In our current day many believers are wondering and raising questions about the end of the age. In the Christian community, the book of Revelation immediately comes to mind. And rightly so, given that our Lord and Savior instructed us to “keep the words of this prophecy” about his revealing, return and set-up of his Kingdom. Indeed, we are instructed that blessing comes by reading the unsealed book of Revelation and “keeping those things which are written therein” (Rev. 1:3).
In the time of the Apostles about 2,000 years ago, their writings even then that included Jesus’ words teach us that we are already living in the last time and that the “time is at hand.” These all referred to a world of wickedness, full of antichrists, false prophets, deceivers, “children of disobedience,” etc. that make us long for the Lord’s return.
After being killed by the drunken spirit of his day, Jesus resurrected and then ascended to his Kingdom that he said is “not of this world.” His Apostles, who were also heavily persecuted for standing for the truth, left their instructions in God’s Word including for us to watch, not be deceived, and to be “children of the light” in order to understand the season that will signal Jesus’ return. Many believers are now anticipating this world-, life- and soul-changing event.
In the process, there is a tendency to look for specific signs and events signaling the onset of the final seven years that are detailed within the book of Revelation, especially. In the meantime, one purpose of this current series is to describe the major stages of general end times events that will lead up to the final seven years. Outlining this whole period might help some to gauge the general season that we are in and to be prepared for the Lord’s arising (see Part 2), final tumultuous events, and the Lord’s return.
Since it’s been nearly 2,000 years since the time of Jesus and his Apostles, a time already referred to as being the last days, it is helpful to narrow down the scope of our current time period that is the last of the last days. As I pointed out in my passage, End Times Prophecy in Jesus’ Parables, there will be a final, “fig tree” generation that will see all last days events come to pass (Matt. 24:34). The culmination of all things, the time about which God says prophetically, “the effect of all visions is at hand,” will be witnessed by this generation.
Major phases of end times events to occur over a single generation are broken into the following five general timeframes:
Phases 1-3 are important in understanding the full prophetic picture that a final generation will witness prior to the time that the Day of the Lord arrives. In sections below, major events in Phases 1-2 are described along with an outcome scenario for each phase that might logically lead into the following phase. (Phase 3 is covered in Part 2). Some individual events in these phases will carry through until the end of the age.
The most severe events will happen in the final seven years at the end of the age (Phases 4 and 5). I may address these in a separate passage, but in the meantime you may refer to my series on the Day of the Lord for a general explanation of final events.
Phase 1. Widening distinction between good and wickedness
This phase is the easiest to identify because it is merely a continuation of those things called out by Jesus and his Apostles in their day. In short, an apostate church, a blinded ‘Israel,’ and a world of false, foreign gods and idols lead respective societies to becoming captured in their transgressions by the adversary. The Apostle John summed up, “the whole world lies in wickedness” (1 Jn. 5:19).
Through dark spiritual means and a system of oaths, the adversary traps people, uses and incentivizes them to become “twice the child of hell” that its leaders are- the same strategic principle that applied with the ancient Pharisees. Collectively, this manifests in a multitude of bad behaviors that serve the adversary who we know perpetuates lying, stealing, killing and destroying. It also manifests as spiritual drunkenness that systematically oppresses and persecutes the innocent and poor without cause. Jesus foretold about the last days, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:12). In Luke’s version of the time of the “beginning of sorrows” (see Phase 2), Jesus said that before events associated with this time period that believers would be delivered up, culminating in saints being hated by all nations for his name’s sake.
We know in the last days that this spiritual drunkenness will cause good to be called evil, and evil-good. The continuation of this that was apparent two thousand years ago will likely become even more obvious and exist through the end of the age. As an indication of this, in the book of Revelation, Jesus said, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Rev. 22:11). The Apostle Paul who foretold that “all who live godly in Christ Jesus” would be persecuted wrote in the same section of 2nd Timothy:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God…But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Tim. 1-4,13)
Paul also said here that these kinds will have a “form of godliness” but deny the power thereof. He advised us to “turn away” from these, likely at least in part due to deception purveyed by a false spirit that is at work. We can take Paul’s warning for the last days as a continuation of what the Apostle John observed about many antichrists when he called out plainly:
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 Jn. 1:7)
On this site, I have written about false teachers and false prophets in the context of believers being alert in the last days. I have also written about the house of Israel’s own corrupt leaders and shepherds who fail as stewards of the flock and continue to reject the Son of man as described more than once through the Prophet Ezekiel. They remain today as those in Jesus’ day who did not acknowledge him, remarking, “We have Abraham as our father.” Meanwhile, they band together and continue to claim the land. These rebellious ones have contributed to the building of the “wall” of iniquity (i.e. wall of “lies and falsehoods”) that I will discuss more below and later in this series.
