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A Publication Ministry of the Pre-Trib Research Center

Volume IX • Number 150 • March 2017

Ed’s Perspectives Tom’s Perspectives Tribulation Signs of After The The Times Rapture by Dr. Ed Hindson by Dr. Thomas Ice

Jesus warned His disciples that in the last days Many Christians today believe there are signs there would be a period of time more horrific and pointing to an imminent rapture of the church. traumatic than any other time in human history. He However, is a signless event; thus, there was, of course, referring to the Great Tribulation: are not and never will develop signs of the time “There will be great tribulation, such as has not been indicating that the rapture is near. This is true since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor because the rapture is imminent, it could happen ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21). at any moment and no prophesied event must take The disciples were familiar with this prophesied place in order for the rapture to then occur. It is time of anguish, for many of the Hebrew prophets of impossible for an imminent event to have signs. If old had warned Israel about a future period of intense signs are related to an event then it would indicate suffering. The prophet Jeremiah called it “the time of that it was near or not near, and thus could not hap- Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7). Throughout the Old and pen until after the signs were present. Thus, signs New Testaments, the Tribulation is referred to by would have to precede the event, which would mean a variety of names including “the day of the Lord” that the event could not happen at any moment (1 Thess. 5:2), the seventieth week of Daniel (Dan. until after the signs appeared. Since the rapture is 9:27), “a day of desolation” (Zeph. 1:15), “the wrath said in the New Testament to be an event that could to come” (1 Thess. 1:10), “the hour of judgment” (Rev. occur at any moment (1 Cor. 1:7; 16:22; Phil. 3:20; 14:7), and “the great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21). Not 4:5; 1 Thess. 1:10; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; Jam. 5:7-9; only is the Tribulation mentioned in more than 60 1 Pet. 1:13; Jude 21; Rev. 3:ll; 22:7, 12, 17, 20) then passages in the Bible, but more space is allotted to it it cannot be related to any signs at all. However, as than any other subject except for salvation and the I shall show later, this does not mean that there are second coming of Christ. not signs of the time that do relate to other aspects Both the prophet Daniel and the apostle John of God’s plan. stated this period would last seven years (Dan. Some wonder if there are signs indicating the 9:24-27; Rev. 11:2-3). After rising to power, the evil end of the church age in which we currently live. It “prince who is to come” (Dan. 9:26), the Antichrist, would be too strong to say there are signs of the end will make a covenant with Israel. This event will of the church age. Instead, the Bible indicates what

