The purpose of this article is to discuss coming prophetic events and their relation to each other. We have coming the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church. We have the Elam disaster and the Psalm 83 war. Around that time, there will rise to power a man called the antichrist. He will sign a 7 year peace covent with Israel which will begin the tribulation period or the 70th week of years in Daniel's prophecy. When could the 7 year tribulation period start? Are there any clues? During the beginning of the 7 year tribulation, Israel will be at peace. Then the world will see the Magog invasion into Israel. The motives for the wars Psalm 83 and the Magog war are different. Those in the Psalm 83 war are the nations that border near Israel today. Psalm 83 has the motive of destroying Israel from existence. These nations seek to wipe Israel off the map and kill all the Jewish people. At the time of the Maygog war, the motivation is very different. In this war, the attacking armies have to goal of taking spoil and plundering the land of Israel.
We'll start with the:
Now the timing of the Psalm 83 war is either just before the rapture, during, or just after the rapture, but before the start of the 7 year covenant between Israel and the antichrist. I lean to the belief that the Psalm 83 war will occur after the rapture. I believe when millions of people disappear from earth, it will cause a great shock to those left behind. If the Psalm 83 war occurs after the rapture then it will help take away the shock of the rapture. The Psalm 83 war will involve nuclear weapons and nations being destroyed. This in itself will be very troubling to those left behind.
After the rapture of the Church there will be big changes on earth. Today the Holy Spirit is currently restraining evil in and through the Church. When the Church is removed, the Holy Spirit is still present. But the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit has been removed. Things will change drastically after the removal of the Holy Spirit's restraint. At that time the demonic will be openly manifested on earth. These demons call themselves space aliens who are here to help the human race evolve to the next level. Deception will ramp up to its highest level. The antichrist will also be free to rise to power so he can one day sign that 7 year peace treaty with Israel. The antichrist will ascend to his position of world power around the time or after the Psalm 83 war. He will be free to be revealed and rise to power after the rapture.
A time interval will pass after the rapture to the beginning of the 7 year tribulation period. The rapture will not happen on one day and the 7 year tribulation begin on the next day. This time period could be months. I heard one prophecy teacher speculate it could even be years. Personally, I think it will be months. God is going to do a quick work in these last days. During this time there will be the Psalm 83 war and the antichrist will have enough time to rise to power in order to sign that 7 year peace treaty with Israel. The antichrist will be revealed and he will rise to world leadership. However, until the first judgment seal is opened in the 7 year tribulation, the antichrist cannot conquer. He will conquer the world with peace promises and deception. The rider of the white horse (antichrist) conquers with a bow and no arrows in the first seal judgment. This means deception is used and not military force.
Jer 49:34-39
34 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.
36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:
38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.
39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.
These verses indicate that some kind of major disaster and/or invasion will occur in the land of Elam. The bow of Elam (their strength) will be broken. It will be such a major disaster and/or war, that the people will flee to all the nations on earth. Here is a possibility. The interesting thing is the big nuclear reactor in Iran is located in the land of Elam. What happens if there is a major earthquake and the nuclear reactor is destroyed and leaks a massive amount of radioactive waste? It happened in Japan, it could also happen in Elam. Or maybe this will happen. The USA or Israel will attack and bomb to pieces the nuclear reactor. Israel is not going to let Iran get the ability to make nuclear weapons. Destroying the reactor would create a disaster in Elam. That also would definitely trigger the hostile nations to attack Israel. Or it could be some other disaster not related to the nuclear plant. For example, Japan had a major nuclear leak disaster. Japan is dying from radiation poisoning and I do not see the Japanese people leaving their radioactive island. The radioactive waste will surely kill all of them. Why don't they flee the land? Right now the radioactive material is washing up on the west coast of North America from Alaska down to southern California. The disaster in Elam causing the people to flee could be radioactive or it could be something else. The disaster could also be some kind of an invasion. Verse 37 indicates that an invasion will occur from the enemies of Elam. God will send judgment on the land of Elam. Whatever happens, a disaster, or an invasion, or both, there is coming a major disaster in the land of Elam which will cause the people to flee the land. They will flee to the four corners of the earth. This disaster event could very well trigger the Psalm 83 war. The Elam prophecy could occur either before the Psalm 83 war, during, or after the war.
