Wednesday 15 November 2023

Papal and Muslim "legs"

 Papal and Muslim "legs"

"There are two great antichristian religious systems of deceit revealed in the book of Revelation. The 'great western antichrist' of Roman Catholicism (Rev 17; 18) and the 'great eastern antichrist' of Islam (Rev 9). This has been the majority position of historic Protestant interpretation (Historicism) for centuries (though later writers often see this with more clarity). Dr Lee gives us evidence of this in 'Calvin and Islam', citing Calvin as follows,

 

"In our own day, indeed [1550], very many people begin to waver -- when they consider the long continued dispersion of the Church. As if this had not been regulated by the purpose of God!... The pretext of the Romanists which they make in extenuation of the tyranny of their idol [the Papacy] -- is that it was not possible for Christ to forsake His bride. But here, the weak have an assurance on which to rest -- when they learn that the disfigurement which they see in the Church, has long since been foretold. The impudence of the Romanists, on the other hand, is clearly exposed. Because Paul declares that when the World has been brought under the rule of Christ -- a defection will take place....

 

"The minds of ancients were so bewitched -- that they believed that Nero would be Antichrist! However, Paul is not speaking of one individual -- but of a kingdom that was to be seized by Satan, for the purpose of setting up a seat of abomination in the midst of God's Temple. This we see accomplished in Popery.

 

"The defection has indeed spread more widely! For, since Mohammed was an apostate, he turned his followers, the Turks, from Christ.... The sect of Mohammed was like a raging overflow, which in its violence tore away about half of the Church. It remained for [the Papal] Antichrist to infect with his poison the part which was left."

 

Yet, in the words 'the Lord Jesus shall slay' in 2Th 2:8 -- Calvin insists Paul "predicted the destruction of the reign of Antichrist... He will be annihilated by the Word of the Lord... Paul does not think that Christ will accomplish this in a single moment... Christ will scatter the darkness in which Antichrist will reign, by the rays which He will emit before His coming -- just as the sun, before becoming visible to us, chases away the darkness of the night with its bright light.


"It does seem that the fourth iron kingdom was in fact both the pre-Papal and the pre-Islamic undivided Pagan Roman Empire, as well as the later Western-Roman Papal and the contemporaneous Eastern-Roman Islamic Empire into which it then subdivided. Indeed, both 'Mahomet' and 'the Pope' -- as we have already seen -- Calvin called 'the two horns of Antichrist.' Thus they correspond to the two legs of the later Roman Empire Islam and the Papacy.

 

In fact, when the classic historicist position is studied, the fulfillment in the case of Islam and Rev 9 is seen to be so striking and well attested that "'even advocates of other approaches who are adamant in their rejection of the historicist system of interpretation have admitted the convincing nature of this particular identification' (Steve Gregg, commenting on Rev 9:1-6 in 'Revelation: Four Views' 176)."


Since the Papacy (Roman Catholicism) and the powers of Islam are both blaspheming and agitating against Israel today, it surely does seem that we are still in the "two legs" interpretative section of the image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of future empires, and very, very close to the image's feet becoming shattered by Christ's return.


THE JUBILEE PERIOD

 THE JUBILEE PERIOD

Although there is no place in the scriptures which clearly states that there will be a fifty year Jubilee
period between the return of Christ and the inauguration of the Millennium, there is ample evidence
by inference that the resurrection and judgement, and subsequent events up to the completion of the
Temple and the return of scattered Israel under Elijah, will cover a period of fifty years.
The clearest indication is to be found in the prophecy of Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a man of sign to the
house of Israel - Ezek. 12:6; 24:24. However, because the greater proportion of his prophecy has
relationship to the development of Yahweh's glory in the household of Christ, spiritual Israel, the
prophecy and its setting from the very beginning has relevance to things yet future in the purpose of
Deity.
Time periods play an important part in Ezekiel's prophetic work as a man of sign - Ezek. 4:3-8. It
might be expected therefore that in relation to future events a pattern will be discernable in Ezekiel's
prophecy concerning time periods surrounding those events.
The last nine chapters of Ezekiel are devoted entirely to a detailed description of the House of Prayer
for all nations to be constructed by Christ as a habitation for His Father's glory and to the services
pertaining to that Temple along with details concerning the division of the Land.
It is noteworthy that at the commencement of this section of his prophecy and immediately following
the section dealing with the destruction of Gog and the cleansing of the Land Ezekiel provides a
precise date upon which he saw the vision of the Temple - Ezek. 40:1.
Ezekiel 40:1
The prophecy of Ezekiel flows smoothly in chronological order from the end of chapter 36 which
summarises the prophecies of the re-establishment of Israel in the Land (Ezek. 36-39).
􀂾 Ezekiel 37 – The vision of the valley of dry bones – Israel is to be restored to the land of their
fathers.
􀂾 Ezekiel 38&39 – The advance of the Gogian host – Russia's destruction at Armageddon —
The land of Israel cleansed.
􀂾 Ezekiel 40-48 – The Temple built – A House of Prayer for all nations – The Land divided and
inhabited.
It is vital to note that the things Ezekiel saw in chaps. 40 to 48 are represented as being actually
existent at the time the vision was given – note the offerings in position as though the Temple was in
operation (Ezek. 40:43).
VERSE 1
"In the five and twentieth year of our captivity" – i.e. the 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity (Ezek.
1:2). This year was the 14th after the destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in the 11th year of
Zedekiah the successor of Jehoiachin upon the throne of Judah.
The significance of the 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity is that it was apparently a Jubilee year.
Ezekiel commenced his prophecy by dating it from the 18th year of Josiah's reign (Ezek. 1:1). This
was the year of Josiah's great passover and according to tradition was a Jubilee year. This would
account in part for Josiah's zeal towards the Temple and people despite the absence of a copy of the
Law, during this year of his reign.
The 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity was exactly 50 years after the 18th year of Josiah and
therefore a Jubilee year. In this year Ezekiel saw the Temple completed and in use. There must be a
6
reason for this arrangement. It is evident that we are intended to see a pattern to be unfolded in the
divine purpose foreshadowed in Ezekiel's experiences.
The Temple will be opened for use by all nations and the Millennial reign of Christ will begin in the
fiftieth year after his stealthy and thief-like return to resurrect and judge the household. This Jubilee
period will be filled with numerous dramatic and world-shaking events which will completely change
the world and its civilisation in preparation for a Millennium of righteousness and peace (2 Pet. 3:13).
The following summary of the dates referred to above reveals that from the 18th of Josiah to the 25th
of Jehoiachin's captivity was a period of 50 years.


