THE REVELATION OF THE END TIMES/THE LAST DAYS

Jonathan Cahn unveils how the Bible speaks of prophetic times known as the ‘Last Days,’ the ‘End Times,’the End of Days.’ Remarkably, it begins with Moses in Revelation. Before the Jews went into the Promised Land, Moses told them their entire history.

And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.Deuteronomy 28:54-65

And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.Deuteronomy 30:1-3

And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. And the Lord your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you.Deuteronomy 30:5-7

Jonathan shows us that all the old testament prophets were shown the victorious end of Israel’s story with their Messiah ruling the nations of the world from a magnificent new Jerusalem. We find incredible detail (8 chapters) of the new temple in Ezekiel 40-48. The numerous details provided on Ezekiel’s temple require that they be taken seriously. The exact measurements and detail by detail instruction are nothing like portions of Scripture that are to be understood symbolically

For more on Jesus coming Millennial Kingdom go to http://www.millennialkingdom.net and go to Resources and click on PURPOSE and ISRAEL to discover what it will be like ruling and reigning with Jesus with a rod of iron. The curse is not lifted so people will still being born, sin and die, hence the need to rule with a rod of iron.

IRAN IN BIBLICAL END TIMES PROPHECY

Iran is facing an unprecedented water crisis, with dams running dry, rivers vanishing, and millions at risk of displacement. Could this catastrophic drought be more than a natural disaster? Many are asking if these events were foretold in the Bible, as signs of prophecy unfold before our eyes. In this video, Joshua explores the crisis, its impact, and the possible prophetic connection with Israel.

Water and energy outages are now a daily occurrence as the country edges closer to “day zero”, with warnings Tehran’s water supply could run dry in just weeks.

“We are talking about a possible day zero in Tehran,” Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health said.

“We are facing this situation of no water and no electricity during extreme heat and on top of that, we are seeing wildfires here and there, dust storms, and so on.”

USE END TIMES BIBLICAL PROPHECY TO COMPLETE THE GREAT COMMISSION

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.2 Peter 1:19-21

The Bible is full of fulfilled prophecies, which testify to its divine inspiration and inerrancy. It is estimated that as much as 75% of the 2,500 prophecies in the Bible have been already fulfilled, and most of those yet to happen are last-day/end-time events.

Do you realise there are far more prophecies about Jesus second coming than His first coming? The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get it with His first coming, and the church is not getting it with His second coming, maybe in your lifetime.

For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.Matthew 24:44

With knowledge of the Bible’s last days’ prophecies, we can use them to evangelize unbelievers, showing them that God controls history. I hope my book, Living Eternal Now – Ready for Jesus Return will assist you in being equipped to complete the Great Commission before Jesus’ second coming. It is available as a paperback and ebook on Amazon.

UN & WEF “PACT FOR THE FUTURE”

New York – Summit of the Future, 22-23 September, 2024

Jacob Nordangård: UN Leaders Pact for the Future – A Pact with Who?

Jacob Nordangard’s lecture (video) uncovers the true intention behind this year’s United Nations Summit of the Future, which will result in the outcome document, Leaders Pact for the Future. The plan is to turn the pact recommendations into concrete measures and turbocharge the implementation of Agenda 2030. If the pact gets signed, it will result in a new automated global management system severely affecting our freedoms. Who will benefit from and ultimately lead the transformation?

The Bible, GOD’S WORD is largely prophecy and a large part of the prophecy is devoted to the end times before Jesus returns to fulfill the destiny of the nation God established for His purposes: ISRAEL. Jesus will usher in His Millennial Kingdom ruling and reigning over the nations from a magnificent new Jerusalem.

Amazingly, the Bible tells us that a one-world government is coming and we know who will lead it: the Antichrist with his False Prophet. We also know it will be a time of tribulation for Jews and Christians

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.Matthew 24: 9-12

Jesus told us in advance that intense persecution is coming but we can be confident that Jesus will be with us in the most trying circumstances just as He was with Stephen when he was being stoned to death.