Next, there is the start of the Psalm 83 war by Israel's hostile neighbours.
Psalm 83
1 A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
These verses show the attitude of the nations that will be attacking Israel. They have made their plans with the goal of cutting off the existence of the Jewish nation. These nations have the goal of making Israel cease to exist in the land. That is the current goal of the nations directly bordering Israel today. Gaza recently (2014) attacked Israel and they were put down. They are currently re-arming and getting ready to again attack Israel. The goal is not peaceful coexistence. They want Israel completely destroyed so the name will not be remembered any more. The enemies of Israel will accept nothing less but Israel's complete destruction. Maps have recently been published where Israel is not in existence on the map. This is the goal these evil nations are seeking. Next, lets see who will be attacking Israel in the Psalm 83 war:
Psalm 83
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah
Several nations and people are mentioned who will take part of the Psalm 83 war. Here is a list of who they could be:
- Ttabernacles of Edom = Southern Jordan and Palestinians
- The Ishmaelites = Saudi Arabia
- Moab = Central Jordan and Palestinian
- The Hagrites = Egypt
- Gebal = Hezbollah and North Lebanaon
- Ammon = Northern Jordan and Palestinians
- Amalek = Sinai
- Philistia = Gaza (Hamas)
- People of Tyre = Southern Lebanon (Hezbollah)
- Assyria = Syria and Iraq
These are all nations that currently closely border Israel. Another point is none of these nations are mentioned in the coming Ezekiel 38, 39 Magog war. We are seeing two different wars with different sets of nations in each war. The motive for war is also drastically different. The Psalm 83 war has the goal to completely destroy Israel. In the Magog war, the goal is to plunder the land and take a spoil.
Lets see what happens next to the Psalm 83 nations that will attack with the goal of destroying Israel.
Psalm 83
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
The attacking nations will lose terribly in this war. Notice verse 13 that makes them like stubble in the wind. Notice verse 14 where these nations will be burned up with fire. They will be persecuted with God's tempest and fear the storm of judgment heaped upon them. Their faces will also be covered with shame and they will be confounded and troubled. The Psalm 83 war will be very destructive for all the nations seeking to destroy Israel. In fact, after the Psalm 83 war, the nations involved will be so destroyed that they will never again rise to attack Israel.
This will be a world changing war. Personally, I believe this war will be the end of Islam. Right now those in Islam have the common goal of seeing Israel destroyed. Horrible acts of terror have been carried out worldwide by the Islamics. But after the Islamic countries that attack Israel are destroyed in the Psalm 83 war, things will change. People in Islam around the world will realize that the God of the Bible is much stronger than Allah. I believe many will forsake Islam. Hopefully, many will accept the Lord Jesus after the Psalm 83 war.
Another thing that will happen as part of the Psalm 83 war is the complete destruction of the city of Damascus. This is one of the oldest lasting cities in the world today. But when this prophecy comes to pass, look at what will happen (and it has not happened yet).
Isaiah 17
1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
What happens to Damascus sounds like a nuclear bomb which will reduce the city to rubble. A nuclear bomb today can easily reduce any city to rubble. So Damascus which currently exists as a city today, will be destroyed in fulfilment of this prophecy. In fact, all the Psalm 83 nations that attack Israel will be destroyed. They will never again rise to power to threaten Israel. Another result of Israel's victory in the Psalm 83 war, is that the borders of Israel will greatly increase. They will not get all the land promised to Abraham, but their current boarders will grow quite a bit.
The Psalm 83 war will be the destruction of the nations attacking Israel. No longer will they be coveting or illegally occupying Israel's land. It is God's land and He has promised and given it to Israel.
