Advance of the Gospel (2) - Eternal Gospel

After the sealing of Israel (Rev 7:1-8), John saw great multitudes being saved by the gospel.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb (Rev 7:9-10).

Those who see Revelation as a book of doom and gloom often miss these verses. The number of people saved by the gospel will be a multitude so large that no one can count them. When the Times of the Gentiles are complete, and the Jews join the team, the fulfilment of this promise will be possible.

A vision of the 144,000, representing the Fullness of Israel (Rev 14:1-4), is followed by the eternal gospel going to the nations.

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people (Rev 14:6).

When Israel has received the gospel, the church that includes Israel will proclaim the gospel of Jesus to every tribe, language and nation on earth.

►Advance of the Gospel (1) - Epochal Event

The collapse of human government and the fullness of Israel are the epochal events that mark the end of the Time of Distress. These events release the Holy Spirit to carry the gospel to the world. The epochal event that marks the beginning of the next season is the Advance of the Gospel. Several changes will make a rapid advance of the gospel possible.

• With all constraints gone, the Holy Spirit will be free to do his stuff in a new way.

• The suffering of the Time of Distress will have purified the church. It will be radical and ready to preach the gospel.

• Christians will have been forced to build strong relationships with each other in order to survive through the Time of Distress. People will be able to see the new commandment being lived out in their neighbourhoods (John 13:34). They will be drawn to Christians loving each other as Jesus loves them.

• The nations of the world will have trusted human government for peace and prosperity. When peace and prosperity are stripped away, and governments go down the gurgler, people will be desperate for a better saver. Jesus will stand out from the pack.

• Many people will have experienced Christian love and generosity during the tough Time of Distress. They will have tested this love and proved it is real.

• The gospel will be preached in the power of the Spirit. He will accompany the gospel with signs and wonders that confirm the gospel by openly proving the love and power of God (Mark 16:16-17).

• Christian communities will have developed a model of justice that works. Local judges administering God’s law will deal effectively with crime and injustice, while allowing most people to get on with their lives.

• Jewish Christians will preach the gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom of God with zeal and fervour throughout the world.

Collapse of Human Government (7) -The Kingdom Emerges

Daniel saw Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom (Dan 7:13,14).

Jesus is the Son of Man, but this is not a description of the second coming, because Daniel saw him arriving in heaven. Daniel saw the ascension and enthronement of Jesus, not the second coming. After Jesus came into the presence of the Father in heaven, he was given the authority gained by his death and resurrection. This huge victory made the defeat of the political powers on earth inevitable.

The democratic empire that accumulates vast political powers in a vain attempt to resist God’s shaking of the world will collapse into such a mess that the people of the world will not trust human political power again. Daniel traces the cause to heaven.

But the court will sit for judgment,
and his dominion will be taken away,
annihilated and destroyed forever (Dan 7:26).

Christians do not need to fight against human political empires, because God will come in judgment against it. He will annihilate the ultimate human government, killing the credibility of political power forever.
Whens human political power is smashed, the Kingdom of God will emerge.

His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom,
and all rulers will worship and obey him (Dan 7:27b).

When human governments cease functioning,a huge power vacuum will exist on earth Those who have trusted in democratic government will be desperate for something different and better. With the ultimate human government crushed by events it could not control, people will be desperate for a Saviour who keeps his promises. The Kingdom of God will be very attractive.
God will replace human rulers with local judges applying his law.

Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms
under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints,
the people of the Most High (Dan 7:27a).

Political power will be chopped up, pushed down and spread around to ordinary people who trust and obey Jesus. Justice will be administered by local, voluntary, wise judges applying God’s law. Jesus will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign for ever and ever (Rev 11:15).

The kingdoms of the world will disappear and be replaced by the Kingdom of God. Human government will be replaced by godly justice.

People will not need a government to tell the how to live, because the gospel enables them to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and obey him. Faith in Jesus destroys allegiance to human authorities, who demand authority for themselves and give it to principalities and powers. The gospel gives people freedom to walk in the Spirit, which robs the spiritual powers of influence.

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (Eph 3:10).

God will use the church to defeat the spiritual powers of evil by taking authority off political authorities and giving it back to ordinary people walking in the Spirit.

Collapse of Human Government (6) - Principalities and Powers Deposed

Human political power and spiritual warfare are closely related. The concentration of human political power shifst spiritual power towards the “principalities and powers” that fight against us. Without human rulers, their power on earth would be much weaker. When human rulers and empires disappear, their power will totally broken.