As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!”  He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.Matthew 24:59-60

God gave Stephen a wonderful vision. What did he see?

But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!Matthew 24:55-56

MY WI FI RESTORED

Finally, I got my WiFi back on. My internet provider is not sure why it went down. God got my attention during the period it was off so perhaps He was involved. In the short post I did on my phone to let you know my WiFi was down, I mentioned I was working on a series of posts based on Douglas Hamp’s three books: 1. Corrupting the Image: Angels, Aliens, and the Antichrist Revealed, 2. Corrupting the Image 11: Hybrids, Hades, and the Mt. Hermon Connection, 3. Corrupting the Image 111: Singularity, Superhumans and the Second Coming of Jesus. While my WiFi was down, I had the time to read most of Doug’s first book and complete several posts which is why I think God may have been involved in closing down the WiFi.

In the Olivet Discourse Jesus told us that at the time of His second coming people will be like they were in the days of Noah, godless, and lawless. They do not believe the Bible and its many prophecies of His second coming so will be taken by surprise when He appears.

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:26

Douglas Hamp says that in the end times, Satan will attempt to alter mankind as he did with the Nephilim so they can no longer be saved. Mankind already has the technology to make this happen. It is called Recombinant DNA where a nonhuman gene is introduced into the human gene thereby it is no longer a human gene but a hybrid. The DNA strand is opened up, and then a gene from another organism is inserted, making a new strand of DNA. Then the RNA replicates the new strand and it is passed into the entire system. Using recombinant DNA, Satan will try to convince humanity to insert demonic genes, perceived as desirable, into the human genome resulting in the person becoming a chimera or hybrid. Moreover, Satan will insert his own DNA into the Antichrist. This will happen midway through the last seven years before Jesus returns, first to rapture the Saints and then to pour out His wrath upon an unrepentant world with the Trumpet and Bowl judgments of Revelation 8 and 16.

AMERICA: A NATION DESTINED FOR GOD’S WRATH

Americans’ rapid shedding of God and His values was evidenced by Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s celebrated speech at the Democratic National Convention. She celebrated “children” identifying as transgender, vilified concerned parents’ efforts to remove pornographic books from children’s sections of school libraries, and embraced life-destroying fertility methods. Moreover, her husband, former president Barack Obama, promised a Harris-Walz administration would sign a bill extending abortion to all 50 states.

Is it any wonder that last week, whistleblower Vanessa Sivadge was illegally fired from her position as a nurse at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH)! Vanessa, a former Family Research Council intern and a TCH Nurse, blew the whistle that gender transition procedures for minors were being illegally performed and funded through Medicaid at Texas Children’s Hospital. Before becoming a whistleblower herself, she had previously received a threatening visit from federal agents asking her to reveal the then-anonymous identity of Dr. Eithan Haim, another TCH whistleblower who initially revealed that the hospital was conducting these procedures on minors in violation of Texas state law.

Before blowing the whistle on these illegal procedures and Medicaid fraud, Vanessa had submitted a religious accommodation request to be transferred to another department so that she did not have to be involved in these procedures and violate her biblical beliefs. Her request was never granted, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Not only did Texas Children’s Hospital ignore Vanessa’s religious accommodation and transfer request, but she was fired after coming out as a whistleblower several weeks ago.

Thankfully Vanessa is standing strong, saying she “would like to challenge this in court.” “My faith and my gut, just knowing right from wrong, compels me,” she says. “I was born for this. I have no doubt this is what I am supposed to do.”

Vanessa is right, Christians need to stand firm in the face of unrighteousness. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warns us that before His return persecution of Christians will get much worse.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

This Scripture and many others show us that Christians will not be raptured before the prophesied tribulation and even the great tribulation that occurs. Jesus told us that we will see the abomination in the temple (Antichrist) and experience the tribulation that ensues. Much of the church has adopted the pretribulation rapture position so will not be prepared for what is coming. Hence this post.

EVIDENCE OF A DECAYING CULTURE

8.3 million minors in the USA received mental care in 2023, highlighting a ‘Decaying Culture’.

