Three; 3½ Year Periods before Jesus Returns

Jesus 3½ years; 2 prophets 3½ years; antichrist’s 3½ years

1. God designed three special 3½ year periods of 42 months, which have 1260 days

2. The 1^st special 3½ year period; Jesus physically ministered on earth

3. The Gap between the first and second 3½ year periods

4. The 2^nd special 3½ year period; 2 prophets/witnesses bring Israel back to God

5. Third 3½ year period, the great tribulation; antichrist/beast rules over the earth

5a. Exception from the antichrist/beast’s rule over all people; the chosen of Israel

6. 30 days of God’s wrath; after Jesus returns to gather us up in the clouds (rapture)

7. 45 days for Jesus to come in power; establish His Kingdom on earth

7a. 666 – 777; Jewish calendar

1. God designed three special 3½ year periods; of 42 months, which have 1260 days

3 1/2 years = 42 months (3 ½ x 12 = 42) = 1260 days (42 days x 30 = 1260)

(1) Jesus: 3 1/2 Years - Da 9:27*

(2) 2 prophets/witnesses: 1260 days - Rev 11:3

(3) antichrist/beast: 3 ½ years - Da 7:25** - Da 9:27*; 42 months - Rev 13:5

woman/Israel; protected during period 3. antichrist/beast: 42 months - Rev 12:6; 3 ½ years - Rev 12:14**

Temple/Jerusalem; controlled by Gentiles (antichrist) during period (3) antichrist/beast: 42 months – Rev 11:1

*Middle of week refers to a sabbatical week of 7 years; middle of 7 years is 3 ½ years in Da 9:27

**Time (1 year) + Times (2 year) + Half Time (½year) = 3 1/2 Years in Da 7:25, Rev 12:14

After God freed Israel from bondage in Egypt, He used the moon to count the days in a month; which established the dates for Israel to offer sacrifices and celebrate annual ceremonial feasts to Him. The Jewish calendar month is based on the time between new moons (lunar months) which is 29.53 days. The Jewish calendar months alternately have 29 and then 30 days in them; averaging 29.5 days; in a 12 month normal Jewish year of 354 days. To adjust for the extra .03 day difference (29.53 – 29.50 =.03) with the true lunar months, a day could be added or subtracted from a month. This makes an adjusted Jewish year of either 353 or 355 days. See Jewish calendar at bottom of message.

*On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. Ex 19:1 ESV+

* The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Ex 12:1-2 ESV+

A leap year with an extra month in it also had to be added to the Jewish calendar year; to balance its 354 day years, to a solar year (earth orbit of the sun) of 365.24 days; which is 11.24 days longer. A leap year needed to be added 7 times in each 19 years to adjust the Jewish calendar year to the solar year. The 13^th month of the leap was called Adar 1 and has 30 days in it. Adding the 30 days to the Jewish calendar produced a year with 383, 384, or 385 days in it. Yet a leap year cannot be used in God’s 3 special periods because it has 13 months in it; more than the 42 months which these 3 periods have. And no combination of a 353, 354, 355, 383, 384, or 385 day year when added together over a 3½ year period; will add up to 1260 days. They will always be at least 2 days off.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar#Names_of_months

Since there is no 3½ year period which has 42 months and 1260 days in it; it is not a normal occurrence, but was specially made by God for a specific purpose. We do not know how God made or will make these periods; maybe by allowing extra days to be added before the first moon of Nissan is seen. What we do know is these 3 special periods are all prophesied in God’s Word, and that they have and will individually occur within the Jewish calendar years. They mark the time Jesus began His ministry, will initiate the time Israel will be given a last chance to come to God; and will end after beast/antichrist’s tests all people, and Jesus returns to gather all believers to Him in the clouds. The number 3 is a number of divine perfection and completeness; which the completion of these 3 periods will bring to those who believe in Jesus.

