Endtime Jewishness | Righteous Israel

Endtime Jewishness and Righteous Israel

April 2024

The seven-year period often incorrectly referred to as 'the Tribulation' is the final seven years of 70 seven-year periods of events as explained by the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel.

“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” Daniel 9:24

We know that this is the final seven years because the first 69 seven-year periods ended with the death of Jesus (Daniel 9:26). Only one seven-year period remains.

We know that the final seven-year period has not yet occurred because the final seven years ends with the creation of a righteous Israel beyond any that has ever existed on earth (Daniel 9:24, Isaiah 2:1-5, Isaiah 4:2-6, Isaiah 11:1-16, Isaiah 14:1-2, Isaiah 25:6-8, Isaiah 49:8-26, Isaiah 51:1-16, Isaiah 52:1-12,Isaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 60:1-22, Isaiah 62:1-12, Isaiah 65:17-25, Isaiah 66:7-24, Jeremiah 31:7-40, Ezekiel 37:1-28, Ezekiel 39:25-29, Ezekiel 40:1 – 48:35, Hosea 2:14-23, Joel 3:17-21, Amos 9:11-15, Obadiah 19-21, Micah 2:12-13, Micah 4:1-8, Micah 7:11-20, Zephaniah 3:9-20, Zechariah 8:19-23, Zechariah 9:16-17, Zechariah 10:6-12, Zechariah 13:1-2, Zechariah 14:6-21).

NOTE: Three and a half years = 1260 days = 42 months.

The final seven years is described to Daniel by the angel Gabriel:

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at 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

We may not recognize the beginning of the final seven years. The only event at the beginning of the seven years is a ‘covenant with many.’ This is probably a peace treaty, and it could miss our attention since a number of treaties have occurred with Israel through the years. We will not miss the ‘abomination that causes desolation.’ This will take place at the Temple site and be noted worldwide. The sacrifice and offering that is ended will probably be the spiritual sacrifices and offerings at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the only part of the holy Temple still standing.

When the final seven years do occur, we will know by the ‘abomination’ at the middle of the seven years that the Tribulation caused by Satan and Antichrist is at hand. Jesus speaks of this event in Matthew 24:15. Jesus tells those in Jerusalem at that time to flee. Although very few of those in Jerusalem will have read the Book of Matthew, they will see what is happening, and many will flee (Revelation 12:5). This is the “half of the city” described in Zechariah 14:3 and is speaking of Jerusalem. These Jews will be supernaturally protected and will be in the ‘wilderness’ for 1,260 days (Revelation 12:5, Revelation 12:14). This period of time will take them from the ‘abomination’ to the end of the seven years. These exiled Jews will then return safely to Jerusalem.

In talking to His disciples, Jesus says, “when YOU SEE standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation . . .” (Matthew 24:15) understand that Jesus is not only speaking to his disciples, but that He is also speaking to those of us reading our Bibles two thousand years later. This event is something that the Christians at the time will be able to see, the Rapture will not yet have happened. Paul writes of this same event to the Thessalonian church after they come to think that they may have missed the Coming of Jesus.

“For that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

The man of lawlessness is Antichrist, and he is not positively identified until the time of the ‘abomination.’ The day of the ‘abomination’ is the day Antichrist is revealed. Paul may have thought that the Rapture would happen in his lifetime, but he never thought it was imminent because he knew that the ‘abomination’ had to happen first.

The ‘abomination’ is a Jewish event happening at the site of the Jewish Temple and the existence of the seven-year period is itself a Jewish event (Daniel 9:27). Satan’s Tribulation events will begin (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 6:1-2) and end (Revelation 16:16-21) in Israel. It is clear that the Tribulation does not begin until the middle of the seven years (Daniel 9:27). The ‘Tribulation’ that will begin at the middle of the seven years will begin in Israel with the revealing of Antichrist.

Although the ‘abomination’ happens in Israel, the resulting Tribulation will eventually encompass the entire world, but its focus will continue to be on Jerusalem.