"in the beginning of the year" – i.e. in the first month, Abib.
"the tenth day of the month" – The 10th of Abib; the day the Passover lamb was selected. Ezekiel's
vision occurs 50 years to the day after Josiah's Jubilee Passover.
"in the fourteenth year after the city was smitten" – i.e. the 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity.
"in the selfsame day" - Often where these words occur in the scriptures, stress is being laid upon the
importance of a time period – cp. Gen. 7:13; Ex. 12:41. It was exactly 50 years to the day since
Josiah's Passover.
JUBILEE PERIODS IN THE HISTORY OF MODERN ISRAEL
1847 to 1897 – In 1847 Bro. Thomas wrote "A confession and Abjuration" which became the basis of
"Elpis Israel" written in 1848. The key to this final step in the rediscovery of the Truth was Rom. 8:24
"we are saved by the hope" (i.e. the Hope of Israel - Acts 28:20). Fifty years later the Zionist
Josiah – last 13 years Jehoiakim – 11 yrs Zedekiah – 11 years 14 years
50 years
30 years 20 years
Jehoiachin’s Captivity Fall of Jerusalem
18th of Josiah 5 y r s 586 BC Ezek. 40:1
Jubilee Jehoahaz 3 months Jehoiachin 3 months Jubilee
7
Congress was convened in Basle, Switzerland to formulate a plan to establish a Jewish State — a
homeland for the Jews.
1897 to 1947 – The first Zionist Congress which embarked upon a programme to establish a
homeland for the Jews culminated in the United Nations voting to partition the land of Palestine into
a Jewish and an Arab state on November 29th 1947 almost exactly 50 years later.
1917 to 1967 – In 1917 the British Government issued the Balfour Declaration supporting the
establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. In the same year the occupying forces of Turkey
were driven out of Palestine by the British army. Exactly 50 years later on the 8th June 1967
Jerusalem was freed from the hands of the Gentiles and Luke 21:24 received its incipient fulfilment.

40 YEARS OF WAR TO SUBDUE THE NATIONS
Speaking of the 40 year war is the War Scroll found among the dead sea scrolls

A little scroll is a short time in which things written therein are to be accomplished - a period, say of forty years, according to the testimony of Mic.7:14-17." The little scroll contained the seven thunder judgements of Deity against the nations and refers to the war of Armageddon and its
aftermath (see Eureka Vol. 2 pgs.542-544).

Micah 7:15
Rotherham translates — "As in the days of thy coming forth out of the land of Egypt, will I shew him
wonders". R.S.V. - "As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them
marvellous things".
While this is clearly a reference to the miracles performed by Yahweh in the wilderness on Israel's
behalf and an assurance that similar miracles will be seen again during the Second Exodus of Israel,
the inference is that these "marvellous things' will span a similar period of 40 years. As the context
deals with Israel being used as Yahweh's weapon of war against the nations it is reasonable to
postulate that these wars will also span a period of approximately 40 years.
In Eureka Vol. 1 page 133 in the section dealing with the "Aion of the Aions" Bro. Thomas refers to
"The Hour of Judgement" of Rev. 14:7 and suggests that it is a period of 40 years. He writes, "It is the
antitype to the 40 years in the wilderness, and the Aion of the sickles (Rev. 14:14-20)." See also
Eureka Vol. 5 pgs. 38-39, 74-75, 163-165 (Logos Edition).
The Second Exodus of Israel to be considered later in these notes will almost certainly be over a
period of 40 years - Ezek. 20:34-38.

The gospel and the promises

 The gospel and the promises 


The gospel preached by Jesus when upon the earth had reference to the Kingdom of God

Mark 1:4; Matt 4:17.23; Luke 4:43; Luke 8:1; Matt 9:35, 6:33,13:19; Luke 9:11.13:28

The gospel preached by the Apostles had reference to the same thing - that is, the Kingdom of God
Acts 8:12,25; 19:8; 20:25; 28:30-31

What is the Kingdom? It is a divine political dominion to be established on the earth, on the ruins of all existing governments, for the purpose of blessing and bringing the world into subjection to God
Dan 2:44; Dan 7:7:13-14, 18, 22, 27; Hag 2:22; Rev 11:15; Zech 14:9; Psalm 2:8-9; Rev 19:11, 13, 15-16; 1 Cor 15:25.

This purpose of God to establish a universal kingdom on earth, with Christ at its head, has a connection with God's past dealings with the nation of Israel. This connection must be perceived before the bearing of God's purpose can be clearly understood.

The Kingdom of Israel, as divinely constituted under the hand of Moses, and existent in the land of Palestine 3000 yrs ago, was the Kingdom of God
1 Chron 28:5, 29:23; 2 Chron 13:8

The Kingdom of God in Israel was divinely overturned and scatterered to the four winds on account of their iniquity
Isa 63:17-19; Ezek 21:25-27; Hos 3:4-5; luke 21:24; Matt 23:36-39
(Note Olivet Prophecy - Matt 24:3-28)

The Kingdom of God will be re-established on earth
Psa 102:13; Isa 61:4; 33:20-21; Amos 9:11; Zech 1:16-17; 2:12; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 1:6; 14:16

The Kingdom of God to be set up on earth will be the ancient Kingdom of Israel restored
Mic 4:6-8; Obad v17, 20-21

The establishment of the Kingdom of God by the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel, will involve the gathering of the Jews from their present dispersion among the nations of the earth
Isa 11:12; Jer 31:10, 14-16, 27-28; Zech 8:7-8, 23; Ezek 37:21-22; Mal 3:12


The city Jerusalem will then become the residence of the Lord Jesus, the headquarters and metropolis of the Kingdom of God, whose dominion will stretch to the utmost bounds of earth
Isa 24:23, 60:14, 65:17-18; Jer 3:17, 31:23; Psa 48:2; Mic 4:7-8; Joel 3:17; Zech 14:16; Matt 5:34-35

The Supreme Ruler in this glorious order of things will be Jesus of Nazareth. It is important to put this in a more specific form, by calling attention to - The Covenenat made with David
2 Sam 7:12-14; Psa 132:11; 2 Sam 23:1, 3-5

The Son promised to David is Jesus Christ, who will sit on David's throne, when it is restored in the era of his re-appearing on the earth
Acts 2:30; Luke 1:30-33; Mark 15:2; Matt 19:28; Isa 9:7; Jer 33:15; Zech 6:12-13

Jesus Christ will return from Heaven, and visibly appear and take up his residence on earth a second time, for the purpose of bringing about the accomplishment of all these things. The second coming of Christ is therefore the true hope of the believer
Acts 1:9-11; 2 Tim 4:1; Matt 16:27; Acts 3:20-12; Heb 9:28; 1 Thess 4:16; 1 Pet 1:13; Phil 3:20; 1 Cor 1:7; 1 John 2:28

The kingdom of God is the inheritance to which men are called by the Gospel, and the thing presented as the object of hope; a proposition which destroys the popular Gospel of 'Kingdoms beyond the skies'
1 Thess 2:12; Luke 12:32; James 2:5; Matt 25:34; 2 Pet 1:11; Luke 13:29; John 3:5; 1 Cor 15:50; 1 Cor 6:9


The Kingdom of God will last a 1000 years, during which Christ and his brethren will rule the mortal nations of the earth; sin and death continuing among mankind, but in a milder degree, than now. At the end of that period, an entire change will take place. Christ will surrender his position of supremacy, and become subject to the Father, Who will then manifest himself as the Father, Strength, Governor and Freind of all. Rev 20:1-9, 12-15; Dan 7:14; Isa 65:20, 1 Cor 15:24-28

The day-for-a-year principle




 In prophecy a day is at times used to stand for one year. This can be noted at Ezekiel 4:6: “You must lie upon your right side in the second case, and you must carry the error of the house of Judah forty days. A day for a year, a day for a year, is what I have given you.”—See also Nu 14:34.


So Ezekiel was commanded to lie on his left side for 390 days, and on his right side for 40 days, a total of 430 days. Each day he lay on his side represented a year of the transgressions of the house Judah and the house of Israel.

Certain specific numbers of days given in connection with prophecies are: three and a half days (Re 11:9); 10 days (Re 2:10); 40 days (Eze 4:6); 390 days (Eze 4:5); 1,260 days (Re 11:3; 12:6); 1,290 days (Da 12:11); 1,335 days (Da 12:12).