Spiritual power and political power go together (Eph 6:12). The leaders of nation have authority to enforce their will on any citizen of their domain. Everyone living in a nation must accept their authority their political rulers. The mayor, the council and the council officers have authority to act on behalf of anyone resident in their town or city. This power and authority creates a distortion of spiritual, because these political leaders are vulnerable to spiritual attack. When they succumb to attack, everyone under their authority is affected.

Spiritual evil follows political authority. When demonic forces attach themselves to a king or president, they become “principalities and powers”, because they have authority over everyone in the nation. Whenever, a political leader is influenced by evil spiritual powers, the people under his authority are vulnerable to the same attack. When we submit to political leaders, we open ourselves up to spiritual forces at work in their lives. Political leaders come under spiritual pressure, because they hold authority over an entire nation. The enemy forces concentrate against them, to expand their power.

Once a principalities or power gains control over a political leader, it has easy access to all everyone submitted to that leader. As the political leader accumulates more authority, the principality that controls him gains greater power over more people (Dan 10:13). If an evil spirit gains control over one person, he can make that person’s life miserable. If the same spirit were to gain control over a king or president, he can control a nation.

Many Christians have an overinflated view of the enemy’s power. Many believe that spiritual forces of evil are almost as powerful as the Holy Spirit. The truth is that Satan’s power is an illusion. By concentrating their attacks on a few powerful people, the forces of evil have leveraged their limited power. Political power has magnified the authority of spiritual evil.

Wherever emperors, kings and presidents have gained authority, evil spiritual forces have united to get control of that authority. When political power evaporates, principalities and powers will be reduced to common evil spirits defeated by the cross. The collapse of political power and authority will leave evil spirits with no place to stand. They will be diffused through society where they are fragmented, powerless and easily defeated. When political leaders lose their power, the spiritual forces that dominate them will be powerless too.

Jesus’ death on the cross was a massive defeat for powers and authorities.

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col 2:15).

Paul described this victory in his letter to the Ephesians.

He raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Eph 1:20).

This is a completed action. Jesus has already ascended into heaven far above all human power and authority—in this present age, so the principalities and powers have already been destroyed.

Collapse of Human Government (5) - Best Government Fails

The people of the world will be disturbed by the fate of the Democratic Beast, because it was expected to be different from other governments. Hopes will be high, because this governent will have been formed by good people with strong Christians support. Expectations will be huge, because it the most democratic government that ever existed. People are not surprised when evil leaders do harm, but the expect democratic government to be a force for good. When this good democratic political power collapses in a morass of troubles, those who have relied on it will be totally disillusioned with political power.

The collapse of the best human government ever will be so horrifying that the people of the world will never trust human political power again. They will be left with no place to turn.

• Confidence in political power will be shaken to the core.

• Human government will be exposed as a false hope.

• Faith in democracy will be annihilated.

• Trust in military force will be shattered.

• Confidence in police and security forces will be crushed.

• The principalities and power will be totally disarmed.

• Political power and control will crumble, collapse and disappear.

• The faith in political power that hides in human hearts will be dissolved.

Collapse of Human Government (4) - Politicians Flee

The disastrous consequences of the Time of Distress and the Big Battle will terminate the confidence political leaders throughout the entire world.

Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (Rev 6:15-16).

The many stars falling from the sky confirms that kings an rulers everwhere will lose their power. Instead of strutting on the world stage, politicians and kings will hide under the rocks and caves. Those who have trusted in political power will be filled with terror.

• Political leaders will flee their offices.

• No one will be willing to take their place.

• The money will be gone and stresses will be huge, so no one will be interested in power.

• The existing political order will collapse in all nations.

As the empire of man is nearing its last gasp, human governments will collapse and evaporate everywhere. When the people of the world see the harm done to their cities and economies by the their leaders policies, they will be furious. Those leaders who are not destroyed by the bombs will be hounded out of office by violent mobs. They will try to escape, but will find no safe place to hide.

People who are trusting their government to provide security and prosperity will be shocked when nothing happens. Those who call on their political leaders to make decisions about the future will find that there is no one there. That will be scary for many people, but they will not be as scared as the politicians themselves.

Collapse of Human Government (3) - Sixth Seal

The opening of the sixth seal describes the collapse of human government and democratic power.

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place (Rev 6:13-14).

