IN THE LAST TRUMP
The Wrath of God
Immediately prior to
the coming of the Lord the whole earth almost with one voice is worshipping the
Antichrist as God. The Antichrist with superhuman powers has beaten the rebellious
forces of the earth into submission, except for the Jews whom God has taken into a
place of hiding, and also the saints who are being slaughtered in vast numbers. In
every nation and every city there is the shout of "peace and safety;" and
there is a kind of peace throughout the earth, but it is a peace that is anti-God, and
anti-Christ. But Paul says, "when they shall say, peace and safety; then SUDDEN
DESTRUCTION cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape" (I Thess. 5:3).
During the reign of Antichrist
(described under seals 2-5), the saints will be killed in great numbers; and we hear
them under the altar crying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, doest thou not
judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (Rev. 6:9-11). The
answer comes that they are to wait "for a little season." At the end of that
"little season," we hear the angel who stands upon the sea and upon the earth
swearing "by him that liveth for ever and ever ...that there would be time no
longer" (literally --that there would be no longer delay). The "little
season" has now elapsed and it is time for the events described under the sixth
seal and the seventh trumpet. Thus, the angel continues with the words, "But in
the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery
of God should be finished, as he hath declared to His servants the prophets" (Rev.
10:5-7). Observe that it says, "when he shall BEGIN to sound." As the trumpet
begins to sound, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," "the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord" (I Thess. 4:16-17; I Cor. 15:51-52).
As has already been proven, and as we
must conclude, the latter part of I Thess. 4 and the first part of chapter 5 deal with
the same time and event. Chapter 4 speaks more of what will
happen, and chapter 5 begins by telling when it will happen. We
must also conclude that I Thess. 4:13-18 and I Cor. 15:51-54 deal with the same event
and time element. We must further acknowledge that the mystery that is finished at the
seventh trumpet is the same mystery which Paul says will be accomplished at the last
trumpet. As we learn from the seventh trumpet, and also I Thess. 5:1-2, this mystery is
finished as the day of the Lord Jesus Christ begins. These things are a necessary
harmony and the man who teaches otherwise will answer for the same in that day of
judgment.
Thus the reign of the Antichrist is
ended when suddenly "the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall
rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (I Thess. 4:16-17). The ones who
"are alive and remain," are those who remain through the slaughter under the
reign of the Antichrist; who are not of the "brethren, that should be killed"
(Rev. 6:11).
WRATH
Moments before the
saints go streaking through the skies around the earth, and in the presence of all the
earth, to meet the Lord high in the air above Jerusalem who shines with a brilliance
above the brightness of the sun (Acts 26:12; Rev. 1:16), the earth begins to reel and
rock with an earthquake so exceedingly great that whole mountains will be shaken to
pieces and many islands of the seas move out of their places (Rev. 6:12-17; Luke
21:25-28). Some islands will no doubt be completely submerged in the sea while new ones
will appear. There will be great upheavals in the oceans with giant waves rolling and
roaring. There will undoubtedly be numerous explosions beneath and above the surface of
the earth. An earthquake so huge will demolish whole cities, leaving them in ruins with
many hundreds of thousands killed. The skyscrapers of New York and other great cities
will crumble before the intensity of the quaking. Many people will be shaken out of
their beds, or off their feet. Cars will be shaken off the highways and trains off
their tracks.
At the time the earth begins to quake
the sun also suddenly blackens out and the moon likewise. Multitudes of stars begin to
fall in streaking fire out of the heavens creating a display along with the results of
the earthquake that will cause the greatest distress of nations, with perplexities, the
world has every imagined. The tribes of the earth shall mourn exceedingly with
"men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after
those things which are coming on the earth" (Luke 21:25-27). How long this
particular conduct of nature will last is not stated but we may judge from the language
used that it will not all be over in a moment.
In the midst of all this the saints are
gathering around the Lord "from the four winds, from the
uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven" (Mark 13:27).
The spirits of the saints shall be clothed in immortality, even the shining and
brilliant glory of Christ. This blessed exaltation of the saints shall be viewed by the
horror filled eyes of multiplied millions on earth who have refused to repent of their
sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and by this refusal they have hated the
Savior. There in the skies Christ shall "be glorified in his
saints," and shall be admired in all them that believe (II Thess. 1:10).
What joyful singing of praises to God and Christ shall take place in the very presence
of the Antichrist and all those who have proclaimed him their God. Those who have not
remembered Lot's wife will not escape for they have neglected this great salvation
(Heb. 1:14; 2:3; Luke 17:31-37).
"Behold, he
cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and
all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Rev. 1:7). It is on
this occasion that the remnant of Israel, who have been kept in hiding through the
reign of Antichrist, will accept as Lord and Christ, the One who shines above the
brightness of the sun. Though there are about Him a countless multitude of the
Gentiles, yet they will be convinced of their error and will receive God's Chosen
as the righteous One. With joy they desire Him as their King. Jesus said that the Jews
would not see Him till they said "Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord" (Matt. 23:39), therefore this is the time when the
Lord will plead with them face to face (Ezek. 20:35).
