There are a growing number of articles pointing out that tensions between the nations of the world are spiking. Military movements are increasing, with US Navy maneuvers near China, and in the Asian regions, plus, a US build-up in the Persian Gulf to cope with the Iranian nuclear threat.  Russia is setting up air defense systems.  The war of words are rising rapidly. 

Another Middle East war is inevitable, which could quickly lead to WW III. The 8th chapter of the book of Daniel identifies a confrontation with Persia, today's Iran, that would open the prophetic door for final events to begin.  Iran is nearing the point of nuclear bomb break-out, and so this conflict is fast approaching.  With the Middle East conflict underway, then watch for nuclear mushrooms, mass destruction and world war.  Global society and structure will forever change, setting the stage for the unfolding of final events that will stretch over several years.

These growing levels of natural disasters and threats of war are a sign of the times, and indicate that we are on a path to worldwide destruction that cannot be stopped, as eventually played out in the trumpet and vial woes of Revelation.

Jerusalem: The Focus of Prophecy

Jerusalem is the focus of end-time tragedy; this is where the end-time disasters and prophetic counting periods begin, and the end-times end.  Yeshua, the greatest Prophet, forewarned of the Temple Mount area, "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down," Matthew 24:2. An earthquake disaster could destroy sacred and religious structures, taking away daily (Hebrew "tamid") worship at the Western Wall and Temple Mount. This, in turn, could inflame even greater war and hatred of the Jews, which would continue to spread throughout the Middle East in an attempt to annihilate Israel in a greater holocaust. The 1,290 prophetic counting days would begin... the days that will lead to a rebuilt temple (video by CBN) and ultimately to the opened door into the Most Holy Place in the Temple in Heaven on the Day of Atonement, when the Ark of the Covenant of God's judgment is revealed?  May it be so; may it not be so. God help us.

Prophecy: God's Divine Revelation to Mankind

Marvin Rosenthal wrote, "In simplest terms, revelation is the disclosing of truth to man which could not have been known apart from divine enablement -- things about God, the origin of the universe, [and] the end of the age." 

We can be thankful that God chose Hebrew prophets to receive and relay the visions and dreams that reveal events just before the return of Yeshua--Jesus our Messiah.  We want as many details God is willing to share as to how this will all come about, because we want desperately to be on the right side of the conflict when deception will flourish and the earth is coming unhinged. We look forward to His supernatural intervention when He will transform our losses and earth's sin-filled past into a Son-filled future, changing forever the course of human history as we know it.  What a day that will be!  When enemies will be gone, and death, destruction and separation will no longer haunt us. (Video: Steven Curtis Chapman "Heaven Is The Face")

However, "Paul, with all his spiritual insight, admitted his personal limitation (and, in turn, our constraint) in comprehending the full scope of those final events until the visible return of our Savior when all things will become known: "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears... Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully," 1 Corinthians 13:9-12.  This reflects the great prophet Daniel and his frustration of seeing a divine revelation, but not understanding what he saw: "I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding," Daniel 8:27. 

In spite of the prophets' limitations, we (likely the last generation) have the promise of Heaven in Daniel 12:9-10, which says, "the words [of Daniel] are closed up and sealed until the time of the end… None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.”  Let God be true, and every man a liar (Romans 3:4); the book of Daniel will be understood in a profound way at the end of time!  God's Word declares it.  The scroll's mysterious time frames and visions will be made clearer as the light from God's throne shines brighter, piercing through the darkness of deception that is about to fall across our planet in these final days.

Regardless of our past disappointments and the long delay, we must keep on proclaiming with confidence and passion the great promise of our soon-coming King.  Why?  Because the death, resurrection and eternal reign of our King Yeshua is the focus of the Word of God.  We stand in the company of great prophets and saints... John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, James and the Apostle John; they all believed and proclaimed with confidence the end of the age and the future kingdom.  Jesus energized the disciples and early church to accomplish great goals in view of the shortness of time.  Each year since those early proclamations brings us that much closer to the Great Day of the LORD.  Therefore, as prophecy students we look to the next Festival cycle (beginning early 2011), or (if need be) beyond, for the fulfillment of end-time events.

