Prophecy Articles

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=489598" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="03cd4c00dduajq.gif"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="P.T. Rapture"><U><B>HOME</b></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#003333" FACE="Courier New" ><B>P.T. Rapture</b></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="P.T. Rapture"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> Prophecy Articles</div> <div> <A HREF="#endtime_scenario" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>ENDTIME SCENARIO</b></U></A><B> <A NAME="scenario"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b></div> <div> <A HREF="#the_great_tribulation" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>THE GREAT TRIBULATION</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#the_big_picture_" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>The Big Picture?</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#modern_nations_in_the_bible_" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>Modern Nations in the Bible?</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#prophecy_odds" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>Prophecy Odds</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#war_and_the_old_testament" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>War and the Old Testament</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#revelation_chronology" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>Revelation Chronology</b></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="endtime_scenario"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>ENDTIME SCENARIO</b></div> <div> This is my scenario of events that must happen before Christ returns.</div> <bR> <div> A war (6th Trumpet, Rev 9:13) occurs resulting in the greatest loss of life ever seen.  In the aftermath, The U.N. will declare that something must be done to insure nothing like this ever happens again.  They will declare the birth of the new world community.  This community will have one army.  The idea being that there can be no war if there is only one army.  Naturally, every country will not concede to giving up their sovereignty.  For instance, the United States and Israel.</div> <bR> <div> A deal concerning the Arabs and Israelis will be brokered.  It centers on the main point of contention between the two, the temple mount.  The deal will be a seven-year treaty allowing the Jews to build the third temple on the temple mount, and resume the daily sacrifices.</div> <bR> <div> Animal rights activists and other groups will protest the sacrifices.  Consequently, half way through the seven years, the one who brokered the treaty will go to the temple and stop the sacrifices.  The Jews will accept this because he will claim to be their messiah, thereby negating the need for sacrifices.</div> <bR> <div> Around this same time, the one claiming to be messiah, with the support of the U.N./world community will declare a new method of commerce.  A cashless society.  Because only drug dealers and terrorists need cash.  The new method dictates that you must be listed as a member of the new world community in order to buy or sell something.</div> <bR> <div> Somewhere in all of this, a Global Ethic will be established. It says that there are many pathways to God.  Because the three root causes of war are politics, economics, and religion.  Anyone claiming that their religion is the only way to God will be prosecuted under the charge of HATE CRIMES or CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.  This will be enforced by an entity already in existence, the International Criminal Court.</div> <bR> <div> And finally, Jerusalem will continue to be in a state of unrest.  So much so that the new world community army will be set to invade Israel.  The Bible says the Euphrates River will be dried up in order to accomplish this.  The Euphrates is no small river, so how will this be done?  It already has once.  In 1990 Turkey stopped the flow of the Euphrates for one month to fill up a newly built reservoir.  It is when Israel is on the brink of destruction that Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives.</div> <bR> <div> ================== <A HREF="#scenario" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U>TOP</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="the_great_tribulation"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>THE GREAT TRIBULATION</b></div> <bR> <div> First things first:</div> <div> The Great Tribulation is 3 1/2 years in duration. NOT 7 years.</div> <div> It begins with the abomination of desolation, Matthew 24:15-16, 21.</div> <div> It ends with the return of Jesus, Matthew 24:29-31.</div> <div> The start of the great tribulation coincides with midpoint of Daniel's 70th week, Daniel 9:27. The "week" is seven years. The midpoint of 7 is 3 1/2.