Dispensationalism is defined as a method of interpreting history that divides God’s work and purposes toward mankind into different periods of time. According to scholars, there are seven major dispensations that God initiated throughout history. The seven famous Feasts of Passover mentioned in scripture are found in three of these dispensations, spanning the ages from 1876 BC to the present. The seven major dispensations are:

• Dispensation of Innocence – Starts with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and ends with their expulsion from the garden.
• Dispensation of Conscience – Starts with Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden and ends with the Great Flood.
• Dispensation of Human Government – Starts with the exodus from Noah’s ark and ends with the dispersion at the Tower of Babel. Humanity is commanded by God to enact the death penalty during this time.
• Dispensation of Promise – Starts with God’s covenant with Abraham regarding ownership of the land of Canaan and ends with the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt.
• Dispensation of Law – Starts with the giving of the 10 Commandments and statutes to Moses at Mt. Sinai and ends with the giving of the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ disciples on the day of Pentecost.
• Dispensation of Grace – Starts with the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (start of the Church) and ends with the Rapture of the Church.
• Dispensation of the Millennial Kingdom – Starts with Jesus’ initiation of His Millennial Kingdom after the Great Tribulation and ends 1,000 years later when a new earth and heaven are created.

THE PRE-PASSOVER – GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

The first major biblical event (that we know of) that occurred on the 14th day of the first month of spring was when God made His covenant with Abraham in 1876 BC. The reason we know this is the correct year is because of Exodus 12:40-42. “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel (who dwelt in Egypt) was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years – on that very same day – it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.” The Hebrews left Egypt on the night of the original Passover on Abib/Nisan 14, 1446 BC. 430 years earlier (to the day – Hebrew calendar) would be on the first full moon of spring in 1876 BC, which is Nisan 14 on the modern Jewish calendar.

This Godly event is not included as one of the 7 Passovers in this article because, as I mentioned in part I, it is really not a Passover but a pre-Passover or a foreshadowing of the Passover to come in Egypt. The Feast of Passover represents the covenant relationship with God. Abraham and the patriarchs represent the dispensation of Promise or the Abrahamic covenant, which started in 1876 BC and ended 430 years later on Passover, Nisan 14, 1446 BC (AM 1885) with the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt.

The date on the Julian calendar for God’s covenant with Abraham was April 15, 1876 BC, according to the modern (metonic 19-year calculated cycle) Jewish calendar as figured by the calendar converter, 360calendar.com Calendar Converter. Remember, the modern Jewish calendar is extremely accurate in determining new and full moons. New moons occur on the 1st of every month, and full moons occur on the 15th of every month. The only difference between the modern and the original Jewish calendar is if the crops weren’t ready for harvesting, an extra month would be added to the calendar; otherwise, they both go by the lunar cycles. Generally, the rule of thumb is if the modern Jewish calendar comes before the vernal equinox, there was probably an extra month added to the calendar that year.

For proof of the accuracy of this calendar, we will verify the first full moon of spring (which falls on Nisan 15 – within a day) by looking at NASA’s website page, Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000 (nasa.gov). For the year 1876 BC, we find a lunar eclipse on April 7th (Julian calendar), which would have been Nisan 16, AM 1885 on the modern Jewish calendar. Two days earlier would have been Nisan 14, AM 1885 on the modern Jewish calendar or April 5, 1876 BC on the Julian calendar. This is the most likely date for God’s promise/covenant to Abraham concerning his (and descendants) ownership of the land of Canaan.

This is the formula we will use for proving the dates for the 7 famous Passovers in this article.

THE FIRST PASSOVER IN EGYPT

The original Passover was instituted in the land of Egypt and occurred simultaneously with the 10th plague against Pharaoh and the Egyptians and the subsequent Exodus by the children of Israel, led by Moses. The Passover is described in detail in Exodus 12. The rules and regulations for the Feasts of spring Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits are given in Leviticus 23:4-14 and Numbers 28:16-31. Since I have already discussed this Passover and how it foreshadowed the death of Christ, I will just concentrate on the date for this God-intervening event. According to the calendar converter, Abib/Nisan 14. AM 2315 (the date for the Passover) occurred on March 24, 1446 BC.

