You need to watch Jerusalem as never before. We are going to see half of that city fall very soon. It could happen this year—2006!
Zechariah 14 contains an end-time prophecy about half of Jerusalem falling to the enemy. When half of Jerusalem falls, it starts a chain reaction of events—an avalanche of crises—that leads directly to Jesus Christ’s Second Coming!
If we don’t have our focus on that Second Coming, we will be shaken by the many severe catastrophes. That means we will become victims—not protected by God. However, God promises to protect those who remain faithful and are found doing His work. Shortly after that, these loyal servants will be made rulers over the universe (Matthew 24:44-47). That is more than just a fringe benefit!
Did you know that much of the world is even now discussing how the Jews must give up East Jerusalem to the Palestinians? The United Nations, America, Europe, the Palestinians and even the Middle East Jews themselves are discussing how they must surrender East Jerusalem!
What does that mean? It means that the prophecy in Zechariah is now in the early stages of being fulfilled, even though the world doesn’t know it!
And Zechariah 14 is only the first stage of Jerusalem’s total destruction.
As Jerusalem falls, America and Britain will collapse at the same time (Hosea 5:5)—unless they repent. (This is thoroughly explained in our free booklet on Hosea.) In these modern times, the Jews are called Israel. But they are only one of 13 biblical nations of Israel today. Three of them will fall together in the Great Tribulation: America, Britain and the Middle East Jews (biblical Judah—Jew is just a shortened version of Judah). Jerusalem was the ancient capital of all Israel. So much of the time when Jerusalem is mentioned in prophecy it represents the three nations just discussed. This city is a type of the nations of Israel today—but primarily those three powerful nations in this end time.
Jerusalem is like the thermometer in those three nations today. God will punish these nations in the Great Tribulation. Then comes the Day of the Lord and Christ’s Second Coming. Events are now unfolding in Jerusalem that lead step by step to the return of Christ.
So watch Jerusalem!
What electrifying and exciting times we live in!
The Zechariah 14 Prophecy
“For I [Jesus Christ] will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city” (Zechariah 14:2). Note the big overview Zechariah gives us. There are three phases to this crisis. Zechariah starts at the Second Coming of Christ, the third phase, and works his way backward chronologically.
The verse starts with Christ conquering the European and Asian powers who are gathered together for battle. Then there is a semicolon, which means all these events in verse 2 are linked and closely associated.
The first semicolon introduces the second phase of this violent time. The city shall be taken, houses rifled and women ravished. This is when the king of the north (Europe) conquers the whole city of Jerusalem (also America and Britain), shortly after he conquers the king of the south (Daniel 11:40-41).
Then there is another semicolon. This is the first phase, when half of Jerusalem goes into captivity—suggesting some violence in the process. (This sequence of events is explained in our booklet History and Prophecy of the Middle East.) This first phase could happen at any time. The Palestinians, backed by Iran, will almost certainly do this violent deed.
So why are these three events so closely linked? I believe there is only one logical answer: The fall of half of Jerusalem triggers a violent and massive chain reaction that leads to Christ’s Second Coming.
The Palestinians will take half of Jerusalem. They say even now that a Palestinian state must include East Jerusalem, which already is comprised mostly of Palestinians, and the Temple Mount. They want Jerusalem, with the Temple Mount, as their capital. If they take the Temple Mount, you could see that act quickly provoking more war. The Temple Mount is holy to three great religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It is the Jews’ holiest site. The Arabs consider it their second- or third-holiest site. Christians, especially Roman Catholics, put more emphasis on the whole city. (Remember the Crusades?)
The Palestinians could—and, I believe, will—conquer the Temple Mount and refuse access to anybody else. This would certainly unite Europe and the Middle East Jews against the Palestinians. This would also intensify the “push” by the king of the south against Europe (Daniel 11:40). Such a provocative act could in itself stir Europe to attack and conquer radical Islam. Europe would then control much of the Jerusalem area. Once it establishes that foothold, it will quickly double cross and conquer the Middle East Jews, America and Britain at the same time.
