The Watchman’s Call

Guest (Male): Standing at the intersection of the word and the world, there is a clear sound for uncertain times. Welcome to The Watchman’s Call. Join us as we stand on the ramparts of scripture to examine the intersection of biblical prophecy and modern culture. The headlines are changing, but the blueprint has already been written. Listen as Pastor Andy Woods uncovers the prophetic significance of the world we live in. The Watchman’s Call starts now.

Dr. Andy Woods: And I want to welcome you back to The Watchman’s Call broadcast where we have the opportunity to deal with some cultural issues and we also on this broadcast love to talk about Bible prophecy. What an important subject Bible prophecy is. I think in the minds of a lot of Christians, unfortunately, Bible prophecy is sort of a kaleidoscope of ideas.

People hear about Armageddon or the Millennial Kingdom or the Rapture or any given subject, and they just have all of these ideas kind of floating around in their minds, yet they don't really have a chronological framework for putting these events into. And I think the Bible gives us not just what but when in terms of chronology. So, we're taking the 10 most prophetically important topics or subjects and arranging them for you chronologically in this mini-series that we are doing.

And there are 10 prophetic items total in this series that we're dealing with. In our first show together, we dealt with three. Number one is apostasy in the church and ongoing deterioration socially. Number two is that time period will be interrupted by a glorious event called the rapture of the church in which the believing will be leaving. They'll be supernaturally caught up by force to the Father's house to do what? To sit around and do nothing? No, to experience that third prophetic event called the Bema Seat Judgment of Christ.

And now we move on to number four. What is the world going to experience while the church is in the Father's house after the rapture for a period of seven years? What's going to happen on planet earth? Well, this takes us to number four. The world is going to experience an event that we call the Great Tribulation period. We see that descriptor given over in Revelation chapter seven and verse 14. It says, "I said to him, My Lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

So, you'll notice that this time period that's coming is identified as the Great Tribulation period. The Greek word for great is mega, which you probably might recognize. And then the word for tribulation is thlipsis. There's coming upon the earth not just a tribulation but the Great Tribulation period. And we believe that that time period is described in the book of Daniel, chapter nine and verse 27.

This is sometimes called Daniel's 70th week. This is a part of a chronological prophecy that the angel Gabriel gave to Daniel in Babylon. 483 of these years have elapsed, but seven years are yet future, and those comprise the seven-year tribulation period. And here's what that important verse says: "He will make a firm covenant with the many for one week." Now, that's a week of years, seven years. "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."

Now, what an important prophecy this is because it gives us some critical information about the future. Number one, it tells us how long the tribulation period will last—seven years. Number two, it tells us what will start the tribulation period. What will start it is not the rapture of the church, but something that will happen after the rapture of the church where the Antichrist, the man of sin, apparently will make a firm covenant with the many or Israel for a seven-year period of time.

And once he enters into that agreement with Israel, the seven-year period begins to elapse. And we're also told what's going to happen in the middle of this time period. It says 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. So, this is an event that involves the Antichrist going into the rebuilt Jewish temple and desecrating it in the sense that he will stop sacrifices in the temple and set up a pagan image in the temple.

If you want a depiction of that pagan image, you'll find it in Revelation 13 and verse 15. And this is something that one of Israel's villains in her history have already done to them, a man named Antiochus Epiphanes. Daniel talks about in Daniel 11 verse 31. This infamous figure did this to Israel in the inter-testamental time period and now that history is going to be replicated, which tells us what's going to happen right at the midpoint.

And then we know what is going to happen at the end of this time period. It will be the personal return of our Lord Jesus Christ—not in the rapture where his feet never touch the earth, but in the second advent where his feet will actually touch planet earth and touch the Mount of Olives, as we will see. Now, this is a very important prophecy because it tells us that Israel at some point has to have a third temple. There are four temples in Jewish history: two past, two future.

The first one was built by Solomon, First Kings chapter six verse one, around 966 BC. It was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar on the eve of the Babylonian deportation. And then the Israelis came back from the Babylonian captivity and they got to work on temple number two. You'll read about that in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and that is a temple that was functioning when Jesus walked the earth and it was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.

And so, ever since that point in time, Israel has not had a temple. But in order for Daniel's prophecy to be fulfilled for the Antichrist to desecrate the temple, there has to be a functioning temple with animal sacrifices again in the land of Israel. You'll see this predicted not only in Daniel chapter nine verse 27, but also in Matthew chapter 24 verse 15, Second Thessalonians chapter two verse four, and Revelation 11 verses one and two.

I believe that that temple is destined to be destroyed with the seventh bowl judgment, which will involve the greatest earthquake in human history. And then that temple will be replaced by a millennial temple that the Shekinah glory of God will re-enter during the thousand-year kingdom age, which we will be talking about later in our series, described in Ezekiel 40 through 48. So, we're living in very interesting times because even today there are rumblings within the land of Israel about rebuilding temple number three, which shows us that Daniel's 70th week is getting closer.

