From the Pastor's Desk

The Preparation for a Restoration - Part two

We noted last time that with the Tribulation brought to a close by the battle of Armageddon, the world is left in a devastated condition. The condition of the world can be best described by Jesus own words when he said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Mt 24:21). In other words, this world will suffer more tribulation and destruction than even caused by the great global flood of Noah’s time.

It is important to note the condition of the world and its survivors at the end of the Tribulation to understand the last prophetic words of Daniel 12:11-12. We are told that from the midpoint of the Tribulation until the end of the Tribulation is 42 months or 1260 days (Rev. 12:6, 14; 13:5). However, Daniel prophecies of a period that begins on the 1261 day, the first day after the Tribulation and goes to the 1336 day or the first day of the Millennial Kingdom. This translates into a period of 75 days divided into two sections, the first 30 days (1290 days) and the second 45 days (1335 days).

Dan. 12:11-12, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.” NKJV

Daniel does not give us the details as to all that will transpire during the transitional period or why it is necessary. However when considered with other Scriptural passages we have a good idea of what shall transpire. There are at least four things that the Lord will need to accomplish during this intermediate period. The first two, Judgment of the Tribulation survivors and restoration of the land we considered last week. This week we look at two additional events of the transition period.

2) Establishment of a Government over the Land: At the present and up through the end of the Tribulation, the Government of this world is really not the government of mankind, but rather of the prince of this world and his demons. The Scriptures are very clear that Satan is the one who is presently in charge of the affairs of men. In Daniel, Gabriel is dispatched to go to Daniel with a revelation but he is held up by the prince of Persia and the kings of Persia.

Dan. 10:13-14, But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” NKJV

Gabriel goes on to say that he must go one to wrestle against not only the prince of Persia but also of Greece.

Dan. 10:20-21, “Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.” (NKJV)

No human prince or king would have either the power or the opportunity to wrestle against an angel let alone hold him back for a week from carrying out his mission. These princes and kings must speak of fallen angels who under the dictates of their king, Satan, carry out his control of world powers and rulers.

Jesus acknowledges Satan role as world ruler for He says in John 12:31-32, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” NKJV. Likewise Paul declares that all men are born walking “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:” NKJV (Eph 2:2). Before concluding his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul adds that our struggle in this life is not against unbelievers but rather against the power forces of Satan.

Eph 6:12-13, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” NKJV

With Christ’s defeat of the Antichrist and his forces, the Lord also imprisons Satan in a compartment of hell known as the abyss or the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1-3). This imprisonment will be for a period of a 1000 years or the length of the Millennial Kingdom. This imprisonment of Satan does two things. First it leaves the fallen angels without a leader and second it strips away from man a spiritual form of government it has been use too. As the Lord sets up His Kingdom, He is going to place all the Saints who have had a part in the First Resurrection (OT, Church Age, and Tribulation Martyrs) into the positions formerly held by the fallen angels.

Rev. 20:4-6, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” NKJV

These Saints, having been transformed into the image of Christ will be more that able to handle this task. The In other words they are going to rule and reign with Christ over the nations of the world. However, this rule will not be limited to just the nations of man but also to the rule of the realm of fallen angels. Paul writing to the Corinthians states that “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels?” (1 Co 6:2-3) NKJV.

With Christ and His Saints reigning in the Millennium, Israel will no longer experience the continual anti-Semitic bias and persecution that is so often implanted into the heart of men by their ruler, Satan. Israel will dwell in the land with complete peace.

3) Restoration of Israel to its Land: this will be discussed in more detail in the following section however there are a two things to note at this point. First of all, at the close of the Tribulation, not all of Israel will be living in the land of Canaan. It will be one of the tasks of our Lord to gather His people out of the nations and place them into the land. This job He will assign to His angels. This matter is extremely important to our Lord as He speaks it often in the OT. The following are just a few of the many verses that could be given.

Isa 43:5-6, “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth” NKJV

Jer 23:3-4, “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the Lord.” NKJV

Jer 29:14, “I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” NKJV

Eze 34:13-14, “And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.” NKJV

Mk 13:27, “And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.” NKJV

Secondly, the Lord to bring all His chosen people into the land he may have to remove and resettle some of the Gentiles nations who possess the land at that time. As we will note, the full parcel of land given by God may cover some portions of land presently owned by Gentile nations. To give these portions of land to Israel may involve the relocations of those peoples and nations. This may have been in the mind of God when He spoke to Isaiah.

Isa 54:2-3. “Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited.” NKJV

Considering that better than 2/3 of the world’s population will be either raptured or killed, the relocation of Gentile nations will not be much of a problem.