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 13:5-7</b></div> <div> <I>And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. </I></div> <div> <I>And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. </I></div> <div> <I>And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.</I></div> <bR> <div> This scripture obviously refers to the great tribulation. Forty and two months equals 3 1/2 years.</div> <bR> <div> Second things:</div> <div> The great tribulation is NOT the Wrath of God.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 16:1-2</b></div> <div> <I>And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. </I></div> <div> <I>And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.</I> </div> <bR> <div> This scripture tells us that the vials are the Wrath of God. The Wrath of God begins with the first vial, which is poured upon those with the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast cannot be given until after the abomination of desolation. It's plain to see that the Wrath of God does not occur until after the great tribulation begins.</div> <bR> <div> If the great tribulation is not the Wrath of God, what is it? It is a 3 1/2 year period when Satan is cast down to Earth to make war and overcome the saints. The great tribulation is the Wrath of Satan.</div> <bR> <div> There is a way to know for sure if the rapture is before or after the great tribulation... all you have to do is watch what happens in Israel. It may take several more years for things to get rolling, so I pray you will be patient.</div> <bR> <div> If one day you see on the news the 3rd Jewish Temple being rebuilt on the temple mount in Jerusalem, start paying attention because the abomination of desolation is close. And if you are on this earth when it occurs, it means the rapture is post-trib. (the abomination of desolation is the beginning of the great tribulation, MAT 24)</div> <bR> <div> Post-Tribbers will say: "Here is the anti-christ!" (Based on the Abomination of Desolation)</div> <bR> <div> Pre-Tribbers will answer: "He cannot be the anti-christ because we have not been raptured yet!"</div> <bR> <div> Post-Tribbers will say: "Stay away from ANY one-world economic system supported by the anti-christ, without which you cannot buy or sell."</div> <bR> <div> Pre-Tribbers will answer: "Since he's not the anti-christ, the new cashless system of commerce is nothing more than bible prophecy coincidence and natural technological progress."</div> <bR> <div> If pre-trib Christians refuse to recognize the abomination of desolation, could they unknowingly take the mark of the beast? Which brings us to the question: Can you lose your salvation?</div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 14:9-11</b></div> <div> <I>And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, </I></div> <div> <I>The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: </I></div> <div> <I>And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>================</b> <A HREF="#scenario" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U>TOP</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="the_big_picture_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>The Big Picture?</b></div> <div> A college student named Jeffery Bartell wrote a paper in 1949.  He concluded that the time immediately preceding the prophesied return of Jesus Christ had begun.  </div> <bR> <div> The scriptures make it clear that no one knows the day or the hour of Christ's return.  But the Bible does say that we can know the times and seasons surrounding His coming.  Never before have the conditions been possible for so much of endtime Bible prophecy to be fulfilled as today.  You may be thinking, “…so, because disease and immorality are running rampant, and because there are wars and rumors of wars, and that we have had a few more earthquakes, that Jesus is coming back soon?  We've heard all that before.”</div> <bR> <div> To Bartell, the Bible is the greatest book ever written.  Its message is so simple that it could be summed up in just a few verses.  Yet at the same time, it's a book with so much depth, that you could study it a lifetime, and still not understand all its truth.  Bartell's theory about the endtime started when he read a verse in Isaiah chapter 46.  It says that God declares the end from the beginning.  A similar passage is found in Isaiah chapter 48.  This lead Bartell back to the beginning, to the book of Genesis and the creation story.  As he studied the first chapter, he began to wonder why God took six days to create the world, and rest on the seventh.  Why would he take six days when he could have created the world in one second, in the blink of an eye?</div> <bR> <div>  Bartell studied the words “day” and “days” in the Bible.  