The Book of Revelation from Revelation chapter 5 to Revelation chapter 20 is about the Tribulation. All of the events in these chapters are either caused by the Tribulation or by God’s reaction to the Tribulation. The Heavenly Scroll and its seals introduced in Revelation chapter 5 relates to events revealed in Revelation chapter 6. We are never told what the Scroll says.

There are some people who believe that Jesus is causing Tribulation events to happen as He opens the seals (Revelation 6:1-17). This cannot be. It should be obvious to unbiased readers that the events seen at the opening of the first five seals could not be caused by God. This is most obvious in the opening of the fifth seal. At the opening of this seal we see martyred Christians. They call out, “How long, Sovereign Lord holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood” (Revelation 6:10). God allows suffering and martyrdom for reasons we may not understand, but He does not cause them.

So what is this sealed Scroll? Although we are never told, a reasonable guess could be that it is the deed to the earth. We know that deeds in ancient Israel were sealed (Jeremiah 32:14). A document with seven seals would indeed be a very important document. Scrolls have been found with multiple seals, but the seals are all on the outside of the scroll. All of the seals must be broken before the scroll can be opened. We know that this very important Scroll because of its seven seals. The seven seals are almost surely around the whole Scroll such that all seven have to be broken before the Scroll can be opened. This is even more likely as we are told that the Scroll is written on both sides (Revelation 5:1).

Picture copied from the Internet article at:

http://mdrministries.com/author/admin/page/34/.

As Jesus opens the seals on the Scroll, we are shown scenes that are happening on the earth.

1.The opening of the first seal reveals Antichrist going forth to conquer whatever he can, including the Land of Israel (Revelation 6:1-2).

2. The opening of the second seal shows the world at war. (Revelation 6:3-4).

3. The opening of the third seal shows famine. This is a result of the war that Antichrist has started (Revelation 6:5-6).

4.The opening of the fourth seal reveals death by war, famine, plague, and wild animals. This also is a result of the war that Antichrist has started (Revelation 6:7-8).

The opening of these four seals is the beginning of the Tribulation that Satan and Antichrist will unleash upon the world. These first four seals will be opened almost simultaneously as they all relate to Antichrist and his actions.

5. The opening of the fifth seal shows Christian martyrs crying out to God to avenge their death. This is the first sign that God’s people are especially targeted. In a flashback episode in Revelation chapter 12, we see that Satan’s first target is the Jews. When he cannot reach the Jews, he attacks the Christians. We are not allowed to forget that the Jew are God’s people and that they are the ‘apple of God’s eye’ (Zechariah 2:8).

6. The opening of the sixth seal strongly implies the Appearance of Jesus. Up until this time, no indication is given that anyone other than the martyred Christians are concerned about God. Suddenly, a great earthquake and a number of heavenly signs occur to get the full attention of the population of the earth. These are not the Wrath of God, just an introduction to the Wrath that is coming. The Wrath of God will begin shortly. People are running to hide from the Father and the Son. They are calling down rocks to fall on themselves (Revelation 6:12-17).

We cannot discern the exact timing of the opening of seals five and six, but we know that they happen after the ‘abomination’ and before the end of the seven years. We also know from Matthew 24:29-31 that the Rapture occurs at the Appearance of Jesus. We know this because Jesus said it (Revelation 24:30-30, Revelation 24:40-41). We also see the Raptured Christians in Revelation 7:9-17.

We see the sealing of the 144,000 Jews immediately after the Appearance of Jesus. This is an extremely important event that will play out over the next several chapters of Revelation.

The Appearance of Jesus and the events accompanying the Appearance will be seen worldwide (Matthew 24:27). At the Appearance of Jesus, Jews throughout the world who have not taken the mark of Antichrist will suddenly realize that Jesus is their true Messiah. The 144,000 sealed Jews, the Jews who escaped from Jerusalem on the day of the ‘abomination’ and Jews in Israel and throughout the world will put their faith in Jesus and believe that He really is Who He said He was all along. These Jews will receive Salvation by faith in Jesus the Messiah just as have some Jews and Gentiles have from the beginning of Christianity.