Accompanying Christ and this vast host
of elected ones; and standing ready to fully assist their every desire, are the mighty
angels of God. This speaks in no wise of weakness on the part of the glorified saints,
but rather, it speaks of the immeasurable heights to which these heirs of salvation are
exalted (Heb. 1:14).
Some moments after the earth begins to
quake, the sun and moon are blacked out, and the stars streak through the heavens, the
whole heavens themselves will be rolled back like a scroll when it is rolled together
and the entire earth will view the throne of God in heaven upon which the Father is
sitting. A further background will no doubt be furnished by another exceedingly vast
host of the angels of God.
It is said that in the days after the
flood (of Genesis) men had a feeling that the heavens were very near the earth, and
that wicked men could never feel comfortable; but that Nimrod, who is today worshipped
in one form or another in every nation, succeeded in pushing the heavens back away from
the earth till such wicked men could feel somewhat comfortable (see the book entitled,
"TWO BABYLONS," by Hislop). Regardless of whether such is true or not, it is
true that when the earth shall view the heavens "standing open," as described
above and in the former chapter, they will certainly feel that heaven is resting upon
the earth, for the throne of God shall visibly be as but a short distance from
them.
If there ever was a time when fear
struck men so intensely that their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets; their
hearts nearly jumped out of their mouths; their blood almost melted through the pores
of their skin; and their hair turned white and stood straight up on their heads, it
will certainly be at this time when they view this announcement of the "fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God." All the proud and
haughty of the earth who have through their conduct lifted themselves up against
Almighty God and His blessed Son by way of mocking, scoffing, and sneering at the
humble servants of God, shall at this time be brought so low as to run for the caves
and holes of the earth seeking shelter from the wrath of God (Rev. 6:12-17). One of the
most gruesome and weird things I have ever heard or read is found in Proverbs 1:26,
where God says, "I also will LAUGH at your calamity; I will MOCK when your fear
cometh." (Compare also Psalm 2:4; 37:13; 59:8; etc).
Soon after the heavens are rolled back,
Christ with the saints and many angels, shall descend to the Mount of Olives and
Jerusalem as the Antichrist and his forces flee from the land of Palestine as quickly
as possible (Acts 1:9-11; Zech. 14:3-15; Joel 2:1-11; 3:1-17; Rev. 14:1-7; Dan. 11:45;
etc.).
Among the many things that will be
discussed relative to the wrath of God. I will especially be giving proof that Christ
and the saints are in Jerusalem at this period of time. Under the direction of God, the
angels from heaven are pouring out the wrath of God upon the nations, while the saints,
being directed by Christ from Jerusalem, are engaged in the same business. I Cor. 6
teaches that the saints will have a part in judging the world; and from Jude 14-16 we
learn that part of that judgment will take place when Christ comes, for it says,
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these,
saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment
upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds
which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners
have spoken against him." In Dan. 7:26, we read, "But
the judgment shall sit, and they (the saints) shall take away his dominion (the
dominion of Antichrist), to consume and to destroy it unto the
end."
For further proof that Christ descends
immediately to the earth one needs only to remember that Israel's hiding in the
wilderness is exactly the same duration as the reign of the Antichrist -- 3 1/2. They
go into hiding at the time the Antichrist breaks the covenant (Matt. 24:15-22), and
come out of hiding three and one half years later when Christ comes in glory (Rev.
12).
We can also remember that when the
seventh trumpet sounds, the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and
Christ, and Christ begins to reign. Christ shall be on earth when He reigns, not in
heaven. In the pages to follow, proof will be given from still other passages which
absolutely demand such an interpretation.
It is from
Jerusalem that Christ and His army pours out great wrath upon the nations. Rev.
14:1-7 pictures Christ and His army on Mount Sion (Jerusalem) at the time that the hour
of God's judgment begins . Verses 12-13 are parenthetical
and are applicable to the church age which extends through to the end of the reign of
the Antichrist. These verses are particularly applicable to this latter period. Verses
14-16 naturally follow verses 12-13, and describe the harvest of God's victorious
saints. The victor's crown which the "Son of man" is wearing signifies
that He is reaping a harvest of victorious ones from the earth.
Verses 17-20 describe a harvest of the
wicked for the battle of Armageddon, the call for which goes out under vial 6 and the
battle is consummated under vial 7. Chapter 15 backs up again to the beginning of the
period of God's wrath and gives a brief preparation for the pouring out of the
seven vials which cover the period. Chapter 16 gives the pouring out of the seven
vials. Each of these vials greatly increases the intensity of the punishment of the
Antichrist and his forces. It appears that these vial judgments are commissioned by the
Father from heaven as he directs the angelic forces. In Joel 2 and 3; Zech. 14:3-15;
etc., Christ is seen directing His army of glorified saints in bringing vengeance upon
the nations from Jerusalem.
VIALS OF WRATH
The first vial (Rev. 16:2,11) brings great, grievous sores upon all the nations
leaving them in a physical condition worse than the one which Job endured.
