The End-times and Prophecy   -     

(acharit-hayamim in Hebrew - literally the end of the days)

(When the olam hazeh (this world / this age) is coming to an end and olam haba (the world to come) is about to begin.  (Complete Jewish Bible)  (according to Webster's New World Hebrew dictionary, olam haba also means Heaven or Paradise)

The Apocalypse    -    The book of Revelation    -    Judgment Day    -    The Last Trumpet    -    The Second Coming  -  Eschatology   

"End-times" are often talked about, referring to prophesies concerning the second coming of Jesus and the end of the world as we know it.   Eschatology is the study of "the last things" or "end things", from the Greek, eschatos which means "end" or "last".  The phrase occurs in the prophecy of Daniel and was picked up by Jesus in his discourse on the Mount of Olives  (Matt 24) in answer to his disciples' question, "When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?".  These themes are developed in the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse.   The pictorial language concerning Judgment Day and the Last Trumpet can be "difficult" but it is consistent with themes in the Old Testament prophecy and tradition.  It is possible to have an unhealthy interest in End Times, but the believer should have a balanced understanding of Bible teaching.  Remember that Daniel was told,  "Go Daniel for the things are closed up and sealed until the end time."  (Daniel 12 v10) but see also Revelation.

The first thing to establish is that anyone who claims to know the date is mislead or lying.  In Luke 21 v7-32 Jesus warns about this and gives some clues of events that will indicate the time is drawing closer.  Obviously we should not be too specific in our interpretation of these signs but we should know to be ready.  See the parable of the bridesmaids in Matthew 25.  ( and also the page on weddings)   Five were alert enough to be prepared and five were not.   

Remember also that Jesus said,  "Look at the fig tree, Indeed, all the trees.  As soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourself that summer is near.  In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you are to know that the Kingdom of God is near!"  Interestingly, the CJB translation continues,  "Yes I tell you that this people will certainly not pass away before it has all happened. . . . ." (Luke 21 v32)  The more common translation of "this generation" is still a possibility, with various interpretations, but "this people" reminds us that God has not finished with the Jews and that they will be there taking their part in these climactic events - so watch for these sprouting leaves!    (See also Lance Lambert - "The Uniqueness of Israel" p72)

The Golden Gate in Jerusalem is blocked up, but Ezekiel chapters 43 and 44 speak of the Eastern gate and the coming Glory of the Lord.  The Jews believe that Messiah will enter through this gate when he comes from the Mount of Olives.

"The times of the gentiles" is mentioned in Luke 21 v24 and in Romans 11.  Israel's recapture of Jerusalem in 1967 suggests that the times of the gentiles are already coming to a close, and that Jesus will return in the lifetime of "this generation".   (Mark 13 v30 )    

The Temple stood on the Temple Mount area that is behind this gate.  Much of what must yet happen centres around the building of the Third Temple, and this is obviously a hot issue in Israel.  

Dr Randall Price, in his recent book,  "The Coming Last Days Temple", gives a very thorough explanation of the pattern of prophecy concerning the Temple, and therefore Israel.  He shows that the words of Daniel,  Jesus and John (in his Revelation) form a clear, consistent and progressive account of what God will bring to fruition.  He shows how the prophecy of 70 weeks in Daniel works out.  (Very briefly,  the weeks are each weeks of years (7 years) and the first 69 worked out as prophesied when Messiah first came;  the clock then stopped, starting the Church Age.  The last week (7years) will commence when the clock re-starts with the Rapture of the Church, and it will end with Messiah's second coming).    The books of Daniel and Revelation are more literal than we imagined.

The Israel and Temple Mount Faithful group is pressing hard towards rebuilding the Temple and re-establishing Temple worship.  Other Jews have different beliefs about rebuilding, and secular Jews fear disturbing the status quo and provoking political conflict.  Opposition from the Muslims is strong, as is to be expected, and they are working on Temple Mount to destroy archaeological evidence of the Temple in support of their claims that it never existed there.  The agencies that should prevent such acts appear unwilling to risk confrontation.  

Reports from Jerusalem say that the works on Temple Mount have caused water to start flowing and in spite of their efforts and use of special pumps it can not be stopped.  (See the references to the river in the table below)

( see Temple / Tabernacle, Books, and  Internet   )

The Dispersion of the Jews which occurred in 70CE can be looked at in the same way as the exiles which happened to Israel  ( Israel and Judah after the division of the nation).   When the exile period was completed, a remnant returned home.  In most cases this was a new generation.  This is what  has been  happening, most strongly since 1948, as Jews are making Aliyah, (going up) from many nations.

