It might be good for us to remember some Tribulation  Scriptures and past events as we discuss some of the current events.

In his sermon on Pentecost, Peter referenced Joel’s message from God as saying, “And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come” (Acts 2:19-20).

It is a fact that the moon turned to blood with a tetrad of blood moons on the Feasts of Passover and Tabernacles in 2014 and 2015; that the sun turned to darkness with a total eclipse of the sun on Aug. 21, 2017; that there was a wonder in heaven above called the Rev. 12 Sign on Sept. 23, 2017 (Rev. 12:1-2); that there has been smoke on earth with a record number of volcanoes erupting in 2016-2017; that there has been fire on earth with the worst wildfires ever in California in 2017, etc.

Some people will disagree, but others believe these events could be some of the things that God said would happen before the Tribulation Period arrives. If these people are right (and they may be), perhaps we should expect these signs to be accompanied by a birth-pang increase in natural disasters.

I am not smart enough to know that it was birth pangs, but on Aug. 24, 2017 (three days after the total eclipse of the sun) tropical storm Harvey became a hurricane. Harvey was followed by Hurricanes Irma, Jose, Katia and Maria. The catastrophic flooding caused by some of these disasters was unprecedented. It looked like the days of Noah had arrived in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

Sept. 21-22, 2017 was the Feast of Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets; New Year’s Day on the Jewish Civil Calendar). Some people believe the Rapture will happen on the Feast of Rosh Hashanah, and a handful of people were wrongly predicting that the Rapture would take place. They were firmly convinced that the total solar eclipse, the tetrad of blood moons on Jewish Feast Days, the Rev. 12 wonder and the fact that Israel was almost 70 years old were signs from God.

During that time, many started talking about “Jubilee years” and “Jubilee cycles.” A Jubilee year is the 50^th year of a Jubilee cycle. The concept comes straight out of the Bible (Lev. 25:8-11).

Briefly stated (because this article is longer than usual), some of those that understand Jubilees were saying that something significant happens every 50^th year. They predicted that something significant would happen in 2017 and it could be the Rapture. Something significant happened. It wasn’t the Rapture, but we will come to it.

Others believe God will deal with humanity for 6,000 years and then Jesus will come back and rule for 1,000 years (Psa. 90:4; II Pet. 3:8). They believe it has been about 6,000 years since God created Adam, and it is time to restore the kingdom.

Jesus met with His disciples one last time before He ascended into heaven. “When they therefore were together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts 1:6-7).

Jesus didn’t say the kingdom will never be restored. Jesus said it wasn’t for the disciples to know the times or the seasons. The times and the seasons are in the Father’s hands. But if the kingdom is going to be restored to Israel, the kingdom needs a capital. It has one. We are coming to it.

As Rosh Hashanah was approaching, some people that study Bible numbers (gematria) were saying Israel is in the year 5777 on the Jewish calendar. When Rosh Hashanah arrives in 2018, Israel will be in the year 5778. They said the 8 in 5778 means there will be a new beginning for Israel when the Feast of Trumpets arrives.

On Dec. 6, 2017, Pres. Trump recognized Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. John Hagee said he told Pres. Trump he needed to do it this year because 2017 is a Jubilee year. One must wonder if Pres. Trump’s decision represents a new beginning for Israel.

In 1917 the Balfour Declaration established a homeland for the Jews. In 1967 (one Jubilee or 50 years later) the Jews gained possession of East Jerusalem, but no one would recognize East Jerusalem as Israeli territory (the world called East Jerusalem “occupied territory”). In 2017 (one Jubilee or 50 years later) Pres. Trump proclaimed that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel.

So, Israel got part of the Promised Land in 1917. They got East Jerusalem in 1967. And they got the right to all of Jerusalem in 2017.

God said, “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 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” (Zech. 12:2-3).

Pres. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel troubled and burdened most of the world’s leaders. They quickly arranged for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council; and, when that failed, they arranged for an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly.

The capital of God’s coming Millennial Kingdom has now been recognized by the U.S. as the undivided capital of Israel.

Prime Min. Netanyahu addressed the emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly. He called the UN a “house of lies.” His choice of words seems appropriate because the UN will choose a liar (the Antichrist) and Satan worshipper (Satan is the father of lies) to rule over them.

The EU voted against Israel, and that is not surprising because the Antichrist will rise to power over that godless entity.

Before the vote, the newly established Jewish Sanhedrin released a Declaration for the UN General Assembly. They reminded the UN General Assembly (wannabe world government) that God promised to bless those that bless Israel and to curse those that curse Israel (Gen. 12:2-3).

They added that each nation’s vote was an expression of that nation’s attitude toward God. Each nation’s vote was actually a request to be blessed by God or a request to be cursed by God. He can and He will do it. His threat to cut in pieces those that gather against Israel will be carried out.

It is interesting that God turned to Jewish rabbis instead of the sleeping Church to remind the nations of what the Scriptures say and possibly to let each nation determine its own destiny. After the Rapture, He will use 144,000 Jewish evangelists and the Two Witnesses (Rev. 7 and 11).