The day-for-a-year principle the word 'day', when found in a prophetic passage, should be interpreted as representing a literal year. For example, the 1,260,1,290, and 1,335 days of Daniel and Revelation are read as 1,260, 1,290, and 1,335 years (Dan 7:25; 12:7,11,12; Rev 11:2,3; 11:6,14; 13:5). In short, prophetic 'days' represent literal years.

Its recorded in Acts 1:6-8, just before the master's ascension to heaven, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” The master responded, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” From this we learn that the father had indeed:-
1. appointed a set time when the kingdom would be restored to Israel, but
2. the times and seasons relating to this was not for them to know, and
3. that the times and seasons were in the power of the father.

By this we understand that the father up until then was retaining the power and authority to accomplish the establishment of the Kingdom, and that this would happen after certain times and seasons had elapsed. Psa 102:13 refers to this as “the set time to favour Zion”.
Times and seasons describe periods of time, like months, seasons, and years. The master did not reveal the duration of these periods to the disciples before he ascended to heaven: but the father had previously revealed certain times to Daniel the prophet, which did relate to the return of the master to this earth and the kingdom that he will establish thereon.

Before we look at these, we'd like to establish a few related important scriptural principles. For instance 2Peter3:8 records “beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” So we see that scripture can refer to days as years, to make the context of say a parable more realistic.

Tuesday 14 November 2023

The Sign of fig tree: Anticipating the Second Coming



The Sign of Israel: Anticipating the Second Coming









Matthew 24:30-31 (ESV): "Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates." (Matthew 24:32-33)

In Matthew 24:30, Jesus alludes to the appearance of the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. Interpreting this symbolically, the "heaven" mentioned here is often understood in a figurative sense, representing political power rather than the celestial realm. The reference to heaven in this context isn't a mere gaze into the celestial realm but carries a figurative weight, representing political power. Drawing from Jeremiah 10:1-3, where Yahweh instructs the people of Israel not to emulate the ways of other nations and not to be dismayed by signs in the heavens, the understanding emerges that these "heavens" symbolize political spheres.

Jeremiah 10:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)Thus says Yahweh: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.

When Jesus speaks of signs in the heavens in Matthew 24:30, the interpretation extends beyond celestial events to encompass political upheavals and transformations. The nations' responses to these signs underscore their significance on a broader, geopolitical scale.

Central to this prophetic narrative is the metaphor of the fig tree, which takes center stage in Jesus' teachings. He directs His followers to take lessons from its branches, emphasizing that the budding and rebirth of the fig tree symbolize the restoration and reemergence of the Jewish nation. The pivotal moment of Israel's rebirth in 1948 becomes a tangible signpost, indicating the imminent arrival of a new age or "summer" in the divine timeline.

Those who sow in winter reap in summer. The winter is this the world, the summer the other Aeon (age). Let us sow in the world that we may reap in the summer (Gospel of Philip)

This understanding aligns with the Gospel of Philip, where summer symbolizes the "other Aeon" or age—a concept resonating with the anticipation of Jesus' second coming

Drawing parallels between the fig tree and the prophetic timeline, Jesus implies a direct connection between the growth of Israel and the nearness of His return. Matthew 24:32-33 underscores this connection, urging believers to recognize the signs of the times, much like discerning the changing seasons.

The symbolism of the fig tree as representing the Jewish nation is not confined to Matthew's Gospel alone. In Luke 13:6 and 9, as well as Matthew 21:19, Jesus uses the fig tree as a metaphor for Israel. This interpretation finds consistency throughout scripture, echoed in Jeremiah 24, the book of Hosea 9:10, and Joel 1:7.

The growth and prosperity of the state of Israel since its establishment in 1948, therefore, stand as a remarkable sign of the Lord's impending return. This view gains support from various Old Testament prophecies, notably Jeremiah 23:3-6, which emphasizes the regathering of Israel as a precursor to a future kingdom.

Jeremiah 23:3-6 
3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares Yahweh. 5 “The days are coming,” declares Yahweh,  “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: Yahweh Our Righteous Savior

Ezekiel 37:21-25 
21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 24 “‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.

2 Samuel 7:12-16
12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be my son; whom, in his being caused to bow down, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.  16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." " 

Ezekiel 37:21-25 provides another significant link between the state of Israel and the anticipated kingdom of God. The reference to "David my servant" points to the Messiah, portrayed as the Son of David. This concept aligns with 2 Samuel 7:12-16, where the Messiah is foretold to be the God-appointed heir to the throne of David. The Gospel narratives reinforce this lineage, as seen in Luke 1:32-33, where the angel Gabriel conveys to Mary that Jesus will inherit the throne of His father David.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His Father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.”


The personal, physical second coming of Christ stands as a foundational element in New Testament teaching. The return of the Jews to their homeland is positioned as a divinely orchestrated event, intricately linked to the preparation for the second coming. This connection emphasizes the divine order inherent in the unfolding of prophetic events.

Thursday 9 November 2023

The Destruction of Rome by a Volcanic Eruption in 2060 Bible Prophecy Revelation 14

The Destruction of Rome by a Volcanic Eruption in Bible Prophecy Revelation 14










The Destruction of Rome in Bible Prophecy

Introduction

The notion of a catastrophic event befalling the city of Rome is a topic that has intrigued many, especially those who interpret the biblical texts through a prophetic lens. This article explores the idea that Rome could potentially face a volcanic eruption in the year 2060, drawing upon religious and historical interpretations and scientific evidence regarding the Bracciano and Sacrofano volcanoes near Rome.

Babylon as a Symbol of Rome

In the Book of Revelation, the term "Babylon" symbolizes Rome in its various stages of existence, including pagan Rome, the Holy Roman Empire, and Vatican City today. This symbolic connection is made through a religious lens, with the belief that Rome carries a legacy of spiritual significance that spans centuries.

The 1260-Year Prophecy

In 800 AD, Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope. By applying the "a day for a year" principle, we arrive at 2060, a significant year mentioned in both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation. These scriptures refer to the 1260 days, and we are currently in the last 40 years of this 1260-year period since 2020.

Sir Isaac Newton, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to science, left behind private writings that contained a remarkable prediction— the year 2060 as a important  moment in human history. This revelation has sparked significant interest in modern scholarship, particularly in the realm of Bible prophecy, focusing on the books of Daniel and Revelation, which Newton used to formulate his forecast.

The Little Horn of Daniel and the Holy Roman Empire
Isaac Newton's prophecy hinges on Daniel's account of the birth of a Little Horn, symbolizing the Holy Roman Empire governed by the Pope. In Daniel 7:8, the emergence of this horn, uprooting three others, signifies the rise of a powerful entity. Newton identified this as the Holy Roman Empire, a key player in the prophecy.

Revelation 13: The Revived Roman Empire
In Revelation 13, the same entity is described as the revived Roman Empire, one of the seven heads with a healed deadly wound. Newton connected this to the Little Horn, signifying the Holy Roman Empire, which would continue until the second coming of Jesus Christ. Daniel and Revelation provide crucial clues as to how long the Papacy would endure.

Time, Times, and the Dividing of Time
The chronological context for Newton's prediction revolves around the phrase "time and times and the dividing of time" from Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:5. This period, equivalent to 42 months or 1260 days, is interpreted prophetically as 1260 years. Newton drew on biblical examples like Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, where days symbolically represent years.