Outcome – Phase 1
The unfortunate outcome of Phase 1 is the establishment of a “thick wall” that is referred to in several places in scripture. It is referred to as the “wall of Zion,” although it is apparent that this wall also exists in last days ‘Babylon.’ It represents the division between a critical mass of minions who are captured in bondage and used to both perpetuate and cover up the transgressions of those they serve versus those who are oppressed, persecuted and “delivered up.” Those who serve on the oppressors’ side serve the world’s most powerful rulers and their societies’ corrupt institutions. Ultimately, these are enslaved and controlled by the relative few powerful at the highest level who desire to maintain tight control and influence. Satan uses world rulers and the influence, power and vast army of their cabal to keep truth quieted so that lies and deception flourish instead. This is true especially in these last days when this underground kingdom’s minions will not receive the “love of the truth”; God will then give them over to a “strong delusion.”
Although continuing wall-building takes place relatively quietly in the last days, those who are “children of the light” in a final generation will detect the growing distance between right and wrong, and good and evil. Eventually, in Phase 2 and/or 3, there will be messengers and “watchmen on the wall” who warn that God is going to tear it down. This will manifest in a revealing (i.e. “the foundation shall be discovered”) and subsequent destruction coming upon leaders and their countries who have upheld this form of oppression by a methodology of lies and deception.
God also has a personal interest in getting back some of his righteous captive servants from the oppressor side of this wall. A leading example is the ‘Daughter of Zion’ who will be freed as the heavenly Kingdom on earth begins to be established. As one who is “sold for nothing,” the Lord promises her that, “without money you will be redeemed.”
Phase 2. “Jacob’s Trouble” (Part 1)
On this site and in my book, Biblical End Times, Volume 1, I have written in detail about a last days anointed remnant referred to in scripture. They are at the epicenter of the spiritual kingdom war which is encapsulated in Psalm 2 as:
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed… (Ps. 2:2)
In the last days kingdom war, albeit one that takes place largely behind the scenes, this holy “small flock” remnant will serve as “canaries in the coalmine” for the way to resist and escape the “snare” that will come upon the whole earth, not to mention Babylon’s oppressive and antichrist world kingdom. Their persecution suffered in this spiritual war is a continuation from the disciples’ day according to the principle, “judgment begins at the house of God” (1 Pet. 4:17).
According to scripture, this last days anointed Judah-centric remnant has been set up by anti-Christ oppressor-rulers as fodder for propaganda. These leaders “serve themselves” (Jer. 25:14) of this remnant while lying, mocking and “making merchandise” of them. Israel’s own leaders have occult-like “vain visions” and imagine “false burdens” for them that we are told “pollute” this remnant. God identifies this enemy as those who say to his servants:
Which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. (Is. 51:23)
In the course of being tracked and pursued, members of this ‘portion of Jacob’ remnant including ‘Jacob’ himself are made “desolate.” They are “devoured” and “crushed” by kings according to scripture. ‘Jacob’ becomes “surrounded” and in bonds as a result of captivity after the “manner of Egypt” (thus, “Jacob’s trouble”). Similarly, the ‘Daughter of Zion’ becomes despised, “barren,” “deserted” and an “outcast” who is without comfort. In a last days society such as that described in Phase 1, they become “rejected,” “abhorred by the nations,” and hated by all nations for the Lord’s sake.
Meanwhile, current leaders will become like those in Daniel’s day when some came forward to “accuse the Jews.” This remnant are like faithful servants in Daniel’s ancient day who choose to serve the Lord first instead of bowing down to other gods or Babylon’s secret system. They will not conform to “mob”-style shakedown methods of pledging silent oaths. We are told in scripture that their transgressions will be sought for but will not be found. We learn in several places in God’s Word that, “The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth” (Zeph. 3:13).