World War III

The US and world economies continue to struggle season after season, and all seem susceptible to total collapse.  The relationship between the US, our European allies and the Russian Bear is tenuous.  The cry is getting louder for Muslims to unite against Israel (proof; proof; proof, proof), and soon Jerusalem will feel the pain (proof). The Middle East is sitting on a powder keg of destruction, and the nations seem destine for a global showdown and World War III. 

Over 2,000 years ago, Hebrew prophets such as Ezekiel, Daniel and John forewarned of a series of tragic end-time events to strike Israel and the world at large, which will climax at the return of God's Son.  Their prophecies foretell global tragedies, which point to earthquakes and other natural disasters, economic collapse, pandemics, famine, and widespread death and destruction on the scale of thermonuclear disaster. Added to that, supernatural signs will increase and deceive, and hatred and betrayal will become more commonplace among family and friends. 

There is a growing hatred for Israel, Judaism and Jews (proof-1; proof-2; proof 3; proof 4; proof 5); in part, to the powers of darkness who want to destroy God's elect. In addition, there is mounting hatred directed against the world's banking moguls, many who are driven by power and money, whom Satan is manipulating to set up a one-world financial order that will eventually control buying and selling.  These men, working in concert with Rome's guidance, will ultimately lead to Jerusalem's revulsion and quick demise. The Holy City will be the recipient of mass amounts of money and world attention in the final days, and Scripture refers to her as the luxuriously well-cared for woman "dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH," Revelation 17:4-5.

Zechariah proclaims, "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling," (12:2). The end will begin with Jerusalem in the center of the controversy; the end will finalize with the "great city" (Revelation 11:8) in the crosshairs. Once the controversy begins in the Middle East and in Israel, the place God chose as His, the world will never be the same again. You'll Never Be The Same - Music Video

“O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people [Israel]; they plot against those you cherish. "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you… Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O Yahweh.  May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose Name is the Yahweh— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth." (Psalm 83).

My Story

My father--Russell Swift, a Baptist minister, often preached about the return of Jesus when I was a child.  But today, times have changed.  Pulpits are all but silent about end-time events and the Savior's return.  For the most part, church life seems a normal routine with little thought about the nearness of the kingdom of God. This is a sign, in and of itself, that sudden destruction will soon burst upon the globe and the church.

Just how final events may unfold and the timing of those events is the focus of this website.  Two decades ago, I was exposed to the idea that the last four visions in the book of Daniel (chapters 7, 8,  9, 10-12) could have as much to say about the end of time as the visions recorded in the book of Revelation.  This stands in contrast to the popular view that Daniel, for the most part, portrays historical events.  However, we have more than a hint the visionary aspects of the book are about the end of the age, and will be understood in a fresh new way just before last-day events begin. 

Daniel (12:9-10) indicated his book of future events would be locked up until the end of time: “the words [of Daniel] are closed up and sealed until the time of the end… None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.”  Just after this promise to the wise, two more mysterious time periods were revealed to Daniel--the 1,290 days and 1,335 days.  Strange timelines indeed!  Very mysterious, but very specific in length.

Therefore, it seemed clear that as long as these two time periods remained a mystery the "time of the end” could not begin.  In contrast, when God unlocked these two timelines, then we could be very certain the end was imminent.  For this reason, prophecy students wanted to understand the unsealing of the book promised to the last generation, and so many joined in that challenge of going "here and there [in the book] to increase knowledge" (Daniel 12:4) of how final events would unfold.

By looking at the visions, symbolism and timelines of Daniel and Revelation, it seemed possible to combine the events of the two books into one overarching prophecy.  It was easy to see the predictions of Daniel were mirrored in the book of Revelation, with repeating patterns, similar beast powers and duplicate time periods.