Daniel 7: The Little Horn's Dominion
The prophecy in Daniel 7 unfolds with the Little Horn's dominion, described as a time, times, and the dividing of time. This period is confirmed in Revelation 12, where 1260 days equate to 3 ½ times. Newton deduced that the Holy Roman Empire, symbolized by the Little Horn, was granted a 1260-year period of power, starting around AD 800 with the crowning of Charlemagne.

The Rise of the Holy Roman Empire
Examining the historical context, the Holy Roman Empire's establishment culminated in AD 800 when Charlemagne was crowned emperor. The Little Horn's rise to power marked the fall of three Gothic kingdoms in Europe. Newton pinpointed the initiation of the 1260-year period with Charlemagne's crowning, setting the stage for its conclusion in the year 2060.

The Prophetic Climax  in 2060
Adding 1260 years to the crowning of Charlemagne leads to the prophesied year 2060. Newton foresaw the end of the little horn's dominion, as indicated in Daniel 7:26. Following this, dominion would be transferred to the saints of the Most High, ushering in an everlasting kingdom.






Revelation's Message

Revelation Chapter 14:7, speaks of a profound proclamation, declaring the imminent "hour of judgment." This message calls upon all nations to worship the Creator and emphasizes the importance of righteousness. It is seen as an important moment in the prophetic timeline.

The Fall of Babylon

Revelation Chapter 14:8 introduces another angel proclaiming the fall of Babylon. In this context, Babylon, symbolizing confusion and error, points to Rome and its doctrinal influence. It points out how Rome's teachings and institutions closely resemble those of ancient Babylon. The message suggests that Rome's fate may not be heeded by Christendom, indicating a resistance to submission to Christ.

The Great City

"That great city"—See Rev. 16:19; 17:5, 18. Rome has always been a great city of war, architecture, culture, politics, art and false religion the Papacy and the Vatican were founded in the city of Rome. In The Apocalypse the destinies of two cities are contrasted: Babylon and the New Jerusalem. The former represents the polity of the Apostasy; the latter, those who manifest the Will of God the Body of Christ. From Rev. 18:21 it would appear that the city of Rome will be destroyed by an earthquake and a volcanic eruption, but evidently, the system of Rome survives the destruction of the city. See Rev. 14:9.

The Wrath of Fornication

Revelation Chapter 14:8, speaks of Rome making all nations drink from the "wine of the wrath of her fornication." This alludes to the intoxicating doctrine of Rome that turns people away from the Truth.  This theme of spiritual intoxication is consistent with Revelation 18:3. The consequences of drinking this metaphorical wine are believed to bring about the wrath of God. 

The Third Angel's Warning

Revelation Chapter 14:9 introduces a third angel who delivers a warning against worshipping the beast and receiving its mark. This is seen as a rallying call for the papal system to resist Christ, and individuals are cautioned against giving their allegiance to this system.

The Wine of God's Wrath

Revelation Chapter 14:10 contrasts the "wine of God's wrath" with Rome's "wine of fornication." The former signifies judgment and bloodshed. Those who continue supporting guilty Rome despite these appeals will experience torment and judgment.

Volcanic Judgment

The imagery of "fire and brimstone" is reminiscent of the volcanic activity associated with the destruction of Sodom. It is suggested that Rome and Vatican City may experience a similar fate through volcanic judgment, triggered by great earthquakes as mentioned in the books of Ezekiel and Zechariah.

Revelation 18:8 - Swift and Violent Judgment 

The prophecy declares, "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day," reminiscent of the sudden downfall of historic Babylon (Jer. 51:64). Rome, characterized as the antitypical Sodom, will face a swift and decisive judgment—plagues that will descend upon her in an instant, catching the city in the midst of festivities and excess (Dan. 5:1-5). This "one day" signifies the Day of Yahweh, a day of divine reckoning and vindication (see Jer. 50:31; Acts 17:31; Mai. 4:1-3; Isa. 2:12.20 Zech. 14:1).

The impending plagues are outlined as "death, mourning, and famine," reaching their climax in utter destruction by fire. This imagery echoes events of an earthquake and a catastrophic volcanic eruption that will obliterate Rome, the very heart of the Papal system.  As the earthquake and a volcanic eruption begin confusion fears famine and death will take hold of the Great City 


The Power of the Lord God's Judgment 

The proclamation emphasizes the strength of the Lord God who judges Rome. In this context, Yahweh Elohim, the God of the Old Testament, is depicted as the executor of divine justice. The multitudes of the Redeemed, acting as instruments of the judgments written, will carry out Yahweh's purpose (Zech. 14:5; Psa. 149:5-9).



Consternation Among Earth's Rulers (Revelation 18:9-10) As the prophetic narrative unfolds, the "kings of the earth," symbolic of the ten horns of the beast, are portrayed lamenting the destruction of Rome. This grief is not merely personal but is viewed as a national tragedy, signifying the far-reaching consequences of Rome's demise.

The Lamentation of Earthly Rulers (Revelation 18:9) The rulers of Western Europe, who have been entangled in Rome's influence, are depicted bewailing and lamenting her downfall. This lamentation mirrors historical precedents, such as the destruction of Babylon (Jer. 50:46). The mention of witnessing "the smoke of her burning" hints at a volcanic catastrophe, possibly a Pompeii-style eruption.

Resistance and Blasphemy Continue (Revelation 18:18) Despite the impending judgment and the visual spectacle of Rome's destruction, the rulers continue to resist and blaspheme. Their cries, questioning if any city can compare to Rome, reveal a steadfast denial of her great wickedness. This resistance echoes the ongoing battle against the work of Christ (Rev. 17:14) and highlights the unyielding nature of those devoted to Rome.

The Patient Saints

Revelation Chapter 14:11, emphasizes the patience of the saints and their commitment to keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This patience is seen as a testament to their enduring faith in the ultimate triumph of Christ over the powers of darkness.

Scientific Evidence of Impending Catastrophe

The Bracciano and Sacrofano volcanoes, forming a volcanic complex and caldera near the northern outskirts of Rome, last erupted around 70,000 BC.

Though Monte Albano is not confirmed as extinct, the Colli Albani, located just 19 miles from the heart of Rome, poses a potential threat comparable to the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, as suggested by researchers. Scientists from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Rome have observed a consistent rise of 2mm per year in the land surrounding this ostensibly dormant volcano since 1993. This phenomenon signals magma accumulation beneath the surface, raising concerns about a potential eruption.

In-depth analysis of the surrounding rocks reveals that the Colli Albani volcano has been inactive for 36,000 years, with an eruption cycle averaging 31,000 years. This overdue status heightens the risk of an eruption in the Colli Albani Volcanic District, located approximately 10km outside Rome. In the firm prediction that Rome will face destruction in 2060 AD, the imminent threat of a Volcanic eruption located approximately 10km outside of the city, is anticipated to produce a Pompeii-style cloud of ash that will engulf Rome as forewarned by Sir Isaac Newton's prophecy.




Conclusion

This exploration combines religious interpretations and scientific possibilities to suggest that Rome may face a catastrophic volcanic event in the year 2060, aligning with certain prophetic beliefs. While such interpretations are highly speculative, they underscore the enduring fascination with the intersection of faith, history, and science.



Tuesday 7 November 2023

Pope: You are the descendants of Great Russia!

 Pope: You are the descendants of Great Russia!

The Pope makes some interesting comments to an all-Russian Catholic Youth event.

Last week the Pope made a video address to the 10th All-Russian Catholic Youth Assembly in St Petersburg in Friday, during which in he urged the young people to view themselves as descendants of the Russian Empire.