This sequence of events will alarm the Asian powers, causing them to think they will be Europe’s next victim. So the Russians and Chinese will unite and plan an attack against Europe (Daniel 11:44-45). At that point, the armies of both these powers will gather in Megiddo (Armageddon) and head down to Jerusalem, where Christ will conquer them and set up the Kingdom of God.
So you can see how all of this is linked. The trigger to all of it is the fall of half of Jerusalem. Then begins a step-by-step series of crises that leads to Christ’s electrifying return to this Earth.
You urgently need to see where these events are headed.
The Rise of Hamas
In 2005, the terrorist group Hamas entered politics and immediately showed itself very popular among Palestinian voters. When this group announced it would run in the January 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, many analysts expected it to do well and secure a prominent position in Palestinian politics.
But the election results stunned the world! Hamas didn’t just win parliamentary seats—it took over the government! This terrorist group won a decisive 74 out of the 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council, which gives it the right to form the Palestinian government.
In the final days of 2005, I wrote a letter to Philadelphia Church of God members and co-workers that is essentially the same as the article you are now reading. I also recorded a Key of David television episode on the same subject, which aired on Jan. 6, 2006. Here is what I said in that program: “Now it appears that the Hamas terrorists—who are really supported by Iran—are about to get control of the Palestinians.” I was referring to Zechariah’s prophecy, not to the Palestinian elections. But within just a few weeks, Hamas had done just that!
In that program, I spoke of how much pressure is being applied to Israel to give up half of Jerusalem. I said, “[Hamas leaders] know what the Israelis are saying, and what the Europeans are saying, and what the United Nations is saying, and they’re going to come in, in a very short while, and take it by force. Of course, they’ll be supported by Iran. But it’s going to be taken by force, and you need to realize that.”
Then I stated the possibility, based on the conflict Zechariah describes between the Palestinians and the Israeli government, that Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party could bounce back and win the Israeli elections scheduled for March 28. Again, I recorded that program at the end of December last year.
In the weeks since then, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was enormously popular with the Israelis and who was preparing to make more unilateral concessions to the Arabs, has been removed from the scene by a massive stroke. And now, terrorism is the official platform in Palestinian politics!
Read the Hamas charter document. That group exists for only one purpose: to destroy Israel!
These two events will make the conservative position look more attractive for Israelis. Whether or not they elect Netanyahu, it is almost certain the new government will act with more caution toward the Hamas-dominated Palestinian government. That is going to bring the crisis to a head much more quickly.
I based my statements on Zechariah’s prophecy. God’s prophecies are sure!
Recently I received a letter that criticized us for reminding our readers of prophetic statements we have made that are now coming to pass, calling it “bragging.”
That reader is missing the beautiful point. We do not remind people of those statements to puff ourselves up—but to exalt God! We are showing, as the Prophet Daniel did, that “there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known … what shall be in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28). When God reveals a prophecy and then it happens, that should strengthen our faith!
As Christ Himself said, “And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.”
Besieged by Iran
No nation was more excited about the Hamas election victory than Iran. Tehran has sponsored and financed Middle Eastern terrorist groups for decades, and Hamas is near the top of the list. The election of Hamas was a great victory for Iran.
Through Hamas, Iran—the world’s number-one terrorist-sponsoring nation and one of the world’s most anti-Semitic nations—now has a much firmer foothold in Israel.
After the Hamas victory, Mr. Netanyahu stated, “The state of Hamastan has been created in front of our very eyes, a satellite of Iran, in the image of the Taliban” (Inter Press Service News Agency, January 26).
That statement is absolutely right!
Netanyahu put a lot of the blame on Israel’s “policy of unreciprocated withdrawals”—like the retreat from the Gaza Strip. He called it “a reward to Hamas terror” (ibid.). That is certainly how the Arabs see it! Israel’s political weakness helped bring the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas to power.
