Prophetic Timeline
Regarding end-time events
This time line is a result of my personal study and may or may not agree with other similar timelines available from other sources.
General information
Most of the Old Testament prophets included in their orations references to the coming “day of the Lord” when God will avenge Israel and punish the nations, which have oppressed his people.
Zephaniah prophesies concerning a future destruction of Judah and Jerusalem and the surrounding nations for their sins. This is probably a double reference to Judah’s fall to the Assyrians and to end-time events. Although he names the Gentile countries that God will punish, we should be careful about applying this strictly to the second time reference.
Joel Discusses an invasion of the Middle East by a vast army that leaves nothing alive in its wake. He compares it to a swarm of locusts that devours every living thing. When that army comes Israel will cry out to Jehovah for relief. He will answer by judging the nations who oppressed her.
Isaiah 24, 25 gives a description of conditions at the end of the world in general terms. He talks about destruction to people, cities and nature. He makes clear reference to the final conflagration, ending by introducing the universal reign of God.
Isaiah 29 gives a general description of God’s salvation of Israel and the destruction of her enemies.
Prophetic timeline beginning immediately after or about the time of the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
1. Revelation 9:13-21 Four angels (evil spirits) who had been restricted beyond the Euphrates River are allowed to cross. They come swooping down with an army of 200 million troops and destroy one third of the world’s population.(More than 2 billion people, by today’s population estimates)
2. Daniel 7 Daniel sees the rise of four simultaneous leaders (beasts). He is told they are kings (v.17). The fourth kingdom will be a union of ten nations (v.24). At some point the ten are reduced to eight by one leader annexing two others under his leadership. This king will assume command of the union and wage war against the saints for 3 1/2 years (v.5).
Note: We have no time reference for the formation of this union but it will be in place at the beginning of the tribulation.
Prediction: A leader will rise in Iraq who will convince Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, et al. to form an alliance to forge peace in the Middle East. This will be done to show strength without Western help. (See Comment at end)
Prediction: The U.S. will decline in power and influence due to economic and natural disasters at home and political blunders abroad. At some point it may be “forced” to become a communistic police state.
Note: watch the news! a) In the last three years (2004-2007) the U.S has experienced several major natural disasters which have had a huge negative impact on our economy. b) At the same time American influence abroad has been on a fast decline. More and more nations are becoming either indifferent to our views or outright hostile to our attempts to help. c)The road to a communistic or social government is quickly being paved with public consent. More and more people are demanding a government which provides universal services to its citizens such as health care, shelter, guaranteed income or a federal ID program.
Prediction: Barak Obama will be the next President and lead us quickly into a communistic state where the government will dictate behavior even more than it does now. He will pursue an agenda to make the U.S. subserviant to the UN and foreign influence. 11/4/08 Obama won the election!
Spring 2009 Obama introduces his universal health care plan.
Spring 2010 President Obama successfully pushes through his universal health care plan. Everyone must sign up or pay a fine.
Since his election our President has talked on friendly terms with Arabian nations whose ideologies are hostile to our very existence!
Keep watching the news. The rest may be fulfilled soon.
Note: The recent (early 2008) spike in oil prices was no more than OPEC flexing it's muscle. It showed the world, especially western powers, how easily it could control our destiny. A decision made in the Middle East one day could cripple the western hemisphere within a week. We are vulnerable to the control of the Islamic leaders.
3. Revelation 12: 13-17 The dragon (Satan) attempts to attack the woman (Israel) and is rebuffed. This occurs at the inception of the tribulation (v.14). He then directs his attacks toward Christians (v.17)
4. Revelation 13 Antichrist is in power and unifies the world against Israel.
5. Isaiah 41:1-7 The world is united under a leader from the east (v.2).
6. Revelation 14:14-20 God’s wrath is applied to those who oppose Him. Blood will flow outside the city of Jerusalem as high as a horse’s bridle for a distance of about 180 miles. This probably figurative speech for a large and wholesale slaughter of Jerusalem’s inhabitants.