Jesus 1260 day ministry period; began around Tishri 10, 26 AD; completed Nissan 14 30 AD (See 2. Below)

Gap period unknown years; Nissan 30 AD until 2 prophets come;

Now is in the 1^st – 5^th seals (Rev 6:1-16); will end with the 6^th seal (Rev 6:12-17)

Then 2595 days:

We will not know the day or hour the 2595 days begins or ends (Matt 24:36), but we will know the season (Matt 24:32-33). For the 3½ year, 42 month, 1260 day periods of both the 2 prophets/witnesses and the antichrist are special; will not match up with the Jewish calendar.

2 prophets/witnesses given power; begins fixed period of 2595 days, or 7 years 45 days (Da 11:11-12)

2 prophets/witnesses 1260 day period bring Israel back to God

Begins 7^th seal (Rev 8:1); through 1^st - 5^th trumpets (Rev 9:1-11); 1^st woe (Rev 9:12)

Antichrist/beast 1260 day period to physically rule over the world

Begins 6^th trumpet; ends 6^th trumpet (Rev 9:13-20); 2^nd woe (Rev 11:14)

Jesus gathers believers up in the clouds (rapture); end of 70 week 490 year prophecy of Da 9:21-27

7^th trumpet (Rev 11:15, 1Co 15:51-52)

God’s wrath of 30 days

1^st – 7^th bowls (Rev. 16:1-21); 3^rd woe (Rev 11:14)

45 days for to establish His earthly Kingdom; after He comes in power to defeat the antichrist/beast; end of prophecy Da 12:11-12

After the 7^th bowl (Rev 16:17); through war (Rev 16:16), judgment (Joel 3:2), making earth new (Isa 65:17), ready to worship (Zech 14:16-17)

1260 + 1260 + 30 + 45 = 1335 days.

*"From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. Da 12:11-12 NIV+

These days have been fixed by our Father; yet only He knows the exact day or hour the 2 prophets/witnesses will start their period, and exact time the antichrist will be given his power; though we will know the year and the season.

*“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Matt 24:36 ESV+

*But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 1Thess 5:4 ESV+

2. The first special 3½ year period; Jesus physically ministered on earth Jesus Born Tishri 10, 5BC; Died Nisan 14 30AD

Our Father gave Daniel a 70 week timeline which would complete His plan of salvation through the Anointed One, Jesus. The weeks in this timeline do not refer to days, but to Jewish sabbatical weeks of years; each week is actually 7 years, not 7 days. Therefore the length of this timeline is 70 weeks of years x 7 years = 490 years. From now on we will refer to a week as seven years.

*"Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. Da 9:24 NKJV+

*“You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years. Lev 25:8 ESV

Notice how the seven weeks are calculated in the above verse. 7 weeks of years are 7 x 7 years = 49 years; 10 times less than the 70 weeks of years x 7 years = 490 years in the top verse.

The 490 year timeline began when Jesus was anointed to begin His ministry. This would be 483 years (7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks of years = 69 x 7 = 483 years) after Ezra read the decree he was given by Artaxerxes; which gave Ezra the authority to rebuild Jerusalem, the temple, and govern the people there (Ezra 7: 13-26). After Jesus was anointed there were 7 years remaining on the 490 year timeline given Daniel (490 – 483 = 7 years).

*"So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until [an anointed one] the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Da 9:25 NASB+

*“And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, Ezr 7:21 ESV+

*And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. Ezra 7:8 ESV+

Ezra came in the 5^th month (see verse above), probably read the decree in the 7^th month on the day after the Day of Atonement (Tishri 10); after the people had come to the temple to worship on the most holy day of the Jewish year.

Artaxerxes reign began in 465BC. In the 7^th year he issued a decree 465BC – 7 years = 458 decree issued

Artaxerxes reign began in 465BC

458BC decree - 483 years (time Jesus anointed) = 25AD + 1 (over 0) = 26AD Jesus anointed

Jesus was anointed by His Father to begin His ministry when He was 30; so He was born in 5BC.

*how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Ac 10:38 NKJV+

*Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, Lk 3:23 NKJV+

26AD (anointed to begin for ministry) – 30 years of age = 4BC - 1 (over 0) = 5BC year Jesus was born

The 7 remaining years (490 years – 483 years to Jesus anointing = 7 years) would not be finished until all the vision and prophecy of the 70 weeks was completed (sealed), and the most holy, Jesus, was anointed as the King over this world. Jesus made a firm covenant over the entire time of this specific 7 year period; which would contain a gap period (now over 1985 years), and last until He returns in the clouds to gather us up to Him. The covenant promise Jesus made was to give all who loved Him above all things, eternal life in Heaven; where we will live with Him forever.