The second vial
causes the waters of the oceans to become as the blood of a dead man which results in
the death of all living creatures in the seas. A stifling, sickening, foul odor has
never crossed the nostrils of man that would compare with this one. With all the oceans
turned to blood and every living creature in the blood dead, and this remaining day
after day, the air about the earth (with the exception of Palestine) will become so
increasingly stale that it will be exceedingly unbearable.
Under the third
vial the rivers and fountains of water in all lands (except Palestine) will also
be turned into blood. Men "have shed the blood of saints and
prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are
worthy."
The fourth vial
brings such terrible heat from the sun that men are actually blistered by it. As the
inhabitants of the nations sit in horrid agony from great poisonous sores, the sun
becomes so miserably hot that it raises blisters on top of the sores, and they thirst
exceedingly for water with only blood to drink.
The fifth vial
fills the kingdom of Antichrist with darkness so intense that men gnaw their tongues
till the blood flows and still they blaspheme God.
Under the sixth
vial "three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the
mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the
false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth
unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of
that great day of God Almighty." We must understand that it will take more
than just a few days to bring hundreds of thousands and many millions of men with all
their multiplied thousands of tons of war equipment from all parts of the earth to the
place called Armageddon.
The seventh
vial gives the judgment of Mystery Babylon taking in all of chapters 17 and 18
of Revelation, the marriage of the Lamb in 19:6-9, and the climax of God's wrath in
the battle of Armageddon, 19:17-21. Verses 11-16 of chapter 19 carry us back to the
beginning of the wrath of God to the glory coming of Christ. By way of summary, let us
make careful note of a few very important factors.
(1). All seven vials are full of the
wrath of God (Rev. 15:1; 16:1). This is the most significant thing about the vials.
(2). Since the seven vials are full of
the wrath of God, we must, of necessity, acknowledge that they
follow the sixth seal and the seventh trumpet, both of which state that the wrath of
God and Christ begin with them (Rev. 6:12-17; 11:15-19). No one can interpret the
Revelation correctly if he does not have this very conspicuous element clear in his
mind.
(3). We must further acknowledge that
the seven vials follow the coming of Christ in glory for it is
at that time that the wrath of God begins (II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 14-15; Matt. 24:27-31;
Rev. 6:12-17; 11:15-19; I Thess. 5:1-3; etc).
(4). By no means of exposition can we
conclude that the vials will be poured out over a short period of time. This factor is
significant under each of the vials, but especially so under vials 6 and 7. The battle
of Armageddon is called for under the sixth vial, that is, the three foul spirits are
sent out at that time to gather the nations of the earth together near Jerusalem for
the battle. By no means of calculation can we judge that such extensive preparations
can be made (Ezek. 38 and 39), and the transportation of such armies with their burden
of equipment and supplies can be executed within a short period of a few brief months;
especially when we understand that the nations will have been kept in utter confusion
throughout the first five vials which began with such a terrible disruption of the
entire structure of the earth at the time the Lord appeared in glory and the heavens
were rolled back.
PALESTINE A PARADISE DURING THE WRATH
Zechariah 14:3-15
gives some very valuable information about the period of God's wrath. Verse 2
evidently deals with the great three - kingdom battle spoken of in Dan. 11:40 and Rev.
9:13-21, which takes place during the reign of the Antichrist. Verse 3 announces that
Christ shall come and fight against all those nations that have arrayed themselves
against Him and His people in the past. Verse 4, the same as Rev. 14:1, teaches that
Christ will descend to the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem from
which He shall pour out judgment upon the wicked nations. From verse 4 to verse
11 the prophet speaks of some immediate changes that will take place in the land of
Palestine (no doubt all the land which God promised to the physical descendants of
Abraham -- Gen. 15:18). The curse which God pronounced upon the earth in Gen. 3:17-20
will be lifted from Palestine at the time Christ places His feet upon the Mt. of
Olives. The rest of the earth will not rest from the curse until the battle of
Armageddon is finished. Verses 12 to 15 describe the battle of Armageddon, and the
reader will observe that this battle falls into proper order as to the time element.
This battle comes after Christ has set up His throne in
Jerusalem and has begun to reign. Let us carefully observe the following things from
this passage.
(1). There will be an immediate change
in the land of Palestine when Christ comes. (A). The Mount of Olives
shall be divided in half; one half toward the north, and the other half toward
the south (verses 4 and 5). (B). "Living waters shall go out from
Jerusalem, half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea;
in summer and in winter it shall be" (verse 8). (C). The whole land shall be turned into a plain with Jerusalem remaining lifted up
higher than the rest of the land (verse 10). (D). There will be no
more destruction of the land of Palestine, but Jerusalem (and all the land)
shall abide safely (verse 11).
(2). We have already learned that the
wrath of God and Christ begins at the time Christ comes in glory, which is the exact
time mentioned in this chapter. We have abundantly seen that the seven vials must be
poured out after Christ comes in glory, and that they must
extend over a long period of time. This means that the rest of the earth outside of
Palestine will be undergoing the terrific burden of God's wrath while Palestine is
at perfect rest.
