12)  The movement of the ark to the City of David was a substantial celebratory event, which brought David great joy.  2 Samuel 6:14-15.  It is noteworthy too that David wore the clothing of a priest as he danced with joy before the ark as it was being transported (1 Chronicles 15:27)--a foreshadowing of the Messiah would would be the priest king.  

One item of significance that I note about the particular site that has been discovered is that it contains what appears to be an Ebenezer stone.  In 1 Samuel 7:12, we see the account of Samuel the prophet selecting a stone and setting it up as a monument of remembrance of the fact that the ark of the covenant had been recovered from the Philistines, and Israel defeated the Philistine army when they attacked Israel after hearing about their recovery of the ark.  Samuel named the stone Ebenezer, saying, "So far the Lord has helped us.” The Bible doesn't say that David also took the Ebenezer stone and placed it in the tabernacle as well, but the significance of that stone was clearly of immense importance to David: (a) David defeated Goliath, who was a giant Philistine warrior, and essentially represented the entire Philistine army, (b) Samuel was the prophet who anointed David to be king of Israel, and (c) David would have appreciated the idea that the stone represented the fact that the Lord had helped them to this point.  In this regard, it is also noteworthy that immediately after Nathan informed David that David could not build a temple for God (but that God would allow David's son Solomon to build the temple), the Bible indicates that "[t]hen King David came in and sat before the Lord, and said, 'Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?'" (1 Chronicles 17:16)  When it says that King David came "in," I believe that David had come into the tabernacle to get closer to God when he prayed.  Moreover, when David said "You have brought me this far," I believe this is an indication that David was actually looking at the Ebenezer stone when he said that--the stone that commemorated the help of the Lord thus far.  I'm sure there are other indications in Scripture as well, but these are significant considerations.

I note that at least one person has indicated a belief that this archeological find is likely to be the tabernacle or temple of Melchizedek, who was the king priest of Salem (now known as Jerusalem) (see Genesis 14:17-20).  However, we are not told in the Bible that Melchizedek had a tabernacle.  It wouldn't surprise me, though, to someday learn that, if Melchizedek build a temple or tabernacle, David's tabernacle happened to be situated in the very same place.

All of these considerations should cause us to pay special attention to the idea that the tabernacle of David may have been discovered.

Special Notes Regarding the Rapture

Interestingly, for a variety of reasons many people question the plausibility of the concept of the rapture--a special gathering of believers prior to the period of the Great Tribulation.  I appreciate the thoughts, and I am sure that many might venture to express their bases for contesting the existence of such an event in response to my presentation.  However, I encourage you to give thought to the following considerations--which argue very much in favor of the event:

1. Different Standards for Salvation. When addressing the end times, Scripture seems to present a standard for salvation (i.e., from eternal condemnation or separation from God along with the attendant forgiveness of sin and inheritance of eternal life with God and constituting a member of the "elect") that is different from the standard that we clearly enjoy now.  We know that right now our Gospel is constituted very simply in the words of Jesus as set forth in John 3:16 that "whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."  The fact that we need only believe in Jesus for our salvation is immensely clear in Scripture, and the number of passages to support it are too numerous to list in this post (but you can see the list here: Blog Entry Regarding Salvation).

However, for those living in the final days before "that day" (i.e., the Second Coming of Christ event), the requirements for salvation seem to shift.  In this regard, note initially that the letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 offer benefits of salvation only to those who "overcome."  In I John 5:5, we see how we, the believers constituting the church--the elect of today--"overcome": "Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  In the tribulation time, however, it seems that the Gospel includes the concept of "enduring" as described by Jesus to His disciples in discussing the last days in Matthew 24:13-14: "the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (See also Mark 13:13 and Matthew 10:22.) In Matthew 24, Jesus is specifically answering his disciples' question regarding what signs indicate "the end of the age" (i.e., the period before Jesus' reign on earth).  Jesus responds indicating that first there are birth pains (vs. 4-8), immediately followed by tribulation and severe persecution of the Church--persecution that is so severe, many believers will be tempted to deny their faith (vs. 9-12); in that unique time, the standard for salvation changes--endurance to the end (i.e., death or surviving to the time of Jesus' kingship without denying Him or accepting the mark of the world government--i.e., "the beast") is required for salvation.  To deny Jesus or to accept "the mark" at that time is to fail to attain salvation.  Interestingly, too, Paul even describes the standard as applying to the elect today (or perhaps he is re-stating the Gospel of the end times) in 2 Timothy 2:12: "If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us."