*"Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. Da 9:24 NKJV+

*"And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Da 9:27 NASB+

The last 7 year period began when Jesus was anointed to begin His ministry on this earth. His 3½ year period of ministry would end in the middle of this last 7 year period (7 years - 3½ years = 3½ years), when Jesus was crucified upon a cross, physically cut off from life, as the only sacrifice which could redeem us from our sins. This stopped forever the need for any other sacrifice or offering to be made for our sins.

Last 7 years – 3 ½ years = 3 ½ years remaining in the prophecy of 70 weeks.

*And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. Da 9:26 ESV+

*"And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Da 9:27 NASB+

With His death on the cross Jesus atoned for Adam’s transgression, made an end to sins, was reconciliation for iniquity and brought in everlasting righteousness.

Then a gap, a period of years known only by our Heavenly Father (now over 1985 years), will be needed to complete (seal up) the vision and prophecy of the seventy weeks; and for Jesus to be anointed as King over this world.

*"Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. Da 9:24 NKJV+

The last 3½ years of the 70 weeks (490 year prophecy), will be fulfilled when one comes on the wing of the Temple in Jerusalem (wing of abominations) to desolate the world and the people in it. The antichrist/beast is the one who will be given power over the world throughout the great tribulation; the third and last 3½ year period. Until Jesus returns to gather us up in the clouds and the antichrist is destroyed; beginning with the 7 bowls of God’s wrath being poured out on him, as is stated in the verse below.

*"And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Da 9:27 NASB+

*He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. Da 7:25 NKJV+

Note: time, 1Yr; + times 2yrs; + half time ½yr = 3½yrs

*Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2Thess 2:3-4 NIV+

3. The Gap between the first and second 3½ year periods

The gap period starts after the completion of the first 3½ year period, the day after Jesus was crucified. The gap period will be completed at the beginning of the second special 3½ year period; in the silence of the 7^th seal the 2 witnesses/prophets are given power to bring Israel back to their God. The gap period will have all the tribulation from the 1^st seal through the 6^th seal in it.

*Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come Rev 6:1 NASB+

*When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Rev 8:1 NASB+

All believers who will live in the gap period, have and will face tribulation; this included those in 70 AD who were killed and made slaves by Titus, the Roman ruler; who was the prince to come and destroyed Jerusalem, God’s Temple there in the verse below. And there will continue to be wars and desolations until Jesus comes in all of His power to rule over this world.

*And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. Da 9:26 ESV+

*I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 1:9 NKJV+

*“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. Matt 24:9 ESV+

This period is now over 1985 years; we are in the 5^th seal awaiting the 6^th seal (War of Gog; see Where We Are in End Times 3c1.) which will end this period. And only our Heavenly Father knows the exact time when this gap period will end.

Jan 2016 – March/April 30 AD Jesus crucified = 1985 years + approximately 9 months

4. The 2^nd special 3½ year period; 2 prophets/witnesses bring Israel back to God

The second 3½ year period of the 2 prophets/witnesses was not revealed to Daniel, or in any other Old Testament prophecy. It was first revealed to Paul that after the fullness of the Gentiles had been saved, all Israel would be given another chance to be saved. Later John would be the only one told about the 2 prophets/witnesses. Who would be given power to help Israel come back to their God, and worship at the new temple built in Jerusalem.

*I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. Ro 11:25-26 NIV+

*And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." Rev 11:3 NIV+

*and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. Rev 11:10 ESV+

These 2 prophets will probably be Elijah and Enoch (others believe Elijah + Moses) for they never physically died (2Ki 2:11; Heb 11:5). They were probably kept in Abraham’s Bosom until they will once more be brought down to physically live on earth. At the end of their 1260 days of teaching, they will be killed; and we do not believe anyone will have to physically die twice to come into Heaven.