He said to the young people: “Never forget your heritage. You are the descendants of great Russia: the great Russia of saints, rulers, the great Russia of Peter I, Catherine II, that empire – educated, great culture and great humanity. Never give up on this heritage, you are descendants of the great Mother Russia, step forward with it. And thank you – thank you for your way of being, for your way of being Russian.”
Since then the Pope has come under fire from Ukraine and the West who saw these comments as similar to the imperialist propaganda quoted by Putin himself. For example, last year Russian President Vladimir Putin compared himself to Peter the Great during an exhibition dedicated to the first Russian emperor, using the comparison to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Peter the Great waged the Great Northern War for 21 years, On the face of it, he was at war with Sweden taking something away from it … He was not taking away anything, he was returning. This is how it was.” He added that it didn’t matter that European countries didn’t recognize Peter the Great’s seizure of territory by force.

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said in a statement that Peter the Great and Catherine the Great are the “worst examples of imperialism and extreme Russian nationalism,” warning that the pope’s words “could be perceived as support for the nationalism and imperialism that has caused the war in Ukraine today.”
The Vatican has since rejected this interpretation of his words as instead clarified with the following statement:

“The Pope intended to encourage young people to preserve and promote all that is positive in the great cultural and Russian spirituality, and certainly not to exalt imperialist logic and government personalities, cited to indicate some historical periods of reference,” While we assume that the Pope was not making overt statements in favour of Russia’s war with Ukraine, his statements demonstrate his respect for the cultural and religious heritage of Great Mother Russia - as seen particularly through the Greek Orthodox Church. The Pope was encouraging the young people at the conference view with pride, their heritage as the Eastern Orthodox Centre of the World under rulers like Peter the Great. This is not the first time that the Pope has made seemingly controversial comments about the War in Ukraine, having refused to denounce Putin by name and seemingly blame NATO for the conflict. 

Religion in Russia

The fact that the Pope is cosying up to the religious heritage of Russia is an amazing sign of the times. Only a few decades ago, the Soviet Union squashed the historical religious identity of Mother Russia. 

When Vladimir Lenin came to power in Russia in 1917, he held to the Marxist view that once capitalism was abolished, religion would likewise wither away. It was a slight twist on classic secularization theory, which held that as societies modernize, people lose faith. For Lenin, and for his successor Josef Stalin, atheism was not something that required much thought. It was simply the absence of religion and would come naturally in due time as the Soviet Union developed into a modern society.
In post-Soviet Russia, Orthodox Christianity gives the country a legitimacy that it was “an ancient polity with a millennial pedigree that gave it moral legitimacy,” according to Smolkin. Putin can tout Orthodoxy as the state religion although the reality is that very few of the population actually attend church. 
Zubovich, a writer for a website called Religion and Politics said the following: “In 1991, just after the collapse of the USSR, about two-thirds of Russians claimed no religious affiliation. Today, 71 percent of Russians identify as Orthodox. One can now see priests giving sermons on television, encounter religious processions in St. Petersburg, and watch citizens lining up for holy water in Moscow. Even Moscow’s Darwin museum features a Christmas tree during the holidays. President Vladimir Putin has encouraged this revival and he has also benefited from it, both at home and abroad". (https://religionandpolitics.org/2018/10/16/russias-journey-from-orthodoxy-to-atheism-and-back-again/)

Babylon's presence until Christ's Return

We read throughout the scriptures of a Babylonian power that would be perpetuated through the ages right until the time of Christ’s coming. For example, we read of the destruction of Babylon the Great in Rev 17:14-15 when the lamb (the Lord Jesus Christ) is sitting of the throne in the Kingdom Age. The same thing is depicted in Dan 7, with the fourth Roman beast oppresses the holy ones right up until the ancient of days comes to the earth and set up his throne. This 4th beast is representative of the Kingdom of men right up until the return of Christ. A final example of the same phenomenon is in Daniel 2 describing the famous image that terrified King Nebuchadnezzar in his dream. The iron legs of this image correspond to the Roman Empire. The feet of the image are a mixture of iron and miry clay, demonstrating the presence of a Roman power right up until the stone hits the standing image on its feet. The two legs of the image explain how the Roman empire would split into two halves. Before this split or division of the empire, Emperor Constantine, in around 300 CE moved the capital of Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople (Istanbul) – demonstration the shifting centre of gravity in the Roman world. Not long after Constantine’s death, the Empire split in half, with the Western leg being governed from Rome, and the eastern leg being governed from Constantinople. The Eastern Roman Empire survived for another 1000 years after Constantine’s death only collapsing in 1453 with the invasion of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks (this section of history is described in the sixth trumpet in the book of Revelation)

Byzantine Empire and Russia

This history is a vital part of modern Russia’s heritage, This can be seen for example in the Oxford Slavonic papers, written by Dimitri Obelensky, who was a lecturer at the University of Oxford. He writes that ‘Byzantium is the main source of Russian Civilisation. The continuing strength of the Byzantine inheritance in modern Russia has asserted itself again and again in the form of the Orthodox Christian faith. It is highly significant that Russia entered the European family of nations through her conversion to Christianity, for which she is indebted to Byzantium. The Heritage of East Rome is the main channel through which Russia become a European nation. Byzantium, (or Constantinople or Istanbul) was Russia’s gateway to Europe. Byzantium brought Russia five gifts: Her religion, her law, her view of the world, her art and her writing"This is why bro Graham Pearce wrote in the 1970s that “we ought not fix our eyes entirely on the papacy as the essence of Babylon the Great. Babylonish qualities belong to the east as well as the West. Russia is truly the heir to the old Roman Empire. We see Russia as a nation prepared by her long history to play her part in the final brief revival of the power of the Roman empire – the fourth beast of Daniel – when the saints slay the beast and take the kingdom.”

Russia’s religious revival and the Pope’s comments both this week and in the past years are an exciting sign of the times that we are living in as we wait to see how the Roman apostasy will come to breathe with both it’s lungs - in the East and the West.

Russia's Destiny Assured in the Collapse of Ukraine


As American military aid to Ukraine is put in Jeopardy, the scripture is clear that Russia will gain the ascendancy.

American financial support for Ukraine was stripped from the US budget this past week, but that is only the tip of the iceberg for Ukraine. The decline of its population and simply running out of soldiers is causing its ability to defend itself to collapse. Even the world's media must concede the battle is all but lost. The Bible has clearly stated Russia will be supreme in Europe at the time of the end. We are witnessing the angelic hand at work in bringing about God's purpose with the world in leading it to Armageddon, where it will be humbled. 

The Bible is clear that eventually, Russia will triumph in the conflict in Ukraine, and go beyond to bring all Europe (except Britain) under its control. Ezekiel describes the host that will come in the latter days, and it includes the geographical areas of Europe stretching to the English channel.

Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,” (Ezekiel 38:2 RSV)

Rosh is identified by historians as Russia. Meshech and Tubal equate with the Muscovites who settled into the area of Moscow and those dwelling in the Tobolsk  region of Russia. The land of Magog has been identified by historians dating back to Ezekiel’s time to cover the area from the river Don (the Donbass region) to the River Danube. This incorporates Ukraine, Modova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechi, Poland and much of Germany.

Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.” (Ezekiel 38:6–7)

Gomer and his bands describe the populations that migrated from Turkey across Europe, settling eventually in France and Germany. Togarmah is the area of the Caucuses.