Once the books and their timelines were united as one, a time chart of events began to emerge in 1990.  Not only did the various time periods in the books of Daniel and Revelation merge into a prophetic chart, but two years later it was discovered the chart fit between the Jewish Festivals.  It is a fact Yeshua fulfilled the spring Festivals--Passover during the crucifixion week and Pentecost (known in Judaism as Shavuot) at the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4); likewise, He will fulfill His autumn High Holy Days at His return and the culmination of all things.  It seems apparent there is a connection between the time periods of Daniel and Revelation and God's Festivals introduced in Leviticus 23, in fulfillment of final events and the end-time chart.  The timelines and the great revelation of Messiah to the world must culminate at and during the autumn Festival season (September/ October) in a given year; although, "that day or hour" no man can know (Matthew 24:36).

The Challenge of Prophecy--Mystery vs. Puzzle

Divine-inspired prophecy, which is God's supernatural prediction of future events that will occur during the closing period of human history, is a vital part of the Scriptures.  Chuck Missler notes that there are 8,362 verses containing 1,817 predictions concerning more than 700 different matters. Of these, there are more than 300 prophecies that deal with the return of Christ and the end of the ages.  These insights were not revealed to the Hebrew prophets just to fill volumes, but for our benefit; therefore, we should "cry aloud for understanding, and... look for it [wisdom] as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure," (Proverbs 2:3-4).  We should apply the ancient end-time prophecies to the events of our day.

An award-winning author and staff writer for the New Yorker magazine, Malcolm Gladwell, once wrote, "Do you know the difference between a mystery and a puzzle?"  According to Gladwell, mysteries do not have simple answers based solely on fact, since they "require judgments and the assessment of uncertainty."  Puzzles, on the other hand, can be solved because we have all the necessary information; we just need to put it all together for the solution.

The ancient Hebrew prophecies are mysteries, not puzzles.  Revelation 10:7 says, "In the days when the Seventh Angel is about to sound His trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished."  Not until the very end of the end-times will the mystery of God be totally unraveled as a complete revelation.  We will never know every single detail in advance of the years of trouble, because we cannot comprehend the mind of God (Romans 11:34); and second, we do not know the full extent of the struggle in the unseen world--the conflict between the forces of good and evil, between Christ and Satan (Ephesians 6:12). 

However, the last generation of saints have the promise of the unsealing--a more thorough understanding of final events that center around the mysterious 1,290 days and 1,335 days of Daniel 12, which says, "From the time that the daily [worship]... is abolished [at the Western Wall & Temple Mount] and the abomination that causes desolation is set up [on the Temple Mount], there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days."  In other words, a disastrous tragedy such as an earthquake (link) (link) (link) (link) (link), will stop daily worship at the Western Wall and Temple Mount. This is the decisive Jerusalem event that initiates the prophetic periods of the appointed time of the end. Jesus said, "There will be... earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains," Matthew 24:7-8. 

Soon after the Jerusalem disaster, Gentile troops will enter the City to restore order, trampling on Jerusalem for 42 months (1,260 days--Revelation 11:2). The greater part of the military forces will likely be European NATO troops; the majority of Israelis approve of a NATO presence in the West Bank (International Troops Bound for West Bank?), which western border runs through the city of Jerusalem.

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The Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar (with 21 point and click references) and the Insights in Prophecy lesson guides will take you through the books of Daniel and Revelation for a thorough investigation into final events.  All the information is available free of charge.  The Calendar shows how the timelines of prophecy align between the Jewish Festivals (Moedim).  Since the discovery that God's Festivals and the prophetic timelines of Daniel and Revelation align, we can now set anticipated fulfillment periods; still, we proceed with caution.  Winston Churchill once humorously quipped, "I always avoid prophesying beforehand, because it is a much better policy to prophesy after the event has already taken place." 

The five prophetic time periods in Daniel ("seventy 'sevens'"--490 days, "2300 evenings and mornings"--1150 days, "time, times and a half"--1260 days, 1290 days and 1335 days) directly connect to the often-repeated 1260 days (42 months; "time, times and a half") found five times in the book of Revelation.  In addition the 3 1/2 days of Daniel (9:27)--"the middle of the seven" and the 3 1/2 days of Revelation (11:9-11), when added to the longer 3 1/2 year period, reveal a prophetic time chart that both begins and ends with God's Festivals.  This alignment forecasts the fulfillment of end-time events known as the "times and seasons" of Biblical prophecy.

The Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar book takes you step by step through events of the final crisis, noting how the great worldwide troubles may begin and end within the time allotted by God.  Ecclesiastes 8:5-6 says, “...and a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment." 

For more than two decades, this ministry has joined others in warning of a US led coalition against the Islamic nations of Iraq, followed by Iran--the Goat vs. the two-horned Ram in Daniel 8:1-8. The shattering of the larger horn (Iran) that "grew up later" will initiate the beginning of end.  Gabriel told Daniel, "Understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."  He reaffirmed the point once again (as though once was not enough to convince the reader), "the vision concerns the appointed time of the end," Daniel 8:17, 19.  Alexander the Great, King Darius III and the war of 331 B.C. over 2,000 years ago does not match the "time of the end" prediction of war--the common teaching in modern-day commentaries.

Daniel 11:2 identifies the instigator of the end-time war as the fourth leader of Persia (Iran), a very wealthy man, who would stir up Muslims against Greece (the Hebrew word "Javan," translated often as Greece, in Daniel's day generally stood for powers to the West).  As for the fourth and wealthy leader in Iran, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani fits the prophecy perfectly (see his picture, current comments and news articles in the right-hand column)...      

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Benjamin Netanyahu, on Jerusalem Day, May 22, 2009, said, "Unified Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Jerusalem always has been and always will be ours and it will never be divided again... I stand here today… saying what I said in my visit to the US: Jerusalem will never be divided again. Only Israeli sovereignty over the city would ensure the freedom of religion for the three faiths, and it is the only thing that can guarantee that all minorities and congregations could continue living in it."

One day soon Messiah will stand on the Mount of Olives and split apart the Great City with a massive earthquake, and fighting over the holy sites between the three religions of Jerusalem (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) will be vanquished as the buildings fall in ruins (Matthew 24:2).  Starting with Jerusalem, He will bring an end to powerful cities and corrupt governments worldwide, and with the global destruction the schemes of Satan will fail: "The Seventh Angel poured out His bowl into the air, and out of the Temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The Great City [Jerusalem] split into three parts [dividing the three religions of Jerusalem, which have joined together with Antichrist against God], and the cities of the nations collapsed," Revelation 16:17-19.  "Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south... You will flee [in fear] as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah," Zechariah 14:3-5.

Pope visits Jerusalem's Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, May 12, 2009

"Here the paths of the world's three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what they share in common," Benedict said during a meeting with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein. "In a world sadly torn by divisions, this sacred place serves as a stimulus, and also challenges men and women of good will to overcome misunderstandings and conflicts of the past." Pope Benedict XVI

In Daniel 7, a governmental animal is described as a Bear with three ribs in its mouth. The Bear is told, "Get up and eat your fill of [human] flesh!"  A few verses later a monster creature is described as having ten horns, but "three of the first horns were uprooted."

For many years we have taught in Lesson 4 here on the website (even when it seemed improbable) the Bear, representing the Old Soviet Union, would re-emerge from its slumbering (political/military) hibernation to attack the Biblical creature with ten horns--Western Europe.

There seems little doubt we could be living on the precipice of World War III and world tragedies.  Joel C. Rosenberg writes, "To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blind-sided by it." Video: Russian power

The Bear's anger towards the West continues to intensify as foretold in our lesson studies.  During the last days, prophecy indicates that Damascus will be destroyed (Psalm 83;  Isaiah 17:1, 9; Jeremiah 49:23-27) during an Arab/Israeli conflict.  In the unfolding of end-time events, Russia may launch a nuclear attack on Europe, destroying at least three countries ("horns"--Daniel 7:5-8) and causing unimaginable chaos and the loss of millions of lives (video).  Russia could also attack the US; from here, the stage will be set for Antichrist's cryptic rise out of the ashes of World War III to a position of power.  The Man of Sin will arrive on the world scene with global displays of Satanic signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9); thereby, winning the adoration and worship of the masses. This is the "powerful delusion" God will send upon the planet for the majority of earth's population who "refused to love the truth and so be saved."  For this reason, "God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness," (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

