About 700 years before Jesus was born, God said, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,’ yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

There were thousands of towns in Judah that God could have picked for the birth of Jesus, but He chose a little town called Bethlehem.

There were two Bethlehems in Israel so God revealed which one He was talking about by adding the word “Ephratah.” Jesus would be born Bethlehem, Ephratah.

This was a remarkable prediction, but few people realize just how remarkable it was. You see, God promised King David that the Messiah would be one of his descendants (II Sam. 7:8-17).

And during the 700 years that passed between the life of King David and the birth of Jesus, all of King David’s descendants moved away from Bethlehem, Ephratah.

They scattered in every direction. Only one family in David’s line lived in the area. And this family didn’t live in Bethlehem, Ephratah. This family lived in Nazareth.

Anyway, 700 years passed. And none of King David’s descendants lived in Bethlehem, Ephratah. But God said Jesus would be born in that little town.

How could this be? It is explained in the book of Luke. Caesar Augustus decreed that all the world should be taxed. And he added that everyone should be taxed in their own city (Luke 2:1-3).

So God used a pagan Roman Emperor to move two of King David’s descendants to the exact town where He said Jesus would be born.

Mary was great with child when she made the trip. Physically speaking, she probably shouldn’t have done it. But God brought her through. And Jesus was born at the prophesied place.

A short time later, wise men traveled to Jerusalem. They went to King Herod and asked about the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2).

King Herod consulted the chief priest and scribes. They had not seen the new born Jesus, but they knew the prophecy. They could even quote it.

Herod demanded that they tell him where the Christ should be born and they said, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for it is written by the prophet” (Micah 5:2).

Herod called the wise men in for a private meeting. He sent them to Bethlehem, Ephratah to find the young Jesus.

They went. They found Him. They fell down. They worshipped Him. They gave Him gifts.

Thus, God’s 700 year old prophecy was partially fulfilled. He moved two of King David’s descendants to Bethlehem Ephratah so Jesus could be born exactly where the Bible said he would be born.

Why was this a partial fulfillment? Notice, the rest of the verse,   “Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2).

Jesus is destined to be ruler in Israel. He didn’t rule when He came the first time. But He is coming back to rule.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder . . . .” (Isa. 9:6).

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jer. 23:5-6).

“And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (Zech. 14:9).

He taught Christians to pray, “Thy KINGDOM come . . .” (Matt. 6:9-13).

And it will. When He comes back He will have “on his vesture ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS’” (Rev. 19:16).

This is why the return of Israel is so significant to students of Bible prophecy today. The first half of Micah 5:2 has been literally fufilled and prophecy students believe we are on the brink of the rest of it being literally fufilled.

The beginning of the Tribulation period is marked by the Antichrist confirming a covenant for seven years of peace in the Middle East(Dan. 9: 27).

The end of the Tribulation period is marked by the Second Coming of Jesus (II Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19:11-21).

But did you know that the Bible says more about what happens at the middle of the Tribulation period and most of it will probably start on the same day.

This article shows how many Mid-Tribulation period events are connected, how consistent the books of Daniel, Matthew, II Thessalonians and Revelation are and how many different individuals (Daniel, Gabriel, Jesus, Paul and John) talked about them.

Daniel chapter 7 records Daniel’s vision of Four Great Beasts. Most prophecy writers agree that the fourth Great Beast is the beast of Revelation that is called the Antichrist (Dan. 7:7-10; Rev. 13:1). He is also called the little horn (Dan. 7:8).

During the Tribulation period, the Ancient of Days (God) will sit in judgment and determine that the Antichrist should be destroyed by fire (Dan. 7:11), and it will happen (Rev. 19:20). Then, one like the Son of Man (Jesus) will replace the rule of Antichrist with the rule of Jesus (Dan. 7:13-14) and He will rule on earth for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-4).

Daniel asked for an interpretation of the vision (Dan. 7:16) and among other things he was told that the saints would be given into the hands of the Antichrist for a time (one year) and times (two years) and the dividing of times (half a year; Dan. 7:25).

This means that there will be severe persecution of believers during the Tribulation period and it will last for three and one-half years. We will soon learn that it will start at the middle of the Tribulation period and last until the Second Coming of Jesus.

Daniel chapter 9 reveals that the angel Gabriel told Daniel the Antichrist will confirm a covenant for one week of years (seven years), but in the middle of that week of years (after three and one-half years) he will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease (Dan. 9:27). Stopping the sacrifice and oblation at the Temple will mark the middle of the Tribulation period.

Moving from the book of Daniel to the book of Matthew it is recorded that the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of His coming and the end of the age (Matt. 24:3).

Jesus referred back to the book of Daniel and said when the abomination of desolation (the Antichrist or an image of the Antichrist) stands in the Holy Place (at the Temple) the people of Judea should flee into the mountains (Matt. 24:15-16).

He said, “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world. And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved” (Matt. 24:21-22). Further down in this article it will be shown that the Jews in Judea will flee at the middle of the Tribulation period.

Moving from the book of Matthew to the book of II Thessalonians it is recorded that apostle Paul said that the Antichrist will exalt “himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (II Thess. 2:4).

It is speculation, but it looks like the Antichrist will visit Israel at the middle of the Tribulation period, enter the Temple, stand in the Holy Place (Holy of Holies), sit in the Temple and declare that he is God, order the Jews to stop the animal sacrifices and start severe persecution of believers all on the same day at the middle of the Tribulation period.

Moving from the book of II Thessalonians to the book of Revelation, the apostle John was told that the outer court of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem will be trodden down by Gentiles for forty-two months (Rev. 11:1-2). That is three and one-half years.

Gabriel said the Temple will be desolate for the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation period (Dan. 9:27). Starting at the middle of the Tribulation period, Gentiles will impact what goes on in Jerusalem and at the Temple.

Earlier we read that Jesus told the Jews to flee into the mountains when all of this happens because there will be severe persecution (Matt. 24:14-15, 21-22).

Moving on in the book of Revelation, the apostle John said the sun-clothed woman (Israel) will flee into the wilderness for a thousand two hundred and threescore days (Rev. 12:6). That is 1260 days which is 42 months, and it is also three and one-half years. The fleeing of Judea and the desolation of the Temple will start on the same day at the middle of the Tribulation period.

John revealed an ominous reason for this. He said Satan and his angels will be cast down to the earth and intensify the persecution of Israel (Rev. 12:7-9, 13).

He added that God will protect Israel for a time, and times, and half a time (Rev. 12:14-15). This means 1260 days which is 42 months, and it is three and one-half years. God’s miraculous protection of the fleeing Jews will start at the middle of the Tribulation period.

All of these passages refer to events that appear to happen or start on the same day. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit, but written by several different people over a period of slightly more than 600 years.

They are complimentary. They don’t contradict each other. And they show why the Bible is so amazing.

They also show that the book of Revelation is more than a book of symbols. It is also Holy Spirit inspired Scripture that links to other Scriptures.