7.The opening of the seventh seal is not shown until Revelation 8:1. We see another earthquake (Revelation 8:5), probably much greater than that at the opening of the sixth seal. We also see the beginning of the seven Trumpet Judgments. These are the beginning of God’s Wrath. Up through the opening of the first five seals, Satan and Antichrist largely could do whatever they desired. Now Satan, Antichrist, and the sinful world will have to face the consequences of their actions. As is the case with seals 5 and 6, we cannot place the timing of the opening of seal 7 except to say that it follows the Rapture and will probably occur almost immediately after the Rapture. It will happen after the ‘abomination’ and before the end of the seven years. We will find that the Wrath of God will continue to and beyond the end of the seven years.

We know that Satan’s Tribulation exists in Israel only three and a half years (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5). No seven-year Tribulation is found in the Bible.

The Tribulation begins with the abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 9:27) and will end for Israel when it reaches the end of the seven-year period. We know that the Tribulation ends for Israel at the end of the seven years because that is when righteousness comes in according to the angel Gabriel (Daniel 9:24).

Revelation chapter 11 is a chronical of the entire three and a half years following the abomination. An occupying force of Gentiles will “trample the city” (Jerusalem) for 42 months (Revelation 11:2). Two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days (Revelation 11:3). Both the occupation by the Gentiles and the witnessing of the two prophets last the full three and a half years from the abomination until the end of the seven years. The two witnesses will be given special powers to protect themselves and to cause problems for the occupying forces (Revelation 11:5-6).

We also know from Malachi 4:5-6 that Elijah will be sent to Israel sometime before the Day of the Lord (the Wrath of God). John the Baptist acted in the same respect when Jesus was on earth as Elijah will act in the time before the Wrath of God (Matthew 17:11-13). Just as John the Baptist prepared the people of his day for the ministry of Jesus, Elijah will prepare the people of Israel during the Tribulation for the Second Coming of Jesus. We are not told whether or not Elijah is one of the two witnesses in Revelation chapter 11, but we do know that the 144,000 sealed Jews (Revelation 7:4-8) are prepared to immediately follow Jesus after His appearance. They will not have been redeemed before the coming of Jesus or they would have been raptured with the Christians, but they will immediately recognize that Jesus is Messiah as soon as Jesus appears and the Rapture occurs at sometime during the last half of the seven years. Their preparation is very likely because of the ministry of Elijah. It is most probable that many other Jews in Israel, the ones that did not escape into the wilderness (Revelation 12:6), will be encouraged by Elijah to accept Jesus as Savior and Messiah after His appearance and to resist the mark of Antichrist.

Revelation chapters 12 and 13 are flashback chapters to the beginning of the Tribulation. Revelation chapter 14 continues the chronology from Revelation chapter 11. Chapter 11 ended the seven years and chapter 14 shows the birth of righteous Israel immediately after the end of the seven years. This new and righteous Israel has been born in a single day (Isaiah 66:7-11, Zechariah 3:8-9).

Since the seven years have ended, righteous Israel will be established as can be seen by the presence of Jesus and the 144,000 Jews in Jerusalem (Revelation 14:1). These Jews are the firstfruits of righteous Israel (Revelation 14:4). The flashback Revelation chapter 12 tells us of a large number of people who will escape into the wilderness when Israel is invaded at the middle of the seven years (Revelation 12:6). These will be supernaturally protected from Satan and Antichrist for 1,260 days, that is, until the end of the seven years. They will then return home to what will now be righteous Israel and we can also assume that they will have been keeping track of what is going on in the world. They will have experienced the Appearance of Jesus (Matthew 24:29-30) with the rest of the world, and they probably will have accepted Jesus as Savior and Messiah just as the 144,000 sealed Jews did.

If any enemies that remain in Israel, they will be driven out or killed by righteous forces of Jesus (Zechariah 10:4-5, Zechariah 14:14).

