*An excerpt from the article “Back to Babylon” is included at the end of this article.

As the terrible happenings in Israel unfold, and we are reminded of just how close we are to the departure of the bride of Christ, it is very important to issue a “Warning to those living in the land of Woe.”

As it should be, the atrocities taking place in Israel are front and center in the minds of all who are studying the last days. However, what is happening there is not the only thing we should be concerned with at this time. Indeed, what is occurring in Israel should cause the rest of the world to remember that we are all living in the end of days. For the faithful, this means Christ will soon issue the call to come up here (the Rapture).^[1] For the unfaithful, this means the wrath of God will soon be poured out upon all who reject Christ (the Tribulation).

While all of the earth will suffer the woes of the Tribulation, it is my opinion that one-fourth part of the earth will be hardest hit during the early stages of the greatest world-changing period ever experienced. More on this later. Jesus made sure we were aware of a laundry list of events that were to come when He responded to His disciple’s questions about the last days (Matt 24). In particular, He warned of a time during the Tribulation that was worse than any before or after:

Matthew 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” ^[2]

At this point, I would implore you to stop and read, or re-read, all of the articles written about the four horsemen of the apocalypse and the return of world affairs to the land of Babylon. These articles are all contained on a special page of our website, “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” ^[3]

Understanding what is about to happen is crucial for both the faithful and the unfaithful, as the faithful must be busy warning the unfaithful about the fast-approaching time of Woe.^[4] Unfortunately, this task has become extremely difficult as much of the world has begun to call evil good and good evil,^[5] a condition that, in and of itself, indicates that this great time of Woe is upon us:

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Truly, evil masquerades as good throughout the entirety of the land. People of all stripes are busy trying to right the wrongs of their errant beliefs and practices by calling the good evil and the evil good. If you have any doubts about this last statement, just tune in to any type of television program where you are likely to see this very thing taking place. Notice, I said any type of television program. This is because much of what is calling itself the church is just as busy as the world putting darkness for light and light for darkness. In the aforementioned passage of Matthew 24, Jesus indicated that great deception,[6] a sign He warned about more than any other, and the rise of many false prophets would mark the end of days.^[7]

I have written extensively about the false ministers and heretical beliefs that have infiltrated the church. You can find these writings on the “eschatology articles” page of our website. ^[8]

Before going on, if you have visited our website lately, you know that I have taken a break from writing in order to move my family from Ohio to Indiana. This move has taken a great while as we have much to do in our new home by way of upgrades before fully moving in. We are still far from finished; however, it is imperative to respond to the urging of the Lord and issue a “Warning to Those Living in the Land of Woe,” for the time is at hand.

The Land of Woe

Clearly, Jesus spoke of the coming Tribulation as something that impacts the entirety of the earth. While this is true, as noted in the aforementioned articles about the four horsemen and the return to Babylon, I believe the initial impact of the judgments of God will be focused on the areas of the world that rejected Christ though they had the lights of the world, Christians, living among them (Matt 5:14). Indeed, this fact could be the reason the judgment is so severe here during the onset of the Tribulation.

The areas I consider to be in “the land of Woe” are those that I have written about in the article “Back to Babylon.” ^[9] In short, all of the nations that once called themselves Christian are those that will find themselves in the crosshairs of the beginnings of the Tribulation and the Seal judgments. This is because they have had ample time to respond to the call of the Lord issued forth by the church, which was once prolific in each nation. Incredibly, the judgments meted out on these former Christian nations, making them inconsequential, will also force the narrative back to the Middle East (Back to Babylon), where the last prophecies contained in many books of the Bible are fulfilled.

Throughout all of history, the general biblical principle of woe coming upon those who call evil good and good evil has been demonstrated. However, because the whole of the earth is now inundated with this mindset, those who call good bad and bad good will soon be visited by great worldwide woes, which begin after the faithful are taken out of this world. Think about this for a moment: at the most calamitous time ever known, everyone that is truly good because of the Christ that lives within them is, in a moment, nowhere to be found, just like Enoch and Elijah (Gen 5:24, 2 Ki 2:15-18). As they did with Enoch and Elijah, many will undoubtedly look for the departed to no avail, for the Lord will have taken us (1 Thess 4:16-17).