Nevertheless, they will be thrown into the last days lion’s den, like Daniel, figuratively speaking. Or, into the fiery furnace like Daniel’s friends; in last days terms, this is referred to as the “furnace of affliction” (Is. 48:10). Babylon’s persecuting “mob” system of the world’s gods challenges their faith that Jesus Christ can still “free the captives.”
In fact, it is Christ who will give them the ability to resist and fight back. This remnant will be as “a lion among the beasts of the forest” (Mic. 5:8) and as God’s “battle axe and weapons for war” (Jer. 51:20) in this unconventional, behind-the-scenes battle. It is a battle described where God states, “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet” in a part of Isaiah’s scroll where he warns, “waters shall overflow the hiding place” (Is. 28:17).
‘Jacob’ in his battle and “trouble” is made as a “sharp threshing instrument” that “threshes the mountains and beats them small” (Is. 41:15-16). He is told through God’s Word that his own iniquity will be purged when he makes, “all the stones of the altar as chalkstones, that are beaten in sunder,” causing the “groves” and “images” (i.e. last days false gods of ‘Babylon’) not to stand (Is. 27:8-9). Scripture says that he will rejoice in the Lord and the “Holy One of Israel.” All of his enemies will be ashamed.
Time of the “beginning of sorrows (birth pains)”
Jesus referred to this time in the last days as the “beginning of sorrows,” a time that is “not yet the end.” He mentioned various conditions that will be apparent (i.e. false christs, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, wars, etc.) and encouraged us to “be not terrified” when we witness such things. What is not as frequently discussed is the meaning of the phrase he used, referring to birth pains, which is a clue as to this phase’s nature as well as timing that signals an upcoming “birthing.”
According to Strong’s Concordance, additional Greek meaning of the term “birth pains” generally suggests a great pain in the process of bringing forth something new. A sub-theme in its meaning includes grief and sorrow. This latter part reminds us that, “For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Eccl. 1:18). This upcoming “birthing” and deliverance will represent the beginning of a separation between the Lord’s coming Kingdom and the kingdom on earth that will perish. The wise will develop an understanding of this. ‘Zion’s emotional-related pain will be due to a recognition of a corrupt vine of Israel, one that she likely previously thought to be a royal inheritance, but it is one that will be destroyed.
Related to the separation of kingdoms, the Hebrew word used for “birth pains” here has a meaning of escape from an “old world,” including a world that is in turmoil or chaos. The connotation is an escape such as by a “rope” that serves as a link or connection to a new place.
Like ‘Jacob’s own troubles, the ‘Daughter of Zion’ as a soon-coming Queen-mother figure to ‘Israel’s re-birthed children will proceed through sorrows or travails (i.e. birth pains) associated with bondage and persecution as deliverance draws near. So, her “birth pains” lead to spiritual “birthings” of IsraeI’s children for the coming Kingdom. I have also shown previously ‘Zion’s “travails” are a sign for unrest in entire societies as well as likely eventual foreign invasion for particular countries. In a prophecy against her home country, ‘Babylon,’ the Prophet Isaiah described a “dire vision,” one he said caused his body to be, “racked with pain, pangs seized me like those of a woman in labor.” Isaiah observed, “The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot” (Is. 21:2). This is likely describing large-scale pillaging and plundering of ‘Babylon,’ which includes a significant part of the house of Israel within. ‘Zion’s personal travails noted in several places in scripture are symbolic for, and a leading indicator of, troubles that the house of Israel residing in the country of Israel as well as within ‘Babylon’ will experience in Phase 3 (“Jacob’s trouble,” Part 2) and beyond.
