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Ezekiel | God's Throne | The Law | Judgment in the temple | Marked | Warning |  | Millennium | Heaven
Daniel | The Beast | Little Horn | Sanctuary Cleansed | King of the North | Time of Trouble | Heaven
Isaiah | - | Babylon | Warning | War | Desolation | Heaven
Jeremiah | - | Babylon | Warning | War | Desolation | Heaven
Joel | - | Rain | War | Harvest | Heaven
Zephaniah | - | Remnant | Desolation | Zion
Habakkuk | - | Babylon | Warning | Wrath of God | Salvation
Malachi | Elijah | - | Messenger of the Covenant | Purifies | Salvation
Micah | Rejected | Israel Rejected | Besieged | Accepted | The Curse on the Land | Salvation
Zechariah | The Scroll | 4 Horse men | Measuring Line Woman in judgment | Build God's House Build her house | Rain | War | Judgment | Mount of Olives

12 Tribes | 722 | Assyria takes 10 tribes | 2 Tribes of Judah | 609 | Babylon | 539 | Medo-Persia
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Obadiah | Joel | Jonah | Amos | Hosea | Nahum | - | Daniel | -
Elisha | - | Micah | Zephaniah | Habakkuk | - | Ezekiel | - | Zechariah
- | - | Isaiah | Jeremiah | - | Haggai | Malachi

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Hosea (Hoshaia) Joel (Yoel) Amos Obadiah (Hoshaia) Micah Nahum (Nachum) Habakkuk Zephaniah (Tzefaniah) Haggai (Chaggai) Malachi Balaam Zechariah Jonah Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Elijah
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Hosea (Hoshaia)
Hosea was a prophet at the beginning of the Assyrian captivity. He was told to marry Gomer, a prostitute, so that his life would be an example of the choices of the Lord. This prophecy is interesting because it predicts that those who were carried off by Assyria are not lost tribes as they have been described. He will find and gather the lost ten tribes at the end of days.
He makes a distinction between Israel and Judah, promising that they will both return to God in the last days on "The Day of Jezreel".
Deliverance of Israel (The Ten Lost Tribes)
God calls Hosea to make his life a pattern of God's life with Israel. These ten northern tribes were totally wiped out and lost, leaving only Judah in the south. Judah was carried off and regathered from Babylon. Hut this prophecy seems to be waiting for a time when Judah will be carried off forever, joining Israel in exile. Then God will gather the twelve tribes. This occurred at the crucifixion, when Israel killed their first born son.

- Ephraim. In many verses the prophet uses the name of Ephraim instead of Israel. Ephraim is a symbol of the Gentile church who will be part of the twelve tribes. They are specifically part of the lost ten tribes who were integrated into the Gentile nations and whose mother was an Egyptian. So, when the prophecies predict that Israel (Ephraim) will be reunited with Judah, it is predicting that the Jewish and Gentile branch of the churches will be reunited under the name of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- A Wife. God had married a prostitute when He had joined Himself to Israel.
  Marry a Prostitute. When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord. (Hosea 1: 2)
- Illegitimate Children. This unfaithful wife would have children that prophesied how Israel will be judged.
  - Jezreel (Son). He would punish Jehu and end Israel. The children of Israel and Judah conceived and bore a Son, Jesus Christ, while they were playing the harlot with Rome. Then they killed this son.
    . ... name him Jezreel, for yet a little while and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. (Hosea 1: 4)
    After this, Judah is delivered. Christ was resurrected as King from the tribe of Judah.
  - Lo-Ruhamah (Daughter). The church is seen symbolically as a woman. Then Gomer had a daughter on whom God would have no compassion. This is because Israel would be cut off from the covenant.
    » The Weaning of Lo-Ruhamah. Then she had a son when the daughter was weaned. This weaning was probably the same event that weaned Christ at the cross when He formally separated Himself from His mother and became the sin offering on whom no compassion was shown. A female sin offering was also given for unintentional sin.
  - Lo-Ammi (Son). They were not His people and He was not their God.
    Becoming A People. Yet the number of the sons of Israel will be like the sand of the sea. which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it is said to them, "You are not My people", it will be said to them, "You are the sons of the living God." (Hosea 1: 10)
    This might represent the Gentiles. They were not His people but they would become His people.
    » Ammi and Ruhamah (My People Compassion). Our names are changed when we become His people.

  Scattered | Gathered
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  Jezreel | Lo-ruhamah | Judah Delivered | Lo-ammi | Ammi | Ruhamah
  Punish | No Compassion | Not My People | My People | Compassion
  Youth (Grabbed Brother's Heel) | Maturity (Contended with God)

- Judgment and Mercy. The children should appeal to their mother, because her husband is willing to call her wife again.
  No More Feasts. And I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will rescue her out of My hand. I will also put and end to all her gaiety, her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths and all her festal assemblies (Hosea 2: 10)
  After the crucifixion God put an end to the feast system. They were changed to reflect what was done at the cross. Even though our joy was complete when we realized that our sins were forgiven, yet our joy still ceases when we realized that God is the Lamb that we killed and ate at these feasts. So, although the feasts are a time of celebration, they are a solemn celebration.
  In the Wilderness. Therefore behold I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her. Then I will give her her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, and in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. It will come about in that day, declares the Lord, that you will call Me Ishi [husband] and will no longer call me Baal [master]. (Hosea 2: 14-16)
  Like Israel on the exodus, God will bring us into a wilderness experience. There, stripped of everything, He will be all we need.
- Messianic Prophecy. This prophecy is also a timeline of how God afflicts and restores His children.
  Three Days of Affliction. Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us but He will heal us; He has wounded us but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him.
  Raised at Dawn. So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
  The Holy Spirit Comes. And He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth. (Hosea 6: 1-3)
  The Lord was torn on the day of crucifixion, wrapped and bandaged for burial on Sabbath, revived on the third day and rose at dawn on Sunday morning.
  The Lord Withdraws. Moreover the pride of Israel testifies against him, and Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity. Judah also has stumbled with them. They will go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them. (Hosea 5: 5-6)
  The New Church. They have dealt treacherously with the Lord, for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their land. (Hosea 5: 7)
  The moon is a symbol of the church, and a new moon is the beginning of a new church. Because Israel was unfaithful, God called the Gentile church and they persecuted and devoured Israel and the land.
  Jesus Returns to Heaven. I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face. In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. (Hosea 5: 15)
  Jesus will return when Israel recognizes Him and repents (Matthew 23: 29). It will occur during a time of great affliction.
  Mob of Raiders. And as raiders wait for a man, so a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem. Surely they have committed crime. (Hosea 6: 9)
  A band of priests came with a mob to take Jesus from Gethsemane.
  A Trial by Fire. For their hearts are like an oven as they approach their plotting. Their snger smolders all night, in the morning it burns like a flaming fire. All of them are hot like an oven, and they consume their rulers. All their kings have fallen, none of them calls on Me. (Hosea 7: 6-7)
  Jesus was in a trial all night, which gre worse in the morning when the priests handed Him over to Rome to be crucified. They had consumed their rulers.
  From Egypt. When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. (Hosea 11: 1)
  Like Israel, Jesus was called out of Egypt as a child.
  The Yoke of Christ. I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love. And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws and I bent down and fed them. (Hosea 11: 4)
  Like a donkey, tied to the yoke of the cross, He bent down and carried their burdens and He fed them.
  Judah Fights Against God. The Lord also has a dispute with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways and will repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his maturity he contended with God. Yes he wrestled with the angel and prevailed. He wept and sought His favor. He found him at Bethel and there He spoke with us. (Hosea 12: 2-4)
  Jesus was "bruised in the heel" on the cross, because Judah contended with Him on the day of the crucifixion.
  - Youth. When Jecob grabbed his brother's heel it was the same prophecy as Dan biting the heel and Satan brusing the heel of the Savior. So it refers to the life and death of Jesus Christ when He gave up his omnipresence.
  - Maturity. At the end of time, when Jacob repents and is renamed Israel, the nation will wrestle with God in Bethel, "the house of God". It is in the sanctuary where we will find God.
  Consumed by Wild Beasts. So I will be like a lion to them, Like a leopard I will lie in wait by the wayside I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lioness, as a wild beast would tear them. (Hosea 13: 7-8)
  God uses the symbols of the oppression of Judah by Babylon to Rome in Daniel 7.