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“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Titus 2:13 signal the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation truth: “I will show wonders in the heavens and in the period. Three and a half years into the Tribulation, earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun at the halfway point, the Antichrist will break shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, the covenant by desecrating the rebuilt Temple in before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Jerusalem. This will usher in the Great Tribulation, Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on a period of suffering and terror worse than any that the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:30-32). mankind has ever experienced in history. Although the Tribulation lasts only seven years, the devasta- THE TRIBULATION SAINTS tions unleashed during that time will seem endless The untold millions who miss the rapture to those who must face them. because of their rejection of God will still have an opportunity to become saved. The apostle John THE NATURE OF THE TRIBULATION writes : “After these things I looked, and behold, a great Through various prophetic passages found in the multitude which no one could number, of all nations, Bible, we learn that the Tribulation will be . . . tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne • a time of judgment for those who reject the and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with Savior palm branches in their hands” (Rev. 7:9). • a time of conclusion for those who rebel against These Tribulation saints, whose numbers are so God large they can’t be counted, come to the Lord as a • a time of decision for those who will be forced result of the Tribulation’s trials — demonstrating that to choose between Christ and the Antichrist our holy God is a God who will continue to show • a time of chaos designed to shake mankind’s His love and mercy to mankind even in the last days. false sense of security When John asked, “Who is this great multitude?” the • a time of unprecedented revival, resulting in reply was “These are the ones who come out of the great the greatest soul harvest in history tribulation” (Rev. 7:14). No wonder the apostle Peter When will the Tribulation take place? Although was able to write, “The Lord is not slack concerning His no exact date is given, the Bible indicates in Matthew promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering 24:29-31 that it must occur immediately before the toward us, not willing that any should perish but that of Christ, when Jesus Himself all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). returns to Earth to destroy the Antichrist. It will also occur after the rapture of the church, when all THOSE those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ In many respects, the rapture will set the stage will be instantly removed from the planet in order for the coming Tribulation. Following the disap- to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:15-18). pearance of millions upon millions of Christians Those who view the Tribulation as primarily a from the face of the Earth, the world will be in a time of wrath overlook the fact that it is also a time state of shock and chaos that defies comprehension. of mercy and grace. The Lord is not some angry This will prepare the way perfectly for the rise of monster heaping catastrophes upon the heads of the Antichrist. He will come to power peaceably innocent men and women. In reality, the people who using diplomacy — as represented by the rider on suffer the judgments of God during the Tribulation the white horse, the first of the four horsemen of are not innocent. Not only do these rebels reject the Apocalypse (Rev. 6:1-2). His charm and outward God and His free offer of salvation, they indulge compassion will bring badly needed comfort to a in every vile sin known to mankind, including the populace on the brink of mass hysteria. massacre of those who come to Christ during this The controlled media will be used to effectively time. Even then, God’s hope is that these rebels coerce the world into adopting this new leader as will at some point turn to Him. The Tribulation the man of the hour. Ongoing efforts to discredit judgments therefore serve a dual purpose: to punish the Bible and other prophetic books such as the Left hardened sinners, and to move others to repentance. Behind series, which foretold the rapture and the The following Scripture passage exemplifies this rise of the Antichrist in advance, will be a top pri-

2 ority of the new world government. Every attempt judgments, which is why many prophecy students will be made to convince the confused populace consider these judgments to be chronological: The that those who have been left behind are, in fact, the first six seals cover 21 months, then the break- lucky ones, even though nothing could be further ing of the seventh seal introduces the next seven from the truth. trumpet judgments, which take place during the The spiritual vacuum left by the disappearance of second quarter or the second 21 months of the first millions of Christians will also enable the Antichrist half of the Tribulation. The sealing of the 144,000 to further his plan for a forced one-world religion. “servants of our God” probably occurs at the begin- This pagan religion will unite all religions — with ning of this period, and they witness all during it, the lone exception of biblical Christianity — into along with the special two witnesses describe in one. In the midst of all this, the Holy Spirit will Revelation 11. work through the 144,000 evangelists and the two witnesses in Jerusalem to draw countless numbers THE TWO WITNESSES of people to Christ during the Tribulation — despite In the last days, God will have the gospel mes- the fact that such a choice will most likely result in sage proclaimed worldwide so that people are martyrdom. without excuse about making a decision for Christ. During the first half of the Tribulation God not THE 144,000 WITNESSES only uses the 144,000 Israelites from each of the The seventh seal introduces the seven trumpet 12 tribes who reach “a multitude which no one could

