7. The promised Messiah

Jesus-Messiah-7.pdf

An exposition of Jesus life meant for young and old, to make clear the deeper meaning of the Messiah.

In the previous section; part 6, we talked extensively about God’s Kingdom.
The promised Kingdom, the Divine peace kingdom with a righteous government.
Everything that Jesus told about this, is coming from a reliable source:

NKJV (John 6:38) 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
NKJV (John 12:49) 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

Theme: The theme of this writing will be about Jesus’ important education concerning the last days and what these will mean for us.

These concepts are not easy when Jesus speaks of that difficult period.
Much that Jesus said about the last days is written in Matthew and Luke.
When Jesus is quoted in the Gospels, we will indicate that in blue.

The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem

NKJV (Matthew 24: 1-3) 1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

When would it happen that the temple would be torn down stone by stone?
That answer requires a careful explanation because in the answer Jesus no longer spoke about the temple that would be torn down stone by stone, but spoke of the abomination of desolation and a great tribulation:

NKJV (Matthew 24: 15-18,21-22) 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes….. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

In Matthew 24:15, in many translations – in the intermediary sense – there is something written like ‘the one who reads this, to do this with discernment.’
What – what is spoken about in Daniel – must then be differentiated?

NKJV (Daniel 11: 31,34-35) 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation……. . 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

According to our research, a distinction must be made between two different situations, the siege of Jerusalem with its abomination and the end time with its abomination.
After a siege of Jerusalem through a fence of pointed poles in 66 AD, Jerusalem including the temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans under the leadership of Titus.

In that same section, in verse 21, Jesus speaks of a great tribulation that will take place, as it has never been before. Now a great tribulation has taken place during the siege of Jerusalem, about 1 million Jews were killed.
But a little further in Matthew 24, in verse 29-30, it is written that after that great tribulation the Son of man will appear:

NKJV (Matthew 24: 29-30) 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

With the aforementioned great tribulation can impossible be meant the tribulation in 70 AD. Jesus’ second coming is immediately followed by the inclusion in heaven, and that ascension has not yet taken place. (see as support also Newsletters 6. The inclusion in heaven https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3596&lang=en)

What we therefore must ‘discern’ according to our study is, that in Matthew 24: 15-16 not only mention is made of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, but also of the abomination of the destruction of the holy place in the end times, just before Jesus second coming.
The great tribulation in the end times – see above Matthew 24:29 – is also confirmed by Revelation 3:10 and Daniel 12: 1 where is spoken of a temptation or tribulation that must come all over the world:

NKJV (Revelation 3:10) 10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I will also keep you for the hour of temptation that will come upon all the world to tempt those who dwell on the earth.
NKJV (Daniel 11: 40,12: 1) 40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through………. 1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.

Furthermore, in Matthew 24:22 is written, that for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened, otherwise no flesh would be saved.
The holy elect had certainly followed Jesus’ warning in 66-70 AD after seeing the Roman army and had fled ‘in time’ out of Jerusalem  to the mountains of Judea.
Also, in this section is written about ‘shortening’ those days otherwise no flesh of the elect would be saved, thus supports the abomination in the end times.

The taking away of the daily sacrifices, spoken of in Daniel 11:31, has been taken away by the death of Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, after which no more sacrifices were needed:

NKJV (Daniel 9:27) 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering……..
NKJV (Hebrews 10: 12,18) 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,… 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

This ‘taking away’ of the daily sacrifices in the end times means something else, namely to silence the Christians with their message:

NKJV (Hebrews 13:15) 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
NKJV (1 Peter 2: 5) 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
(see also: Newsletters 8. The visions of Daniel https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3850&lang=en)

According to our research, the abomination of desolation will also appear in a holy place in the end times.
What is the most sacred place? That is without doubt God’s temple.
(see also: Newsletters 2. The false prophet https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3041&lang=en)
In the end times, Christians are the temple of God:

NKJV (1 Corinthians 3: 16-17) 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
NKJV (John 14:23) 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