The Deliverance of Judah and Israel.
Hosea wrote to both the northern and southern tribes about their gathering in the last days.

- After 2000 Years. Hosea 6: 1-2 prophecies about the affliction of both the Messiah and Israel.
  The Messiah fulfilled this prophecy in three literal days. However, the nation was not revived in 2 years or 200 years. So we have to look at the longest time period of 2000 years.
  Israel was revived after 2000 years of scattering (Diaspora) and they will be resurrected at the Second Coming during the third millennium. There is no concept of a "lost ten tribes" to him. Writing to the captives of Assyria in 722 BC, he said that they would be revived and raised up between 1300 and 2300 AD. The remaining tribes of Judah were scattered between 70 and 136 AD. They should be gathered around 2000 AD.
  The land of Israel was formed in 1948 and millions of dispersed Jews returned. The raising of Judah on the third day might even refer to the days after the Millennium when a King from the tribe of Judah will be on the throne of David again (2070-3070).
- Peace. Judah is delivered by the Lord, not by war. The Lord Jesus Christ delivered them with His life's blood in the garden of Gethsemane.
  Deliverance by Peace. But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen. (Hosea 1: 7)
- Gathering. For many years, Israel was without access to their God, but they will be gathered at the end of time.
  Over 2700 Years. For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. (Hosea 3: 4)
  End of Time. Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days. (Hosea 3: 5)
- Reunion. All the tribes will be reunited under the Messiah.
  A Leader. And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and they will go up from the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel. (Hosea 1: 11)

Joel (Yoel)
He was a prophet before the invasion of Assyria and Babylon. So his message is appropriate for people who must prepare for the siege by the enemy or the persecution. For a righteous people, this must include a message about putting on the armor of God. This is the coming of the Holy Spirit. For the disobedient people it is a message about how to live in adversity. Ancient Israel was disobedient. The people of God in the latter days will be obedient.

Before The Millennium
The desolation begins as the harvest is ruined.
» The Invasion. Awake, drunkards and weep. And will, all you wine drinkers, on account of the sweet wine that is cut off from your mouth. For a nation has invaded my land, mighty and without number, its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the fangs of a lioness. It has made my vine a waste and my fig tree splinters. It has stripped them bare and cast them away. Their branches have become white. (Joel 1: 5-7)
» The Lost Harvest. The field is ruined, the land mourns; for the grain is ruined, the new wine dries up, fresh oil fails. The seeds shrivel under their clods. The storehouses are desolate, the barns are torn down, for the grain is dried up. (Joel 1: 10, 17)
This is the picture of the desolation of Israel when they were rejected in favor of the Gentiles.
» The Apostasy. Be ashamed, O farmers, Wail, O vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley. Because the harvest of the field is destroyed. The vine dries up, the fig tree fails, The pomegranate, the palm also and the apple tree, all the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up for the sons of men. (Joel 1: 11-12)
The church was invaded because it became drunk with wine. The barley and wheat harvest occurred at the crucifixion and Pentecost. The harvest of Jews failed because they rejected Christ. The wheat and barley harvests were lost because of apostasy. Then the church went through a summer drought that lasted 1260 years. You can read about it in the lesson on the seven seals. The fruit harvest is also in danger of being lost. Historically, this is when these events occurred.

Barley Harvest | Wheat Harvest | Summer Drought | Fruit Harvest | Reaping
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| Crucifixion |  | Early rain | 1260 Year Papal Domination |  | Latter Rain | Second Coming

No Fruit. Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. (Matthew 21: 43)
Dead Tree. As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. (Mark 11: 20)
» Repentance, Fasting and Mourning. Gird yourselves with sackcloth and lament, O priests. Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come spend the time in sackcloth O ministers of God, for the grain offering and the drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God and cry out to the Lord. Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near. And it will come as destruction from the Almighty. (Joel 1: 13-15)
» The Revival. Although the harvest has been lost by apostasy and through invasion, God will perform a miracle to restore the harvest after we repent.
Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, and with fasting weeping and mourning. And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil. Who knows whether he not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, even a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God. (Joel 2: 12-14)
» Fruit Harvest Restored. The Lord will answer and say to His people, Look, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied in full with them. And I will never again make you a reproach among the nations. (Joel 2: 19)
But the fruit harvest can still be saved if we repent before the reaping or the day of the Lord comes.
» The King of the North (Babylon the Great). But I will remove the northern army far from you, and I will drive it into a parched and desolate land, and its vanguard into the eastern sea and its rear guard into the western sea. And its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up, for it has done great things. (Joel 2: 20)
In the last days, Babylon the Great is the northern army. They will be in Israel. The United States has constructed major bases in Israel. God will separate Israel and the United States.
» The Rain. This is the coming of the Holy Spirit. But to save the fruit harvest God sends both the early and latter rain. This makes up for what was lost during the drought.
So rejoice, O sons of Zion, and be glad in the Lord your God. For He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, the early and latter rain as before [in the first month]. The threshing floor will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. (Joel 2: 23-24)
In One Month or The First Month or At One Time. This phrase is translated in many ways. But at one time, the Jews (Israel) will receive the benefits of the former and the latter rain. The symbols merge the harvest from two seasons. The moon is a symbol of the church. So this will be during the reign of one church (Laodicea). And it could be during Tishri, the month of the harvest which is also the first month of the civil year. It predicts the return of the Jews during the same time that the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.

- Early Rain ("Wheat Harvest"). At Pentecost, it was a crop of Jews who came to God. This will be repeated again at the same time as the Latter rain, during the full moon phase of the church of Laodicea.
  - Grain. The spring harvest. Barley was gathered at Passover and wheat at Pentecost.
- Latter Rain ("Fruit Harvest"). The final harvest of the world is brought in.
  - New Wine. It was gathered in the late summer and early fall. It is the final martyrs.
  - Oil. It was gathered in the fall. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

» The Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings gifts that are used to gather the harvest. It both changes us and multiplies us. We are changed internally as we develop the fruit of the Spirit. We also multiply as others join us.
It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind. And your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2: 28-29)
After He restores the dignity of the Jews, the greater portion of the latter rain will follow.
» The Nation of Priests. God restores the dignity of every group after the crucifixion. He showed the disciples that the Gentiles were acceptable in a vision to Peter and in giving them the powers of the Holy Spirit.
Here, Joel also shows us in his vision that the Holy Spirit will show that God has approved of everyone as His priests by giving them supernatural powers. There are no limits on women, chidren, the young or the old, the rich or the poor.
One in Jesus Christ. For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3: 26, 28)
This is because the Levitical priesthood only prophecied about one Jewish Man born in Israel between the age of 30 and 50. Now, the Melchizedek priesthood makes all believers a nation of priests.
» Signs. I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth. Blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. (Joel 2: 30-32)

The Curse | The Day of the Lord | Heaven
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Locusts | Fasting, Weeping | Earthquake. Sun, moon, stars | Rain | War | Northern Army Destroyed | Harvest Reaped | Peace
Armies | Trouble Begins | Asian Earthquake | Latter Rain | War | Babylon the Great Destroyed | Second Coming

In the multi-layered fulfillment of the prophecies, these great signs in the sky happened at the end of the eighteenth century after the curse of the 1260 year persecution. But we will see the same pattern again just before the latter rain. Then Babylon the Great will be destroyed after the wars in the Middle East escalate.
» All Israel Returns. The reproach of Israel will be removed and they will return to the Lord when the Spirit is poured out. This is the same prophecy as Zechariah 12.
Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and have pity on His people. (Joel 2: 18)
For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land. (Joel 3: 1-2)
Both Israel and the Christian church were scattered among the nations.
» The Land Is Divided. In the truce agreement following the war after the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, Jerusalem was divided between Israel in West Jerusalem, and Jordan in the Eastern part of the city including the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. The city of Jerusalem remained divided until the six day way on 5 June 1967 when Israel captured the Golan Heights, Gaza and the West Bank, allowing them to control and unite Jersusalem for the first time since 136 AD. Since the Muslim temple is on the temple mount, there is still a religo-political division of the land and future peace talks are leaning towards dividing up the city of Jerusalem - a major stumbling block for peace.
Other parts of the land that Israel once occupied are still controlled or disputed by Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Jordan now has the land east of the Jordan river that belonged to the tribes of Reuben, Manasseh and Gad. Lebanon has most of the land of Asher. Syria had most of the land of Manasseh and claims the Golan Heights which Israel took in the six day war. Egypt and Gaza has part of the land of Simeon.