*“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. Mal 4:5 ESV+

*By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Heb 11:5 NKJV+

The 2 prophets will have the power to protect Israel as they worship in God’s new temple at Jerusalem. This temple will be built after God defeats Israel’s enemies in the War of Gog, or when the prophets begin their 3½ year period. The2 prophets will have the power to have fire come out of their mouths, which will devour anyone wanting to harm them. And they will able to put plagues on any nation which would come against them.

*And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. Rev 11:5-6 NASB+

The prophets will come to start their teaching in the silence of the 7^th seal, remain through the tribulation of the first 5 trumpets; including the woe the 5 trumpet. Yet through this tribulation, through a world that will hate them, the faithful of Israel will have a joyous time as they come back to their God; worship Him at His Temple.

*One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. Rev 9:12 NKJV+

*and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. Rev 11:10 ESV+

The 2 prophets will be killed at the beginning of the 6^th trumpet when the antichrist comes into power. Some from many different nations will gaze at their bodies (maybe by internet), and refuse to let them be buried because of their hate for them, their hate for their God.

*When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Rev 11:7-8 NIV+

* For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, Rev 11:9 ESV+

But after 3½ days (3½ matches their yearly time period) the 2 prophets will have their spiritual beings returned to them (breath of life), and will be given glorified bodies for them to live in. They will be the first after Jesus to be taken with a glorified body into Heaven, to be with our God forever. It is only fitting that Elijah and Enoch would receive this honor for they pleased God; and it will always be first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

*But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. Rev 11:11-12 ESV+

*There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Ro 2:9-10 NIV+

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. Heb 11:5 ESV+

The best indicator we have to know the climatic end times have started, is when the 2 prophets/witnesses appear in Jerusalem; for they will initiate the last fixed 1335 day period (see chart bottom 1.). Only our Heavenly Father knows the exact day or hour the 2 prophets/witnesses will start their period, and the exact time the antichrist will be given his power; though we will know the year and season.

*“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Matt 24:36 ESV+

* "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. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near--at the doors! Mk 13:28-29 NKJV+

5. Third 3½ year period, the great tribulation; antichrist/beast rules over the earth See antichrist

The 3½ tears, 42 months, 1260 days of the antichrist/beast; is the last 3 ½ years; the 2^nd 3½ half (middle to end) years of the last 7 years of 70 week prophecy given Daniel. When the antichrist/beast will be the one who comes on a wing of the Temple in Jerusalem, to begin His 3½ year rule over this world. this world. Last half of the middle of the week, the last half of 7 years is 3 ½ years.

*"And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Da 9:27 NASB+

*And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. Rev 13:5 ESV+

It will be known as the Great Tribulation, for this will be the only 1260 day period in which someone else other than God will have full physical control over the world. It will be the most brutal period of people being killed that will ever exist; the only ones not under antichrist/beast rule are the chosen of Israel (see 5a. below).

*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. Matt 24:21 NKJV+

*It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. Rev 13:7 NASB+

satan was a very powerful angelic spiritual being, a cherubim, who disobeyed God; became an enemy of God, an evil spiritual being, a demon. A third of the other angels would follow satan instead of God and likewise become demons, evil spiritual beings. satan came to the Heavenly Council or Court, wanting an equal 3 ½ years as Jesus, and the 2 prophets would receive. Our Father gave satan equal time, a 3½ year period to test the saints; just as He had given satan a chance to test Job (see Job).

*One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. Job 1:6-7 NIV+

*Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1Pe 4:16-17 ESV+

Note: satan would later come to the court to extend the antichrist’s time, but would be denied.

*He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 'But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Da 7:26 NASB+

satan will try to deceive all people into believing that he is God the Father; will use two other demons to help him with his deception. The antichrist/beast will come posing to be Jesus, and the false prophet will come posing to be the Holy Spirit; trying to get all the people to worship the antichrist/beast.

*And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 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. Rev 16:13-14 ESV+

The antichrist/beast is a demon who will come up out of the Abyss, when it is opened in the 5^th trumpet; to let out the demons imprisoned in it. Abyss: deepest part of Hades, where some demonic spiritual beings are being kept for the White Throne Judgment (See Specifics Hades-Abyss-Hell). God is still in physical control of the earth; limits what the demons can do; in 6^th trumpet antichrist beast in control of the world, killing those he wants to.

*Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. Rev 9:1-2 NKJV+

*The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. Rev 17:8 NIV+

*Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 1Jn 2:18 NIV+

The antichrist/beast will take over the physical body of a man who has already died; a powerful well known man who is opposed to God. The world will be astonished when they see a dead man who has come to life once more. Those of the world will be fooled by his power and all the miracles signs he will perform. And our Father will delude all who have heard about Jesus, but have not accepted Him; so they will believe the antichrist/beast is God and will be condemned to Hell. Only those who are first hearing about Christ will be saved in this period. Antichrist/beast also called man of lawlessness, perdition, or sin; 2Thess 2:3

*The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. Rev 17:8 NIV+

*The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2Thess 2:9-10 NKJV+

*For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 2Thess 2:11-12 NIV+

When the 6^th angel sounds the trumpet; the antichrist/ beast will begin his war to conquer this world; to kill all who will not bow down to him. The antichrist/beast’s 1260 days which will begin and end in the 6^th trumpet; will be the last test for believers as Jesus will return to gather us up in the 7^th trumpet. This test will be very simple; do you love your God, more than you love your life; for the antichrist/beast will kill all who will not accept him as their God.

This war on earth can be either a demonic spiritual war or wars, or symbolically represent a physical war or wars. When the war or wars will happen at once once or over a period of years is also debatable.

*Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Rev 9:12-15 NKJV+

*The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. Rev 9:16-18 ESV+

The antichrist/beast will kill any people who will not bow down to him as God. This includes Christians, those of Israel who are not protected by God, those from other religions, and atheists who believe there is no God.

*He who has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. Rev 13:9-10 NIV+

*Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

The false prophet is also a demon, who will take over the physical body of a humble charismatic man, a leader over a group of believers; who will be humble like a lamb. Yet he will speak with the voice of a dragon, and try to make all people worship the antichrist/beast.

*Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. Rev 13:11-12 NASB+

*He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. Rev 13:12 NIV+

The false prophet will cause many to be killed if they do not worship the antichrist, or do not take the antichrist/beast’s mark on their on their hand or forehead. Without this mark they cannot buy or sell in an economy controlled by the antichrist/beast and will face starvation, be without medical help. Yet if any take the mark of the antichrist/beast (symbolized 666; Rev 13:18), they commit an unforgiveable sin against God; and will be cast into Hell, the Lake of Fire at the White Throne Judgment.

*And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Rev 13:15 NASB+

*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, 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. Rev 13:16-17 NKJV+

*And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Rev 14:14 KJV

In the great tribulation God allows the antichrist/beast to physically control this world and the people in it; except the chosen of Israel.

The great tribulation is the last test for believers; being under control of antichrist/beast; his desire to kill us.

Only those who have never heard of God, will be able to become new believers

God cannot give physical help to any in the world; though spiritually He will always be in our hearts.

Jesus cannot gather up (rapture) believers physical bodies from the world; though if we physically die He will bring our souls to Heaven

Believers will be caged in a world with 2 choices; worship the antichrist/beast or risk being killed

The test is whether we love our lives, the lives of our family and friends more than God

With the end of the 6^th trumpet, the antichrist/ beast’s 3 ½ year rule is over; the second woe is completed, with the 3^rd woe soon coming.

*The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. Rev 11:14 NKJV+

5a. Exception from the antichrist/beast’s rule over all people; the chosen of Israel

In the 5^th trumpet satan (dragon, serpent) will be cast out of Heaven, down to earth by God; with all of his demons. He will use some of the earthly kings he controls to begin persecuting the “woman who gave birth to Jesus” (Rev 12:4, 6, and 14); a reference to the nation of Israel, from whom Jesus was born. But the chosen remnant of Israel, will be protected by God, flee into the wilderness, where God will nourish them until the 1260 days of the antichrist/beast reign is over.