7. Isaiah 41:8-16 Israel successfully defends herself with God’s help.
8. Zechariah 14:12-15 There will be a terrible disease afflicting non-believers. (see Rev. 16:2)
Note: Media reports indicate new and dangerous diseases are appearing and scientists are not able to keep up with the growing need for cures and/or prevention. The terrible dfisease mentioned will be something we have never seen before and for which there will be no cure.
9. Revelation 16:12-21 The river Euphrates dries up. Kings from the east, incited by evil spirits cross the dry river bed and gather for battle at a spot called Armageddon. Apparently, someone will lead this army from Babylon (v. 19).
On a current map, Baghdad, Iraq lies a short distance north of where ancient Babylon used to be and straddles the Euphrates River. It would not be a stretch to say that Baghdad represents Babylon.
10. Revelation 17 Babylon (the harlot) will be the world leader. There will be two coalitions under her leadership represented by the seven heads and the ten horns (vv. 3,9,12). These alliances will eventually collapse (v. 16).
11. Ezekiel 38-39 A vast army led by Gog and Magog (thought to be Russia and Turkey)will attempt a surprise attack on horseback against Israel and be defeated by God’s miraculous intervention. Invaders are described as a coalition of nations.
12. Revelation 18 Babylon is destroyed and the whole world stands in awe and mourning.
Prediction: The capitol of Iraq (or the controlling government), probably the rebuilt city of Babylon, will be the victim of a weapon of mass destruction, possibly delivered by Israel. This, however, does not end the anti-Semitic attitude of many nations, rather it intensifies it.
13. Revelation 19:1-10 A celestial celebration breaks out.
14. Revelation 19:11-21 Jesus the King rides against the beast and his army, defeating them.
Note: This is what Orthodox Jews have been waiting for, except, historically, they don’t connect the Jesus of the New Testament with the conquering Messiah.
15. Zechariah 12:10-13:9 Jews will cry out to God, recognizing the true Messiah.
16. Zechariah 14:1-11 Jesus will arrive in time to prevent Israel’s complete destruction.
17. Revelation 20:1-6 The Millennial (1000 year) reign of Jesus is established.
18. Revelation 20:7-10 Satan inspires Gog and Magog to again attack Israel, suffering defeat and destruction.
19. Revelation 21-22 The new world is begun and all our troubles and trials will be over!
Comment on the rising kingdoms in Daniel’s vision (point #2):
Bible scholars have, up to now, always deduced that the beast described by Daniel showed the rise and fall of a series of kingdoms all of which they can safely say have come and gone in history (Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greece, Rome, etc.). By looking at history it is relatively easy to see which government followed which in succession for dominance. What no one can say for sure is the name of the final ruling government represented by the ten toes of the statue or beast. Because many of the commentators I have read came out of an era that was heavily influenced by the Reformation, there was a natural anti-papal sentiment, which influenced their conclusion that the final alliance of ten “kings” was to be led by a demon-controlled Pope. This is usually labeled the revival of the Holy Roman Empire. There is much to be said for such an argument and they may be right. Or they may not.
In the light of our current world situation, I respectfully beg to differ. I now believe, for the following reasons, that the final government that Daniel saw will be an Islamic government.
1. The territory over which Daniel’s vision was concerned is not Israel, but Babylonia (modern Iraq). Daniel 8:1,2,23,24 seem to indicate this. Here Israel is talked of as a people distant from the center of action.
2. Daniel 7:23 tells us that the reigning government will “devour” the whole earth. This means it will invade, infiltrate or control every nation on earth somehow. We know this is not the case with Roman Catholicism. The Pope may be powerful and influential, but not to the degree that Islam is fast becoming in the world. Islam has, even now, gained an entrance into almost every nation on earth. And is the fastest growing religion in the world.
Newsflash, March 31, 2008: From the Associated Press
Islam surpasses Catholicism as world's lagest religion
3. The prophecies regarding the antichrist say that he will lead a theocratic government. That is, his rule will be controlled by his religion. In Catholicism, the thought is to operate within existing power structures working to influence social and religious matters. In Islam, the whole goal is to control the worship, the lives and the economy of people under its power.