He discovered some interesting passages that related to this.  He concluded that perhaps God was indicating to us how much time man would have on the earth.</div> <bR> <div> Bartell makes the point that the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, is full of foreshadowing.  An event that actually happened in history, also pictures something coming in the future.  An example would be when Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac.  That event actually happened, and it was also a picture of what God would do with his son Jesus on the cross, as an offering for the sins of the world.  Now, why would God take six days to create the world?  Is this a picture of something that we need to know?  Bartel thinks it is.</div> <bR> <div> In 2nd Peter 3:8, the context is referring to the second coming of Christ.  The Bible says that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is one day.  In Psalms 90 it says that a thousand years in God's sight are but as yesterday.  So, could it be that the six days of creation were to indicate to us, the time man would have on this Earth would be about six thousand years?  …The seventh day of rest picturing the thousand year millennial reign, when Christ comes back to set up his Earthly kingdom.  The time of righteousness and peace.</div> <bR> <div> Bartell documents in his paper how Bible scholars have calculated from the first man, Adam, to the first coming of Jesus to be about four thousand years.  If that's the case, then we could be living right at the end of what the New Testament calls “the last days”.</div> <bR> <div> Bartell makes a big issue about how God deals with time in the Bible.  When God measures time, He does so by <I>sevens</I>.  God created the world in seven days, with the seventh day being a day of rest.  According to the Old Testament law, the Jews were commanded to rest every seven days.  The seventh week after the Passover, they celebrated a big feast of rest.  The seventh month was perhaps the most important when they celebrated three of their biggest feasts of rest.  Every seventh year was a year of rest for the land.  Every 49 years, seven times seven, they celebrated the year of Jubilee, which is a year of rest for the land and liberty for the people.</div> <bR> <div> So it made sense to Bartell that God would set up a seven thousand year period for man to occupy the Earth; with the last thousand years being a time of rest when Jesus comes back to set up His Earthly kingdom, as spoken of in Revelation chapter 20.  Bartell was right when he says that when God deals with time, He does so by sevens.  There's no other more predominant system in the word of God.  The second coming of Christ is the most important day on God's calendar.  Bartell was convinced that He wants us to know about it, including the timing.</div> <bR> <div> Hosea was a prophet in the Old Testament.  In chapter six of that book, Hosea talks about Israel, God's chosen nation who was always rejecting God.  The nation was going to be torn apart, but verse two says:  “After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.”  What does this mean?  When Jesus came, Israel rejected Him as their messiah, so God scattered the nation of Israel all over the world.  For 1900 years there was no nation of Israel, but God says that after two days, or two thousand years, “I will revive thee, and you, Israel, will live in my sight.”</div> <bR> <div> The scattered Israel became a nation again in the year 1948.  This is important because God is reviving the nation of Israel and they are about to live in His sight, when Jesus comes back to set up His Earthly kingdom.  Have you ever met a Canaanite? How about an Amorite? No.  Because these were Israel's enemies and they have not been preserved.  The Jews have been preserved because they are God's chosen people, and He must fulfill and keep the promises He made to them.  But the Jews are still rejecting Christ.  For how long?  “After two days (or two thousand years) I will revive thee, and in the third day you shall live in my sight.”  The second-coming events are about to begin.</div> <div> Bartell sees the same foreshadowing in Exodus chapter 19:11.  God told Israel to clean up and wait for two days.  The third day I'm coming down in the sight of all the nation.</div> <bR> <div> In John chapter 11, Lazarus, a Jew, has died.  Jesus waits two days before raising him from the dead.  Why?  Bartell says this pictures how God is about to turn his back on Israel for the next two thousand years (or two days), and start reaching out to the rest of the world through the New Testament church; which He did.</div> <bR> <div> God didn't just throw that stuff in the Bible to waste space.  Maybe Bartell is right, maybe God is trying to tell us something.  