From Zechariah’s “Cup of Trembling” to Trump’s “Board of Peace”
Prophetic progression has suddenly accelerated, but not exactly in the direction many Bible prophecy “watchers on the wall”—including yours truly—anticipated.
For a number of years, we’ve heard Israel is prophetically destined to be the victim of an attack from its immediately surrounding enemies. This is termed the “Psalm 83 war.” I have tried to see this threat in order to agree with many of my colleagues who propose that passage is about a literal military assault on the verge of taking place.
But I have continued to maintain that the Psalm 83 matter is an imprecatory prayer by God’s chosen people, Israel, pleading for God’s retribution against the enemies who have bedeviled the nation throughout the millennia. I continue to hold this view. Specifically, I believe it is a prayer that will be answered when the Lord destroys all but one-sixth of the Gog-Magog force that attacks (as recorded in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39).
Could I be wrong? Yes. The “prophecy” can be interpreted either way. I believe, however, that my view is correct based upon surrounding context. And I believe recent developments pointing to unfolding events regarding Israel and its surrounding nation-antagonists give further evidence that my view is likely correct.
Zechariah the prophet, as recorded in chapter 12 of the book with his name, said Israel will become “a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone” to the whole world. And, certainly, we’ve watched that condition developing, especially since Israel’s rebirth into modernity in 1948.
Israel was attacked from the moment of that rebirth. America’s President Harry S. Truman recognized the new Jewish state on behalf of America and the prophecy that it would again be a nation–and one born in a day.
Despite overwhelming odds of survival against relentless attacks by forces much larger than its own, Israel remained standing when the smoke cleared. The nation was attacked in overwhelming numbers by surrounding enemies in 1967 and 1973, and again its enemies were routed.
God said Israel would be His chosen nation forever. His promise has not failed. But the modern buildup against the Jewish state has been quite powerful in these days during which we see so many other circumstances and events setting the stage for prophetic fulfillment to take place. Zechariah’s prediction that Israel will become a “cup of trembling and a burdensome stone” for the world of nation-states certainly fits this time in which we find ourselves. Practically every country in the UN views Israel as a problem and votes against the Jewish state at every opportunity.
The nation chosen by God to be His own has continued to face down bitter enemies, both near and far.
Iran, the area of ancient Persia, has been its most directly threatening enemy. We all witnessed the buildup of Iran’s nuclear program—and its obliteration, with the help of America dropping the massive ordnance into Iran’s mountainous nuclear-weapons facilities. The entire time, there was a sense of that “trembling” Zechariah predicted. But with the success of destroying Iran’s weapons-development facilities came a strange change—not only within Iran, which was forced to acquiesce to the demands of Israel and America, but a change of attitude and comportment, almost immediately, within the leadership of all of Israel’s surrounding Arab-Islamic neighboring states. Middle Eastern States, most of which had great numbers within those nations, were shouting “death to Israel” and “death to America!”
So, have we seen Zechariah’s “cup of trembling and burdensome stone” prophecy fulfilled? I believe we have seen the first, perhaps, of several stages of that prophecy fulfilled. But more is to come. We know that because of the Gog-Magog assault that is yet to come.
What I find most fascinating is that Zechariah 12 seems to be setting the world up for an even greater “cup of trembling,” that of a prophetic fulfillment that will truly cause all nations that have come against God’s chosen people to be “cut to pieces,” as Zechariah also prophesied.
“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zechariah 12:3).
We have watched within a week or two President Donald Trump perform what almost might be called a geopolitical/historical miracle. He has managed to gather most all of Israel’s enemy neighbors into a peace corral, of sorts. Those leaders who have perennially attacked Israel with a collective passion flowing from an eon of hate-filled rage are suddenly praising Trump’s efforts and are totally aboard the twenty-point peace plan, under what Trump terms the “Board of Peace.”
I always considered the prophecy Paul gave in his epistle to the Corinthians exclusively a cry for peace because of the fear of nuclear war that would bring worldwide destruction. Here is that prophecy:
“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
The fear of nuclear war—of worldwide destruction—will no doubt cause a future “cry for peace and safety,” as Paul predicted. However, we might be witnessing the first stage of this prophecy being set up for fulfillment.
The sudden climbing upon the Trump Board of Peace train by Israel’s blood-drenched, avowed enemies is not a “cry for peace and safety” out of fear of worldwide nuclear war, as I view this profound effort for Middle East peace led by the American president (a president, incidentally, the entire nation of Israel is cheering as a reincarnation of Cyrus the Great).
To my way of looking at this phenomenal turn of events, this is not a fear-engendered cry for peace, but rather a jubilant expression that now we have a real and—as Mr. Trump proclaims—everlasting peace.
