What’s Next ?

      These events are prophesied to take place before the Second Coming.

Jerusalem and Temple destroyed - Fulfilled - 70 AD

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.  Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’” (Matthew 23:37-39).

They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you (Luke 19:44).

Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in 70 AD when the Roman General Titus and his army (comprised mostly of Syrians) killed over 1,100,000 Jewish men, women and children.

Israel a nation again - Fulfilled - 1948

For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days (Hosea 3:4-5).

Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites (Micah 5:3).

On May 14, 1948 David Ben-Gurion declared Israel's independence.

Mystery Babylon the Great - Superpower - Fulfilled 1991

"Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT … Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages (Revelation 17:1-15).

Today, Mystery Babylon the Great is visible in the world, for all who have eyes to see.

For more  - Mystery Babylon the Great

Beginning of Birth Pains started - Fulfilled - circa 2001 - 2005

Ethnic group will rise against ethnic group, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, pestilences, hurricanes and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains (Matthew 24:7-8).         (When you SEE all these things the Time of the End has started.)

First Seal of Revelation is Open - Fulfilled - 2001

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest (Revelation 6:1-2).

The white horse is assigned to the west, see Zechariah 6:6.

The leader of the West has gone out as a conqueror, determined to conquer in the War on Terror.

Second Seal of Revelation Opened - Future

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword (Revelation 6:3-4).

The red horse is assigned to the East (Zechariah 6:6). A leader from the east will cause World War.  This leader will be given a large weapon or a victory in battle.

Fourth Beast Kingdom of Daniel 7 appears - Future

He gave me this explanation: “The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom” (Daniel 7:23-24).

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast (Revelation 17:12-13).

This kingdom has not yet appeared. However, Scripture provides strong clues to the origin of the Fourth Beast Kingdom and the Antichrist. The prophets say,

Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. … When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. For he says: "'By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings (Isaiah 10:5-13).

I will crush the Assyrian in my land; on my mountains I will trample him down. His yoke will be taken from my people, and his burden removed from their shoulders. This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations (Isaiah 14:25-26).

Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, … I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army--your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops--the many nations with you. … In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. … You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; … I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land" (Ezekiel 38:2-12).

Today, Iran and Iraq occupy the territory of  what was the land of Magog in Ezekiel’s time and the land of Assyria in Isaiah’s time. Therefore, Isaiah’s and Ezekiel’s prophecies may be telling us that Iran and/or Iraq will be the place from which the Fourth Beast Kingdom and the Antichrist will arise. We must “keep watch.”

Antichrist arises to power - Future

He gave me this explanation: “The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings” (Daniel 7:23-24).

And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority (Revelation 13:1-2).

When the Antichrist arises he will subdue three kings then the Fourth Beast Kingdom will have “ten horns and seven heads,” see also Rev. 17:3, 7. Once again, the prophecies provide a clue. The description (like a leopard, like a bear and like a lion) were also descriptions given to Babylon, Medio-Persia and Greece in Daniel’s prophecy.

The first was like a lion, … a second beast, which looked like a bear. … another beast, one that looked like a leopard. … After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast--terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns (Daniel 7:4-7).

This also indicates that the Fourth Beast Kingdom will have its origins in the Middle East, not Europe. Keep watch.

Third Seal of Revelation Opened - Future

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" (Revelation 6:5-6)

The black horse is assigned to the north of Israel [Zechariah 6]. This northern country will cause great damage to the producers of wheat and barley and the cost of a days bread will be a days wages. But some countries will be spared.  Israel for example.

Kingdom of Antichrist destroys Mystery Babylon - Future

The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. … He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price (Daniel 11:36-39).

The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute [Mystery Babylon the Great]. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled (Revelation 17:16-17).

Forth Seal of Revelation Opened - Future

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth (Revelation 6:7-8).

The pale horse is assigned to the south [Zechariah 6] - (Africa) which at the time of this seal will comprise a 1/4 of the world's population due to the previous world wars. Death on the continent of Africa will be great due to war, famine, plague and wild beast.

Third Temple of God will be built - Future

And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him (Daniel 9:27).

His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 11:31).

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

        Antichrist confirms covenant for Israel's peace - Future

He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven' (Daniel 9:27)

We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place (Isaiah 28:15).

It is very likely that there will be one or more peace treaties or covenants before “The Covenant” is confirmed by the Antichrist. It is also likely that the Jewish Temple will be built during one of these earlier covenants. However, no covenant can be “The Covenant” until after the Fourth Beast Kingdom has risen to power and the Antichrist is in power.

Antichrist enters Temple and proclaims himself God - Future

In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him (Daniel 9:27).

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Immediately after the “abomination that causes desolation,” the Great Tribulation will begin.

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. … For then there will be great [tribulation] distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:15-21).

False Prophet enforces the Mark and Antichrist worship - Future

Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. …  He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark (Revelation 13:11-17).

Christ returns gathers Church and establish Kingdom - Future

Immediately after the tribulation of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:29-31).

Conclusion:

Jesus stated, that we will know the general time of His Second Coming when we see all these things.

However, the world will not know, because, the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. But, the Church is not in darkness - so the Day of the Lord will not surprise the Church like a thief.  The Church will know.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled (2 Thessalonians 5:4-6).

Wake up!  It’s time to study about the Second Coming – it’s a message from Almighty God. He has commanded us to “keep watch.” We must learn and teach our children so that they will know.

Jesus expected the Jewish church to know. But, Jerusalem was destroyed and a million people killed because the Jews did not recognize the time of His Coming. What will be the consequences if the Church fails to recognize the time of the Second Coming?  9/11 will be a drop in the bucket. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; ...” (Luke 12:48).

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for the Day of the Lord will not come until after the Antichrist is revealed in the Great Tribulation. 

It will be the saint’s greatest hour, by the grace and power of God.

Richard H. Perry            

Updated: February 10, 2008