In the letter to the community in Corinth, Paul goes into this:

NKJV (2 Corinthians 6: 16-17) 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”…

It is clear that with ‘the temple of God’ the Christians – each personally – are meant.
Before the day of Christ comes, the falling away and THE antichrist, the son of perdition, must first have come:

NKJV (2Thessalonians 2: 3-4) 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

The falling away is an important marking point and this falling away is now for every Christian to observe. But with the falling away, also the son of perdition will be revealed, THE antichrist of the last hour. This son of perdition, the false prophet, will very soon begin to do powerful signs – according to the working of Satan – and will rise up as God and sit in the temple of God. (2 Thess. 2: 4)
Many Christians will revolt according to Scripture in the last hour:

NKJV (2 Timothy 3: 1-2) 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,…../em>

The faith of unsteadfast Christians can easily be undermined so that they develop a ‘rebellious spirit’:

NKJV (1 Timothy 4: 1) 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,…..

What else do we know about THE false prophet in the last hour?
We know that the false prophet is the wild beast with two horns from Revelation.
That is evident from the signs that he performs, as described in Revelation 13: 11,13 and 19:20:

NKJV (Revelation 13: 11,13) 11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon…. . 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
NKJV (Revelation 19:20) 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived…..

NKJV (Matthew 24: 23-25) 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

This false prophet is depicted as a beast with two horns, with the appearance of an innocent lamb (Messiah), but with the lying story of a dragon (Satan).
Jesus is pictured in the Scriptures as a Lamb (John 1:29) and Satan as a dragon. (Rev.12: 9)  This false prophet is therefore the mouthpiece of Satan and a false Messiah:

NKJV (Revelation 13:12) 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

The healing of this head or deadly wound (Rev. 13: 3) can be explained in such a way, that Roman imperialism was picked up again by the Western countries (Western Roman Empire) after many centuries. (see for this: world powers world powers 4. https://www.dojc.nl/?p=488&lang=en)
The false prophet exercises all the power of the current 7th world power, the USA, before his eyes. (see Rev. 13: 12). The number of the false prophet is the number of a man; six hundred sixty-six:

NKJV (Revelation 13:18) 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666

Throughout Scripture this number occurs again in 1 Kings: (and the same also in 2 Chronicles 9:13)

NKJV (1 Kings 10: 14-15) 14 The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 15 besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.

Solomon had a great financial wealth in his kingdom, he received 666 talents of gold per year, apart from the various other income.
The human being with the number 666 is (are) a person (or 2 persons) who has (have) a great wealth and a lot of resources at the moment, just like King Solomon had.
According to Revelation, the last days will be fulfilled during the 7th world power, which is the USA. (see:   world powers     world powers 3.   https://www.dojc.nl/?p=486&lang=en)
The false prophet is the initiator of a ‘picture’ or ‘an image’ of the 7th world power, the US, and makes this viable:

NKJV (Revelation 13:15) 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak…

Concerning the worship of the image, see:
5. Worship of the ‘image’ https://www.dojc.nl/?p=5272&lang=en

The current currency system – based on the US dollar as the world reserve currency – is about to fall over, because the debt system is blown up like a bubble and can no longer be controlled by applying inflation.
The large parties such as central banks are also thinking about this, they also see the problems coming.
The most obvious thing to do is to change this current debt system.
Previously, in such a situation completely new banknotes were printed.
However, the future now seems to be electronic money, a crypto-currency.
When the current money system falls apart, it will be the fall of Babylon the Great.
Our research shows, that the great whore represents the financial world, the relentless greed of this world.
(see: News Letters 1. Babylon the Great https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3039&lang=en)

A few extremely wealthy families in the US have the vast financial share in the global private central banks. The method of these rich is always simple, where great profit can be obtained, there they can be found:

ESV (Matthew 24:28) 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

According to Scripture (Rev. 17:11) they apparently want more, they want a kind of 8th world power, ‘that was and is not,’ a new world order through a money system:

NKJV (Revelation 17:11) 11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

In Daniel it is explained, how this will go:

NKJV (Daniel 11:38) 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

The king of the last 7th world power will honor the god of the fortresses.
The god of fortresses or strongholds in the end-times is the god of false reasoning, because strongholds or fortresses are false arguments according to Paul:

NKJV (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

The god which his fathers did not know – in the end times – is the false prophet, whom we call the god of wealth because of the received valuables. (see also 2Tess. 2: 3-4)
This king will make fortresses – false reasoning – together with a strange or foreign god, that’s almost certainly the Mesopotamian god Allah.
Those who support him will receive land and power, it is an extension of Islam.
(see: News Letters 10. The Great War in Har-Mágedon https://www.dojc.nl/?p=4171&lang=en)

A worldwide new crypto-currency system

Blokchain technology, as used in Bitcoins, is stored on a personal computer in the form of a ‘wallet’ file. The secret-key is in this wallet. Bitcoin money can be sent to another person over the internet to anyone with a bitcoin address and uses cryptography to provide the necessary security and encryption.
The blockchain data is filed synchronous worldwide on many servers.
This peer-to-peer topology (directly from one computer to another) and the lack of central administration makes it very difficult for a government to trace transactions.
In fact, there are no good arguments for the central banks to be against crypto-currency technology. Whether paper is printed with numbers on it (without gold coverage) and to call that ‘money’, or by taking secure software with which can be paid and to call that ‘money’ makes little difference to them. Blockchain is in this the new general ledger and e-money is the new currency.
The blockchain technology is just an example, every crypto-currency can be applied.
The central banks (and the state tax authorities) would certainly prefer that the piece of electronics – which the wallet is on – will be personal, and has a unique identification which is also the guarantee as a valid e-money password.

Our hypothesis is, that this unique identification may be an implant, the mark that is mentioned in Revelation.
According to insiders, there are now extensive tests in the animal world with implants for identification, heartbeat, fever, etc., but there are also trials for people.
A minuscule piece of electronics with identification. (see this video https://youtu.be/7P-xtBly898)
Everything you buy, all your passes, driver’s license, passport, what you consult and where you are interested in can be recorded via this ID chip.
We know that THE false prophet in the last days takes the initiative for that mark and that all those who want to accept the mark first have to worship something with regard to idolatry:

NKJV (Revelation 13: 15-17) 15 ……. and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

To worship the image of the beast in this reasoning means, to worship a new global money system, with 10 kings from the central banks in charge. (Rev.17: 11-13)

Concerning worshipping the image see:
5. Worship of the ‘image’      https://www.dojc.nl/?p=5272&lang=en

The false prophet forces all people to show loyalty and to accept the money system.
It will not be without obligation, who does not want to show loyalty will be killed according to Revelation 13:15. He will ensure that only people with the mark can buy or sell. (Rev. 13:17)

Why is it such an abomination?

NKJV (Revelation 14: 9-10) 9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God,… ..

To worship the ‘image’ and to receive the mark in the end time, means practicing idolatry.
(see: Newsletters 7. No part of the world https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3773&lang=en)
Christians are warned about this. ‘Come out of her, my people,…‘ (Rev. 18: 4-5)
This same urgent advice is also given in 2 Cor. 6:17 to ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ so, as not to be contaminated with this false love. (Matthew 6:24)
This son of perdition, the false prophet, will try to undermine Christian love with all his might to make Christians apostate.