Perhaps, after realizing that the departed good are nowhere to be found, those left here will begin to call upon the Lord rather than placing their faith in man or religion to lead and guide them. As a result, many will come to saving faith in the early period of the Tribulation as indicated by the great influx of believers seen in heaven during the fifth seal (Rev 6:9-11) and shortly after the 144,000 are sealed (Rev 7:4-17). I believe many of those who make up this populous will be the ones to whom we have witnessed prior to our departure. This is why this warning is for the faithful and the unfaithful.

Warning

To the faithful, please heed this warning and take immediate action to warn those in your sphere of influence about the coming calamities. Yes, your message may seem like bad news; however, following up with the gospel will provide the best news anyone can hear. Truly, because of His sacrifice, Jesus has made a way where there was no way (John 14:6). Our part is to fulfill “The Great Commission” until the last breath, even though the unfaithful reject the message. Persist, we must, in doing the Lord’s will as He leads, even though it seems like we are ineffectual. Remember, our part is to preach the gospel. The Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

To the unfaithful, please heed this warning, as the coming storm is far greater than you can imagine. The absolute best way to navigate it is to not be here when it occurs, and that means you must turn right now from your own lordship and call upon the name of the true Lord, Jesus Christ. Faith in Him alone can set you free from sin and death (Rom 6:18). If you reject this warning and plea, sudden destruction shall befall you after the departure of the righteous, as all that you once relied upon becomes useless.

The Apostle Paul, through the unction of the Holy Spirit, had this to say about the coming time of Tribulation:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 “But of the times and the seasons, brethren [the faithful], ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [the unfaithful] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” emphasis mine, [author’s comments]

Take note: Paul was speaking to one group, the faithful, about two groups, the faithful and the unfaithful. The faithful will escape the coming calamities. The unfaithful will not. This is why it is so important for both groups to heed this warning. The faithful must remain watchful and sober. The unfaithful must awaken to the fact that they are in need of the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.

The only way the unfaithful can join the ranks of the faithful is to hear the gospel message and turn from their wicked ways. The only way they can hear the message is if we share it. We must share it:

Romans 10:14-15 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Conclusion

Just like the sudden arrival of woe to Israel during the recent atrocities experienced there, great is the danger of the sudden judgment of the coming Tribulation for all who reject Christ. This is why it is imperative that we all, like the watchmen of old, issue this “Warning to Those Living in the Land of Woe.”

Ezekiel 33:1-6 “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”

Soon, Jesus will come for His bride, and the judgments of God will commence. Escape is only possible for those who choose to be faithful now when they cannot see and/or touch Jesus. True faith is simply believing that God is, and the way to become faithful is just as simple…

All we must do to become faithful is to recognize that we have need of a Savior. We must come to grips with the fact that we are incapable of making it to heaven on our own merits. Only the precious blood of Jesus is able to cover our sins. Believing that He has done all that is necessary is how we become faithful. It is not our attributes that make us worthy of heaven, but His. Jesus is truly the only “way, truth, and Life: whereby man comes to the Father (John 14:6).”

Please heed this warning, call upon the name of the Lord, and escape the coming Tribulation!

If you have come upon this article after the Rapture, the article “Open Letter to Those Who Miss the Rapture” is for you.

Website: In His Commission

*Excerpt from: “Back to Babylon.”

Forcing the Focus Back to Babylon

Just as God, shortly after the flood, scattered the people to the far ends of the earth to keep them from doing things they ought not, He will force them back to the Middle East where all things began. Shortly after the rapture of the church, marking the end of the age of grace, God will restart the prophetic clock spoken of by the prophet Daniel concerning the seventy weeks of Israel. Sixty-nine weeks passed until the ‘cutting off’ of the Messiah, Jesus. The last two thousand years have been the marvelous mystery of a period of grace extended to all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for all who believe, and He was raised by the Father, and He will return soon to take His bride to the place He has prepared in His Father’s house (John 14:1-3).