Proof: NASA’s records show there was a lunar eclipse (during a full moon) on February 24, 1446 BC (Julian), which was Adar 15 on the Jewish calendar. This is still considered winter as it is before the spring equinox, so we must determine the first full moon of spring. One month later (29.5 days until next full moon phase) would place the date on Nisan 15 or March 25, 1446 BC. One day earlier would be Nisan 14, AM 2315 for the Passover (modern Jewish calendar), and the date on the Julian calendar would be March 24, 1446 BC. This is the most likely date for the original Passover in Egypt.

THE SECOND PASSOVER – IN THE WILDERNESS

The second Passover mentioned in the Bible is found in Numbers 9 (1-14). “Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of Egypt, saying: Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it” (Numbers 9:1-3). Moses and the children of Israel obeyed the Lord and kept the Passover on the 14th day of the first month (Abib/Nisan), at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai. The date on the Jewish calendar was April 10, 1445 BC.

Proof: NASA’s website shows a lunar eclipse on February 13, 1445 BC, which was Adar 1, 14, AM 2316 on the Jewish calendar. The next full moon would occur approximately 29.5 days later on Veadar 14, or March 13, 1445 BC. Evidently, since this is still too early for spring (vernal equinox), an additional 30-day month (embolismic/intercalary) was added, making that year contain 13 months.

The next full moon would occur 29.5 days later on Nisan 14 or April 10, 1445 BC. This was the second Passover in the Bible. It occurred in the Wilderness of Sinai on the 14th day of the first month of the second year after leaving Egypt. This was the only Passover that is recorded in the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness by the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land.

THE THIRD PASSOVER – ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND

The third Passover that the Bible mentions occurred after the children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (from 1446 – 1406 BC). When Joshua and the people finally reached the border of Canaan, they encountered the Jordan River. Joshua told the people, “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). He gave directions for crossing the Jordan; the Levites would enter the river first bearing the ark of the covenant, and then the people would follow.

The Lord said unto Joshua, “This day will I begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And you shall command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When you are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan'” (Joshua 3:7-8).

The people and the priests obeyed the words of Joshua and came to the Jordan’s banks. “And as they that bare the ark came into Jordan, and the feet of the priests were dipped in the brink of the water (for Jordan overflows all his banks at the time of harvest), that the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam; and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all people were passed over Jordan” (Joshua 3:15-17).

The people passed over first while the priests remained in the midst of the Jordan. When the priests came up out of the river, the waters of Jordan returned unto their place and flowed over all his banks, as they did before. “On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life” (Joshua 4:14). The children of Israel came up out of Jordan on the 10th day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. This was almost 40 years to the day (minus 4 days) when the Israelites left Egypt.

When God gave Moses regulations for celebrating the Passover (as He did with Abraham before him), He reconfirmed that no male could participate in the Feast of Passover unless he had been circumcised. None of the male children born during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness were circumcised. All of the older males (that were already circumcised) had died by this time, except for Joshua and Caleb, because they had not obeyed the voice of the Lord.

“And Joshua made him sharp knives and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins” (Joshua 5:3). When they were done with this painful event, they abode in their places in the camp until they were whole. And the Lord said unto Joshua, “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day” (Joshua 5:9).

On the evening of the 14th day of the first month (Abib/Nisan), the Israelites celebrated their first Feast of Passover in the Promised Land. “And they did eat of the old corn of the land after the Passover (on Nisan 15), unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten of the old corn of the land (Nisan 16); neither had the children of Israel manna any more” (Joshua 5:11-12). The following day was the 17th of Nisan, the Feast of Firstfruits (the day Jesus would be resurrected 1,438 years later). With no more manna available, the people began to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year – the firstfruits of the Promised Land.

Imagine their joy at eating the land’s fruits and vegetables after their forty years in the desert eating only manna and quail. The date of this Passover was Nisan 14, AM 2355 (Jewish) or April 1, AD 1406 (Julian), according to the calendar converter.

Proof: The closest lunar eclipse (during a full moon) occurred on June 29, 1406 BC or Tammuz 14 on the Jewish calendar. To find the first full moon of spring, we must deduct 88.5 (29.5 x 3) days or three full moon phases to get to Nisan 14, AM 2355 or April 1, 1406 BC on the Julian date. This is the most likely date for the first Passover in the Promised Land.