The land of Palestine will be to the
rest of the earth during the wrath of God as the land of Goshen was to Egypt during the
plagues preceding Israel's deliverance under Moses. The Israelites were living in
the land of Goshen, and God made a great distinction between the dwellings of Israel
and those of the Egyptians. Let us look into the book of Exodus and observe the glory
and pleasure of God in this matter.
"And I will sever
in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall
be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. And
I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign
be" (Exodus 8:22-23). "And the Lord shall sever
between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of
all that is the children's of Israel . . . and all the cattle of the children of
Israel died not one. And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of
the Israelites dead . . ." (Exodus 9:4-7). "Only in
the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail."
(Exodus 9:26). "And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven;
and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one
another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel
had light in their dwellings." (Exodus 10:22-23). "But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue,
against man or beasts that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between
the Egyptians and Israel." (Exodus 11:7).
It should not appear strange that God
should perform a similar work during this period of wrath which He has promised to the
nations of all the earth for many centuries. The Lord was exalted exceedingly, and His
pleasure in His chosen people manifested clearly by the distinction He made between
Israel and the Egyptians. God shall do unspeakably greater things after a similar
fashion during the period of His wrath upon the whole earth.
THE GLORIFIED ARMY IN BATTLE ARRAY
The Old Testament
gives many very enlightening portions of scripture which sometimes are slightly veiled.
This is especially true if we do not have the proper key to unlock such passages. Joel
2:1-11 falls under this category. The passage speaks of the period of God's wrath
which is meted out upon the present world dominions by Christ and His army of glorified
saints FROM JERUSALEM . In these verses we see a description of
the very great and terrible day of the Lord, and the very great and terrible army of
the Lord before whom He utters His voice. The passage is of such significance that it
is needful to make the following observations:
(1). The camp of this army (verse 11)
must be associated with Mount Zion, the holy mountain of the Lord (verse 1). This means
that the Lord's camp at this time is in Jerusalem.
(2). We must associate the activities
of this army with the day of the Lord (verses 1, 2, and 11). Here the day of the Lord
is described as terrible because of the judgments of the Lord through this great
army.
(3). This is clearly the Lord's
army. "And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for
his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the
Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it" (verse 11).
(4). This army is a super - natural
army; a glorified army. (A). There has never been and there never will be another army
equal to it (verse 2), therefore this army must be the one mentioned in Jude 14-15.
(B). The sun, moon and stars tremble, quake, and withdraw their shining at the will of
this army (verse 10). (C). These warriors cannot be wounded -- "and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded"
(verse 8). (D). These soldiers are perfect in all their ways -- "and they shall march everyone on his ways, and they shall not break their
ranks" (verse 7). (E). The land will be turned into a wilderness at the
will of this army (verses 3-5).
(5). This army is visible yet so
powerful and terrible that "Before their face the people shall be
much pained: all faces shall gather blackness" (verse 6).
(6). The last words of verse 11 --
"for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can
abide it?" -- are in perfect harmony with those in Rev. 6:17 where it is
said concerning this same period of time, "For the great day of
his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
God permits the Antichrist to overcome
the saints and to wear them out for forty-two months after a most horrible fashion
(Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:7), yet we can be fully assured that the time has already been
fixed when the saints will have their turn, for the Word says, "But the judgment shall sit, and they (the saints) shall take away his dominion (the Antichrist's), TO
CONSUME AND TO DESTROY IT UNTO THE END." (Dan. 7:26).
Joel 3:1-17 gives another view of the
Armageddon battle. It is the same harvest (verse 13) as described in Rev. 14:17-20. We
observe in verses 16-17 that Christ is in Jerusalem at the time He shall utter His
voice from Jerusalem to destroy them. "The Lord also shall roar
out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall
shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of
Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your GOD dwelling in Zion, my holy
mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her
anymore."
THE ANTICHRIST SEEKS TO ROB PARADISE
"Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a
prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great
spoil?" Ezek. 38:13.
Ezekiel 38 and 39 have been a great
source of interest to all who have studied far into the things which must shortly come
to pass. There is every reason to justify such interest; therefore it is needful to
spend some time upon the contents of these chapters. Chapter 37 fits chronologically
before chapters 38 and 39. The coming of the Lord, the resurrection and rapture, the
salvation of the remnant of Israel with the joining of Judah and Ephraim, and the
peaceful resettlement of Israel in their land of promise, will all take place at the
same time. (Compare also Rom. 11:15; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 23:39; Acts 2:20-21; Joel 2:31-32;
etc.). As we shall see, chapters 38 and 39 follow this peaceful resettlement of Israel
which is brought about only by the glorious return of Christ.
This battle of Gog is a specific work
in the purpose of God, and the reasons why He brings it about are: First , that He Himself may be magnified and sanctified in the eyes of many
nations (38:16, 23; 39:7, 21-29), and also in the eyes of Israel (39:7, 21-29).