These events are not literal. The Old Testament prophets often described the collapse of a great nation in the same language. One exmple is Ezekiel’s descripton of the the defeat of Egypt by the armies of Babylon.

When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light (Ez 32:7).

These words are a graphically describe the collapse of Egypt at the hand of Babylon. The sun continued to shine, but the prophecy about Egypt was fulfilled. Other prophets used similar language to describe the collapse of a nation or empire. They described the collapse of a human government as the sun and moon falling from the sky. Other examples are Is 13:10 and Is 34:4-5.

References to the sun, moon and stars turning to blood or falling from the sky are an apocalyptic description of the collapse of human government and political power.

Collapse of Human Government (2) - Big Battle

The Big Battle will be the “last hurrah” for human government. The Democratic Beast that was supposed to save the world from diaster will collapse into a terrible mess. This great nation empowered to bring peace to the world will be destroyed by the dreadful war that it started.

When Christian prophets speak comfort and salvation to the people of Israel, they will not just speak destruction against the military forces besieging the land. They will also announce the destruction of human government and political empires that have instigated the conflict and dominated the world. Their prophetic declarations are foreshadowed by the declarations recorded in Revelation 18-19.

These prophetic words will release the power of the Holy Spirit to bring down political power throughout the world. When military weapons go haywire and strike back on the armies that launched them, some of this terrible destruction will strike their home cities. Political leaders will be destroyed by their own weapons.

The cities of the nations collapsed (Rev 16:19).

This destruction is described in the book of Revelation.

From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible (Rev 16:21).

John had never seen bombs and missiles. When he saw them in his vision, he described them as huge hailstones, because that was all he knew. The Big Battle will end with bombs falling on capital cities and centres of power throughout the world that have not already been destroyed by economic crisis (Rev 6:5-6) and terrorism (Dan 7:6).

►Collapse of Human Government (1)

The Time of Distress ends when human governments collapse under the weight of their failed programs and broken promises. If their rise to power is grand, their collapse will be spectacular. Faith in human government and political power will be destroyed forever.

Human political power is a huge obstacle to the Kingdom of God, because it undermines his authority by offering false salvation. The spread of democracy has increased this faith. Before the Holy Spirit can bring the kingdom of God to fullness, this widespread trust inhuman political power must be swept away.

For most of human history, the world has been controlled by kings, emperors and sundry political powers. During the last few centuries, various democratic demagogues have taken over this controlling role. Before the Kingdom of God can come to fullness on earth, this human political power must be destroyed. The visions of Daniel and Revelation describe how God will do it.

During the Time of Distress, enormous political authority will be given to a dominant nation in order to bring order during a time of shaking. The season will climax in a great rush of hubris that attempts to create a perfect government and spread its influence throughout the world. However, excess political power always leads to disaster. The grandest endeavour ever will collapse into chaos.

Fullness of Israel (5) - Revelation

John had several vision of the Fullness of Israel.

Then I heard the number of those who were sealed:
144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000 (Rev 7:4-8).

The actual numbers sealed are symbolic not literal. Ten symbolises completes and twelve represents Israel. 12 time 10 squared is a perfect symbol for the fullness of Israel. Twelve is also the number representing the apostles. This passage is a promise that Israel will fulfil the apostolic calling announced to Abraham (Gen 12:3) and Moses (Deut 4:6-7).

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb (Rev 14:1-4).

This is the fulfilment of the sealing seen in the earlier vision. It leads to a powerful advance of the gospel.

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people (Rev 14:6).

The eternal gospel will be proclaimed to all those who live on earth.

Fullness of Israel (4) - Blessing to the World

The calling of the Jews will be a major turning point in history, so Christians should be working and praying for their spiritual eyes to be opened. They should be praying for the Jews to be restored to a place of blessing, so blessing will return to the entire world. (Prayer for the military success of the state of Israel will not fulfil this promise.)

The fullness of the Jews will usher in a time of great blessing for the world.
But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring (Rom 11:12)!

This works in two ways:

1. When the season of Jewish desolation comes to an end, Satan’s last legal authority to work on earth will be gone, so he will be easily routed. As Christians bind his authority, so he will be exposed as weak and feeble. The forces of evil will be shut down by the church that has been purified by suffering, so their abilility to do evil will be massively curtailed. With evil defeated, a major obstacle to the kingdom will be gone. The end of the Times of the Gentiles will bring a rapid decline in evil that opens the way of the Kingdom of God.