We can expect then, from the scriptural definition of the host that comes down with Rosh, that Europe will fall under Russian dominion. Especially when the prophet Daniel states:

Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:35)

All the metal empires that formed the Image, golden Babylon (Iraq), the silver Medo-Persia Empire (Iran), the brazen Greek Empire (including Syria), the iron Roman Empire which spread across Europe, and the fractured iron/clay European Union of today to be united in order to be “broken in pieces together”.

Russia’s Domination Assured.

The Bible has spoken, and Russia’s domination of Europe is assured.  When we turn to the news, we see the situation in Ukraine has grown increasingly dire as Russia is gaining the upper hand. While sources outside the “mainstream media” have been pointing out the obvious collapse of Ukraine’s military, the official line has been that all is well on the western front. However, even the mainstream media is now having to acknowledge the inevitable. The Guardian Newspaper reported on October 5, 2023:

Ukraine’s counteroffensive, launched this summer, has garnered lackluster results. Russia has actually gained more territory in this calendar year than Ukraine has, despite the immense quantity of advanced weaponry that the US and Europe have supplied to Ukrainian forces.

In the absence of progress on the battlefield – Ukraine’s army has not made a breakthrough since last autumn – ever more strident demands for ever more aid, doled out indefinitely and regardless of circumstances, make the war look potentially endless and fruitless.

US Congress Removes
Funding for Ukraine from Budget

It is interesting to see the hand of the angels at play. Now that Ukraine has had the life beat out of it, America’s support is collapsing.

Many American politicians to start questioning the wisdom of continuously supporting Ukraine’s military. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri attended a meeting with Zelensky during his visit to the USA on September 23rd. He was asked whether the meeting with Zelensky changed his mind on funding for Ukraine. He stated:

“What the meeting revealed to me is that, in the words of President Zelenski, that “the conflict is a total stalemate,” that’s what he said, “totally frozen.” I believe was what his words were. Which is also what the administration told us yesterday. The Administration told us yesterday, “They want to spend 100 billion dollars more. Our money, more, over the next year, in the hopes that it will remain a stalemate.” Which leads me to ask, “what is the goal here, for the United States. I mean, what is it this administration wants to do?” I honestly have no idea. They used to say, “Victory, Victory, Victory.” Now it is “Stalemate for ever”. In fact, yesterday, Milly said, “there will be no military victory.” Ok, so what are we doing? I have no idea!”

Even CNN acknowledged the shift of American popular support for Ukraine with the mounting crisis on the home front. A CNN poll from August stated:

A a majority of Americans oppose sending additional funding to support Ukraine. If Trump were to return to the White House in 2025, it seems all but guaranteed that American support for Ukraine would be slashed. The potential for European governments to fill the gap if American support recedes is low.

The crisis in American government brought funding for Ukraine to the forefront when the US congress removed funding for Ukraine from the budget in order to pass it and avoid a government shutdown this past week. The Guardian Newspaper reported:

Scrambling to avoid a government shutdown, the US Congress last week refused to approve a new $6bn aid package for Ukraine. Nearly half of the Republicans in the House of Representatives also voted to strip Ukraine money from a must-pass military spending bill.

The crisis led to an unprecedented vote to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the US Speaker House on Tuesday. This is the first time this has ever happened.  Eight republicans and all democrats supported the removal. This has brought the US Congress to a halt until a new speaker is voted in.

Running out of Ammo

The situation in Ukraine is dire. Euro News reported on October 3:

Ukrainian troops could soon run out of ammunition and equipment if hard-right officials in Washington succeed in cutting US funding, experts warn.

If funding was halted, “it would be devastating for the Ukrainians,” warns Mark Cancian, an advisor to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington.

“Ukrainian troops would be weakened and could even possibly collapse,” although he believes they could “continue to be able to remain on the defensive.”

Far from the front lines, the end of US aid could also weaken Ukrainian air defences, which need to be continually resupplied with munitions.

The warehouses used for the resupply of armaments are at a critically low state: The Voice of America reported Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO military committee as stating at the Warsaw Security Forum:

"We now give away weapons systems to Ukraine, which is great, and ammunition — but not from full warehouses. We started to give away from half full or lower warehouses in Europe. And therefore, the bottom of the barrel is now visible, and we need the industry to ramp up production in a much higher tempo. We need large volumes. It takes on average between two and four years to set up a new production line for high-intensity military equipment that you need in Ukraine. Same thing goes for munitions. We're talking about hundreds, potentially thousands of people who need to have very, very niche skill sets to be employed in this undertaking."

CNN Reported on October 4th:

“An inability to ensure timely procurement and deliveries could undermine essential Ukrainian operations to retake additional territory or defend against potential future Russian offensives,” US Undersecretary of Defense Michael McCord wrote in a letter to congressional leadership on Friday as the spending bill that ultimately eliminated aid for Ukraine was being negotiated.

“Without additional funding now, we would have to delay or curtail assistance to meet Ukraine’s urgent requirements, including for air defense and ammunition that are critical and urgent now as Russia prepares to conduct a winter offensive and continues its bombardment of Ukrainian cities,” McCord wrote.

Finding Funds

With Biden’s hands tied to find funding in the US, he is promising to find other methods. Politico reported:

President Joe Biden hinted at this strategy on Wednesday, saying “there is another means by which we may be able to find funding for that.” He declined to comment further.

As of Sept. 21, the U.S. had roughly $650 million remaining out of $4.6 billion in foreign military financing that Congress appropriated across two supplemental packages for Ukraine and “countries impacted by the situation in Ukraine,” according to the State Department.

There are $300 billion in Russian central bank assets are currently frozen in democratic countries. The USA holds $38 Billion in its jurisdiction. Biden could mount an international campaign to transfer Russia’s frozen assets to Ukraine to fund its military.

Cracks are appearing throughout the alliance of nations once supporting Ukraine to the end. Slovakia has voted in a pro-Russian government who campaigned on a promise to withdraw military support for Ukraine and to stop sanctioning Russia.

Poland, which share boarders with both Russia and Ukraine has been in an ongoing dispute with Ukraine over grain. It has been one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine. However, this past week it stated it was halting weapon supplies to Ukraine, and focussing on its own armed forces. Poland is facing an election in the middle of October, and ongoing support for Ukraine is a major issue.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has maintained close relations with Moscow during the war and argued against supplying arms to Ukraine or providing economic aid. Hungary is also a member of NATO.

While Europe as a whole remains committed to supporting Ukraine, they have been happy to do so as long as America is footing the majority of the bill. With American support being stifled, Europe will have to decide if it is willing to put its money where its mouth is.

Money is not Enough

However, money is not enough. Andrew Micta, a writer with the The New Atlanticist wrote a column describing the lessons learned from Ukraine so far. He stated:

The overarching lesson from the unfolding war in Ukraine is simply the scale of what’s required to fight a modern state-on-state war. No Western military has prepared for such levels of weapons and munitions consumption and force attrition. No NATO ally today—save for the United States—has the armor or munitions stocks that could last longer than a few weeks or months at best on Ukraine-like battlefields.

This war has brought into focus an enduring truth in warfare: In a state-on-state conflict, mass trumps precision. The impact of mass is immediate and registers at the point of contact, while precision strikes on enemy forces concentrated in the rear, on ammo depots, or on logistical chains will only register over time, perhaps after the decision on the battlefield has already been reached.