The family unit, social interaction, and politics are a few of the many variables that impact a developing adolescent. When a child’s family unit is broken, social life is in shambles, or the political public square becomes unavoidable, it can have consequences on who they become as their worldview takes shape. As evidenced by previous reports, as well as one published last month, mental health concerns are exploding in the younger generation.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducted a July survey that analyzed the amount of counseling, medication, or other forms of mental health therapy minors underwent in 2023. According to the results, 8.3 million youth ages 12 to 17 received mental health care, which The Epoch Times noted “is equivalent to nearly one-third of the adolescents in the U.S. undergoing treatment for mental health issues.”

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which is the title of SAMHSA’s annual survey, found that the results were in line with the trend they’ve seen since 2009, namely, that “the percentage of teenagers who receive treatment for mental health has climbed practically every year.” As ET highlighted, “Authorities from SAMHSA said that they considered the increase to be a positive development, highlighting efforts to mainstream and remove the stigma associated with getting treatment for mental health issues.”

The survey included statistics concerning the underage and their use of alcohol and drugs, as well as the rates of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts among adolescents. To accompany those statistics in greater detail are countless other studies accentuating what causes children to engage in such harmful behaviors and acts — all of which often lead to mental health issues.

For instance, The Washington Stand highlighted a report from last year “that compared dozens of studies conducted between 1987 and 2022,” emphasizing the way fatherlessness impacts children. In analyzing the results, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) noted there were “clear correlations between children raised in fatherless homes and developmental challenges ranging from bad grades, anxiety, and suicide to violent behavior, drug use, and criminality.”

Additionally, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study from 2022 examined 7,111 children “who did not identify as anything other than their biological sex, as well as 58 transgender-identifying children between the ages of 9 and 10.” As the report emphasized, “Children who identified as transgender at this young age were more likely to experience depression … anxiety … conduct problems … and suicidality.” The study also pointed out that trans-identifying children were more likely to have endured “significant psychological trauma” such as “exposure to domestic violence, mental illness, alcohol or drug use in the home, physical or emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, and parental divorce.”

Needless to say, there are many factors involved in the “recipe” of “despair, hopelessness, nihilism, [and] disaffection,” as Marlo Slayback, national director of Student Programs at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, previously shared with The College Fix. According to Slayback, Generation Z is surrounded by a “decaying culture,” which inevitably affects them as they try to navigate through it. But to further break down how this all relates to the most recent findings, Joseph Backholm, Family Research Council’s senior fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement, shared his insight with TWS.

“It’s beyond dispute at this point that social media is harming the mental health of young people,” he said. Especially among the youth, the technological realm is “creating constant comparison which leads to a lack of contentment.” Not to mention, he added, it’s replacing real-life relationships with the appearance of virtual relationships.” But beyond social media, Backholm urged that our analysis should consider that “the way we talk and think about mental health may explain some of this as well.”

He continued, “We have destigmatized mental health in ways that are good, but we have almost glamorized certain mental health ways that make young people want a diagnosis.” Numerous instances prove that “adults are rushing children into mental health treatments in ways that have never happened before.”

Abigail Shrier does a good job documenting this in her recent book Bad Therapy,” where she “argues that the problem isn’t the kids — it’s the mental health experts.

It appears, Backholm stated, that “in an attempt to make sure we don’t ignore a child’s struggles, adults may inadvertently be encouraging children to fixate on them which could make things worse.” In addition to that, “if children receive special attention for having a mental health challenge, we inadvertently encourage children to have them, or at least claim to.” According to Backholm, “Mental health challenges are real, but they are also invisible, which makes diagnosing them more difficult and more susceptible to cultural and personal factors rather than scientific ones.” 

From a biblical worldview, Backholm explained how “a sinful world is full of challenges,” and really, “Christians understand why.” Ultimately, “When we live and think the way God intended, in relationship with Him and others, our minds will be better for it.” But the truth is, Backholm contended, “We live in a broken world, and no one escapes the consequences fully.” As a result, we are incapable of living completely as God intended us to live.