The Sixth Plague And After The Millennium
» War and Judgment. Proclaim this among the nations, Prepare a war, rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers come near. Let them come up! Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, "I am a mighty man". Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down, O Lord, your mighty ones. Let the nations be aroused and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. (Joel 3: 9-12)

Sit In Judgment | Prepare War | Mighty Ones | War | Wicked Surround Righteous | Punishment
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Second Coming | Sixth Plague | Jesus and Army | Interrupted | Wicked Living At The End | Seventh Plague
Third Coming | After Final Court | Jesus and Saints | Armageddon | All Wicked Angels and Humans | Hell Fire

This preparation for war in the Battle of Armageddon could apply to the sixth plague as well as the time after the final judgment. However, certain features point to the sixth plague.

- Prepare War. This is the Battle of Armageddon which begins in the sixth plague and ends after the final judgment with hell fire.
- Plowshares To Swords. The warriors make weapons from their implements of peace.
- Bring Mighty Ones. The mighty ones are brought down at the Second Coming when Jesus Christ brings the armies of heaven to judge and wage war.
  And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. (Revelation 19: 11, 14)
  The mighty ones are also brought down for the final judgment at the Third Coming when God returns with all the saints, angels and armies of heaven to live permanently on earth.
- Sit In Judgment. The nations surround the righteous in the middle of the judgment of the plagues before the Second Coming. They surround the righteous again for war after the Third Coming and after the verdict of the final judgment. The Lord sits in formal judgment after the Third Coming when all the wicked humans and angels who have ever lived have been raised to life or taken from prison. Then God executes them forever.
- The Valley Of Jehoshaphat. The name means, "The LORD judges". It is supposed to be the valley that is between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem. It is here that the final judgment of the wicked takes place.
  In context, this is the phase of the Battle of Armageddon that occurs after the final judgment. The wicked nations will come to make war with God. In contrast, the righteous will come in peace.
  And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples. And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war. (Isaiah 2: 4)

Every time the wicked army attacks, it comes from the north. Babylon the Great, the last earthly empire, is also described as the king of the north. The nation of Gog comes from the north and surrounds the New Jerusalem. So with one description and one title, God describes all phases of the final work of Satan during the day of the Lord. Isaiah refers to Satan as the king of Babylon.
You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army. (Ezekiel 38: 15)
» The Wicked Harvest In The Valley Of Decision. Put in the sickle for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3: 13-14)
The great events of the end of time force the world to consider the question of the existence of God. The natural disasters, the miracles of the latter rain and the strange turn of events cause men to choose life or death.
After the Second Coming, there are two harvests. The wicked are stomped in the wine press and then burned.
And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even to the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (Revelation 14: 17-20)

Amos
Amos writes about the events on the day of the Lord.

- Darkness. There was three hours of darkness beginning at noon on that day.
  Darkness on the Day of the Lord. And in all the vineyards there is wailing, because I will pass through the midst of you, says the Lord. Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light. (Amos 5: 17-18)
  Darkness at Noon. It will come about in that day, declares the Lord God, that I will make the sun go down at noon and make the earth dark in broad daylight. (Amos 8: 9)
- Bribes. The priests bribed Judas and He was arrested at the gates of the Garden of Gethsemane and turned aside to an ordeal of judgment and wrath.
  Bribes. For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, you who distress the righteous and accept bribes and turn aside the poor in the gate. (Amos 5: 12)
- Silence. Jesus was silent during the unjust trials.
  Silent. Therefore at such a time a prudent man keeps silent, for it is an evil time. (Amos 5: 13)
- Earthquake. There were two earthquakes during this time, one at His death and the other at His resurrection.
  The Earth Shakes. Because of this will not the land quake and everyone who dwells in it mourn? Indeed, all of it will rise up like the Nile, and it will be tossed about and subside like the Nile of Egypt. (Amos 8: 8)
- The Crimes Of The Rich And The Merchants. In Revelation 18 the rich merchants are punished. In Amos we see the same behavior.
  Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land, saying, When will the new moon be over, So that we may sell grain, and the sabbath, that we may open the wheat market, to make the bushel smaller and the shekel bigger, and to cheat with dishonest scales, So as to buy the helpless for money and the needy for a pair of sandals, and that we may sell the refuse of the wheat? (Amos 8: 4-6)
  Jesus was the helpless poor who was trampled on, bought with money for the price of a slave. They even ignored their customs about the Sabbath to hold their unjust trials.
  - Hatred For The Sabbath. The wicked hate any situation that prevents or reduces opportunity for making money.
  - Dishonest Scales. The merchants cheat on the quantity. In the old days it was a faulty scale. In our days it is with air filled products, fillers, thick coating of cheap product, packaging and deceptive pictures on the package.
  - Smaller Bushel. They will cheat on the units of measure. In our day the practice is done by deceptive packaging and fluctuating unit prices.
  - Bigger Shekel (Gold Coin). They manipulate the economy so that their money is worth more. This can also be done by making more money buy less. If the currency is gold then it means that the inflation will cause customers to give more gold for less product. When they have hoarded all the gold then its value will once again be too expensive for the poor to acquire in quantities that will make a difference.
  - Buying People (Slavery). The poor are so devalued that not only is classical slavery fluorishing, but there is no living wage or reasonable security.
  - Buying People For The Price Of Shoes. Rich people regularly buy clothes and shoes that they will wear once for a price that is much more than the weekly salary of their maids. Shame!
    How could you buy a pair of shoes for $500 and give a person $350 per week for 40 hours of work?
  - Selling The Refuse Of Wheat. The poor are sold the worst quality food at the highest possible prices. This is my experience with poverty. The same supermarket chain will sell old, infested, mouldy food at very high prices in poor neighborhoods. While in richer neighborhoods, the stores are clean, the quality is better and the prices are much lower. If we cannot have prettier stores, at least we deserve to pay the same money for the same quality food?
    » Garbage For The Poor. Growing up on the islands in the former colonies we learned to eat ox tail, spines, pigs feet, chicken feet, chicken necks and insides, animal intestines and weevil infested corn meal. I thought that this was normal until I saw steak and wondered what was all that thick red stuff that looked like muscle. Living in America years later someone went looking for these items in a supermarket and was told that these are things that slaughter houses threw away. Then I realized that the colonial empires were not only giving us their garbage but their stale and expired products.
  The result is that God will send darkness and earthquake as punishment.
  The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob, Indeed, I will never forget any of their deeds. Because of this will not the land quake and everyone who dwells in it mourn? Indeed, all of it will rise up like the Nile, and it will be tossed about and subside like the Nile of Egypt. It will come about in that day, declares the Lord GOD, That I will make the sun go down at noon and make the earth dark in broad daylight. (Amos 8: 7-9)
- Mourning. Jesus was the Son for Whom they will mourn at the Passover festival. At the end of the Day of the Lord, when they finally recognize the Son whom they rejected, it will be a bitter day according to Zechariah 12: 10 also.
  Then I will turn your festivals into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring sackcloth on everyone’s loins and baldness on every head. and I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and the end of it will be like a bitter day. (Amos 8: 10)
- House of David Restored (Amos 9: 11-15. These prophecies are discussed below.