Bartell points out that in Matthew chapter 17:1 that Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to the mountain, apart from the rest of the group.  What, you ask, happens up there?  Jesus is transfigured before them, and they are given a preview of His second coming glory.  Now, the first words of that line in scripture are “after six days”.  Why did God throw this in?  Is He just wasting space again, or is God perhaps trying to tell us something that we need to know?</div> <bR> <div> Remember, the time from Adam to Christ is 4 thousand years (or four days).  The time of the church period is two thousand years (or two days).  So could this mean that after six thousand years (or six days) God would revive Israel and fulfill the promises he made to them?  Now, either Bartell is reading too much between the lines, or God is trying to tell us something. </div> <bR> <div> What He is trying to tell us is, the kingdom of God is about to begin; the day of rest (or one thousand years).  The resurrected believers, and the believers who are alive when Jesus returns, will reign as kings and priests on Earth (Revelation 5:10).</div> <div> <I>The preceding was an adaptation taken from a Christian video titled: END OF THE HARVEST.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>================== </b><A HREF="#scenario" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>TOP</b></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="modern_nations_in_the_bible_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>Modern Nations in the Bible?</b></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Let's look at the book of Daniel, chapter 7:1-8.</div> <bR> <div> In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. </div> <div>  </div> <div> Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.</div> <bR> <div> And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. </div> <bR> <div> The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.</div> <bR> <div> And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.</div> <bR> <div> After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.</div> <bR> <div> After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.</div> <bR> <div> I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. </div> <bR> <div> Daniel saw four beasts: a lion with eagle's wings, a bear, a leopard with four heads, and a fourth beast with ten horns.  The beasts symbolize a nation or kingdom and their leaders.  This is given later in chapter 7:17,23</div> <bR> <div> These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.</div> <bR> <div> Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.</div> <bR> <div> In the context of chapter 7, these beasts exist at the time when Jesus returns.  Are these beasts (or nations) on earth right now?  I believe they are.</div> <div> God chose these symbols with great purpose.  They were meant to be understood by the people living during the time of the end.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel 12:8-9:  </div> <bR> <div> And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? </div> <bR> <div> And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. </div> <bR> <div> The lion in Daniel 7:4, </div> <bR> <div> The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.</div> <bR> <div> In Webster's Dictionary under “lion”, it says the lion is the symbol of Great Britain.  Britain is commonly referred to as the lion in political cartoons and in news articles.  The lion has eagle's wings.  The eagle is the recognized symbol of the United States.  In 1776 the United Sates declared independence from Great Britain. </div> <bR> <div> The bear in Daniel 7:5,</div> <bR> <div> And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.</div> <bR> <div> Russia is symbolized by the bear.  On January 4, 1980 an article in the <I>Indianapolis Star</I> was titled “After the British Lion, the Russian Bear”.  The bear has been used to represent Russia on two covers of <I>Time</I> magazine.  The scripture says the bear “…raised up itself on one side”.  After World War II, Russia controlled East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Albania for fifty years.</div> <bR> <div> The “…three ribs in the mouth of it” may be considered Manchuria, Mongolia, and Sinkiang.  These are provinces taken from China by means of 19th century treaties.  Since then there have been skirmishes between Russia and China over these three provinces.</div> <bR> <div> The scripture says of the bear, “Arise, and devour much flesh.”  The Berlin wall may have fallen, but Russia is still pushing to spread socialism all over the world.</div> <div> The leopard in Daniel 7:6,</div> <bR> <div> After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. </div> <bR> <div> There is a nation today that has had dominion in recent world affairs.  