3 number” (Rev. 7:0), but He also establishes in and result of man’s endeavors. From here onward, how- around Jerusalem two special witnesses endowed ever, the judgments will be acts of divine retribution. with supernatural powers (Rev. 11:3-6). Revelation 6:12-15 describes a massive earthquake During the Tribulation, two powerful opposing so large that “every mountain and island was moved forces will be at work during the same time: 1) the out of its place” (verse 14). Apparently there will be 144,000 servants of God will bring forth a mighty a series of massive volcanic eruptions as well, which soul harvest, and 2) the enormous sinfulness of will cause the sky to darken and the moon to appear those ho refuse to repent. It will be the same as in red. The apostle John also writes of meteor-like our day right now, with the church witnessing for objects that come crashing down onto the earth. So the Lord on the one hand, and those who reject the incredible are these events that Earth’s inhabitants Savior on the other, except that the opposing forces will realize they are witnessing God’s judgments will be intensified during the tribulation period. right before their eyes: “The kings of the earth, the Also, because the civil government described great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty in Revelation 13 will be under the total control of men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in Antichrist and his evil forces, Christians will be the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to persecuted and martyred in large numbers. Many the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from people will become saved through the soul harvest, the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the but for a while, it will seem as if Christians are on wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has the losing end of the battle because the Antichrist come, and who is able to stand?’” (Rev. 6:15-17). is in control of the world. However, we know that Then hail, fire, and blood will rain down from ultimately, Christ—and His people—will be the the sky, causing a third of the earth’s trees and grass victor. to burn up. Two more meteors will fall from the sky and kill a third of the sea life, destroy a third WORLD WAR III of the ships at sea, and poison a third of the earth’s After his peaceful ascension to power, the fresh water supply. Darkness will continue to enve- Antichrist will initiate what we might call World lope the land as the light from the sun and moon is War III (Rev. 6:3-4) against three of the ten regional dimmed by a third. leaders who will be in power during this time. Death and destruction will be brought to this earth HELL ON EARTH on a massive scale never before known. This battle Revelation chapter 9 describes a plague of locust- may involve a nuclear exchange and will be fol- like creatures that descend upon the earth and have lowed by widespread inflation, famine, and disease. the ability to sting people. For five months, these Possibly due in part to nuclear fallout, plagues will creatures will torment, but not kill, unbelievers: sweep across the land and death will come to a “Out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And fourth of the world’s population (Rev. 6:5-8). All to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth the while, the Antichrist will be carrying out his have power. They were commanded not to harm the vengeance against those who have chosen to follow grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but Christ instead of him (Rev. 6:9-11). And the killing only those men who do not have the seal of God on their of millions of Tribulation saints will escalate as the foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill world sinks further into death and despair. them, but to torment them for five months. Their tor- Up to this point, the judgments that have come ment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes upon Earth during the Tribulation are largely the a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from To schedule Thomas Ice them” (Rev. 9:3-6). If that weren’t enough, armies of demonic horsemen will then be unleashed and kill call: (940) 597-8811 or another third of the world’s population (Rev. 9:13- e-mail: [email protected]. 19). And then it gets worse . . .