Obadiah (Hoshaia)
When Christ was on this earth, the house of Herod were the ruling kings placed on the throne by the Roman occupiers. The Heroidians were not Jews. They were Edomites or descendants from Esau. Obadiah is one of the prophecies that predict the rule of Esau over Jacob at the time the temple will be destroyed. This was fulfilled in two ways as they ruled during the destruction of Jesus, the spiritual temple and the second temple.
King Herod the Great tried to kill the baby Jesus. Although He found Him innocent, King Herod II Antipas ordered Jesus to be beaten and they placed the crown of thorns on His head and sent Him back to Pilate to be crucified. King Herod Agrippa 2 was the ruler when the second temple was destroyed.

- Stolen Treasures. After the destruction of the temple, the Romans looted the temple treasures. However, the greatest hidden treasure that was taken from the land was Jesus Christ. They did not appreciate Him or understand who He was.
  Hidden Treasure. O how Esau will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures searched out! (Obadiah 1: 6)
- Roman Allies. The house of Herod became rulers over Israel because of an agreement made with Rome. In the end they exiled King Agrippa 2 to Rome after the Jewish revolt in 70 AD.
  Alliances. All the men allied with you will send you forth to the border, and the men at peace with you will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.) (Obadiah 1: 7)
- Violence To The House of Israel. The Heroidians helped the Romans to destroy Jesus, the temple, the city and over one million Jews. The house of Herod was cut off forever.
  The Fall of the House of Herod. Because of violence to your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame, and you will be cut off forever. (Obadiah 1: 10)
  King Herod was there to unjustly try Jesus and return Him to the Romans where the Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus' clothes. He stood aloof by refusing to release the innocent man and passed the responsibility back to Pilate.
  Ignored Responsibility. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth, and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem - you too were one of them. (Obadiah 1: 11)
  Boasting. Do not gloat over your brother's day, the day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah in the day of their destruction; yes, do not boast in the day of their distress. (Obadiah 1: 12)
  Loot Wealth. Do not enter the gate of My people in the day of their disaster. Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity in the day of their disaster. And do not loot their wealth in the day of their disaster. (Obadiah 1: 13)
- Ambushed Jesus. They captured and imprisoned Jesus at the gate of the Garden of Gethsemane and sent Him to be cut off by the Romans.
  Captured Survivors. Do not stand at the fork of the road to cut down their fugitives; and do not imprison their survivors in the day of their distress. (Obadiah 1: 14)
- Revenge. Our enemies are the authors of their own punishment. Whatever you have done to us or planned to do to us will be returned to you many times over.
  Annas, Caiaphas, their children and the people suffered the same fate as Christ in two Roman attacks in 70 AD and 136 AD.
  Revenge on the Nations. For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head. (Obadiah 1: 15)
- The Burning Of The Temple (70 AD). The revolt of the Jews created the conditions that caused the temple to be burned. When the scepter of Judah was given to Jesus, He combined the scepter of Judah with the scepter of Joseph. This prophecy predicts that both the Jews and Christ as the new king will punish the house of Herod.
  Edom Burned. Then the house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame.
  Herod's Temple. But the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, so that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken. (Obadiah 1: 18)
  » Herod's Temple Is A Stubble. In an amazing "physical fulfillment" of this prophecy, this temple can be seen as the "house of Herod". When this Edomite took control of the nation of Israel by an appointment from Caesar, Herod the great went on a building spree to ingratiate himself with the Jews by completely renovating the temple in 19 BC in the eighteenth year of his reign. By the time of Jesus the temple had been under construction for 46 years and had been completed just before its destruction. The actions of the Jews was the fire that lit the house of herod, turning it into a stubble.
  The Eternal House of David. The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom will be the Lord's. (Obadiah 1: 21)
  When Jesus returned to heaven after the resurrection, the scepter was given to Him and taken away from Herod. These prophecies apply as warnings about the future revenge on the nations as the text suggests.

Edom And The House Of Herod
The prophecy of Obadiah is one of many prophecies about Edom and how they treated Jesus on the day of the crucifixion. The temporary supremacy of the descendants of Esau was foretold in the blessing given to him. At some point Esau will tear off the yoke of Jacob.
The Yoke of Jacob Removed. ... but it shall come about when you become restless that you shall break his yoke from your neck. (Genesis 28: 40)
But when the yoke was broken, Esau ruled over Jacob.
The following prophecy is remarkable because it describes the exact political dynamics at this time.
In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David and wall up its breaches and I will also raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old. That they may possess the remnants of Edom and all the nations who are called by My name declares the Lord Who does this. (Amos 9: 11-12)

- The Fallen Booth Of David. The monarcy of the house of David had fallen under foreign occupation and corruption.
- Esau Rules Over Jacob. The remnants of Esau will take over the land of Israel.
  Therefore, thus says the Lord God, "Surely in the fire of My jealousy I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with scorn of soul, to drive it out for a prey." (Ezekiel 36: 5)
- Rebuild The House Of David. Jesus Christ took over the monarchy permanently, including the Gentile nations who want to join in.
- Raise Up The Ruins. This is both a picture of the resurrection of Christ and the monarchy of David.
- Possess The Remnants Of The Edomites. The house of Herod had taken over the house of David during the time of Jesus Christ. Some believe that when the Jews were driven out in 70 AD and 136 AD that the Edomites who were in league with the Romans took over the land. Their descendants are the Palestinians. Now Israel does rule over the Palestinians.
- Possess All Christian Nations. Somehow Israel will be the leader among the Christians. These are the nations called by His name.
- The Nation Of Israel Restored. Israel will one day return to the land and will never be uprooted again. This must occur after the last diaspora in 136 AD and it cannot possibly be a spiritual fulfillment about global Israel (Jews and Gentiles) because the Gentiles were never uprooted from the land.
  Israel Belongs To The Jews. "I will also plant them on their land, and they will not again be rooted out of their land which I have given them", says the Lord your God. (Amos 9: 15)

After the resurrection, Christ became the High Priest and the King. These images are about the activities of the high priest at the laver as he prepares to enter the temple barefooted.

