2016-2017: Learn from the Past and See the Future
January 2017
About this time of year, we remember what happened in the previous year and look forward to the new year. A part of remembering the past year is to learn from our successes and failures. Then we change priorities, make improvements and plan for success in the coming year. See
Year 2017.
Roadmap to the Tribulation
February 2016
Many fulfilled prophecies tell us we are at the end of the End Times. The Four Horses of the Apocalypse (apostasy, communism, capitalism and Islam) are on the run. Russia, China, the European Union and radical Islam are fighting to replace America as the leader of the world. The World Wars, Cold War and Iraq Wars are five trumpets that already sounded. Iraq War III and Armageddon are still future. Since we are so near the end of the Church Age, there is one important piece (pun intended) of the puzzle still missing, peace in the Middle East. The treaty between Israel, Palestine and the Arab nations is required before the Tribulation begins. See
Covenant.
America & Middle East Peace
March 2017
After World War I when Palestine was under British control, the United States encouraged the formation of a Jewish state. In 1922, the US Congress passed a resolution supporting "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people". Since 1948, Israel-Palestine peace has been a primary American foreign policy goal for the Middle East. Despite plenty of effort and proposals, the peace process stalls out during wars and conflicts in the region. See Covenant.
Passover Fulfilled by the Cross
April 2017
Each spring, we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By faith in His sacrifice, we are forgiven of our sin and receive the free gift of salvation. These holy days are floating holidays on the Roman calendar that link to the Passover full moon on the Jewish calendar. When we talk about prophecy, we say we do not know the time. However before the world was created, our sovereign God had a specific plan with a specific time. God revealed that plan though His Word.
Syria: Golan Heights & Damascus
May 2017
As part of the covenant, Israel and Syria share a border and disputed territory in the Golan Heights. Over the years, the area has been a strategic military and water resource. However, Syria has other barriers to peace: Syrian Civil War, terrorism, Damascus and the future Russian-Islamic War against Israel. Syria will be part of world events from now through the Tribulation. See Covenant.
Palestine Factions
June 2017
When negotiating a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine, it is helpful if there are two parties that have authority to negotiate. Despite Israel's divided parliamentary system that switches peace policy when it switches prime ministers, it is the most stable democracy in the region. However, forcing democracy on other Middle East countries has freed the people from dictators and given power to worse dictators or Islamic extremists. This is evident in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Turkey. In 2006 during the Palestinian legislative elections, power went from one terrorist group to divided power with a more extreme terrorist group. Despite all this, there must be a covenant to start the seven years of Tribulation. See
Covenant.
Israel's Days of Decision: Mt Sinai & Kadesh Barnea
July 2017
Jacob and his family moved to Egypt because of a severe famine in the land. God used Joseph so seventy grows into millions that would possess the Promised Land. The children of Israel were free 95 years and enslaved for about 120 years. God sent ten plagues on Egypt and then destroyed their army at the Red Sea. After this great deliverance, the people were given two tests to see if they were ready to take the land: Mt. Sinai and Kadesh Barnea. These were Israel's days of decision. See Days of Decision.
Dividing the Land
August 2017
Many fulfilled prophecies tell us we are at the end of the End Times. During the 2016 presidential election cycle, there were prophesies of timing and events that told which president would win and may bring us into the Tribulation. Since we are so near to the end of the Church age, one important prophecy is unfulfilled. The treaty between Israel and Palestine is required before the Tribulation begins. How would Daniel 7's Quartet (European Union, Russia, United Nations, United States) divide the land and fulfill the covenant? See Covenant.
The Great American Eclipse
August 2017
In 20140-2016, there was a series of twelve eclipses that occurred on Jewish holy days. Every solar eclipse occurs on the last day of the month or the first day of the new month (
Rosh Chodesh). Every lunar eclipse occurs during a full moon in the middle of the month. In this series, the lunar eclipses occurred on Passover, Tabernacles, Passover, Tabernacles, Purim and 15th of
Elul during the forty days of
Teshuvah. In 2017-2019 there are other lunar eclipses on minor Jewish holidays. The 15th of
Shavat (February 10) was the new year for trees and 15th of
Av (August 7) was the Day of Love. August 21 is a solar eclipse that can be seen across America. See
Eclipse.
Revelation 12: Signs in the Sky
September 2017
Since 2014 there were many signs in the sky. From 2014-2016, twelve eclipses occurred on Jewish holy days. The eclipses continue through 2017-2019 on the minor days of the New Year for Trees in
Shevat (February) and Day of Love in
Av (August). August 21, 2017 was the spectacular Great American Eclipse. On April 8, 2024, another total solar eclipse travels from Texas to Maine. However, the next sign in the sky is September 2017 with the Woman of Revelation 12. See
Revelation.
The Feast of Trumpets: Rapture Day
September 2017
On Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at 12:29 AM CDT or 8:29 AM Jerusalem time (IDT) is the astronomical new moon. It takes about eighteen hours for the crescent new moon to be visible (~six percent). Thursday, September 21 at 2:29 AM IDT is night. If the crescent moon is seen, the new year begins on Thursday, September 21 at 6:37 PM IDT or 10:37 AM CDT. Otherwise, the new year begins on Friday, September 22 at 6:35 PM IDT or 10:35 AM CDT. Since it is a two day holiday, the day ends at twilight on Saturday, September 23 or Sunday, September 24. Yom Teruah is the Feast of Trumpets and the Rapture. See Trumpets.
Reformation Day: 500 Years of Grace
October 2017
In the early 1500s, the world was in the Dark Ages. The Holy Roman Empire ruled most of central and western Europe. The Roman Catholic Church was the only church in the region. The few Bibles available were in Latin and so was church mass. Most people had no access to a Bible, did not know Latin, could not read and believed whatever the priest said. Then one man seeking God, studied the Bible, understood Christ's gift of salvation and changed the world. See Reformation.
Revelation 12: Signs Vs Events
October 2017
The Revelation 12 sign occurred on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at twilight but the Rapture is still future. It is difficult to put signs and events in order. The story of the First Coming combines shepherds and wise men but those events are separated by over a year. The seals and trumpets are put into the seven year Tribulation when the horses have run lose for 1700 years and World War I started over a hundred years ago. Prophecy is about timing and events. See Revelation.
Access, Security, Water & Refugees
November 2017
Many fulfilled prophecies tell us we are at the end of the End Times. The Four Horses of the Apocalypse are on the run. Five of seven trumpets already sounded. The Far East and Middle East are preparing for the next two of three nuclear world wars. In previous covenant articles, there were issues with Palestine divided between Fatah and Hamas and the continuing civil war in Syria. Daniel's Quartet on the Middle East is working on the peace process. That still leaves quite a few issues left on the table. See
Covenant.
Timeline of the Tribulation
December 2017
Many fulfilled prophecies tell us we are at the end of the Church Age and End Times. Four horses are on the run and five trumpets already sounded. China, Russia with radical Iran and European Union are preparing for three world wars during the Tribulation. America and Daniel's Quartet are working on the covenant to divide the land. Finally, what is the
timeline of the Tribulation?
Trump Peace Plan
February 2020
The Trump administration revealed a comprehensive economic and political plan called Peace to Prosperity. The economic plan was released on June 22, 2019. The international community will invest fifty billion dollars to develop commerce and infrastructure in Palestine and its Arab neighbors. The political portion was released on January 28, 2020. Israel and Palestine will divide the land into separate nations without uprooting the people. See
Covenant.