Such a dramatic shift in the ultimate question of life regarding how a person finds salvation seems to make sense only in the context of a dramatic shift in the identity of those who constitute the elect at that time.  Consider how amazing it is that we in the church today have accepted Jesus by faith alone.  We read or hear Scripture regarding belief in Jesus for salvation, and we accept it on the evidence of very little--"the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).  Conversely, those who do not accept Jesus by faith alone, following the sudden departure of all who constitute the church in a "rapture" event--having been shocked by the event and the presentation of this new massive amount of physical evidence (the death or departure from the earth of millions of Christians) to support facts that they (and we) didn't have before, should not be given the same standard for salvation, because it's no longer a matter of faith alone; it would be based on the new, additional, massive physical evidence of the sudden death or absence of millions of people from the earth--added to the attesting Scripture.  Thus, it would be appropriate for this group of "left behind" people, who can at that time readily recognize that they missed the boat, to have a standard that is unique from us who have accepted Jesus on faith alone; their standard takes a lot less faith, but it is replaced with a new standard of salvation as described by Jesus in Matthew 24--requiring endurance--to the end.

A slow morphing of the standard of salvation from one of faith to one of endurance "to the end" simply does not make sense; otherwise people even today would be wondering if they had to add to their faith the additional requirements of enduring "to the end," because, after all, how could we know if we had yet transitioned to the period of enduring?

Thus, a strong explanation for this massive shift in the standard for salvation could be a cataclysmic event involving the church--a rapture gathering of the group of the elect as it exists at that time.

2. Scriptures Suggesting Different Waves of Arrivals of the Elect into Heaven. In this regard, I note that, while there are likely numerous other passages affirming this concept, certainly Amos 7:1 addresses the concept of "waves" of gatherings; Amos 7 strikes me as prophetic because of its references to "locusts" (a connection to the pre-Armageddon invasion of Israel--Revelation 9:7); it specifically notes the "King's mowing" (the gathering of the Church) followed by the sprouting of the spring crop (that the swarm of locust would then start to devour), which would be harvested later--a parallel remarkably similar to what could be described as the rapture of the Church followed by the persecution of the new church followed by a final gathering of the remaining elect.

3. Believers Destined to Avoid Wrath. In addition, as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."  Paul also explains in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and Romans 5:9 that Jesus rescues us from the wrath to come.  A gathering of the church would certainly rescue believers from the wrath that is presented in the time of tribulation.  Granted, Paul's statements could be another way of saying that believers avoid the final judgment that awaits those who have rejected God, but the use of the word "wrath" instead of the word "judgment" is interesting when you consider that there are bowls of "wrath" (Revelation 16) in the time of the tribulation prior to the Second Coming of Christ.  If God did not destine us for "wrath," then why would believers in Christ face the bowls of God's wrath as described in Revelation 16?  Certainly, if such believers were to experience that wrath, they would have been destined for it.  But if the church as it is constituted today, which secures salvation through belief in Jesus is removed prior to the bowls of wrath, then we would not be destined for it.  If others of the elect, facing the salvation standard of endurance as described in Matthew 24, were obliged to experience with the world the bowls of wrath, then that is their destiny, and it would not offend the statements made by Paul in Thessalonians, because that group of the elect failed earlier to gain salvation through the standard of faith in Jesus Christ.

4. More Than One Gathering. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 speaks about our being gathered with the dead in Christ in the clouds and meeting the Lord in the air, so there clearly is a "gathering" of believers from earth; the question is whether this gathering is different from the gathering that occurs just before Christ comes to set up His kingdom on earth, as described in Revelation 18:4 and Matthew 24:30-31.  The gathering is also discussed in 2 Thessalonians 2 as occurring immediately after the man of lawlessness is revealed.  However, the gathering in Revelation 18:4 is not only after the man of lawlessness is revealed, but it is also after the fall of Babylon and also the Bowls of Wrath described in Revelation 16.  Thus, it appears that there is very likely to be more than 1 gathering.  There is no basis to conclude that God would gather His elect only 1 time, and the Scriptural timeline better supports the concept of more than 1 gathering.  In fact, it makes sense that there would be a separate gathering for each group of the elect as having been saved through their respective salvation standards as described above.

5. Marriage Supper of the Lamb Appears to Precede a Gathering. In this regard, too, it is notable that in Revelation, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-10) actually precedes Christ's return to earth.  If the Marriage Supper of the Lamb occurs before the return of Christ to earth, then who exactly is being gathered at the return of Christ as described in Matthew 24:30-31?  How could it be the church--that just experienced the Marriage Supper of the Lamb?  Surely, they wouldn't leave the Marriage Supper of the Lamb to go back to earth to be gathered from the four winds.  Interestingly though, according to Revelation 20:4, when Christ returns to earth to reign, He is in fact joined in the reigning by people who were martyred during the time of tribulation; perhaps because they missed the gathering, they get this special privilege.