- Esau Is A Footstool. When the Messiah takes His scepter as King of kings and enters the temple as the High Priest, Esau is one of His enemies who will become His footstool.
  Moab is My washbowl, over Edom I throw My shoe; Shout loud, O Philistia because of Me! (Psalm 60: 7)
  The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, "Rule in the midst of Your enemies." (Psalm 110: 1-2)
- The Burning Of The Temple. Esau is charged with rejoicing at the burning of the temples.
  Remember O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, "raze it, raze it to its very foundation." (Psalm 137: 7)
  They were rejoicing when Babylon burned the first temple. King Agrippa 2 was ruling when the second temple was burned. However, Herod Antipas allowed the innocent Christ, the true temple, to be destroyed. It was his soldiers who beat Christ and dressed Him in a purple robe and a crown of thorns and gave Him back to Pilate to be crucified. He transferred the crown to the rightful heir!
- Edom Helped Israel's Enemies In The Day Of Disaster. Herod cooperated with Rome and the priests to crucify Jesus. The temple was burned and Agrippa 2 was exiled, ending the Herodian dynasty (Obadiah 1: 18).
- The Permanent Desolation. This prophecy is astounding in what it implies. The real home of Israel is with God. The stolen birthright was returned to Esau and it will be a desolate ruins for ever.
  Millennium. Edom will become an object or horror, everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss at all its wounds.
  The Son of Man. Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah with its neighbours, says the Lord, no one will live there nor a son of man reside in it. (Jeremiah 49: 17-18)
  Jesus did not live there after the crucifixion and He will never live there again. In fact, He will destroy it and create a new heave and earth and a New Jerusalem. So between the crucifixion and the Third Coming, God considers this a desolate place and a horror.
  Jordan. Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against an enduring habitation. For in an instant I will make him run away from it,
  Gentiles. and whoever is chosen I will appoint over it. For who is like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherd who can stand against Me? (Jeremiah 49: 19)
  Jesus is the one who cam from the Jordan after His baptism. In an instant, at the cross, He turned away from it and the Gentiles were appointed over it.
  Second Coming. Behold He will mount up and swoop like an eagle and spread out His wings against Bozrah; and the hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart if a woman in labor. (Jeremiah 49: 22)
  He will leave like an eagle and return like an eagle.
- The Man From Edom. Isaiah also predicts that the Messiah will come from Bozrah in Edom, stained in blood. This is not simply a prophecy about the Second Coming. Its symbols begin with the crucifixion while living under the house of Edom.
  The Righteous Savior Comes From the East. Who is this who comes from Edom, with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah? This One who is majestic in His apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength?
  It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
  Treads the Wine Press of Gethsemane. Why is Your apparel red, and Your garment like the one who treads the wine press? I have trodden the wine trough alone, and from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger and trampled them in My wrath. And their life blood is sprinkled on My garments, and I stained all My raiment.
  The Year of Vengeance. For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption has come. I looked and there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me, and My wrath upheld Me. I trod down the peoples in My anger, and made them drunk in My wrath, and I poured out their life blood on the earth. (Isaiah 63: 1-6)
  Prophetically, He was in Edom because the Edomites ruled. It was under their rule that the "Year of Vengeance" and the "Day of the Lord" began when His garments were stained with blood in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary.
  » The Second Coming. Edom escapes the ravages of a great conflict according to Danliel 11: 41. If we combine these prophecies, we could conclude that when the Messiah returns again from the east that Edom will be dominant again and they will turn against the people of God by allying with the king of the north.

Micah (Michah)
The Rejection And The Return.
The prophet Micah has a vision about Samaria and Jerusalem in the last days. This is the ten lost northern tribes and the two southern tribes. He predicts the rejection of Jesus, the rejection of the Jews and their return as a light to the nations. He also gives more detail about the prophecy of Zechariah 12, the time when they are besieged and the Holy Spirit is poured out.

- Jesus Is Rejected.
  Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; they have laid siege against us; with a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. (Micah 5: 1-2)
  - Besieged By Troops. A siege was laid against Jesus at the crucifixion by the troops of the Roman army who came to arrest Him and the people of Israel. Read the incredible prophecy in the lesson on the twelve tribes of israel as He fulfilled the role of Gad and Zebulun.
  - The Judge Of Israel. Jesus is the judge that they struck on the cheek at the crucifixion.
  - Bethlehem. He was born in this little town.
  - Justice Perverted. The leaders and rulers perverted justice by offering bribes and acquiring the testimony of false witnesses, causing the violent death of an innocent Man.
    Leaders Pervert Justice. Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and twist everything that is straight, who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with violent injustice. (Micah 3: 9-10)
  - Bribe. Judas is offered a bribe to betray Jesus.
    Money Corrupts Justice. Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, and her priests instruct for a price, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, "Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us." Therefore on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest. (Micah 3: 11-12)
- The Jews Are Abandoned. Notice that they are only given up for a time. The remnant of Israel will return when the church has given birth.
  Therefore He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel. (Micah 5: 3)
  Who is in labor and who is the Child? Who is given up?
  Israel is the woman who was in labor with the Messiah (Revelation 12: 1-6). The remainder of his brethren who return are the Gentiles.
  Micah 4 says that it is Israel, the global church, that is in labor. Physical Israel is the one that is given up until the birth of the child. Benjamin is the child that God is waiting for. Then the church will be united. They are born out of the land of Babylon and returned to the Promised Land.
  Writhe and labor to give birth, Daughter of Zion, like a woman in childbirth; For now you will go out of the city, dwell in the field and go to Babylon. There you will be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the land of your enemies. (Micah 4: 10)
  At this point we will compare the fate of Israel after the crucifixion to Ezekiel's vision of Israel after the crucifixion.
  - Dwell In The Field. The church symbolically lives in the wilderness.
  - Go To Babylon. The church goes to the land of the north, Babylon the Great.
  - Rescued From Babylon. God will call us out of Babylon the Great when Babylon is judged.
  - Redeemed. Our redemption will occur when we are surrounded by our enemies. Notice that this is the same pattern of events that occurred with Christ. Our redemption occurred when He was surrounded on the cross by the nations and the tribes of Israel.
- The Shepherd Stands Up. When Israel returns, a shepherd will guard them and they will not stray any longer.
  And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God and they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. (Micah 5: 4)
  » Michael Stands Up. This is the same picture of Daniel 12: 1. When Michael, the shepherd stands up there will be a great time of trouble.
  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12: 1)
  The Shepherd will stand up when His name is lifted up. This will draw all men to Him.
  » His Name Is Great Worldwide. Micah gives us one more clue about the events at this time. At the time the Shepherd stands up, the name of God will be great over the whole world. This could be in quantity or quality.
  » Great In Quantity. Christianity is now the most popular religion but it is not greatly respected. But when this prophecy is fulfilled, the Jews will acknowledge their Messiah and it will be a great event on the earth. So the name of Christ will be great in the whole world when the world sees the unity of the church. Then the great time of trouble will begin.
  » Great In Quality. Since discovering this prophecy years ago I have been given over 700 new Messianic prophecies and information that will surely establish the Torah as a book of awesome modern science, far superior to current models. This will in turn make the name of YHWH and Jesus great in the earth. We have proof that the design for the portable sanctuary (Mishkan) given to Moses on Mount Sinai is a model of the Periodic table of chemistry and a unified model of quantum physics. No other religious works can make this claim.
- The Kingdom Established. The physical kingdom of God is a mountain that is set on the Mount of Olives.
  The Chief Mountain. And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised among the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. (Micah 4: 1)
  Daniel also had a vision of a Rock cut out of the mountain of God that strikes the earth and becomes a mountain.
  Judgment. And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
  Eternal Peace. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war. (Micah 4: 3)
  The Mountain Melts. Hear, O peoples, all of you. Listen, O earth, and all it contains, and let the Lord God be a witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. For behold the Lord is coming forth from His place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains will melt under Him and the valleys will be split, like wax before the fire, like water poured down a steep place. (Micah 1: 2-4)
  Zechariah 14:4 also had this image of the city of God being placed on the Mount of Olives after God splits it in two to create a valley.
- Naked And Barefoot. The rebellion of Samaria and Jerusalem will cause utter desolation.
  Desolation. For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country, planting places for a vineyard. I will pour her stones down into the valley and lay bare her foundations. (Micah 1: 6)
  The stones of the temple and the city were torn down. However, notice that the desolation created a place for a vineyard to be planted. This became salvation for the Gentiles exiled in the wilderness as wild plants.
  Harlot's Earnings. All her idols will be smashed, all her earnings will be burned with fire and all of her images I will make desolate, for she collected them from a harlot's earnings, and to the earnings of a harlot they will return. (Micah 1: 7)
  Judas' bribe was like the earnings of a harlot, and it was returned to the temple.
  Naked and Barefoot. Because of this I must lament and wail, I must go barefoot and naked; I must make a lament like the jakals and a mourning like the ostriches. For her wound is incurable, for it has come to Judah. It has reached the gate of My people, even to Jerusalem. (Micah 1: 8-9)
  Jesus was naked and barefoot as He walked mourning to Calvary on the day of the crucifixion.
- Jerusalem Is Besieged And Attacked By The Nations. They will be attacked by Syria and Babylon. Jesus will be the one who brings them peace when He fights for them.
  This One will be our peace when the Assyrian invades our land, when he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight leaders of men. They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he attacks our land and when he tramples our territory. (Micah 5: 5-6)
  - Nimrod. This is the land of Shinar, or Babylon. This is the current nation of Iraq.
    Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD." The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah. (Genesis 10: 8-11)
  - Assyria. It was also founded by Nimrod. This is the current nations of Syria, Iran and the Kurdish regions.
  - Seven Shepherds and Eight Leaders of Men. They seem to be a force sent by the people, not God. In addition, we know that unless the swords that the shepherds use is the word of God, it cannot be the work of God because the last church cannot be built by violence.
    The symbols seems to be related to the seven headed beast that really has eight heads (Revelation 17). This is a symbol of the church (seven shepherds) and state (eight leaders of men) joined together in military actions against the land of Assyria and Babylon. These nations are also their enemies. As they persecute the church these people are at war with each other.
  And now many nations have been assembled against you who say, "Let her be polluted, and let our eyes gloat over Zion". But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, and they do not understand His purpose; For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. (Micah 4: 11-12)
  The purpose of this crisis in Israel appears to be the will of God.
- The Effect Of The Jewish Conversion. The Jews will be like a light or like refreshing dew to the dead church. They will go out and boldly fight for God in a time when there will be no more delay.
  Then the remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on vegetation which do not wait for man or delay for the sons of men. The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which, if he passes through, tramples down and tears, and there is none to rescue. (Micah 5: 7-8)
  Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, for your horn I will make iron and your hoofs I will make bronze, that you may pulverize many peoples, that you may devote to the Lord their unjust gain and their wealth to the Lord of all the earth. (Micah 4: 13)
  » Be Broken Or Be Crushed. How will the Jews be forced to look at their Messiah?
  Israel Stumbles. Then He shall become a sanctuary; but to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over and a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; they will even be snared and caught." (Isaiah 8: 14-15)
  This is a wonderful, yet comical image of the efforts God will make in the last days to trap the Jews. In fact, He will trap both houses of Israel, the Jews and Gentiles. He is a fisherman who catches them in His net. He is a Rock over which they will stumble and fall and are forced to look at Him face to face while they are on the ground.
  - A Stone To Strike ("The Conquered Messiah"). This picture comes from the exodus when Moses was asked to strike the Rock so that they could get water. Jesus is the future stone that will give them the Holy Spirit, the Water for cleansing. But He was the Stone who was struck once at the crucifixion.
  - A Rock To Stumble Over ("The Conquering Messiah"). God will make us confront Him.
  - A Snare And Trap ("The Fisherman"). He catches us in His net.
  » The Stumbling Stone. Jesus is the Stone that they will strike and the Rock over which they will stumble.
  Ordinarily, a stumbling block might seem to be an image of despair. But this time it is not. At first, Israel rejected the chief corner stone and He became a stumbling block. Their Messiah was supposed to conquer their enemies, not be killed like a criminal.
  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. (1 Corinthians 1: 23)
  Then, some time in the future He will make them stumble and fall on Him when they retrace the steps of their ancestors on that fateful week when they rejected Him. They have to pay attention to this unexpected rock that they trip over in the future.
  This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. (1 Peter 2: 7-8)
  For those who still ignore this Rock, He will fall on them and crush them in the future.
  Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust. (Matthew 21: 43-44)
  So it is good to fall on the Rock and be broken, because God will not reject a broken and contrite spirit.
  » No More Delay. The silent trumpet of the seventh angel begins to sound.
  and swore to Him who lives for ever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay (time) no longer, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets. (Revelation 10: 6-7)
  The preaching of the Gospel is finished and the mystery is finished at this time. Now the end can come. The great time of trouble begins. The four angels loosen the four winds. The sealing is over.
  - Dew And Showers. A double meaning is implied here. The Latter Rain facilitates these events. The Holy Spirit converts them, and they have an effect on the people.
  - Lion. This image of a lion is both a symbol of the king of beasts and the source of trouble. This is the same image as Zechariah 12 in which the Jews are like a torch among dry grass.
  We have conflicting images of a source of trouble and blessing. This is the will of God. As a source of conflict, this will be how God will save the Jews. As a source of blessing, this is how God will save the world.
  This is also the same picture of the church at the Second Coming in Deuteronomy 33: 26-29. They will subdue their enemies and take back the world for God. The church will not be associated with violence, but it will be a courageous church who wins victories for God because they boldly confront evil.
- Turn To God. The people of God will rely only on Him. They will remove the foreign armies on whom they have relied. They will stop relying on military power. This means that Israel will no longer be supported by the United States.
  Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, and all your enemies will be cut off. "It will be in that day," declares the LORD, "That I will cut off your horses from among you and destroy your chariots. "I will also cut off the cities of your land and tear down all your fortifications. (Micah 5: 9-11)
  They will abandon the idolatry and the witchcraft of Babylon and depend on God.
  I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you will have fortune tellers no more. I will cut off your carved images and your sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. I will root out your Asherim from among you and destroy your cities. (Micah 5: 12-14)
- The Seven Last Plagues. Then God will send the plagues on those who do not respond.
  "And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations which have not obeyed." (Micah 5: 15)