New articles continue to be published exposing Russia's (Magog) growing anger with the West and its mounting alliance with Muslim countries, including Iran (Persia) and Cush (Northern Nile & Africa regions: Libya proof-1; proof-2; proof-3; proof-4; proof-5, proof-6, and Sudan).  Military maneuvering to increase the Bear's show of power in the Mediterranean/European theatre and other regions of the world is gaining frequency. These Muslin and radical alliances will eventually lead to the military showdown called Armageddon as foretold in the Ezekiel 38, just before the coming of Messiah (possibly involving Georgia and Turkey landmasses (proof-1; proof-2; proof-3; proof-4; proof-5; proof-6; proof-7) for Russian armies to reach Israel), although very soon we may see a devastating prelude to Armageddon--World War III.  Some may think the next major war is Armageddon and the end of all things because of the massive holocaust that could occur around the globe, but it will only be the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:7-8). 

Russian News Archives

Is America ripe for judgment?  Many years ago, Thomas Jefferson said: "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; and that His justice cannot sleep forever.  In recent decades, Billy Graham quipped, "If God doesn't judge America He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!" 

For an understanding of how far America's elected representatives have strayed from their constitutional duties to represent the citizens of this nation, watch We The People Stimulus Package Video.

Abraham Lincoln knew the source from which America’s greatness came. During an address on March 30, 1863, during which he declared a day of prayer and fasting, he stated: "[I]t is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God … and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord …. We have been the recipients of the choicest blessings of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in number, wealth and power as no other nation ever has grown: But we have forgotten God! We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

America is in a downward spiral, and will pay the price for our sinful and stupid decisions.  We are surely a nation in decline. Streets are no longer maintained. Cities and counties can no longer keep up repairs.  We are in debt and nearing financial ruin; yet, the spending continues unabated. 

It's possibly that sometime in the future we could face some form of chemical, biological and/or radiological warfare (Article: Aug 7, 2010)with the spread of deadly epidemics (pestilences).  Because of quarantine periods and gas shortages, the normal means of supplies (food, water, etc) would be interrupted for extended periods of time.  It is my view you should, if at all possible, move out of the larger cities to a rural setting or to a smaller community as soon as possible, to secure homes and garden spots in preparation for perilous times.  World news and international tensions confirm that momentous events are on the horizon, and God's Hebrew Calendar will soon to be fulfilled. Daniel's timelines will have their historic beginning, and prophetic events will become front page news.

Part of the final events is the collapse of the world economies.  The dire state of affairs in the international banking system is cascading through the marketplace to our communities--to local banks, businesses and households.  Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned when the collapse began in late 2008, "This is a once-in-a-century crisis."  Job layoffs continue at a staggering pace, week after week. God is showing all of us our need to trust in Him, not men, money and institutions... (continued)

January, 2010  Editor's Insert-- Now is the time to prayerfully consider taking any funds you have remaining out of the US stock market, before the next major collapse.

ALERTS & UPDATES:

Economic Black Hole: 20 Reasons Why The U.S. Economy Is Dying And Is Simply Not Going To Recover, Aug 30, 2010

Debt, Depression, Default. America is in Deep Trouble, Aug 28, 2010

Top economists: The second Great Depression has arrived, Aug 27, 2010

Mullen: National Debt is a Security Threat, Aug 27, 2010

Its Official: China is Unloading its Treasury Bonds, Aug 26, 2010

China targets U.S. troops with arms buildup, Aug 24, 2010

Crumbling Foundations - Poll: Majority of Americans now support gay marriage, Aug 13, 2010

U.S. Is Bankrupt and We Don't Even Know It: Laurence Kotlikoff, Aug 11, 2010

Americans say gays are ok, June 2, 2010

Video: Gerald Celente : Financial Armageddon 2.0 May 25, 2010

The Panic Is On!, May 20, 2010

Dow Theorist Richard Russell: Sell Everything, You Won't Recognize America By The End Of The Year, May 18, 2010

Video: Melt Up, May 14, 2010