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ISRAEL IN PROPHECY
THOUGHTS ON ISRAEL'S PAST AND FUTURE
PROLOGUE: THE 'MARK OF THE BEAST' IS HERE!
STARTING: WITH DANIEL'S 70th WEEK
In the past, at the beginning of each page
I explained how that, after examining Daniel chapter 9 and Jesus' Olivet Discourse, we can realize that the
ADDING: CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE MARK
But now, after more recent Bible study and my continued monitoring of world events, I have concluded that another aspect of 'the last days' has come; the 'Mark of the Beast'. It is a 'Mark' that the False Prophet will impose upon the entire world:
The False Prophet causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a Mark FROM their right hand or FROM their foreheads. And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the Mark , or an official name from the Beast, or an official number associated with his official name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number from the Beast, for it is the (identification) number of a man: that number is 666. Revelation 13:16-18
Until recently I had suspected that the 'Mark of the Beast' might be a bar code or QR code tattooed upon a person's skin. Or that it might be an RFID chip inserted underneath a person's skin. But with more recent study I have discovered that, in the original Greek of Revelation 13:16, the words 'forehead' and 'hand' were not written in the
And the Greek word translated 'mark' can also be translated as an 'image' or 'impression' of something. And so I now believe that the Beast's 'Mark' is actually a scan taken from people's faces and hands. These comprise the biometric data being collected today by many nations. And it will all come together in a worldwide system of human registration.
This registration of people will be comprised of three things; all three of which are described in Revelation 13:17:
And that no one may buy or sell except one who has 1) the scan (mark, image or impression), and 2) an official name from the Beast, and 3) an official number associated with his official name. Revelation 13:17
I have not yet identified the Beast's official numbering system, based upon a 6-6-6 format. But God is just and fair. And so when the Beast's 'number' does come, I trust that it will be obvious.
My concern, however, regards the fact that most of us are already accustomed to using facial recognition and fingerprint technology. And so the Mark (
In Revelation God has warned that those who embrace this 'Mark' will suffer
Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice “If anyone worships the Beast and his image and embraces his SCAN , taken from his own forehead or from his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God; which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever . And they have no rest day or night, who worship the Beast and his image, and whoever receives the SCAN associated with his own name.” Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:9-12
CONCLUSION: WE NEED TO FOCUS
And so combining a knowledge of
DO NOT SUBMIT TO THE MARK ( SCAN ) OF THE BEAST!
So what is it that God is calling Christians to do in this hour? To prepare for death. God now calls upon Christians to follow the three young Hebrew men, who went into the fiery furnace rather than deny their God (Daniel 3). And to follow Daniel, who risked the lion's den rather than to cease worshiping the one true God (Daniel 6). God calls upon Christians to hear His word and to understand the choice that now confronts all of mankind:
Therefore whoever confesses Me (Jesus) before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:12
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death , and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death (the Lake of Fire and Brimstone). Revelation 2:10-11
And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11
As I explain in my four web pages about
This was the 'great falling away from the faith' that Paul said would accompany the rise of a 'man of sin' (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). And so today some 'professing Christians' portray the coming of artificial intelligence and other technologies as 'God saving the world'. It is hailed as the arrival of 'peace and safety' (1 Thessalonians 5:3), and of diversity, equity and inclusion. But the simple choice still confronts us. Will we embrace Constantine's 'victory'. Or will we go outside of the world's 'wide gate' (Matthew 7:13) and meet the Savior there?
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs. Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him , that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-17
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate (of Jerusalem). Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Hebrews 13:12-14
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ISRAEL, THE PRINCE
We first encounter the name 'Israel' in the Old Testament book of Genesis. It means 'prince with God'. It was given to Abraham's grandson, Jacob; after Jacob had wrestled with God, seeking God's blessing (Genesis 32:22-32). And Jacob had 12 sons, who would become 'the 12 Tribes of Israel'.
Jacob's significance is that, as the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, it would be through him that the promised 'Seed of Abraham', Jesus Christ, would someday be born into the world. God had promised Abraham that his 'Seed' would accomplish two things:
These two promises are referred to in the Bible as 'The Abrahamic Covenant'.
REVELATION 12: THE WOMAN, THE CHILD AND THE DRAGON
There are many prophecies about the nation of Israel and its people throughout the Bible. But there are few as full, and yet simple, as the third vision of 'John's Little Book'; the prophecy of the Woman, the Child and the Dragon. The woman is Israel. The Child is Jesus Christ; the Son of God and 'Seed of Abraham'. And the Dragon is Satan.
This prophecy explains Israel's history in very straightforward terms. It divides that history into three parts:
PART 1: ISRAEL BIRTHS THE CHILD
Now a great sign appeared in heaven. A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with Child, she cried in labor and in pain to give birth.