Nahum (Nachum)
Nahum preached to Nineveh 100 years after Jonah repented and averted the wrath of God.
Betrayer. From you has gone forth one who plotted evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor.
Afflicted. Thus says the Lord, "Though they are at full strength and likewise many, even so they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer."
Yoke. So now I will break his yoke bar from upon you, and I will tear off your shackles. (Nahum 1: 11-13)
Judas was the wicked counselor who placed the yoke of a cross and shackles on the Lord.

Habakkuk (Chabakuk)
He prophesied before the invasion of Babylon. God punishes the wicked by giving them Babylon. The world receives Babylon the Great as punishment. The bad outcome of the war against terror in Iraq is a punishment of all the world.
» God Raises Up Babylon. As a curse, God gives us what we want by sending a nation to punish the wicked.
For look, I am raising up the Chaldeans [Babylon], that fierce and impetuous people who march throughout the earth to seize dwelling places which are not theirs. They are dreaded and feared. Their justice and authority originate from within themselves. ... They mock at kings and rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress and heap up rubble to capture it. Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, those whose strength is their god. (Habakkuk 1: 6-7, 10-11)
At the end time, there is another nation whose strength is their god. Daniel describes them.
But instead he will honor a god of fortresses a god whom his fathers did not know. He will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures. He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and he will parcel out land for a price. (Daniel 11: 38-39)
» Sins Of Babylon. This chapter lists many characteristics of Babylon and mentions an economic consequence. Revelation 18 also describes a global economic collapse, starting in Babylon. We will probably see some looting and unfair trading before and after the fall that helps to destabilize Babylon.
» Debt, Loot and Plunder. Furthermore wine betrays the haughty man, so he does not stay at home. He enlarges his appetite like sheol, and he is like death, never satisfied. He also gathers to himself all nations and collects to himself all peoples. Will not all of these take up a taunt song against him, even mockery and insinuations against him and say "woe to him who increases what is not his - for how long - and makes himself rich with loans?"
Debt. Will not your creditors rise up suddenly and those who collect from you awaken? Indeed you will become plunder for them. Because you have looted many nations, all the remainder of the peoples will loot you. (Habakkuk 2: 5-8)
» War And Violence. Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with violence! (Habakkuk 2: 12)
Our national debt and indebtedness to China will become a snare. Our violence in the Middle East and the violence we caused will be our undoing.
» Wrath Of God And The Salvation Of Israel.
» Signs. The mountains saw You and quaked. The downpour of water swept by. The deep uttered forth its voice, it lifted high its hands. Sun and moon stood in their places. They went away at the light of your arrows, at the radiance of your gleaming spear. (Habakkuk 3: 10-11)
Luke describes these signs and the sea and waves roaring. This is the same as the "deep lifting its hands". It even appears to describe the miracle of Joshua commanding the sun and moon to stand still. We will see much more than a dark day and a blood moon.
... and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
There shall be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the seas and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21: 11, 25-26)