6. Rapture in the Context of the Dichotomy of the Church vs. Israel. It also makes sense in the scheme of the Daniel 9 prophecy of the 70 weeks that the first 69 weeks (or periods of 7 years) were only for the nation of Israel (the Jews) and Jerusalem, and the final 70th week (or period of 7 years) is also only for the nation of Israel (the Jews) and Jerusalem. The interruption of the period from the 69th week to the 70th week could appropriately represent the intervening age of the church (that started at the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ--recall that Jesus told believers at that time that He was going to prepare a place and that He would later receive us--the church--unto Himself), where Gentiles (and of course many Jews) are saved by placing their faith in Christ.  It would be appropriate to close this church age prior to the start of the 70th week (or final period of 7 years--the start of which is marked by a very substantial covenant being made with Israel perhaps coupled with the revelation of the antichrist), by removing the church entirely from the equation.  If the church were gathered to Christ in Paradise in preparation for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and to be with Christ, then the final 7 year period could begin--with a renewed focus on the nation of Israel and Jerusalem, and the opportunity for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone during that final 7 year period would no longer be sufficient; during the final 7 year period, the elect--who will be substantially Jews (note the many references to locations around Israel interlaced in the discussion of the tribulation period as described in Revelation--e.g., Matthew 10:23, Matthew 24:15-16)--will have to endure to the end.  In essence, according to Revelation 14:9-11 (and related passages), they have to reject the mark of the beast (the government power at that time, which is controlled by Satan's emissary; the acceptance of the mark of the beast will likely come with a public declaration of the rejection of Jesus Christ as well as the acceptance of the beast and its government as god), which will not only mean that they cannot engage in commerce (i.e. buy food and means of transportation and communication), but it will also mean that they will be put to death--most likely by beheading (Daniel 7:25 and 8:22). 

7. Other Sheep.  This is a small point, but something to consider (and my attempt to reconcile a curious passage of Scripture)--that the people who endure to the end during the period of the tribulation may well be the "other sheep that are not of this fold" as Jesus noted in John 10--i.e., they are not of the "fold" of the church age.  Jesus laid down his life for His sheep, but those who rejected Jesus (and are awakened to this reality when the millions of people constituting the church are removed from the earth) have to give up their own lives as well (or otherwise survive to the end) as a consequence of their lack of faith during the church age.

8. The Mysterious Taking of Some People. A rapture event also syncs with the mysterious taking of some people and not others as Jesus recounts in Matthew 24:40-41: "At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left." (See also Luke 17:35.)  Although, in fairness, this mysterious taking is probably more closely related to the gathering that occurs immediately prior to the Second Coming of Christ, because Jesus in this context is discussing His coming when this taking occurs.

9. Various Scriptures.  See 1 Thes. 4:16-17, Matt. 24:40-42, 1 Cor. 15:51-52, and the hints at Rev. 4:1-2 (John's being taken by the sound of a trumpet and the voice of God saying "come up here" and he is immediately "in the spirit" and present in heaven) (see also Rev. 11:12), and Amos 7:1-2 (2 crops--the first is the "king's crop"--i.e., believers; the second is called the "spring crop" that is taken up during a time of tribulation and locusts--i.e., those who are martyred during the tribulation).

10. Absence of the Church in the Tribulation Events of Revelation. Note that the Church is discussed in Revelation 1-3 and then in Revelation 22 (at the closing of the letter and not as part of the vision), but it is not discussed between these chapters--wherein John details the vision involving the tribulation events.  One explanation is that John's being caught up to heaven in Revelation 4:1 is a picture of the Church leaving before the unfolding of the tribulation scene on earth.

11. No Great Tribulation Warnings in Epistles. Note, too, that there are no warnings to believers about the Great Tribulation in the epistles.  Jesus provides a warning, but His warning is to Jews, because He mentions the Sabbath and He discusses Daniel's prophecy regarding the temple, and He answers a question in the context of the temple--all Jewish matters.  This focus parallels the prophecy of Daniel 9 in that it is directed to the Jews and Jerusalem, and refers to the temple.

With all these considerations in mind, I offer the following graphic presentation as a basis for study, consideration and discussion:

A Poem

Moment Spice

A single vine high in the tree

Different from the others--

A moment in time

As a strand that nearly smothers

The limbs--

I see it climb

(The light it dims)

With its many leaves

That smell like spices--

Sweet fragrances that rhyme

With harmonies somewhat tense

Yet incredibly pleasing--

Dripping down like vices

Of ginger and cumin with jasmine tea--

I cannot see how high 

It rises--the green is dense

My heart is won--

Yet yet yet

My breath I fear it’s seizing

Because I get the sense

With a deep and desperate sigh--

Why must it be--

(The die is cast)

Though I twist and reach and run

To keep it--

The moment cannot last.

Mark Absher

April 2018