THE FOURTH PASSOVER – HEZEKIAH KEEPS THE PASSOVER

Hezekiah became king of Judah when he was 25 years old after his father Ahaz died. Ahaz was an evil king who walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and made molded images for the Baals. He burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. Hezekiah, however, did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his ‘father’ David had done. In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them” (2 Chronicles 29:2-3). He told the priests and Levites to sanctify themselves and sanctify the house of the Lord God and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. Hezekiah recognized the sins of his predecessors, including his own father, Ahaz.

King Hezekiah decided to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel and serve Him only, that His fierce wrath might turn away from his people. The priests and Levites cleaned out the Temple of the Lord and brought out all the debris that they found in it. They started on the 1st day of the 1st month (during the new /crescent moon). It was too late for the Jews to keep the Passover, and also because a significant number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem. The king, his leaders, and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the 2nd month (Lyyar 14).

Hezekiah even sent letters to the northern kingdom of Israel that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner (2 Chronicles 30:50). “The children of Israel kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread, seven days with great gladness and agreed to keep the feast an additional seven days. Hezekiah gave to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep. The leaders gave to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep.

“So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon, the son of David king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:26). This verse is probably referring to the dedication of the new Temple in Jerusalem that occurred on a Feast of Tabernacles (Tishri 15 – first full moon of fall).

Hezekiah kept the Passover in the first year of his reign in the year 715 BC. The Passover was delayed for one month and observed in the 2nd month on Lyyar 14, AD 3046. The date was May 10, 715 BC on the Julian date.

Proof: According to NASA’s five-millennium catalog of lunar eclipses, there was a lunar eclipse on May 11, 715 BC, which would be Lyyar 15, AM 3046 on the Jewish calendar. In other words, this proves the modern (metonic cycle) Jewish calendar is accurate in its determination of new and full moons as the Feast of Passover is always on a full moon. The 2nd full moon of spring occurred on the 15th day of the 2nd month (Lyyar). One day earlier, on Lyyar 14, AM 3046 (May 10, 715 BC – Julian), Hezekiah, king of Judah, kept the Feast of the Lord known as Passover. Even though this Passover was delayed an extra month, this was one of the greatest celebrations of Passover (and the Feast of Unleavened Bread) in Israel’s history (better late than never!). It even lasted an extra seven days.

THE FIFTH PASSOVER – KING JOSIAH KEEPS THE PASSOVER

Josiah was one of only a few righteous kings of Judah. He was the son of an evil king of Judah, Amon. Amon was the son of the most evil king in Judah’s history, Manasseh, who used witchcraft and sorcery and caused his sons to pass through fire as burnt sacrifices. Manasseh took after his evil grandfather, Ahaz. Manasseh’s father, however, was King Hezekiah, one of the greatest and most righteous kings in Judah’s history. Josiah began to reign when he was only eight years old, and he reigned 31 years in Jerusalem. “And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his “father’ David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Chronicles 34:2). He took after his great grandfather, Hezekiah.

When Josiah was 16, he began to seek the God of his ‘father,’ David. When he was 20, Josiah ordered the cleansing and repair of the Temple, which had been neglected or misused by his predecessors (including his own father and grandfather). During the restoration, Hilkiah the priest found a book/scroll of the law of the Lord given by Moses. When the book was read to the king, he took it and read it to the people. He was moved and captivated by the sacred words. You could say it was a Holy Spirit moment. “And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book” (2 Chronicles 34:31).

One of the first things that Josiah did in obedience to God (and His commandments/statutes) was to celebrate the Passover Feast on the 14th of Nisan. “And the children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites all Judah and Israel who were present and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the 18th year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept” (2 Chronicles 35:17-19). Josiah became king of Judah in 640 BC, so he kept the Passover in the year 622 BC. The date was Nisan 14, AM 3139 on the Jewish calendar.

Proof: The closest lunar eclipse that I can find is on Sivan 16 or June 2, 622 BC (Julian). Sivan is the 3rd month in the Jewish calendar, so we must deduct two months or 59 days to get to Nisan 16 and the first full moon of spring. The date on the Julian calendar was April 4, 622 BC. Two days earlier would be Nisan 14. The date for the Passover that Josiah kept occurred on April 2, 622 BC on the Julian calendar. It was one of the greatest Passover celebrations of all time.

