Joel Richardson, an end-times author and evangelist to the Islamic peoples in the Mideast, has a great message that plainly lays out “what needs to happen before Jesus can return.” Here are his words, in summary:
From what he has heard and has seen on media, many people believe that we are already IN the final 7-year period leading up to the return of Jesus, or are just about ready to step into those days. (His belief, by the way, is that Jesus returns AFTER the tribulation, not before. See my blogs on these end-time chronologies). His first concern is that well-known prophets of end-times should not “cry wolf” in advance. Since Peter warned that “scoffers and mockers” would come, then we have an important responsibility: We need to nail down the signs that Scripture says will begin that period before speaking on the subject. To say we are already in the last 7 years when we are not, would be to add validity to their scoffing. Even as our nation gets worse, even if profound calamity struck us tomorrow, there is no call for prophesying something unless it lines up with Scripture. He says he doesn’t care if you have an excellent prophetic track record, if you are not subjecting your personal ‘hearing from God’ to the clear guidance in Scriptural prophets, you are in falsehood. You need to study the Scriptures in context first, to honestly bear that responsibility. It wouldn’t hurt to read other excellent authors’ comments too. This is, he says, a reformation that needs to take place within the charismatic and Pentecostal movements.
Now to his main message, the events in Scripture that need to happen just before the 7-year final period and the Lord’s return. First, to those who say “it’s impossible to figure it out from Scripture; even the appearance of Jesus was unnoticed,” he says that Scripture lays out lots of data on Jesus’ birth, and it WAS noticed by many, including the Magi (I have an upcoming blog on how the Magi could tell His time of birth by the position of the stars—they were astronomers as well). It was those that relied on the “traditions of men” who failed to see it.
To get Scripture uncomplicated, we need to look at the Antichrist first. Just before the 7 years, he is called in Scripture the “little horn.” He is prominent, but not yet a worldwide dictator, as he appears later. His real goals are not revealed until the Middle of the 7-year period. He has some political capital, because he is able to swing a 7-year covenant with Israel to protect them, and Israel agrees. So evidently he has some capabilities as either a military or political leader to be able to do that. Scripture calls this a “covenant with death,” because his real motive is to eventually slaughter as many Jews (and Christians) as he can.
That covenant is the key to countdown; as soon as the covenant is made, we’ve begun the 7 years.
I would add that the covenant is unlikely to be in secret; I suspect Israel becomes militarily backed into a corner, or else why would they seek an outsider, particularly one who is only moderately well-known, for protection? They have performed on their own most of the time. In any event, the covenant would probably be world-wide news. Then is the time for prophets to speak out.
The best Biblical passage for this is Daniel 9:27:
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
The “many” is the Jewish leaders, since it immediately connects up with “an end to sacrifice and offering,” a Jewish custom. (PS: This also means Jews will rebuild the Temple for those events, in Jerusalem). Note that it refers to “one week.” The Hebrew term is neutral; it really says, “one seven.” In my end-times blogs I explain how the seven has to be a seven of years. Note in this verse also, that by making a covenant, the Jews perceive him as a friend. But from the middle of the 7 years, he begins to attack them. So his true nature is not revealed until “the middle of the seven,” or the middle of the 7-years. He fools everybody for 3-1/2 years, then betrays the nation of Israel by performing an “abomination” in their sacrificial area of the Temple. What’s that? Antiochus Epiphanes, in 167 BC, sacrificed a pig on a Jewish altar; perhaps this is the time the Antichrist sets up an idol in the Temple.
Prof. Richardson then disputes those covenant theologians who say this prince is not the Antichrist, but Jesus, who stopped the sacrifice because He was the only perfect sacrifice. But in context, considering the evil he does, it cannot be Jesus. Plus, there are three other Daniel passages (8:11-13, 11:31, and 12:11) that speak of the “abomination of desolation,” and scholars are in agreement that they show clear signs of referring to the Antichrist—or Antiochus Epiphanes--and the evil that he will do. No way can Daniel 9:27, on the same subject of the "abomination," suddenly switch and be the opposite person, Jesus. He calls the effort to do that “irresponsible hermeneutics.” That’s taking a verse which doesn’t fit into your concocted system, and manipulating it so it does fit. He sees a hunger to get closer to Christ's return. He is as hungry as anyone for it; it's what wakes him up every day. But not to distort Scripture.
The importance of knowing these things is because Christians will NOT have raptured, but will have to endure the tribulation that will follow this covenant. So we should want to know the chronology. For at least a partial proof (read other blogs for the full argument), I give you a piece of it, in II Thessalonians 2:1-3:
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come (already). 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition
As we have already seen in Daniel 9:27, the "abomination" reveals him and his hatred of the Jews--but that event doesn't happen until the Middle of the 7 years. Since it clearly says that Christians have to endure until this event, we thus cannot expect rapture until at least the middle of the seven years. . In my other blogs, I prove that Scripture says our rapture will be at the end of the 7 years. (See Matthew 24:29-31 for more proof; Note "immediately after the tribulation"). (P.S. Don't let anyone fool you by saying the Day of Christ and the Day of the Lord are two events, and he is speaking about both. The fact, is the two terms are interchangeable for one event--the rapture. Paul was only talking about the rapture here, clearly. He doesn't switch events in mid-topic, which would cause confusion or evasion. So this "two events" idea is just another effort to twist Scripture to follow a false theology.)
The seven years begins with deception, wars, famine and earthquakes--these are called "birthpangs," as in a pregnancy. But then at the halfway point, such as we just read, the Antichrist will attack Jerusalem, revealing his true nature. Then follows the horrible persecutions and martyrdom of slaughtering God's favorites, both Jews and Christians. This is called the "travail," as in the last part of giving birth. Let's go to Matthew 24:15-22, where Jesus elaborates on the middle of the 7 years:
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the [c]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
We see the emphasis in Jerusalem about getting out of town as fast as you can. This might also be a clue to Christians abandoning large cities, to establish villages far away from cities. To become low-tech and self-sufficient. After all, he cuts off the supply of money or credit, unless you worship him, so that means you cannot buy food, or clothes, or pay rent or mortgage. Do whatever you can to keep a loose grip on things of the world; be ready to give them up. You cannot worship the "Beast," as he is also called, to get material things. Angels will testify that it is a ticket to hell for eternity.
In conclusion, he urges us to "cling close to Jesus;" He is our anchor of hope. Look forward to His return; all these material things will fall away; they are small and insignificant in the light of Eternity. Is your life in Him? Will it be heaven--or hell?
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