2. The Fullness of the Jews does not just bring blessing to Israel, it means “life from the dead" for the church (Rom 11:15). The Jews will be back in the team where they belong. The church will no longer be truncated. The Holy Spirit will no longer be constrained by part of the body of Jesus being missing. With his team complete, the Holy Spirit will have a new freedom to work in the world

But if their transgression means riches for the world,
and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,
how much greater riches will their fullness bring (Rom 11:12).

The Fullness of the Jews opens the way for the rapid advance for the Kingdom of God. God will be free to pour out his Spirit and bring his Kingdom to fulfilment.

Fullness of Israel (3) - How

Many Christians are confused about how the Fullness of Israel occurs, but God’s solution fits the problem. The Jewish problem is "seeing". Paul explained to the Romans that their eyes have been blinded to prevent them from seeing the truth.

God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day. (Rom 11:8).

Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Rom 11:25).

This spiritual blindness lasts until the end of the Times of the Gentiles. The Jews will need to have their spiritual eyes opened and their hearts cracked before they can receive salvation (this is the only way anyone can come to salvation).

Zechariah prophesied that after the nations besieging Israel are destroyed in response to prophetic prayer, God will pour his spirit out on Israel so their eyes are opened to understand that Jesus is their messiah.

I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son (Zech 12:10).

At the end of Times of the Gentiles, the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out on the hearts of all Israel. They will receive a Spirit of Supplication that causes them to cry out to Jesus for salvation. The Spirit of grace will give them faith to receive the salvation that comes through grace.

The Holy Spirit will open the eyes of the hearts Israel to know Jesus. They will stop looking for a warlike messiah and realise that Jesus who died on the cross and "who was pieced" by a spear is their messiah. This realisation will produce a great flood of repentance. As Israel realises that Jesus reigns at the right hand of God and that they have been saved by the prayers in his name, the whole land will be filled with tears. When they realise what Jesus has done for them, they will weep with sadness and joy. The weeping will be greater than when King Josiah died (Zech 12:11-14).

The Spirit moves out after the nations besieging Israel have destroyed themselves.

I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD (Ezek 39:29).

Many Christians believe that the Jews will be converted when Jesus returns to Jerusalem. This is not true. Seeing is not believing. The Jews saw Jesus for three years while he exercised his ministry on earth, but they did not believe in him, because their hearts were hard (Rom 10). Nothing has changed, so seeing Jesus again would not bring them to faith. Israel’s problem is hardness of heart (Rom 10). The only cure for spiritual blindness is the Holy Spirit; he alone can change hearts.

The Jewish people will not come to salvation by seeingJesus return to Jerusalem. Their hearts will be changed when the Holy Spirit moves to open their spiritual eyes.

The fortress will be abandoned and the noisy city deserted till the Spirit is poured on us from on high (Is 32:14-15).

The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire (Is 4:4).

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants (Is 44:3).

The Jews will be converted by an outpouring of the Spirit and the preaching of a prophetic church. This is not a change in game plan. The Jews receive salvation like everyone else, by repenting and believing in Jesus as the Spirit moves.

Crushed and Broken Spirits

On Tuesday morning after the latest earthquake, I went for a walk around our suburb. The streets are usually empty of people and full of cars driving to work and school on a weekday morning. This Tuesday, the streets were full of people, because many work places and schools had not yet reopened. People will out with shovels and wheelbarrows, starting on the task of shoveling silt from their lawns and gardens. Where liquefaction had come up through cracked foundations, people were shovelling sandy silt out of their houses. In a few cases a bit of sewage is mixed in. This was the third time that many had undertaken this task.

I was struck by the number of broken people. Many feel like they have had enough and wanted to move away. Others just did not have the energy to start cleaning up the mess one more time. I have never seen so many shattered spirits. It left me feeling really helpless. I did not know what to say to these broken people.

1. I suppose I could have told them that God loved them, but that would be hard to accept.

2. I suppose that I could have advised them to ask Jesus into their hearts, so they could have perfect peace. But that seemed a bit trite.

3. I could have told them to go to church on Sunday. If the worship service is up to standard, they would get a lift strong enough to keep them going until the next Sunday.

4. I would love to have been able to tell them to believe in Jesus and they would be joining a community of people who love one another and pray for each; a community where people stand together sharing what they have and supporting each other; a community that shovels each others silt. Unfortunately, that community does not exist in this part of the city.

