Author: jdwvaw2

The antichrist will not be a normal world leader. He will have come to power through intrigue and deception. He will have the ability to do this because he has been given full authority by the “god of this world”, Satan himself. “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.” (Revelation 13:2). God also grants him this time (Daniel’s 70th week) and authority. “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue and nation.” (Revelation 13:7). God will use him as part of his judgment of evil on the earth as well as an instrument to test His people.

It’s easy to see why the world will be enamored with this man. With the help of his ten-nation confederacy, he will wipe out the oppressive control “Mystery Babylon” had over much of the earth. “And the ten horns you saw on the beast , these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked and burn her with fire.” (Revelation 17:16). Newly possessed by the “beast from the abyss” he will be successful at killing God’s two witnesses who had tormented the earth bringing much joy. “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 11:10). His political and economic systems will likely solve many problems providing peace and safety as well as addressing food and medicine shortages at least for a short time. That assumes, of course that one takes his “mark” of allegiance associated with his name. He will also present himself as a miracle worker. “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” (2Thessalonians 2:9). His ultimate miracle will likely be his dramatic recovery from a normally fatal wound, mimicking Christ’s resurrection. “….and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” (Revelation 13:3)

Yes, the world will be totally deceived! “So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying ‘who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ “ (Revelation 13:4). As the time of his rule advances into the second half of Daniel’s 70th week his evil nature concerning all mankind will emerge for all to see, but then, it will be too late for those who followed him.

Fortunately, for believers in Christ, God has given us this warning, describing this man in detail so we won’t be deceived. Unfortunately, many, even in the Church, will fall for his deception. The apostle Paul called it a “great falling away” (apostacy) as the man of sin is being revealed. (2Thessalonians 2:3).

Saints, this is why a basic knowledge of end-time scriptures is so important. And even more so as we see the day approaching. Your eternal life depends on it!

Maranatha, Jim

The word “woe” was apparently one of Jesus’s favorite words as He is quoted in the Gospels using that word 31 times. It’s a Greek word ouai translated as grievous sorrow or distress. Jesus used it mostly to castigate the Jewish lawyers, Scribes, Pharisees, and other hypocrites in general. Sometimes He used it to admonish towns or areas, such as Chorazin and Bethsaida for their non-acceptance of His preaching.

In Revelation the word is used by an angel when describing to the apostle John three specific “woes”. These warnings of coming woes arise when the final three trumpet blasts are sounded announcing the three final bowl judgments poured out on the earth from God. “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” (Revelation 8:13b). The first woe (fifth trumpet) is detailed in chapter 9 where Satan is seen cast out of heaven, opening the bottomless pit (abyss), and releasing demonic beings including the destroyer (king of the abyss). This results in great torment of mankind and the killing of the two witnesses. “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows his time is short.” (Revelation 12:12). “One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.” (Revelation 9:12). The second woe detailed in chapter 9:13-21 describes a horrific world war starting in the Euphrates River area that kills one third of mankind, nearly three billion people! That’s sixty times the death toll of World War II. “The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” (Revelation 11:14). The third woe is, of course, the last trumpet announcing the final bowl judgment from God which includes the largest earthquake the world will ever experience, great hailstones upon men, the battle of Armageddon, and ending with the coming of Jesus to establish His Kingdom.

While the first four trumpet/vials will affect primarily nature (created things- vegetation, seas, rivers, the sun, and the heavens) in turn affecting mankind, these last three “woes “are poured out on mankind directly. That is why they are treated separately. Collectively, they partly fulfill the woes pronounced by Jesus during His ministry on earth. Needless to say, this will not be a pleasant time on the earth for the unrepentant. For those of us who belong to our Lord Jesus, it should not be a time of woe but of rejoicing as we see the day of His coming is at hand.

Maranatha, Jim

Here’s a quote from Amos that you need to underline in your bible. “Surely the Lord does nothing, unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7). The Hebrew word translated “surely” means indeed or doubtless. This is God’s M.O. He is trustworthy and can be counted on to do this every time. Isaiah puts it this way; “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:9). Prophesying about Judas’s betrayal, Jesus told His disciples; “Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.” (John 13:19). Also, when speaking of His death and resurrection, He told them this: “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.” (John 14:29).