4 OF THE BEAST each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blas- As mentioned previously, halfway into the phemed God because of the plague of the hail, since Tribulation, the Antichrist will break his treaty with that plague was exceedingly great” (Rev. 16:18-21). the nation of Israel, desecrate the rebuilt Temple in And with that, the judgments will draw to an Jerusalem, and kill the two witnesses who have end. The glorious appearing of Christ comes next. been proclaiming the gospel (Rev. 11:3-12). He will He will be in the air accompanied by the armies then seize total control over the monetary system of heaven, which consist of all those who were of the world (Rev. 13:16-18), requiring all to carry raptured to heaven (Rev. 19:11-14). Christ will his mark, which in some way will consist of the then descend to Earth in power and glory to win number six hundred sixty-six (666). This is the the Battle of . He will cast the beast prophesied mark of the beast, and without it, no one (Antichrist) and False Prophet into the Lake of Fire, will be able to buy or sell: “He causes all, both small and bind Satan in the abyss for 1000 years. Then and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a He will initiate His millennial reign on earth (Rev. mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and 19:19–20:3). that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark” (Rev. 13:16-17). UNDERSTANDING THE JUDGMENTS Even a few short years ago, such a prospect The book of Revelation includes three sets of would have seemed inconceivable. But now, with judgments (6 seals, 6 trumpets, and 7 bowls)—19 computerized electronic financial transactions total judgments that will unfold during the seven- occurring on a worldwide scale, the ability to con- year tribulation period. An overview of these judg- trol and track the purchases of every human being ments provides a helpful understanding of how is not only possible, but inevitable. these events will unfold. Seal Judgments (Rev. 6): PREPARING FOR ARMAGEDDON Seal 1: The Rider on the White Horse (6:1-2) Meanwhile, as the Tribulation progresses, the Seal 2: The Rider on the Red Horse (6:3-4) judgments of God will continue to afflict the ungod- Seal 3: The Rider on the Black Horse (6:5-6) ly. Loathsome sores will break out upon those who Seal 4: The Rider on the Pale Horse (6:7-8) have the mark of the beast. The sea and remaining Seal 5: The Martyred Tribulation Saints (6:9-11) fresh water will be turned into blood. Heat from the Seal 6: A Great Earthquake (6:12-17) sun will scorch the unrepentant, and darkness will Seal 7: Silence in Heaven—Beginning of Trumpet envelope the kingdom of the Antichrist (Rev. 16:2- Judgments (8:1) 11). Trumpet Judgments (Rev. 8-9): Then the Euphrates River will dry up, allowing Trumpet 1: One-third of vegetation is destroyed. the armies of the east to march unhindered to Israel Trumpet 2: One-third of the sea will be turned into to begin the Battle of Armageddon. The bloodshed blood. will reach unparalleled proportions. A tremendous Trumpet 3: One-third of the waters are contami- earthquake will level the cities of the world, and nated. hailstones weighing as much as 100 pounds will fall Trumpet 4: One-third of the sky is darkened. to the earth. Unfortunately, many of the ungodly Trumpet 5: The “first woe”: locust-like creatures still will not repent, despite the severity of these plague the earth. judgments: “There was a great earthquake, such a Trumpet 6: The “second woe”: An army of mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since 200,000,000 men from the east will destroy one- men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided third of all people. into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And Trumpet 7: The “third woe”: Beginning of the seven great Babylon was remembered before God, to give bowl judgments. her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16): not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, Bowl 1: Terrible sores on those who follow Antichrist.

5 Bowl 2: Turns all the seas into blood. offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one Bowl 3: All fresh water is turned to blood. who makes desolate” (Daniel 9:27). The Antichrist Bowl 4: Terrible heat upon the earth. will break his covenant with the Jews in the middle Bowl 5: Supernatural darkness on the earth. of the Tribulation (which agrees with Revelation 11 Bowl 6: The Euphrates River dries up and an army and 13) and will launch the greatest time of desola- marched toward Armageddon. tion in the history of the world. How long will it Bowl 7: A massive moving of the earth’s crust and last? “Until the consummation, which is determined.” 100-pound hailstones. This is the same as “the time of the end,” meaning the end of the 70 weeks or 490 years, which is the WHAT BEGINS THE TRIBULATION? same as the “consummation” of God’s dealing with The prophecy of Daniel 9:27 tells us exactly the Jews and the literal coming of Christ to set up what will start the Tribulation: when “he [the prince His kingdom. who is to come] shall confirm a covenant with many In summary, then, the Tribulation will begin for one week.” It seems that the Antichrist will make when the covenant of peace between the coming a covenant with the nation of Israel to ensure their new world government (headed by the Antichrist) protection. However, he will break this covenant and the nation of Israel. But halfway through the after three and a half years. This does not mean seven years, the Antichrist will break that covenant that the treaty itself will be a seven-year treaty, as and begin to persecute the nation of Israel, and they opposed to one of indefinite length, but that it will will become “desolate.” be broken in the middle of the seventieth “week” Many Christians think the rapture of the church (seven) of Daniel 9:27. Since the seventieth “seven” begins the Tribulation, but while it’s possible the refers to the seven years of the tribulation period, rapture and the signing of the covenant may take the reader understands that the treaty will be bro- place very close together, the Bible is not specific ken at the halfway point. But this does not mean on that subject. Still, there has never been a world the treaty itself is merely a seven-year treaty. ruler who has made a covenant of peace with Israel Daniel’s prophecy may relate to the rider on the and then broken that covenant after three-and-a- white horse of Revelation 6, who comes in peace, for half years. This obviously means that the fulfill- he has no arrows or implements of war in his hand. ment of these events are still future. Maranatha! It appears the Antichrist will offer peace to the world and make a covenant with Israel, bringing peace to Ed Hindson is assistant chancellor and dean of the Jewish people, who will then be able to rebuild the School of Divinity at Liberty University and their temple and reinstate their sacrifices again— Seminary in Virginia, is the speaker on The king for three-and-a-half years! But “in the middle of the Is Coming telecast and the author and general week [of years] he shall bring an end to sacrifice and editor of over 40 books. Faith Bible Church of The Twin Cities