But this is a basic timeline of the tribulation period. And all the book of Revelation does is it comes along and it adds details to that structure that I just described from Daniel nine verse 27. During the first half of the tribulation period, what you'll see is the seal judgments, Revelation six; the trumpet judgments, Revelation chapters eight and nine; and also the bowl judgments described in the second half of the tribulation period, Revelation chapter 16.

Now, we might ask ourselves the question: why is God bringing this giant seven-year tribulation period upon the earth? Let me give you some reasons for that, if I may. Number one, he is bringing the tribulation period on the earth to judge the world for its sins. There are great sins taking place in our world, and God as a righteous God will bring judgment for those sins. In fact, Revelation nine verses 20 and 21 says, "The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands so as to not worship the demons, the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. They did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts."

And if you look at those verses carefully, you'll see there are about seven societal sins that will dominate the earth during this time period. And this is why God is bringing upon the earth the seven-year tribulation period. Another reason this time period is coming is for Jesus to reclaim the title deed to the earth. You see, when our forebears sinned in Eden, they took the keys, so to speak, of this world and they handed them over to Satan.

And Satan has been the illegitimate ruler of planet earth all of this time since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. And what is happening in the book of Revelation is Jesus is taking a seven-sealed scroll, which represents the title deed to the earth, and he's gradually unrolling it, gradually opening it, breaking seven seals so it's gradually opened. And every time he breaks a seal, a judgment comes to the earth and Satan's grip over planet earth becomes progressively loosened until you get to the end of the seven-year tribulation period where Satan will be bound and God's glorious kingdom will manifest itself on planet earth.

Revelation chapter five and verse seven, of Jesus, it says, "He came and took the book," that's this seven-sealed scroll, the title deed to the earth, "He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne." There's another reason why God is bringing this seven-year tribulation period upon the earth and that's to evict Satan from the earth. Right now, the Bible teaches that he is the prince of this world. John 12 verse 31, John 14 verse 30, John 16 verse 11.

He's the god of this age or world, Second Corinthians four four. He's the prince and power of the air, Ephesians two verse two. He is the one who roams about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour, First Peter five and verse eight. In fact, the whole world lies within his wicked power, First John five verse 19. This is why we as God's children must put on God's armor because we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and rulers of this dark world, Ephesians six verse 12.

But one of these days his authority over planet earth is ended, and it's ended when Jesus takes the seven-sealed scroll, the title deed to the earth, and begins to open it. And then there's a fourth and final reason why God is bringing this seven-year Great Tribulation period upon the earth. It's to bring national Israel, currently in an unbelieving state, to salvation. By the time you get to the end of the seven-year tribulation period, the nation of Israel will be a believing nation.

We read about that in Jeremiah 30 verse seven, which says, "Alas for that day is great, there is none like it, and it is the time of Jacob's distress, but he will be saved from it." Now, you might recall from the book of Genesis, I believe it's chapter 32, chapter 35, Jacob's name was changed to Israel. And so, what is happening is it's this time of distress specifically for Jacob or national Israel leading to their salvation.

And so, these are the reasons why this seven-year tribulation period is coming upon planet earth. But that's our fourth major prophetic event that we want to call your attention to. So we have apostasy today, number one; rapture coming, number two; the Bema Seat Judgment, number three; the seven-year tribulation period, number four. And let me take you to a fifth prophetic event. And this is the infamous Gog Magog invasion that we see described in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.

Ezekiel 2,600 years ago described an end-time invasion of Israel from the remote north, spearheaded by Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other nations. It's interesting to study that prophecy in light of the alignment of those nations today. They're in perfect posture with an animus towards Israel to invade Israel. The stage, we believe, is being set for this end-time invasion. Now, the big question is when is this invasion going to occur?

It's not an easy question to answer. If you ask two theologians, you'll probably get five answers on this. There's not a lot of agreement, but let me give you what I think from my perspective, my limited perspective, is the correct view on this. I believe that Ezekiel chapter 38 will occur with the opening of the second seal judgment described in Revelation six verses three and four. And I think that because of Ezekiel 38 and verse eight.

It describes this invasion happening during a time when the nation of Israel is living securely. That's the Hebrew word batach, living securely. And then in Ezekiel 38 verse 11, it describes this invasion happening during a time when the nation of Israel is at rest. That's shaqat. They're not just living securely, they're living during a time of rest, tranquility, undisturbed. The only time in my mind something like this could happen is when the Antichrist has arisen after the rapture and has entered into a covenant with them, Daniel chapter nine verse 27, and guaranteed their security and their safety.

You see, they will think that the Antichrist is their Messiah, only to be experiencing a rude awakening three and a half years later when the Antichrist betrays them by desecrating their temple at the midpoint of the tribulation period. So it's a description of the Antichrist coming to power and guaranteeing Israel's peace and that's when this invasion will occur. Revelation six gives us the different seal judgments, and first you have the rider on the white horse bringing peace to the earth.

That's the Antichrist. And then the second seal judgment, war breaks out and that's when this invasion described in Ezekiel 38 begins to transpire. So, I'm seeing this invasion transpiring with the second seal judgment towards the beginning of the tribulation period. But it's kind of interesting when you move into chapter 39 of Ezekiel and his vision. He describes things that look to me like they're happening at the end of the tribulation period.