Overall, I believe that this phase Jesus labeled as the time of the “beginning of sorrows/birth pains” likely coincides with the time of “Jacob’s trouble.” ‘Jacob’s “trouble” is captivity and bondage in ‘Babylon.’ He is trapped in the figurative ‘matrix’ (a meaning of the Hebrew term ‘womb’ in scripture). This indicates that he is surrounded but scripture tells us that he will be delivered out in a sort of “birthing.” I have described in my passages entitled, Children of Israel Birthed in the End Times, that he is symbolically in the womb of the ‘Daughter of Zion.’ I have also surmised and provided reasoning on this site and in my book, Biblical End Times, Volume 1, why he is likely the first of end times children of Israel to be spiritually “birthed” on earth. (Of course, we know that it is Jesus who is the firstborn of the heavenly Kingdom). Meanwhile, I describe this outcome of Israel’s last days children in more detail below.
Outcome – Phase 2
The outcome of Phase 2 is a Noah-like deliverance for ‘Jacob,’ the ‘Daughter of Zion,’ and others out of the “snare” that comes upon the whole earth as warned about by Jesus (see Phase 3). God says that he will “break the yoke.” ‘Jacob’ will be redeemed by the Lord (Jer. 31:11) and given “rest from sorrow” at the time the Lord destroys his oppressors that fought against him. Similarly, the persecuted ‘Daughter of Zion’’ is instructed to “cry out” at the beginning of watches and “go to the field” in her travails. She is assured in scripture by God about redemption and delivery. This first end times deliverance that includes their “elect” remnant represents a kind of fulfillment of the Apostle Paul’s words, “for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).
‘Jacob’s actual deliverance out of, or from, the time of “Jacob’s trouble” described in the book of Jeremiah, Chapter 30, begins at the time prophesied about, “Why do I see all men with their hands upon their loins,” at the time of a travailing woman when a father with child is revealed. It is possible that this scenario includes the Son of man and the beginning of Israel’s children being spiritually “birthed.” The nature of what looks to be a surprise event to everyone that includes the Son of man’s appearance could be the reason that Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matt. 24:36).
This “wedding party” remnant who will be removed include those who are kept from the “trial that will come upon the whole world” (Rev. 3:10). They are a firstfruits harvest who qualify as being “counted worthy” to stand before the Son of man when he appears at the first watch of the night. Their deliverance is described as children “entering into their chambers” (Is. 26:20) in order to escape the indignation that comes onto the world. I believe that one prophetic indication of this nighttime deliverance may be found in the Psalm verse, “Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord” (Ps. 134:1).
Speaking of indignation, “Days like Lot” that Jesus’ mentioned associated with this time of the Son of man’s initial appearing could signal some kind of sudden destruction such as in Lot’s day. While ‘Jacob’ is hidden as an “arrow in (God’s) quiver,” the result of ‘Jacob’s personal trouble is that “altars will be made like chalkstones” (Is. 27:9). This could include corrupt leaders who are implicated, an event I describe in the next section. ‘Jacob’s and the ‘Daughter of Zion’s righteousness will be revealed as part of their stand taken against a corrupt, false god system and its kings. I referred to them above as part of the “elect” remnant for whose sake God says he will “cut short in righteousness” the last days (Matt. 24:22).
Here, the worldwide enemy that is revealed will come more out into the open after the Restrainer’s removal, an event which will prompt lawlessness to rise (2 Thess. 2). The “flood of Egypt” (captivity and bondage), a different kind of flood will rise to cover the earth. This is likely the reason Jesus’ signaled that these days will also be like the Days of Noah. You might recognize how this is similar to what I believe is a later event described as the Dragon that is expelled from heaven and comes to earth: “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman…” (Rev. 12:15). Here, the woman’s remnant who flee we are told are those who “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Meanwhile, the beginning of “birthings” in this preliminary phase (2) that signal the Lord’s coming Kingdom will cause the same kind of spiritual drunkenness and highly irrational behavior by the adversary’s rulers who will intensify their war against all who are holding on to faith.
This “wedding party” remnant who are delivered will include the Son of man/’Restrainer’ (i.e. “bridegroom who is taken away”- Mk. 2:20), ‘Jacob,’ and the ‘‘Daughter of Zion’’ (bride who comes “out of her closet”- Joel 2:16). The Parable of the 10 Virgins is likely at least symbolic for additional ones who possess the oil of the Holy Spirit and are “ready” for the wedding. Others who take part in this initial deliverance could include those referred to in scripture as “sons of Jacob,” “daughters of Jerusalem,” etc., but this is unclear.
