THE PROPHETIC SEQUENCE
Part I—TRIDENT WARS
By
Doug Krieger
The “Syrophoenicia War” is raging in the Levant! Israel mobilizes 30,000 reserves; Iran is mysteriously silent—aside from rehearsing calls to annihilate Israel; the USA-British Alliance is calling the shots for Israel in crushing Hezbollah; the Palestinian Authority/Hamas is about to make their move—Iran and Syria orchestrate behind the scenes . . . the battle of the surrogates is endless . . . IT’S TIME FOR A FULL DISCLOSURE OF EVENTS before they overtake us! And, regardless of what you see and hear—the following strict eschatological exchange is not straight jacketed by events: Because we affirm it to be the unalterable Word of God.
This is a theological (i.e., eschatological) discourse; however, we will try to address relevant socio-political phenomena now so vividly dramatized throughout the Middle East in a manner conducive to subscribe the immediate interest of the reader; notwithstanding, the apparent use of Scriptural passages may “wear out the saints” – nevertheless, they are mandatory in substantiating the prophetic sequence. What we are about to share is a culmination of research through Scripture, as well as spiritual commentary in book and blogosphere. It is our prayer that the introductory clarifications outlined herein will be of immense blessing to both Israel and the Church at “the end of days” – and hope to the gentiles!
MEANINGLESS SPIRALS THIS IS NOT
Forget about ambiguity! Celebrate not the false humility of those who acclaim they “just want to love Jesus and leave the ‘details’ to Him.” Those who confront Scripture as “pantribulationist” (everything will pan out in the end) are, like the agnostic, committed to the unknowable—convinced in the absolute meaningless proposition that since we “see through a glass darkly, and prophesy in part” we, therefore, see nothing precise, and, consequently, should say nothing precise, and what little we do see is, in all probability, useless to convey to the world in the first place. Indeed, if we “know in part” – keep your mouth shut! Absurdity knows no bounds amongst the liberality of this hogwash.
They who are committed to everything are committed to nothing. Swirling around the ivory tower of ideas, concepts, and doctrines, while “settling upon nothing” is akin to starving to death by analyzing food in the midst of an immense smorgasbord! If we are to embrace the “spirit of the prophet” – then, we most definitely have “a more sure word of prophecy” – to wit:
“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for the prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction” (II Peter 1:16-2:1).
No, Peter wasn’t fooling around with “cunningly devised fables” – his specificity outrages the skeptic – his clarity repulses the wide embrace of generous discussion. I may vehemently disagree with my pre-tribulation rapture brethren—BUT THEY HAVE STAKED OUT A POSITION—now, they must so defend! Even so—what we shall initially set forth demands (with the exclusive use of Scripture) an agonizing reappraisal from the believing community: Christians, Jews, and even Moslems. We do not dwell in unapproachable ambiguity where all is love and oneness, so alleged. To the contrary, there’s minimal wiggle room:
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness!”
Furthermore, let it be known from the outset: Our boast is in the coming of the Messiah (the Mashiah), whom we affirm to be Jesus of Nazareth, a Jew in the flesh, and the son of David in His ascension, enthroned in the heavens; yet; Israel’s long-promised son who shall sit upon the throne of David in Millennial bliss upon this earth as promised by the Hebrew prophets—a time in which “there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria . . . in that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land . . . blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance” (Isaiah 19:23-25).
THE PROPHECY AGAINST DAMASCUS – GOG-MAGOG – ARMAGEDDON
From the outset, this thesis will demonstrate and highlight three prophetical wars:
These three (3) distinct wars which affect Israel in the “latter days” are interconnected (i.e., the one opens the door to the next in succession). Let it be known, this author had, up to this time, no knowledge that Orthodox Jews ascribe to three onslaughts at the “End of Days.” May I join them in their assessments! (Legends of the Jews, Louis Ginzberg, Book 2 and 3: “. . . you shall be freed from the three great afflictions: from the sufferings of the times of Gog and Magog, from the travails of the Messianic time, and from the day of the great Judgment.”)
WAR 1 - THE BURDEN OF DAMASCUS
The initial conflict can no longer obfuscate nor be dismissed as peripheral—it is entitled “The Prophecy (Burden) of Damascus” (Isaiah 17 and 18). Israel, Syrophoenicia (Lebanon and Syria), and the “Fortress from Ephraim” with the “cities of Aroer” (Palestinian Authority—now in Gaza, Jordan, and the hill country of Ephraim (so-called West Bank)—Zechariah 9: Damascus, Tyre, Sidon, Gaza)—all are involved. The “mystery nation” “beyond the rivers of Ethiopia" is identified as the United States of America (Isaiah 18) – or “A nation powerful and treading down, whose land the rivers divide” (vs. 7). This nation will send its “ambassadors” to orchestrate an ultimate peace settlement in the region.