A major influence is that most young people have been taught in schools and universities that God does not exist, they evolved from monkeys and therefore there’s no meaning or purpose to life. They have no hope. God’s commandments have been jettisoned: homosexuality, gay marriage, transgenderism, and abortion are acceptable. Christians who hold to God’s standards are bigots, homophobes, and worse.

The true history of the world is no longer taught even by our Bible Colleges. Due to the acceptance of evolution, they have abandoned Genesis, its creation account, and the worldwide flood of Noah’s day. Fortunately, God’s Word, the Bible tells us that this would happen in the last days before Jesus’ second coming.

Knowing this, first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these, the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.2 Peter 3:3-6

Christians know how the story of this world ends. Jesus in his Olivet Discourse, given in three of the Gospels, provides a lot of detail as does Revelation. In the O.T. the revelation given to Daniel was for the end times. Three times Daniel was told, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.” Daniel 12:9

Daniel, like no other book, reaches all the way back to Israel’s beginnings and outlines the whole sweep of Israel’s history of crisis and covenant discipline, reaching its glorious resolution in the kingdom that has come on earth as it is in heaven. Daniel is the key to organizing the whole of scripture around the main themes of kingdom, covenant, and mystery. But it is Jesus’ Olivet prophecy in particular, and the emphasis He puts on one centermost event (abomination of desolation), that becomes the key that opens not only Daniel but also sets all the prophecies spoken concerning the coming day of the Lord in clearest covenant context.

We must remember that the NT revelation of the mystery of the gospel is built around Christ’s first coming, His departure, and His return to Israel, specifically to the Mount of Olives from whence He ascended. He must return to the place where He was crucified under the placard that said, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

Why end the age just there, in that physical locality? Why has God constructed the end of the age around an ancient land dispute that is divinely calculated to plunge the nations into an insoluble crisis from which none will be able to extricate themselves? (Zech 12:2-3). Why would God bind together the issue of the mystery of the gospel with the mystery of Israel?

Part of the answer regards His deliberate intention that both comings would be surrounded by an element of mystery is to elude the pride of self-reliance (Mt. 11:25-26), just as Paul warns in Ro. 11:25. Just as the mystery of Christ’s twofold coming so deeply searched and tested Jewish hearts, just so, the mystery of Israel is designed to test and sift the hearts of the nations, even gentile believers.

But there is one important difference: The mystery of Christ’s cross and twofold coming was not only hidden from Peter and the disciples (Mt 16:22Lk 18:34); it was hidden even from the angelic powers (1 Cor 2:7-8). Not so the mystery surrounding the Lord’s return.

Those well-marked days will only come “as a thief” upon the unregenerate church and the unbelieving world, but not upon the faithful children of the light (1 Thess. 5:4). We know this because Daniel’s prophecy is clear that the vision will be unsealed and known to the wise at the time of the end. They will be doing great exploits, instructing many, and turning many to righteousness. A countless number will be saved out of, “the great tribulation (Rev 7:14).

But the larger answer to the question has all to do with the completion of an ancient covenant promise. It is the age-ending climax of the “everlasting covenant” that forms the framework of the future. In the larger context of God’s eternal purpose in Christ, this is what defines how and why the age ends just as the prophecy of both testaments so fully describes.

Reggie Kellie of Mystery of Israel (www.mysteryofisrael.org) says, “Towards the goal of seeing the big picture, I believe the Lord Jesus Himself has given us the key to establish what I like to call a “plumbline of simplicity” that will align and pull many of the strands together into a coherent clarity. The object will not only be to know what is most important to know, but how best to show others how to make the case from scripture without getting bogged down in details, in a way that will equip others to equip others.

If observed, God has given us an amazing, and now especially timely, provision to equip the body, not only to escape the manifold forms of end-time deception but to have the Lord’s own, personally commended key of interpretation that will enable them to “instruct many” and “turn many” to righteousness” (Dan 11:32-3312:310).

