The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 6

Mark of the Beast   Out of all of the things that are still tossed around with the general populace regarding Bible prophecy, the mark of the beast is something that you can see references being made to from time to time.  Certainly we live in a time where such technology to allow the implementation of a satanic system could readily be realized.    I recall years ago working for McDonald’s as a manager, when there was talk about these things on the night shift on a regular basis.  Back then there was talk about the bar code, implantable microchips, this eventually led into other places of employment where a fingerprint would be used to clock in or out.    With that system there was quite a lot of resistance from a certain segment of people, oddly enough many who did not profess Christ, but rather just had heard of the mark of the beast system and wanted nothing to do with it.  I recall that when we were living in Panama back in 2014, there were many jobs that the employees there had to use their fingerprint, for instance in order to use the cash register at a grocery store.  At the time they were far ahead in that type of technology, verses the United States which was lagging behind in a more thorough implementation.    The difference was that up to 85% of Panamanians are Roman Catholic, verses the approximate 23% of Americans.  Here in the United States the collective memory of pastors who had preached on the mark of the beast, the Tribulation, the Rapture, the...

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 5

Judgments   Understand that I do not proclaim to know all, as Daniel did not understand everything (Da. 12:8).  When I studied through the book of Revelation, in my spirit, I came to the same conclusion as my dear friend who ran a ministry for the Lord.  That conclusion is that it appears that the bowl and trumpet judgments are the same judgments repeated twice.    Now there is some complexity with it, as there is also God’s wrath, a breakdown of further judgments and such.  Nonetheless, as it was stated early on, this is not a commentary on the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  We must remember that this is a book whose key to understanding is that it is about the past, present and future.    So unlike others who setup a nice looking map with time frames, breaking everything down in sections, separate with two or three types of judgments (as some often use seal judgments as well), the purpose for this writing is to go over some of these judgments, garner what can clearly be garnered, ponder or speculate a bit where that can be done, but done so by leaving it with a big question (???) and moving on from there.  For this is yet a mystery that is not for us to fully understand at this time.  Though much understanding can certainly be had and the dispensation regarding such events seems to have progressed much in the past decades, the point is to understand that this time period is not a pleasant time period and God still commands all men everywhere...

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 4

Time of Jacob’s Trouble   Now we get into what I would deem to be the true portion of the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), the Great Tribulation, the true judgments of the world beginning to come to point where the seriousness of the situation could not possibly be underestimated.  Yet in our day and age, at the moment of this writing, there are some who suppose that we are in this timeframe already.    Just the other day I happened upon an article from someone who writes regularly and has quite a large following.  While his articles are often interesting, I also find them frustrating and find myself angry (Ps. 139:21) at the lack of understanding, knowing that he is misleading his readers.  In fact I wish that someone would put him in his place and cast down his false and misleading words that he writes pertaining to such end time events and the Rapture.  For he promotes false doctrine and his following is probably in the millions, if not tens of millions.    Well in one of his latest articles he talks about how things are going to get worse before they get better (he speaks as a prophetic Bible scholar declaring things he knows nothing about) and ends with Jesus coming back to fix things.  The idea behind it is these evil people who run and control the world, our world leaders, those ‘elite’ are going to be stopped by Jesus upon His return and that things will get really bad for us (them) until that happens.  Well there is a problem with this way...

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 3

The Two Witnesses   During what appears to be the first half of the Tribulation, the first 3 ½ years, there are Two Witnesses who will be proclaiming God’s Truth to the inhabitants of the earth.  Now there are some who consider Zechariah 4:3, 12 to be talking about the Two Witnesses, but to me that is a mystery and nothing that can be ascertained, though an argument could be made of something to ponder.  Where the Word of God is quite clear about these two individuals is in Revelation.   “And I will give to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.  And if anyone tries to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone tries to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.  These have authority to shut the heavens, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have authority over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.”  Revelation 11:3-6   There are many who think that Moses and Elijah are the Two Witnesses because when Jesus was transfigured He spoke to Moses and Elijah (Matt. 17:1-3).  My opinion used to be that it made sense for it to be Elijah and Enoch because neither of those men died, but were Raptured straight to Heaven (Gen. 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11).  I had never considered the...

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 2

The 70th Week – First Half of the Tribulation – Part 2   “Seventy weeks are decreed regarding your people, and regarding your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.  Know, therefore, and understand that from the going forth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem, to Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks and sixty two weeks. The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in times of distress.  And after sixty two weeks, Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself. And the people of a coming ruler shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end shall be with a flood, and desolations are determined, and there shall be war until the end.  And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. And in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the grain offering to cease. And on a corner will be abominations that cause horror, even until the end. And that which was decreed shall be poured out on the desolate.”  Daniel 9:24-27   What is commonly referred to as the seven year period of the Tribulation should be rightfully called the Seventh Week.  That time period is broken into two segments.   “And I will give to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”  Revelation 11:3   “And he...