It is unknown the extent to which a larger population will be aware or able to decipher the meaning of this event. Inability to recognize this small remnant’s initial deliverance may be in part because the one who is the last days Son of man/’Restrainer’ could be like the ‘Comforter’ Jesus referred to and remarked, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him” (Jn. 14:17). In addition, the spiritual kingdom war is still relatively silent and behind the scenes at this point. In the meantime, the adversary provides numerous distractions and planned deception. We are given a hint in the Parables of the Banquet and Wedding Feast that those who are “invited” will not attend because they are too busy or distracted with affairs of the world. Otherwise, those who will attend are described as, “The poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind” (Lk. 14:13).
For those who miss this relatively quiet initial deliverance event as they are themselves, “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” (Matt. 24:38), they will surely be awakened in Phase 3 (See Part 2). In this phase, those who are not carried away or who choose to resist the “flood” are instructed to watch for the Son of man when he returns from the wedding and “comes and knocks” at the second or third watch.
Three years for initial deliverance?
Here, I will mention the time between “watches,” which is typically considered to be about three hours. This time period of ‘3’ (in years) might be considered as that between the time that the Son of man (and possibly ‘Jacob’s remnant) is in this wedding phase and before he returns at the second (‘3’) or third watch (‘3’ + ‘3’). If Jesus’ prophecy about the “sign of Jonah” (Matthew, Ch. 12) for a “wicked generation” applies at this time, then Jonah being hidden for three days and three nights could signal this time that the Son of man is hidden in the “heart” (i.e. middle, in the midst) of the earth. Recall Jesus’ prophetic words that at the time the Son of man can no longer be found, or at the time the “bridegroom is taken away,” then “they will fast in those days.” Thus, Phase 3 will be like the time Jesus described to his disciples, “when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it” (Lk. 17:22). In scripture, the event of the Lord “hiding his face” is commonly associated with ensuing calamities.
In my previous passage, The Number ‘3’ as it applies to prophetic end times and the last days remnant, I showed patterns in scripture where this number as a time period (usually in years) especially applies to Israel’s: deliverance and hiding; escape and journeying; protection; and separation, sanctification and cleansing. This initial firstfruits remnant’s exit from ‘Babylon’ will both allow for and require these things in the midst of oncoming calamities at this time.
In the sense of Israel’s escape, specifically, there are many examples of the time period of ‘3’ used in scripture as precedent. One example is that which I related above to the Hebrew word meaning birth pains signaling an “escape to a new world.” This same Hebrew word is used for “rope” such as that used by the harlot Rahab who lowered this for Israel’s spies so that they could escape Jericho. She instructed them to go to a nearby mountain for three days. Interestingly, in the last days, the initial “small flock” remnant will be escaping from ‘Babylon’s harlot system whose “wall” will fall just like Jericho’s eventually did.
I have previously surmised that even after their initial escape they could be held in a semi-captive state while still surrounded by enemies. It is possible that they could be pursued again after this initial period of three years in the wilderness, according to precedent. In the story of Rahab the harlot just told, Israel’s spies were pursued again after they hid for three days. Similarly, recall that ‘Jacob’ was pursued by his father-in-law three days after he departed with his family; in a final example, Pharaoh and his army came after Israel three days after they had departed Egypt. In Part 2 (Phase 3), I will show how the greater house of Israel will also likely be on the run at this same time.
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In this passage (Part 1), I have shown the key events and outcomes associated with two major time periods in the last days. Specifically, ongoing corrupt leadership and individuals who are captured in bondage to serve them culminates in a wall of oppression and lawlessness that sets powerful world rulers against the remainder of citizens who will either be forced to submit to their system or suffer persecution. In Phase 2, I showed the first example of a victory against the adversary’s oppressing force related to Israel’s initial anointed remnant’s deliverance at the time of first watch and the coming of the Son of man.
In Part 2 of this series, I will describe another opportunity for a remnant of believers to be delivered from the adversary’s kingdom when the Son of man returns from hiding his face at the second or third watch. This will provide an opportunity to be “hidden” prior to the Day of the Lord.
Grace & Peace,
Lion’s Lair (LL)
Lion's Lair 