Every God-determined event from the flood in Noah’s day till the final judgment at the great white throne at the end of the millennium is layed out for us clearly in scripture so that we will not be surprised but anticipating them. God’s not keeping any secrets from us. Those few things that are yet to be revealed as we enter last days events will surely be given to us ahead of time by God’s messengers such as the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11. This truly is God’s M.O. A typical example is found in Genesis before God was set to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He asks a rhetorical question of those angelic beings with Him; “And the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” (Genesis 18:17). The unstated but obvious answer is “of course not.” God doesn’t do anything in secret without letting His people know ahead of time. “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him.” (Psalm 25:14). Even if some prophecies in scripture may seem difficult to understand, they will be made clear to you if you’re watching, studying, and have an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the Church. Jesus sent a Helper for that very purpose. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth; and He will tell you of things to come.” (John 16:13)

If you’re expecting God to spring an unexpected surprise on you, or if you’ve been told of some secretive event soon to be carried out by our Lord, your expectation is in vain. It’s just not how He does things. He always lets us know ahead of time. It’s His M.O.

Maranatha, Jim

Immediately after the tribulation, Jesus Himself will sound a great loud trumpet dispatching His angels to gather His elect to Himself at the first resurrection. (Matthew 24:29-31). This will mark the beginning of His millennial kingdom reign on this earth. “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31). Paul says it this way: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Also “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

I believe this “last trumpet” also marks the beginning of another significant end time event. The announcement of the final Jubilee year. Consider this: The prophet Isaiah writing in the context of the coming millennial kingdom referred to the “acceptable year of the Lord” “when “liberty would be proclaimed to the captives”. (Isaiah 61:1-3). Jesus Himself declared that He was the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4;18-19). This is surely referring to the future announcement of a Jubilee year, the final Jubilee year. The year of Jubilee as detailed in Leviticus chapter 25 does just that, giving liberty to the captives. After seven sabbaths of years (49 years); “Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement, you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you.” (Leviticus 25:9-10)

If Jesus is returning at the start of a Jubilee year, then it will be the final Jubilee, and the trumpet announcing the Jubilee will coincide with the trumpet blown by our Lord when He gathers His elect. Since no other trumpet is subsequently sounded, it follows logically that this jubilee trumpet is the “last trumpet” referred to by Paul as quoted above. Following this logic even further leads to the conclusion that Jesus’s return (second coming) will occur on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Tishri 10, when this last trumpet is sounded throughout the land. This also means that Daniel’s 70th week will begin on that same date, and that the abomination of desolation, set up in the middle of the week, will be at Passover (3 1/2 years from the start of the 70th week).

Whether these observations are accurate, only time will tell, though the reasoning appears to be sound. Another heads up to add to your last days watch list. Keep studying. Keep watching. We live in exciting times!

Maranatha, Jim

Two of the most misinterpreted verses in the New Testament are John 14:1-2. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (NKJV) The typical interpretation usually sounds something like this: ‘I’m going to heaven where my Father is and I’m going to prepare a dwelling there for each of you, so that when you die, you’ll reside with me in heaven’. But is that really what Jesus is saying? Let’s examine these scriptures using sound hermeneutics allowing scripture to interpret scripture and considering context and the original intended audience.

Let’s start with the term “My Father’s house“. It is used directly only once elsewhere in the New Testament and is also found in the gospel of John. “And He said to them who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!'” (John 2:16). The NIV uses the same term when Mary and Joseph were searching for their son: “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house? But they did not understand what He was saying to them.” (Luke 2:49). So, we see that these references are clearly to the temple in Jerusalem. Old Testament references also back this up. The temple in Jerusalem is frequently called “the house of the Lord” or “the house of God” or something similar. Therefore, Jesus was not referring to some place in the spirit realm, but to the physical temple when using the term “My Father’s house”. This is certainly how Jesus’s immediate audience (the disciples) would have understood Him.

The word “mansions” could be translated simply as rooms or abodes. This fits well with the temple complex, as there were many rooms on site to house the priests who were serving there. A little earlier, Jesus had told His disciples that they would serve with Him as priests judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have foll0wed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28). (Also, Luke 22:30).

Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for them. (where He was going, they could not come; Matthew 13:33,36). Where He was going that they could not follow was to the cross to provide redemption for them followed by a short visit after His resurrection to the heavenly temple carrying His own blood into the holy of holies as the ultimate sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:11-12). That’s what prepared the “Way” for them to attain to the place designated by Jesus. He then spoke of His second coming when He will reign on the earth from the temple in Jerusalem. That’s when He’ll receive them to Himself so they can be where He is, residing in the priestly rooms of His glorious temple, judging the twelve tribes.

Be sure to look up all the scriptures I quoted above. I believe they will help you properly interpret John 14:1-2. Jesus is not in heaven building condos for His people as some interpret these verses.