Zephaniah (Tzefaniah)
He prophesied before the invasion of Babylon. His message is to the righteous remnant and the disobedient.
The Day Of The Lord.
There will be total destruction. A reversal of creation.
I will completely remove all things from the face of the earth, declares the Lord. I will remove man and beast, I will remove the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked. And I will cut off man from the face of the earth, declares the Lord.
» People. So I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all inhabitants of Jerusalem.
» Idol Worshippers. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place.
» Unfaithful Priests. And the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests.
» Astrologers. And those who bow on the house tops to the host of heaven.
» Double Minded. And those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear to Milcom.
» Back Slider. And those who have turned back from following the Lord.
» Atheist and Agnostic. And those who have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him. (Zephaniah 1: 2-6)
Those who cover their bases by embracing every belief system will also be condemned. He will judge every category of believer. Even the universalists who worship everything, and assume that every form of worship is from God. God asserts that everyone can gain a knowledge of Him if they truly desire Him.
Therefore wait for Me, declares the Lord, for the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out on them My indignation, all My burning anger. For all the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal. (Zephaniah 3: 8)
Laodicea. It will come about at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit. who say in their hearts, "The Lord will not do good or evil". Moreover, their wealth will become plunder and their houses desolate, yes they will build houses and not inhabit them. They will plant vineyards but not drink their wine. (Zephaniah 1: 12-13)
This warning sounds like the warning to the final church, named Laodicea, or the church that is being judged. Those who are stagnant in spirit are the same as those who are lukewarm. Both groups think that they are rich and wealthy and are at ease. They have no zeal for the work or the Lord and see no need for repentance. Other references to this group refer to them as the fat sheep who are at ease.
Warning. God warns the earth to prepare for His judgment.
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances. Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. (Zephaniah 2: 3)
The righteous will be hidden at three different phases of the day of the Lord.

1. The Plagues. They are protected until the Second Coming.
2. The Millennium. They are hidden in heaven, while the earth is devastated and the wicked are dead.
3. Hell Fire. They are protected in the City of God, while the wicked are destroyed outside.

False Gods Humiliated. The power of the Lord will be so awesome that people will abandon other religions because their gods will become irrelevant.
All Other Religions Abandoned. The Lord will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations. (Zephaniah 2: 11)

The Gathering Of The Remnant.
God will gather His people from the nations and reward them. He will gather the wicked and punish them. The prophecy is about the nation of Israel, yet because it is also about the end of days, it seems to include global Israel, the church.

- One Language. When Israel is gathered, they will learn their ancient language. Hebrew became the official language, through the efforts of Eliezer Ben Yehuda who restored knowledge and use of the language.
  Hebrew Language. For then I will turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent. (Zephaniah 3: 9)
- Shame Reversed. The shame of Israel will be reversed.
  The Proud Removed. In that day you will feel no shame because of all your deeds by which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain. (Zephaniah 3: 11)
- Israel Returns. Israel will recognize their Messiah as they call upon His name. They will realize that Emmanuel was here and that God is with us.
  But I will leave among you a humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. For they will feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble. (Zephaniah 3: 12-13)
  In the last day, the righteous will also have the name of the Lord and they will tell the truth.
  ... One hundred and forty four thousand having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.
  ... And no lie was found in their mouth, they are blameless. (Revelation 14: 1, 5)

Haggai (Chaggai)
The House of God. Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in paneled houses while this house lies desolate? (Haggai 1: 4)
After the Babylonian captivity, the people were slow to return from exile and even slower in rebuilding the house of the Lord. Then, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, they rebuilt the house.

- God Calls Workers. God stirred up the spirit of the governor, the high priest and the remnant of the people to work on the house of God
  Stir up Workers. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord, their God. (Haggai 1: 14)
  Jesus was all these workers rolled into one person. He was the Governor-King of the tribe of Judah and High Priest, and as the only faithful person in Israel, He was the last remnant.
- Gather Material. They had to find wood to rebuild the temple.
  Bring Wood. Go to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified, says the Lord. (Haggai 1: 8)
  Jesus brings wood to rebuild the desolate temple and glorify God. He brought the cross on His shoulders like a yoke to the hill called Calvary. There, He rebuilt the house of God by removing their debt of sin and regaining title to the planet. At first this house seemed inferior. There were eleven frightened disciples with a few women and some relatives.
- Inferior Temple. The second temple looked inferior to the first based on the outward appearance.
  Inferior Temple. Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?
  Messiah Brings Glory to This Temple. The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts, and in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2: 3, 9)
  Messianic Sign. On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2: 23)
  When He came to live among humans, the Messiah seemed like an inferior temple. He was not what they expected and He did not act with force and authority against the Romans as they expected. However, His presence brought glory to the house that was greater than the glory of the first temple because God came to this temple in the disguise of a man.
- The Sign. Zerubbabel is the sign that one from the house of Judah will rebuild the ruined house of God.
  Zerubbabel is the Seal. Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his fellow. On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2: 21-23)

The Shaking
On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (21 Tishri), Haggai had this vision as God spoke to a group of Babylonian exiles who saw the difference between the old and the new temple.

- First Shaking: First Coming (Crucifixion). The crucifixion changed the powers of heaven and His kingdom will be given to the nation that desires Him, making a greater house than the first.
  Shaking The House of God. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2: 6-7)
  When God shook the heavens, Satan fell to earth and had been confined here.
  . And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. (Luke 10: 18)
  Jesus also triumphed over the princpalities and powers of heaven at the crucifixion, changing their decrees.
  . Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2: 14-15)
  Ruling Powers Of Heaven. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6: 12)
  The Property Of Jesus Christ. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1: 16)
- Second Shaking: Second Coming. The final shaking overturns the powers on earth and gives it to the church.
  Shaking The Nations. Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12: 25-29)

Malachi
The Messenger Of The Covenant

Messenger of the Covenant | Smelter and Purifier of Silver | Fuller's Soap and Refiner's Fire | The LORD
--- | --- | --- | ---
The Church is Purified by the Message of the Covenant
2 Witnesses (Moses and Elijah) Messenger of the Covenant | Jesus Accepted | Persecution | Wrath | Second Coming
| Zadok | Sons of Levi | Inhabitants of Jerusalem |  | Repentance | Hated | Flee | Plagues
Water | 144,000 | Tents of Judah | House of David | Benjamin | Simeon | Issachar | Zebulun | Gad

Malachi points to the appearance of the Messiah and his messenger and to the different groups in Israel, the sons of Levi, Judah and Jerusalem.
The Messenger of the Covenant. Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me.
God Comes to the Temple. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; And the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
He Purifies the Church. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
The Sons of Levi. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. (Malachi 3: 1-4)
When the Lord comes to His temple, the message of the messenger of the covenant will purify them. Then they will offer peace offerings of love and praise. It points to the successful appearance of the messenger. They will delight in this messenger and they will seek the Lord. The messenger "clears the way" before the Lord as Isaiah 40: 3 prophesies.

- Sons of Levi. These must be the 144,000. The Levites were priests (Moses, Aaron, Merari, Gershon and Kohath) and the 144,000 act as religious leaders. They must experience harsh trials to purify them before they can minister to the people of God. Their role is to prepare the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem. In fact, at the end of time, they prepare the way of the Lord by presenting the house of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem as righteous offerings or living sacrifices acceptable to God.
  But how can the sons of Levi be the "house of David"? They are different tribes.
  When Christ inherited the throne of David, He also became the head of a new line of priests, serving as our indestructible High Priest. Therefore, the former role of the Levites now belong to descendants of the royal line of the "House of David". As priests, the sons of Levi present Judah and Jerusalem as living sacrifices. So the "offering of Judah and Jerusalem" is Judah and Jerusalem.
  Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12: 1) See also Leviticus 21: 17-20.
- Judah. The Jews. We thought that they were lost.
- Jerusalem. The entire city of God. This is their experience at the end.
  - Benjamin. The church is born again and becomes a little child who is "the son of the right hand".
  - Simeon. The church is hated and persecuted, but has renounced violence and put away the sword.
  - Issachar. The church flees persecution and goes forth on the final exodus.
  - Zebulun. The church is safe in their tents and temporary shelters as the plagues fall on the wicked.
  - Gad. Jesus raids the earth at the Second Coming.