And another sign appeared in heaven. Behold, a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who has ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there for one thousand two hundred and sixty days . Revelation 12:1-6
PART 2: THE RESURRECTED CHILD JUDGES THE DRAGON
And war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. But they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'NOW salvation, and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come. For the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time. Revelation 12:7-12
1260 DAYS
3.5 TIMES
3.5 TIMES
PART 3: THE ENRAGED DRAGON ATTACKS ISRAEL AND CHRISTIANITY
Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the Woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the Woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time , from the presence of the serpent.
So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the Woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the Woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the Woman. And he went to make war with the rest of her offspring (Christians), who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:13-17
The casting of Satan out of heaven is one of the greatest themes of the Bible:
How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! Isaiah 14:12
Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I (Jesus), if I am lifted up from the earth (upon a cross), will draw all people to Myself. John 12:31-32
And when the Holy Spirit has come, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Of sin, because they do not believe in Me. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you see Me no more. Of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:8-11
SATAN THE LAWYER
In order to understand the casting of Satan out of heaven, we must first understand the Father's initial purpose before time began. His intention was that the full glory of God would be revealed through His creation of the universe, and through His interactions with its inhabitants; particularly with angels and mankind.
The universe would be a great 'legal courtroom' where God's own righteousness, truth and justice would be revealed. But while all things have come from God the Father, and exist for Him, He appointed His only-begotten Son to be the One through Whom all of God's purposes would be achieved:
Yet for us (Christians) there is one GOD, the Father; of whom are all things, and we for Him. And one LORD Jesus Christ; through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:6
Where the universe is concerned, God the Father is the 'Chairman of the Board'. But the Son of God is His 'Chief Executive Officer'; the One to Whom all of the inhabitants of the universe must report in their dealings with God. The Son is the Father's 'point man'. And He is the Father's 'face' to us; represented by the 'Showbread' (bread of the 'Face') in the Tabernacle.
This is the meaning behind the New Testament's constant distinction between GOD the Father, and the LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus truly is the eternal God. But the New Testament authors consistently declare the Father's preeminence as the greatest among three co-eternal divine Persons.
Knowing this, Satan long ago embraced a plan to challenge God's governance of the universe. That plan would require using a knowledge of right and wrong to morally challenge and test the Son of God as the Administrator of the universe. The name 'Satan' means 'adversary'. And this is exactly what Satan became; God's legal adversary in the 'courtroom' of the universe.
And Satan has recruited many of God's angels to join him in his rebellion, as well as the entire human race. This is what God's first commandment to mankind in Eden was all about. We could believe and obey our Creator, experiencing His own righteousness through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Or we could learn the difference between right and wrong, and join Satan's legal bid to challenge God for rulership of the world.
God has honored Satan's 'legal standing' in the 'courtroom of the universe'. We see Satan's legal 'rights' in the Garden of Eden. God's commandment to Adam, not to learn right from wrong (Genesis 2:15-17), would have had little meaning if Satan had not been allowed to present his own 'argument' to Adam and Eve.
We also see Satan's legal activity in the book of Job. Satan challenged God for the right to test Job's obedience; through poverty, and then suffering. And God allowed this to happen (Job 1:6-2:10) so that Job's righteousness and faithfulness might be tested, and ultimately rewarded.
And the same kinds of trials are still a necessary part of the Christian life today. This is why Jesus promised eternal life to Christians who 'overcome' (in His messages to the seven churches, in Revelation chapters 2 and 3).
In addition we see Satan's legal authority as the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness after being baptized; to be tested by Satan before entering into His public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). And later we see Satan's 'legal leverage' in the life of the apostle Peter:
And Jesus said 'Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail. And when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren'. Luke 22-31-32
This is why Satan has now been cast out of heaven and down to earth in a defeated rage. It is because he made a 'bet' that he could find a weakness in the Son of God's moral character, and thus compel God to compromise with him in the governance of the universe.
In response to Satan's evil tactics, the Son of God came down to earth as a Man; the 'Seed of Abraham'. And He allowed Himself to be ethically tested in every way that a person can be; so that He might become a morally spotless sacrificial 'Lamb of God' for repentant sinners:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Who being in the form of God, did not consider it a thing to be clung to, to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death; even the death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow; of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
Satan, a mere created being, wanted to be glorified like the Creator. Jesus on the other hand, although He was the Creator, laid aside His glory in order to save and bless the lowest and most unworthy of persons.
The fact that the Son of God has been thoroughly tested by Satan, and has prevailed because of His steadfast righteousness, is the song of men and angels around the throne of God at this very moment:
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. Psalm 45:6-7
Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation. A tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. Whoever believes will not be ashamed. Also I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place (of wickedness). Isaiah 28:16-17
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many. For He shall bear all their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong. Because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. And He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:11-12
At the cross both the Father and the Son cooperated in making forgiveness possible for sinful people. And while They were doing this, Satan was constantly talking into Their ears; pointing out the wickedness of mankind and asking the Father how He could let His Son die for those who were nailing Him to a cross. But finally Jesus' death upon the cross ended that conversation. And so 'mercy triumphed over judgment' (James 2:13), and Satan no longer had a 'legal leg to stand on' in heaven.