January 22, Israel’s Arutz Sheva reported a meeting that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held in Syria with representatives of Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Israeli Defense Minister Sha’ul Mofaz labeled it a “summit of terror.” He said Ahmadinejad called the meeting “to be sure that the terrorism against Israel would not slow down for a moment, and would even increase.” This is what Hamas leaders were doing just days before their electoral victory!
But Tehran does more than just cheer these groups on. There is abundant proof that Iran provides weapons to Hezbollah and supports it with financial aid to the tune of about $100 million per year. Iran gave about $10 million to the pa-based Islamic Jihad in 2005—about twice as much as it did in 2004. Iran’s support of Palestinian terrorist groups is growing.
Over the years, Tehran has worked hard to position its henchmen in and around Israel. Its efforts are paying off. Hamas now controls the strategic Gaza Strip and major parts of the West Bank—and dominates Palestinian politics! Hezbollah has grown into a highly-organized, well-armed, well-financed organization in neighboring Lebanon. To the south, in Egypt, the Iran-friendly Muslim Brotherhood is growing increasingly popular.
Iran has a passion to seize control of Jerusalem—and now it has Israel surrounded!
The Jewish nation is being “besieged” (Deuteronomy 28:52).
Iran has surrounded and infiltrated Israel. Now the city of Jerusalem is on the verge of destruction!
These events only give more urgency to Zechariah’s prophecy! I said in December that half of Jerusalem could fall this year. These events make that catastrophe even more likely!
Jews’ Possession of Jerusalem Prophesied
Most of the world was sympathetic to the Jews after the Holocaust in World War ii, when Hitler murdered 6 million Jews in Europe. His goal was to exterminate all European Jews. Many world leaders believed the Jews needed their own homeland and helped them to settle in the Middle East, where they are today.
Israel was established as a nation in 1948. This was a powerful fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The Jews are prophesied toloseJerusalem and the rest of their land in the latter days. How could this happen if they weren’t first given that land from the great God? Any Bible scholar should be able to see that.
At that time, the Jews only controlled half of Jerusalem. But in 1967, war broke out between the Arabs and the Jews. The Jews were victorious and gained control of all Jerusalem.
Bible prophecy shows us that the Jews had to conquer East Jerusalem so they could then lose it as prophesied in Zechariah 14! Even the Jews’ conquering of East Jerusalem was an astounding fulfillment of Bible prophecy! The Zechariah 14:2 prophecy clearly shows that the Jews had to get control of all Jerusalem between 1948 and Christ’s Second Coming! That happened in 1967.
If the Jews would submit to the omnipotent, prophecy-fulfilling God, they would not lose their land. They know about these prophecies but refuse to heed God’s warning.
God gave all Jerusalem to the Jews, and because of their sins He is going to give their country over to the enemy. How many fulfilled prophecies and miracles do they have to see before they turn to God?
The Jews are looking to men—not God—to bring them peace. That reality is vividly explained in our free booklet Jerusalem in Prophecy.
Can you and I believe God and all of these spectacular prophecies? Christ gave all Jerusalem to the Jews so prophecy could be fulfilled. So just a little faith tells us that the prophecy about the Jews losing half of Jerusalem will also be fulfilled, perhaps even this year.
God’s prophetic Word is 100 percent reliable. His reputation is on the line. His Word never fails.
East Jerusalem to Be Lost
The Palestinians are recklessly intent on regaining East Jerusalem. They are growing stronger as the Jews—along with Britain and America (which usually, and inexplicably, pressure the Jews to give in to the Palestinians)—get weaker.
Just how weak are the Jews becoming? A poll published by Yedioth Ahronoth on Dec. 16, 2005, showed that 49 percent—nearly half—of Israelis would support giving up parts of Arab East Jerusalem—the largely Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem—in a peace deal with the Palestinians.