For example, it talks about so many dead bodies and the birds of prey gorging on the corpses. You'll see that predicted in Ezekiel 39, I believe it's verse four. It says, "You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you. I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field." And if you correlate that with Revelation 19 verses 17 and 18 and Matthew chapter 24 verse 28, you'll see that these birds gorging on these corpses relate to events that happen at the end of the tribulation period.

And beyond the birds and the beasts, birds and beasts feasting on this carnage, Ezekiel 39 verses four and five and verses 17 through 20, it also in chapter 39 talks about Israel's salvation and restoration. You'll see that in Ezekiel 39 verse 22. You'll see that in Ezekiel 39 verse 29. Charles Feinberg in his Ezekiel commentary describes those verses as follows. He says, "Verses 25 through 29 teach that the complete return of Israel will occur after the defeat of Gog and his confederates. Ezekiel summarized his prophecies of hope and restoration when he stated that God will have mercy upon the whole house of Israel. He had in mind that all previous restorations were partial. Now a universal and final restoration will take place. It was God who had allowed them to go into captivity, it is He who will see to it that they are regathered. Indeed, it is He who will ensure that not one is left out of the land. In conclusion, to summarize all the benefits promised, Ezekiel spoke of the outpouring of the spirit upon the house of Israel." Close quote.

That's how Ezekiel 39 ends. Israel is saved. She's a believing nation again. Once again, those verses are Ezekiel 39 verse 22 and verse 29. And like the birds of prey, that looks to me like it's describing events at the end of the tribulation period. So at this point you're asking, "I'm confused. You said Ezekiel 38 is the beginning of the tribulation and Ezekiel 39 is the end of the tribulation period."

And the reason I'm phrasing it that way is that's how I see these chapters manifesting themselves. Chapter 38 is describing the beginning of a war that happens with the second seal judgment towards the beginning of the tribulation period. And then it sort of flash forwards to chapter 39 which is sort of the mopping-up campaign, if you will, describing the aftermath of everything at the end of the tribulation period. So, I'm not seeing these two chapters happening concurrently and together the way many people do.

I'm seeing Ezekiel 38 and 39 describing a process. Just like Ezekiel 36 describes a process and Ezekiel 37 describes a process, chapters 38 and 39 are describing a process. Chapter 38 towards the beginning of the tribulation period, chapter 39 describing events at the end of the tribulation period. If you want to sort of drill down on this and get into the specifics, I did write a little book on this that's available on our website entitled The Middle East Meltdown: The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel.

And it goes through all of the different timing views and in essence explains what I just tried to explain to you in short order. That chapter 38 is towards the beginning of the tribulation period and chapter 39 is towards the end of the tribulation period. So if I'm right on this—and only time will tell—then we've just put another prophetic event into order for us. So here are the events. Number one, ongoing apostasy and societal deterioration.

Number two, that somewhat depressing time period will be interrupted with the rapture of the church. Number three, the Bema Seat Judgment of Christ, that's the judgment of rewards that the church will experience in heaven after the rapture, subsequent to the rapture, in the Father's house. Number four, as we are experiencing that, the seven-year time period called the Great Tribulation period will take place on the earth below.

It's a time period that will last seven years. It will begin with a treaty between the Antichrist and unbelieving Israel. Three and a half years into it will be the desecration of Israel's third temple. And at the end of it will be the second advent of Jesus. And thrown into the mix will be the seal judgments and the trumpet judgments in the first half of the tribulation period and then the bowl judgments at the end of the tribulation period.

And that takes us to number five, which is this infamous Gog Magog invasion described in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Chapter 38 taking place towards the beginning of the tribulation period with the second seal judgment and chapter 39 as it depicts Israel's conversion, which looks like it's something that happens at the end of the tribulation period. Matthew 23 verses 37 through 39 seem to indicate that.

And the gorging of the birds of prey on the corpses, that also looks like it's an end-of-the-tribulation-period event. So chapter 39 seems to happen at the end of the tribulation period. So, a lot of information, I realize, but hopefully what we're doing is putting these events in order for you. Number one, apostasy; number two, rapture; number three, Bema Seat; number four, Great Tribulation period; number five, the infamous Gog Magog invasion. And guess what folks?

We only have another five events, which I think we can do a little faster, believe it or not, to sort of complete our series. So we will take a look at those remaining five events in our next show together. Thank you for listening. Thank you for praying for us. We pray for you. And we love being here with you on this particular broadcast as we deal with this very important subject of Bible prophecy, hoping that this series will do more than just put a kaleidoscope of future events in your mind, but will arrange them in sort of a chronological, linear way. And as we understand this freight train coming, we need to get on the right side of God. More on that as we continue in our next show. God bless you.

Guest (Male): You've been listening to The Watchman’s Call, exploring the intersection of prophecy and culture. This program is a ministry of Sugar Land Bible Church, a place where the Bible is taught and the times are discerned. Visit this Sunday in person or connect with them anytime at slbc.org. That's slbc.org. Until next time, may the Lord give you a spirit of discernment in the week ahead.