My youngest son, David Ice, has launched a new Bible Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota meeting at Northwestern University at Nazerath Chapel. David is a graduate of The Master’s Sem- inary founded by John MacArthur in Los Angeles.

Equipping Hour: 8:15 am Worship Service: 9:45 am

Teaching the Bible verse by verse Phone: (682) 999-0895 www.faithtwincities.com Pastor David Ice

6 the condition of the church will be like, the general tribulation into a clear model of the next time course of the age, and then warns about some gen- period for planet earth. With such a template to eral trends toward the later part of the church age. guide us, we can see that already God is prepar- The primary sign of the later days of the church ing or setting the stage of the world in which the age is an increase in apostasy within the professing great drama of the tribulation will unfold. In this church (1 Tim. 4:1–5; 2 Tim. 3:1–9; 2 Pet. 2:1–9; way this future time casts shadows of expectation 3:1–13; Jude 3–23). in our own day so that current events provide dis- cernible signs of the times. STAGE SETTING I remember an illustration of stage setting The present church age is not a time in which given by the late John F. Walvoord, who was most Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. Bible prophecy likely the greatest prophecy scholar of the twenti- relates to a time after the rapture (the seven-year eth century when he said, “When you are in the tribulation period). However, this does not mean mall and you see the decorations for Christmas, God is not preparing the world for that future time you know that Thanksgiving is near.” In this illus- during the present church age—in fact, He is. But tration, Thanksgiving is analogous to the rapture, this is not “fulfillment” of Bible prophecy. So while which in this illustration is signless. Christmas prophecy is not being fulfilled in our day, it does represents that which comes after Thanksgiving, not follow that we cannot track “general trends” which is the tribulation. This would mean in the in current preparation for the coming tribulation, illustration that obviously the rapture is near since especially since it follows the rapture. I call this there are signs developing in our day relating to approach “stage-setting.” Just as many people set what will take place after the rapture. So there are their clothes out the night before they wear them the signs relating to an approaching tribulation period, following day, so in the same sense is God preparing but no signs for the rapture since our Lord has the world for the certain fulfillment of prophecy in a never given any. Jesus wants us to always be wait- future time. ing for Him. We are waiting every second of every Dr. John Walvoord explains: day since we know not when He may come, but we also see the stage being set for what will take place But if there are no signs for the Rapture itself, after the rapture and it heightens our anticipation what are the legitimate grounds for believing of seeing our Lord face-to-face. that the Rapture could be especially near of this generation? THE SUPER-SIGN OF THE END TIMES The answer is not found in any prophetic I believe that Israel is God’s “super-sign” of the events predicted before the Rapture but in end times. God’s plan for history always moves understanding the events that will follow the forward in relation to what He is doing with Israel. Rapture. Just as history was prepared for Thus, the fact that Israel has been and continues Christ’s first coming, in a similar way history to be reconstituted as a nation is prophetically sig- is preparing for the events leading up to His nificant. Were Israel not a nation again it would Second Coming. . . . If this is the case, it leads be impossible for events of the end-time to occur to the inevitable conclusion that the Rapture since so many of them take place in that tiny coun- may be excitingly near.1 try or in reference to her. But she has returned and so it is that all other major aspects of Bible proph- The Bible provides detailed prophecy about the ecy are also being prepared for the grand finale of seven-year tribulation. In fact, Revelation 4—19 history. gives a detailed, sequential outline of the major play- There are dozens of biblical passages that pre- ers and events. Using Revelation as a framework, a dict an end-time regathering of Israel back to her Bible student is able to harmonize the hundreds of land. However, it is a common mistake to lump other biblical passages that speak of the seven-year all of these passages into one fulfillment time