Since then the Father has been in the process of making Satan His Son's 'footstool' (Psalm 110:1). He has cast Satan out of heaven. And He will soon chain him in a pit for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3). And finally God will cast this legal 'Adversary' into 'the Lake of Fire and Brimstone' forever (Revelation 20:10). This judgment will not be a simple exercise of raw power. But an exercise of righteous power through the grace, goodness and holiness of Jesus Christ.
SATAN'S TRIBULATION OF THE WORLD
The third part of the vision presents 'the Great Tribulation'; the coming of Satan down to the earth, and Israel being the first object of his rage.
This explains the persecution that both the Jewish people and Christians have experienced since
Pharaoh of Egypt, whom Moses confronted in the book of Exodus, was a prophetic picture of Satan. He too would not let his captives go. Even after he had been defeated, and his kingdom destroyed, he wickedly plunged his armies into the 'Red Sea' of God's destruction.
Those who see you (Satan) will gaze at you and consider you, saying 'Is this the one who made the earth tremble? Who shook kingdoms? Who made the world like a wilderness, and destroyed its cities? Who did not open the house of his prisoners? ' Isaiah 14:16-17
JESUS IS ISRAEL'S JOSEPH
With this vision (of the Woman, the Child and the Dragon) God also points us back to the second dream of Joseph in Genesis 37:9. The sun, moon and garland of stars in Joseph's dream correspond to these same things upon the Woman of Revelation 12. This is not a coincidence. God is pointing to the many amazing parallels between Joseph's relationship with his brothers, and Jesus' relationship with Israel.
In a similar manner Jesus also declared a 'special Sonship' to His fellow Jews, and foretold that He would rule over them some day:
The high priest said to Him 'I put you under oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God'. Jesus said to him 'It is as you said. Nevertheless I say to you: Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, coming on the clouds of heaven'. Then the High Priest tore his clothes, saying 'He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?' They answered and said 'He is deserving of death'. Matthew 26:62-66)
JOSEPH CAST INTO A PIT BY HIS BROTHERS (Genesis 37:24)
And today, unknown to Israel, Jesus has placed His 'cup' in their 'sack' as well (Genesis 44). Today the people of Israel, already having come through over 1900+ years of Satanic persecution, are surrounded by enemies on every side. Now Jew-hatred is running rampant in the United States; the 'Christian nation' that Israel once trusted for protection. And now Satan is stirring up the nations of the world to have one final 'go' at the Jewish people and Israel.
The Jewish people do not realize that their 'dead Brother' is allowing these things to happen, in order to bring them to honesty with themselves. Zechariah provides a picture of the circumstances that will eventually bring greater repentance in Israel:
Behold the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem. The city shall be taken, the houses rifled and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley. Half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee, as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You." Zechariah 14:1-5
When Israel finally recognizes their Brother, it will be a time of both salvation and sorrow:
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications. And they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced. And they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son; and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:9-10
SPIRITUAL vs. PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION
As mentioned in the beginning of this page, God gave two promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The promise was that someday someone called Abraham's 'SEED', a single person who would be born into the world through Abraham's family, would accomplish two things:
What is sometimes not appreciated is the connection between these two things. Abraham's
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have SUFFERED these things and to enter into His GLORY ?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Jesus speaking to His disciples after His resurrection, Luke 24:25-27)
The apostle Paul tells us that when God gave His promises to Abraham, He was actually preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him:
Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:7-9
And Abraham found acceptance with God not because he submitted to the ritual of circumcision, but because he believed in God's promise of a Savior. The ritual of circumcision was not given to Abraham until 24 years after he had arrived in Canaan. Abraham's righteous and obedient faith in the promised Savior PRECEDED and led to his circumcision:
And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My Laws. (God speaking to Isaac in Genesis 24:4-5)
Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How was it accounted then? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised. That he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised. That righteousness might be imputed to them also. And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. Romans 4:9-12
The Bible sometimes describes faith in the promised Savior and obedience to God as 'circumcision of the heart'. A person who obeys God's Law from the heart is said to be spiritually 'circumcised':
Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4
For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the Law. But if you (as a Jew) are a breaker of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the Law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the Law?
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly. And circumcision is that of the heart; in the soul, not in the letter. Whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:25-29
You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One. Of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers. Who have received the Law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. (The first Christian martyr, Stephen. Acts 7:51-53)
For we (Christians) are the circumcision. Who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3
The first three visions of John's Little Book (Revelation 11-13) portray the great blessings God conferred upon Israel
For I wish not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written "There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." Romans 11:25-27 (Isaiah 59:20-21)
It is my understanding that when Jesus comes back, Israel will be restored as a biologically Jewish nation again. But I also believe that every citizen of Millennial Israel will also be a Christian; spiritually circumcised. And it is vitally important that all people, Jew and Gentile alike, understand everything that the word 'circumcision' represents.