Once Jesus concludes the age of grace and the prophetic clock restarts with one seven-year week remaining, the narrative will shift back to Israel, and God will use the forces of evil, which are currently coalescing in the Babylon region, to cause Israel to turn back to Him.

How will the return to Babylon happen? How will the city of Babylon become one that is so influential that the kings of the earth mourn her demise at the end of the tribulation period? (Rev 18:9). How is this possible when the United States is the reigning superpower with great influence in all areas of life? What is the simple explanation?

Most do not want to hear what comes next. The only thing that can explain the absence of the United States in Bible prophecy is the United States will indeed be absent from the world stage. This is not to say the United States will be completely destroyed. However, this once great nation will no longer be a superpower. The rise of world governance is one of the greatest indicators that the nationalistic United States will fall.

What if the information so many have sought for so long has been in plain sight all along? What if the United States is part of the earth that will become irrelevant in the closing moments of world history? Is it possible that the United States and other so-called Christian nations are suddenly made insignificant, seemingly overnight? Perhaps these nations are greatly impacted by two separate but closely related events: the rapture and the subsequent destruction of a fourth part of the earth brought forth by the seal judgments in the early days of the Tribulation. This study is not rapture-centric; therefore, this biblical definition should provide enough clarity to continue the dialogue about the return of Babylon:

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:16-17).

One-fourth of the Earth

When looking at the earth from the four-mile perspective or when looking at the earth from above, it becomes clear that one-quarter of the earth stands apart from the supercontinent that contains the Middle East. In fact, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia make up statistically one-fourth of the earth’s surface:

World Land Mass – 57,510,000 square miles – divided by 4 = 14,377,500

Canada – 3,855,101
U.S.A – 3,618,783
Mexico – 758,449
Brazil – 3,287,955
Australia – 2,969,906

Total – 14,490,194 – That is incredibly close to ¼ of the earth’s surface (14,377,500). Especially when adding in the remaining inhabitable islands of the earth.

What if the United States is in Bible prophecy? What if all of the countries listed above are greatly diminished by the rapture, and then further abated by the chaos which will undoubtedly ensue?

Perhaps these once great nations will be so affected by the sudden removal of the good among them that they begin to succumb to the riders of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The first being one who will conquer; the second removing peace from the world, causing those left on earth to kill one another; the third causing great famine; all culminating with the fourth horseman who, with Death as a rider, is followed by Hell, and they have authority to destroy one-quarter of the earth? John provided more detail:

“And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (Rev 6:7-8).

Notice this passage does not say one-fourth of the population. Instead, it says, “the fourth part of the earth.” Ironically, the destruction of this part of the earth would have the effect of forcing the focus of world events back to the Middle East and, for those who love this world, back to Babylon, the new seat of government, commerce, and religion.

With these things in mind, it is clear to see how the narrative would shift from Western-centric to Middle Eastern-centric. If ‘Death’ visits the aforementioned countries in the magnitude mentioned, they would become inconsequential to the last days narrative. One could even envision the complete annihilation of all inhabitants of these countries. This, however, would not affect the scenarios depicted in the book of Revelation in the least, as none of these countries are mentioned. In fact, this actually clears up many questions posed by theologians about the players involved or, perhaps better said, not involved in the last moments of history.

***

[1] For greater understanding, see the article, “The Five W’s of the Rapture.”
[2] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.”
[3] For greater understanding, see the articles located at “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.”
[4] For greater understanding, see the article “Watch – Warn – Win Souls.”
[5] For greater understanding, see the article “We Must Apologize.”
[6] For greater understanding, see the article “Dealing with Deception.”
[7] For greater understanding, see the article “The Rise of Many.”
[8] For greater understanding, see the eschatology articles page, “Eschatology Articles.”
[9] For greater understanding, see the article “Back to Babylon.”

The carnage left behind by Hamas’ massacre of Israeli citizens and several from other countries shocked and deeply saddened me as I read hundreds of messages and viewed a few pictures of the slain.