The Jews are going to lose more than just “parts” of East Jerusalem. They want to make a peace deal even though not one of their previous peace deals has been honored by the Palestinians!
Now—that was their thinking before the Hamas election. Perhaps it is changing now.
A Dec. 13, 2005, Jerusalem Newswire article by Ryan Jones said this: “… Finance Minister Ehud Olmert, the prime minister’s top deputy [and current acting prime minister] and a man known for releasing ‘trial balloons’ regarding future policy, has on more than one occasion stated Israel would eventually have to relinquish the dream of an eternally united Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty.” At a conference January 24—after the Hamas victory—this man said his country needs to re-form its borders “to ensure a Jewish majority,” which shows that he still favors pulling out of areas populated mostly by Palestinians. So he is a leader who might be pushed into handing over Arab East Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Newswire article went on to describe how the Palestinian Authority prime minister (who has since resigned) told Jewish leaders that there would be no peace deal if Israel didn’t make “serious concessions” on Jerusalem. “There can be no ‘Palestinian’ statehood and therefore no Middle East peace unless the eastern half of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, comes under Arab rule, [he] told a gathering of European representatives.
“The European Union recently clarified its position on Jerusalem in a still-unpublished report slamming Israeli activity and the imposition of Israeli law in the eastern half of the city, where several hundred thousand Jews live in the neighborhoods of Gilo, French Hill, Ramat Eshkol and others. …
“Many in Israel fear that as the ‘peace’ process progresses, a combination of ‘Palestinian’ intransigence, Western disregard for Israel’s ancient rights, and a headlong rush by leftist leaders such as Peretz and Sharon to conclude a final peace deal at almost any cost means the division of Jerusalem may not be far off” (emphasis mine throughout).
These Jewish fears are well-grounded. But will the Jews willingly give up the Temple Mount, their holiest site? I don’t think so—especially now with Hamas in control!
It seems the Palestinians could get East Jerusalem, minus the Temple Mount, without a fight. Zechariah’s prophecy implies that there will be an impasse over the Temple Mount—which the Palestinians “resolve” by taking East Jerusalem by force. That is why I believe the conservatives could regain control in Israel. They have a stronger will to fight for the land they believe belongs to the Jews.
However it happens, half of Jerusalem is going to be lost! I believe that will include the Temple Mount.
You can see why that crisis would bring at least three powers into war, which includes millions of people around the world. It would involve many nations. That is why this event will be such a strong, explosive link leading all the way to Christ’s Second Coming!
Do you realize how close we are to this emotional and violent explosion in Jerusalem? We are about to see the worst suffering this world has ever experienced.
It is shockingly near.
Thankfully, the best news that men have ever heard lies at the end of this tumultuous chain (Zechariah 14:3-4).
Times of the Gentiles
For over 200 years, we have been living in the times of Israel. Now we are rapidly moving into the times of the Gentiles.
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). “Jerusalem shall be trodden down” also includes America and Britain. God is now cursing the nations of biblical Israel, and they are about to go into captivity.
The same is true for most of God’s own Church. “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (Revelation 11:1-2). This is a prophecy of what has recently happened within God’s Church. In fact, it too will be taken captive with the nations of Israel.
God gets very specific here, powerfully warning His people that most of them are about to experience the Great Tribulation—the times of the Gentiles. He wants them to know their fate!
You are now seeing spectacular prophecies being fulfilled. The good times for Israel are fading fast, just as God prophesied. America, Britain and Judah are going down like a sinking ship. At the same time, Gentile powers are rising like a rocket.
We are entering extremely dangerous times.
Iran is the most powerful Muslim nation in the Middle East. This leader of radical Islam is the number-one terrorist-sponsoring nation in the Middle East. Iran is also about to get the nuclear bomb. It can do all this because it is swimming in oil profits.
In December, Mohamed ElBaradei, the chairman of the International Atomic Energy Agency (iaea), said that if Iran resumed its uranium enrichment, it would take only “a few months to produce a nuclear bomb.”