THE SIXTH PASSOVER – THE DEDICATION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE

The next mention of the Passover Feast is found in the book of Ezra. The Jews had been in captivity in Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar and his army destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and defeated the army and kingdom of Judah in 586 BC. The Medes and Persians defeated the Babylonians in 539 BC and made Babylon their headquarters to rule the kingdom from. They treated the Jewish people well, and in 538/537 BC, their king, Cyrus, in the first year of his reign, issued a decree for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Shesbazzar, the prince of Israel, leads the Jewish exiles from Babylon back to Jerusalem in 537 BC. Construction of the Jewish Temple began in the year 536 BC. After several years, they stopped construction due to opposition from neighboring nations.

The work on the Second Temple remained dormant for well over a decade until God called the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to urge the people to complete the project. Haggai wrote his book in 520 BC, the same year Zechariah began to preach. The work on the Temple resumed under Darius, the King of Persia, at that time. The foundation of the Second Temple was laid on Kislev 24, 520 BC. The Second Temple’s construction was finished in the 6th year of King Darius in 516 BC.

“And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover of the fourteenth day of the first month. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the King of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel” (Ezra 6:19,22). The dedication of the Second Temple occurred on Nisan 14, AM 3245 on the Jewish calendar.

Proof: NASA’s website of lunar eclipses shows a lunar eclipse on March 3, 516 BC, which is Adar 16, AM 3246 on the Jewish calendar. This is too early in the year for the first full moon of spring, as it is before the vernal equinox (and is still considered winter). However, one complete full moon cycle later or 29.5 days later, the first full moon of spring would occur on April 3, 516 BC, which is Nisan 16 on the Jewish calendar. Two days earlier would be the Passover on Nisan 14, AM 3245 or April 1, 516 BC. This is the most likely date for the Dedication of the Second Temple.

THE SEVENTH PASSOVER – THE PASSOVER SUPPER AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS

The ultimate fulfillment of the Feast of Passover occurred when Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. By the grace of God, all those who accept Jesus’ substitution for their sins and place their faith in Him as Lord and Savior will be saved. As the children of Israel were set free from their life of slavery after the ‘original’ Passover was initiated by God during the time of Moses and the Exodus, so will all those who trust in Jesus be set free from a life of slavery to sin. They will not be judged and condemned to death and hell as the idol-worshipping Egyptians were. The blood of the Lamb of God, when applied to the entrance of your dwelling place, your body (more specifically your heart) will protect you from eternal death.

According to my research (and others), Jesus was crucified on Nisan 14, AM 3793 on the Feast of Passover. The date on the Julian calendar was April 2, AD 33. For more details, see the first part of this article: Seven Famous Passovers in Scripture: Part 1 :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready

There are a few Passovers located in scripture that are briefly mentioned. Jesus attended at least three Passovers during his three-year ministry: John 2:13, John 6:4, and John 11:55-57. Many scholars believe the ‘feast’ mentioned in John 5:1 was a fourth one. When Jesus was young, we know Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover (and probably Pentecost and Tabernacles) according to Luke 2:41. One such Passover is described in Luke 2:42-49 when the boy, Jesus, was 12 years old: “Now it was that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:46-47).

In the future Millennial Kingdom of Jesus (the 7th dispensation of God), the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits shall be observed according to Ezekiel 45:21-24. The Feast of Tabernacles shall also be observed (Ezekiel 45:25). The Feasts of Pentecost, Trumpets, and Atonement are not mentioned.

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Behold, He comes with the clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:4-7).

Randy Nettles

nettlesr@suddenlink.net

 

In the beginning, God created…. When finished, He called His creation very good (Gen 1:31, KJV). ^[1] Seemingly, the center of God’s creation was the Garden of Eden where he placed the man He had formed (Gen 5:8). It was here that Lucifer, the one who would exalt his throne above the throne of God, struck (Isa 14:13). He began his journey of deception by convincing Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit which she gave to her husband Adam, and he did eat (Gen 3:6). Some believe the serpent, who was energized by Satan, resided in Babylon, which was near to Eden. Therefore, God had placed man in Eden, and Satan had chosen Babylon as his center of operations. Understanding this beginning is crucial to understanding the ending which rapidly approaches.