The Coming Of Moses And Elijah [Law and Prophets]
Micah was the prophet who explicitly predicted the coming of Elijah.
Moses (Laws, Statutes And Judgments). Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Elijah (Prophet). Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4: 4-6)
Based on this prophecy, the disciples and the Jews expected Elijah to come. However, the prophecy points to both the coming of Moses and Elijah. The disciples thought that the prophecy was being fulfilled when they saw Jesus Christ being transfigured with Moses and Elijah. They thought that this was the fulfillment but Jesus told them to suppress the information.
The coming of Moses and Elijah will accomplish several things.

- Restoration Of The Law. The children of God will remember all the laws of Moses and restore these treasures.
- Reconciliation. God will be reconciled with His children on earth.
- Preparation. It will prepare us for the end of days before the curse consumes the earth.

Balaam: The Wicked Prophet

The Six Day War (6 June 1967)
Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian armies assembled troops on the borders of Israel when president Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt moved 100,000 troops into Sinai, blockaded the Strait of Tiran and signed a military agreement with King Hussain of Jordan. Israel launched a pre-emptive attack and conquered all the Arab armies beginning with Egypt and moving against Syrian forces in the Golan Heights on June 9 and cease fire is declared the next day. While the Egyptian air force was on the ground having tea to celebrate the victory over Israel, in a surprise attack the Israeli air force wiped out the Egyptian airforce on the ground in one day and then recaptured the Temple Mount, the Old City of Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Desert. 759 Israelis and 15,000 Arabs died.

At the end of the exodus, on the borders of the Promised Land, the surrounding nations became afraid of Israel. Balak, king of Moab, paid Balaam to curse Israel. Three times this prophet for hire tried to curse Israel and he could not. He blessed Israel instead.
The Third Blessing: The End of Days
So Balaam made this prophecy about the end of days for the people of Moab and other nations to the south east of Israel. These prophecies appear to have some of the elements of the end of days for the king of the north in Daniel 11: 40-45.
And now, behold, I am going to my people; come and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the end of the days to come. (Numbers 24: 14)

- Messianic Prophecies: The Star and The Scepter.
  I see him but not now; I behold him but not near. A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth. (Numbers 24: 17)
  - The Star of Jacob. Christ is a prophet to the unconverted nation of Israel (symbolically named Jacob) who were in the role of the deceiver and supplantor when they rejected and crucified Him.
  - The Scepter of Israel. Christ is recognized as the King of the Jews to the converted nation of Israel at the end of time when they accept Christ as their Messiah. At that time Israel will crush Moab.
  Other actions of Balaam are a Messianic prophecy. By the time of Christ, the actions of Balaam represents the actions of Israel. They are a people of God who have abandoned their calling. In the end the church commits the same errors.
  - Three Days and Nights. Balaam struck the donkey three times and cursed Israel three times. Christ was cursed and struck for three days and nights.
  - The Donkey With The Burden of Israel. In other prophecies Christ was symbolized as a donkey who carried the burden of sins. Here He is pictured as a donkey carrying the burden of an unfaithful prophet who mistreated Him. These are the three times when the donkey saw the angel and was struck by Balaam.
    1. Angel With The Sword. Christ submitted to the mob who arrested Him while Peter used a sword.
       When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field. But Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back on the way. (Numbers 22: 23)
       » In The Open Field. Although the armed Roman soldiers arrested Him, Jesus was turned aside and passed around to everyone for trial, even given to the priests for trial by the Sanhedrin. After they struck Him, He was sent back to the Romans, on the path to death.
    2. Angel in the Narrow Path Between Two Walls. Christ carried the cross on the road to Golgotha between the narrow walls of a row of people (the vineyard) lining both sides of the way. Jesus walked along the narrow road that led to eternal life for us.
       Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again. (Numbers 22: 24-25)
    3. Angel in a Confined Space. While in the Praetorium, the Roman soldiers played a cruel game with Him while they beat Him with a reed. Nailed to the cross, Christ could not turn either left or right, so He laid down like the donkey on the cross, the stick that was used to hurt Him.
       The angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no place to turn to the right hand or the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; So Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with a stick. (Numbers 22: 26-27)
    Christ is the donkey who saved us from death by turning aside the wrath of God and taking it Himself.
    But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me I would surely have killed you just now and let her live. (Numbers 22: 33)
    The mystery of why God still dealt with Balaam as His prophet is solved if you see Balaam as Israel at the crucifixion. God will still work with them. And as they are falling over the stumbling block called Christ, their eyes will be opened to the fact that He is the Messiah - the Almighty.
    The oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down yet having his eyes opened. (Numbers 24: 16)
    Balaam is also a type of the whore clergy at the end of time who know that they are doing evil, but try to denounce the people of God for political and economic favor. Like Balaam, as they are falling their eyes are open to the truth.
    » The Donkey Speaks. Why do I deserve this? I am innocent! I am faithful!
    And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?" (Numbers 22: 28)
    When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus saying, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong, but if rightly, why do you strike Me?" (John 18: 22)
    » The Submissive Donkey. Jesus was symbolized by a female donkey, just as several offerings were also female. This was a prophesy about the submission of Jesus, the curse given to Eve.
  - Fees For Divination. Balaam took money to curse Israel, just as Judas took money and the priests gave money as a bribe to pervert justice.
- Conquering Jordan (Edom, Seir and Moab). Daniel says that Edom, Moab and Ammon shall escape from the king of the north and south. However, this prophecy seems to say that they will not escape from Israel.
  Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, while Israel performs valiently.
  One from Jacob shall have dominion, and will destroy the remnant of the city. (Numbers 24: 18-19)
- Conquering Amalek. The south of Israel near Sinai and the Negev.
  ... Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end shall be destruction. (Numbers 24: 20)
- Conquering the Kenite (Midianites). This is southern Jordan and west Saudi Arabia.
  And he looked at the Kenite, and took of this discourse and said, Your dwelling place is enduring, and your nest is set in the cliff. Nevertheless Kain will be consumed; How long shall Asshur keep you captive? (Numbers 24: 21-22)
- Ships from Kittim. A navy from the north west, near Cyprus, attacks Syria.
  Then he took up his discourse and said, 'alas, who can live except God has ordained it?' But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber, so they also will come to destruction. (Numbers 24: 23-24)
  » Conquering Syria (Asshur and Eber). Syria and the western corner near Turkey.

At the end of time, when the Antichrist sets up his throne again, the warning to the church of Pergamum in the actions of Balaam testify about the strategy of the evil empire.
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teachings of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. (Revelation 2: 14)

Yom Kippur War (6 October 1973)
Egyptian and Syrian forces launch a surprise attack Israel on Yom Kippur War. The war lasts three weeks. Naval battle with missiles only fought on October 6-7 with Syria and Israel sinks all Syrian vessels with no Israeli losses.

- Stumbling Block. They will try to keep you from the Promised Land with their wine that makes you stagger like a drunkard, falling over the stumbling blocks of intellectual blindness, sensual numbness and pleasure.
- Idolatry. They make the world commit idolatry and openly support the enemies of God.
- Immorality. They make the world commit acts of immorality.

During the second exodus at the end of time, Israel will conquer the same surrounding nations who fought against her at the end of the first exodus. The Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War seem to have fulfilled this prophecy. After this, Israel took control of most its original territory. However, they could be just signs of what will occur in the future when Israel accepts the Messiah and the nations surround them and God helps them.
So a blue print for the final war between Israel and the surrounding nations and their supporters is a war between Jordan, Syria, Egypt and probably Saudi Arabia with a naval attack on Syria coming from the region near Cyprus.

Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2: 15 | Time: 90 minutes Print: 19 Pages
Copyright First Created : June 2005. Updated: May 2006. January, September 2008. Credits: Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (January 2008)