Second , that He might sanctify Israel in the eyes of the
nations (39:7, 21-29). Such language as used in these two chapters, especially in the
verses mentioned, strictly forbids this battle being won by the Antichrist with God
gaining the glory ascribed to Him in these chapters. Some writers have said that this
victory is won by the Antichrist, and that God gets the glory. I do not know what could
be more foreign to these chapters than such an absolutely ridiculous teaching. During
the reign of the Antichrist, people are forced to give him the praise and worship that
is due only to God. There is not the slightest possibility that the language would give
glory to God for a victory won by the Antichrist. The language here will in no wise
permit such an interpretation.
It is quite possible if we are not
careful to mistake this battle of Gog with the one in Rev. 20:7-10 which is
unmistakably at the end of the Millennium. These battles cannot be the same for the
following reasons: First , the battle in Ezek. 38 and 39 is
accomplished at the time when Israel has just been restored to her land. Israel is
sanctified and her restoration is fully established by this battle. Such things have no
connection with the Gog battle at the end of the Millennium, for at that time God will
have been sanctified in the midst of a regathered Israel for an expired one thousand
years. Second , the activities described in Ezek. 39:9-16 can
find no place in connection with the last battle of Gog described in Rev. 20:7-10. What
purpose could there be in spending seven months burying the dead of the battle when the
second resurrection and the white throne judgment are immediately to follow? What
purpose could there be in spending seven years burning and doing away with the war
equipment when the complete destruction of the present heavens and earth are very soon
to follow? To answer these two questions correctly will certainly establish this battle
at the beginning of the Millennium.
The following comparisons between this
battle of Gog in Ezek. 38 and 39 with the Armageddon battle in Revelation are submitted
for the reader's consideration.
(1). The glory that God receives after
(as a result of) this battle (38:16, 23; 39:7, 21-29) requires that this be the
Armageddon battle.
(2). The great supper to the birds and
beasts of the earth mentioned in Ezek. 39:4, 17-20 fits that of Rev. 19:17-21.
(3). The "great hailstones, fire,
and brimstone" of Ezek. 38:22 correspond well with Rev. 16:21.
(4). The nations named in 38:1-6 also
correspond with Rev. 16:14. The nations mentioned are from the three continents known
to the world at that time. They are particularly from the north; but also include the
east (Persia), the south (Ethiopia), and the west (Libya).
(5). Both of these battles are
accompanied by a great earthquake (Ezek. 38:20; Rev. 16:20-21).
Now, if the foregoing thoughts have
been followed closely, we are prepared to examine other thoughts which give us the
information we need to discern the exact time of the battle in relation to other
events, particularly the Lord's return. Look carefully at
verses 8-14 of chapter 38, from which the following four observations are drawn.
First, at the
time this battle takes place Israel has already been gathered back
into her own land for some time. Thus we must understand that this battle does
not take place at the time Christ comes in glory, for Israel is not in her own land at
that time, but is in hiding in the wilderness. We cannot say that this regathering is
the one prior to the reign of the Antichrist, for after that regathering, Israel will
again be rooted out of her land when the Antichrist places the abomination that makes
desolate in the Jewish temple in the midst of the week, but there is no rooting them
out of the land after this regathering. This battle must follow the final and permanent
re-settlement of Israel in her own land which takes place at the time Christ comes in
glory.
Second, we
observe from these verses (Ezek. 38:8-14) that Israel has already been
"brought back from the sword." This signifies that there is no more
war for Israel. In this battle there is not one on the Lord's side who feels the
edge of the sword. But such cannot be said of Israel during the mock peace of the
Antichrist, nor at any other time prior to the Lord's second coming to the earth.
Thus this must be after His coming.
Third, we read
in these verses that Israel has been (and still is) prospering very
greatly, and that her land is very fruitful. It has been shown already that when
Christ comes the land of Palestine will be immediately restored from the curse of Gen.
3:17-20. We find that there is no rooting Israel out of this prosperity in these two
chapters which means it cannot be the false prosperity of Israel under the mock peace
of the Antichrist. Israel will not be prospering in her land at the time Christ comes,
thus, this battle is after the glory coming of Christ.
Fourth, it is
repeated many times that Israel has been RESTORED TO HER LAND AND IS
DWELLING IN PERFECT PEACE AND SAFETY (Ezek. 38:8-14), and there is every
assurance in these two chapters that her safe dwelling will NOT be disturbed even by
battle. Though Israel appears to be dwelling in her land safely during the mock peace
of the Antichrist, yet she soon has to flee into the wilderness (Matt. 24:15-22; Rev.
12). They are certainly not dwelling safely in the land when Christ comes, thus, again
we see beyond any possible doubt that this battle is after the
Lord's complete return to earth. Not until Christ returns to the earth will Israel
be permanently restored to her land. It is when Christ comes that the wrath of God
begins. The seven vials are full of the wrath of God. Under the sixth vial the three
unclean spirits go out to gather the nations of the earth to the battle of the great
day of God Almighty; and under vial 7 the battle is consummated.