4. We are told the antichrist will openly persecute and kill Christians. If he were a Pope that would not work because the Pope assumes he represents Christianity to the world. For him to work against believers would happen in only two possible scenarios: 1) Roman Catholicism somehow “evolves” into a more liberal church than it is even today and thus does not recognize true Christians; or 2) a future Pope is so controlled by the Devil that he becomes deluded into persecuting all believers in allegiance to the Beast.
5. The Roman Catholic Church has very little influence in the Middle East and even less now, since the current Pope unintentionally offended many Muslims. It is not likely that he could broker any kind of deal that would establish peace there, whether real or fabricated.
My conclusion, and I admit it is as heavily influenced by current affairs as any of the others, is that Islam will become THE dominant religion in the world and will influence every government on every continent. At some point a leader will arise in Iraq or Iran who will have charismatic charm and through his influence, both within Islam and in political circles, will be able to design some sort of pact that all the nations in the Middle East will accept as workable. This will be a seven-year truce from fighting. Because he will be a native of the area, Western influence, from the U.S., Canada, Britain, etc. will be seen as intrusive and disregarded. The Islamic nations will unite against outsiders. Later they will allow the Westerners to help in their attempts to destroy and/or subdue Israel, all to no avail. God will keep his word, protect and defend Israel and eventually establish a worldwide rule from Jerusalem!
America Alone by Mark Steyn is a book that describes how radical Islamists are changing our world and how America may be the lone voice in opposition. One commentator says, "The western world is falling prey to the unrelenting tide of radical Islam, demographically and ideologically." The book is available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com
Appendix I
The following article was received by email on September 21, 2007. No effort has been made to verify the information presented, but I know that a recent news item on national television related these same concerns by American economists who, to my knowledge, are not believers.
America for sale!
Jim Bramlett
One of the judgments of disobedience is that foreign interests begin to come in and take over industry and the economy.
This morning’s news reminds me of Deuteronomy 28:33: “A people that you do not know will eat what your land and labor produce.”
Islam is an instrument of judgment against the apostate west. Below are three of today’s news items that reflect how Muslims are taking over America and the UK:
1. Incredibly, in a complex set of transactions, Dubai is moving to acquire 19.9 percent of the Nasdaq in New York, placing the Arab government in an ownership position of the key U.S. Stock Exchange and raising concerns in Congress. (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/statiarticles/article57749.html.)
2. The Carlyle Group agreed on Thursday to sell a 7.5 percent share stake in itself to an arm of Abu Dhabi’s government – the latest US private equity group to bring in a sovereign wealth fund as an investor. (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f9bae8ba679e-11dc-8906-0000779fd2ac.html)
3. Nearly 50 percent of the London Stock Exchange is now in the hands of two rival Gulf states battling to be their region’s leader in the global consolidation of exchanges. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4c84f0ee-674b-11dc-9443-0000779fd2ac.html.
I have been long concerned at how America is being sold to foreign interests. The global economy is like a runaway train. Before we know it, the train will be gone and average citizens will be left at the station, holding the proverbial bag.
It’s not just Muslims, many of whom are bent on our destruction, but other nations as well. Real estate is one of their favorite investments.
From the Christian Science Monitor:
· In Las Vegas, wealthy foreign buyers – mostly from Mexico – have snapped up 12 percent of the condos at Icon, twin 48-story towers that are now almost sold out even though they won’t start construction until next month.
· New York City real estate brokers estimate that up to 33 percent of new condos sold in the city are going to non-Americans, especially Europeans, who one broker describes as “very aggressive.”
· Asian buyers are jumping in too. Real estate agents are flying to Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur to talk up the property market. Recently, a large group of Korean finance, construction, insurance and engineering executives conducted a “study tour” of southeast Florida real estate.