In the Bible there is a parallel report about the worship of ‘the image’ in Daniel 3: 1-30:

Numerous Jews had been taken in exile to Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a golden image set up, a symbol of wealth that everyone should worship.
He had a herald broadcast: At the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebudkadnezar has set up. Those who do not fall down and worship will be thrown in the middle of the burning furnace at the same time. When the Chaldean people heard the sounds, they all fell down and worshiped the image that King Nebudkadnezar had set up. But not the Jewish associates of Daniel, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. A few Chaldean men began to accuse Daniel’s Jewish associates intentionally. (Daniel 3: 8)

This is what these faithful associates of Daniel gave as an answer to King Nebuchadnezzar:

NKJV (Daniel 3: 17-18) 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

These three youths were extremely heavily tested for their faith, but were rescued by an angel in the extra heated fiery furnace, while those who had to throw them into the furnace were killed by the exceedingly hot fire. (Daniel 3: 20-25)
Just as these three loyal Jewish youths were saved from the fiery furnace by the intervention of God, so will faithful believers, Christians, also be heavily tested in the end times and saved by angels when the nature violence of the earth comes to a climax.

The false prophet, the son of destruction and how the net is closing

Concerning the time of the coming of the false prophet, there is – along the already mentioned falling away – another clear characteristic: The 8th kingdom, the financial system of central banks, will govern. The eighth kingdom, the 10 uncrowned kings of the central banks, will only rule for one hour according to Scripture:

NKJV (Revelation 17: 11-12) 11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. 12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. (see: end time end time 11. The main themes https://www.dojc.nl/?p=2482&lang=en)

In the last period of 1 hour Biblical time we are living now.

This new global central bank, the NWO, will transfer its strength and power to the current 7th world power, the USA.
The climax will be the great war at Har-Mágedon against the Lamb:

NKJV (Revelation 17: 13-14) 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb,……
(see: newsletters 10. The great war at Har-Mágedon https://www.dojc.nl/?p=4171&lang=en)

When the nature violence completely breaks loose in the last days, the second coming of the Christ will come. The holy elect will be gathered to meet the Lord in the air:

NKJV (Matthew 24: 29-31) 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
NKJV (Luke 21: 25-27) 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
NKJV (Luke 17: 28-30) 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
NKJV (1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17) 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…..

No one knows the day of the second coming:

NKJV (Matthew 24: 32-34) 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near–at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
NKJV (Matthew 24:36) 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Be vigilant, and if the mentioned signs are there, then be prepared for the arrival:

NKJV (Luke 12: 35-40) 35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
NKJV (Revelation 16:15) 15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

The ‘mark’ will therefore be THE sign for Christians, to recognize Jesus second coming.
(see: News Letters 7. No part of the world https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3773&lang=en)

After the rapture of the elect, the 144,000 first fruits (Rev. 14:1,4), the rapture of the great multitude follows (Rev.7:4). These are the faithful disciples who will stand before the throne of God and the Lamb:

NKJV (Revelation 7: 9) 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

The great multitude, ‘which no one could count’, are therefore not the 144,000 saints, but are Jesus’ disciples described in Revelation 11:18 as ‘those who fear God’s name, the small and the great’ and who will also receive their reward:

NKJV (Revelation 11:18) 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

John was familiar with the heavenly inheritance of the saints, but apparently surprised about the large crowd he saw. For that reason, one of the older people wanted to inform John about the great multitude:

NKJV (Revelation 7: 13,14) 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
(see also: News-letters 6. The inclusion in heaven https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3596&lang=en)

In Luke and Matthew is written, that the timing of the rapture of the great multitude is a very urgent matter, similar to the sudden destruction by the flood or the sudden destruction with fire and brimstone of Sodom in the days of Lot:

NKJV (Matthew 24: 37-41) 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
NKJV (Luke 17: 28-33) 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

(see also: end time end time 2. The Gospels https://www.dojc.nl/?p=1606&lang=en)

When the angels blow on the 5th, 6th and 7th trumpet as is written in Revelation 9-12, these announcements are described as the three contractions.
Jesus also used this fact in his answer to the question from Matthew 24:3 what the sign will be of the ending of the world.
The contractions are getting faster and faster and are becoming more intense as with the birth of a child:

ESV (Matthew 24: 7-8) 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Between Matthew 24: 7-8 and 9-10 is a transition from [beginning of contractions] to [severe contractions], the great tribulation:

ESV (Matt 24: 9-10) 9 “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. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

During the three contractions as described in Revelation, an important prophecy will be fulfilled; the two witnesses prophecy.
In Revelation 11: 1-15 it is described how the two witnesses are the ‘messengers’ for the coming of the King Jesus as savior of his disciples:

NKJV (Revelation 11: 3) 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Just before the great day of God, a new Elijah will appear, a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah, along with a prophet in the spirit and power of Moses.
It is very plausible that with ‘the two witnesses’ Moses and Elijah are meant.
(see as support: Newsletter 3. The two witnesses https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3139&lang=en)
The preaching work of the two witnesses will at least have a twofold message.
A message to show repentance with regard to the Creator and His Son and a message against idolatry, against the love of money:

NKJV (Revelation 11: 6) 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

They will call on all Christians to support them. A small group will walk ‘the narrow road’ and respond to this. (Matthew 7:14)
God’s word will result:

NKJV (Malachi 4: 6) 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Meek Christians from all parts of the world will recognize the voice of the two witnesses as of divinely inspired origin and will support them until the Christ will come:

NKJV (Matthew 24:14) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then the end will come.

These two witnesses will be killed by the scarlet colored wild beast (Rev.11: 7), a sort of 8th world power of central banks.
(see: world powers world powers 9. https://www.dojc.nl/?p=501&lang=en)

NKJV (Revelation 11: 9-10) 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

After the fulfillment of the two witness prophecy (Rev.11: 1-14), God’s Kingdom will have a beginning (Rev.11: 15-18), after which Satan will be cast out of heaven: (Rev.12: 7-11 ; see also Luke 10:18)

NKJV (Daniel 2:44) 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

The nations will – according to Jesus – hate Christians who have supported this work:

NKJV (Matthew 24: 9) 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.

NKJV (Revelation 12: 7-8) 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

When Satan is cast out of heaven in great anger, then the tribulation for Christians on earth will erupt in all its intensity:

NKJV (Revelation 12:12) 12 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.”

Many Christians will have to flee for persecution during that period:

NKJV (Matthew 24: 19-22) 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

When the tribulation is erupting in full intensity, many Christians will stumble and hate and betray one another:

NKJV (Matthew 24:10) 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
(see:   Newsletters   7. No part of this world   https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3773&lang=en)

Christians are now already being persecuted worldwide, mainly by Muslims.
However, this receives little or no attention in the MainStreamMedia.
https://www.opendoors.nl/vervolgdechristenen/ranglijst-kaart/

Jesus warns us not to be misled concerning His coming in those last days:

NKJV (Matthew 24: 4-6) 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
NKJV (Matthew 24: 26-27) 26 Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
NKJV (Luke 21:28) 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Jesus speaks about the ‘pass away’ of the present heaven and earth:

NKJV (Matthew 24:35) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

NKJV (2 Peter 3: 7,10) 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men…. .. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
NKJV (Revelation 21: 1) 1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
NKJV (Psalm 102: 25-26) 25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.

The earthquakes, volcano eruptions and fire from heaven will be unbearable.
The cosmic planet earth itself will continue to function if all life as a cloak or robe has disappeared and will be the carrier of a new creation, the ‘new’ earth.
Is it then necessary to make a completely new creation?
The creation is – to mention some things – seriously damaged by genetically modified crops, chemical pesticides, pollution, radioactive waste/fall-out, etc.
Never again will be allowed that life on Earth is destroyed. (Rev. 11:18)
(see: News Letters 5. New Jerusalem; part 2 https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3330&lang=en)

Finally

Will it be many Christians who will be saved?

NKJV (Luke 13: 23-27) 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

Paul gives an insight into what kind of persons will be saved:

NKJV (Romans 9: 24-26) 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” 26 “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

So far this part about Jesus important education concerning the last days. In the next part – Jesus the promised Messiah part 8 – we will continue with Jesus description of the sacrifice that He had to make and what that sacrifice means for us.

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