The Burden of Damascus will debilitate a victorious Israel, as it “mushrooms” into a major conflagration wherein “Damascus will cease from being a city” and the Palestinian Authority, along with Syria’s lackey (Lebanon), will be “forsaken” and will simply “cease.” Other nations will rush into the conflict (Isaiah 17:12). This war is mentioned in Daniel 9:26b: “And till the end of the war desolations are determined . . . then he shall confirm a covenant with the many for one week;”
Although our consideration deals primarily with these three eschatological conflicts, there are major signposts along the way—it is unavoidable to ignore them in that they are intricately involved in the final scenario. Again, “The Prophetic Scenario’s” first exposure will be the highlighting of these THREE CONFLICTS – other parts will expand upon these “Trident Wars” and their relationships to other critical aspects of eschatological significance primarily triggered by these wars; for example:
“YOUR COVENANT WITH DEATH, YOUR AGREEMENT WITH HELL”
The vacuum created by this “exhaustive war” (i.e., “The Prophecy of Damascus) will result in a world-wide cry for “peace, peace” – this will result in “ambassadors” (Isaiah 18:1) from a “land shadowed with buzzing wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, which sends ambassadors by sea”—the USA, specifically its leader, will broker the infamous “Covenant with the many” (Daniel 9:26-27; 11:22) for “one week” (cf. “Your Covenant with Death, Your Agreement with Hell” – Isaiah 28:15 and 18) – The White Horse of the Revelation is “released” (Revelation 6:2) – the “Man of Peace” enforces the defense pact with Israel but involves many more nations who participate in “the pseudo peace.” (see Matthew 24:1-8)
WAR II - GOG-MAGOG WAR
Yes, “peace, peace, then cometh sudden destruction” (I Thessalonians 5:3). After Israel is regathered in their ancient homeland (Ezekiel 36-37) and after the Prophecy of Damascus is fulfilled (Isaiah 17-18) and after the false peace is “confirmed” and “all of them (Israel) dwell safely . . . (in) a land of unwalled villages . . . a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (Ezekiel 38:8 & 11), then the Gog-Magog War will ensue (Ezekiel 38-39:16) – this second of three conflicts will involve a constellation of radicalized Islamic nations aligned from the north (King of the North—headed by modern-day Turkey and Persia) and the South (King of the South—headed by Egypt allied with Libya and Sudan, ancient Ethiopia) against Israel (emphasis in Ezekiel 38-39:16). This war and its fulfillment is recorded in Daniel 11:40-45 but here the emphasis is upon the “Prince of the Covenant” (i.e., The Antichrist) who is allied with Israel; whereas the emphasis of the attack in Ezekiel 38-39:16 is against Israel.
It is altogether clear that sundry nations in the Middle East will NOT be on the side of Gog—primarily, the nations of the Saudi Arabian Peninsula (specifically Sheba, Dedan – Saudi Arabia and the “Gulf States” including Yemen—Ezekiel 38:13) and most definitely Jordan (i.e., ancient Edom, Moab, and the chief of the sons of Ammon—Daniel 11:41) – those nations excluded from the Coalition of Gog also, because of the plain reading of the text, do not include Syrophoenicia (Syria and Lebanon), the Palestinian peoples (Arabs of the area in and around Israel), nor, most interestingly, Iraq! Expositors who view Gog’s coalition coming from the “four-corners of the earth” and link it to Revelation’s final struggle with Gog (Revelation 20:7-10), are flippant in their reading of the texts and do well to view these battles as literal, yet future, and clearly delineated among the nations.
The above absented states and peoples are clearly allied with the Western trading nations known as the “Merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions” (undoubtedly headed up by the United States of America as the foremost commercial hegemonic in the world for now and into the foreseeable future)—this is precisely why the nefarious intents of Gog Magog are viewed “commercially suspicious” by those Arab states allied with the economic interests of the West (Ezekiel 38:13).