*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. Rev 12:13-14 NKJV+*and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. Rev 12:3 ESV+

On wings of eagles: God will assist the chosen of Israel with a fast trip across the wilderness; like he helped them escape from Egypt.

*'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Ex 19:4 NKJV+

Only a third of Israel (all Israel which will be saved), a remnant of this nation, chosen for the sake of their forefathers; will be protected by God, until Jesus returns in power.

*And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the Lord, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The Lord is my God.' " Zech 13:8-9 NKJV+

*So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. Ro 11:25-28 ESV+

*And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, Ro 9:27 ESV+

In the above verses notice the chosen of Israel are enemies of the gospel, yet they will be saved by Christ’s grace; when Jesus comes in power and they call on His name. We believe those protected by God will have come back to worship at the temple during the time of the 2 prophets; yet may not accept Jesus until they see Him coming in power and call out to Him.

The chosen third of Israel will probably be taken into the wilderness land of Edom or Moab to escape from the rule of the antichrist/beast. For this 2 countries will escape being ruled by him, escape from his hand.

*He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. Da 11:41 NKJV+

This is what we must remember;

A. In the first 5 seals Israel has faced many tribulations from Christ’s death to the present time; including 70AD when their nation was destroyed and scattered; 1940s were killed by Nazi Germany; and today still hated by the world; many Moslem nations want to wipe them off the face of the earth.

B. The 6^th seal is when God will destroy the Moslem nations and Russia who will come against Israel in the War of Gog (see 7a below); allowing them to build a new temple in Jerusalem

C. In the 7^th seal God sends the 2 prophets/witnesses to bring Israel back to Him; gives them power to protect the believers who worship at the temple.

D. Israel will have to face the tribulation of the 1st – 5^th trumpets, in the time of the 2 prophets/witnesses; tests to turn them back to God.

E. God will protect His chosen third of Israel during the 6^Th trumpet, from the antichrist/beast; rest of Israel will be under rule of the antichrist/beast.

F. The 7^th trumpet all who believe, including Jewish believers in Jesus, will be given glorified bodies and gathered up in the clouds to be with Jesus.

G. God will protect the chosen of Israel, while the rest of the unrepentant world will go through the 7 bowls of God’s wrath.

H. When Jesus comes in power; all who call on the name of the Lord, including the chosen remnant of Israel who have been protected by God; will be brought into Jesus’ new kingdom on earth. The rest of the world, including those of Israel who will not submit to Jesus, will be thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath and killed.

6. 30 days of God’s wrath; after Jesus returns to gather us up in the clouds (rapture)

At sound of 7^th trumpet, the antichrist/beast’s 1260 day period is over; we are no longer physically under his control; satan is no longer prince over this world. The kingdoms of the world have become the Kingdoms of our Father; and He has anointed His Christ, Jesus, as King over the earth, who shall reign forever.

*Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" Rev 11:15 NKJV+

Jesus will return in the clouds bringing the spiritual beings (souls+spirits) of all believers in Heaven with Him. And He will resurrect the believers’ physical beings (mind+body) from the dead and glorify them; then unite their spiritual being with their perfect glorified bodies, making them a holy eternal person. Then Jesus will give all believers who still are alive on the earth; a perfect, holy, eternal, glorified body as He gathers (rapture) them up to the clouds to be with Him; be with all the believers from Heaven. Then Jesus will take all believers in their new glorified bodies to Heaven, to be with Him forever.

*Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 1Co 15:51-53 NIV+

*who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:21 NIV+

Jesus will now have sealed up all vision and prophecy as He becomes King over the earth; including the 70 week prophecy given Daniel.

*but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. Rev 10:7 ESV+

*"Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. Da 9:24 NKJV+

There will be no more believers left on earth, and the chosen of Israel will be protected by God until Jesus establishes His Kingdom on earth. God will now take his wrath out on this sinful world; for those who were not killed by the plagues of this earth, refused to repent of their sins and be forgiven by God.

*The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. Rev 9:20-21 ESV+

For 30 days, the 7 bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out over this world; which is the third woe of the 7^th trumpet.

*Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. Rev 15:7 NASB+

*Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!" Rev 8:13 NASB+

During the 6^th bowl satan, the antichrist/beast, and the false prophet will assemble an army at Armageddon to defeat Jesus when He comes in all of His power.

