Texts: Daniel 2, 7, and 9 | Revelation 13:5-8 | Mathew 24
- According to Wikipedia:
“On February 28, 2026, a war between the United States and its allies against Iran and its allies began, with the United States and Israel conducting military strikes in Iran and killing Ali Khamenei, the leader of Iran.”[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prelude_to_the_2026_Iran_conflict - The current regime has been ruling Iran since 1979.
The last 47 years since, have been characterised by police brutality and oppression of the people in the name of Islam, and mass weapons production for the purpose of attacking Israel, and then huge amounts of money being funnelled to terrorist groups. Iran has provided about 90% of all funds provided to the terrorist organisations, Hamas and Hezbollah. - In the last two years, Israel has been systematically destroying these terrorist organisations.
Now, the U.S. and Israel are targeting, what Israel calls, the head of the snake. Today I want to consider these events in the light of Biblical prophecy concerning the end times. - For our study today, we will take these four points for consideration.
- The Rapture of the Church
- The Time of Jacob’s Trouble | The Great Tribulation
- The Breaking of the Covenant with Israel
- The Lessons from World Events Today.
The Rapture of the Church
- What is the rapture?
a. The doctrine of the rapture is the eschatological belief that the Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ will come one day and take his saints out of the world to go and live with Him.
– The word “rapture” comes from the word rapturo which is the Latin expression of the Greek word harpazō, which means to catch away, pluck up, or take.
– We find the Greek word harpazō in I Thessalonians 4:17 which says, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazō) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
b. The doctrine rapture is the teaching that, at the time appointed by God the father, the Lord Jesus Christ will come in the clouds and, with trumpet sound, will catch his bride up into the air to be with him forever.
– I Corinthians 15:51-54
– I Thessalonians 4:16-18 - The rapture is distinct from the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.
a. Since we’ve already looked at what the Rapture is, let’s go ahead a draw the distinction between the catching up of the bride at the rapture and the Lord’s return with his bride at the second coming.
b. The Second Coming is when the Lord Jesus comes with his bride, to establish his kingdom on earth. (Revelation 19:11-14)
– Immediately after the marriage supper of the Lamb, the Apostle John describes this scene as heaven opens and the Lord Jesus bursts forth on the earthly scene, and the armies of heaven follow him.
– Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,” - We believe in the doctrine of the imminent Rapture.
a. It will happen before the Great Tribulation.
The Apostle Paul made it clear that the believers would not go through the Tribulation period.
– I Thessalonians 5:2 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (Vs 4) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (Vs 9) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Vs 11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
– It would hardly be something to comfort one another with if we were expecting to go through the Tribulation.
b. The book of Revelation tells us we will be saved from the hour of temptation which we try all the earth.
– Revelation 3:10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
– The word translated “From” is the Greek word “Ek” which means “out of.” The Lord will keep us from that period of tribulation, not keep us through
c. The rapture is supposed to be our Blessed Hope.
– Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
– The Bible describes the believers expectation of the Rapture as a “blessed hope” for which we are looking. The word hope in the Greek is ‘elpis’ (el-pece’), and refers to anticipation, usually with pleasure.
– The believers rapture is something that he is supposed to be looking for with joyful anticipation. This would not be the case if the believer was expecting to endure the “Great Tribulation.” (Matt 24:21; Rev 2:22; Rev 7:14) There would be nothing joyful about expecting to endure tribulation.
The Time of Jacob’s Trouble | The Great Tribulation
- What is the tribulation? (Mathew 24:15-22)
a. The Great Tribulation will be a time of immense suffering on the earth as God pours out his wrath on sinful men.
– Mathew 24:15-16 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
– Mathew 24:21-22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
b. As we’ve already seen, the church will be raptured before all this occurs, so these warnings are given for those who are not part of the church, which is the bride of Christ. - The book of Revelation also describes the judgements that come on the earth.
All these judgements are unleashed from heaven. It is very clear from the Biblical texts that these judgements are proceeding directly from God as he pours out His wrath on a rebellious world.
a. If the church is God, who are the people whom God is dealing with and through during the Tribulation?
– If the church is God, who are the people whom God is dealing with and through during the Tribulation? (Daniel 9:24-27)
– This is a prophecy given to Daniel, and to his people. Verse 24 says that 70 weeks are determined upon “thy people” which is Israel, and upon “thy holy city” which is Jerusalem. The fact that it is Jerusalem is further reinforced by the description in verse 27 of the abomination of desolation.
– In Mathew 24:15-16 The Lord Jesus warns Israel that they should flee into the mountains when they see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. Where is the holy place? It is in the temple. This is clearly talking about a day when Israel’s temple will be restored and Israel will see all these things come to pass.
b. Another factor to consider is the timeline described.
– 70 weeks were determined upon Daniels people and Daniels holy city of Jerusalem. The weeks described here are understood to be weeks of years, not weeks of days. That is, each week is equivalent to 7 years.
– Notice that after the first 69 weeks Messiah was cut off.
b. When the church is taken out of the earth at the rapture, God will return to dealing with His people, Israel.
– Romans 11:25-27 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
– Jeremiah makes it clear that God is dealing with Israel in the Tribulation saying in Jeremiah 30:7, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”
Who is Jacob? He is the one to whom God gave the spiritual name, Israel. Israel is who God allows to be troubled in the Tribulation.
Conclusion
- The rapture is imminent and it’s timing is unknown, but it is a certainty.
- The Tribulation is for the judgement of unrepentant man and to bring Israel to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.