Much of the back end of this post is extracted from an article by Reggie Kelly The Olivet Key to Daniel’s Prophecy of the End

WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS

Is the Middle East inching toward all-out war? The Biblical answer is yes, and the time is near.

Nothing is certain. Iran’s leadership has promised, publicly, loudly, and repeatedly, that it will strike Israel militarily. It says this is to avenge the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 in Tehran. This killing was carried out by Israel, although Jerusalem has not claimed responsibility for the event.

Haniyeh has been replaced as overall Hamas leader by Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 atrocity. A ceasefire may still be on the cards, but whenever Sinwar shows his face the Israelis will surely kill him.

A day before Haniyeh’s death, an Israeli strike killed Hezbollah’s military commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut. The Israelis were responding to a Hezbollah 50kg rocket that hit an Israeli Druze village and killed 12 young people. As a result of the death of its military commander, Hezbollah too has vowed, repeatedly and explicitly, a major strike on Israel.

So Iran and Hezbollah have now committed to military actions against Israel in the coming days.

The world has taken these threats seriously. The Albanese government advised Australians in Lebanon to leave now, while they can. Numbers of international airlines have stopped flights to Beirut and some to Israel. Others have decided to avoid Iranian air space.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says Israel is already at war with Iran.

Netanyahu sees Iran as a unique existential threat to Israel. He also sees it as having a much bigger significance in global politics. In his recent speech to the US Congress, Netanyahu said: “For Iran, Israel is first, America is next. So, when Israel fights Hamas, we’re fighting Iran. When we fight Hezbollah, we’re fighting Iran. And when we fight Iran, we’re fighting the most radical and murderous enemy of the United States.

Iran’s leadership seethes with visceral hatred of Israel. Even in Australia, the Iranian ambassador thought it good form to tweet out a statement that he hoped the “Zionist plague” would be “wiped from the map” by 2027.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promised “harsh punishment” for Israel. Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, vowed a “severe response” to teach Israel a lesson.

Senior Iranian officials reportedly told Arab governments they no longer cared whether their forthcoming attack on Israel caused an all-out regional war. This may be a bluff, or at least stylised military signalling.

Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, also told his own people his group would hit Israel harder than before. In a fiery speech in Beirut he declared: “We have not sought escalations until now, we have been fighting in support of Gaza but keeping in mind the Lebanese national interest. Every time one of our commanders was killed, our response was heightened but always measured.

“But the assassination of a top (Hezbollah) leader (in Beirut) must be treated differently. Our response is coming, God willing, from us and the axis of resistance – and it must be strong.”

The “axis of resistance” Nasrallah is talking about is Iran and its regional proxies, namely Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Shi’ite militias in Iraq and Syria, and Hamas as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Palestinian territories.

All except the Palestinian groups are Shi’ite. Iran has always aspired, mostly forlornly, to lead and inspire the entire Muslim world. Its leaders had close connections to the Sunni extremist Muslim Brotherhood. Although the Arab Middle East generally is divided into Sunni versus Shia, this hasn’t stopped Iran from supporting, supplying, and effectively leading Hamas and PIJ.

Iran is the ram of Daniel 8:4. “I saw the ram charging westward, northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power.” With its proxies: Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), Palestinian Islamic Jihad (West Bank and Gaza), Houthi (Yemen), Al-Ashtar Brigades (Bahrain), Kata’ib Hezbollah (Iraq), Badr Organization (Iraq), Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (Iraq), Fatemiyoun Brigade (Syria), Zainabiyoun Brigade (Syria), Quawt al-Ridha (Syria), Baqir Brigade (Syria) it is pushing westward, northward and southward.

Who is the goat of Daniel 8? The Hebrew word translated “Greece” is actually YAVAN. Yavan were an ancient people that occupied eastern Greece and western Turkey. The principle city within the region is Istanbul. The Angel is not referring to Greece but rather to the land once occupied by the Yavan people who lived in western Turkey! Hence, Turkey is the goat. Daniel instructs us that a great war is about to take place between Iran and Turkey, and Turkey will ultimately prevail. It will be a war between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims. Turkey will re-conquer Babylon (Iraq) and conquer Persia (Iran). This will create an empire that is part Lion, part Bear, and part Leopard (referring to Rev. 13). A revived Ottoman Empire.