This current “cry for peace and safety” smacks, perhaps, of the moment Paul referred to: the moment sudden destruction comes and those left behind will not escape.
Whatever the case, we know it is a sudden and strange turn of events, this peace that defies millennia of failed efforts to achieve. It is, to me, one of the most powerful newly developing indicators of how near this generation must be to the Rapture.
Here again is how to not miss that great event and be left behind to face the “sudden destruction” that, according to Jesus, will then befall those who cannot escape:
“That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
—Terry
Signs In Unexpected Places
As the time of Jesus’ appearing approaches, our understanding of Bible prophecy continues to grow.
For example, we have much greater clarity today regarding the mark of the beast (see Revelation 13:16-18). The combination of technical advances in the following areas during the past twenty years not only makes it possible for one man, antichrist, to control worldwide buying and selling, but also increases its likelihood of happening in the not-too-distant future:
- 5G cellular technology that may increase to 6G.
- The creation of gigantic databases.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
Other biblical signs of the times are popping up in unexpected places.
The Many
For several years, one word in particular from Daniel 9:27 puzzled me:
“And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (emphasis added)
It’s clear from the context, as well as from Isaiah 28:14-18, that this “covenant” will include the nation of Israel. But why the reference to the “many”? One clue from the text and another from just a few weeks ago might just explain it.
In the Hebrew, the sense of “make a strong covenant” is that of taking an existing agreement and making it better. This suggests that the antichrist will use an existing framework and strengthen it when he puts in place the agreement referred to in Daniel 9:27.
The other clue comes from the deal that recently sought to end the Gazan War. President Donald Trump included many other nations in his peace initiative as a way to make it more appealing to both sides. Please know I am not saying President Trump is the antichrist or that this deal is not the one referenced in the above verse. We will not be here when the antichrist inks this deal. But is it not possible that the antichrist will copy the current arrangement when he makes his deal? Just this past week, Vice President JD Vance said the current peace accord with Hamas would serve as a model for future peace agreements in the Middle East and elsewhere.
The Witnesses
In Acts 1:8, Jesus gave this command to His followers:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The church began in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost and spread to the entire world, just as Jesus instructed. In recent years, and in particular after the massacre of October 7, 2023, many are boldly proclaiming the Gospel message in the city of Zion. In recent Understanding the Times broadcasts, Davie Tal, former Israeli Army officer and prophecy expert, described the many ways that Israelis are hearing the good news.
I am also aware of other ministries, such as The Joshua Fund, founded by Joel Rosenberg, actively witnessing for Jesus in Jerusalem and the rest of Israel as charitable organizations.
Why is this prophetically significant?
First, we know that the remnant of Jewish people who survive the Tribulation will turn to Jesus shortly before He returns (Zechariah 12:10-13:1). They will recognize Him as their Messiah amid much weeping and repentance. Having escaped the antichrist’s terrors, they will realize their mistake in trusting this charlatan and turn to Jesus.
In Matthew 23:37-39, Jesus spoke of the day when the residents of Jerusalem, the Jewish people, would welcome Him with shouts of “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” I believe the impact of active Christian ministries in Israel is already preparing the Jewish people for what will happen at the end of the Tribulation (although many are already turning to the Savior).
Second, the presence of the two witnesses, recorded in Revelation 11:4-13, tells us something will change between now and when they begin their ministry during the first half of the Tribulation. Because the Lord charged His church with the task of being His witnesses in Jerusalem, the presence of other witnesses in Jerusalem signifies the absence of the church at this time.
The transfer of the Acts 1:8 mission from the church to these two witnesses in Jerusalem strongly supports a pre-Tribulation Rapture.
The Lie
In 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Paul wrote that during the Day of the Lord, God would send a “strong delusion” among those who refuse to “believe the truth” so they would “believe what is false.” What might be the lie that many will believe after the Rapture?
In recent years, speculation has grown among students of Bible prophecy that the elite of the world will explain the disappearance of so many as an alien abduction. As possible verification of this, the claims of UFO sightings have grown from that of small mobile aircraft to that of gigantic alien vessels. Much speculation exists regarding 3I/Atlas, which has a width of up to seven miles. It’s unusual nature has many people speculating that it’s not a comet, but rather an enormous alien spacecraft.
Its gigantic size would accommodate the disappearance of a great many people. 3I/Atlas, and other similar large alien vessels receiving much speculation in our day, would make a suitable alternative to the truth regarding the Rapture. And based on what I read on social media and elsewhere, many would believe such a lie.
When we add these things to the multitude of other signs of the approaching Tribulation, we recognize today for what it is: the season of Jesus’ appearing to take us home. We do not know when the Rapture will occur, but if ever there was a time to eagerly watch for it, this is it!
-Jonathan