7 Prophetic Stage Setting

frame, especially in relation to the modern state of does not fit their scheme of things, and so the Israel. Modern Israel is prophetically significant present state becomes merely an accident of and is preparing the way for the fulfillment of Bible history. On what grounds is the present state prophecy. But readers of God’s Word need to be of Israel so dismissed? The issue that bothers careful to distinguish which verses are being ful- so many premillennialists is the fact that not filled in our day and which references await future only have the Jews returned in unbelief with fulfillment. regard to the person of Jesus, but the major- Hebrew Christian scholar Dr. Arnold ity of the ones who have returned are not Fruchtenbaum explains: even Orthodox Jews. In fact the majority are atheists or agnostics. Certainly, then, Israel The re-establishment of the Jewish state does not fit in with all those biblical passages in 1948 has not only thrown a wrench in dealing with the return. For it is a regener- amillennial thinking, but it has also thrown ated nation that the Bible speaks of, and the a chink in much of premillennial thinking. present state of Israel hardly fits that picture. Amazingly, some premillennialists have con- So on these grounds, the present state is dis- cluded that the present state of Israel has missed as not being a fulfillment of prophecy. nothing to do with the fulfillment of prophecy. However, the real problem is the failure For some reason the present state some how to see that the prophets spoke of two interna-

8 tional returns. First, there was to be a regath- underway to rebuild a Jewish Temple on the Temple ering in unbelief in preparation for judgment, Mount in Jerusalem. That Temple only has to be namely the judgment of the tribulation. This there by the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation was to be followed by a second world-wide for the Antichrist to defile it. regathering in faith in preparation for bless- Babylon is depicted throughout the Bible as the ing, namely the blessings of the messianic age. focus of the kingdom of man that is set in opposi- Once it is recognized that the Bible speaks of tion to God, Israel, and His plan for history. It is two such regatherings, it is easy to see how the not surprising to realize that many biblical pas- present state of Israel fits into prophecy.2 sages speak of an end-time role for Babylon as God’s enemy (Rev. 14:8; 17—18). Babylon will be the CONCLUSION headquarters for the Antichrist during the tribula- With Israel back in her land as a nation and in tion. Is Babylon being rebuilt in our day? Yes it is! control of Jerusalem, the stage is set for the other There are many more items that could be noted players to align in preparation for their end-time that are falling into place for the events of the tribu- roles. Only in the last sixty years has Globalism lation. With the polarization currently existing become a realistic option for mankind at the practi- throughout today’s world, it is not hard to see this cal level. In fact, globalism is so widely held that all coming together in the near future. Just think the election of Donald Trump was seen internation- about what the mentality of the world will be like if ally as a win for nationalism over the global world all true Bible-believing Christians were removed in order. Revelation 17—18 indicates that Antichrist’s an instant, at the rapture. Today’s world is certainly global empire will revolve around political, eco- on a trajectory that is preparing the way for the nomic, and religious issues. Scripture teaches that global tyranny of the antichrist. These are signs of the Antichrist will rise to power out of a federa- the times in which we live. Maranatha! tion of nations that correlate in some way with the 1 John F. Walvoord, Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis, revised (Grand Rapids: Roman Empire of two thousand years ago. One Zondervan Publishing House, 1990), p. 217. would have to be totally ignorant of developments 2 Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Pro- within the world of our day to not admit that phetic Events (San Antonio, TX: Ariel Press, 1982), p. 65. through the efforts of the European Union there is a coming together of that once great empire in our own day. In conjunction with tribulation events, Ezekiel 38—39 teaches that there will be an invasion into Israel by a coalition lead by “Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal” (Ezek. 38:2). Gog appears to be modern Russia. Thomas Ice 2017 Speaking Schedule Coalition partners in the invasion are Persia (mod- April 20–22 April 27–28 ern Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), Put (Libya), and Gomer MidAmerica Prophecy Prophecy Conference and Beth-togarmah (modern Turkey) (Ezek. 38:5- Conference Living Hope Evangelical 6). For the first time in history, Russia and Iran Marriot Hotel, Church, (Persia) have become very close with each other. Tulsa, OK La Crete, AB, CANADA www.bibleprophecyaswritten. No website Turkey is being rejected by Europe and is moving com closer to the Islamic camp. April 24–27 May 7 The Bible indicates that by the midpoint of Grace Evangelical Society Prophecy Speaking the seven-year tribulation (most likely some time National Conference Arlington Chinese Bible before that) there will be a rebuilt Temple in Riley Center, Southwestern Church, Jerusalem (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15-16; 2 Thess. Baptist Theological Seminary, Arlington, TX http://www.acbctx.org 2:3-4; Rev. 11:1-12). Since Israel captured the old Fort Worth, TX city of Jerusalem in 1967, increasingly efforts are https://faithalone.org