It was the aggressor in the last three major wars on earth (Franco-German War of 1870, World War I, World War II).  That nation is Germany.  The four heads each represent the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and the now rising 4th Reich.  Germany was a dominant force in Europe for many years before World War II.  The European Union has become the world's leading economic power.  Germany is the strongest among the European Union nations.  The Fourth Reich will reach its full power within the European Union.</div> <bR> <div> An interesting note:  Germany produces the number one tank for the armies of NATO.  It's called the Leopard Tank.</div> <bR> <div> The ten-horned beast in Daniel 7:7,</div> <bR> <div> After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. </div> <bR> <div> We already know this beast represents a kingdom and its ruler.  The horns represent ten kings (7:24).  Ten horns on a single beast show that the fourth kingdom will be a union of ten rulers.</div> <bR> <div> The same picture is found in Revelation 17:12-14</div> <bR> <div> And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.</div> <bR> <div> These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. </div> <bR> <div> These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.</div> <bR> <div> This passage from Revelation, along with Daniel 7:25-27, reveals that the ten horned kingdom will make war with Jesus (the Lamb).  It is defeated and its kingdom is given to the saints of the most High.</div> <bR> <div> The most likely candidate for the ten-horned kingdom is the European Union.  However, a recreated Soviet Union cannot be ignored.  Also, since the events of September 11th, the possibility of an Arab coalition grows ever larger.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>================= </b><A HREF="#scenario" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>TOP</b></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="prophecy_odds"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>Prophecy Odds</b></div> <bR> <div> The validity of the Bible is found in prophecy, which is absent from the writings of other faiths. It's true that the Bible was written by mortal men. Could a mortal man accurately predict the future beyond his lifetime? I submit that the answer is YES… if he was divinely inspired. The fact that the prophecies were written by several different men, several lifetimes ahead of the fact, makes it all the more amazing.</div> <bR> <div> If one cannot accept the prophecies of the Bible on faith, perhaps a secular viewpoint would be helpful. Consider that there are billions of galaxies; each galaxy contains billions of stars. If 1% of those stars have at least one planet that can sustain life, what are the odds that at least one form of life exists beyond this planet? I'd say the odds would be fairly reasonable in favor of life. BTW: the Bible does not say there is no life beyond this planet.</div> <bR> <div> Let's assign odds to each of the following prophecies relating to Jesus, keeping a running total of the odds. Remember, the laws of probability dictate that we must multiply, not add, the odds to get the total figure.</div> <bR> <div> 1. His being born of a virgin, <I>Isa 7:14</I>… fulfilled in <I>Matt 1:22-23</I> What are the odds of a virgin giving birth? Perhaps 1:1,000,000,000 (that's one billion, or one thousand times one million)</div> <bR> <div> 2. His being born in Bethlehem of Judea, <I>Micah 5:2</I>… fulfilled in <I>Matt 2:1</I> What are the odds of predicting the correct town out of the appx. 50 towns in the region at that time? 1:50</div> <bR> <div> 50 x 1,000,000,00 = 50,000,000,000</div> <bR> <div> 3. His being rejected by Jewish leaders, <I>Psa 118:32</I>… fulfilled in <I>Matt 21:42</I> What are the odds of the Jewish leaders of the day rejecting their long awaited Messiah? Perhaps 1:20</div> <bR> <div> 20 x 50,000,000,000 = 1,000,000,000,000 or 1^12 (we'll use scientific notation from this point on)</div> <bR> <div> 4. His being betrayed by a friend, <I>Psa 41:9</I>… fulfilled in <I>John 13:18,21</I> What are the odds of being betrayed by a close friend for money? Perhaps 1:100</div> <bR> <div> 100 x 1^12 = 1^14</div> <bR> <div> 5. His being sold out for 30 pieces of silver, <I>Zech 11:12</I>… fulfilled in <I>Matt 26:15</I> What are the odds of predicting the exact amount that would be paid to His betrayer? Perhaps 1:200 (The Jewish leaders knew the scripture, if they wanted to discredit Him as Messiah, all they had to do was pay His betrayer any other amount and/or currency besides silver)</div> <bR> <div> 200 x 1^14 = 2^16</div> <bR> <div> 6. The intensity of His sufferings, <I>Psa 22:14-15</I>… fulfilled in <I>Luke 22:42,44</I> What are the odds that criminals, whose judges know their are innocent, get a full treatment of mocking, whipping, being spat on, having their beard plucked, getting