Maranatha, Jim

When discussing His second coming and all the events that signify the Parousia is near, Jesus told His Apostles: “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” (Luke 12:35) (NIV). Referring to those in authority, He added this: “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the Master puts in charge of His servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the Master finds doing so when He returns.” (Luke 12:42-43). Reading on, we see the fate of the unwise manager who is not giving his charge their food at the proper time. “The Master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect Him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12:46)

The “wise managers” Jesus is referring to in these passages are those in teaching responsibilities in the Church such as, Pastors, church elders, bible study leaders, any whom our Lord has given authority for teaching His Word. “Food”, of course, means the substance of His Word as it appears in our Bible. “At the proper time” refers to the season when these end-time signs and events are beginning to occur. I personally do not doubt that this season is upon us. Your pastor or teaching authority should be currently preparing you for the tribulation to come very soon. Most Christian pastor/teachers adequately address salvation through the Blood of Christ but ignore eschatological topics for a variety of reasons. However, this is not the season to ignore end-time study. A period of unprecedented evil is just ahead of us, and we need our “food” to properly prepare. I would not want to be one of those pastors whose flock is unprepared when Jesus returns. It will not end well for him. If you are reading this and determine that you are not getting timely teaching about last-day’s events, approach your pastor respectfully and question him as to why. Feel free to share this blog with him or any other resource that might help to direct his path. You might consider giving him a copy of the book “Last Days Events-Sequence and Synchrony” found here: Last Days Events: Sequence and Synchrony by Weinert, J D (amazon.com)

Maranatha, Jim

In chapter 17, the prophet Isaiah penned a very clear prophecy concerning the Syrian city of Damascus. “The burden against Damascus. ‘Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap.’ ” (Isaiah 17:1). These bible prophecies always come to pass with certainty. The question is, has this already happened in the past or is it a future end-time event? Some bible commentators say it does indeed have a past fulfillment as described in 2nd Kings. “For the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it, carried its people captive to Kir, and killed Rezin.” (2 Kings 16:9). This verse, however, makes no mention of destruction of the city itself. It certainly did not become a “ruinous heap”, nor did it “cease from being a city”. In fact, Damascus is listed as one of the oldest cities on earth to have been continuously inhabited, if not the oldest. We know from the bible that Damascus existed in the time of Abraham. “But Abram said, ‘Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ “ (Genesis 15:2)

Currently, Damascus is surviving, though it is a war-torn city. It’s been under seemingly constant attack since the establishment of modern Syria in 1920. It survived wars with France in 1920, 1925, and 1945. Also, three wars with Israel in 1948, 1967, and 1973. It survived an Islamist uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood which began in 1979. Then, there was the Lebanese civil war starting in 1975 that resulted in Syrian occupation of Lebanon from 1990 to 2005. All of this and more is now followed up by a Syrian civil war in an attempt to expel the current dictator Assad. This civil war started in 2011 and is still ongoing. Today, it’s allies include Russia, Iraq, Iran, and Hezbollah. Russia has a military presence there, and Iran uses Syria as a conduit to ship arms to Hezbollah in its fight with Israel. As a result, Israel is continually bombing targets in and around Damascus to stop Iranian arms shipments.

Results of all of these wars have left large sections of Damascus in rubble, but the city in its entirety is not completely a “ruinous heap”. This leaves only one conclusion; Isaiah 17 is describing a future complete destruction of Damascus. While it’s certainly possible this could happen before Daniel’s 70th week, it’s more likely to occur after the release of the four horsemen of the apocalypse at the beginning of the tribulation, or the sixth trumpet war that kills one third of mankind. Considering this late date, I would not want to establish a residency in Damascus!

Maranatha, Jim

Our Lord does not keep us, His people, in the dark concerning what He is about to do. Throughout history, He has imparted the knowledge necessary to understand the times we are living in for those who seek it. Some examples: “the sons of Issachar had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” (1 Chronicles 12:32). They perceived that the Lord’s will was that David be installed as king of all Israel. Elsewhere; “Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times….” (Esther 1:13). King Ahasuerus knew whom to trust for godly advice. Further, the wise men from the east (Magi) understood the significance of Jewish prophecy and at the appropriate time journeyed to Jerusalem and asked the people; “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2)

Concerning this present time, the prophet Daniel records this: “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:9-10). Make no mistake, those with Godly wisdom will not be surprised by anything God is doing in these last days. They will have complete understanding of the nature and timing of end-time events. So that begs the question; who among you is wise? I can tell you confidently, it’s not those educated by the world’s standards. (1 Corinthians 2:6, 14). Wisdom that is true begins with “fear of the Lord” and followed by a humble heart and mind open to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Yes, as the Holy Spirit tells us of things to come and guides us into all truth (John 16:13), He will give us wisdom and understanding to discern the times. He gave us His book, lives in us, and has the mind of the Father.