The Bible also indicates that after righteous Israel is established, it will attack some of its ancient enemies who have not repented of their hatred of the Jews (Isaiah 41:12-16, Jeremiah 49:2, Ezekiel 25:14, Obadiah 18, Micah 4:13, Micah 5:7-9, Zephaniah 2:9, Zechariah 10:5, Zechariah 12:6, Zechariah 14:14). We know that these listed battles must yet be future since there has been no time in the history of Israel when they could have happened after these prophecies were given. We are not told how long Israel will be fighting after the establishment of righteous Israel; but this fighting will be finished by the time of the separation of the sheep and the goats as none of God’s enemies will be left on earth after that time (Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 13:37-43).

“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.” (Zechariah 12:6)

The new righteous Israel will be populated by those Jews from throughout the earth who have not taken the mark of Antichrist and who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Messiah. Scriptures listed at the beginning of this article also tell of Jews from throughout the world that will be brought to Israel. There will also be some foreigners who will be granted land in righteous Israel (Ezekiel 47:22).

Zechariah 13:8-9 suggests that only a third of the Jews alive at the beginning of the Tribulation will actually populate righteous Israel.

After the end of the seven years, the Tribulation will be over for the Nation of Israel, but must last a little longer in the Gentile nations. Israel will be shielded from the effects of both the Tribulation and the Wrath of God, but the Gentile Nations will have to live with both. After righteous Israel is born, Antichrist will be a weakened leader. He will have lost much of his control and will be facing revolt from many individuals who have not taken the mark of Antichrist. The entire world will have experienced the Appearance of Jesus and will have been aware of the Rapture. The entire world will also have seen the resurrection of the two witnesses, probably on Antichrist’s own worldwide media. More and more people without the mark of Antichrist will be seeking and receiving Salvation through the Sacrifice of Jesus. They will be urged to understand that it is better to die in the service of Jesus than to live in the service of Antichrist (Revelation 14:9-13).

Antichrist will surely continue to try and convince the world that he can still win the battle with God; but most people left on earth will realize that Antichrist has lost any possibility of winning. Antichrist will realize that his only chance for victory is a dramatic retaking of Israel. He will collect his armies from throughout the world to undertake a vast assault against Israel. Individuals who have taken Antichrist’s mark will realize that their only sliver of hope is to continue to follow Antichrist and to win the coming battle. All other roads for those with the mark will lead to Hell.

Antichrist's grand assault will be the Battle of Armageddon. We see the gathering of Antichrist’s troops (Revelation 14:17-20) and the battle itself at various places in the Bible (Revelation 16:16-20, Ezekiel 38:21-23, Ezekiel 39:2-6, Zechariah 14:12-15, Revelation 19:19-21).

In the Ezekiel account of the Tribulation, the Tribulation is shown but not dwelt upon (Ezekiel 38:10-16). Gog is the person of Antichrist. We are not given any certainty as to Gog’s identity or his home country. Gog is said to be prince of Meshek and Tubal (Ezekiel 38:3). Their names are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:5 so that we know that their heritage is in the line of Japheth; so Gog is probably a white male. The Bible does not follow this heritage line and there is no way we can positively identify it in advance. By the time of the Battle of Armageddon, Antichrist will lead most of the world (Revelation 13:8). Some countries that had been enemies of Antichrist prior to the appearance of Jesus will have united to stand against God.

God’s reaction to the revolt of the world can be dramatically seen in Psalm 2.

This account of the Battle of Armageddon in the book of Ezekiel goes on to give us an idea just how huge this battle will be. It will take over seven months to bury the bodies, even as the birds and animals feast on the remains. Even after the seven-month cleanup of bodies, the finding of bones and debris will take still longer to complete (Ezekiel 39:12-16). The fuel and debris from the battle will be used for fuel by the people of Israel for seven years (Ezekiel 39:9-10).