The intensity of God's wrath has
turned the whole earth into a near complete chaos by the time the fifth vial is
finished, that is, except for the land of Palestine. The surface of the earth
throughout the nations lies lifeless because all its waters
have been turned to blood. The blistering heat of the sun has sapped the life from
every green thing. The Antichrist and his forces are exceedingly hungry. They desire
food but there is none to be had in all the land. They are withering away because of
thirst, yet they have only stale, clotted blood to drink. They turn their eyes toward
Palestine, the land of promise and there they see a paradise. There the land is
abundantly fruitful with harvests aplenty. There the pastures are filled with fat
cattle and sheep. Everything is green and beautiful. The weather is neither hot nor
cold, and even the night is as the day. Living waters, fresh and pure, flow freely from
the city of the King of the ages. The people are cheerful and happy, and the praises of
the Almighty are upon their lips.
The Antichrist, smoldering with
humiliation, yet with heart aflame with burning lusts, decides to come up and take of
the fat of the pleasant land. Encouraged by the False Prophet, and empowered by the
Dragon, he begins to marshal a great army with "horses and horsemen, all of them
clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great army with bucklers and shields, all of
them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield
and helmut: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and
his bands: and many people." (Ezekiel 38: 4-6).
Christ is well prepared for the
occasion for He had ordered it for His own glory in ages past. He has prepared the
Antichrist for this event in order to glorify the Father and that the Father might
glorify Him. He permits the forces of evil, championed by the Antichrist, to gather
themselves in the "valley of Jehoshaphat," (Joel 3), then goes out to meet
them. With violent fury He treads the great "winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God," (Rev. 19:15). "And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the
winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred
furlongs" (about two hundred miles -- Rev. 14:20). "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought
miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of
fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat
upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled
with their flesh." (Rev. 19:20-21).
DANIEL'S DESCRIPTION OF THE WRATH OF GOD
Let us now look into
the period of God's wrath as given by Daniel (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:9-14, 22, 26-27;
8:25; 9:27; 11:45; and 12:12). In studying these verses (and the related contexts in
each chapter) we find that Daniel hurriedly carries us from the day in which he lived
up to the time when the power of the Antichrist will be broken. In chapters 2 and 7 he
begins with the Babylonian empire and ends with the ushering in of the Lord's
kingdom. In chapters 8 and 11 he begins with the Medo-Persian empires and ends with the
death of Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a type of the Antichrist, therefore carrying us
up to the destruction of the Antichrist and the beginning of the Millennium. In chapter
9 similar procedures are followed. Chapter 12 is wholly complementary to chapter 11. In
each of these chapters we find the Antichrist in power, then being destroyed by the
Lord and His saints.
Such is most clearly presented in
7:21-22, 25-27. We should make careful notation of two specific developments in these
verses that are in chronological order, which order is followed consistently throughout
the book.
(1). The diverse king (the Antichrist)
made "war with the saints, and prevailed against them." The
saints will "be given into his hands until a time and times and the dividing of
time." This period of three and one half years, which is the same as in
Rev. 13:5-7, is not the first part of the covenant for one week (7 years -- Dan. 9:27),
for the Antichrist is not turned loose until he places the abomination of desolation
(Matt. 24: 15-22; II Thess. 2). The scriptures are consistent in teaching that the
slaughter of the saints and the Jews does not take place until the Antichrist breaks
the covenant immediately after the Holy Spirit who restrains him is moved out of the
way (II Thess. 2: 7). It is certain that the Antichrist could not "wear out the saints" unless they are "given into his hand" (Dan. 2:25). The scriptures are also
consistent in teaching that God will not judge the Antichrist until his "time and times and the dividing of time" are finished, which is
when Christ comes in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know
not God" (II Thess. 1:7-9).
(2). When the "time and times and the dividing of time" (3 1/2 years) are
ended, THEN "the judgment shall sit," and the saints
whom the Antichrist has been wearing out will "take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end" (Dan. 7:26).
Please observe that the judgment of the Antichrist and his kingdoms
very markedly follows his reign, and does not come until his three and one half
years' reign is over. It will do nothing but throw confusion into the
Scriptures to try to make them say that God judges the Antichrist during the
Antichrist's 42 months of power. the whole Earth (except the remnant of Israel)
will be given over into the power of the man of sin during his three and one half years
of wrath and fury. It is not until these three and one half years are finished that the
restraint is put back upon him greater than ever before by the pouring out of the
vials, and by the judgment of the saints who will "take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end." It will please the
Lord to give the lukewarm Laodicean churches over into the hands of the Antichrist that
many may be "purified, and made white, and tried"
(Dan. 12:10). But it will also please the Lord to turn the tide and give the saints the
last laugh (Psalm 52:6) by giving the whole earth over into their hands and they will
consume and destroy until finally Christ shall cast the Antichrist and the false
prophet into the lake of fire where they will remain eternally.