*And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. Rev 16:13-14 NASB+

*And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Rev 16:16 NKJV+

When the 7^th bowl is poured out it changes the world as we know it. There will be lightning and the greatest earthquake ever. Every island will flee, and no mountains will be found. Large 100 pound hailstones will fall down on the people.

*The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. Rev 16:17-18 NIV+

*And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And huge hailstones , about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe. Rev 16:20-21 NASB+

7. 45 days for Jesus to come in power; establish His Kingdom on earth

Then Jesus will come in all of His power, to defeat the antichrist/ beast, and all who fight with him.

*On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND Lord OF LordS. Rev 19:16 NIV+

*From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev 19:15-16 NASB+

antichrist (beast), also known as the beast, and the false prophet will be the first to be thrown into the Lake of Fire. They will be thrown into Hell within their physical bodies which are still alive (spiritual beings are eternal never die; being alive refers to a physical being, a mind+bpdy) into a fire which burns forever. And the devil (satan) will be bound up for 1,000 years, where he can bother no one.

*And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Rev 19:20 ESV

*And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; Rev 20:2 NASB+

Then Jesus will enter into judgment with those who are still physically alive on earth, and many will face the great winepress of God’s wrath. There will be so many killed that there will be blood flowing the height of a horse’s bridle for 200 miles (one thousand six hundred furlongs); the length of Israel.

*I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land. Joel 3:2 NASB+

*So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs. Rev 14:19-20 NKJV+

Those who remain after judgment will be;

The chosen of Israel who God has protected; who will call on the Lord’s name.

All who called on the name of the Lord, whether just before or after the Lord comes in all of His power; including the survivors of the war.

*And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls. Joel 2:32 ESV+

This will include Gentiles (Eze 56:8) who attacked Jerusalem; yet will now surrender their will to Jesus, and those who have not heard or seen the glory of God.

*Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Zech 14:16-17 NIV+

*"I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations--to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. Isa 66:19 NIV+

A year later the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) will be celebrated by all nations on earth; the last Feast to be completed. See Jewish Feasts

This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Zech 14:19 NKJV+

To continue on to through the 1,000 years of Christ’s Kingdom on earth until our Father makes a new Heaven and earth go to:

Where We Are in End Times 5. + 6.

7a. 666 – 777 in Revelation

6^th seal: satan through Gog, comes after Israel, in the War of Gog (See Where We Are in End Times 3c1.)

6^th trumpet: antichrist is given power over the world, over the saints

6^th bowl: satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet, gather armies to come after Israel at Armageddon

666 satan, the antichrist, the false prophet = complete evil

7^th seal: silence in Heaven as the 2 prophets come with God’s power to protect Israel, bring her back to God

7^th trumpet: Jesus returns in the clouds, takes all believers to Heaven, defeating death and satan

7^th bowl: Father’s judgment is complete; Jesus defeats satan, the antichrist, the false prophet; reigns as King over earth

777 Our God: Our Father, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit = perfect holiness

Jewish Calendar

Jewish normal year can have 353, 354, or 355 days; Jewish leap year can have 383,384, or 385 days

Calendar / Yearly

Month / Month Adjusted Days Normal year Days Adjusted Days

1 7 All months same Nissan 30 All months same

2 8 except Kislev Iyar 29 except Cheshvan

3 9 Sivan 30

4 10 Tammuz 29

5 11 Av 30

6 12 Elul 29

7 1 Tishri 30

8 2 Cheshvan 29 (+1) 30

9 3 (-1) 29 Kislev 30

10 4 Tevet 29

11 5 Shevat 30

12 6 Adar 29
---------- --------- ---------

Days in year 353 Days 354 Days 355 Days

Leap year has 13 months

Adar 1 added (+) 30 Days (+) 30 Days (+) 30 Days

----------- ----------- ---------

Days in year 383 Days 384 Days 385 Days

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+ ESV “Scripture quotations marked [ESV] are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,” copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Some words in the verses from these Bibles may be emphasized with bold letters.