Because the tragic events of October 7, 2023, involve Israel, prophetic implications from what’s happening in the Middle East will reverberate long afterward.

This article linked below includes several prophetic observations that flow from the massacre of so many in Israel.

Is this the fulfillment of Psalm 83? Before the tragic events of October 7, 2023, several respected Bible prophecy experts said the Psalm refers to a future attack, while other such specialists placed it in the past. Although it’s not clear whether or not all the participants listed in verses 6-8 will join the coming war, the opening verses to the Psalm apply to the plotting of Israel’s current enemies:

“O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your treasured ones.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”

The terror attack was the result of careful planning with the intent to ultimately eliminate Israel as a nation. As I write, tensions are rising as it appears that Hezbollah in the north and Syria are ready to join the fight against Israel. Should Jordan join the forces rallying against Israel, that would bring in more participants from Psalm 83.

Below are a few observations that I see as they relate to biblical prophecy.

It’s Not the Gog/Magog War but Could Lead to It

The current conflict is not the Gog/Magog war but could lead to it in the future. I say this for a couple of reasons:

1. This invasion will begin at a time when Israel is “restored from war” (Ezekiel 38:8). So it could begin after peace is restored from the current war.
2. The war of Ezekiel 38-39 will begin at a time when Israel is dwelling “securely” (38:10-11). There has been talk of a large-scale war in the Middle East for several months.

If Israel were to achieve a decisive victory in the coming months, it could create a sense of security and peace that the Bible says will exist before the coalition led by Russia, Iran, and Turkey invade the Land. Since the attack, Israel has threatened to destroy Damascus, which would be a fulfillment of Isaiah 17:1. This would add further fire, leading to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39.

God Will Restore a Glorious Kingdom for Israel

Regardless of what happens in the future, one thing remains absolutely certain: God will surely keep His promise to restore a glorious kingdom for the people of Israel.

The Lord will restore Israel just as He promised in Ezekiel 36:22-37 and 37:15-28. If we can trust the words of Scripture, and we absolutely can, the nation of Israel is here to stay.

Jesus will reign over a restored Israel during His thousand-year rule over the nations. God will not renege on His covenants with His people nor with David. In fact, according to the prophet Jeremiah, this is just as certain as the appearing of the sun in the morning sky (Jeremiah 31:35-36).

The bad news for Israel is that the path between now and the restoration of the kingdom will include increasing hardship and terror that will reach its peak during the second half of the Tribulation. The prophet Zechariah states that only one-third of the Israelites will survive (13:8-9), but those that remain will inherit the long-awaited kingdom for Israel.

It’s after Jesus returns to a repentant Israel that the words of the prophet Isaiah will surely apply:

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:1-2).

In the past couple of weeks, the Lord has impressed these verses upon my mind, as they speak of a time when Jerusalem’s “warfare” will cease. The situation looks bleak for the city at the moment, but God will keep His solemn promise to preserve Israel and establish His covenant of peace with the nation (Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 37:26).

Zechariah wrote about a still future repentance of Israel (12:10-13:1), and Jesus prophesied of a time when the people of Israel would greet Him with the words, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:37-39).

There can be no doubt: Scripture assures us of a glorious future for Israel.

The Current War Will Make the Antichrist’s Covenant More Appealing

The pain and overwhelming grief caused by the current attacks on Israel will make the peace plan offered by the antichrist all the more appealing. This is the covenant that kicks off the seventieth week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27), which we refer to as the seven-year Tribulation.

The leaders of Israel will believe that the terms offered by the man of lawlessness will save them from another devastating war, but he will betray them after three and a half years, which will cause many of them to flee for their lives (Matthew 24:15-21). If the rebuilding of the third temple is part of the deal, it will make his covenant all the more inviting.

The prophet Isaiah refers to the antichrist’s plan as a “covenant of death” (28:14-22). The one-third of Israel that survives the Tribulation, however, will forever enjoy their Messiah’s “covenant of peace” (Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 37:26). Just as it was through much suffering and death that Israel became a nation again, so shall it be leading up to their unending time of security beginning with the millennial reign of Jesus.