Moses prophesied that Israel would fail to keep the covenant and that they would be exiled; but in Deuteronomy 4 v 30 he says,  " In your distress, when all these things have come upon you,  in acharit hayamim you will return to Adonai your God and listen to what he says."     Can this be taken to indicate that the End Times are bound up with Israel's return?

The Jewish Calendar

In Genesis 2 v 1-3 we read that God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh.  He declared the seventh day as a Sabbath for his people.   In 2 Peter 3 v8, we read that " with the LORD a thousand years is as a day", and some believe that the earth will have a thousand year sabbath rest ( see Rev 20 ) after six thousand years of history, in keeping with this principle.

In the Jewish calendar the year 1999/2000 was 5760.   This date is calculated from the creation of the earth.   This was done using all the available information, but omitting any period for which data was not available.  The period of Israel's stay in Egypt contained such a gap, but Archaeologist and Egyptologist David Rohl, working at Pi-Ramases where Israel stayed, has found data in hieroglyphics.  Using this data he calculates that 240 years can be added to the 5760 of the Jewish calendar.    ("Pharos and Prophets" - reported in "israel today"  June '99 issue)

The eight or nine Jubilees

The teachings of Jewish sages Yehuda ben Samuel (1150-1217) and the Gaon of Vilna (1720-1797) include the matter of "eight or nine jubilees" (50 year periods – see Leviticus 25).    The Gaon believed that the Ottoman conquest of Jerusalem was a significant event on God’s clock. According to his calculations, Jerusalem would be occupied for eight jubilees and then a "no-mans land" for another jubilee before returning to Jewish hands. The Ottoman conquest in 1517 was followed eight jubilees (400 years) later, when General Allenby captured Jerusalem in 1917. One more jubilee later, Israel re-united Jerusalem in 1967. This teaching confirms the belief that 1967 marked the beginning of the time of the coming of the Messiah (the end of "the times of the Gentiles")     ( "israel today" magazine December 2003)

The interpretation of these things is up to you, but I would suggest being ready.

Interesting post from Israel found on the Internet.  
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BULLETIN: Orthodox and Hassidic Rabbonim Declare "Time of Jacob's Trouble"
- Reported by ben Yosef - March 22, 2001.

At the Western Wall today and in yeshivas and synagogues and religious schools throughout Israel the sound of shofar blasts, the singing of Hebrew Psalms and cries and tears and wails of repentance were heard in response
to a declaration by the Gedolei Yisrael (Great Ones of Israel) formally recognizing the beginning of the "time of Jacob's trouble."

What is unusual about this year's Yom Kippur Katan is that in light of the 6-month-old Palestinian uprising which has claimed the lives of many Israelis, the rabbis have added the designation as "a time of Jacob's
trouble."

Further it is signed by ALL 27 of the leading Orthodox and Chassidic sages, both the "maranan verabonon" (masters and teachers) and the "gedolei ha-Torah vehaChassidus (Torah sages among the Chassidut)."


Could this be a revelation to these Jewish religious leaders that we are indeed in that time prophesied by Jeremiah: "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it" (30:7)?  

The author is more inclined to the view that Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30 v7) refers to the Holocaust, since subsequent verses talk of God finishing off the nations to which He scattered Jacob/Israel (v11) and bringing Jacob back to the land (v10).   The return after the Holocaust was the first from a scattering to the nations - previous returns had been from exile to just one nation.     

` In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, `I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them.  Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king,  whom I will raise up for them.  

`So do not fear, O Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel,' declares the LORD.  `I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.

Many prophecy scholars believe that "the time of Jacob's  trouble" is synonymous with either the 70th week of Daniel and/or the tribulation.   Time to put our house in order.   Time to break up the fallow ground.   Time to seek the Lord while He may yet be found.

This is the pathway from the Mount of Olives down to the Kidron Valley, joining the road by the Church of All Nations.  It runs straight up the Mount, in line with the Golden Gate.  A geological fault line runs up this path. Zechariah 14 v3   -   Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Some scriptures worth studying

See outline of   Tribulation   and     Rapture

See also   Tribes and Nations

Meggido - the site of many battles in the past, and Armageddon  for the final battle.

Battles of Israel

Revelation can be studied in conjunction with the feast of Tabernacles           (click  Yom Kippur  and   Sukot )

The return from Exile

God's fishermen are doing a good job for those living in hard circumstances, like those who have returned from Russia, but there are still more Jews in the USA than there are in Israel.    What is there to encourage them to make aliyah - to go home to Israel?   It appears to take the hunters to persuade those in affluent lands to go home.   Is the rise in Anti-Semitism that we are witnessing working towards God's end-times purposes to gather His people.

Jeremiah 16 v14-16    "However, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when men will no longer say, `As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,' but they will say, `As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers.  "But now I will send for many fishermen," declares the LORD, "and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks"

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