From the Associated Press:
The furor over efforts by an Arab country to buy U.S. Port operations has focused attention on a little noticed economic fact of life: America increasingly is foreign owned. From the Essex House hotel in Manhattan, owned by the Dubai Investment Group, to the nationwide chains of Caribou Coffee and Church’s Chicken, owned by another company serving Arab investors, foreigners are buying bigger and bigger chunks of the country. Foreigners sell their television sets, cars and oil to Americans and hold their dollars in return. Those dollars are invested in stocks, bonds and other assets, including real estate and factories. Foreigners already own half of the U.S. government’s publicly traded debt. As of January, some $2.19 trillion in Treasury securities were in the hands of central banks, including China and Japan, and private investors abroad.
Add to the above the foreign invasion through our open borders, the whole foreign economic influence picture is disconcerting, but it is a reflection of our own citizen’s greed and irresponsible government beholding to money interests, as well as national sins.
What can cause such judgment and a great nation’s resources to be given over to foreigners? I can think of at least three things:
1. Removal of God from the public square.
2. The bloody dismemberment and murder of nearly 50 million babies in their mothers’ wombs, approved by the government.
3. Rampant immorality, homosexuality and other sexual perversions, approved by the government and applauded by the cultural elite and liberal “theologians.”
THE BAD NEWS: Optimists say that a coming revival will reverse all this. I don’t think so. There will be a great revival for individuals, probably after the rapture, but we are far too along on God’s prophetic timetable for a cultural reversal. The world is headed for major judgment, first for rejecting His Son, and second for rejecting His Word and precepts.
THE GOOD NEWS: But there is even better news: Jesus is coming!
“They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with him will his called, chosen and faithful followers” (Revelation 17:14).
Appendix II
While listening to a radio program on Monday, October 1, 2007, I heard an interview with an historian who had written a book about the American labor unions. During the interview he made it clear that there are certain interested parties, on the international political scene, that have already divided the world into ten major divisions, called regional unions. The European Union was only the first to be formed on their agenda with the ultimate goal of forming a one-world government. Other divisions of territory in their vision include a North American Union (not too far fetched any more, is it?) and a South American Union. Africa, too, will be divided into two similar unions, a North African Union and a South African Union and so on. We already know that it would not take too much to get the Arabian nations to band together to protect regional interests. Perhaps the ten-nation alliance spoken of in Scripture needs another look, in light of these facts.
KH
Note 4/27/09: It was recently brought to my attention that this process is moving along well without much hindrance. Some countries of Africa are now changing their official language from French to English to help the transition to an African Economic Union.
Appendix III
From a newspaper article (Lewiston Sun-Journal) dated November 19, 2007.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that OPEC’s members have expressed interest in converting their cash reserves into a currency other than the depreciating U.S. dollar, which he called a “worthless piece of paper.”
“They get our oil and give us a worthless piece of paper,” Ahmadinejad told reporters after the close of the summit in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. He blamed U.S. President George W. Bush’s policies for the decline of the dollar and its negative effect on other countries.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez echoed this sentiment Sunday on the sidelines of the summit, saying “the empire of the dollar has to end.”
“Don’t you see how the dollar has been in free-fall without a parachute?” Chavez said, calling the euro a better option.
Iran and Venezuela have proposed trading oil in a basket of currencies to replace the historic link to the dollar, but they have not been able to generate support from enough fellow OPEC members.
Appendix IV
On the reduction of power and influence of the U.S. Mark Hitchcock gives this insight:
“Think about it. If the Rapture were to happen today, if all true believers in Jesus Christ were whisked away to heaven in a split second, America would be devastated beyond comprehension. Consider these most recent statistics from Barna
research Online.
“Eighty-five percent of Americans claim to be Christians. This group is often identified as cultural Christians.
“Forty-one percent of Americans claim to be born-again Christians. This is a subset of the broad Christian group
“Seven percent of American adults are identified as evangelical Christians. This group is a subset of the born-again group. The main factor in this category is a belief that salvation is by faith in Christ alone, without human works. According to Barna, this represents about 14-16 million American adults. Adding in children, the number could easily climb to 25-30 million.