Why does scripture highlight this particular war? It is highlighted because it launches the career of the Antichrist! Scripture reveals that a revived Ottoman Empire exists for a short time but it is broken up into four. We are not told by whom but it could be the United Nations. They would not like to see a revived Ottoman Empire. It is out of one of the four nations the Antichrist arises.

Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. Daniel 8:9-11

For Christians, the next major end-times sign is the Goat (Turkey/Sunni) v Ram (Iran/Shia) war. When this eventuates Christians can show non-believers the truth of God’s Word. Apocalyptic evangelism should be a powerful tool.

JESUS RETURN TO EARTH AS GIVEN IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

Baruch is the senior lecturer at the Zera Avraham Institute based in Israel. He holds a PhD in Jewish Studies. His dissertation was on the translation techniques of the Septuagint. Baruch has been married for 30 years to his wife, Rivka, and they have three adult children. The Kormans live in Israel.

Baruch teaches on Jesus’ return based on the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. He correctly warns Christians that during the end times, they will face tribulation. Jesus tells us that just as Daniel prophesied (Daniel 11:31) Christians will see the abomination of desolation (Antichrist) in the temple. They will experience persecution metered out by the Antichrist but they will be kept from the wrath of God that is poured out with the Trumpet (Revelation 8 & 9) and Bowl (Revelation 16) judgements.

UNDERSTANDING THE DAY OF THE LORD

The phrase “Day of the Lord” usually identifies events that take place at the end of history (Isaiah 7:18-25) and is often closely associated with the phrase “that day.” One key to understanding these phrases is to note that they always identify a period during which God personally intervenes in history, directly or indirectly, to accomplish some specific aspect of His plan particularly Jesus second coming and a time when God will pour out His wrath upon the unrepentant as He did with Noah’s flood.

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Luke 21:34-35

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:38-39

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.Matthew 24:43-44

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!” 2 Peter 3:10-12

For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief!Revelation 16:14-15

The Old Testament passages dealing with the day of the Lord often convey a sense of imminence, nearness, and expectation: “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near!” (Isaiah 13:6); “For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near” (Ezekiel 30:3); “Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand” (Joel 2:1); “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14); “Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near” (Zephaniah 1:7). This is because the Old Testament passages referring to the day of the Lord often speak of both a near and a far fulfillment, as does much of Old Testament prophecy. Some Old Testament passages that refer to the day of the Lord describe historical judgments that have already been fulfilled in some sense (Isaiah 13:6-22Ezekiel 30:2-19Joel 1:153:14Amos 5:18-20Zephaniah 1:14-18), while others refer to divine judgments that will take place toward the end of the age (Joel 2:30-32Zechariah 14:1Malachi 4:15).

The New Testament passages call it a day of “wrath,” a day of “visitation,” and the “great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14) and refers to a still future fulfillment when God’s wrath is poured out on unbelieving Israel (Isaiah 22Jeremiah 30:1-17Joel 1-2Amos 5Zephaniah 1) and on the unbelieving world (Ezekiel 38–39Zechariah 14). The Scriptures indicate that “the Day of the Lord” will come quickly, like a thief in the night (Zephaniah 1:14-151 Thessalonians 5:2), and therefore Christians must be watchful and ready for the coming of Christ at any moment.

Besides being a time of judgment, it will also be a time of salvation as God will deliver the remnant of Israel, fulfilling His promise that “all of Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26), forgiving their sins and restoring His chosen people to the land He promised to Abraham (Isaiah 10:27; Jeremiah 30:19-31, 40; Micah 4Zechariah 13). The final outcome of the day of the Lord will be that “the arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:17). The ultimate or final fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the day of the Lord will come at the end of history when God, with wondrous power, will punish evil and fulfill all His promises.

Much of the above comes from the website: http://www.gotquestions.org. It is a great place to go for answers to Biblical questions.