Notes

For those who want to follow how we are currently viewing these scriptures, we offer the following notes.

This passage is given by Peter who references Joel. Take note of the term ‘last days.’ Peter is saying that the ‘last days’ are now in progress. This means that the term ‘last days’ is not the same time period as the term ‘end times.’ Since these words were offered 2000 years ago, we can see that the last days is referring to the era from the first century to the end, whenever that is and the 'time of the end’ or ‘end times’ is a shorter period of time closer to the end of the last days era.

Note the Tribulation used here is the persecution or distress of God’s people because of the Word. The Scriptures of Peter promise believers will be in tribulation and Jesus here does not say ‘if’ tribulation comes; He says ‘when’ it comes.

Note the use of the term 'great tribulation.'  There are  many end time belief systems revolving around what this means and contradict other Scriptures. Note also that God's people, the elect, are still on the earth and are subject to this tribulation but for their sake, this tribulation is shortened.  

The believers are still on the earth at this point. The timing of the shortening of the days may be associated or in proximity with when the Day of the Lord begins since 1 Thess 5:9 declares believers are not appointed to wrath but to salvation.

God has stopped the tribulation for the sake of the elect and immediately the sun is darkened. How it is darkened is not stated. Whether a result of how the tribulation is stopped is unknown; some speculate it is conjunction with war or a nuclear winter. We don’t know how but what is known is that the sun going dark is the sign given just before the Day of the Lord begins. We do not know if this is literal; but if it is literal, the whole world cannot help but notice if there is less light so this is an event everybody will see.

The sign of the son of man may be a cross, recognized and associated with Jesus world wide. Whatever it is, everybody sees it, and it provides a certain anticipation. Then they see glorified Jesus in the heavens. If the sign was a cross they will know who this is in the heavens appearing in great glory.

Then the believers are gathered. We do not know how long after this tribulation spoken of that this occurs but the Bible says it is immediate.  We don't known how long the sign appears before Jesus appears and we also do not know if this appearing is literal or symbolic (although it sounds both imminent and literal to us) but either way what is known is that the elect are with the Lord.

Another affirmation that the sun goes dark before the Day of the Lord begins. The Day of the Lord’s wrath is soon to follow.

The Day of the lord has come. There is a year of repayment for the controversy of Zion. Elsewhere (Ez 36-48) tell details on things to occur that result in the borders of Israel increasing. Our book Proving It contains more details on the what we think the Ez passages mean.

Putting it all together is difficult and we cannot claim that everything we compile below is correct. However, the sequence of events should be close to the following, starting in the first century and progressing to our time:

Persecution of elect during the time period beginning in the first century until the Messiah comes.

Islamic (domination of Temple Mount) period with the Abomination of Desolation on Temple Mt keeping the holy hill desolate of worship to God.

The persecutions throughout history fulfill tribulation Scriptures and may become worse near the end.

God is pouring out His Spirit throughout the age. He is never far away. When people who are far from Him spiritually repent He heals them, and their land. If they don’t come to Him, the separation between Him and them increases and in their distress, some will call out to the Lord. The Dark Ages were a time of spiritual darkness of hundreds of years, but the end did not come. The weaponry, and ability of evil inspired people to bring about the end did not exist. Now it does. God is still pouring out His spirit but if there is no repentance and subsequent revival, the separation between man and God will continue and war will result. However, now there are war-like people that have the capability and desire to destroy all life, which is what makes our time the end time.

Scriptures indicate a blessing to the Daniel’s people will occur (Dan 12) and we think this is on the horizon and while we don’t know when exactly or what precisely, we think the time is now and involves Jewish acquisition of Temple Mt. perhaps through a natural event (e.g., an earthquake) or radical Islam destroying the Dome of the Rock to have it blamed on the Jews. It may be considered futile by some to try and calculate when this blessing might occur, but we did try and came up with Aug 20, 2007. We don’t know how accurate this is but it should be close enough to demonstrate that it is in our time that end time events occur.

Receiving Temple Mt will be a blessing to Bible believing Jews, and if it triggers repentance then God will heal their land which would put the end further away. But most of Israel's Jews are far from God although He waits near to them, and without repentance, the increase in tension over Temple Mt will be an end time catalyst.

God will call Gog Magog and tell them to bring their best warriors; the time is arriving.

Enemies of God will gather around Israel. From a pragmatic standpoint, something must cause them to gather. Perhaps relocation from their own region becomes necessary as the result of natural disasters. However it occurs, people will gather and eventually attack for the purpose of looting Israel, but it become part of the end time war.

At some point, the 10 tribes return within Israel but we are not sure when except it is before Gog Magog war is completed.

After the initial attack on Israel, God defeats the attackers and the countries they came from in order to keep His holy name sacred.

God will also carry out a campaign on the careless living countries. We think careless living is a reference to those who know who God is but have not whole heartedly followed him. This could include the USA and its judgment cause the relocation of people to Israel as refugees, effecting part of the return of the 10 tribes.

Tribulation of believers and any distress caused by judgment of careless living countries is stopped lest nobody survive. The sun is darkened and the moon doesn’t reflect it’s light.

Sign of the Son of Man seen in the sky.

Jesus seen in clouds of heaven.

Believers rescued.

Taken literally, at this point, everybody knows who the God of Israel is. The earth is terrified. Believers are with Jesus.

All the world gathers against Israel. Like Satan, they now know who Jesus is but most will not repent and follow His ways so they gather for the last great battle of the Gog Magog war, the battle of Armageddon.

1/2 Jerusalem is taken by the enemy.

Jews fight at Judah. Bible believing Jews are likely to be believers by now since they saw the sign of the Son of Man as well as Jesus appear in the heavens.

Mt of Olives split and Jews run through to their own rescue.

Jesus rescues the now believing Jews, and returns with His people to stop Armageddon before the earth is destroyed.

Jesus rules the world, with the saints, from Jerusalem requiring people to obey the law. A new Temple is built and is seen from outside Israel.