a crown of thorns forced down on their head hard enough to draw blood; over and above getting the death penalty? Perhaps 1:500</div> <bR> <div> 500 x 2^16 = 1^19</div> <bR> <div> 7. His being smitten on the cheek, <I>Micah 5:1</I>… fulfilled in <I>Matt 27:30</I> What are the odds that loving, silent, and innocent convicted criminals get their face smashed? Perhaps 1:500</div> <bR> <div> 500 x 1^19 = 5^21</div> <bR> <div> 8. His being spit on and scourged, <I>Isa 50:6</I>… fulfilled in <I>Mark 14:65</I> What are the odds that loving, silent, and innocent convicted criminals get spat on and whipped with exactly 39 lashes? Perhaps 1:500 (If He was whipped with 38 or 40 lashes, He could not have been the Messiah)</div> <bR> <div> 500 x 5^21 = 2.5^22</div> <bR> <div> 9. His hands and feet being nailed to the cross, <I>Psa 22:16</I>… fulfilled in <I>John 19:18</I> What are the odds that a criminal condemned by crucifixion would be nailed, while all others were tied to their cross to extend the suffering over a few days? Perhaps 1:200</div> <bR> <div> 200 x 2.5^22 = 5^24</div> <bR> <div> 10. His being given gall and vinegar to drink, <I>Psa 69:21</I>… fulfilled in <I>Matt 27:34</I> What are the odds of Him getting a drink when the purpose of this cruel death was to induce intense thirst? Perhaps 1:200</div> <bR> <div> 200 x 5^24 = 1^27</div> <bR> <div> 11. His garments being parted, and lots cast for His vesture, <I>Psa 22:18</I>… fulfilled in <I>Matt27:35</I> What are the odds that executioners would gamble their hard earned money for the clothes of an executed convict? Perhaps 1:1000</div> <bR> <div> 1000 x 1^27 = 1^30</div> <bR> <div> 12. That not one bone of His should be broken, <I>Psa 34:20</I>… fulfilled in <I>John 19:33,36</I> What are the odds of someone going through an intense beating, whipping, and being nailed to a cross without having a bone broken? Perhaps 1:100</div> <bR> <div> 100 x 1^30 = 1^32</div> <bR> <div> 13. His being pierced, <I>Zech 12:10</I>… fulfilled in <I>John 19:34,37</I> What are the odds that a Roman soldier thrust their spear into the side of a crucified criminal? Perhaps 1:50</div> <bR> <div> 50 x 1^32 = 5^33</div> <bR> <div> 14. His being buried with the rich, <I>Isa 53:9</I>…fulfilled in <I>Matt 27:57-60</I> What are the odds that a rich man would give up his family grave for a condemned criminal? Perhaps 1:50</div> <bR> <div> 50 x 5^33 = 2.5^35</div> <bR> <div> 15. His resurrection, <I>Psa 16:10</I>…fulfilled in <I>Luke 24:6,31,34</I> What are the odds that someone would come back to life after 3 days, and appear over a 40 day period to many people (more than 500 at one time), with proofs like lengthy conversations, teachings, and having meals with them? Perhaps 1:1,000,000</div> <bR> <div> 1,000,000 x 2.5^35 = 2.5^41</div> <bR> <div> 16. His ascension, <I>Psa 68:18</I>… fulfilled in <I>Luke24:51</I> What are the odds of someone ascending bodily into Heaven? Perhaps 1:1,000,000 (In the entire Bible there have been two others)</div> <bR> <div> 1,000,000 x 2.5^41 = 2.5^47</div> <bR> <div> The total odds that any one person could fulfill all 16 prophecies:</div> <bR> <div> <B>1:2.5^47</b></div> <div> <B>1:2,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000</b></div> <bR> <div> Would that be 1:2.5 jillion or zillion? It probably has a real name, but does it matter?</div> <bR> <div> I'd say the odds would be fairly reasonable in favor of divine inspiration. Just for the sake of argument, cut those odds in half: 1:1.25^46… still fairly reasonable?</div> <bR> <div> <B>================== </b><A HREF="#scenario" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>TOP</b></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="war_and_the_old_testament"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>War and the Old Testament</b></div> <bR> <div> Numbers 33:55</div> <div> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.</div> <bR> <div> Exodus 23:30</div> <div> Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.</div> <bR> <div> Deuteronomy 4</div> <div> -37 Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, </div> <div> -38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today. </div> <div> -39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. </div> <bR> <div> Exodus 34:24</div> <div> I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God.</div> <bR> <div> 2 Chronicles 20:7</div> <div> O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?</div> <bR> <div> Numbers 33</div> <div> -51 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, </div> <div> -52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. </div> <div> -53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.