The earthquake is not my real worry. The aftershocks will fade and disappear in less than a year. But that is not the end of distress. Our nation has lost the blessing of God, so there are worse economic shocks and social distress to come. My real worry is that the the body of Christ is almost totally unprepared for the opportunities that lie ahead.

Christchurch Earthquake

On Monday, Christchurch was struck by another serious aftershock, 6.3 on the Richter scale. I was away for the day attending meetings in our capital city, so I missed the shake. My wife was home on her own, but her brother was visiting from another town, when the quake struck. This was good for her, but scary for him, as he is not used to earthquakes. I managed to get home at night, but the flight was a couple of hours late, because the airport had been close for several hours, disrupting flight schedules.

Many of the damaged buildings in the central city area collapsed further. The eastern parts of the city experienced further liquefaction. For some it was worse than in the February quake.

We just had a little bit in the back corner of our section. Only a couple of wheelbarrow loads to remove. No further damage to our house.

Here are some photos that we took when we went for a walk yesterday.

The windows are no longer square

Sunk into the ground.

A room has fallen off the back of the house.

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This mobile generator is providing us with electricity.

Fullness of Israel (2) - The Promise

God’s promise to Israel is most clearly stated in Romans 11. Paul promises that although the Jews have stumbled, they did not fall beyond recovery (Rom 11:11). The time will come when Israel is reconciled to the Lord again.

As far as the gospel is concerned they are enemies on your account, but as far as election is concerned they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (Rom 11:28,20).

Although the Jews became enemies of God by rejecting the gospel, their election is still sure for the sake of the patriarchs. Once God calls a people he does not change that calling (Is 54:10, Jer 31:37).

When the Fulfilment of Israel comes, the vast majority of Jews will come to believe in Jesus. By believing in him, they will move back over the green line into the place of blessing. Paul described this as being grafted back into the olive tree (Romans 11:22-24).

If they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again (Rom 11:23).

They have been shut out for a time, but will eventually come back under blessing of.

Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved (Rom 11:25-26).

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (Rom 11:28-29).

The church and Israel will become one in Jesus.

Salvation will come to the entire nation at the same time. Each individual will have to come to faith, but God will work things so that this happens to most of the nation at the same time. The entire nation will be touched by the Spirit during the same event. Just as the religious and political leaders rejected Jesus (representing their people), the religious and political leaders of Israel will believe and serve Jesus.

The restoration of the Jews is based on a promise of the book of Moses.

The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him (Deut 4:27-31).

Although Israel was dispersed among the nations, God was not breaking his covenant. Their dispersion was the fulfilment of the curses attached to the covenant, so when that punishment is complete, they can receive the blessings of the covenant again. The same warning and promise is given in Isaiah 51:17-23.

►Fullness of Israel (1)

The Fullness of Israel is one of the epochal events that marks the beginning of a new season. Traditionally, this event has been called the "calling of the Jews", but "fullness" is the biblical term.

Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness (Rom.11:12)!

The Fullness of Jews is one of the major turning points in history.

Looking at the history of the Jewish people, it would be easy to believe that God is finished with the people that he once called his own. That is not true. Although the Jews are under God’s judgment for their rejecting their Messiah, the Bible teaches that they will be restored to a place of blessing. This will happen when they acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah whom they have been seeking.

The following diagram shows God's covenant with Israel. To the left of the green line is the curse of the covenant. On the right of the green line is the blessing promised in the covenant. The blue line represents the history of Israel.

The ministry of Jesus is represented by the yellow line. Israel rejected Jesus and passed to the left under the curse of the law (Matthew 23:37-39). Jesus filled the terms of the covenant on behalf of all those who believe in him by dying and rising again, so the church (red arrow) receives the blessing of the covenant. (The new covenant is not really new, but is a fulfilment of the old covenant). As the church grows, the red arrow will become much larger.

The nation of Israel is currently on the left of the green line, under the curse. Although the nation of Israel has been restored, its restoration as achieved "by the sword" (Ezekiel 38:8) by military and political action, not by the direct hand of God. The restored nation will continue being trampled by the Gentiles. However, God has not forgotten Israel. The time will come when Israel is restored to blessing.

When the Fullness of Israel comes, the vast majority of Jews will come to believe in Jesus. Through believing in him, they will move back over the green line into the place of blessing.

Time of Distress (24) - Four Epochal Events

The Big Battle is the epochal event that marks the end of the Time of Distress. Four epochal events mark the beginning of the next season. They open the way for the Holy Spirit to be released to bring transformation of the earth.