Tony Blankley wrote, “Keep in mind, Mr. ElBaradei is not some wild bomb-thrower (so to speak). He is the same diplomat who the Bush administration recently, and unsuccessfully, tried to block from being reappointed chairman of the iaea because he was insufficiently assertive and too inclined to understate the danger of nuclear development in Muslim countries” (Washington Times, Dec. 12-18, 2005).
The Iranian leaders are looking for a war, and they are going to get one—but not the way the world expects.
Charles Krauthammer wrote this in the Washington Post: “To be sure, Holocaust denial and calls for Israel’s destruction are commonplace in the Middle East. They can be seen every day on Hezbollah tv, in Syrian media, in Egyptian editorials appearing in semiofficial newspapers. But none of these aspiring mass murderers are on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons that could do in one afternoon what it took Hitler six years to do: destroy an entire Jewish civilization and extinguish 6 million souls.
“Everyone knows where Iran’s nuclear weapons will be aimed. Everyone knows they will be put on Shahab rockets, which have been modified so that they can reach Israel. And everyone knows that if the button is ever pushed, it will be the end of Israel.
“But it gets worse. The president of a country about to go nuclear is a confirmed believer in the coming apocalypse. Like Judaism and Christianity, Shiite Islam has its own version of the messianic return—the reappearance of the 12th imam. The more devout believers in Iran pray at the Jamkaran Mosque, which houses a well from which, some believe, he will emerge.
“When Ahmadinejad unexpectedly won the presidential elections, he immediately gave $17 million of government funds to the shrine. Last month Ahmadinejad said publicly that the main mission of the Islamic Revolution is to pave the way for the reappearance of the 12th imam.
“And as in some versions of fundamentalist Christianity, the second coming will be accompanied by the usual trials and tribulations, death and destruction. Iranian journalist Hossein Bastani reported Ahmadinejad saying in official meetings that the hidden imam will reappear in two years.
“So a Holocaust-denying, virulently anti-Semitic, aspiring genocidist, on the verge of acquiring weapons of the apocalypse, believes that the end is not only near but nearer than the next American presidential election” (Dec. 16, 2005).
This staggering news ought to galvanize the world into understanding that the evil powers in this world are out of control! They are led by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)—not the true God. That means trouble in this world beyond what men can even imagine!
As the Dec. 18, 2005, Sunday Times reported, the nuclear clock is at “three minutes to midnight.”
Given the seriousness of these events, people ought to get serious about studying God’s inspired Bible.
Mr. Krauthammer sees a lot, but he doesn’t understand the Bible. He uses a biblical word that he and most of the world don’t understand: apocalypse. This comes from a Greek word meaning revelation, to enlighten or to give light. And this world has never been more desperate to comprehend that light! All people need to understand the most important prophetic book in the Bible: Revelation. (Request our free booklets Unveiled at Last: The Royal Book of Revelation and Daniel Unlocks Revelation.)
God has given this world light, but people keep rejecting it. God continually rains down revelation upon His faithful Church. The rest of the world is in a condition of spiritual drought. With a little effort, you can prove this for yourself.
Satan has been cast down to Earth and is full of wrath as never before (Revelation 12:9, 12). Why? Because he knows his time is short. Demons by the millions are full of their worst wrath and are stirring people into hatred, violence and war! Quite soon, Christ is going to cast those demons into outer darkness. Knowing how short his time is motivates the devil, and it should motivate us. This world is very close to its death!
Just reading Ahmadinejad’s remarks ought to make us see that this man is motivated by extremely dangerous ideas that are about to rock this world. He will act on his hate-filled ideas, just as Adolf Hitler did.
Do you think we will have peace in the Middle East? We can be absolutely certain there will be no peace until Christ returns. Before the Second Coming, nuclear warfare is going to consume this world! So says your Bible, which is the Word of God.