Another thing that will happen after the rapture will be the open manifestion of demons on earth. The "alien" disclosure will be made and people will see these beings walking on the streets and spaceships will be seen hovering over cities. These demons will come with another gospel which will nullify the Bible. People who have rejected the Lord Jesus will accept this great delusion. Of course these demons will call themselves "aliens" from another world. They will teach that years ago they are the ones who seeded planet earth with life and humans have evolved to their present form today. You see, according to these demons, God did not create. Instead, the demons will teach they are the creators as they seeded this planet with life. These demons/aliens will say they have returned because mankind is ready for the next level of evolution (to godhood). When people see these "aliens"/demons and see the spaceships, it will be easy to believe their deceptions. There eyes will give them irrefutable proof. This is why the theory of evolution, which is a bunch of foolishness, is considered scientific fact in schools, museums, and by many scientists today. This evolutionary delusion will be used with the deception from the demons/aliens to mislead as many as possible away from God and salvation. Mankind will be given the promise to evolve to the next stage in evolution. They will be told that they can become gods. Many lost people will love the promise of godhood. But remember that same promise got Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden of Eden. Satan is not creative. He will repackage and use the same lie/deception again. Here is the deception Satan used in the garden of Eden:
Genesis 3
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The promise of godhood will again be given by Satan and his demons via the process of evolving to the next level which is godhood. This is why the foolishness of evolution is stated as a fact today. Satan plans to use the lies of evolution to again promise godhood to lost mankind. Lost people are going to love this news and receive it with all their hearts.
During the first half of the tribulation period will be the:
Ezekiel 38
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: <
6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
Above is the introduction to the coming Magog war. God lists the nations that are involved in the Magog war. Notice that they are completely different from the Psalm 83 nations. It is interesting that in verse 3 that God says He is against Gog in Magog. It is not a good thing when God, the creator, says He is against Gog in Magog. By that statement alone the coming judgment can be seen.
An interesting thing about verse 4 is an indication of the invading armies having a lot of horsemen. That means the use of horses in battle will be on the increase in the coming days. At the time of the Magog invasion there will be many horses used for battle. This is an indication that two or three years into the tribulation will pass as these nations build up a lot of horsemen. Then the Magog invasion will occur. I'm makig an assumption that the horses will be used to transport the troops.
Here are the potential attacking nations of Ezekiel 38: 1-6:
The land of Magog = either Russia(Rosh) or Turkey
Meshech and Tubal = Turkey
Persia = Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan
Ethiopia = Ethopia and Sudan
Phut = Libya
Ashkenaz = Austria and Germany
Gomer = Eastern Europe (could be Ukraine, maybe Germany)
Togarmah = Southeastern Europe
"Many peoples with thee" = Various other nations allied with Magog
The Magog invasion will be massive. It will be a huge invasion upon a peaceful dwelling people. Israel will be dwelling in their land and enjoying a false peace from the 7 year covenant signed with the antichrist. But sometime in the first half of the 7 year tribulation, the Magog invasion will occur. This invasion will occur in the first half of the 7 year tribulation because right in the middle, the antichrist will enter the rebuilt temple, sit, and declare himself to be God. This is known as the abomination of desolation and at that time, Israel is told to flee to the mountains. Therefore, we know the Magog invasion occurs before the abomination of desolation because Israel is still dwelling in their land under a false peace when the war occurs. The Magog invasion could happen around the second or third year of the tribulation. Israel will have dropped their defenses as they are living in their land in peace with no enemies in sight.
This war will happen in the latter years and we are in those latter years right now. When Israel became a nation in 1948 the latter years begun. That was over 60 years ago. The time is very late and many Christians around the world know that the Lord Jesus is coming very soon.
Ezekiel 38
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 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.
At the time Israel will be dwelling safely. Hamas or other terrorists will not exist to drop missles on Israel. The Magog invasion will be so huge that they will cover the land like a storm. It will be a massive invasion with many people.
Ezekiel 38
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
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,
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
As I have said, Israel will be dwelling safely in the land. In fact, Israel will be totally helpless as the armies of Magog attacks. The goal of the Magog war is mentioned in verse 12. They will attack to take a spoil, to plunder the land. Perhaps in those days of the tribulation period, these nations will have very troubled economies. They will attack to take spoil and with the loot, bring it home and bless their land and economies. Even today, with the massive drop in oil prices, nations are hurting. Things will be much worse during the tribulation period. However, it will not work out good for the Magog invading armies.