THE DURATION OF GOD'S WRATH
It is a great
interest to all, of course, to discern as closely as possible the duration of this
period of God's wrath. Such is what I shall undertake to do by an analysis of
Daniel 12: 11-12 in the light of the other passages already examined. It is my firm
conviction that the 1335 days (44 1/2 months, or, 3 years 8 1/2 months) of Dan. 12:12
is the duration of the period of God's wrath. "Blessed is he
that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty
days." It has been advanced by some that these days begin at the time the
Antichrist places the abomination of desolation and extend 75 days on past the 1260
days (42 months) of the reign of the Antichrist. This would make the period of
God's wrath to fall within the limits of the 75 days. This appears plausible at
first, but upon careful study it becomes manifest that we cannot possibly crowd the
seven vials into the short space of 75 days. I am fully persuaded that God will be
pleased to spend a longer period of time in avenging the blood of His servants upon the
Antichrist and his kingdom. The reasons for my convictions are as follows:
(1). There is a very manifest order
followed in each of the prophetic parts of the book of Daniel. We must not overlook
this order of events. In each of these prophetic parts of Daniel the Lord's people
are under the bitter rule of the Gentile world dominions. Near the end of the rule of
the Gentiles when the wrath of the Gentiles is at its peak against Israel and the
saints, the Lord actually gives the saints over into the hands of the Antichrist for 42
months. Then (in each of these prophetic parts of Daniel) the saints and Israel are
given power over the Antichrist and his kingdom. The saints then consume and destroy
that dominion to its utter end. This time in which the saints shall consume and destroy
the kingdom of the Antichrist (Dan. 7:26) is the same as the 1335 days of Dan. 12:12.
Mark the consistency and necessity of this order throughout the book.
First, in
chapter 2 verse 44 we are told the Lord will set up His kingdom "in the days of these kings." And this kingdom, after it has been established, "shall break in pieces
and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." From this
verse (and context) please consider the following facts: (A). The Lord's kingdom is
not mentioned until the image is complete; even to its feet and toes. Neither the Stone
"cut out of the mountain" nor the kingdom of the
Stone is active in destroying the image until the image is complete. The feet and toes
of the image represent the Antichrist, his aides, and his kingdom. (B). The Lord's
kingdom is established "in the days" of those kings
-- not after their destruction, but during the days that those kings are still in
power. This is exactly what takes place when the seventh trumpet sounds (Rev.
11:15-19). (C). Following the establishment of the Lord's kingdom comes the
destruction of the evil kingdoms. A wise interpretation of this passage will insist
that the days of blessedness will be simultaneous with the destruction of those
kingdoms.
Second, chapter 7 of
Daniel is a follow-up of chapter 2, and covers precisely the same matters. Verses 21-22
and 25-27 are especially significant to the present discussion. Let us make note of the
following facts from them: (A). In both of these two sets of verses we find the
Antichrist making war against the saints and overcoming them. The days included in this
period cannot be included in the days of blessedness. (B). Immediately following the
power and wrath of the Antichrist comes the power and wrath of the saints. The saints
as well as the Jews will not be happy until their blood has been avenged upon the
Antichrist and his kingdoms, which demands that the days of blessedness will not come
until the saints are given power over their enemies. The saints will not have such
power during the reign of the Antichrist, but will be "given into
his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."
Third, chapter
9 verse 27 gives an exact (though brief) follow-up of the same truths. (A). In the
midst of the last of the seventy weeks the Antichrist causes the sacrifices in the
Jewish temple to stop and places the abomination of desolation. This begins his time of
power over the Jews and the saints which continues for forty-two months (same as
above). (B). At the appointed time, that which is "determined
shall be poured" out upon the Antichrist. This is the time of blessedness
for the saints of all ages.
Fourth, chapter
12 verses 11-12 must follow the above order of developments. This order is very
manifestly followed in the verses, and we need only to accept it as it is. (A). Verse
11 speaks of the power and fury of the Antichrist. (B). Verse 12 follows verse 11 with
the 1335 days of blessedness for the saints.
(2). The 12th verse of chapter 12
teaches that all the 1335 days are filled with blessedness, joy, and gladness. The word
"blessed" means "happy." This could not be true if part (most) of
theses days were under the reign of the Antichrist. Such would ruin the harmony of the
book.
(3). This blessedness is in relation to
the defilement of the Jewish temple, the slaughter of the people of Daniel, and the
trampling down of Jerusalem. As long as the temple stands defiled, Jerusalem being
trodden under the feet of the Gentiles, and the people of Daniel being troubled
exceedingly, there will be no days of blessedness. Daniel would not have thought so.
Abraham would not have thought so. Only when the deliverance of all those has been
executed, will the days of blessedness begin.
(4). The language of Romans 11:15 (and
context) demands that these days of blessedness follow the reign of the Antichrist.
Israel has been cut off from the tame olive root and will not be grafted back in until
she says, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord" (Matt. 23:39). Not until Israel has been grafted back into her tame
olive root will the days of blessedness begin. "For if the
casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them
be, but life from the dead?" (Rom. 11:15). "Now if
the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of
the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?" (Rom. 11:12).