9 l Yes Tommy, I want to trust the Lord to make a special gift to the Pre-Trib Research Center this month. Here is my gift of: Thank you for your support! As a partner in l $35 l $70 l $105 l Other $ ______ministry, you share our commitment to teach I am paying by check credit card l l God’s Word, and proclaim the teaching and Check: Please make your check payable to the Pre-Trib Research Center defense of the pre-tribulational rapture. All Credit Card: l VISA l Mastercard donations help enable us to send this message Card Number ______to thousands of Christian leaders, pastors, professors and others who are looking forward Expiration Date ______/ ______to our Lord’s soon return. Cardholder’s Name______Your tax-deductible contribution is greatly Cardholder’s Signature ______appreciated. A receipt will be mailed to you for Street Address ______each donation. We are confident that the Lord City ______State______Zip ______will bless your stewardship. Phone Number (______)______Every man according as he purposes in his Email ______heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver Please mail this form to: (2 Cor. 9:7). Pre-Trib Research Center • P.O. Box 251 • Justin, TX 76247 Visit the Pre-Trib Research Center at www.pre-trib.org

Q. Who is the King of the North in Daniel 11? A. This individual is mentioned in Daniel 11:6, 7, 15, and 40. In various contexts he refers to several individuals: Ptolemy II (285-246 B.C.) and Seleucus II Callinicus (247-226 B.C.), Ptolemy III (246-221 B.C.), who battled Seleucus II. After the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.), there was continual struggle between the dynasties of the Ptolemies and Seleucids for control of Alexander’s territory that went on for centuries. The verses in Daniel 11:6, 7, 15 prefigure the struggle against the Antichrist during the tribulation when armies from the north and south will align themselves against the Beast as recorded in Daniel 11:40-45. “And at the end time the king of the South will collide with him [Antichrist], and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will [Antichrist] will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through” (Dan. 11:40). This means that during the tribulation the Kings of the North and South will attempt a pincer movement against the Antichrist who will at that time occupy the land of Israel. Though initially successful, Antichrist will ultimately be defeated at the second coming of Jesus Christ. The King of the North does not relate to Gog’s invasion of Israel (Ezek. 28 & 39), they are different players. Maranatha!

Established about 25 years ago by Dr. Tim LaHaye and Dr. Thomas Ice, the Pre-Trib Research Center is a “think tank” committed to the study, proclamation, teaching and defense of the Pretribulational Rapture (pre-70th week of Daniel) and related end-time Bible prophecy. The contents of this newsletter may be copied without permission; however, permission should be requested for reprinting on wide-scale distribution. Editor: Dr. Thomas Ice, Email: [email protected] Web: www.pre-trib.org. For change of email address email: [email protected]. For subscription sign-up: http://pre-trib.org/subscribe.