Lead-up to Last Crusade
One nation that is taking the Iranian president seriously is Germany. The German media and government are furious about Ahmadinejad’s inflammatory statements. Stratfor reported last December: “The German government has called in Iran’s top diplomat in Berlin to express Germany’s disapproval of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s statements against Israel …. Ahmadinejad has said in recent weeks that Israel should be wiped off the map … and that the Holocaust was a myth” (Dec. 14, 2005).
What really stung the German government, however, was just how specific Ahmadinejad was in offering a future location for the Jewish state, “suggesting that if the Europeans really felt that bad for the Jews, that Israel should be picked up and moved to Europe—specifically to Germany and Austria” (ibid., Dec. 13, 2005).
It was a deliberate “push,” to use Bible language.
If these statements were intended to provoke a reaction from Germany, Tehran did not have to wait long. Vice Chancellor Müntefering’s response was to declare “that Germany is pulling out the stops in seeking ‘political consequences’ for Iran in the European Union and at the United Nations” (ibid.).
Ahmadinejad’s remarks certainly got Germany’s attention. Iran’s president knows that Germany is the leading power in Europe. He also knows that the Roman Catholic Church strongly wants control in Jerusalem. After all, prophecy shows that the pope will move his headquarters there after the king of the north, or the Holy Roman Empire, conquers the king of the south!
This religious zealot, Ahmadinejad, knows about the Crusades of the Catholic Church. He also knows that the Holy Roman Empire has usually been comprised of Germany and the Vatican.
So he is also telling Germany and the Vatican to stay out of the Middle East. This is his hidden message and threat. He believes this area belongs to Islam and nobody else. He is not only threatening to wipe the Jews off the map, but also anybody else who thinks they have some claim on Jerusalem!
I have written several times before how I believe the major cause of these two powers clashing is going to be Jerusalem! And I believe that is what Ahmadinejad’s emotional outburst is all about. This is really quite simple: It is all leading to the last crusade.
Remember, these two powers have a long history of religious clashes. They are just “doing what comes naturally.”
On Dec. 15, 2005, Deutsche Welle quoted the Berlin paper Taz encouraging Germans to take Ahmadinejad seriously for this reason: “[H]is wordsare falling on fertile ground in the Islamic countries and adding fuel to the hatred of the West and Israel.” Then it quoted the Munich daily Süddeutsche Zeitung as saying that Ahmadinejad’s “continued provocations scream for a response.” That paper urged European leaders to prepare for confrontation, and to “make it clear to Ahmadinejad that there are consequences to his populist campaign.”
Already, newspapers are saying Ahmadinejad’s “continued provocations scream for a response.” They are alarmed that this fiery leader is lighting a match to the Middle East powder keg!
That is precisely what is happening. It is all leading to a confrontation prophesied over 2,500 years ago!
There surely are many Germans who don’t want their nation to start another world war—but that is exactly what Germany will do. Many Germans don’t want to return to the hate-filled days of Adolf Hitler—but a deceitful and deadly leader is going to hijack the world’s next superpower, the European Union (Daniel 8:23-25). Now Iran is pushing Germany toward the point where this leader with a “fierce countenance” will hijack the EU. Iran’s pushing could be the very catalyst to propel this man into office. (Write for our booklet Daniel Unsealed at Last! if you need more information.)
Ahmadinejad’s violent words are a part of this “push” from the king of the south against the king of the north. And already some leading Germans think they must respond to this outrage—this “push.”
Armageddon
“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over” (Daniel 11:40). Here is the clash between the king of the north (or Europe, explained in our free booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire) and the king of the south (radical Islam led by Iran, explained in our King of the South booklet). Iran’s pushing is going to lead to its own defeat.
“He [the king of the north] shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon” (verse 41). Why does the king of the north enter into “the glorious land,” or Jerusalem? Because he plans to conquer Jerusalem—a type of America, Britain and the land of the Jews in the Middle East. The Holy Roman Empire will conquer many countries, some of them outside the Middle East, in one all-out attack—shortly after it conquers radical Islam.