What will the reaction of the other nations be in light of this massive attack on Israel?
Ezekiel 38
13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
As you can see they will just complain, but they will do nothing. These nations will also know that this invasion is to take a great spoil in the land of Israel. In this war, Israel will be completely alone and helpless in the Magog attack. This verse also mentions the merchants of Tarshish with the young lions. Many believe the USA/Canada are one of the young lions. They will be such a weak nation in those days, that they will have virtually no influence in the world scene. With the USA turning away from God, I do not expect them to be a major world power much longer.
Ezekiel 38
16 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.
The Magog war will not be a surprise to God. Through this war God will make Himself known to all the people of the world. In those days man must choose to accept Satan or to accept God. (the Lord Jesus). People will be made to be without excuse and I believe many will choose to accept the Lord Jesus and reject Satan.
Like I mentioned Israel will be totally helpless when this war occurs. The following is God's reaction to the Magog invading armies:
Ezekiel 38
18 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.
19 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;
20 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.
21 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.
22 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.
As you can see God personally will intervene to protect Israel. God will be the one who fights this war and you can read above the terrible things that will happen to the Magog attacking armies. They will die on the mountains. They will die in the fields. They will die.
Ezekiel 39
2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Of all the invading Magog armies, only 1/6th of them will survive to run home. The rest will fall dead on the mountains and fields in the land of Israel. These dead will be given as food to the beasts and birds in the land of Israel. Finally, God says that He will send a fire on Magog and on other nations of the world. After the Magog war, the people of earth will fear God and understand that He exists. I do not expect that there will be any more atheists left at that time. The only choice in those days will be our Saviour the Lord Jesus or Satan. A choice must be made. What have you chosen today?
Daniel 9
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
As you can see the tribulation is a 7 year period. This lines up with the 7 year cycles that Israel has followed for thousands of years. Could the 7 year tribulation be one of the 7 year cycles which has the last year being the Shemita? I think that is very possible. The 7 year tribulation or time of Jacob's trouble will last for 7 years and the current 7 year cycles lasts for 7 years. So therefore, the 7 year tribulation will be one of the 7 year cycles that currently exist. It does not make sense for a 7 year cycle to start and somewhere in the midst another 7 year cycle will start up. Therefore, we are now in a Shemita year which ends on September 13, 2015. Could the first day of the 7 year tribulation period start on Sept 14, 2015? Or will the tribulation start in September 2022? I think it is possible that Sept 14, 2015 will be the first day of the tribulation period. If not, September 2022 will be the start of the tribulation. This is just following a pattern that God has already setup. This means many events must happen from the rapture and the start of the tribulation. Today, there is not one man in the world with authority to sign a peace treaty with Israel. Also, Israel regards no one as their Messiah. These things must happen before the tribulation starts. The antichrist must rise to power and be loved by Israel and that 7 year covenant must be signed. All this and more before September 14, 2015 or September 2022.
We are living in very prophetic days. At any time now the rapture could occur. It is an imminent event and needs no prior prophecy or Jewish feast in order to happen. The rapture could be today or it could be tomorrow. All we can know is it is coming very soon at an unexpected time.
It is important as these coming events can now be easily seen that there should be no panic or fear. All these prophecies are an indication of the very soon return of the Lord Jesus. We are told to look up (toward heaven) and lift up our heads because the Lord Jesus is coming back very soon. It is time to rejoice and be happy and not to be fearful.
Luke 21
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
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Finally in light of all this if you are not yet a Christian, it is now time to receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. Salvation is totally free and can be received by a repentant heart. If you want to be saved and be with the Lord Jesus say the following and mean it with all your heart.
Lord Jesus,
I admit that I am a sinner. I realize that sin has a penalty of separtion from God and an eternity in the lake of fire. Right now I turn from my sins and receive the Lord Jesus as my only Saviour. Lord Jesus come into my heart and life and save me. I trust in you alone for salvation and to be my Lord and my Saviour. Amen
John 1
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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