The goal of this article is to demonstrate that while God has always desired that man multiply and fill the earth with offspring who worship Him as the Most High, Satan has also sought the worship of all men who defy God and unify under the leadership of one who would have them coalesce into one cohesive world government just like the first world government at the Tower of Babel.

The Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel, the image of the first kingdom of man, which was at the heart of Babylon, was constructed by the descendants of Noah after the flood. In fact, Nimrod, the son of Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah, was the leader of the endeavor to build a city with a tower so high it would reach unto heaven. The stated purpose of the building project was to make a name for themselves so they would not be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth (Gen 11:3-5). What does ‘make a name for themselves’ really mean?

The historian Josephus provided clarity about the mindset of Nimrod in the following statement:

He persuaded them to attribute their prosperity not to God but to their own valor, and little by little transformed the state of affairs into tyranny, holding that the only way to detach men from the fear of God was by making them continuously dependent upon his power. He threatened to have his revenge on God if He wished to inundate the earth again; for he would build a tower higher than the water could reach and avenge the destruction of their forefathers. ^[2]

This cause was not only ludicrous; it was also in direct opposition to God’s command to “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen 9:1). The reason men were able to prosper in this endeavor was the fact that they had one language (Gen 11:1). Therefore, God’s method of dealing with this rebellion was to simply confuse their language, which caused them to leave off from building and subsequently scatter abroad upon the face of ALL the earth (Gen 11:8-9, emphasis mine).

Once the languages were confused, mankind migrated away from those who spoke different languages and toward those who spoke their own language. This caused the settling of the nations of the world along with national boundaries, which God saw fit as the best solution to keep men from doing anything they put their mind to (Gen 11:6). This construct has worked for over four thousand years. But Satan has been chipping away at the boundary established by God ever since. His desire is to see man come together once again with one mindset on defying God and building a kingdom of self-rule at, you guessed it, Babylon. In fact, those who speak of Building Back Better could actually be speaking of rebuilding the kingdom of Satan, headquartered in Babylon.

Babylon’s Return

Babylon, according to some, has been the command post for evil forces since the very beginning of the story of man. God planted a garden in Eden, and Satan countered by establishing his base of operations in the nearby Shinar valley, also known as Babylon. Charles Larkin supplies some insight into this premise:

The river Euphrates, on which the city of Babylon was built, was one of the four branches into which the river that flowed through the garden of Eden was divided, and Satan doubtless chose the site of Babylon as his headquarters from which to sally forth to tempt Adam and Eve. It was doubtless here that the Antediluvian apostasy had its source that ended in the Flood. To this center, the ‘forces of Evil’ gravitated after the Flood, and ‘Babel’ was the result. ^[3]

Scripture also speaks of Babylon being present at the very end of the book of Revelation. In fact, Babylon is depicted as a woman sitting on the beast, which shall ascend out of the bottomless pit (Rev 17:1-9). She is also depicted as a great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth (Rev 17:18). This woman has a name inscribed on her forehead, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Rev 17:5).”

The original Babylon is believed to be the true originator of harlotry and abomination by way of establishing the mother-child cult. Since this is the last time all languages were the same, the legend developed there that the wife of Nimrod, Semiramis, had a son named Tammuz who was begotten through an alleged miraculous conception. Dr. Andy Woods explains that when God confused the languages, the legend spread throughout all of the world, and the mother and child had different names:

The legend of Semiramis and Tammuz spread around the world. Their names were changed in different places, but the basic story remained the same. In Assyria, the mother was Ishtar, and the son was Tammuz. In Phoenicia, the mother was Astarte, and the son was Baal. In Egypt, she was Isis, and her son was Osiris, or Horus. In Greece she was Aphrodite, and her son was Eros. For the Romans, the mother was Venus, and the son was Cupid. ^[4]

This is proof positive that Babylon is the only entity possible of being ‘the mother of harlots and abominations,’ which in some mysterious way will reappear in the last days.

How will Babylon return? Scripture indicates that Babylon is in the valley of Shinar, which is modern-day Iraq. Interestingly, the wars of the past twenty years and the subsequent withdrawals left great resources at the disposal of the enemies of Israel and Christians alike. This should not be considered coincidental. Instead, consider these actions as part of the master plan of Satan to rebuild Babylon. He intends to reestablish his earthly kingdom right where he started it long ago.