This empire’s ambition is far greater than just to conquer the Middle East. Germany will once again launch this planet into another full-scale world war!
Naturally, the Asiatic powers—Russia, China and probably Japan—know that they are apt to be next on the hit list. So they will begin to prepare their armies for war. Even today, we can see these nations coming together in a dramatic way and forming the foundation of another mighty superpower.
“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many” (verse 44). Europe will attack them first, and then they will respond with an overwhelming counterattack. During this war, both sides will move gigantic armies to Megiddo to fight.
“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16). Here is famous Armageddon in prophecy. To many people, the name conjures up pictures of the worst war ever. But there is not even one battle there in this prophecy!
Armageddon just means armed Megiddo. So what and where is Megiddo? It is a huge plain in the Jewish nation, about 55 miles north of Jerusalem, ideal for amassing armies. And these armies from Europe and Asia will, in fact, gather there to fight. But then they will receive the shock of their lives! They will see something that changes their entire goal in this war: Jesus Christ returning to Jerusalem. Then these two massive armies, which are about to fight each other, actually join forces and go to Jerusalem to fight Christ!
“For, behold, in those days, and in that time … I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem” (Joel 3:1). By this point, the Jews in the Middle East will have been conquered.
Why does the Prophet Joel discuss “Judah and Jerusalem”? Judah is only one tribe of Israel. Joel was also referring primarily to two other nations of Israel. That is why he included Jerusalem—a type of the powerful nations of Israel in this end time.
Only two world powers remain in this period of prophecy—Europe and Asia.
“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land” (verse 2). These Gentiles must be punished for the cruelty they will have inflicted upon the nations of Israel.
Notice, first, God says “I will also gather” those Asian and European powers to Megiddo. Second, God brings them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, which runs into Jerusalem.
How does God lead them to Jerusalem from Megiddo? They see Christ returning to Jerusalem. Then these two powers decide to unite and fight Christ, instead of each other.
Jehoshaphat means judgment of the Eternal. This world is about to be judged by Christ for its rebellion.
Today, Christ pleads with words. Soon He will plead with His mighty power. That will lead to the most bloody violence ever on this Earth.
The whole world could be saved from the worst suffering ever if it would heed Christ’s words today!
“And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs” (Revelation 14:19-20). The Valley of Jehoshaphat is also called Kidron Valley today. It is about 200 miles long. Blood will flow up to the horses’ bridles in that long valley! It will be the worst war ever.
Does that sound outrageous? The Asian army alone will be comprised of 200 million soldiers (Revelation 9:16). Much of their blood will flow in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
This is how God pleads with them. This is what it takes to reach this rebellious world!
If you and I don’t hear His words today, we have a bloody future also. But God promises to protect us if we back and support His work.
Men work to have peace and always get war. Only God knows the way of peace. You can always trust Him. That is the lesson all this bloody violence is going to teach mankind!
Armies have fought to gain control of Jerusalem for thousands of years. But they never rule that city for long. God has chosen Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:13). He did not choose London, New York City, Paris or Moscow. He chose Jerusalem.
That is the city from which Christ will soon rule the Earth. And that is the city from which the Father will rule the universewith His Family. Jerusalem is going to become the capital of the universe. No city in the universe will ever be close to it in beauty and importance!
Satan knows the future of Jerusalem. That is why he has made it the bloodiest city on Earth. He hates to even think about the fabulous future of Jerusalem. Why? Because he has no part in it!
It is time that mankind learns about Jerusalem, the majestic city God has chosen.
We have a tremendous job to do, getting God’s warning message to this world. As Daniel prophesied, “they that turn many to righteousness” are going to shine “as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Only God’s message will turn many to God. Only this work is delivering that message.
We obviously have only a tiny span of time to finish the job. This world needs God’s message more desperately now than at any time in mans history.