Russia has the mass for these kinds of conflicts, but the West does not. The writer went on to observe:

The war in Ukraine has shown that one needs mass to counter mass. When it comes to numbers, you need to match or, better still, outmatch what your enemy can field. During World War II, for example, Germany had tanks that were in many ways superior to US tanks in design, but in the end those Tigers and Panthers were outmatched by the sheer number of the Shermans the United States could field.

While technology gives Western forces an edge, that edge will only go so far when confronted with sheer numbers. If NATO ends up at war with Russia or if the United States and its allies in Asia end up in a war with China, then the decisive factor may be manpower and production elasticity when it comes to weapons and munitions. In a protracted conflict, the decisive factor could be the capacity to reconstitute forces—both personnel and equipment—to compensate for those that have been attritted on the battlefield.

The West is facing a revanchist Russian state intent on relitigating the outcome of the Cold War and restoring its imperial sphere of influence. Russia has already effectively reabsorbed Belarus and has its sights firmly set on Ukraine—and possibly beyond. Hence, the conflict in Ukraine carries with it a high risk of horizontal escalation that could spark a wider war in Europe.

This observation is reminiscent of the description of the Gogian invasion of the Middle East that is soon to take place. The prophets all describe an overwhelming flood sweeping through the Holy Land:

the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” (Daniel 11:40)

An overwhelming force is what is depicted by Daniel. Mass that trumps technology. The same picture is painted by Ezekiel:

Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee…And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:15–16)

While mass might trump western technology, it certainly will not trump the power of Almighty God who will overwhelm it with divine intervention.

Running out of Soldiers

Ukraine is simply running out of bodies to put into the meat grinder. Ukraine no longer has the ability to hide the number of casualties. While neither Ukraine, nor Russia will release casualty figures, even conservative, such as CBC put Ukraines death toll at approximately 70,000 with at least 100,000 – 120,000 casualties. Putin has claimed that Ukraine has had more than 90,000 casualties in the last four months alone. Turkish media, which is neutral in the conflict, Turkey being a member of NATO, while at the same time friendly to Russia, put Ukrainian military casualties at about 157,000 as of February of this past year. The numbers are very murky, but regardless… they are high.

War has always been a numbers game, as the Lord pointed out in his parable:

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.” (Luke 14:31–32)

There seems to be no wisdom, and no desire to seek conditions of peace in Ukraine.

Not only this, but Ukraine’s ability to repopulate itself is impossible. Frances Newspaper Le Monde reported on September 28:

Ukraine is fighting an existential battle against an enemy with a population four times larger, while at the same time hemorrhaging part of its own population. Women and children are fleeing to safer locations. The country's population was estimated to be between 38 and 42 million on February 24, 2022. Since then, between 5 and 8 million people have emigrated. A significant proportion of them are likely to settle abroad permanently. Some countries have offered attractive prospects for integration. It is mainly women and children who are emigrating, as martial law prohibits able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country.

In 1991, Ukraine ranked 22nd on the list of the world's most populous countries. It is now 41st. "We've already lost 10 million people in three decades.

The director of the Ptoukha Institute in Kyiv  stated, "fertility had already fallen to 1.2 children per woman by 2021. This is a long way from the replacement rate (2.15 children per woman), given Ukrainian mortality rates." The war has accelerated the fall in fertility: It was 0.9 in 2022 and Libanova estimates that it will be 0.7 in 2023 and 2024.

The numbers in this article only deal with migration, and not war casualties. Ukraine is known to have put on an aggressive recruiting push, using nefarious means to bring people into the military. There have been multiple news articles citing 18 Century press-gang tactics to recruit, including kidnapping and coercion.

Back in 2022, the government had suspended the draft of women for one year, this suspensions has now expired. The Voice of America reported on September 26 in an article about women’s uniforms:

Forty-two thousand women serve in the Ukrainian military, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense recently officially approved a female uniform.

The dire situation in Ukraine speaks of its coming collapse against Russia as CNN reported on October 5th.

Senior Biden administration officials privately believe only weeks remain before a lack of additional Ukraine funding starts to become a serious battlefield concern — a scenario they are trying to avoid with public warnings and a major speech from President Joe Biden himself.

 In the end, the Bible is clear that Russia will dominate Europe. It is fascinating to watch how the Angels are at work in preparing the nations to fulfill God’s will. We know that we have approached the end of all things. Israel is the beacon of light, telling us plainly the Lord is about to appear, as we read in the Psalms:

Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: For the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, And favour the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, And all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, And not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come: And the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.” (Psalm 102:13–18)

The world is about to go through one of the most difficult times in its history, and our prayer has to be in earnest for Christ’s return who will redeem his people Israel, who will call his saints to him, and save this planet from destroying itself.  

Horrific Invasion and Pogrom By Hamas Terrorists


A wave of Antisemitism after a true modern day pogrom. Will peace ever come?

In the 21st century on October 7th, 2023 our world witnessed a horrific pogrom where. Israeli men, women, children, and elderly were brutally murdered in the most grotesque manner.  The devastating count of those killed is reported to be over 1300, with thousands more injured.  Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been massacred in one day.  And whereas the Nazis did much to hide their crimes some Hamas members streamed their rampage live for the world to see.  

And yet there are voices of support and marches of celebration in cities around the world.  In Sydney Australia a protest group was filmed chanting ‘gas the Jews’; a lecturer at Stanford University asked all the Jews to stand in a corner while berating them; many Jewish schools were closed for fear of attacks, not in Israel but in New York, Chicago, and London; The BBC, CBC and other outlets are openly refusing to call the Hamas terrorists what they are, terrorists.  Instead they are militants, gunman, or other less condemning names; in Toronto pro Palestinian demonstrators were mocking playing the sound of Israel’s air raid sirens and cheering, and the list goes on.  Utterly sickening.

At a moment such as this one can see the true colours of so many.  And what makes it so outrageous is that much of this noise began before Israel had even had a chance to respond.  Truly, Anti Zionism is Anti Semitism.

The age old hatred of the Jews that has led to many pogroms, massacres, and the Holocaust itself, was once again on full display.  In scriptural language Hamas is displaying the spirit of Edom that we read of in Ezekiel 35:5

“Thou hast had a perpetual hatred (or enmity – R.V.) and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity.”

It is with great sadness that we look upon the mourning of Zion at this time.  In Lamentations she asks “Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me.”  We pray and long for the salvation of Israel and echo the words of Psalm 79 –

 “Wherefore should the heathen say, where is their God?  Let him be known among the heathen in our sight...” and from Psalm 33—“Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!”

Of this we do not doubt, that the Lord is at work bringing about His purpose.  The words of Psalm 121:4 give us confidence: “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”  

The Enemy of Peace

The surprise attack seems to be a response to the expected growth of the Abraham Accords that looked set to bring Saudi Arabia into the fold.  Iran who backs Hamas, Hezbollah, and many of the other terrorist organizations in the Middle East, has been hotly opposed to the Abraham Accords. The idea of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel was a red line for the Ayatollah and every other anti Semite.  The following headlines detail this impression:

Iran’s support for Hamas fans suspicion it’s wrecking Israel-Saudi deal (Politico, October 7, 2023).

Why Hamas Tried to Sabotage Arab-Israeli Peace Prospects With a Massive Unprovoked Attack (Time, October 8, 2023).