By the way, King David said, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psa. 122:6). Pres. Trump is now recognized as the first and only U.S. Pres. to pray at the Wailing Wall and he is being hailed as one of the greatest friends Israel has ever had.

Whether there is a relationship or not, I want to remind everyone that the Dow set about 90 new record high closings in 2017. The Word says those that bless and love Israel will be blessed and prosper.

That is good. But woe be unto America if Pres. Trump’s new peace Proposal calls for the division of Israel (Joel 3:2).

One last reminder: Iran is having financial trouble; the people are rioting and calling for the overthrow of the government. Iran has been financing Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, Syria, etc., instead of investing in jobs, roads and agriculture. The Iranian government is threatening to crack down on the people, but at some point, it will have to come up with some money for its citizens or it will be toppled. God can use this like a hook to ultimately drag Russia, Iran, etc., into Israel to seek a spoil and a prey (Ezek. 38:12).

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com

When all is said and done Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel (and the world), and those that hurt the most will be those that are trying to prevent it. That is because God made a covenant to give all of the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants after him in their generations forever (Gen. 17:7-8).

Israel will eventually possess all of the land of Canaan because God does not lie. God is faithful. God will not go back on His covenant. God is all-powerful. God is in control and more. Jerusalem is in the land of Canaan (Gen. 10:19; Num. 13:29; 34:1-12), so Jerusalem will belong to Israel.

First, concerning history, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to Pres. Trump three times before Pres. Trump signed the Proclamation that recognizes Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.

Mr. Netanyahu told Pres. Trump, “You are going to make history.”

On the day after Pres. Trump signed the Proclamation, Mr. Netanyahu said, “Yesterday, he made history.” He added, “There are major moments in the history of Zionism: the Balfour Declaration, the founding of the state (of Israel), the liberation of Jerusalem and Trump’s announcement yesterday.”

God has blessed this writer with more than 70 years of life. Mr. Netanyahu’s statement caused me to realize that three of the four greatest events in the history of the modern Fig Tree (Israel) occurred in my lifetime.

When the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of His coming and the end of the age, He said, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” (Matt. 24:32-34).

As a candidate for Pres. of the U.S., Mr. Trump said he would move the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He told the truth. His name will now appear in Israel’s history books. What an honor!

Second, concerning curses, the Jewish Sanhedrin held a special session prior to a vote in the UN General Assembly to oppose Pres. Trump’s Proclamation.

A spokesman for the Sanhedrin reminded the nations that God promised to bless those that bless Israel and to curse those that curse Israel (Gen. 12:3). He reminded the nations that the promise of blessings or curses comes from God, not Israel.

He stated that God uses Israel to test the nations. He said their vote would express their attitude toward God, not Israel. It would be a request to be blessed by God or a request to be cursed by God. He added that God can and God will do what He said.

The Sanhedrin issued a Proclamation that called upon the nations to advance the building of God’s House (the Temple) on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

This writer believes this present generation could possibly be the terminal generation of the Church Age. If it is, this means the Rapture, the Tribulation Period and a rebuilt Temple are near.

This begs a question: Did God show grace by using the Sanhedrin to urge the nations to seek guidance from the Scriptures and repent of their anti-Semitism before His curse falls upon the world?

Third, concerning lies, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly before the nations voted. Mr. Netanyahu talked about the UN’s anti-Israel bias and referred to the UN as a “house of lies.”

One can easily see how members of the “house of lies” could choose a liar (the Antichrist) to rule over them. Strong delusion will come on them, and they will believe the lie (whatever that is) because they rejected the truth (II Thess. 2:8-12).

The resolution condemning Pres. Trump’s Proclamation (and perhaps the request to be cursed) passed with 128 votes for, 9 against, 35 abstained, and 21 were absent.

The EU and UK voted to reject Pres. Trump’s Proclamation. This writer believes the Antichrist will rise to power in the EU (Dan. 9:26). He also believes the UK will be greatly weakened at the end of the age (Dan. 7:4).

Fourth, concerning retribution, before the UN General Assembly voted, Pres. Trump said, “We’re watching the outcome.”

Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, told the General Assembly she would be “taking names” of how nations voted, and they would be sent to Pres. Trump.

She said, “America will put our embassy in Jerusalem. No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that. But this vote will make a difference in how Americans look at the UN and in how we look at countries that disrespect us in the UN.”

People wondered if Pres. Trump meant what he said. Then, two days later, Pres. Trump severed U.S. ties with the PA and Mahmoud Abbas. He blocked U.S. aid to the PA. He asked some of the PA’s main Arab contributors to freeze or slow down their aid to the PA. He blocked PA involvement in his peace proposal, and he said the U.S. will only work with Israel and the Arabs.

With Mr. Abbas and the PA being marginalized it could be time to start thinking in terms of a pre-approved peace proposal (or perhaps even wars and rumors of war).

The UN is a house of lies, the Antichrist will be a liar, and the idea that Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian territory is a fraud; but God’s Word is true and it will prevail.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com