Perhaps the greatest obstacle has been the very thing God put in the way when He visited the Tower of Babel, “nationalism.” This obstacle is currently under heavy attack. Especially with the advent of the recent pandemic, which has served to reduce, and in some cases remove, national boundaries. Simultaneously, people are being resettled all around the globe in a concerted effort to cause all people to once again speak the same language or, said another way, come into one mind and one accord.

Additionally, another purpose of the pandemic is to cause people to look to one form of leadership or another for direction. As the pandemic progresses, centralization comes to the fore as individual freedom is lost. This is all by design. Remember, the ultimate goal is to cause all to come under the leadership of a one-world government, using one world currency while having one world religion (Rev 13). Babylon will be the central location from which the forces of darkness fulfill their dastardly deeds.

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, 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.

With this in mind, is there any good news?

The Good News

So, where is the good news? Ah, this news is good indeed. As noted earlier, the church, the bride of Christ, will be raptured before the tribulation begins. However, this good news is accompanied by some bad news. Those who knew ‘about’ Jesus, but did not ‘know’ Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, will not be taken in the rapture. This event is reserved for those who believed but did not see. Those who do not go in the rapture have affectionately come to be known as ‘left behind,’ and they will also become the “tribulation saints.” This massive group of people are those who are depicted in seal judgment number five and later when the great multitude is seen in heaven in Revelation chapter seven:

Revelation 6:9-11

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

Revelation 7:13-14

“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Unlike the church, raptured because they chose to live for Jesus, these will have to die for Jesus in the tribulation:

Revelation 20:4

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

One last thought about the nations mentioned as the fourth part; these nations are predominantly Christian. Therefore, the pretribulation rapture will cause many to escape death which comes during the coming seal judgments. However, these nations are also where many of those who populate heaven, having come out of great tribulation, come from. Perhaps, those left behind will realize they missed the call upward and quickly turn, with all their hearts, to the Lord to such a degree that they are willing to die for their faith. This is precisely how the tribulation saints are depicted:

Revelation 12:11

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

This article has only touched the surface of the very deep subject of eschatology, “the study of last things.” In fact, reading this has no doubt raised many unanswered questions, such as: Will the church be raptured before the Tribulation begins? How will the rapture impact the world? Will the sudden departure of the faithful cause the chaos from which the antichrist system comes to power by bringing order? How do the judgments of the Tribulation shape the geography of the world just before the return of Christ?

Undoubtedly, more questions could be added to this list. Future articles will address many of these issues in order to raise awareness of the impending change which will impact the entire world.

If you do not ‘know’ Jesus, now is the time to accept Him as Lord and Savior. The following passages provide vital information which will get you started on the straight and narrow path:

John 3:16-21

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (emphasis mine).

Romans 10:8-17

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 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! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (emphasis mine).

Conclusion

The last days are clearly upon us. The stage is being set for the return of Christ for His bride and the subsequent return of focus to the kingdom of Satan headquartered in Babylon. These facts are on clear display for all who desire to know what is happening. Someday soon, everything will change in an instant. The world will never again be like it is right now in the age of grace. The powers of darkness are coalescing in order to assume absolute command, which one could argue the pandemic is a test run for. Fortunately, the Lord has constricted the enemies’ rule to a seven-year period which will essentially separate the good from the bad. Revisiting the Apostle Paul’s words about the rapture while adding verse eighteen is appropriate here:

“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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess 4:16-18, emphasis mine).

Be encouraged; the saved have nothing to fear. Be encouraged; reach out to the lost before it is too late for them. Be encouraged; you may just be the one who is to share God’s Word to one who is to become a brother or sister in Christ. Be encouraged; you may lead some away from the returning Babylon and toward the returning Christ. Be encouraged; if you have never known Jesus, reading this article could be the beginning of something great for you; this could be your new beginning – now is the time – call on the name of Jesus.

Website: In His Commission

Sources:

[1] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.”

[2] Josephus Antiquities 1.4.2. See also E.W. Bullinger, The Apocalypse or “the Day of the Lord” (London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1909; reprint, London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, 1972), 506-07.

[3] Charles Larkin, The Book of Revelation (Glenside, PA: Larkin, 1919), 151.

[4] Andrew C. Woods, Babylon: The Bookends of Prophetic History, (Dispensational Publishing House, Inc.), p. 12. Kindle Edition.