In the Book of Daniel we are told of two time periods beyond three and a half years. These periods are 1,290 days and 1,335 days. These periods are 30 days and 75 days after the end of the seven years. The thirty days are likely the time between the end of the seven years and the Battle of Armageddon. This would give Antichrist sufficient time to rally his forces to try to retake the newly formed righteous Israel.

Thirty days will also be sufficient for God’s angels to pour out the seven bowls of Gods Judgment (Revelation 16:1-17). Anyone without the mark of Antichrist will be shielded from the first of these Judgments (Revelation 16:2). Whether or not those without the mark will be shielded from the remainder of the Judgments is not told to us.

After the extra 30 days of Daniel chapter 12, we still have another 45 days to account for. We know that at least some Gentile nations will be allowed to continue into the Kingdom of Jesus because many of the Bible passages proclaiming a righteous Israel also speak of the nations. Even existing nations will need to be reorganized and will probably be under new leadership. This process will probably begin during this 45 day period. We also know that the separation of the sheep and the goats will take place (Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 13:36-43). The wording in Daniel 12:12 implies that people still on earth after the 1,335 days will continue into the Kingdom of Jesus.

Returning to the Book of Ezekiel, we find in chapters 40-48 a description of the righteous Israel. We are given a complete description of a new Temple. The landscape of the Temple area is unfamiliar to us at this time, but remember that the earth has undergone a number of world-wide earthquakes that will completely transform the topography of the world. Although we know that Jesus will serve as both King and Priest (John 18:33-37, Hebrews 7:11-28), we find that Ezekiel speaks at length about the ‘Prince’ of Israel (Ezekiel 45:7), and he is not speaking of Jesus. There will be a ruling Prince serving under King Jesus who will be in charge of the civic Nation of Israel. Although Jesus is both King and Priest, there will also be priests serving at the temple and over the spiritual aspects of Israel. These priests will be descendants of the priest Zadok from the time of David and Solomon (Ezekiel 44:15).

In Zachariah 12:9-14 we find that after the enemies of Israel have been destroyed, there will be a time of reconciliation between Israel and Jesus.

“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.” (Zachariah 12:10)

God promised Abraham that through his offspring all nations on earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). This promise was fulfilled through Jesus. We find in Isaiah 66:19-21 that righteous Israel will send people to act both as missionaries expanding the knowledge of distant people about God and will also bring distant Jewish people to the new Israel.

As righteous Israel is blessed by God, the Gentile nations will be subservient to Israel as can be seen in many of the passages in this section including that quoted below. As mentioned above, both sin and death still exist.

Isaiah 60:1-12

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

“Lift up your eyes and look about you:

All assemble and come to you;

your sons come from afar,

and your daughters are carried on the hip.

Then you will look and be radiant,

your heart will throb and swell with joy;

the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,

to you the riches of the nations will come.

Herds of camels will cover your land,

young camels of Midian and Ephah.

And all from Sheba will come,

bearing gold and incense

and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.

All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you,

the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;

they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,

and I will adorn my glorious temple.

“Who are these that fly along like clouds,

like doves to their nests?

Surely the islands look to me;

in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,

bringing your children from afar,

with their silver and gold,

to the honor of the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has endowed you with splendor.

“Foreigners will rebuild your walls,

and their kings will serve you.

Though in anger I struck you,

in favor I will show you compassion.

Your gates will always stand open,

they will never be shut, day or night,

so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations –

their kings led in triumphal procession.

For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish;

it will be utterly ruined.

Although righteous Israel will be established immediately after the end of the seven-year period, this will still not be a perfect world. Sin and death will still exist as shown in Isaiah 60:1-12 copied at the end of this article. As various nations serve Israel, there will also be the possibility of resentments and jealousies among those nations. In Revelation 20:7-10 we find Satan released for a short while and able to raise an army of people on the earth to attack Israel. Satan and his army will quickly be disposed of by God (Revelation 20:9). Only then will true perfection come; only then will death and sin finally be eliminated (Revelation 20:14, 1 Corinthians 15:26).

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