Netanyahu knew there was a danger the enemies of Israel would try to thwart the progression of peace.  On September 22, 2023 Netanyahu spoke of this at the UN General Assembly.  The following were the opening words of that speech:

“Over three millennia ago, our great leader Moses addressed the people of Israel as they were about to enter the Promised Land. He said they would find there two mountains facing one another: Mount Gerizim, the site on which a great blessing would be proclaimed, and Mount Ebal, the site of a great curse. Moses said the people’s fate would be determined by the choice they made between the blessing and the curse.  That same choice has echoed down the ages not just for the people of Israel but for all humanity.

We face such a choice today. It will determine whether we enjoy the blessings of a historic peace of boundless prosperity and hope or suffer the curse of a horrific war, of terrorism and despair.”

Israel’s enemies have chosen a horrific war of terrorism and despair.  But will it stop the arrival of peace?

Without Walls, Bars, and Gates

God is very clear in Ezekiel 38—at the time of the end when the northern confederacy of nations comes “against my people of Israel” they are living peacefully.  The situation is described in detail in verse 11:

“And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates...”

In Russia, the Vatican, and the Invasion of Israel, Graham Pearce writes the following in 1970:

“These words of Ezekiel have not yet been fulfilled, and they most certainly will be fulfilled.  We must accept God’s words with child like disposition... It is debasing the sense to apply these phrases to a past or present situation.”  He continues “How will this unlikely change come about?  By now we will have realized that Christ is at this time in the earth, not revealed to the world, but associated with his saints influencing the affairs of the earth, just as now he works with the angels of heaven to the same end...

It is also possible that the presence of Tarshish powers (Primarily Britain and the US) in the land at this time will help in bringing about some Great Power stability in the area...”

This situation may seem impossible today.  However just as peace did come with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain so too it will come with Saudi Arabia, and most importantly with the Palestinians.

US Response

Surprising to many is the response of Joe Biden who has come out forcefully with deep throated support for Israel.  He spoke for ten minutes describing the horrors and Israel’s right to defend itself along with the support the US would provide.  He genuinely seemed disgusted and closed with the following:

“Let there be no doubt, the United States has Israel’s back.  We will make sure the Jewish and democratic State of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow, and as we always have.  It’s as simple as that.  These atrocities are sickening.  We’re with Israel.  Make no mistake.”  

With that Biden walked out of the room with reporters calling out why he had provided Iran with a deal worth $6 billion.  Regardless, Israel it seems has a level of US support, at least for the very near future.

Going further than words alone the US began to airlift weapons and supplies to Israel. Also, in an even more significant move the US has moved the pride of the US fleet, the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean.  Will this Tarshish presence bring about stability?  We wait to see.

Russian Response

From Bible prophecy we expect Russia to turn hostile against Israel and it seems we are witnessing that in these events.  The following is from Israel Hayom, October 11:

“Ever since the attack took place, Russia has assumed a neutral posture, which has been manifested through its calls for a ceasefire that would have taken place practically before Israeli planes had a chance to fly its first bombing sortie. According to independent Russian journalists, the coverage in Russia has followed a similar line, trying to strike a middle ground at best. But this began to change on Saturday. 

As Israeli casualties mounted, former President Dmitry Medvedev (and currently the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia) found the culprit: the US. "The start of the hostilities between Hamas and Israel, 50 years after the Yom Kippur War, was expected; the conflict has been going on for decades and the US is a key player there. One could have easily dismissed these comments if it weren't for the fact that two days later it turned out that diverting attention to the US – rather than condemning Hamas and showing solidarity with Israel – is actually the predominant stance among Russian policymakers. For example, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed "deep concern over the deaths of hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians' and stated that "taking women and children hostage by both sides [!] is unacceptable," but then went on to blame the US for trying to avoid the establishment of a Palestinian state and undermining the efforts to resolve the problems between Israel and Gaza. 

Eventually, three days after the horrendous massacre, President Vladimir Putin himself articulated the stance. "I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of US policy in the Middle East," Putin said. "Washington had sought to monopolize efforts at forging peace and failed to seek workable compromises. The US had ignored the interests of Palestinians, including their need for their own independent Palestinian state." There was not a single word of solidarity with Israel, nor was there mention of its right to defend itself or any condemnation of Hamas' atrocities.”

Israeli Response

In Israel the realization that Hamas has been able to commit a pogrom in our times has left the nation in shock and disbelief.  Netanyahu said that “Differences that have deeply divided the nation over the last months have for the moment been largely put aside with the formation of a “national emergency government.”  

As for the war dubbed “Operation Iron Swords” Israel has a resolve possibly not seen since 1973.  Netanyahu has claimed that “every member of Hamas is a deadman” and vowed to “change the Middle East.”  The Defence Minister, Yoav (Joab) Gallant, put it into his own words —“Hamas, Daesh of Gaza will be wiped from the face of the earth… There’s no situation in which you kill Israeli kids and we go about our business”

How long US support will continue for remains to be seen, however as Graham Pearce wrote, based on scripture we expect a change in the Middle East, and specifically in Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians.  Will this be the catalyst that brings this change about?

In one of Netanyahu’s first televised addresses to the nation in Hebrew on October 7th he ended with the following–

“With the help of God, the forces that we have in common and our faith in the Eternal One of Israel, we will win.”

Israel to Increase

For almost two thousand years the Jewish people were scattered through the world with their lives ‘hanging in doubt.’  However the down treading of the Jewish people was a temporary position:

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).

With the Jewish people back in control of Jerusalem we are certainly in the era of the redemption.  And yet, we are still witnessing the horrors of antisemitism.

Israel’s original conquering of the land under Joshua was not instantaneous— “By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land” (Exodus 23:30).

In Judges 3 God further reveals the purpose for leaving peoples surrounding the Jewish people:

“Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”

God has a purpose with this people, he says in Exodus 19:6 “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” In the past as God worked with this nation He saw that the experience of war would shape them.  Further to this, it cannot escape us that in that list of nations, other than the Canaanites, those left are to the north of Israel, and in the Gaza Strip.

This does not mean that God is unmindful of the treatment of his people, quite the opposite.  Speaking of Israel  we read “...for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” – Zachariah 2:8

Ultimately, it is the terrible treatment of God’s people that brings on his anger (Ezekiel 38:14-21).  It is after this that Israel will be restored to their glorious position in the Kingdom Age.  However, we expect the period of peace before the invasion from the north. In this time Elijah will turn the hearts of the people (Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 17:10-11).  This fits in with Isaiah 59:20 –“And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.”

Is it a coincidence that a strange time of peace proceeds Armageddon at the same time that Elijah is expected?  In fact, it is most appropriate that a time of peace and stability coincides with a time of teaching.  For that teaching to proceed, the resurrection of those teachers will be necessary.  What an incredible thought! 

Where does this leave us?

Firstly, although the enemies of Israel will do everything they can to destroy peace, it will come.  It may be a rough road, but it will come.  The Abraham Accords are just the beginning. Surely peace between Israel and her neighbours is one of the greatest signs of the nearness of our Lord’s return.  However, when peace is achieved so that walls, bars, and gates are coming down, it is likely the resurrection has taken place and judgment of the household has already begun.

Secondly, through all the experiences of tragedy and war a nation is being shaped.  As our Lord “learned obedience by the things which he suffered” so too will the nation of Israel.

Thirdly, and importantly for us is the question posed in 2 Peter 3:11,12 – 

“What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God …Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

Psalm 125:5 – “As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.”

May we use the time remaining preparing ourselves to meet the Lord.

Lastly, the nation should be in our prayers as it was for the Prophet Daniel in chapter 9.  God wants to hear us in this regard – 

“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,

And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” – Isaiah 62:6,7