Don’t let anyone tell you that we can’t understand end times prophecy. If they do, they’re just plain wrong.

Maranatha, Jim

Jesus was bluntly critical of His Jewish brethren for not recognizing the time of His first coming. He castigated them for their lack of spiritual discernment. “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘a shower is coming’: and so, it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘there will be hot weather’: and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:54-56). In fact, their failure to know the time of His coming resulted in the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy temple in 70 AD. “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:42-44).

Unquestionably, they had plenty information at their disposal to verify the advent of their Messiah. Consider the following:

The angelic visitation to the shepherds around Jerusalem announcing the Messiah’s birth.

The public prophecies of Zacharias, Simeon, and Anna around the time of Jesus’s birth.

The visit of the Magi from Babylon who saw the star of Jacob in Babylon, indication of the birth of the Jewish Messiah. Their arrival caused a public stir in Jerusalem coming to the attention of the religious leaders, and even Herod.

The public ministry of John the Baptist who was revered as a prophet and witnessed to all about the One coming after him.

The precise prophecy in Daniel that Messiah would come 69 “weeks” after the going forth of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:25). This would have been very easy for the scholars of that time to determine.

All of the above and more, not to mention the 3+ years of ministry from Jesus Himself.

No doubt, they should have known, and were judged for not determining that time. This begs the question-are we able and even required to discern the time of His second coming? The answer, though it may seem contradictory to much modern teaching, is a resounding yes, definitely! Scripture is very clear. We need to study prophetic scripture, watch for the clear signs given us by Jesus and the prophets, and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us about things to come. (John 16:13). Jesus Himself directed us to read and understand the prophecies in the Book of Daniel (Matthew 24:15), gave us the Book of Revelation, and commanded us to watch: “And what I say to you I say to all: Watch!“(Mark 13:37).

It’s apparent to me from my study of the prophetic scriptures that we are given and will be given much more information related to the timing of His second coming then the Jews had for His first coming. We have, in addition to what they had, the New Testament, broad infilling of the Holy Spirit, and soon coming ministries of messengers from God such as the two witnesses of Revelation 11. We are now in a position to determine the “season” of His return and will soon be able to determine a precise date once certain prophecies such as the “Abomination of Desolation” are fulfilled. For more information about discerning the time scroll down to the permanently linked article “Discerning the Time of Jesus’s Second Coming.”

Don’t cause Jesus to think of you as a hypocrite! Study the prophetic scriptures to show yourselves approved and to prepare for what’s just ahead. And watch as Jesus commanded.

Maranatha, Jim

We know for certain that the ministry of the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11 will be for a period of 3 1/2 years. “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3). We also know from context that this will take place during Daniel’s 70th week, often called the tribulation. But when exactly during this seven-year period will their ministry take place? It’s important for us to know this so we can be prepared to positively identify them and follow their warnings and instructions. It seems the majority of prophecy teachers have settled on their ministry happening during the last half or the last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week. The evidence for this, however, is quite weak IMO.

There is a verse in chapter 11 that, I think, solidly nails down the timing. “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.” (Revelation 11:7). The word for “that ascends”, underlined above, is a present participle that is properly translated “ascending“. Ascending coupled with the word “when” gives us the timing. While (when) ascending out of the bottomless pit, the beast kills the two prophets. This “beast” is none other than the destroyer named Abaddon or Apollyon who inhabits the antichrist. His release from the pit and possession of the antichrist occurs at the midpoint of the tribulation when the antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation. Therefore, we are safe to assume that the two witnesses are killed mid-trib, placing their ministry during the first half of the 70th week. Also note that there are two “woes” to come following their death making their ministry during the second half of the week impossible.

This observation is of great importance to Christians living in these last days. What this means is that the very next event in God’s eschatological timeline that will be patently obvious to us just may be the appearance of these two prophets from God. It is critical that we know the who, what, why, and where about these men from God. For an in-depth study of these two witnesses, I devoted an entire chapter (8) to these prophets in my new book “Last Days Events-Sequence and Synchrony”. It can be found here: Last Days Events: Sequence and Synchrony by Weinert, J D (amazon.com)

Maranatha, Jim