Studies in biblical prophecy are
complicated and difficult and are fraught with much confusion amongst the
various schools of theology. It has been
the sole motive of this writer to present an accurate and comprehensive exposition
of all issues related to a clear understanding of what the prophets of God have
revealed on the subject of eschatology. First, the defining of terms is
necessary. The word eschatology
describes the study of prophecy focused on events and developments in the world
which will occur at the end of the age. Then there is the term Armageddon which
is drawn from the biblical book of Revelation. It refers to a massive and
intense battle which will occur in the end time scenario. This effort will be
to clarify some very basic but critical issues surrounding the perceptions and
subject matter of Armageddon.
Those who are
adherents of dispensational theology introduced and popularized by the Scofield
Reference Bible would place the final conflict of Armageddon as the concluding
showdown between the Lord as he returns to defend Israel from the attack of the
northern armies of Russia and her allies and the eastern armies of China. They
place the entirety of the judgments within a seven year period applying the term
the Day of the Lord which is seen by them as the seventieth week of Daniel’s
prophesied seventy weeks culminating in the Armageddon defense of the restored
nation of Israel. Then the Gentiles who have persecuted His brethren, the Jewish
“chosen” people as is supposed, will be subjected to judgment. It is explained
as an earthly battle and judgment preceding the establishment of the reign of
Christ on the throne of David in Jerusalem to continue for a period of 1000
years. According to them, the period
begins with the translation (“rapture”) of the church into heaven and proceeds
with the national conversion of the Jews as they recover and inhabit the
historical land of Israel. They would divide the Day of the Lord into two
halves the first of which involves Israel’s covenant with the Antichrist and
the resumption of animal sacrifices in the rebuilt temple. The second half they would identify as the
great tribulation wherein the Jews are subjected to persecution while
experiencing apparent conversion in anticipation of their deliverance by the
coming of their messiah and his intercession at the Armageddon battle for deliverance.
Then Israel is to rule over the nations with Christ on the throne of David for
1000 years. The wicked dead are not to
be resurrected until the end of the millennium when Satan is released from the
abyss to stage a rebellion and is judged along with the wicked dead. The earth is then to be burned up and the
“Day of God” is to be introduced. This is the confusion of Zionist dispensational
theology in summary. Let us now review the true eschatology of
Armageddon and the end of this age leading into the millennium. The Day of the
Lord does not even occur within the context of time, but comes after a three
and one-half year period (not seven) which is
the great tribulation followed by the resurrection of all of the saints.
(Daniel 12:11-13, Rev.11:3, Rev.12:6, Rev. 13:5) Daniel’s prophecy of “seventy weeks
determined” on Israel were fulfilled completely at the time of the first advent
of Christ and therefore has no application at the end of the age. All of God’s promises under the tenets of the
old covenant to the physical nation of Israel were completely fulfilled at the
first advent of Christ who came as their Messiah. The one who will appear to
them as their savior deceiving them and the whole world prior to the great
tribulation is the Antichrist. After the resurrection of the saints immediately
following the great tribulation (see Matthew 24:29-31) the Day of the Lord will
commence. This is the execution God’s judgment on the earth and its
inhabitants. He will come with His
saints to execute these judgments (See Psalms 149, Revelation 9:1-11, Rev.19:11-16). The actual conflict designated as Armageddon
occurs as the closing event at the end of the Day of the Lord and not as part
of the tribulation.(See Rev. 9:12-21, Rev16:14-16) The tribulation period is not about the
salvation of ethnic Jews or natural Israel but a time when the testimony of the
two witnesses (Rev. 11:1-12) being
subjected to persecution and martyrdom will
carry the message of the true gospel of salvation to all nations and the whole
world.(see Matthew 24:9-14) This present earth will be destroyed in the Day of
His wrath and a new heavens and earth will come into existence (See Rev. 21:1-3) Be not deceived by the false doctrines of
Christian Zionism, dispensationalism and the footnotes in the Scofield
Reference Bible. To gather a complete
comprehension of end time biblical prophecy detailing what is only briefly
summarized here interfaced with current world developments obtain a copy of my
title: These Prophet and the Revelation. This material in this book is
supplemented by a complete exposition of the world Zionist phenomenon both from
a scriptural as well as a secular point of view in The Israel Deception. Both
are must reads to understand what is transpiring in today’s world and can be
obtained at Amazon.com.
David Lance Dean
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