“If we use Barna’s figures, at least 25-30 million Americans are believers in Christ. That – at least- is how many Americans will disappear all at once when the Rapture occurs. And the number could be as high as 65 million. The impact will be nothing short of cataclysmic. Not only would our country lose a minimum of 10 percent of her population, but she would lose the very best, the salt and light of this great land (see Matthew 5:13-14).”
Mark Hitchcock
The Second Coming of Babylon
Multnomah Publishers, 2003
Pp. 154,155
Appendix V
A Message from Dr. David R. Reagan
An Historic Day
Today (December 13, 2007) is a momentous one for Europe and all the world. European leaders have gathered in Lisbon, Portugal to sign The Treaty of Lisbon which represents an attempt to further strengthen the European Union, increasing its powers as a superstate while diminishing the national sovereignty of its 27 member states.
This treaty replaces the failed European Union Constitution which was abandoned in 2005 after it was rejected by French and Dutch voters. The Treaty will go into force after it is ratified by all member states. The aim is to have this process completed by 2009.
Unlike the previously proposed Constitution which required public approval, this treaty will bypass the public since it must be approved only by the parliament of each member state. Thus far, only Ireland has scheduled a public referendum.
The pact aims to create a more effective, centralized foreign policy, stronger central leadership, and more democratic decision-making.
A new post of foreign minister – in all but name only – is being created to give the EU a unified voice in foreign policy. He will speak for the EU at international conferences and at world organizations like the United Nations.
The European Parliament, which until now has been primarily a debating society, is being given greater power to modify or reject legislation proposed by the EU Commission. More important, majority voting will become the rule in some 50 policy areas that are currently decided by unanimity.
The most important change from a biblical viewpoint is the creation of a supreme leadership post. In the past the EU has been ruled by a committee called the European Council which is made up of the heads of government of the member nations. The chairmanship of this committee rotates every six months. The new treaty creates a full-time President of the Council who will be elected by the heads of government for a two-and-one-half year term, renewable once.
The current structure of the EU contains centralized parliamentary, judicial, and financial powers with authority to overrule the parliaments, judiciaries and central banks of its member nations. What the EU has lacked is a strong, centralized executive. The new treaty takes the first step in creating this official by providing for an elected President of the Council.
I have anticipated this development for a long time. It is, of course, paving the way for the rise of the Antichrist whom I believe will take over the EU and serve as its President.
I am reminded of a statement made 60 years ago by Paul Henri-Spaak (1899-1972), the former Prime Minister of Belgium, the first Chairman of the General Assembly of the United Nations (1945), and one of the key founders of the movement toward European unity. He said: “We do not want another committee. We have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass in which we are sinking. Send us such a man and, be he God or the devil, we will receive him.”
Such a man is on the horizon as we witness the resurrection of the Roman Empire, an end time event prophesied over 2,500 years ago by the prophet Daniel (2:31-45).
Taken from an email forwarded from the Lamb & Lion Ministries
© 2007 Lamb & Lion Ministries
What to watch for in the near furture:
Here in the U.S.: an increase in the push for more government control of finances, healthcare, education transportation and other public functions.
Even greater proliferation of immoral activities and media. Pubilc acceptance of deviant behavior will become expected as a right to freedom of expression.
Restrictions on ethical and moral medical choices will be lessened or removed. Euthanasia, abortions and mistreatment of the poor, the elderly and the mentally challenged will increase with government sanction.
Christians will be seen more and more as biased, bigoted or narrow in their thinking, and thus not credible voices to influence our culture. In many cases they will be seen as the enemy and restricted, banned or persecuted for their faith and any attemt to maintain a moral influence.
Around the world: Continued increased growth of the Muslim faith with its oppressive agenda and animosity toward Christains.
More unification of continental governments in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Africa and South America. They will begin to regionalize military, trade and political elements as well as the economic structure.
A continued decline of American influence on world affairs. Our President will be seen as another one of many voices rather than the powerful force we once were.