</div> <bR> <div> Deuteronomy 9:5</div> <div> It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</div> <bR> <div> <B>================ </b><A HREF="#scenario" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U><B>TOP</b></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="revelation_chronology"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>Revelation Chronology</b></div> <bR> <div> If the book of Revelation is in chronological order, then the day of God's wrath occurs three times (chapter 6, 11, and 16).  I suppose you could say His wrath is three days long.  However, a common sense reading of the scriptures does not support a chronological order. Thus, the “seals”, “trumpets”, and “vials” will overlap if you put them on a timeline.</div> <bR> <div> God's wrath is described in Revelation  6:12-17, 11:15-19, 16:17-21</div> <bR> <div> Let's examine these three scriptures.  Each scripture also has a distinct label:  </div> <div> 6th Seal - Rev. 6:12-17</div> <div> 7th Trumpet - Rev.11:15-19</div> <div> 7th Vial - Rev.16:17-21</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rev. 6:12-17</b></div> <div> And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;</div> <bR> <div> And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.</div> <bR> <div> And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.</div> <bR> <div>  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;</div> <bR> <div>  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:</div> <bR> <div>  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rev.11:15-19</b></div> <div> <I>And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.</I> </div> <bR> <div> And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,</div> <bR> <div>  <I>Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.,</I></div> <div> <I>And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.</I></div> <bR> <div> And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rev.16:17-21</b></div> <div> And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.</div> <bR> <div> And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.</div> <bR> <div> And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.</div> <bR> <div> And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.</div> <bR> <div> And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.</div> <bR> <div> =============</div> <div> NOTE 1: The 7th Vial is poured out at the Battle of Armageddon.  We know this from the verse that introduces the 7th Vial.  It says, “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”(verse 16)</div> <div> =============</div> <bR> <div> When you read these three accounts of the wrath of God, some common elements are noticeable:  Earthquake, Sun, Moon, Stars, Mountains & Islands, God's Wrath, Great Voices, Lightning, Thunders, Great Hail.</div> <bR> <div> It's plain to see that the 6th Seal, 7th Trumpet, and 7th Vial are describing THE SAME EVENT.  </div> <bR> <div> ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES</div> <bR> <div> God's wrath is also found in:</div> <div> Matthew 24:29</div> <div> Ezekiel 38:18-22</div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Matthew 24:29</b></div> <div> Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken</div> <bR> <div> ============</div> <div> NOTE 2:  Matthew 24:29 reveals when God's wrath occurs relative to the tribulation: IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION.</div> <div> ============</div> <bR> <div> <B>Ezekiel 38:18-22</b></div> <div> And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.</div> <bR> <div> For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;</div> <bR> <div> So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.</div> <bR> <div> And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.</div> <bR> <div> And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.</div> <bR> <div> ===========</div> <div> NOTE 3:  The subject of Ezekiel 38:18-22 is Gog and Magog.</div> <div> ===========</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CONCLUSION</div> <bR> <div> The 6th Seal, 7th Trumpet, and 7th Vial describe both the Battle of Armageddon, and the Gog - Magog war.  God's wrath comes immediately after the Great Tribulation.  The Great Tribulation, (which is the 2nd half of the final 7 years and also the 2nd half of Daniel's 70th week), is the wrath of Satan.  If the same event happens in three different chapters, by definition, the book of Revelation is not in chronological order.</div> <bR> <div> WHAT <I>IS</I> THE ORDER?</div> <bR> <div> Consider that the Seals, Trumpets, and Vials are three different stories, spanning three different periods of time.  The Seals are the long story, the Trumpets are the shorter story, and the vials are the very short story.  Each story ends with the return of Jesus at the battle of Armageddon.</div> <bR> <div> <B>==============</b>  <A HREF="#scenario" TITLE="Prophecy Articles"><U>TOP</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>