THE TESTIMONY OF THE TWO WITNESSES
The Gog Magog conflagration will be immense and result in the “divine intervention” of the Almighty on Israel’s behalf – cataclysms upon the earth, and supernatural fiery hail from the heavens. The destruction of Gog’s forces will result in a worldwide awareness of the “Holy One in Israel” – that He is the Lord (Ezekiel 39:7) AND usher in an era of incredible revival for Israel—“reconstituting” them as the TWO OLIVE TREES of Revelation 11:2 and Zechariah 4:1-6 in united testimony with a “revived Church” as the TWO LAMPSTANDS (Revelation 11:2) – the building of the Third Temple and the reinstitution of the sacerdotal rites in Jerusalem will commence in earnest. During the first 3 ½ years of this, the 70th Week of Daniel, Antichrist (the Willful King) will hear of “news from the north and east” which “will trouble him” (Daniel 11:44) - the entire seven year period is fraught with war—The Red Horse of the Apocalypse commences his gallop (Revelation 6:4).
Yet, the great world revival wherein the Son of Man commissions: “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe” (Revelation 14:15) will be irrepressible and global. The primary testimony of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 is one of a “call to repentance” (“clothed in sackcloth” Revelation 11:3b), and a prophetic testimony against that Great City, Babylon (Zechariah 4:1-14; 5:1-11). The inevitability of their prevailing witness is conclusive: “I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3).
THE BREAKING OF THE COVENANT – THE REIGN OF THE BEAST – WAR AGAINST THE SAINTS
The Willful King of Daniel (Daniel 11:3, 16, 36) – the Prince of the Covenant (Daniel 11:22) or the Coming Prince (Daniel 9:26—“the prince who is to come”) will “in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (Daniel 9:27)—this is NOT Jesus, “Messiah the Prince” (Who at the cross “offered one sacrifice for sins”—Hebrews 10:12) but “the prince who is to come” whose people (the Romans) destroyed the city and the sanctuary in 70 A.D. under Titus of Rome; nevertheless, it is from “the people of the prince” who shall produce “The Coming Prince” – i.e., the leader of the Western World (Daniel 9:25-27).
Satan will falsify the resurrection in the body (temple) of Antichrist whose title is changed to the “Beast” in the midst of the 70th Week of Daniel (II Thessalonians 2:3-12). This Satanic incarnation called the “Beast from the Abyss” “will make war against them (i.e., the Two Witnesses—Israel and the Church), overcome them, and kill them”—these are the “tribulation saints” (Matthew 24:9-28; Revelation 11:7; 6:9-11).
THE RESURRECTION AND RAPTURE OF THE TWO WITNESSES
While the Armageddon Campaign rages, and the persecution of “the many” (Israel) and of the Church prolongs, and when Jerusalem is nigh enveloped by the Beast—the resurrection of the just and the rapture of the living will take place (Psalms 2; Zechariah 14; Revelation 11:8-14; Daniel 12:1-3; I Corinthians 15:51-55; I Thessalonians 4:15-17).
THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST – THE “BEMA”
Immediately following the translation of the Two Witnesses (Israel and the Church—indeed, the resurrection of the just throughout the ages) all “saints” shall be brought before “The Lamb upon the throne” (Revelation 4:2-5:14). There in mercy they will be rewarded or suffer loss for the deeds “done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; I Corinthians 3:9-15; I Corinthians 6:2, 4; Luke 14:14; Revelation 19:8). Thus, it is upon “that day” that all believers shall come before the “Bema of Christ” (I Corinthians 4:5; II Corinthians 5:1-19; II Timothy 4:8; and Revelation 22:12).
WAR III - THE CAMPAIGN OF ARMAGEDDON & DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON THE GREAT
The “Armageddon Campaign” extends throughout the 70th Week of Daniel (virtually the entire seven-year time frame—even in the midst of the invincibility of the testimony of the Two Witnesses—Revelation 11:5-6). After Antichrist participates in the crushing of Gog Magog; and, after the “divine deliverance” of Israel, the Willfull King, shall, nevertheless, continue to engaged those “rumors in the north and east” (Daniel 11:44; Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9); indeed, “he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many” and “he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain” (Daniel 11:44b-45a).
It is toward the end of the Armageddon Campaign in which that Great City, Babylon, the pinnacle of all that man under the Mark of the Beast, under the inspiration of the anti-type of the Holy Spirit—the Second Beast/False Prophet—and through the Worship of the Beast, and the Image of the Beast, will come to its final conclusion (Revelation 17—Apostate Babylon; Revelation 18—Commercial Babylon; and ultimately through the Second Coming of Christ, Political Babylon—Revelation 19).
Armageddon’s climax (Revelation 6:13-21—The Sixth Trumpet; Revelation 16:12-16—The Sixth Bowl: “The Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty”) terminates in the horrific struggle between the 200,000,000-man army of the Kings of the East and the armies of Antichrist-Beast on the Plains of Megiddo in Northern Israel (Revelation 16:12, 16; 9:16).