Our Enemy Is Vicious and Deadly

Satan hates all the Jewish people as well as all those saved by the blood of Jesus. The Lord’s description of our enemy in John 8:44 is something of which we must be constantly aware in this day. He described our enemy as “a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Satan’s stirring up of murderous hatred toward Jews among the militant Muslims is all about stopping Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy. His objective is to prevent the Lord’s rule over a restored Israel, but just as he failed to stop God’s redemptive plan at Jesus’ First Coming, so our enemy will fall far short again.

The same Lucifer who was behind the demonic massacre of innocent people in Israel is also behind the deadly schemes of the globalists. It’s their intent to reduce the population of the world to 500,000, and they have already massacred a substantial number of people in furthering this agenda. The same demonic forces that dragged entire families out of their homes and viciously murdered them in Israel also lie behind the deadly push to inject everyone on the planet.

With the worldwide demonstrations supporting Hamas and the growing hatred for believers for their stand on biblical values, it’s easier than ever to imagine the widespread killing of Jews and Tribulation saints that the Bible says will happen after the Rapture. Satan will be furious, but Jesus will prevail, and God will not let the devil annul His covenants with (and promises to) His chosen people, nor to us as New Testament saints who will reign with our Savior.

America on the Edge

The long-term consequences for America are grim at best. Shortly after coming to power, the Biden administration renewed funding for the Palestinians and Hamas. Recently, in a deal to get back hostages, President Biden freed up six billion dollars in assets for Iran, which is the principal financial backer of Hamas. It’s certain that the Lord will not take kindly to America’s funding of terror and death.

Furthermore, sources within Israel claim that Hamas used American weapons to conduct the massacre, with some saying they are the ones Biden left behind in Afghanistan; others point to those he supplied to Ukraine.

It gets much worse. Under Biden, somewhere between five and seven million illegal immigrants have flowed through our southern border. Many of them are military-age men from a variety of nations, including China. We have caught many terrorists at our southern border, but it’s certain that a multitude of those seeking to destroy America have avoided capture and remain within our borders.

Will the U.S. be attacked from within by unfriendly forces? It’s probable. Regardless, it’s clear that America is on the edge of destruction; it’s only God’s restraining hand that’s keeping us from an economic implosion or devastating attacks from enemy forces. It’s clear that the nation I love lies precariously on the edge of destruction.

We Live in Biblical Times

The good news is that we live in biblical times, which signifies that Jesus’ appearing to take us home is imminent. The bad news is that we live in biblical times with lawlessness, violence, wickedness, and deception increasing exponentially, just as Scripture said would happen in the last days.

I’m certain that the Rapture can happen at any moment, but I don’t know what hardship we might experience in the meantime.

It’s also clear that our enemy is exceedingly deadly and vicious. His rage will reach its peak during the Tribulation, but he’s already working through his minions to stop Jesus from reigning over the nations from Jerusalem. To do so, he must destroy all humanity, starting with the people of Israel and Bible-believing saints (see Matthew 24:22).

Regardless of what comes against Israel or us, God will accomplish His purposes. Nothing can stop the Lord from destroying the devil’s rule during the Tribulation, nor can anything hinder Him in setting up His thousand-year rule in the coming kingdom of which we will share as coheirs with Jesus (Romans 8:16-17; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Just as at His Frist Coming, Jesus will fulfill biblical prophecy, and God will restore a kingdom to the descendants of Jacob. Satan’s efforts to stop the Lord from fulfilling prophecy seem to always end up fulfilling what the Bible says will happen.

***

I provide a detailed defense of the Pretribulation viewpoint in The Triumph of the Redeemed-An Eternal Perspective that Calms Our Fears in Perilous Times. I demonstrate, using an abundance of quotes, that the belief in a thousand-year reign of Jesus dominated the church during its first three hundred years. The historic view of the millennium is a literal view of Revelation 20:1-10 that places it between the Tribulation and the eternal state. There’s no such thing as a “historic premillennialism” that denies a literal interpretation of this text.

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