• The Fullness of Israel

• Collapse of Human Governments

• The Gospel released throughout the earth

• The Kingdom of God comes.

Time of Distress (23) - Christian Prophets

At the peak of the big battle, God will intervene and bring it to an end.

The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God (Is 52:10).

His arm will be released by his prophets. When Israel is besieged and the people are full over fear, Christian prophets living in Jerusalem will speak out prophetically and warn the nations gathered for battle that they will be destroyed. They will speak judgment in Jesus name. Their prayers will release God’s hand (Is 67:6-7).

Christian prophets will speak to the Jewish people and encourage then to trust in God for their deliverance. They will warn them note to hope in military deliverance. This prophetic message was foreshadowed by Isaiah.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins (Is 40:1-2).

The Christian prophets will announce that Israel spiritual exile has ended. They will promise that Israel will be delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit, not my military force (Zeph 3:14-16). The people of Israel will not believe the prophets, but when deliverance that was prophesied becomes a reality, they will remember their words. They will bless those who prophesied in the name of Jesus. This is the true sign that the Times of the Gentiles has ended.

Look, your house is left to you desolate… until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Matt 23:38-39).

These prophets will have to be scrupulous about timing. They must not announce Israel’s return to blessing, until God gives the word. Some Christian prophets have already disqualified themselves for this role by announcing the end of Israel’s desolation, when God had not spoken. These prophets would have no credibility if they were required to promise deliverance for Israel during a time of great disaster, because they have promised this before and been proved wrong by events.

The prayers and declarations of the Christian prophets will release the power of the Holy Spirit. He will bring the destruction of the political and military powers of the world by causing their weapons to fall back on themselves. There are several reasons ways that he might achieve this goal.

• Atmospheric conditions might make remote controlled weapons go haywire.

• Computers viruses and worms might sabotage the control of weapons.

• The people controlling the weapons might fall into confusion and turn the weapons on themselves.

Every man’s sword will be against his brother (Ezek 38:21).

On that day people will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another (Zech 14:13).

The outcome will be amazing.

• The military forces that are besieging Israel will totally destroy themselves. Their destruction is described in Zechariah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 39:3-5.

• This military destruction will back fire on the headquarters of these nations as well. Their leaders will be destroyed by their own weapons.

The cities of the nations collapsed (Rev 16:19).

The declarations and prayers of the prophets will save Israel from terror.

Time of Distress (22) - Epochal Non Event

One key epochal event does not occur at end the Time of Distress. Jesus does not return at the end of the Time of Distress. He will not return to deliver Israel, as many Christians expect.

• The Time of Distress brings the end of the Times of the Gentiles, not the end of history.

• The next season is the Kingdom of God, which is the work of the Holy Spirit.

• Israel’s greatest need is not military deliverance, but a spiritual awakening. Spirit awakening is the forte of the Holy Spirit.

• Christians hoping to be rescued by the second coming will be disappointed.

• Jesus returns at the end of history to wind up life on earth. He does not return to Jerusalem to reign over a Jewish empire called the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit will bring in the Kingdom of God.

Time of Distress (21) - Valley of Decision

The global struggle between big powers will spill over into Israel. This is often called the battle of Armageddon, but that is a misunderstanding of a single verse in Revelation.

Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon (Rev 16:16).

John did not intend to indicate the site of the big battle, but to explain why it affects Israel. The Hebrew words transliterated as Armageddon refers to the Mount of Meggido, which was seared in Jewish memories as the place where King Josiah died. He was one of Judah’s best kings, but at the peak of his career, he was drawn into in a battle between Egypt and Assyria, and was killed by a random arrow. Jeremiah composed a lament, because his pointless death was a tragic waste for Judah, as it never had a good king again (2 Chron 35:20-25).

The same thing will happen in the big battle. The western Beast and the Islamic powers will be continuing their posturing and Israel will get drawn in. The Islamic nations will decide to invade Israel to gain control of resources (Ezek 38,39). The Beast of the West will already be there (Dan 11:40-45). Significant numbers of mounted infantry will join this battle.

Joel says that will be gathered in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:12). This is not a place but an explanation of what happens. The word Jehoshaphat means “God judges”. This event will bring judgement on the powerful nations.

Joel also refers to the valley of decision

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision (Joel 2:14).
The people of the world will make a decisions about their political and military leaders. The people of Israel will make a decision about Jesus.