MY SACRIFICIAL MEAL – THE SUPPER OF THE GREAT GOD – SECOND COMING OF CHRIST – MESSIAH AS DELIVERER
This is the final effort of the Beast and the False Prophet to destroy both Israel and the Church, after their successful destruction of the Kings of the East. Now the armies of the Beast, as well as the Beast and False Prophet will come to their tumultuous and destructive end (Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:3-15; Zechariah 14:1-4; Ezekiel 39:17-20; Daniel 8:25b; 12:1-3; Revelation 19:11-21; Matthew 24:29-31; 24:31-46). Likewise, this is the time of the Seventh Bowl (Revelation 16:17-21) as well as the “Winepress of the Wrath of God” (Revelation 14:17-20 – juxtaposed to the “Reaping of Earth’s Harvest” found in Revelation 14:14-16). (See Jude 14-15 and II Peter 3:10, the “Day of the Lord”)
THE MILLENIAL REIGN OF MESSIAH
It is at this very juncture the armies of the Beast, supported by the Second Beast, are defeated by the coming of Messiah, “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah” (Genesis 49:9-10; Revelation 5:5—“These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” Revelation 19:20b – that the Millennial Reign of Messiah on the earth will occur.
Likewise, the coming of the Jewish-Christian Messiah (Isaiah 60:2; 61:2; Ezekiel 21:27; Daniel 7:22; Habakkuk 2:3; Zechariah 2:8; Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah 12:10-14; 14:16-21; Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 11: 15-19; 19:11-21 & 20:1-6) will bring in a thousand-year reign of peace and justice upon the earth (Revelation 20:4-5; Zechariah 14:9, 16-21; Ezekiel 40-48; Isaiah 11 and 12; 62:1-7; 66:18-24). It is in this “posture” Messiah will do the work of Judge (Isaiah 61:2; 62:11; 63:1; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:9-10), Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20-21; 62:11; Malachi 4:2), Rewarder of the Saints (Isaiah 62:12), Teacher (Isaiah 2:3; Zechariah 8:22), King (Isaiah 33:17-22; 40:9-11; 52:7; Daniel 2:45; 7:25-27; Micah 5:2-5; Zephaniah 3:25), Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18), Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22; Genesis 49:10), Shepherd (Isaiah 40:10-11; Jeremiah 23:1, 3; Micah 4:5; 7:14).
The judgment of the nations shall take place at the commencement of the Millennial Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-34).
THE FINAL REBELLION OF GOG-MAGOG – GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
First and foremost, “Gog” is the direct name of Israel’s nemesis—and, no doubt, as the “roof” or “head” of the sundry principalities (Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal) he is naught but the express spirit of the Wicked One whose pressing quest is the destruction of Israel. When Satan is released from the “bottomless pit” he galvanizes opposition as Gog—and will be allowed to launch his final rebellion against Jerusalem, but will suffer immediate defeat (Revelation 20:7-10). Once Gog and his armies are destroyed from the face of the earth, the immediate events surrounding the conclusion of the age shall ensue—including the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) of the unrighteous and the purging of the earth pursuant to the “eternal state” (II Peter 3:12-13).
THE ETERNAL STATE
Ushering in the “Eternal State” after the purging of the earth and heavens – will bring in the events recorded in Revelation 21-22:5. Here the ultimate manifestation and consummation of the New Jerusalem (the masterpiece of the Almighty and the bride, the Lamb’s wife) will consummate and be displayed in all their glory before the whole universe.
EXPANDING THESE THEMES
It behooves us to delve into each of these themes—especially, the immediate aspects of TRIDENT WARS . . . for they are fast upon us all. Make no doubt about it—“ ‘till the end of the war” (Daniel 9:26b) appears on the prophetic horizon with ominous clarity. The BURDEN OF DAMASCUS is about to unalterably change the eschatological landscape. No, it comes as little surprise to the political scientist, nor is it indistinguishable to believer. The escalation of the endless hatred toward Israel, the insatiable quest for the “hidden treasures of the Middle East” by the “merchants of the earth” and the subsequent inequity throughout the planet as a result of such greed—propels the contestants into the illogical and, consequently, the uncompromised and unthinkable: Nuclear War!
The work of divine preparation for Israel and for the Church which will present the “Testimony of the Two Witnesses” before the whole world and the spiritual universe is accelerating at a feverish pitch beyond contemplation.
“Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God . . . therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (II Peter 3:12, 14).