(5). There is a good harmony between
these days of blessedness and the "rest" mentioned by Paul in II Thess.
1:4-10. The time when the saints shall rest from the persecutions of the nations is the
same time the days of blessedness begin. The time of "rest" begins at the
glory coming of Christ at the end of the forty-two months of power of the Antichrist.
The "rest" and the days of blessedness do not describe the same thing, but it
is necessary that they begin at the same time.
(6). We cannot (as Daniel could not)
make the blessedness of Dan. 12:12 to be the joy of which we receive in the Holy Spirit
for such is not limited to 1335 days. We must understand that this blessedness is
directly connected with the "abomination that maketh
desolate." The reason that there is a specified number of days is that
these days include the period in which the saints find great joy in consuming and
destroying the Antichrist and his kingdom by whom they were worn out of 1260 days.
(7). Since the resurrection and rapture
do not take place until Christ comes in great glory, these days of blessedness cannot
begin until that time. This is most emphatic. The saints (of Israel and otherwise) have
been continually persecuted and cast about by the kingdoms described in the book of
Daniel. The proud and haughty of the earth have always trampled the servants of God
under their feet (study the Psalms, Proverbs, etc.). The Bible is full of references to
the time when God and His people shall find great pleasure in utterly destroying the
pride and haughtiness of the wicked. During these 1335 days such pleasure will be
enjoyed when God and the saints of all ages shall laugh at the wicked whom they have in
derision (Psalm 2:4; 52:6; etc.).
(8). The proof should be sufficient,
yet there is another exceedingly forceful element that I wish to set before the reader.
Not until the sixth vial do the three unclean spirits go out to round up the nations
for the battle against Christ who is in Jerusalem. Five of the seven vials which
contain the wrath of God have already been poured out. It is not stated that each of
these vials include a fairly equal amount of time, yet I rather think such is true. If
the period of God's wrath should last only 75 days, then each vial would be limited
to approximately ten and one half (10 1/2) days. This would mean that at the time the
sixth vial is ready to be poured out there would be approximately twenty-one (21) days
left for the three unclean spirits to gather the armies of the nations of the earth
(all parts of the earth) to Jerusalem for the Armageddon battle. Unless my judgment is
exceedingly at fault, it will be utterly beyond the least possibility for such to be
done in twenty-one days. Under the circumstances prevailing at that particular time it
would be utterly impossible within the limits of seventy-five days.
I do not question in the least
God's ability to pour out His wrath within a period of one second should He choose
to do so. It is not a question of God's ability to exhaust His wrath in a short
amount of time. It is quite clear that God will be pleased to spend a given amount of
time in judging the wicked nations; and the language describing these judgments
necessitates a longer period of time than seventy-five days. God could have judged the
earth in the days of Noah in a very short time, but He was pleased that the flood
should last more than a year. The Lord has been patient beyond our understanding with
the open rebellion and defiance of the nations. For many hundreds and even thousands of
years He has permitted His Spirit to strive with the wicked, not only in the face of
such rebellion, but also while they have persecuted and killed His chosen ones. There
is every reason, therefore, to believe that God will spend a lengthy period of time in
appeasing His wrath. The lost will be punished in hell eternally, while 1335 days are a
very short duration comparatively. God has been promising this fierceness and wrath
from the earliest centuries, and when the time arrives the nations will be given to
drink of their own ways throughout a lengthy period of time.
In the light of the scriptures used in
connection with this period of time, it is clearly seen that the entire earth will be
thrown into utter confusion at the time the heavens are rolled back; and that such
confusion will continue (and become increasingly worse) through the first five vials.
By this time the nations will be in confusion and exhaustion far beyond our ability to
even imagine. There has never been a nation, nor even a city, that has suffered such
judgment and destruction as the earth will have experienced by the time these first
five vials are poured out. Under the sixth vial the Lord permits the nations to collect
themselves and make preparations for the Armageddon battle. Certainly it will take them
a period of many months to regather their wits and march many millions of men, burdened
with millions of tons of war equipment (Ezek. 38 and 39), from all parts of the earth
against Christ in Jerusalem. The only sensible explanation for the 1335 days is that
they begin with the coming of Christ in flaming fire to avenge the blood of the saints
upon those who have been destroying the earth. When Christ comes in the glory of the
Father with the mighty angels, He will give rest to His troubled servants and
tribulation to the nations (II Thess. 1:3-11). This time of vengeance and tribulation
upon the nations will last 1335 days being climaxed with the battle of Armageddon.
"BLESSED is he
that WAITETH, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty
days."
The comments of this chapter have not
begun to exhaust what the Word has to say about this period of time, for the Bible is
filled with references concerning it. Yet I pray that these few comments will stir up a
fire in the breast of all who read them, that a greater effort may be put forth in the
search of God's words of life than ever before. Many of the questions that the
reader has now will be answered by a careful examination of the scriptures and comments
that will follow.
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